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MLB Player News

Rotoworld

  • CHC Third Baseman #13
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    Cubs sent INF David Bote outright to Triple-A Iowa.
    The 31-year-old hurler was designated for assignment on Friday as the Cubs needed to free up a spot on their 40-man roster though. The long-time Cub passed through waivers unclaimed though and will continue to function as additional depth at the Triple-A level.
  • FA Catcher #28
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    Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Rays are closing in on a deal with free agent catcher Danny Jansen.
    Jeff Passan of ESPN reports it’s an $8.5 million deal for Jansen with a mutual option for 2026. The Rays were reportedly in the mix to sign Travis d’Arnaud before he landed with the Angels, and instead will bring in Jansen to serve as their catcher for the 2025 campaign. The 29-year-old struggled with Boston after being dealt to the Red Sox from Toronto, but when healthy, he’s served as a solid option behind the plate. He’ll be a mid-range second catcher to open the year from a fantasy perspective.
  • CHC Left Fielder #27
    Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Cubs are “determined” trade either Cody Bellinger or Seiya Suzuki.
    It’s been widely reported that the Cubs would prefer to trade Bellinger after he opted in to his contract for the 205 season, but Suzuki is a new one. The 30-year-old has dealt with injury issues, but he’s been a solid contributor on the field with a 278/.354/.470 in 2024. There would assuredly be a better return for Suzuki than Bellinger because of his production and cheaper contract, as well.
  • OAK Starting Pitcher #40
    Athletics agreed to terms with RHP Luis Severino on a three-year, $67 million contract,
    The third year will be a player option. The A’s would seem to have overpaid for Severino, whose bounce-back season with the Mets came with a 101 ERA+ and a 21.2% strikeout rate that paled in comparison to what he did with the Yankees in his previous best years. Still, it isn’t going to be easy to get quality veterans to play in Sacramento, and he’s a pretty obvious upgrade for the rotation if he remains healthy. He’s probably not someone who should be drafted in 10- or 12-team leagues next spring.
  • COL Relief Pitcher
    Rockies signed RHP Nelvis Ochoa to a minor league contract.
    The 21-year-old hurler spent his first two professional seasons in the Rockies’ organization before he was plucked by the Orioles in the minor league portion of the Rule-5 draft prior to the 2024 season. Ochoa went on to post a 4.71 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 24/5 K/BB ratio over 21 innings for the Orioles’ Rookie League club. The Rockies remain intrigued by his potential and think that he can blossom into a real asset out of their bullpen in the coming years.
  • SF Third Baseman #26
    According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Matt Chapman has informed the Giants that he’s willing to play shortstop temporarily in 2025 if the team signs free agent Ha-Seong Kim.
    Chapman is a five-time Gold Glove Award winner and two-time Platinum Glove Award winner at third base, but he has only played four games at shortstop during his big league career. He’s such a skilled defender though, that he could undoubtedly handle it with ease until Kim is recovered from his off-season shoulder surgery. The 31-year-old is expected to miss the start of the 2025 season at a minimum and could be sidelined for most of the first half. If the Giants slid Chapman over to shortstop temporarily, Tyler Fitzgerald would likely serve as the team’s starting third baseman until Kim was ready to return.
  • INT Starting Pitcher #49
    Ariel Jurado has signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization.
    The 28-year-old hurler has spent the previous two seasons in Korea as well with the Kiwoom Heroes, most recently posting a 3.36 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 169/32 K/BB ratio across 190 1/3 innings in his 30 starts during the 2024 season. Jurado hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the pandemic-truncated 2020 campaign.
  • KC Third Baseman #11
    Maikel Garcia underwent successful surgery on Thursday to have bone spurs removed from his right elbow.
    The 24-year-old infielder is expected to be sidelined for the next six-to-eight weeks while recovering from the procedure. It shouldn’t impact his availability for the start of spring training, but he won’t be able to participate in his regular offseason program. Garcia slashed an underwhelming .231/.281/.332 during the 2024 season with seven homers, 58 RBI and a career-high 37 stolen bases (in 39 attempts).
  • LAD First Baseman #5
    The Dodgers announced on Thursday that superstar first baseman Freddie Freeman underwent successful surgery on his right ankle.
    The procedure, which was performed by Dr. Kenneth Jung in Los Angeles, consisted of a debridement and the removal of loose bodies. The 35-year-old slugger is expected to be ready to participate in baseball activities during spring training, so it doesn’t sound like he should miss any regular season action. Usually considered a staple in the first round of fantasy drafts, Freeman has seen his draft stock fall a bit in early 2025 drafts, checking in right around pick-24 on average.
  • FA Catcher #6
    Independent journalist Francys Romero reports that more than five major league teams have expressed interest in free agent catcher Yasmani Grandal.
    Grandal, once considered among the elite offensive performers at the catcher position, slashed just .228/.304/.400 with nine homers, 27 RBI and a 46/24 K/BB ratio in 243 plate appearances with the Pirates during the 2024 campaign. He just turned 36-years-old and his days of grading out as a major asset behind the plate have faded away. He may still wind up with a backup gig someplace, but Grandal’s days of fantasy relevancy are in the rearview mirror.
  • SF Starting Pitcher #63
    Giants re-signed LHP Ethan Small to a minor league contract.
    The 27-year-old southpaw was non-tendered back in November but decided it was in his best interests to return to the Giants on a minor league deal. Small pitched exclusively in the minor leagues during the 2024 season, posting a 4.85 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 16/2 K/BB ratio over 13 innings while missing the majority of the year with a right oblique strain. He’ll continue to function as extra bullpen depth for the Giants.