MLB Player News

Mercado has a 9.26 ERA in two starts and two relief appearances for the Phillies this season. He’s been used as a true reliever since being sent down last month, and he had come through with a 2.92 ERA in 12 1/3 innings over 10 appearances for Lehigh Valley.

It’s merely a formality at this point as Burnes is a virtual lock to turn down the one-year guarantee in search of a lucrative long-term deal this offseason as arguably the top free agent starting pitcher on the open market. The 30-year-old right-hander’s strikeout totals dipped last year, but he still finished with a stellar 2.92 ERA, 1.10 EHIP and 181/48 K/BB ratio across 194 1/3 innings (32 starts) in his lone season with the Orioles. He’s a surefire top 10 fantasy starter heading into next season, regardless of where he ultimately winds up.

Santander is highly likely to decline the short-term offer on the heels of the best season of his career where he reached the 40-homer plateau for the first time in addition to finishing with 102 RBI across 155 contests. The 30-year-old corner outfielder’s fantasy appeal will hinge on his ultimate landing spot, but his brand of impressive over-the-fence pop will play in any ballpark.

Alonso’s track record as a power-producing, middle-of-the-order force is undeniable as he’s launched at least 34 round-trippers in every full-season dating back to his 2019 debut. The 29-year-old slugger finished last season with a .240/.329/.459 triple-slash line with 91 runs scored, 34 homers, 88 RBI and three steals in 162 contests. He’s going to have plenty of suitors on the open market, but we’re not dismissing the possibility that he winds up returning to New York, especially if the Mets wind up missing out on adding some of the other elite bats on the market. He’ll slot in as a top-five range option at the cold corner in fantasy drafts next spring given the combination of his track record and relative lack of proven elite performers at the position.

The deal is now official. Trammell got into 10 games last year between the Yankees and Dodgers, which meant he was getting a World Series ring regardless of the Fall Classic’s outcome, which is pretty cool. The 27-year-old former top prospect has never quite been able to carve out an everyday role at the highest level and will function as extra outfield depth for Houston heading into 2025.

Martinez augments Arizona’s organizational relief depth heading into the offseason after making a career-high 44 relief appearances last year for the Astros. The 30-year-old righty has made 111 appearances in the big leagues since 2021 and won’t reach free agency until 2029.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan adds that the two sides ultimately agreed to reunite for the final four years and $144 million left on the original deal after Cole opted out of his contract over the weekend. The 34-year-old right-hander looked sharp in the postseason, but there are some lingering durability questions here in the wake of last year’s elbow issues. The central question for fantasy purposes is whether the big-time strikeout totals are ever coming back. For the moment, Cole is staying with New York and remains a top-15 range starting pitcher for fantasy purposes heading into 2025 drafts.

Stewart showed some flashes in New York over the last two years, but basically stopped hitting for power this past season, finishing with a lackluster .622 OPS with five homers in 194 plate appearances. The 30-year-old former first-round pick has never quite lived up to those expectations, but he’s managed to stick around in a bench role. It’s fair to wonder if there will be another opportunity out there for him heading into 2025.

Lucchesi made a pair of starts last year for the Mets and wound up making 22 appearances (19 starts) over three years dating back to 2021. The 31-year-old southpaw’s time with the organization is over and he’ll likely have to settle for a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. He’s a solid emergency organizational depth option, but doesn’t really offer much upside at this point.

De Los Santos represents some additional organizational infield depth for New York after getting into 13 contests this past season for Toronto. The 26-year-old doesn’t offer a ton of potential at the dish, but he’s a solid up-the-middle defender, which should keep him on team’s radar screens for years to come.

Murfee hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the 2023 season after suffering a setback over the summer in his recovery from last year’s Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old righty represents a worthwhile gamble for the rebuilding White Sox, especially if he comes back healthy and they can flip him to a contending team at some point down the road.