MLB Player News

J-Rod is on one right now, and it’s something we’ve seen from him over his three seasons in the majors. When it’s bad, it can be ugly, but when it’s going right, there’s very few better. He took the first pitch he saw deep for his 19th homer of the season, and he broke a 2-2 tie with an opposite-field single in the fifth. His third and fourth runs driven in gave Seattle an 8-4 lead in the ninth and the wunderkind 63 RBI on the year. Rodríguez has seen his OPS increase from .660 to .736 since August 27. That’s still a disappointing number considering where he was draft, but a reminder that he’s capable of someday being the best fantasy player in baseball.

Varsho had rotator cuff surgery at the end of the season and there was always an expectation that he would miss some time in 2025 but that now seems all but assured. With Kevin Kiermaier also retiring, the Blue Jays are currently without an option in center field until Varsho is healthy enough to take the field.

Morosi mentions that other teams are interested in Hernández, but the Red Sox and Orioles appear to be the biggest suitors, along with the Dodgers, who extended a qualifying offer to the 32-year-old after he hit 33 home runs for them this season. The Red Sox were also in on Hernández in free agency last year but the Dodgers offered him more money, so perhaps the Red Sox will decide to pony up this year.

Both Kieboom and Denaburg were once first-round picks for the Nationals but neither of them has panned out. Kieboom did hit .265 in 91 games in Triple-A this season with seven home runs and a 13 percent walk rate, so he will likely get a minor league contract with another organization this off-season.

The Dodgers are looking to add a right fielder and push Mookie Betts back into the infield. With Betts in the infield along with Tommy Edman, Max Muncy, and Miguel Rojas, it seems that Gavin Lux may need to find an opportunity with another team. Perhaps the Dodgers could move Lux in their quest to add more outfield depth, but where the 26-year-old ends up will have a huge impact on his potential fantasy value.

McFarland was acquired from the Dodgers prior to the 2024 season and posted a 3.81 ERA over 56 2/3 innings pitched last season. He’ll give the Athletics more veteran bullpen depth in 2025.

Martin has been stellar for the Red Sox in his two seasons, posting a 2.16 ERA in 100 appearances, while walking just 11 batters. “He’s earned the right to get here (to free agency) and we need to figure out how all the pieces come together but guys who can go months and months between walks (are valuable),” said Red Sox president of baseball operations Craig Breslow. With Kenley Jansen also a free agent, Martin would join a late-inning group of Kiam Hendriks and Garrett Whitlock, if he were to return.

Specifically, Feinsand mentions that the Giants and Brewers have been the two teams most connected to Kim, with the Giants currently being the team most interested in signing the 29-year-old. Kim won a Gold Glove and received five down-ballot MVP votes in 2023, but he hit just 11 home runs with 47 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, and a .700 OPS in 121 games in 2024 before tearing his labrum in mid-August and missing the remainder of the season. If the Giants were to sign Kim, it would likely mean that Tyler Fitzgerald would move to more of a versatile role where he can play all over the field, which is what new GM Buster Posey has seemed to want.

Hoffman began his career as a starter, but he has a 5.64 career ERA in 237 2/3 innings as a starter. He shifted full-time to the bullpen in 2022 and has emerged as one of the better relievers in baseball. Since the start of the 2022 season, Hoffman has posted a 2.28 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 33.4 percent strikeout rate with 11 saves in 118 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Even if Hoffman would prefer to remain in the bullpen, Gelb mentions that “keeping the door open on a potential shift back to a rotation could help Hoffman make more money this winter.” It would also change the potential landing spots for the 31-year-old, so it will be a situation to monitor in the offseason.

Pressly was a solid closer for the Astros before the team signed Josh Hader, but with Hader now in town and Bryan Abreu continuing to thrive in the bullpen, Pressly is now a bit more expendable. The soon-to-be 36-year-old is also coming off a down season that saw him post a 3.49 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 59 appearances. He also allowed 9.2 hits per nine innings which was his most in any 162-game season since 2016. Additionally, his whiff rate fell to 26.9 percent, which was four percent below his career average so now could be time for the Astros to see what they can get for him.

Kim is coming off an impressive season for the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korean Baseball Organization. The 25-year-old hit .326 with a .841 OPS, 11 home runs, and 30 steals. Kim has had at least 25 steals in five seasons and has never stolen fewer than 20 bases in any KBO season. The speed is obviously an asset, but Kim has also made double-digit errors in three straight seasons at 2B and was a disaster defensively at shortstop in 2021, so he’s likely a high batting average hitter with little power and good speed. That could make him a solid fantasy asset in deep leagues.