MLB Player News

Mooney reported from manager Craig Counsell’s press conference that the Cubs are likely going to look to add a veteran starting pitcher to join Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and Javier Assad. That means that the younger starters are not in any Opening Day plans as of now. “Now with all of them, there’s been injuries,” explained Counsell. “And it’s not a big sample as of yet. But that’s also kind of the nature of pitching. It’s the nature of young pitching.” Horton was one of the most well-regarded pitching prospects in the minors before a shoulder injury ended his season in August. As of now, it appears that fantasy managers are hoping for a mid-season call-up in 2025 at best.

Duplantier had been with the Braves and Brewers in 2024 but will now head overseas to try to resurrect his professional career.

Schulfer, 28, split the 2024 season between the Tigers’ and Twins’ organizations where he compiled a 4.94 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and a 60/25 K/BB ratio over 54 2/3 innings. He’ll add bullpen depth in the upper minors for the Phillies.

The 28-year-old southpaw spent the 2024 season pitching in Japan and in the Dominican Winter League, compiling a 3.84 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 73/34 K/BB ratio across 61 innings. He’ll add an intriguing and talented arm as minor league bullpen depth for the Rockies.

The 27-year-old right-hander spent a pair of seasons in the Padres’ organization from 2022-2023 and even broke through and made his lone big league appearance with the Padres in 2023. He spent the 2024 season pitching in Japan for the Yakult Swallows, registering a 2.73 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 63/24 K/BB ratio across 59 1/3 innings in 56 appearances out of the bullpen. He’ll compete for a spot in the Padres’ Opening Day bullpen.

The Blue Jays are already known to have expressed interest in the 31-year-old hurler and it looks like they’ll have plenty of competition from their large market brethren. Estévez was acquired by the Phillies at last season’s trade deadline and racked up six saves for them down the stretch while posting a 2.57 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 21 innings. His fantasy value will ultimately hinge on whether or not he’ll close with his new club or be relegated to a setup role.

Some minor league relief depth. Milacki, 28, had a 4.75 ERA and a 49/13 K/BB in 55 innings in the Padres system last season; he excelled at Double-A San Antonio, but he gave up 13 runs over nine innings in his stint at Triple-A El Paso.

Heyman says the deal still could happen, but he also thinks the Yankees are threatening to move on. Bellinger is guaranteed $52.5 million over the next two years, though he could walk away from the second season of the deal.

Valdez was DFA’d by the Red Sox last week. The 25-year-old has hit .235/.286/.400 with 12 homers in 372 plate appearances the last two seasons, and it’s easy to imagine him doing a little better than that going forward. The problem is that he’s a subpar defender at second base, and he just doesn’t project very well anywhere else. The Pirates will give him a look at second in spring training, but that still figures to be Nick Gonzales’s spot. Valdez could wind up seeing DH time if the team doesn’t acquire a full-timer for that spot.

Vogatsky, a 19th-round pick in the 2024 draft, has yet to make his pro debut. He was a reliever at James Madison, finishing with a 3.24 ERA in 49 innings last season.

It’s a non-guaranteed deal, so De La Cruz will still have to make the team. The addition of a righty probably doesn’t take the Braves out of the market for a lefty outfielder to help fill in for Ronald Acuña Jr. and maybe supplant Jarred Kelenic in time. De La Cruz’s stock plummeted after he hit just .200/.220/.294 as a trade-deadline acquisition in Pittsburgh. He’s a poor defender in the outfield corners with a career 90 OPS+, so he’s very much in danger of falling out of the league.