MLB Player News

With Mark Leiter Jr. headed to the Paternity list, Effross will come up to join the team for at least the next three days. The veteran has pitched to a 2.78 ERA and 28:9 K:BB ratio in 32 1/2 innings at Triple-A this year.

The deal, which was agreed to last week, is now official. Bieber is expected to miss at least some time during the first half of the impending season as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, but he figures to be ready to bolster Cleveland’s starting rotation at some point next season. The 29-year-old right-hander is unlikely to return to form as an upper-echelon fantasy starter, especially since his average fastball velocity has officially dipped into the low-90’s range, but he should miss enough bats to make an impact for fantasy managers again. Given his extensive track record, he’s at least worthy of a speculative late-round pick in fantasy drafts next spring.

Gonzalez will turn 23 near the end of March, and the right-hander was so-so in Double-A with a 4.73 ERA and 92/46 K/BB over 19 starts — 24 overall appearances — in Double-A Portland. He does have a lively arm with a plus fastball and three solid secondary pitches, but the ability to control those offerings is still very much in doubt. For the fourth piece in a trade, however, Gonzalez is a fine get; one with the upside of a mid-rotation starter and the floor of organizational depth with bullpen option the most likely landing spot.

A fourth-round pick back in 2022, Meidorth had quietly established himself as one of the better infield prospects in the system, and he had no trouble in Triple-A last year with a .437 on-base percentage, .293 average and .837 OPS over 93 games. He doesn’t have elite power nor anything close, but he can hit for average and gets on base while playing solid enough defense at third or second base. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Meidroth was starting games for the White Sox early in 2025.

Kyle Teel may be the headliner, but Montgomery is no slouch himself. Nor are the other two prospects in this deal, for the record. Montgomery was the 12th pick in last year’s draft, but is already getting Top 50 prospect talk as his “slide” to that selection had more to do with injury and signing bonus than talent. There’s plus power in his switch-hitting bat, and he should get on base enough for that power to play. Montgomery could be a fast-track player assuming the fracture ankle he suffered at the end of the college season doesn’t carry over for too long, and is a must-have in dynasty formats.

Teel is the headliner in what ends up being a solid return for Crochet after just one year as a starter from the left-hander. A 2023 first-round pick, Teel is universally considered a Top 100 prospect with a chance to hit for average, get on base and provide some decent power behind the plate. He reached Triple-A last year, and he stands a good chance of making appearances for the White Sox in 2025. There’s a lot to like.

It didn’t take long to become official after word leaked Wednesday that Crochet was on his way to Boston. The left-hander was impressive in his first year as a starter with 209 strikeouts in 146 innings and a 3.58 ERA. To say his fantasy stock improves with this deal is quite the understatement, as he goes to a playoff contender from a team that lost 121 games. There’s potential for fantasy stardom over the coming years for Crochet as long as he stays healthy.

Lavender will likely be able to be stashed on the 60-day injured list, as he underwent an internal brace procedure back in May. Once healthy, the 24-year-old has a shot at helping the Rays’ bullpen, and he could even develop into a starter.

Reifert was very impressive in the minors with a 1.96 ERA and 65/16 K/BB with Double-A Montgomery across 35 appearances and 41 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old will get a chance to show if his stuff translates with the Nationals in the Grapefruit League.

This was first reported Monday, but these things take time. Tauchman will stay in Chicago after being non-tendered by the Cubs at the end of the 2024 season, and the 34-year-old should be a serviceable fourth outfielder with a chance to make some starts for one of the worst teams in baseball.

Cairo is considered a quality defensive shortstop who hit just .240 at the Double- and Triple-A levels, but he did get on at a .354 clip while stealing 30 bases. He’ll get a chance to earn the backup middle-infield job with a good showing in spring training.