MLB Player News

Painter averaged a crisp 95.8 mph on his four-seam fastball in this one and topped out at 98.9 mph as well. He wraps up a highly-impressive fall showcase stint with a microscopic 2.30 ERA and 18/4 K/BB ratio across 15 2/3 innings (six starts). The 21-year-old prodigy, who is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery at this point, is arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball for fantasy purposes and appears to be a legitimate contender to break camp in the majors with Philadelphia.

It’s reportedly worth $1 million. DeJong hit .227/.276/.427 in 482 plate appearances for the White Sox and Royals last season, which was easily his best showing since his lone All-Star season with the Cardinals in 2019. Last year’s line was good for a 95 OPS+, but that still leaves him at 79 over the last five seasons. Fortunately, he remains a fine defensive infielder. The Nationals should be looking at him as their primary backup at short and a fallback option elsewhere.

Gray underwent surgery in late July, so he might have a tough time making it back before the end of this season. The Nationals tendered him over the winter anyway, and they’ll have him under control for two more years beyond this one.

Barlow, 29, has spent all of his major league time with the Rangers, amassing a 3.05 ERA in 73 2/3 innings from 2021-23. He struggled mightily in the White Sox system last year after missing time with a rotator cuff strain and was released in July. It’s unlikely that he’ll have much of a shot of winning an Opening Day roster spot.

“I was told they would reach out,” he said. “They haven’t yet. In the past it’s been spring training when they reach out to me. Obviously, Vladdy is the priority at this point.” The Jays are actively negotiating with Guerrero, a fellow free agent to be. It’s harder to place a value on Bichette after his particularly rough 2024 season.

Cousins added that his UCL “looked great” following an MRI. He should still have a shot at being ready for Opening Day if things go well after he resumes throwing.

Signing DeJong after already adding Amed Rosario feels unnecessary, but it’s hard to complain about adding a viable major leaguer for barely more than the minimum. Ideally, youngsters José Tena, Brady House and Trey Lipscomb will still be the primary contenders to start at third base. Rosario, penciled into a utility role, is still the most interesting fantasy infielder of the bunch, but he’ll probably get fewer opportunities in the early going now, hurting his chances of getting off to a hot start and ascending to the starting lineup.

Skenes is reportedly “tinkering” with adding a cutter and a running two-seam fastball to his impressive four-seamer, sweeper and a “splinker” that ranks as one of the best pitches in baseball already. The right-hander reiterated that he’s working to get ahead in counts quicker as well. Batters had an expected batting average of .193 against the 22-year-old’s arsenal in 2024, and it could be even more difficult to hit Skenes in 2025. Have fun, batters.

A report earlier in the week declared Núñez fully healthy, but this seems to contradict that belief. The 28-year-old dealt with a sprained part of the pronator mass in his right forearm and was unable to contribute for the Mets during the postseason. If healthy he’ll be a high-leverage arm for the New York to open 2025, but a trip to the injured list to begin the campaign can’t be ruled out just yet.

Rosario will compete for a roster spot with the Dodgers, but he hit just .175/.215/.316 and will need to play exceptionally well in the Cactus League to have any chance of making the loaded Los Angeles lineup on Opening Day.

Bleier pitched in the majors from 2016-2023 and made appearances for the Yankees, Orioles, Marlins and Red Sox. The 37-year-old retires with a 3.27 ERA and 187/54 K/BB over 330 1/3 professional innings.