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MLB Player News

Rotoworld

  • FA Relief Pitcher #73
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    Cubs non-tendered RHP Adbert Alzolay, INF Patrick Wisdom, OF Brennen Davis and RHP Trey Wingenter.
    This was a formality after all of these players were DFA’d to open up 40-man roster spots on Tuesday. They’re officially free agents now. It sounds like the Cubs are hoping Alzolay returns, but Wisdom is likely to head elsewhere.
  • FA Catcher #6
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    Independent journalist Francys Romero reports that more than five major league teams have expressed interest in free agent catcher Yasmani Grandal.
    Grandal, once considered among the elite offensive performers at the catcher position, slashed just .228/.304/.400 with nine homers, 27 RBI and a 46/24 K/BB ratio in 243 plate appearances with the Pirates during the 2024 campaign. He just turned 36-years-old and his days of grading out as a major asset behind the plate have faded away. He may still wind up with a backup gig someplace, but Grandal’s days of fantasy relevancy are in the rearview mirror.
  • SF Starting Pitcher #63
    Giants re-signed LHP Ethan Small to a minor league contract.
    The 27-year-old southpaw was non-tendered back in November but decided it was in his best interests to return to the Giants on a minor league deal. Small pitched exclusively in the minor leagues during the 2024 season, posting a 4.85 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 16/2 K/BB ratio over 13 innings while missing the majority of the year with a right oblique strain. He’ll continue to function as extra bullpen depth for the Giants.
  • FA Relief Pitcher #41
    According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies are among the teams interested in free agent right-hander Tommy Kahnle.
    The 35-year-old hurler has generated interest from at least eight teams already, so it sounds like he’ll do pretty well for himself on the open market. Kahnle was brilliant once again for the Yankees in 2024, registering a 2.11 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 46/19 K/BB ratio over 42 2/3 frames.
  • PIT Relief Pitcher #64
    Pirates re-signed RHP Isaac Mattson to a minor league contract.
    The 29-year-old noted that the Pirates are building something special in Pittsburgh and that he wants to be a part of it. Mattson appeared in three big league contests with the Pirates in 2024, registering a 5.06 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 6/5 K/BB ratio across 5 1/3 innings. He’ll continue to function as extra bullpen depth.
  • FA Third Baseman #2
    MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reported that the Astros already have an offer out to 3B Alex Bregman but also have contingency plans in place.
    According to McTaggart, “the Astros have offered Bregman a six-year deal worth around $156 million,” but their ability to re-sign him hinges on what other offers he’s received on the market. Despite that offer being a club record, “Bregman is believed to be seeking a deal closer to $200 million, which likely would price out the Astros and force them to move on from their cornerstone third baseman.” If the Astros do get priced out on Bregman, they have other options in place, and “among the players on the top of their list to play third base is Jorge Polanco.” They could then take the majority of the money they offered for Bregman and try to spend more money at first base on a target like Christian Walker.
  • LAA Center Fielder #22
    Angels re-signed OF Bryce Teodosio to a minor league contract.
    The 25-year-old was non-tendered in November after he hit .276/.339/.418 in 114 games at Triple-A with five home runs and 40 steals. He went just 1-for-12 in a brief MLB stint, but the Angels will give him another shot in the organization.
  • CLE First Baseman #22
    The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that the Guardians are open to trading away Josh Naylor and/or Lane Thomas this off-season.
    While the Guardians may not be actively looking to trade them, both players are entering the final seasons on their contracts and both are expecting to earn $9 million a year or more on their next deals. That might be too steep of a price for the Guardians to play, so “it should surprise no one that Cleveland is open to trade offers.” Given how close the Guardians were to the World Series in 2024, we would expect they would need to be blown away to accept any trade offer, but the possibility does exist.
  • STL Relief Pitcher #56
    The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that “teams talking to the Cardinals are under the impression the team will hold [Ryan] Helsley.”
    The notion that the Cardinals could hold onto Helsley is something that president of baseball operations John Mozeliak seems to support: “It’s something we will always remain open-minded to, but our plan is to have him be part of our organization.” The 30-year-old Helsley posted a 2.04 ERA in 66 1/3 innings and won the Trevor Hoffman Award as the best closer in the National League. He is projected to earn $8.5 million in his final year of arbitration before he is eligible for free agency, but if the Cardinals wait until the summer to trade him while he’s on an expiring contract, they will obviously get a much weaker return.
  • FA Starting Pitcher #40
    ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Athletics signed RHP Luis Severino to a three-year, $67 million contract.
    Severino bounced back in 2024, posting a 3.91 ERA and 161/60 K/BB over 182 innings with the Mets. The team made a qualifying offer to him of $21.05 million, but he declined it and bet on himself, which wound up being the right move as he cashes in on a three-year deal worth more per season than the qualifying offer would have been. For fantasy purposes, the move is certainly a downgrade for the 30-year-old. He is moving to a worse team context and will be pitching next year in a minor league ballpark in Sacramento that will be more friendly to hitters than Citi Field has been. As a result, Severino looks to be a risky bet in 2024 that could be limited to deeper fantasy leagues.
  • DET Shortstop #51
    Tigers re-signed INF Eddys Leonard to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
    Leonard was non-tendered in November but the Tigers will bring back the 24-year-old after he slashed .263/.326/.455 with 10 homers, 26 RBI, and seven stolen bases in 282 plate appearances at Triple-A Toledo. He could get a chance at filling a backup infielder role in Detroit if he has a solid season in the minors in 2025 and he could make $760,000 if he gets MLB at-bats.