Mariners "Showing Interest In" Michael Conforto: According to a tweet from MLB Network's Jon Morosi on Tuesday, the Seattle Mariners are reportedly "showing interest in" Michael Conforto. Morosi tweeted: "Sources: #Mariners among teams showing interest in free agent OF Michael Conforto, the Redmond (Wash.) High School grade. @MLBNetwork @SeattleSports." The 29-year-old hit .232 with a .344 on-base percentage, 14 home runs, and a stolen base in 479 plate appearances for the New York Mets during the 2021 season. - as of Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:56:02
Reds Announce Luke Maile Signing: The Cincinnati Reds have signed catcher Luke Maile to a one-year deal, per a tweet from the National League Central franchise on Tuesday. The 31-year-old hit .221 with a .301 on-base percentage and three home runs in 206 plate appearances for the Cleveland Guardians in the 2022 season, appearing in 76 games in the process. He'll give the Reds a veteran backstop to utilize alongside starter Tyler Stephenson during the 2023 campaign. - as of Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:36:40
Jeimer Candelario Signs With Nationals: Free-agent third baseman Jeimer Candelario is reportedly signing with the Washington Nationals, according to a tweet from The New York Post's Jon Heyman on Tuesday. Heyman tweeted, "Jeimer Candelario agrees to one-year deal with Nats." The infielder appeared in 124 games for the Detroit Tigers last season, hitting .217 with a .272 on-base percentage and 13 home runs in 467 plate appearances. Of the five players who saw time at third base for the Nationals in 2022, just one player, Ildemaro Vargas, remains on the 40-man roster. - as of Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:29:31
Mariners Sign Trevor Gott Monday: The Seattle Mariners signed free-agent relief pitcher Trevor Gott to a one-year deal Monday, per The Seattle Times' Ryan Divish. The deal comes after the Mariners lost right-hander Erik Swanson in an offseason trade for outfielder Teoscar Hernandez. The 30-year-old compiled a 4.14 ERA with 11 holds and four blown saves through 45 2/3 innings in 2022 with the Brewers. Gott has never served in a high-leverage bullpen position throughout his career, so he holds little fantasy relevance. - as of Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:57:30
Angels Sign Chris Devenski To Minor-League Deal: The Los Angeles Angels and free-agent relief pitcher Chris Devenski agreed to a one-year, minor-league deal Monday, per MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. The deal includes an invitation to spring training, so Devenski will have the opportunity to compete for a spot in the bullpen. The 32-year-old had a solid first few seasons of his career with the Astros, but pitched just 14 2/3 innings in 2022 with the Diamondbacks and Phillies, struggling with an 8.59 ERA. He has a long way to go before gaining any fantasy consideration. - as of Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:30:54
Mets Promote Eric Chavez To Bench Coach: Jon Heyman reported in the NY Post Monday that the New York Mets have promoted Eric Chavez to bench coach from hitting coach and Jeremy Barnes to hitting coach. The Mets had a strong coaching staff all around, leading to one of baseball's best offenses in 2022. The staff is led by manager Buck Showalter, who just won his fourth Manager of the Year award. While the Mets have a number of spots to fill from a pitching perspective, they will have most of their lineup returning for the 2023 season. - as of Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:22:54
Pirates Interested In Kyle Gibson: The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly one of the teams interested in free-agent starting pitcher Kyle Gibson, per MLB Network's Jon Heyman. The 35-year-old compiled a 10-8 record with a poor 5.05 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 20.1% strikeout rate in 31 starts with the Phillies in 2022. However, he was a useful fantasy streamer at times throughout the season and had a more encouraging 4.06 SIERA. Gibson's high WHIP and low strikeout numbers have always limited his fantasy upside, and going to a team with a poor offense like the Pirates would further limit his potential fantasy value. - as of Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:08:11
Miguel Cabrera To Retire After 2023 Season: Detroit Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera announced Monday that the 2023 season will be his last. It will be the 21st season of the 39-year-old's Hall-of-Fame career. Cabrera hasn't been fantasy relevant for the past several seasons and slashed .254/.305/.317 with five home runs and 43 RBI through 433 plate appearances in 2022. However, he spent over a decade as a top corner infield and overall fantasy option with the Florida Marlins and the Tigers. - as of Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:02:45
Dodgers Meeting With Justin Verlander Monday: The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly meeting with free-agent starting pitcher Justin Verlander on Monday, according to a tweet from The New York Post's Jon Heyman. Heyman tweeted the following on Monday morning: "Word is Dodgers are meeting with Justin Verlander today. Would fit their preference for big talents on short-term deals (with of course very high AAV). Both NY teams interested and of course incumbent Astros." Verlander is coming off another strong season on the mound, pitching to a 1.75 ERA, a 2.49 FIP, 185 strikeouts and 29 walks in 175 innings of work. He also logged 18 wins in 28 starts to win the American League Cy Young. - as of Mon, 28 Nov 2022 14:59:23
Astros "Finalizing A Deal For" Jose Abreu: According to a tweet from USA Today's Bob Nightengale on Monday, the Houston Astros are reportedly "finalizing a deal for" Jose Abreu. According to the Houston Chronicle's Chandler Rome, the deal is expected to be for three years and around $20 million per year. Nightengale tweeted the following on Monday morning: "The Houston #Astros are finalizing a deal for free-agent first baseman Jose Abreu." The slugger hit .304 last season in 679 plate appearances for the Chicago White Sox, adding 15 home runs and a strong .378 on-base percentage in those 679 plate appearances. He'll give the Astros yet another quality lineup option alongside the likes of Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, Jose Altuve, and Jeremy Pena. - as of Mon, 28 Nov 2022 14:52:57
Mike Clevinger Signs With White Sox: The Chicago White Sox are reportedly signing free-agent starter Mike Clevinger to a one-year deal, per a pair of tweets from MLB Network's Jon Morosi. Also per Morosi, Clevinger's one-year deal is worth more than $8 million. Clevinger made 23 appearances, including 22 starts, for the San Diego Padres last season, pitching to a 4.33 ERA and a 4.98 FIP in 114 1/3 innings of work. He also logged 91 strikeouts against 35 walks in those 114 1/3 innings. He'll now join a White Sox rotation that also features Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease, Lance Lynnand Michael Kopech. - as of Mon, 28 Nov 2022 14:43:09
Pirates Agree With Carlos Santana On Friday: The Pittsburgh Pirates and veteran first baseman Carlos Santana agreed on a one-year, $6.7 million deal on Friday, pending the results of a physical, according to sources familiar with the deal. The 36-year-old hit just .202/.316/.376 with the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals last season and posted a league-average .692 OPS in 131 total games. But Santana hit the ball hard and had an elite walk rate in the 97th percentile, which drove his free-agent market. He also saw the most shifts in baseball in 2022, and with the shift going away in 2023, he figures to see much better results. The switch-hitter will bring veteran leadership to a young Pirates squad. Santana has a career .242/.359/.432 slash line with 278 home runs and 925 RBI. He's best known for his plate discipline and power, but he won't have much fantasy upside, especially in Pittsburgh. - as of Fri, 25 Nov 2022 21:05:42
Red Sox Sign Narciso Crook To Minor-League Deal: The Boston Red Sox signed former Chicago Cubs outfielder Narciso Crook to a minor-league deal this week, according to a source. The 27-year-old made his major-league debut in 2022 with the Cubs and appeared in four games while going 1-for-7 with five strikeouts. However, Crook hit well at Triple-A Iowa, batting .260 with 19 home runs, 67 RBI and an .836 OPS in 101 games. He will likely begin the 2023 season at Triple-A Worcester to provide outfield depth for the organization behind Alex Verdugo, Enrique Hernandez, Rob Refsnyder and Jarren Duran. Crook was originally drafted in the 23rd round by the Cincinnati Reds in 2013, and he spent seven years with the Reds before signing a minor-league deal with the Cubs last November. - as of Fri, 25 Nov 2022 17:07:12
Mets Sign Denyi Reyes: The New York Mets signed right-hander Denyi Reyes to a minor-league deal this week. The deal includes a non-roster invite to spring training next year. The 26-year-old Dominican spent the 2022 season in the Baltimore Orioles organization, going 1-7 with a rough 6.60 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, one save, 61 strikeouts and nine walks in 60 innings pitched over 17 appearances (12 starts) for Single-A Delmarva, High-A Aberdeen and Triple-A Norfolk. Reyes also ended up making his major-league debut for the Orioles last season, allowing two earned runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out three in 7 2/3 frames over three outings (one start). - as of Fri, 25 Nov 2022 17:00:52
Blake Perkins Signs With Brewers: The Milwaukee Brewers signed outfielder Blake Perkins to an undisclosed one-year major-league deal on Wednesday. Perkins spent the 2022 season in the New York Yankees minor-league system, hitting a combined .246/.357/.456 with an .813 OPS, 15 home runs, 50 RBI, 59 runs scored and 21 stolen bases in 397 plate appearances over 101 games with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 26-year-old outfielder will likely begin the 2023 campaign with Triple-A Nashville while giving the Brewers some more outfielder depth after they just traded Hunter Renfroe to the Los Angeles Angels this week. - as of Fri, 25 Nov 2022 13:55:49
Twins Re-Sign Elliot Soto: The Minnesota Twins re-signed infielder Elliot Soto to a minor-league deal this week. He's expected to get an invite to major-league spring training. The 33-year-old was selected to the 40-man roster in June of 2022 but was designated for assignment a day later and didn't appear in a game. He played in 92 games for Triple-A St. Paul, hitting .223/.320/.342 with four home runs, 32 RBI, 48 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 344 plate appearances. Soto, a glove-first player, made it up to the big leagues for three games with the Los Angeles Angels in 2020 but hasn't made it back since. He'll merely serve as infield depth for the Twins again in 2023 and is well off the fantasy radar. - as of Fri, 25 Nov 2022 13:46:09
Angels Sign Jacob Webb: The Los Angeles Angels signed right-handed reliever Jacob Webb to a minor-league deal on Thursday, according to sources. The 29-year-old overlapped with general manager Perry Minasian in Atlanta and has a 2.47 ERA in 76 2/3 career major-league innings, all with the Braves. Webb didn't pitch in the big leagues at all in 2022, and he had a 4.19 ERA (4.07 FIP), a 1.51 WHIP, one save, 33 strikeouts and 14 walks in 34 1/3 relief innings for Atlanta in 2021. He spent all of the 2022 season in the minors, posting a 6.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 42 strikeouts and nine walks in 34 relief appearances spanning 35 2/3 innings. Webb will serve as relief depth for the Angels in 2023. - as of Fri, 25 Nov 2022 13:33:44
Padres Looking At Xander Bogaerts?: The San Diego Padres are a surprise team looking at shortstop, and they like free-agent shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Ha-Seong Kim could become a super-utility player, and Fernando Tatis Jr. could move to the outfield in 2023. The Padres are looking for leadership and also like first baseman Jose Abreu. The Friars have to also be considered players for Japanese right-hander Kodai Senga since right-hander Yu Darvish is his mentor. As expected, Bogaerts opted out of his deal with the Boston Red Sox after the 2022 season, making him a free agent. The 30-year-old will be one of the most coveted position players in free agency this winter after he slashed .307/.377/.456 with an .833 OPS, 15 home runs, 73 RBI, 84 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 557 at-bats for Boston this year. - as of Fri, 25 Nov 2022 13:20:50
Rays Among Teams Interested In Brandon Nimmo: The San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays are among many teams interested in free-agent outfielder Brandon Nimmo. The New York Mets are also interested in bringing the table-setter back. The Seattle Mariners have also been mentioned as suitors. Nimmo is expected to land a five-year deal worth more than $100 million this winter, which would likely be too costly for the penny-pinching Rays. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter has an impressive .385 career on-base percentage, which makes him very attractive to contending teams as a top-of-the-order hitter. In 151 games for the Mets in 2022, he hit .274/.367/.433 with an .800 OPS, 16 home runs, a league-leading seven triples, 64 RBI, 102 runs scored and three stolen bases. - as of Fri, 25 Nov 2022 13:14:48
Cubs Considering Michael Conforto: The Chicago Cubs are among the teams considering free-agent outfielder Michael Conforto. He is seeking a deal for two years with an opt-out clause. The Cubs are also in touch with free-agent catcher Christian Vazquez, among other catchers. Conforto underwent surgery on his shoulder in April, and although there was a chance he could return to play for a contender late in the season, that never panned out. The 29-year-old left-handed slugger is reportedly back to full health heading into next season, so he should receive plenty of interest on the open market. Conforto was an All-Star in 2017 and hit a career-high 33 home runs while driving in 92 in 151 games as recent as 2019. - as of Fri, 25 Nov 2022 13:07:51