Nathan Eovaldi Remains Linked To Texas: According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News the Texas Rangers remain in contact with free agent starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. Earlier this offseason, the Rangers expressed interest in bringing back Eovaldi, and this report suggests that this possibility is still in play. The 34-year-old has been with the Rangers for the past two seasons and was a crucial part of their rotation during the 2023 World Series run. This past summer, the right-hander posted a 3.80 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP across 170 2/3 innings of work. Eovaldi generated an excellent 48.9% ground ball rate and 32.2% chase rate, both well above the average marks. In addition, he also showcased great command with a 6.0% walk rate. With the Rangers lacking depth in their rotation, Eovaldi would be a welcome return for the 2025 season. - as of Sat, 07 Dec 2024 20:10:02

Andrew Kittredge Could Be A Fit For Arizona: According to Alex D'Agostino of Sports Illustrated, free agent relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge could be a good fit for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 34-year-old operated as the go-to set-up man for Ryan Helsley in St. Louis last season. Across 70 2/3 innings of work, the veteran right-hander posted a 2.80 ERA and 1.13 WHIP and tallied 37 holds. He held a modest 23.3% K rate and showed great command with a 7.0% walk rate. In addition, he generated a 45.5% ground ball rate and a 27.8% whiff rate, which was also slightly above the average marks. With Arizona lacking a proven ninth-inning option, Kittredge could provide a veteran presence in the bullpen and may eventually find himself in a ninth-inning role. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should monitor where he signs in free agency, as he could be a solid target for saves if he becomes a true closer. - as of Sat, 07 Dec 2024 19:58:01

Devin Williams Still In Trade Conversations: According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Devin Williams is still in trade conversations. With Williams projected to earn $7.7 million in his final year of arbitration before becoming a free agent, the Brewers may opt to move off the superstar closer due to their minimal payroll flexibility. With Clay Holmes agreeing to a $38 million contract with the New York Mets, Williams could be in store for a massive payday, given his elite production throughout his career. The 30-year-old missed the first half of the season due to back fractures but returned to his typical ninth-inning role in the second half and posted a 1.25 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with 14 saves. Under the hood, he generated a near-perfect .143 xBA with a 43.2% K rate. Even with the possibility of a trade, fantasy managers should view Williams as a top relief pitcher in all formats heading into the 2025 campaign. - as of Sat, 07 Dec 2024 19:47:02

Justin Turner Could Be Solid Fit For The Rangers: According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, free agent first baseman Justin Turner could be a good fit for the Texas Rangers. With the Rangers looking to improve their production against southpaws, Turner could fit that bill. Last season facing southpaws, Turner posted a .252/.355/.403 slash line with nine doubles, three home runs, and a 17:25 BB:K ratio. While Nathaniel Lowe will likely operate as the No.1 first baseman in 2025, Turner provides a depth option at the position who could also see time on the strong side of a platoon at the DH spot. In addition to his solid bat, Turner showcased great on-base skills last season, boasting a 10.9% walk rate and 17.6% K rate. Fantasy managers in points leagues and formats that score on-base percentage should consider Turner as a deeper value target in drafts. - as of Sat, 07 Dec 2024 19:36:23

Tyler O'Neill Headed To Baltimore: According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Baltimore Orioles have signed free agent outfielder Tyler O'Neill to a three-year $49.5 million contract. This deal includes an opt-out after the 2025 campaign. After playing in under 100 games in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons, O'Neill got himself back on track this past summer in Boston. Across 113 games, the 29-year-old held a .241/.336/.511 line with 31 home runs and four stolen bases. This was his best power output since his 2021 breakout campaign. Under the hood, O'Neill boasted a stellar 17.3% barrel rate and 48.8% hard-hit, which were among the highest marks in the sport. However, he carried a hefty 33.6% K rate, which placed him in the second percentile among qualified hitters. While his home run total will likely drop playing in a more pitcher-friendly ballpark, fantasy managers should expect O'Neill to have prime RBI opportunities batting in a deep Baltimore lineup. - as of Sat, 07 Dec 2024 19:24:01

Willy Adames Inks Seven-Year Contract With San Francisco: According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the San Francisco Giants have signed free agent shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year contract worth $182 million. This is the largest contract in their team's history and the third-largest guaranteed contract earned by a Dominican-born player. The 29-year-old enjoyed an excellent campaign last season with Milwaukee as he posted a strong .251/.331/.462 line with 32 home runs and 21 stolen bases. He added a career-high 121 RBI and 33 doubles. Under the hood, Adames generated an excellent 12.0% barrel rate with a .461 xSLG which was both significantly above the average marks. In addition, he posted a 10.2% walk rate, which placed him in the top 80th percentile among hitters. Fantasy managers should expect the power-hitting shortstop to bat in the heart of the San Francisco lineup, which should provide him with ample RBI opportunities. Given his ability to contribute to all five standard categories, fantasy managers should see him as a high-end shortstop entering the 2025 campaign. - as of Sat, 07 Dec 2024 18:29:01

Padres Re-Sign Mason McCoy To Minor-League Deal: The San Diego Padres re-signed infielder Mason McCoy to a minor-league deal on Friday that includes a non-roster invite to big-league spring training, according to sources. McCoy was non-tendered by the Padres in November but will now return to the organization and will get a chance to compete for an Opening Day roster spot in spring training. The 29-year-old got a short run as the Padres' starting shortstop late in the season when Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) was injured, but he was a short-term stopgap at the position and hit just .204 (10-for-49) with no homers, three RBI, seven runs scored and 19 strikeouts in his 57 plate appearances over 19 games. McCoy has played in just 25 big-league games since debuting in 2023 with Toronto and has a .200/.273/.240 slash line with a .513 OPS. He'll represent infield depth for the Friars again in 2025 and is off the fantasy radar. - as of Sat, 07 Dec 2024 14:09:01

Adrian Houser Signs With Rangers: Free-agent right-hander Adrian Houser signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers on Saturday. Houser will head to the American League after spending the 2024 campaign with the New York Mets. Houser appeared in 23 games (seven starts) for the Mets but wasn't very effective on the mound, going 1-5 with a career-worst 5.84 ERA (4.93 FIP), a 1.53 WHIP, his first career save and a 45:32 K:BB in his 69 1/3 innings pitched before he was cut in late July. The 31-year-old veteran latched on with the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs after that but didn't make it back to the majors in the second half of the season. The former second-round pick by the Houston Astros in 2011 wasn't much better in seven starts in the minors, posting a 6.37 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 35 1/3 frames. Houser will most likely open the 2025 season at Triple-A Round Rock as pitching depth for Texas. - as of Sat, 07 Dec 2024 14:03:02

Cardinals Have Limited Options For Nolan Arenado Trade: ESPN's Buster Olney writes that the St. Louis Cardinals are working from a limited list of options of third baseman Nolan Arenado's preferred teams as they consider their trade possibilities for the future Hall of Famer. The Cardinals are shifting their plans this offseason with an eye more toward the future while playing most of their youngsters in 2025, so the 33-year-old Arenado is being shopped this winter. Even though he's still one of the best defensive third basemen in the game, Arenado is willing to shift to first base in 2025 to create more roster flexibility for a contending team that might be interesting in acquiring him. Some teams that could make sense for Arenado include the Red Sox, Dodgers, Astros, Yankees, Mariners and Blue Jays. Offensively, Arenado has been on the decline since he came to St. Louis, and he had just 16 homers in 2024. In addition, he had career-worst marks in average exit velocity (86.3 mph), hard-hit rate (31.6%) and barrel rate (3.2%). - as of Sat, 07 Dec 2024 13:55:03

Dansby Swanson Undergoes Core Surgery: The Chicago Cubs announced on Saturday that shortstop Dansby Swanson (core) had successful surgery on his core in early October with Dr. Bill Meyer. Swanson isn't expected to miss any time as the result of his offseason surgery and should be ready to go for the start of spring training in mid-February. The 30-year-old wasn't quite as good in his second year in Chicago as he was the previous two seasons when he was an All-Star, as he slashed .242/.312/.390 with a .701 OPS, 16 home runs, 66 RBI, a career-high 19 stolen bases and 82 runs scored in 593 trips to the plate and 149 games. If not for a late-season surge, Swanson would have had a terrible 2024, as he hit just .219/.291/.346 with nine homers in his first 99 games. Despite his resurgence from a poor start, Swanson's career-high 49.9% ground-ball rate doesn't pound to a rebound in the power department going forward. - as of Sat, 07 Dec 2024 13:48:01

Roki Sasaki To Be Posted During Winter Meetings Next Week: According to sources, Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki is expected to be officially posted by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan at next week's MLB winter meetings, which will open a 45-day window for major-league teams to sign him once the amateur signing period opens on Jan. 15. The 23-year-old is regarded as one of the best young pitchers in the world, but his contract will be for a fraction of what he would receive as a major-league free agent because he's under 25 years old and has fewer than six years of experience. Because he'll come on the cheap with front-line starting potential, plenty of MLB teams are expected to pursue him, but the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are considered the front-runners. Sasaki should be fantasy relevant right away in 2025, as he has a triple-digit fastball and one of the best splitters in the game. - as of Sat, 07 Dec 2024 13:37:45

Thairo Estrada Could Make Sense For Rockies To Fill 2B Need: The Colorado Rockies are in the market for a second baseman this winter, and according to a source, one name to monitor is free-agent infielder Thairo Estrada. After moving on from Brendan Rodgers finally, the Rockies signed Kyle Farmer already this offseason, but he projects better as a utility infielder than an everyday starter at the keystone. Prospect Adael Amador isn't quite ready, so Colorado is looking for more of a stop-gap option. In addition to Estrada, free-agent options include Gleyber Torres, Ha-Seong Kim, Jorge Polanco, Jose Iglesias, Adam Frazier and Cavan Biggio. Estrada, 28, had 14 homers and 20-plus steals in two straight years with the Giants in 2022 and 2023 but slumped to a .217/.247/.343 line in 2024 and being sent to the minors. He could be a nice bounce-back candidate, especially in Colorado, and Estrada has a strong glove at second base. - as of Sat, 07 Dec 2024 01:10:03

Clay Holmes Inks Contract With The Mets: According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the New York Mets have signed relief pitcher Clay Holmes to a three-year, $38 million contract. Holmes spent his past three seasons serving as a high-leverage option for the New York Yankees. Last season, Holmes began the season as the closer but eventually lost his job towards the back half of the summer after posting a 3.75 ERA and 1.29 in the second half. Earlier in the offseason, there was speculation that potential suitors were viewing Holmes as a possible starting pitcher. Fantasy managers should monitor how the Mets view Holmes during spring training, as he will likely not see any save opportunities with Edwin Diaz on the roster. Despite his drop in production last summer, Holmes generated a strong 5.6% barrel rate, 30.2% whiff rate, and an impressive 64.6% ground-ball rate, which suggests he could be due for some positive regression in Queens. - as of Fri, 06 Dec 2024 20:24:01

Seiya Suzuki In Trade Discussions: According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Chicago Cubs are "determined" to trade either outfielders Cody Bellinger or Seiya Suzuki. While Bellinger's name has been on the trade block earlier this offseason, Suzuki's name has yet to enter the conversation. Suzuki has spent each of his first three MLB seasons with the Cubs and has posted an overall .278/.354/.470 line. Last season, he hit a career-high 21 home runs and swiped a career-high 16 bags. Under the hood, he generated a stellar 49.2% hard-hit and 11.5% barrel rates. Given Chicago's surplus of young outfielders such as Pete Crow-Armstrong, Owen Caissie, Kevin Alcantara, and even top-hitting prospect infielder Matt Shaw, the Cubs may opt to ship one of these MLB bats to improve another position on their roster, which will open a spot for one of their budding prospects. - as of Fri, 06 Dec 2024 20:15:03

Marcus Stroman Could Be Possible Trade Candidate: According to Gary Philips of the New York Daily News, New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman could be a potential trade candidate. Stroman signed a two-year contract with the Yankees last offseason but could already be on his way out of the Bronx. In his first season as a Yankee, the right-hander held a 4.31 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, which was his worst mark since the 2018 campaign. His underlying metrics were not overly positive as he generated a poor 4.94 xERA and struggled to generate strikeouts at a low 16.7% K rate. Earlier this week, Michael Kay of the YES Network reported that the Yankees had a successful meeting with free agent starting pitcher Max Fried, which could also suggest that Stroman's tenure in New York could be coming to an end. Given his poor underlying metrics, Stroman will likely only be viewed as a low-end streaming option for fantasy purposes in 2025. - as of Fri, 06 Dec 2024 19:59:01

Brett Baty Drawing Trade Interest: According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty is drawing trade interest. Baty was drafted by the Mets with the 12th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. Baty made his major league debut in 2022 but has never been able to find his footing at the big league level as he holds an underwhelming career .215/.282/.325 line with just 15 home runs. However, in Triple-A, Baty has shown solid upside as he sits with an overall .272/.368/.531 with 26 long balls across 94 games. Given his young age, Baty is an intriguing option for rebuilding teams to target, as he has dropped in trade value, given his struggles in the majors. In addition, given Mark Vientos' emergence this past season, Baty may face an uphill battle to find consistent playing time in Queens in 2025. Fantasy managers in dynasty formats should continue to monitor Baty's status during the offseason, as he could be worth looking into if he finds a full-time role with a new club. - as of Fri, 06 Dec 2024 19:49:01

Juan Soto Has Offers From Four Clubs Nearing $700 Million: According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays have made an offer "in the ballpark" of $700 million and nearing 15-plus years to free-agent outfielder Juan Soto. Heyman also noted that the Los Angeles Dodgers have submitted an offer of around "$600 million." The race to sign the 26-year-old superstar continues to heat up as several owners are willing to open their pockets to put themselves as the highest bidder. Last summer in his debut campaign in the Bronx, Soto posted an excellent .288/.419/.569 slash line with 41 long balls. Under the hood, he boasted a .462 xwOBA and .316 xBA, which placed him in the top 100th percentile among qualified hitters. No matter where he calls home in 2025, Soto will be a consensus first-round selection in all fantasy formats this spring. - as of Fri, 06 Dec 2024 19:39:02

Clay Holmes Nearing Decision: According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, relief pitcher Clay Holmes is nearing his free-agent decision. Stark noted that the clubs in talks with Holmes suggest he is nearing a final decision. However, it is still unknown whether Holmes will continue to operate as a reliever or consider moving to the rotation. Earlier this offseason, there was some speculation that teams were considering Holmes as a potential starting pitcher. In addition, Stark noted that several of the teams interested in Holmes are contenders. Last season, the 31-year-old opened the campaign as the Yankees closer but eventually lost his job later in the summer. In the second half, he posted a high 3.75 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. However, he still posted solid metrics under the hood, including a 5.6% barrel rate and a stellar 64.6% ground ball rate. Fantasy managers should monitor where Holmes signs, as he could find fantasy production either as a high-leverage option or as a starter. - as of Fri, 06 Dec 2024 19:31:03

Shane Bieber Returning To Cleveland On One-Year Deal: Free-agent right-hander Shane Bieber (elbow) and the Cleveland Guardians agreed to a one-year, $14 million deal on Friday that includes a $16 million player option for the 2026 season, according to sources. Bieber has chosen to return on a one-year pact after undergoing Tommy John surgery back in April. He isn't expected to return until the middle of 2025, so it makes sense for him to return to the Guardians to try and boost his value once again before potentially hitting the open market again next offseason. The two-time All-Star and former American League Cy Young (2020) only made two starts in 2024 before going under the knife, but he was dominant with 20 strikeouts over 12 shutout innings. Bieber has been excellent in the past, but fantasy managers would be foolish to assume he'll suddenly regain velocity and whiffs in his return from TJ surgery in 2025. He'll be a risk/reward fantasy starter on the cheap. - as of Fri, 06 Dec 2024 19:14:01

Blaze Alexander In Line For Super-Utility Role?: MLB.com's Steve Gilbert wonders if the Arizona Diamondbacks would consider turning shortstop Blaze Alexander into a Chris Taylor-type of multi-positional player moving forward. Alexander has appeared at shortstop, second base and third base at the major-league level, but he has yet to play the outfield. The 25-year-old is an above-average athlete that can run, and he also possesses a strong arm, so he shouldn't have a ton of issues learning the outfield. Using Alexander at other positions in the outfield would make him much more valuable and give manager Torey Lovullo a lot more options in game. An 11th-round selection in 2018, Alexander made his big-league debut in 2024 for the Snakes and saw extensive action, appearing in 61 games and slashing .247/.321/.343 with a .664 OPS, three home runs, 21 RBI, three steals and 19 runs scored in 185 plate appearances. - as of Fri, 06 Dec 2024 14:43:24