Bubba Thompson To Play College Football In 2025: Cincinnati Reds outfielder Bubba Thompson has decided to try his hand at football as a walk-on at South Alabama this year. The 26-year-old was an all-state quarterback at McGill-Toolen Catholic School in 2016 but has been playing professional baseball for the last eight seasons. The former first-rounder by the Texas Rangers in 2017 has been in the big leagues the last three years with both the Rangers and Reds, slashing a weak .232/.273/.295 with a .568 OPS, one home run, 13 RBI, 27 stolen bases and 33 runs scored in 109 games played. Because Thompson never enrolled in college, he'll have five full years to play four seasons in college. With the 6-foot-2, 197-pounder's decision to go back to football, it's unlikely that he'll be a candidate to make it back to the big leagues in baseball. In seven minor-league seasons, Thompson hit .263/.321/.417 with 52 homers, 226 RBI and 165 steals in 486 games. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 22:53:43

Dodgers Meet With Roki Sasaki Again: The Los Angeles Dodgers met with Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki for a second time on Tuesday to make one final pitch to the 23-year-old phenom, according to league sources. It was reported on Monday that the Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays are the three finalists for Sasaki's services. The Dodgers were one of the first teams to meet with Sasaki last month and have been considered the favorites all along to land him after winning the World Series last fall. The Dodgers' second and final pitch was expected to feature several of their star players, most likely including two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. LA committed more than a billion dollars to add Japanese stars Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason and are now trying to get Sasaki at a bargain. Despite durability issues, Sasaki will have high-end fantasy appeal in 2025, especially if he lands in Hollywood. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 22:47:01

MLB Pipeline Names Samuel Basallo Top Catching Prospect Entering 2025: MLB Pipeline has tabbed Baltimore Orioles catching prospect Samuel Basallo the best at his position entering the 2025 season. The 20-year-old received his first extended look at Double-A ball last summer and performed at an elite level, posting a .289/.355/.465 line. He hit 22 doubles, 16 home runs, and swiped nine bags. He then earned a late-season promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, holding a modest .222/.267/.370 line across a short 21-game stint. In 2023, he spent most of the summer in the lower levels of the Baltimore pipeline and posted a stellar .313/.402/.551 line. Even though Adley Rutschman blocks Basallo from catching duties, he could still have a path to a 2025 debut, as he did see several starts at first base last summer. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his development during spring training and through the early part of the season, as he will likely open the regular season at Triple-A. A second-half promotion is not out of the question if he performs well with the Norfolk Tide. He is a top asset in dynasty formats but is not worth drafting in standard redraft leagues for the time being. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 19:54:06

Padres Sign J.B. Wendelken To Minor-League Deal: According to Robert Murray of FanSided.com, the San Diego Padres have signed right-hander J.B. Wendelken to a minor-league contract. The right-hander spent the past two summers pitching in Japan and performed exceptionally well, holding a strong 1.57 ERA across 95 contests. The 31-year-old last appeared in the major league during the 2022 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Across 29 frames that season, he held a 5.28 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. Wendelken enjoyed his best major league season in 2020, where he posted an impressive 1.80 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP across 25 relief innings. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during spring training as he could contend for a spot on the Opening Day roster if he can carry his overseas success back to the MLB. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 19:43:01

White Sox Sign Jonathan Heasley To Minor-League Contract: According to the team, the Chicago White Sox have signed right-handed pitcher Jonathan Heasley to a minor-league contract that contains an invite to spring training. Heasley logged just five innings in the majors last season with the Baltimore Orioles. The right-hander allowed ten earned runs and ten hits in this small stint. He logged a career-high 104 innings during the 2022 season with the Kansas City Royals and held a high 5.28 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP over this stretch. He struck out just 70 batters. Through 164 2/3 career innings at the Triple-A level, Heasley posted a 5.47 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Given his struggles in the majors, the 27-year-old will likely spend most of the 2025 season in the minor leagues. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 19:34:02

Cubs Having Contract Conversations With Alex Bregman: According to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, the Chicago Cubs have had "casual conversations" with player agent Scott Boras on potentially signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman to a short-term contract. Bregman is one of the top remaining bats on the free-agent market and is currently seeking a longer extension. Throughout the offseason, the Detroit Tigers have been viewed as one of the top landing spots for the infielder. However, Bregman has been unable to find the contract he is looking for. According to Levine, the Cubs are not willing to sign Bregman to a large extension but have expressed interest in a short-term deal. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor this situation, as the Cubs could become Bregman's top target if he were to look for a short-term contract. If Bregman were to sign with Chicago, he would have an everyday role at the hot corner, limiting top prospect Matt Shaw's opportunities to make a big-league debut early in the season. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 19:26:01

Joe Kelly Wants To Return To Los Angeles: Free-agent relief pitcher Joe Kelly (shoulder) noted on the Dodgers Beat podcast that he will either return to Los Angeles or retire. His decision will come down to his health, as he is currently recovering from a shoulder injury that cut his 2024 campaign short. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the offseason, as his health will dictate the future of his professional career. The 36-year-old was limited to just 32 innings of work last season and held a 4.78 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He struck out 35 batters but posted a high 11.2% walk rate. In 2023, the right-hander had a similar 4.12 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. If Kelly were to move past this injury and return to the Dodgers for the 2025 campaign, he would likely continue to see time as a middle reliever, as he tallied 13 holds last season. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 19:15:03

Nick Raposo Designated For Assignment: According to Shannon Drayer of MyNorthWest.com, the Seattle Mariners designated catcher Nick Raposo for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for infielder Miles Mastrobuoni, who the Mariners acquired earlier on Tuesday. The Mariners claimed Raposo off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this offseason. Last summer, the 26-year-old backstop spent the entire season at the Triple-A level. Across 78 contests, Raposo held a .206/.280/.340 line with ten doubles, eight home runs, and a 25:59 BB:K ratio. At the Double-A level, Raposo posted a career .268/.348/.324 line. Given his struggles at the top level of the minor leagues, Raposo will likely spend most of the 2025 campaign in the minor leagues. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 19:07:01

Mariners Acquire Miles Mastrobuoni From Cubs: The Seattle Mariners acquired infielder Miles Mastrobuoni from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations, the Cubs announced. The move comes after the Cubs designated Mastrobuoni for assignment last week. The 29-year-old infielder will now head to the American League West and will provide the M's with infield depth heading into the 2025 season. Mastrobuoni, a former 14th-round selection by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 out of the University of Nevada, Reno, debuted in the big leagues in 2022 with Tampa but played in only eight games. He hit .221/.282/.268 with a homer, nine RBI, 15 steals and 33 runs scored in 110 games for the Cubbies the last two years as a reserve. He's a serviceable utility infielder but has very little offensive upside, and with minor-league options remaining, there's a good chance he'll open the year at Triple-A Tacoma. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:33:02

Jorge Alfaro Signs Minors Deal With Brewers: Free-agent catcher Jorge Alfaro signed a minor-league deal with an invite to major-league spring training with the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, according to sources. Alfaro signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs last year but was released during spring training. The 31-year-old veteran backstop didn't see action anywhere in the big leagues in 2024 but will head to spring training in 2025 as catching depth for the Brew Crew. The Colombian catcher last appeared in the majors in 2023 with the Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox and went 7-for-48 (.146) with a homer and four RBI in just 18 games played. If Alfaro doesn't get cut by Milwaukee this spring, he will likely open the year at Triple-A Nashville as minor-league depth. In parts of eight seasons in the majors with five different teams, Alfaro has a career .253/.302/.393 slash line with 48 homers and 198 RBI in 496 games played. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:27:02

J.P. France Progressing In Rehab From Shoulder Surgery: Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) underwent surgery on July 1 of last year to fix a torn right shoulder capsule, a procedure that came with a recovery timeline of 12 to 14 months. Monday marked France's final day of throwing at 75 feet, and he will move back to 90 feet on Wednesday. "It's been going good," France said. "I haven't had any setbacks, knock on wood. Every day I throw and there's really no soreness, no pain. Everything's been going good without a hiccup." The former 14th-rounder in 2018 out of Mississippi State had a rough 7.46 ERA in his five starts last year before being sent to the minors and eventually shut down He went 11-6 with a 3.83 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) in 2023, but he'll remain in rehab mode at the team's spring complex in Florida until May, so he will not be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:21:02

Aidan Miller, Andrew Painter Invited To Spring Training: Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Aidan Miller, right-hander Andrew Painter and outfielder Justin Crawford, who are the team's top three prospects per MLB Pipeline, have all received non-roster invites to big-league spring training. Miller, 20, was the 27th overall pick in 2023 started at Single-A in 2024 and finished with Double-A Reading. The right-handed hitter has the potential to hit for average and power while being a 20-steal threat in the majors, although he's likely to move off shortstop in the long run. Painter, 21, won't pitch in spring training while coming off Tommy John surgery in 2023. While he has front-of-the-rotation stuff, Painter isn't expected to be an option for the Phils until around midseason. Crawford, 21, is also a former first-rounder and appeared in last year's Futures Game after hitting a combined .313/.360/.444 with nine homers, 61 RBI and 42 steals at two minor-league stops in 2024. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:14:02

Guardians Invite Chase DeLauter To Spring Training: Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect Chase DeLauter is among the team's non-roster invites to major-league spring training this year. Per MLB Pipeline, DeLauter is Cleveland's No. 2 prospect. The 23-year-old is one of the best up-and-coming outfield prospects in the game from a pure athletic standpoint, but he's going to need to stay healthy to have a shot at panning out at the next level. He was limited to only 39 games in the minors in 2024 due to foot and hamstring ailments and slashed a combined .261/.342/.500 with an .842 OPS, eight home runs, 24 RBI and 25 runs scored in 164 plate appearances at three different stops. If DeLauter stays healthy this spring and impresses, he could break camp with the big-league squad. He missed his entire first pro season in 2022 with a broken foot. The former first-rounder has little left to prove in the minors but is an injury risk for those in keeper leagues. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:05:02

Anthony Santander Open To Short-Term Deal With High Annual Value: According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, free agent outfielder/designated hitter Anthony Santander is open to signing a short-term deal with a high annual value. Santander has been one of the top bats on the market all offseason but has been unable to seal a longer-term extension. Rosenthal noted that Santander might opt to take a short-term deal like many Scott Boras clients have done and would seek a larger contract before the 2026 season. For example, Matt Chapman and Blake Snell have taken shorter deals, which have allowed them to sign a larger contract in the future. The 30-year-old slugger launched at least 28 home runs for the third straight season and even hit a career-best 44 in 2024. He generated an impressive .506 SLG and an 11.7% barrel rate. Earlier this offseason, it was reported that the Toronto Blue Jays are among the clubs interested in Santander. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 08:51:01

Jack Flaherty Could Sign Short-Term Contract: According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, free agent right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty may opt to sign a short-term contract this offseason. Flaherty has been viewed as one of the top starting pitchers on the market all offseason but has yet to find a suitor. Rosenthal noted that teams may want to see Flaherty post two strong seasons before signing him up for a longer-term contract. Flaherty enjoyed a nice bounce-back season in 2024, posting a 3.17 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 162 innings. However, in 2023, he held a 4.99 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. The last time Flaherty posted two straight seasons holding an ERA of 3.50 or less was during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. The 29-year-old carries high strikeout upside in 2025 but carries some risk, given that he has not sustained this success for an extended period of time. If Flaherty were to enjoy another strong season in 2025, he would then be a highly coveted asset on the open market entering the 2026 season. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 08:44:02

Clubs Showing Interest In Brooks Raley: According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, several clubs have checked in on free agent left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley. According to Rosenthal, the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs are among the clubs that have expressed interest in Raley. The southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery last May but is on track to return sometime in the second half of the 2025 campaign. The 36-year-old tossed seven shutout innings last summer before being sidelined. During the 2023 campaign, Raley held a strong 2.80 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP across 54 1/3 innings. He struck out 61 batters, generating a strong 29.2% hard-hit rate and a .321 xSLG. Raley would likely earn a high-leverage role once he returns to the big league mound in 2025. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 08:35:07

Padres Would Prefer To Hold Luis Arraez: According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the San Diego Padres would prefer to hold infielder Luis Arraez. Arraez has had his name circling around several trade discussions throughout the offseason. However, the Padres and Arraez settled on a $14 million to avoid arbitration last week. Lin noted that even though the team remains focused on winning a championship, they remain open to moving a few of their higher contracts to create some roster flexibility. Starting pitcher Dylan Cease and right-handed relief pitcher Robert Suarez have also had their names around trade talks. Last season, Arraez posted at least a .300 AVG for the third-straight campaign. Last summer, he held a .314 AVG across time with Miami and San Diego. Under the hood, he posted a stellar 4.3% K rate but lacked in power production. The 27-year-old remains one of the top targets for batting average but carries very low power upside. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 08:27:02

Whit Merrifield Considering Retirement: According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, second baseman Whit Merrifield is considering retirement. Bowman noted that Merrifield was a good fit in Atlanta last season and could be in contention to earn a spot on their Opening Day roster but is currently considering retirement. The veteran opened the 2024 season with the Phillies and ended the campaign in Atlanta. Across 42 games with the Braves, Merrifield held a .248/.348/.336 line with a 20:33 BB:K ratio and six stolen bases. He swiped 17 total bags last summer. He showed a strong eye at the plate with a 10.4% walk rate and a 15.5% K rate. In addition, he placed in the 90th percentile in sprint speed. If Merrifield were to end his career, he would finish with a strong career .280/.328/.413 line, 218 stolen bases, and three All-Star Game appearances across nine MLB seasons. - as of Tue, 14 Jan 2025 08:16:02

Jake Woodford Signs Minor-League Contract With Colorado: According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, the Colorado Rockies have signed right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training. The 28-year-old spent time with the White Sox and Pirates during the 2024 season and held a 7.97 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP across 35 innings of work. In 2023, he held a similar 6.23 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP through 47 2/3 innings of work with St. Louis. This was a sharp decline from the career-best 2.23 ERA and 1.12 WHIP he posted during the 2022 season. Through 407 2/3 career innings at the Triple-A level, he has held a 4.00 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. With the Rockies inviting several top pitching prospects to spring training, such as Chase Dollander and Sean Sullivan, Woodford will likely compete for a spot in the back end of the starting rotation if the young arms struggle in their first taste of the majors. - as of Mon, 13 Jan 2025 20:26:01

Yankees Sign Dominic Smith To Minor-League Deal: According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the New York Yankees have signed first baseman/outfielder Dominic Smith to a minor-league contract. Smith opened the 2024 season with the Boston Red Sox but was eventually shipped to Cincinnati. Across 93 major league games last summer, Smith held a .233/.313/.378 line with six home runs. In 21 games with Triple-A Durham, Smith posted a .263./337/.375 line. The former 11th-overall selection has been unable to get his major league career back on track since posting a strong .299/.366/.571 line across the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Fantasy managers should expect Smith to open the campaign with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre but would likely be given another opportunity in the majors as an injury replacement for Ben Rice or Paul Goldschmidt at first base. - as of Mon, 13 Jan 2025 20:22:01