Wed Dec 1 2021 | 13:32 | Red Sox Non-Tender Tim Locastro | Tim Locastro | CF | Red Sox | Free Agent |
Outfielder Tim Locastro is on the move again, as the Boston Red Sox have opted not to tender him a contract. He will now become a free agent. The speedy Locastro played for both the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees in 2021 before an ACL injury ended his season. He was claimed off of waivers by Boston on November 5, but his stint with the club proved to be short-lived. As long as his recovery goes to plan, Locastro should have no trouble catching on with a team in need of a baserunning and defense boost, as he's stolen 31 bases in 34 career attempts and is consistently at the top end of sprint speed metrics. |
Source: Christopher Smith | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Dec 1 2021 | 13:26 | Braves Non-Tender Johan Camargo, Richard Rodriguez | Johan Camargo | 2B/3B | Braves | Free Agent |
| | | Richard Rodríguez | RP | Pirates | Free Agent |
The Atlanta Braves have opted not to tender contracts to three players, including relief pitcher Richard Rodriguez and utilityman Johan Camargo. Jasseel De La Cruz will also be looking to link up with a new team. Rodriguez is the most notable name of the bunch, as he pitched to a 2.94 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 14 saves for the Pirates and Braves in 2021. Acquired via trade on June 30, he was expected to fortify the Atlanta pen, but he was left off the postseason roster, and now is back on the open market. Camargo has been with Atlanta for five seasons, posting a career .738 OPS with 34 home runs while playing all over the diamond. |
Source: Mark Bowman | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Dec 1 2021 | 13:17 | Yankees Show Interest In Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Andrelton Simmons | Andrelton Simmons | SS | Twins | Free Agent |
| | | Isiah Kiner-Falefa | 3B/SS | Rangers | Free Agent |
The New York Yankees have expressed interest in a trade for Texas Rangers shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The slick fielder may be expendable now that Texas has added both Marcus Semien and Corey Seager in free agency. New York has also been connected to free agent shortstop Andrelton Simmons. The Yankees had been speculated as a potential landing spot for one of the top free agent shortstops, of which Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, and Chris Taylor remain, but it now appears they will not make such a splash unless contract demands decrease. Prospects Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza lurk in the minors as potential shortstops of the future, and ... [ More] |
Source: Evan Grant | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Dec 1 2021 | 13:00 | Alex Cobb Finalizes Deal With Giants | Alex Cobb | SP | Angels | Free Agent |
The San Francisco Giants and starting pitcher Alex Cobb have finalized a deal to add the veteran right-hander to their rotation for the next two seasons, agreeing on a contract worth $20 million dollars. Cobb will be paid $9 million dollars in each of 2022 and 2023, and the club holds an option for 2024 worth $10 million dollars with a $2 million dollar buyout. Cobb had a strong 2021 until he went down with injury, recording a 3.76 ERA in 93 1/3 innings with an impressive career-high 24.9 percent strikeout rate. The team now has signed Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, and Cobb to follow Logan Webb in the rotation, while losing Kevin Gausman to the Toronto Blue Jays. |
Source: Jon Heyman | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 22:18 | Joey Lucchesi Resumes Throwing | Joey Lucchesi | SP | Mets | Free Agent |
New York Mets left-hander Joey Lucchesi (elbow), who had Tommy John surgery in June, began throwing for the first time on Tuesday since his operation. The 28-year-old will likely miss all of the 2022 season. When he returns in 2023, he'll have two years of team control remaining, which is the main reason why the Mets tendered him a contract on Tuesday. In 11 appearances (eight starts) in his first season for the Mets before he had elbow reconstruction, Lucchesi had a 4.46 ERA, 3.40 FIP, 1.17 WHIP, 41 strikeouts and 11 walks in 38 1/3 innings pitched. |
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 22:13 | Mets Non-Tender Robert Gsellman | Robert Gsellman | RP | Mets | Free Agent |
The New York Mets non-tendered reliever Robert Gsellman, right-hander Stephen Nogosek and outfielder Mark Payton on Tuesday, making them all free-agents. The 28-year-old Gsellman missed most of the 2021 season while rehabbing a torn right lat muscle. He had a 3.77 ERA in 28 2/3 innings and was more effective than he was in 2020, but he only struck out 17 batters and had an FIP of 4.29. Gsellman made $1.3 million last season and would have been due a modest raise through the arbitration process. The 13th-round pick in 2016 should be able to land another job in a bullpen with his mid-90s heater with some starting experience. |
Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 22:04 | Daniel Vogelbach, John Curtiss Non-Tendered By Brewers | Daniel Vogelbach | 1B/DH/PH | Brewers | Free Agent |
| | | John Curtiss | RP | Marlins | Free Agent |
Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Daniel Vogelbach and reliever John Curtiss were non-tendered by the team on Tuesday after Milwaukee reached one-year deals with first baseman Rowdy Tellez, utility man Jace Peterson and reliever Jandel Gustave. Vogelbach and Curtiss are now free agents. With Tellez the preferred left-handed-hitting power option at first base, Vogelbach was expendable. Curtiss will miss all of the 2022 season after having Tommy John surgery in September. He was acquired in a trade with the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline and made only six appearances with the Brew Crew. Vogelbach hit .219 with nine home runs and 24 RBI in 93 games for Milwaukee. |
Source: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 21:58 | Austin Slater Avoids Arbitration With Giants | Austin Slater | CF/LF/PH/RF | Giants | Free Agent |
The San Francisco Giants and outfielder Austin Slater avoided salary arbitration on Tuesday evening by agreeing to a one-year, $1.85 million deal. Slater surprised everyone when he posted a .914 OPS in 31 games in the shortened 2020 season. While he wasn't quite as good in 2021, he was still solid for the Giants with a .241/.320/.423 slash line with a .744 OPS, a career-high 12 home runs, 32 RBI, 39 runs scored and a career-high 15 stolen bases in 306 plate appearances over 129 games. At the very least, Slater will compete for a bench spot for the Giants in spring training, and he could be the right-handed platoon partner with Darin Ruf in left field. |
Source: MLB Network - Jon Heyman | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 21:51 | Mariners Eyeing Trevor Story To Play 3B | Trevor Story | SS | Rockies | Free Agent |
The Seattle Mariners are interested in free-agent shortstop Trevor Story and would like him to play third base. Story has a long list of suitors for a multitude of positions, so no deal is likely before the impending lockout this week. Along with Carlos Correa, Story is the biggest free-agent shortstop available after Corey Seager landed a 10-year deal with the Texas Rangers on Monday. Story has had an OPS above .800 in each of the last four years, although a move away from hitter-friendly Coors Field could make him less attractive moving forward. Still, the 29-year-old has elite speed -- 20-plus steals in three of the last four seasons -- and plenty of pop despite underwhelming with a .251/.329/.471 slash line with an .801 OPS, 24 home runs and 75 RBI in 142 games for the Rockies in 2021. If possible, the M's would like to keep J.P. Crawford at shortstop. |
Source: MLB Network - Jon Heyman | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 21:43 | Cesar Hernandez Heading To The Nationals | César Hernández | 2B | White Sox | Free Agent |
The Washington Nationals are signing free-agent second baseman Cesar Hernandez to a one-year, $4 million deal on Tuesday evening. The deal will include $1 million in incentives. Hernandez became a free agent when the Chicago White Sox didn't pick up his $6 million option for the 2022 season. The switch-hitting second baseman had just a .299 slugging percentage after being acquired in a trade from Cleveland. In total, the 31-year-old hit just .232/.309/.299 in 53 games for the White Sox with three home runs and 15 RBI in 217 plate appearances. Hernandez totaled a career-high 21 home runs, 62 RBI and 84 runs scored in 149 total games with Cleveland and Chicago, though, and he'll provide some solid pop at the keystone for the Nats next season. |
Source: MLB Network - Jon Heyman | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 21:35 | Yankees Have Interest In Kevin Kiermaier | Kevin Kiermaier | CF | Rays | Free Agent |
The New York Yankees have expressed some interest in trading for Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, although the talks haven't been in advanced stages. Kiermaier, who is an excellent defensive center fielder, is owed $12 million in the 2022 season. The 31-year-old also has a $13 million club option with a $2.5 million buyout for the 2023 campaign. Kiermaier is expendable with the Rays having two low-cost center field options in Manuel Margot and Brett Phillips. While Kiermaier's glove is attractive, he's been a league-average hitter and has played more than 129 games in a season just once in his nine-year career. He finished 2021 with a .259/.328/.388 slash line, a .716 OPS, four home runs, 37 RBI, nine stolen bases and 54 runs scored in 390 plate appearances over 122 games played. |
Source: The Athletic - Lindsey Adler | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 21:27 | Phillies In Trade Talks For Kevin Kiermaier | Kevin Kiermaier | CF | Rays | Free Agent |
The Philadelphia Phillies have had trade discussions with the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, according to two leagues sources, and the fit is a logical one. If Kiermaier were traded, the Rays could slide Manuel Margot to center field. Kiermaier is scheduled to make $12 million next season, and he would count for an $8.9 million average annual value for luxury tax purposes. He turns 32 next April, and while he doesn't hit for much power, he remains an elite defender in center field. The Athletic's Matt Gelb lists the A's Ramon Laureano, Arizona's Ketel Marte, Baltimore's Cedric Mullins and Pittsburgh's Bryan Reynolds as other potential trade options as the Phillies look to address their center field need this offseason. |
Source: The Athletic - Matt Gelb | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 21:17 | Braves Checking In On Matt Olson | Matt Olson | 1B | Athletics | Free Agent |
The Atlanta Braves have checked in on Oakland Athletics star first baseman Matt Olson, presumably as a contingency plan in case the team cannot retain Freddie Freeman in free agency. It's hard to envision the Braves not paying up to retain Freeman, but other teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are interested, and the Braves want to be prepared just in case. The Toronto Blue Jays are another team with interest in trying to pry the 32-year-old away from Atlanta. The A's are willing to listen to offers on Olson, who is controllable through the 2023 season, although their asking price will understandably be high for the All-Star left-handed hitter. |
Source: MLB Network - Jon Heyman | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 21:13 | Gio Urshela, Yankees Avoid Arbitration | Gio Urshela | 3B/SS | Yankees | Free Agent |
The New York Yankees and third baseman Gio Urshela avoided salary arbitration on Tuesday by agreeing to a one-year, $6.55 million deal. Urshela will remain in the Bronx for at least one more season, but he wasn't as good in 2021 as he was when he posted an impressive .850 OPS over the previous two seasons. He had a final slash line of .267/.301/.419 in 116 games this year, and he finished the campaign as the club's starting shortstop when they moved Gleyber Torres to second base. Whether the 30-year-old remains at the 6 in 2022 will depend on whether the Yankees can land one of the remaining big free-agent shortstops like Carlos Correa or Trevor Story. |
Source: MLB Network - Jon Heyman | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 20:59 | Matthew Boyd Non-Tendered By Tigers | Matthew Boyd | SP | Tigers | Free Agent |
Starting pitcher Matthew Boyd is set for free agency, as the Detroit Tigers have opted not to tender him a contract for the 2022 season. The left-handed Boyd was estimated by Matt Swartz of MLB Trade Rumors to earn $7.3 million dollars through arbitration in the 2022 season. There's enough upside that he should have little trouble catching on with a new team, but he's coming off two forearm injuries that put an end to his 2021 season with only 78 2/3 innings pitched. For his career, Boyd has a 4.96 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 759 strikeouts in 784 1/3 innings pitched. Other remaining left-handed starters on the open market include Clayton Kershaw, Carlos Rodon, and Yusei Kikuchi. |
Source: Jason Beck | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 20:49 | Clint Frazier Finalizes Agreement With Chicago Cubs | Clint Frazier | LF/RF | Yankees | Free Agent |
Outfielder Clint Frazier is set to become the newest member of the Chicago Cubs, as a one-year major-league contract has been finalized. A former top draft pick by Cleveland, Frazier has thus far failed to live up to his elite prospect status, culminating in being designated for assignment by the Yankees this offseason. He'll be given every opportunity to succeed by the rebuilding Cubs, and he could become a multi-year option for the team as he's under club control through 2025. Health issues have been the major roadblock for Frazier, as he has battled concussions and vertigo among other issues, but his .267/.394/.511 slash line and eight homers in the shortened 2020 season provide a glimpse at his potential. |
Source: Mark Feinsand | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 20:39 | Orlando Arcia Returning To Atlanta | Orlando Arcia | SS | Braves | Free Agent |
Utilityman Orlando Arcia will be returning to the Atlanta Braves after signing a two-year deal worth $3 million dollars in guaranteed money that contains a team option for 2024. Arcia only came to the plate 78 times after being trade from Milwaukee partway through the 2021 campaign, slashing .214/.282/.343. He's never had an OPS higher than .734, in the abbreviated 2020 season. It appears Atlanta has plans for the versatile Arcia, but fantasy managers do not need to pay him any mind. |
Source: Jon Heyman | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 20:33 | Rougned Odor Closing In On Major-League Deal With Orioles | Rougned Odor | 2B/3B | Yankees | Free Agent |
Infielder Rougned Odor is set to join the Baltimore Orioles, as he is reported to be close to an agreement on a one-year major-league contract. Odor spent the first seven years of his career with the Texas Rangers before making 349 plate appearances with the New York Yankees in 2021. He's a career .234/.289/.433 hitter with 161 homers and 62 steals in 960 games. At 27 years old, it isn't out of the question that Odor could once again become a productive regular, but fantasy managers should wait and see before selecting him on draft day. |
Source: Dan Connolly | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 20:25 | Marlins Trade Jorge Alfaro To Padres, Designate Lewis Brinson | Jorge Alfaro | C/LF | Marlins | Free Agent |
| | | Lewis Brinson | CF/LF/RF | Marlins | Free Agent |
Catcher Jorge Alfaro is headed to the San Diego Padres, as the Miami Marlins have traded him in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Alfaro was expendable after the Marlins acquired 2021 Gold Glove-winning backstop Jacob Stallings from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Alfaro will fight for playing time with Austin Nola, Victor Caratini, and Luis Campusano. The Marlins also designated outfielder and former top prospect Lewis Brinson for assignment. Brinson has 1035 career at-bats, but has only managed a .570 OPS with 25 homers and nine steals. He'll seek to restart his career elsewhere in 2022. |
Source: Craig Mish | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Nov 30 2021 | 20:18 | Yankees Tender Contract To Gary Sanchez | Gary Sánchez | C | Yankees | Free Agent |
The New York Yankees have chosen to tender a contract to catcher Gary Sanchez. Sanchez had been speculated as a non-tender candidate, as his salary is expected to be in the area of $8 million dollars via arbitration, but it appears the catcher market did not offer strong enough alternatives for the Yankees to go that route. Sanchez has endured back-to-back disappointing seasons and lost plenty of luster since slashing .232/.316/.525 with 34 homers in 2019. The Yankees will hope he can resume that level of success, but don't be surprised if they continue to seek out upgrades behind the plate. He's a risky power-only fantasy option. |
Source: Jack Curry | RotoBaller.com |