Mon Mar 20 | 12:53 | Guardians Sign Jhon Romero To Minor-League Deal | Jhon Romero | RP | Nationals | Free Agent |
The Cleveland Guardians signed free-agent right-hander Jhon Romero to a minor-league deal on Monday. Romero has spent time with the Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins and made his major-league debut in 2021. He also appeared in three games for Team Columbia in this year's World Baseball Classic. The 28-year-old missed most of last year with a biceps injury and made only four relief appearances for the Twins, allowing two earned runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out six in five innings pitched. He's highly likely to begin the 2023 season in the minor leagues, and he'll serve as organizational relief depth for Cleveland. |
Source: Guardians Insider | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Mar 20 | 12:31 | Yu Chang Held Up By Visa Issues | Yu Chang | 3B/SS | Indians | Free Agent |
Boston Red Sox infielder Yu Chang won't be back with the team in spring camp until Thursday due to visa issues. He will have six days to make the team once he's back, as he's competing with Bobby Dalbec for the final infield spot on the bench to open up the 2023 regular season. The 27-year-old played for Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic and went 7-for-16 with four extra-base hits and eight RBI on his way to being named MVP for Pool A. He spent time with the Guardians, Pirates, Rays and Red Sox in 2022 and hit a combined .208/.289/.315 with four home runs, 15 RBI and 19 runs scored in 69 games. If he makes Boston's Opening Day roster, Chang will be a bench bat for the BoSox. |
Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Mar 20 | 12:10 | Matt Vierling Playing Monday Against Blue Jays | Matt Vierling | LF | Phillies | Free Agent |
Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling (knee) is back in the Grapefruit League lineup on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Kevin Gausman. Vierling is starting in left field and is batting leadoff in his return. A knee strain costed Vierling the last 10 days in spring training, but he is back and ready to go. The former Philadelphia Phillie will be hoping to pick up where he left off in spring action, as he'll take a .467 batting average (7-for-15) with two home runs, four RBI, four runs scored and a stolen base into Monday's contest. In his first year in Detroit, the 26-year-old outfielder figures to once again be on the short side of an outfield platoon, which limits his fantasy appeal to AL-only formats. |
Source: Baseball Press | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Mar 20 | 12:04 | Michael Lorenzen Scratched With Groin Tightness | Michael Lorenzen | CF/SP | Reds | Free Agent |
Detroit Tigers right-hander Michael Lorenzen (groin) was scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League start on Monday due to groin tightness. Trey Wingenter will now make the start in what will be a bullpen game for the Tigers against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 31-year-old is currently being evaluated, and it's unclear as of now if this is an injury that will put him in jeopardy of missing Opening Day. In his most recent spring outing on March 14, Lorenzen only threw 2 2/3 innings, so he still has some building up to do before the start of the 2023 regular season. Lorenzen's durability concerns are even more scary now that he's a starting pitcher, as he missed over two months with the Angels in 2022 due to a shoulder injury. He's in a pitcher-friendly division, but Lorenzen doesn't have much fantasy upside. |
Source: MLB.com - Jason Beck | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Mar 20 | 11:59 | Justin Turner Back In Spring Lineup Monday | Justin Turner | 3B | Dodgers | Free Agent |
Boston Red Sox third baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner (face) has returned to the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Luis Ortiz. Turner is serving as the designated hitter and is batting third in the lineup. The 38-year-old required 16 stitches after being hit in the face by a pitch on March 6 and will be back in a game setting for the first time since then. Although he missed some valuable at-bats while healing, he has plenty of time to get his timing down between now and Opening Day at the end of this month. Between DH duties and occasionally filling in at the corner infield spots, Turner should be an everyday player in his first year in Beantown in 2023. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect a ton of power after he showed a sharp decline last year, but he still has excellent plate discipline. |
Source: Baseball Press | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Mar 20 | 09:51 | Jacob deGrom Looks Impressive In Spring Debut | Jacob deGrom | SP | Mets | Free Agent |
Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom (side) allowed two hits and struck out four over three scoreless innings in Sunday's spring start against the Mariners. The 34-year-old made his spring debut on Sunday after being slowed by tightness in his left side. He showed no rust on Sunday and looked like his ace self. The former New York Met hit 100 mph twice in three innings, and his fastball consistently sat around 97-99 mph. "You saw what he can do, and this is early in Spring Training [for him]," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said of deGrom. "The most important thing with everybody would be just keeping them healthy. You just saw what one of the best pitchers in the game looks like today. It is just fun to watch him again. We were excited to see him out there." deGrom is an elite ace when healthy and is a high-risk/high-reward pick at his current NFBC ADP of 29. |
Source: Kennedi Landry of MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Mar 20 | 09:37 | Jake Fraley Should Be Fine After Fouling Ball Off Leg | Jake Fraley | LF | Mariners | Free Agent |
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley (leg) is expected to be fine after fouling a ball off the middle of his leg Sunday's spring game against the Brewers. According to Reds manager Dave Bell, Fraley should be fine. The 27-year-old exited Sunday's game early after fouling a pitch off his leg, but the ball missed his knee. He appears to have avoided a significant injury and is day-to-day. Fraley has had a torrid spring, hitting .306 with three home runs, 12 RBI, six runs, and four stolen bases across 36 at-bats. Fraley should be available for the Reds on Opening Day and is a solid pick at his current ADP of 266 in NFBC leagues. |
Source: Charles Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Mar 20 | 09:19 | Nolan Arenado Expected To Be Fine After HBP | Nolan Arenado | 3B | Cardinals | Free Agent |
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (hand) is expected to be fine after being hit by a pitch during Sunday's World Baseball Classic win over Cuba. According to Team USA manager Mark DeRosa, Arenado is fine, and if the score (USA was up 9-2 at the time) had been different, "he would have fought me on it" in terms of staying on the field. He underwent x-rays on Sunday, which came back negative. The 31-year-old appeared to have avoided a significant injury and was removed as a precaution. He should be available for the World Baseball Classic championship Tuesday. Arenado is hitting .571 with two home runs and three RBI over 14 at-bats this spring. |
Source: Marly Rivera of ESPN | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Mar 20 | 09:09 | Austin Nola May Have Broken Nose In Cactus League Game | Austin Nola | 1B/C | Padres | Free Agent |
San Diego Padres catcher Austin Nola (face) may have suffered a broken nose after being hit in the face during a Cactus League contest Sunday, "I can't imagine it's not broken," said Padres manager Bob Melvin. The 33-year-old was carted off the field in the top of the fourth inning after being hit in the face by a pitch. Nola is considered day-to-day, and it's unclear if the LSU product will be ready by Opening Day. He slashed .251/.321/.329 with four home runs, 40 RBI, and 40 runs over 397 plate appearances in 2022. Luis Campusano would be San Diego's primary catcher if Nola were to miss any games. |
Source: Dennis Lin of The Athletic | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Mar 20 | 08:51 | Jhoan Duran Suffers Leg Contusion On Sunday | Jhoan Duran | SP | Twins | Free Agent |
Minnesota Twins right-hander Jhoan Duran (leg) sustained a leg contusion after being hit by a line drive during Sunday's backfield game. According to Twins managers Rocco Baldelli, Duran was "moving around pretty well." The 25-year-old has avoided a significant injury and will likely get a few days off before returning to the mound. He will be used in high-leverage situations and should have some opportunities to rack up saves. Duran picked up a combined 26 saves and holds, along with a 1.86 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and an 89:16 K: BB across 67 2/3 innings in 2022. Duran has an NFBC ADP of 140 and could be a bargain at that price if the Twins utilize him as a traditional closer. |
Source: Dan Hayes of The Athletic | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Mar 20 | 06:12 | Juan Soto Day-To-Day With Mild Oblique Strain | Juan Soto | RF | Nationals | Free Agent |
San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (oblique) was removed from Sunday's minor-league "B" game with a "mild left oblique strain." He left after feeling "a little sore" in his left side while striking out in his only at-bat. The 24-year-old was removed for precautionary reasons and is considered "day-to-day." An oblique injury this close to Opening Day can be concerning, and the Padres will be cautious with their star outfielder. He went 6-for-15 with three doubles, two homers, and three walks across four games in the World Baseball Classic. Soto also dealt with a calf strain in late February and early March. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the situation, and we will keep you posted as more information comes in. Matt Carpenter and Adam Engel would see an uptick in at-bats if Soto were to miss any games. Stay tuned. |
Source: Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune | RotoBaller.com |
Sun Mar 19 | 16:09 | Andrew Vaughn Took Grounders On Sunday | Andrew Vaughn | 1B | White Sox | Free Agent |
Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn (back) was able to take ground balls and play catch on Sunday. The 24-year-old is working his way back after dealing with lower back soreness over the last few days. The hope is that Vaughn will get back to swinging a bat soon, but the team isn't going to push him this late in spring. The team could very well give him a few more days off before they try getting Vaughn back into the swing of things. The expectation is that Vaughn is going to be ready in time for Opening Day. |
Source: James Fegan | RotoBaller.com |
Sun Mar 19 | 15:57 | Max Kepler Exits Early On Sunday | Max Kepler | RF | Twins | Free Agent |
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (hip) was removed early during Sunday's Grapefruit League matchup. The left-handed slugger was pulled out of the game due to left hip tightness. It sounds like this was a precautionary move by the organization. Fantasy managers should consider Kepler as day-to-day right now. The team will likely give another update on his status, but he should be fine for Opening Day. The 30-year-old slugger is looking for a bounce back season after struggling in 2022. He should get a legitimate chance to prove himself as the everyday right fielder. |
Source: Betsy Helfand | RotoBaller.com |
Sun Mar 19 | 15:46 | Glenn Otto To Undergo MRI | Glenn Otto | SP | Rangers | Free Agent |
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Glenn Otto (lat) was scratched ahead of his scheduled start on Saturday. The right-hander missed this contest due to right lat tightness. It sounds like Otto is still dealing with some soreness on Sunday. That being said, the organization has decided to have Otto undergo an MRI. He was likely headed to Triple-A to begin the season anyway. Now, the right-hander might land on the injured list, which could delay his start to the minor league season. |
Source: Evan Grant | RotoBaller.com |
Sun Mar 19 | 15:04 | Jurickson Profar Signs With Rockies | Jurickson Profar | 2B/LF | Padres | Free Agent |
The Colorado Rockies signed utility fielder Jurickson Profar to a one-year, $8.75 million deal. Profar is guaranteed $7.75 million and can earn another million if he reaches 400 plate appearances. The 30-year-old is expected to serve as the Rockies left fielder while batting leadoff in 2023. He was one of the last free agents to be signed, despite a fruitful 2022 campaign with the San Diego Padres. Profar slashed .243/.331/.391 with 15 HRs and a .723 OPS. He put together a memorable Wild Card Series against the Mets, after posting a 1.012 OPS with four plated runs in the series. If the Curacao native can continue to contribute offensively, he could be a valuable investment in deep league formats. |
Source: Jon Heyman | RotoBaller.com |
Sun Mar 19 | 14:05 | Abraham Almonte Reassigned To Minor League Camp | Abraham Almonte | LF/RF | Braves | Free Agent |
New York Mets outfielder Abraham Almonte (calf) was reassigned to Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. Almonte made eight appearances this spring, and will likely serve as organizational depth for the Mets in 2023. He made 14 at-bats and slashed .500/.650/.643 with a 1.293 OPS in spring training. He certainly made an impact this spring and may even see some time in the big leagues throughout the season. The 33-year-old spent his 2022 campaign with the Milwaukee Brewers and Boston Red Sox. He played in just 15 big league games with the Red Sox and hit .257 with one home run. If he turns some heads in Triple-A Syracuse, he could get an early promotion. Although, he won't bring any value to fantasy leagues. |
Source: Mike Puma | RotoBaller.com |
Sun Mar 19 | 12:00 | Jose Altuve Expected To Miss 8-10 Weeks | Jose Altuve | 2B | Astros | Free Agent |
Houston Astros All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve (thumb) is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks due to a broken right thumb that he suffered in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals on Saturday night while playing for Team Venezuela. Altuve was hit by a pitch while facing Team USA and reliever Daniel Bard on Saturday, and now he's not expected to make his 2023 season debut until late May. The 32-year-old veteran may not return until June, depending on how his thumb heals. In the meantime, David Hensley, Mauricio Dubon and Rylan Bannon will compete for playing time at the keystone with Altuve on the shelf. It's a tough break for anyone that has already drafted Altuve, and for those with upcoming drafts, his fantasy stock obviously takes a big hit this year. |
Source: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Mar 18 | 23:51 | Jimmy Herget Competing For Closing Role | Jimmy Herget | SP | Angels | Free Agent |
Los Angeles Angels reliever Jimmy Herget has joined the conversation to become the teams closer to begin the season. With offseason acquisition Carlos Estevez struggling in spring training with a 15.43 ERA through six appearances, Herget is being strongly considered to start off the season as the closer. After the Halos dealt star closer Raisel Iglesias during last years trade deadline, they turned to their closing committee for the second half. 29-year-old Herget led the committee with nine saves, and the Angels were impressed by his performance in high-leverage situations. In high-pressure situations, he posted a 3.51 FIP with 10 strikeouts across 12 2/3 innings. While Herget is a strong candidate to be the teams closer, other names like Aaron Loup and Jose Quijada are in the mix as well. |
Source: Rhett Bollinger | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Mar 18 | 23:23 | Abraham Almonte Re-Assigned To Triple-A | Abraham Almonte | LF/RF | Braves | Free Agent |
New York Mets outfielder Abraham Almonte (calf) was re-assigned to Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday. Almonte made eight appearances this spring, and will likely serve as organizational depth for the Mets in 2023. He made 14 at-bat and slashed .500/.650/.643 with a 1.293 OPS in spring training. He certainly made an impact this spring and may even see some time in the big leagues throughout the season. The 33-year-old spent his 2022 campaign with the Boston Red Sox, which was mainly played in the minor leagues. He played in just 15 big league games and hit .257 with one home run. If he turns some heads in Triple-A Worcester, he could get an early promotion. Although, he won't bring any value to fantasy leagues. |
Source: Mike Puma | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Mar 18 | 22:35 | James Paxton Throws Bullpen Session | James Paxton | SP | Mariners | Free Agent |
Boston Red Sox southpaw James Paxton (hamstring) threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session on Saturday. Paxton is recovering from a right hamstring strain that he sustained in his first spring training start on March 3rd. He is expected to throw one more session along with two live BPs before pitching in a game. With the pace that he's on, Paxton will likely begin the season on the injured list. The 34-year-old missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and anticipates making a comeback in 2023. He last pitched a full season in 2019 with the New York Yankees and composed a 3.82 ERA across 29 starts. Evidently, Paxton has had a bumpy past few seasons but the Red Sox are hoping to reinvigorate the success that he had just a few seasons ago. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |