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Fantasy baseball reactions to MLB offseason trades, signings

In what uniform will Juan Soto be celebrating his home runs in 2025? AP

Tracking the offseason MLB trades and signings with fantasy baseball implications for the upcoming season, Eric Karabell and Tristan H. Cockcroft will analyze and provide an outlook for all of the key players involved.

The MLB offseason is in full swing. While trades are now fully permissible, free agents cannot officially sign with new teams until 5 p.m. Monday, which is also the deadline for teams and players alike to exercise any contract options for 2025.

Some of the biggest bats who might be on the move include the likes of Juan Soto, Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso. Meanwhile, Corbin Burnes and Max Fried are just two of the bigger-name pitchers who could be in new clubhouses.

Note: Not every transaction warrants the attention of fantasy managers, but for those signings and trades that do merit analysis, you'll find them listed below. Players will be separated by position and then listed in chronological order of the move within each positional grouping, with the latest news coming first. Also included are links to any standalone analysis stories and/or videos regarding major free agent signings and trades. Players who end up re-signing with their previous team will not always be included.

Jump to: Catcher | First base | Second base | Shortstop | Third base | Outfield | DH | Starting pitcher | Relief pitcher


Catcher

Kyle Higashioka signs with Rangers: Higashioka's only season with the Padres produced 17 homers and 134 ESPN fantasy points -- a top-30 figure for catchers. It might have been a career year, but Higashioka reached double-digit home runs for the fourth consecutive season, and he should split time in Texas with Jonah Heim, who struggled in 2024. Take Heim earlier in drafts, but Higashioka warrants deep-league attention. -- Karabell (12/3)

Travis d'Arnaud signs with Angels: This is a bit of an odd one since the Angels boast much younger C Logan O'Hoppe, who has hit 34 homers over his past 721 PA (over two seasons). Perhaps they wish to corner the market on apostrophe-themed players? The Braves enjoyed d'Arnaud as he hit 44 homers over the past three seasons, mainly in a timeshare role, but he turns 36 in February and figures to see less playing time as a member of the Angels. That isn't ideal in fantasy. -- Karabell (11/12)

Other selected free agents: James McCann, Danny Jansen


First base

Selected free agents: Paul Goldschmidt, Pete Alonso, Anthony Rizzo, Josh Bell, Christian Walker, Carlos Santana


Second base

Jonathan India traded from Reds to Royals: India, the 2021 NL Rookie of the Year, played in a career-high 151 games last season, reaching double digits in both home runs and stolen bases for the third time. India isn't known for a high batting average, but he is particularly valuable in points leagues for his ability to reach base. Only four players drew more than his 80 walks last season. Playing half of his home games in Kansas City rather than Cincinnati might affect his power stats, but India's discipline should travel, and a spot atop his new lineup is likely. His value shouldn't change much. -- Karabell (11/22)

Other selected free agents: Gleyber Torres, Brandon Drury, Jorge Polanco, Adam Frazier


Shortstop

Selected free agents: Willy Adames, Ha-Seong Kim, Kyle Farmer, Enrique Hernandez, Paul DeJong, Garrett Hampson, Amed Rosario, Jose Iglesias


Third base

Selected free agents: Alex Bregman, Yoan Moncada


Outfield

Jose Siri traded from Rays to Mets: Siri is an excellent defensive center fielder, and a reasonable replacement to fill the Harrison Bader/Tyrone Taylor role in New York. As a hitter, Siri boasts modest power and speed, having amassed 43 homers and 26 steals over the past two seasons, but still he lacks much fantasy value after hitting just .187 with a 38% strikeout rate in 2024. Until Siri becomes more disciplined and makes more contact (which seems unlikely at this stage), avoid the lure of the counting numbers. -- Karabell (11/19)

Other selected free agents: Juan Soto, Teoscar Hernandez, Michael Conforto, Mark Canha, Anthony Santander, Harrison Bader, Manuel Margot, Alex Verdugo, Max Kepler, Tyler O'Neill


Designated hitter

Jorge Soler traded from Braves to Angels: We know what the well-traveled Soler is at this point, and he is more valuable than most realize. Soler, 32, has hit 57 home runs over the past two seasons for three clubs, and now he heads back to the AL, where he boasts a HR title for the 2019 Royals. Soler will never win a batting title or a Gold Glove, but consistent power and a double-digit walk rate every season cannot be ignored. He was the OF31 in ESPN points leagues in 2024, a bit underrated as he remained available in many leagues, and there is little reason to expect diminished performance in 2025. The acquisition works well for this power-starved lineup, although adding Soler likely means Mike Trout remains a regular outfielder. -- Karabell (10/31)

Other selected free agents: Marcell Ozuna, Justin Turner, Joc Pederson, J.D. Martinez, Eloy Jimenez, Andrew McCutchen


Starting pitcher

Frankie Montas signs with Mets: Montas' return last season from shoulder issues went respectably, including 150⅔ IP and 148 strikeouts, both his second-best numbers. Plus, an uptick in strikeouts following his deadline trade to the Brewers (28.7%, compared to 23.9% for his career) offers promise. Citi Field's more pitcher-friendly confines could boost his number of stream-worthy starts in mixed leagues. The ceiling for Montas isn't quite at 2021's peak level, however, so don't get too carried away with thoughts that the Mets' coaching staff -- which squeezed a lot out of Sean Manaea and Luis Severino in 2024 -- are bound to do it again. -- Cockcroft (12/2)

Matthew Boyd signs with Cubs: Boyd's return from Tommy John surgery went about as well as anyone could have possibly expected. Check out his 2.28 ERA and 28.2% strikeout rate (including his postseason work), though also note that his average of 4.7 innings across 11 starts left a lot to be desired in fantasy terms. If he continues to show the heightened velocity and changeup effectiveness he had during his short spring training stint, he could be a sleeper/top-50 ceiling starting pitcher. Still, a pitcher with Boyd's recent track record in terms of health is a poor bet to reach the 150-IP threshold. -- Cockcroft (12/2)

Blake Snell signs with Dodgers: The rich get richer and a fantasy ace only gets "ace-ier." Snell's massive five-year, $182 million contract -- which includes a large signing bonus and deferrals, for those who fret about the salary cap -- reflects the elite level at which he can pitch, at least when he's healthy and in his midseason rhythm.

To illustrate, from the date of his July 9 return from a groin injury forward last season, Snell outscored every pitcher in fantasy baseball by 28 points (using ESPN's standard scoring), and every player except for the two league MVPs, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. Additionally, Snell was the No. 6 SP during his 2018 AL Cy Young campaign, the No. 3 SP during his 2023 NL Cy Young campaign, the No. 2 SP over his final seven starts of 2021 and the No. 15 SP over the final three months of 2022.

The problem is that, outside of those specific time periods -- and all that above reflects plenty of "great," to be sure -- Snell has a 15-22 record and 4.95 ERA over 67 starts, leaving him as an effectively unusable fantasy option during those times, outside of the fact that he still sported a 29.4% strikeout rate. This inconsistency is why landing with the Dodgers represents about the best possible spot for the left-hander, not only because of the maximized team support (read: lineup, bullpen), but also because the team is about the strongest proponent of the six-man rotation and rotational maintenance as there is.

Snell might have chosen the best destination for lowering the risk involved in his fantasy investment, and he'll surely rank among the betting favorites for a third Cy Young Award for that reason. Now, that doesn't eliminate entirely the chance that, at age 32, Snell will miss additional time due to injury, but at least for 2025 he's lined up for a full spring training ramp-up -- a big contrast from his sluggish start to 2024 -- and a much-heightened floor. He now warrants consideration for a top-15 SP ranking in 2025 drafts. -- Cockcroft (11/27)

Yusei Kikuchi signs with Angels: The Japanese left-hander has always been a strikeout option (for the Mariners, Blue Jays, Astros and fantasy managers) and expectations figure to be higher in 2025 after he finished so strong for Houston. Kikuchi made 10 starts for the Astros after being acquired near the trade deadline, adjusting his pitch mix to rely heavily on sliders -- arguably his best pitch -- and he was far more effective versus right-handed batters. He averaged 11.3 ESPN fantasy points for the season, but 17.2 points for the Astros. One would think that Kikuchi will bring his new attacking style with him to the Angels, and fantasy managers might consider him as a potential top-40 starting pitcher. -- Karabell (11/25)

Brady Singer traded from Royals to Reds: Singer bounced back in 2024 with modest numbers, though not as excellent as in his breakout 2022 campaign. He will have a rotation spot for the Reds, but switching home ballparks may be a problem. Singer has posted a 3.51 home ERA over the past three seasons but away from Kansas City's large park his ERA was 5.03. The Reds desired an innings-eater but fantasy managers may not enjoy the new results. -- Karabell (11/22)

Kyle Hendricks signs with Angels: Once upon a time, Hendricks was a reasonable fantasy option posting strong ERA and WHIP numbers for the Cubs. Now he's an Angel, but he won't be much of one for your fantasy team. Hendricks, 34, has been a below-average starter since 2020, and he was never much of a strikeout pitcher. Now he is even less of one. Hendricks is coming off his worst season and the Angels are desperate for innings. You shouldn't be. -- Karabell (11/6)

Griffin Canning traded from Angels to Braves: Canning pitched terribly in 2024, his 5.19 ERA being third worst among 59 qualifiers (ahead of only Patrick Corbin and Miles Mikolas) and only one pitcher (Kutter Crawford) permitting more than his 31 home runs. However, we have seen the Braves work magic with pitchers in recent seasons, and Canning, who has one year left on his contract, showed promise in 2023, earning a 25.9% strikeout rate with his pitch mix heavy in sliders and four-seamers. Nobody is saying this is the next Reynaldo Lopez, but it is Atlanta, so we should be a little intrigued as late-round picks go. -- Karabell (10/31)

*Note: Canning was non-tendered by the Braves on 11/22 and is now a free agent.

Other selected free agents: Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin, Charlie Morton, Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, Sean Manaea, Jack Flaherty, Shane Bieber, Jose Quintana, Kyle Gibson, Luis Severino, Andrew Heaney, Roki Sasaki


Relief pitcher

Aroldis Chapman signs with Red Sox: Chapman, third among active pitchers with 335 saves, might replace the fellow who leads the list, free agent Kenley Jansen, as the team's closer. The Red Sox also employ RHP Liam Hendriks (elbow), who did not pitch in 2024. The hard-throwing Chapman saved 14 games for last season's Pirates, with his most recent 30-save campaign coming for the 2021 Yankees. Chapman remains effective enough, as only six relief pitchers accrued more strikeouts last season, yet no reliever issued more walks. Neither Chapman nor Hendriks can be considered a top-10 RP in drafts until we have more clarity. This should be interesting. -- Karabell (12/3)

Other selected free agents: Kenley Jansen, Ryan Pressly, Ross Stripling, David Robertson, Daniel Bard, Drew Smyly, Blake Treinen, Kendall Graveman, Paul Sewald