Fantasy Baseball News

Left-hander Blake Snell and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a five-year, $182 million contract, according to multiple reports. (Source: Mark Feinsand on X)

Fantasy Impact: Snell turns 32 years old in December and is coming off a year in which he pitched to a 3.12 ERA with 145 strikeouts over 104 innings with the San Francisco Giants. But he pitched to an even better 1.45 ERA in the second half of the season after getting off to a slow start that appeared to be at least partially due to the fact that he missed most of Spring Training due to not signing until mid-March. He lands in an ideal situation with the Dodgers, who figure to have one of the best offenses in baseball once again to support Snell and a reliable bullpen to help close out his wins.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are trading for Jack Flaherty. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This is a trade right at the buzzer. Flaherty was expected to be moved after he was scratched from his scheduled start on Monday. He should find himself towards the top of a Dodgers starting rotation dealing with a plethora of injuries.

The Miami Marlins are trading Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the New York Yankees for three prospects according to Jeff Passan. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Chisholm Jr. joins a lineup that is desperate for more impactful bats around superstars Juan Soto and Aaron Judge as the club fights for a spot in the postseason. The outfielder carries a .730 OPS to go along with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, and 22 stolen bases so far this season.

The Tampa Bay Rays are trading Randy Arozarena to the Mariners. (Source: Francys Romero on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Arozarena should be an immediate boost for a Mariners lineup that ranks dead last in team batting average. He could play center field while Julio Rodriguez is injured, and will likely move to left field for Seattle when Rodriguez is healthy. He'll likely slot in right in the middle of the Mariners lineup.

The Mariners have claimed Duke Ellis off waivers from the Mets. (Source: Mariners on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Ellis will head to his third organization this season. He will report to Triple-A Tacoma and serve as speedy outfield option for the Mariners.

Kodai Senga (shoulder, tricep) will not return during the first-half according to manager Carlos Mendoza. (Source: Anthony DiComo on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The injury issues have turned into a major frustration for Senga, the Mets, and fantasy managers this season. At the outset, Senga was expected to be out until sometime in May. That month came and went with the righty still not anywhere close. The hope is that Senga will be able to throw some bullpen sessions soon. If he can, further updates from the club should soon follow.

Mike Trout will undergo surgery on his knee to repair a torn meniscus. (Source: Alden Gonzalez on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: The news of Trout’s injury is still developing and is surprising considering his start to the season. There is no timetable as of now for his return, per Angels’ GM Perry Minasian.

J.D. Martinez is expected to be activated by the Mets ahead of Friday's game against the Cardinals. (Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Martinez appears to be on the cusp of making his season and Mets debut. The veteran slugger signed a free-agent deal late during Spring Training, and he has been dealing with a back issue while trying to gear up for the season. Martinez has played in four minor-league games and now appears ready to contribute. The six-time All-Star posted an .893 OPS with 33 homers and 103 RBI for the Dodgers last year.

Justin Verlander (shoulder) will be activated from the IL and take the mound for Friday's game against the Nationals. (Source: Brian McTaggert on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It was expected that Verlander would make his season debut during this weekend's series in Washington D.C. Now, it has been confirmed that will happen Friday. Verlander, who has been dealing with shoulder inflammation, threw 77 pitches over four innings in a rehab outing this past Saturday. This news is obviously very welcome by the struggling Astros and their beat-up pitching staff.

Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, the team announced Saturday. Cleveland is working with Dr. Meister in Dallas to figure out a date for the surgery. All other details are unknown at this point, per Guardians beat writer Mandy Bell. (Source: Mandy Bell on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Bieber apparently had pain after his Opening Day start that continued through his outing in Seattle. He was off to a fantastic start to the season. Through two starts, he had allowed zero earned runs on 10 hits and one walk with 20 strikeouts across 12 innings. He'll now miss the rest of the 2024 season and at least the beginning of the 2025 season. For the Guardians, their staff will now be anchored by Logan Allen, Tanner Bibee, Carlos Carrasco, and Triston McKenzie. It isn't immediately known who will fill Bieber's spot in the rotation. In the interim, Tyler Beede could move from long relief to the rotation.

Trevor Story appeared to hurt his shoulder while diving for a ground ball in the fourth inning of Friday's game versus the Los Angeles Angels. He was replaced by Pablo Reyes. (Source: FOX Sports on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: This is a tough blow for Story whose Red Sox tenure has been plagued by injuries. He was immediately in pain after hitting the ground and is likely going for testing. If he is to miss significant time, Pablo Reyes could see regular starts at shortstop. Other options for shortstop are Vaughn Grissom (currently on the IL with a hamstring injury) and Ceddanne Rafaela, though the Red Sox would likely prefer to keep Rafaela patrolling CF as often as possible.

The Marlins have announced that right-handed pitcher Eury Perez will undergo Tommy John surgery. (Source: Christina De Nicola)

Fantasy Impact: Perez will miss the remainder of the 2024 season. He is only worth holding onto in dynasty formats.

Jordan Montgomery and Arizona have agreed to a 1-year, $25 million deal with a $25 million option for a second year. (Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Montgomery is finally off the board after a long offseason of uncertainty. He will likely need some time to get built up with his new team after missing all of spring training, but he shouldn't miss too much time. The Diamondbacks will feature a revamped rotation this season, adding Montgomery and Eduardo Rodriguez to go along with Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Brandon Pfaadt.

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte has been issued an 80-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drug violation. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Marte will now first the first half of the season after he was expected to handle the primary duties at third base in 2024. The 22-year-old impressed with a .316 average with three homers and six stolen bases with the Reds in his 35-game debut last season.

Initial imaging showed Lucas Giolito likely has a partially torn UCL and flexor strain and could miss the 2024 season (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Giolito may need surgery to repair the right-elbow damage. It would be a big loss to the starting rotation for Boston after signing him to a two-year deal this offseason.

The San Francisco Giants and free-agent outfielder/DH Jorge Soler have agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract. (Source: Susan Slusser on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The 31-year-old indeed gets the three-year pact he had reportedly been in search of on the open market. The 3-year-old gas a big season with the Marlins in 2023, hitting 36 home runs alongside an .853 OPS across 580 trips to the plate. He will serve as the Giants' primary DH in the 2024 campaign.

The Houston Astros have signed second baseman Jose Altuve to a five-year contract extension worth $125 million. (Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The deal will kick in in the 2024 season. Altuve has parlayed a couple of big season into his new deal as he raked in 2022 before doing so again in 2023, albeit in just 90 games. He hit .311 with 17 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and a .914 OPS across 410 trips to the plate in 2023. He is one of, if not the top second baseman in fantasy baseball ahead of the 2024 season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially brought back Clayton Kershaw for a 17th season. (Source: MLB on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It had become increasingly likely the Dodgers would bring back their future Hall of Famer and they indeed have. Kershaw worked to a dynamite 2.46 ERA across 24 starts with the club in 2023, a figure almost identical to his career 2.48 ERA across 425 big-league outings. However, Kershaw has dealt with various injuries in recent seasons and will miss the first half of 2024 after undergoing shoulder surgery in early November.

Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on an 11-year, $288.7 million contract extension. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Witt gets a much deserved extension as one of the top young players in the MLB. He hit .276 last season with 30 home runs, 96 RBI and 49 stolen bases. He'll remain one of the top players in the sport, and a stud for fantasy baseball managers as well.

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager has undergone surgery to repair a sports hernia. (Source: Evan Grant on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: A firm timetable for his return is unclear but Seager is likely to miss most of spring training with his Opening Day status up in the air. Despite a pair of IL stints, Seager put forth an MVP-type season in 2023, hitting .327 with 33 home runs and 96 RBI in just 119 games played, his second of a 10-year megadeal signed with the Rangers prior to the 2022 campaign.