Mining the News (2/18/25) | RotoGraphs Fantasy Baseball

Mike Trout will be playing right field for the Angels this year to preserve his body, impacting other outfielders. Lance McCullers Jr. is on track with other Astros starters, while Brice Matthews is transitioning to second base. Jose Altuve will play both second base and outfield in Spring Training. Jeffrey Springs of the Athletics will not have any workload restrictions this season. Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins is excited about outfielder Alan Roden, and Orelvis Martinez will take reps at third base. Kevin Gausman is working on his changeup, and Orioles prospect Chayce McDermott is dealing with an injury. Rangers’ Robert Garcia has a forearm issue, and Rays’ Eloy Jiménez has lost weight. Former White Sox slugger reports to Rays camp with a fitter physique and a smile, aiming for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Red Sox pitcher Kutter Crawford has knee soreness, while Brayan Bello had minor shoulder soreness. Tigers’ Colt Keith works on improving his mechanics. Twins’ Harrison Bader will be more than a backup for Byron Buxton, and Chris Paddack kept his arm in shape for the first time in the offseason. Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton is out with tendinitis in both elbows, and Trent Grisham is dealing with a hamstring injury. Grisham is participating in baseball activities and running almost at full speed, further along than Stanton. Acuña plans to be cautious on the bases to prevent injury. Frelick added 25 pounds of muscle in the offseason, aiming to stay around 190 pounds for the season. McGreevy added 15 pounds of muscle to improve his performance. The Cardinals are uncertain about their lineup, with potential position changes for various players. Cubs prospect Matt Shaw has an oblique injury. Diamondbacks’ Alek Thomas is working on hitting more line drives. Jordan Lawlar will play every day, either in the majors or minors. 1 prospect) is expected to return in the second half of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He is progressing well in his recovery and is on track to make a comeback later in the year. Injury: Tommy John surgery with expected return in the second half of 2025. Eguy Rosario of the Padres is receiving outfield reps, while Kyle Hart impressed in the KBO with a new arm slot and pitch. Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto may play outfield, Trea Turner could lead off, Edmundo Sosa and Kyle Schwarber are also taking reps at different positions. Joe Ross will be built up as a backup starter, while Taijuan Walker’s fastball velocity has improved. Andrew Painter added a new slider and is working on a changeup. In an effort to improve his changeup, Pirates pitcher David Bednar made adjustments to his delivery, focusing on avoiding overthrowing and improving his pitch performance from the previous year. Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo emphasized building a strong foundation through offseason training to ensure durability and consistency throughout the season. Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon shifted his offseason workout focus towards speed-based strength training to maintain muscle structure and avoid physical breakdowns during the season.

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