Keeper Deadline Notes: Snell Signing Sparks Rumors

The 2024 RDBL Keeper Deadline is less than 24 hours away with teams down to the wire on decisions entering Draft Day. Here is the latest around the RDBL with news and notes on every club:

Alamo Short Stacks

• Following last week's move to acquire third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (3R/$5), the Stacks Keeper Roster looks largely set despite recent injury news on Josh Lowe (oblique) who is still expected to be retained.

Asti Grape Stompers

• The Grapes have been wrestling with the contract of Masataka Yoshida (2/$23) in recent days, but a soft outfield Free Agent market likely points to his return.

• The club was pleased to bring in an ace in Framber Valdez last week who can pair with Pablo Lopez at the top of the club's rotation followed by upside pitchers Hunter Greene and Kyle Harrison. It's expected GM Terry Shelley will be seeking another front of the rotation starter in Auction as the club currently is projected to have $159 in cap space. The club is looking to find a trade partner for Alex Cobb (2/$3) according to sources.

Burlingame Blue Ducks

• The Ducks appear to be focused on 2025 for their wave of young stars, making clear that Wyatt Langford (Minors) will remain in the Minors for 2024. Kyle Manzardo (Minors) will join him after he was optioned to AAA Monday to start this season. The club is expected to see the big league debuts of both players as well as Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes this summer.

• GM Ryan Walsh continues to monitor potential deals to claw back some of their cap space with Ketal Marte (2/$20), Nick Castellanos (2/$16) and Kyle Schwarber (2/$30) remaining potential candidates to be moved before Tuesday's deadline.

Cloverdale Clovers

• The struggles of Jarred Kelenic (3R/$5) as well as injuries to TJ Friedl (2/$1) and Edward Cabrera (Minors) have thrown a curveball at GM Chris Shelley who countered with the addition of Bailey Ober (2FA/$5) on Monday.

• Shelley's decisions in the Minor Leagues might draw the most attention tomorrow with Ceddanne Rafaela, Anthony Volpe, Elly De La Cruz, Nick Pratto, Liover Peguero and Zach Neto all vying for spots.

Honolulu Hammerheads

• The pitching rotation picture gained some clarity on Monday as Bailey Ober (2FA/$5) was shipped to the Cloverdale Clovers. That leaves three spots for Brandon Pfaadt (Minors), Chase Silseth (2FA/$5), Kutter Crawford (2FA/$5) and Ryne Nelson (2R/$3) behind Tanner Bibee and Chris Sale.

• The Heads have tossed around the idea of dropping catcher J.T. Realmuto back into Free Agency, though the current trend seems to point to a return for the Phillies backstop.

Lake Merced Goutfish

• The Goutfish continue to waver on their activation decisions with Matt McLain, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Bobby Miller all set for big roles on their respective big league clubs. As of late Monday, rumors were circling that Yamamoto and Miller would be held back in the Minors with eyes on a potential Playoff activation.

• Blake Snell's signing Monday night sparked some fast trade talk, with the 2023 National League Cy Young Winner yielding multiple offers as of late Monday night.

Lunatic Fringe

• It's been a quiet off-season for the Fringe who are one of just three teams yet to make a trade this off-season.

• The Fringe entered the off-season with significant starting pitching depth, but that has taken a major hit with Kyle Bradish (elbow) expected to be dropped while Jordan Montgomery (2/$20) remains unsigned.

• Infielder Andres Gimenez (3D/$15) is a name to watch as a potential last minute trade candidate.

Maltese Falcons

• The Falcons Front Office remains engaged on a potential pitching addition before tomorrow's deadline after young star Eury Perez (Minors) went down with an elbow injury over the weekend.

• The club is positioned to activate four players tomorrow with Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, Triston Casas and Austin Wells all expected to be on the Opening Day roster.

Meinert Hops

• The Hops have yet to make a move this off-season, but appear to be fairly set on their Keeper Roster. The club will have an interesting approach at catcher where expected activation Henry Davis (Minors) will earn back his eligibility early in 2024.

• The club added catching prospect Tyler Soderstrom (Minors) in a deal Monday morning with the Alamo Short Stacks. Soderstrom ranks 5th in the Hops Farm System following the move.

Mission Viejo Maulers

• The Maulers appear to be leaning towards releasing infielder Vaughn Grissom (2D/$5) according to sources with relievers Edwin Diaz (2/$12) and David Bednar (3/$6) both expected back.

• Yusei Kikuchi (2D/$5) appears to be outside of the discussion for a spot in the Maulers pitching staff with the Front Office also expected to waive Gerrit Cole on Tuesday.

Mt. Diablo Devils

• The Devils pushed the availability of Manny Machado (3/$43) but couldn't find a deal as of Monday afternoon according to sources.

• The Front Office is wrestling with Christian Yelich's 3/$31 option for 2024 as well as a decision between James Paxton (2FA/$5) and JP France (2FA/$5) for their fifth rotation spot.

• GM Jason Watson is finally expected to release shortstop Wander Franco on Tuesday.

Nashville Aristocrats

• The 'Crats might have the most interesting Keeper Deadline decisions in the RDBL with Jackson Chourio, Jackson Holliday, Brett Baty and Gavin Williams all facing less than set immediate futures. With Williams nursing an elbow injury, Gavin Stone could step in as a potential Opening Day activation as well with Bryce Miller and Nick Pivetta currently penciled in.

• Max Meyer remains an interested option early in 2024 with the Marlins in search of healthy arms for their rotation.

San Mateo Oppo Tacos

• The Tacos remain engaged in trade talks following a very active off-season that included the additions of Alex Bregman, Ha-Seong Kim, Walker Buehler and Tyler Wells at the big league level.

• The club would love to add an additional outfielder before draft day in a spot that could be completely empty unless GM Erik Nielsen elects to activate Sal Frelick.

Spokane Fightin' Fish

• The Spokane Fightin' Fish have yet to declare Aaron Nola (3/$43) as a part of their rotation for 2024, marking another potential big addition to the Free Agent Market on Draft Day.

St. Joseph Jokers

• The Jokers are expected to activate MacKenzie Gore and DL Hall to their pitching staff on Tuesday. Hall, having only appeared as a reliever in 2023, will slot in as a RP on the Jokers roster before having to move to the SP spot on Opening Day.

TRADE: Soderstrom Heads to Hops for 4th Round Pick

The Meinert Hops quick struck a deal with the Alamo Short Stacks on Monday morning, acquiring catcher/first baseman Tyler Soderstrom (Minors) in exchange for a 2024 4th Round Pick (52nd Overall).

Selected by the Athletics with the 26th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft out of a high school in California, Soderstrom climbed through the minor leagues far more quickly than most young catchers and made his major-league debut just after the 2023 All-Star break at age 21. How much he'll actually catch over the course of his big-league career is an unsettled debate, but he should retain eligibility at fantasy baseball's shallowest position for at least a little while longer as he also works in at first base and DH. Oakland loves his bat, and it's easy to see why. Across his 268 total games on the farm, the now 22-year-old registered an .856 OPS with 62 home runs and 216 RBI, and he absolutely feasted on right-handed pitching as a fast-rising lefty-swinging slugger.

Soderstrom got off to a slow start in spring training, and the struggles continued which led to him being optioned to the Minors to start 2024. The catcher posted a .370 OPS across 34 plate appearances in 14 games. At Triple-A Las Vegas in 2023, the 22-year-old had a .833 OPS with 21 home runs.

TRADE: Clovers Land Ober for 3rd Round Pick

The Cloverdale Clovers took a pair of hits in the last week as TJ Friedl (wrist) and Edward Cabrera (shoulder) both were knocked out of their Keeper Roster plans for 2024. GM Chris Shelley pivoted Monday morning, landing right-hander Bailey Ober (2FA/$5) from the Honolulu Hammerheads for a 2024 3rd Round Pick (32nd Overall).

Ober will now slot behind Tyler Glasnow and fellow Minnesota Twins hurler Joe Ryan.

Ober had a strong season that has him set to be a vital part of Minnesota's 2024 rotation. Ober began the season in the minors as the odd man out in a six-man rotation and got some spot starts in April before joining the rotation in May. He was sent down briefly in August to manage his workload, but finished strong with a 2.08 ERA over his last four starts (though he was hit hard in his lone playoff outing by giving up six runs in a loss). Ober doesn't have an overpowering fastball (91.4 mph average), but it's offset by his outstanding control (5% BB%) and above average off-speed pitches (slider, curve ball, change-up). His changeup became a lethal weapon by allowing just a .268 wOBA and helped lead to an overall 14.5% swinging K%. After throwing 144.1 innings, Ober shouldn't face any limitations on workload after staying healthy after struggling through injuries his first two major league seasons.

Of note, only 17 pitchers in the major leagues threw 140 or more innings with an ERA+ of 125 or better in 2023. Ober was one of them.

The Heads now hold a selections in the first and third rounds after entering the off-season without a selection until the 5th. GM Ross Horiuchi's move likely creates room for both Arizona Diamondbacks right-handers Brandon Pfaadt (Minors) and Ryne Nelson (2R/$3) to make the rotation behind Chris Sale, Tanner Bibee and Kutter Crawford with Chase Silseth (2FA/$5) remaining in the mix as well.