MLB Player News

Interesting. Rondon, 21, posted a 1.53 ERA, 29 saves and 66/26 K/BB ratio over 53 innings this season between High-A Lakeland, Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. The hard-throwing right-hander was nearly called up in September, but the Tigers ultimately decided otherwise. However, he could get thrown into the fire to begin 2013. The Tigers will let Jose Valverde walk as a free agent, so Rondon, Joaquin Benoit, Phil Coke and Octavio Dotel could be part of a closer-by-committee. We already like Rondon as a sleeper for AL-only leagues.

Baldwin will miss the weekend series with the Mets, but could be activated on Tuesday if all goes well. Fantasy managers who have been suffering without the services of the star catcher, who hit .303/.389/.543 with 13 homers and 38 RBI before hitting the shelf, won’t have to wait too much longer.

After the Braves and White Sox were postponed yesterday, the White Sox opted to bump back the entire rotation a day. Kay will go tonight and Sean Burke will go on Saturday. Neither is a recommended option against the Dodgers.

Walker had a 1.93 ERA in 9 1/3 innings in Sacramento, striking out seven and allowing no homers. He’s obviously not being handed the closer’s role back right away, but nobody else in San Francisco has really seized it either. Walker’s ultimately a monitor at this point in most leagues.

Encarnacion was DFA’ed off the Giants roster in May. The 28-year-old has hit .211/.237/.362 in 291 MLB plate appearances, but is a career .260/.359/.481 hitter with 54 homers in four seasons at the Triple-A level. He’ll look to re-establish his career overseas.

Bido was DFA’ed off the White Sox roster in May — it was his seventh organization in five months. He’ll try to re-establish himself in Japan.

Hicks has a 5.60 ERA across 17 2/3 innings for the White Sox, so the team will likely not rush him back. He will continue to fill a role in the middle innings when he does return.

Kelly is the Pirates’ 7th-ranked prospect. The 22-year-old has a 4.50 ERA in 54 innings at Triple-A (13 appearances, 10 starts) with a 47/24 K/BB ratio. Kelly pitched for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, but he was born in Aruba and will be the first pitcher from Aruba to debut in MLB since 1998 and the first Aruban pitcher in MLB overall in 17 years. He’ll provide the Pirates with some length and velocity in their bullpen.

Despite struggling to a 7.20 ERA in 15 innings at Triple-A, Bidois posted a solid 4.05 ERA in 13 1/3 innings with the Pirates. However, his 16/11 K/BB ratio was a bit of a problem. He’ll get another chance later this season.

Sandoval struck out three and walked one, but the one hit he did allow was a solo home run to Nationals INF prospect Yohandy Morales. Sandoval is working his way back from last year’s Tommy John surgery and also biceps tightness from the middle of May. He threw 18 of his 33 pitches for strikes and is still in the early stages of his return.

Raleigh is hitting .429 with three home runs and a 2.214 OPS since starting his rehab assignment last weekend. We would say he’s ready to come back and rejoin the Mariners’ lineup.