Kansas City Royals DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Free-agent right-handers Noah Syndergaard and Michael Lorenzen threw bullpen sessions for around 16 MLB teams in California on Tuesday, according to sources. Both players were impressive, with Syndergaard consistently sitting at 93-95 mph. Syndergaard, 31, had a rough 6.50 ERA in 88 2/3 innings with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians in 2023 and is a candidate to receive a one-year, prove-it deal. He's drawing interest from the Pittsburgh Pirates, among others. Lorenzen, 32, had a 3.58 ERA in 105 2/3 innings with the Detroit Tigers last year and threw a no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies after being traded to the National League, but he had a 5.51 ERA in 11 games (seven starts) for the Phils and was moved to the bullpen late in the season.

Kansas City Royals catcher/outfielder MJ Melendez is expected to primarily play the outfield in 2024 after he mostly served as a catcher in his second MLB season in 2023. The 25-year-old produced impressive numbers at the position in 148 games over 602 plate appearances, slashing .235/.316/.398 with 16 home runs, 56 RBI, 29 doubles, three triples, six stolen bases and 65 runs scored after hitting 18 home runs in just 129 games in his rookie season in 2022. Melendez's numbers slipped a bit in his sophomore campaign with KC, but he still hit the ball hard and had an exit velocity in the 96th percentile, and he could become even more productive at the plate this year if he's not catching at all. The main problem for his fantasy value moving forward is that he's going to lose catcher eligibility.

The Milwaukee Brewers signed free-agent catcher Austin Nola to a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league spring training on Friday. The 34-year-old backstop became a free agent when the San Diego Padres non-tendered him in November. Nola became the Friars' starting catcher in 2022 by hitting .251 (87-for-347) with four home runs and 40 RBI in 110 games, but he fell flat this past season and was sent to the minors after hitting a putrid .146 (19-for-130) with a homer and 31 strikeouts in 52 games played at the big-league level. He's going to need to show better results offensively in 2024 and will likely open the season at Triple-A Nashville, where he'll serve as minor-league catching depth behind William Contreras and Eric Haase at the major-league level.