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The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired pitchers Kade Strowd and Wellington Aracena, and infielder Jose Mejia from the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in exchange for infielder Blaze Alexander, a source told The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro. Strowd is the primary return for the D-backs in this swap. The 28-year-old right-hander was a former 12th-round selection by the O's in 2019 out of West Virginia. Strowd was impressive in his MLB debut last year, recording a 1.71 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 24 punchouts and 13 walks in 26 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He has a good chance to open the 2026 regular season in Arizona due to injuries to bullpen arms A.J. Puk (elbow) and Justin Martinez (elbow), and Strowd could be a sleeper for holds in deeper fantasy leagues in his sophomore campaign.

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The Baltimore Orioles are acquiring infielder Blaze Alexander from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday in exchange for pitchers Kade Strowd and Wellington Aracena, and infielder Jose Mejia, a source told Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Alexander will head to the American League after slashing .237/.322/.366 with a .688 OPS, 10 home runs, 49 RBI, 50 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 135 games in his first two major-league seasons in Arizona. The 26-year-old former 11th-round pick in 2018 will most likely serve in a bench role in his new home in Baltimore, which will be a downgrade in fantasy with a less clear path to playing time. The 26-year-old is under team control through the 2030 season. Alexander saw most of the playing time in the second half last year at third base after the D-backs traded Eugenio Suarez, but with Alexander now gone, it could be Jordan Lawlar's spot to lose.

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The New York Yankees announced on Thursday that they claimed right-hander Osvaldo Bido off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels and designated infielder Braden Shewmake for assignment in a corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster. Bido has shockingly been passed around to six different teams already this offseason. The 30-year-old Dominican hurler made a career-high 26 appearances (10 starts) in 2025 with the Athletics and didn't pitch well, posting a career-worst 5.87 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 68 strikeouts, and 35 walks in 79 2/3 innings pitched. Bido has a 5.07 ERA (4.67 FIP) and 1.41 WHIP with a 20.9% strikeout rate and 9.6% walk rate in his three major-league seasons with the A's and Pittsburgh Pirates. He doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, so he could wind up back on the waiver wire if he doesn't make the Yankees' Opening Day roster out of spring training.

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Detroit Tigers left-hander and two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal won his salary arbitration case on Thursday against the team and will make $32 million in 2026, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Skubal will make $13 million more than the Tigers argued for, and the most any player has ever taken home in arbitration. The 29-year-old dominant left-hander has been the most dominant pitcher in baseball the last two seasons, going 31-10 with a 2.30 ERA (2.47 FIP) and 0.91 WHIP with 469 strikeouts and only 68 walks in 387 1/3 innings pitched over his 62 regular-season starts. He was even better in 2025, posting a 2.21 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 241:33 K:BB over his 31 starts. Skubal will be the first pitcher off the board in the first round of 2026 fantasy baseball drafts, without a question.

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The Washington Nationals claimed left-hander Ken Waldichuk off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday and designated right-hander George Soriano for assignment in a corresponding move, according to president of baseball operations Paul Toboni. Waldichuk, 28, has not pitched in the big leagues since 2023. The former fifth-round selection by the New York Yankees in 2019 out of Saint Mary's College went 6-11 with a 5.28 ERA (5.10 FIP) and 1.49 WHIP with 165 strikeouts and 81 walks in his two seasons with the Athletics in 2022 and 2023. Waldichuk made only seven starts in 2022 and then had a 5.36 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 35 outings (22 starts) over 141 frames in 2023. He has now been with four different teams this offseason. In his first year back from Tommy John surgery in 2025, Waldichuk struggled to an 8.65 ERA and 2.06 WHIP in 51 innings at Triple-A Las Vegas.

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MLB.com's Daniel Kramer writes that Seattle Mariners infield prospect Colt Emerson, who is MLB Pipeline's No. 9 overall prospect, "could still need seasoning by Opening Day." Emerson, 20, will be competing with fellow infield prospect Cole Young at second base in spring training, but Young is seen as the favorite after getting his first taste of the majors in a 77-game stint in 2025. Kramer believes that Young has as much upside as any position-player prospect in Seattle since outfielder Julio Rodriguez, but the recent acquisition of utility man Brendan Donovan should give the Mariners more time to let Emerson develop. Even if Emerson ends up on the Opening Day roster, Seattle is expected to avoid using him against tough left-handed pitchers. The former first-rounder reached Triple-A last year and hit an impressive .285/.383/.458 with 16 homers and 14 steals in 130 games over three minor-league levels. Emerson's power/speed upside makes him stash-worthy in 2026 fantasy leagues, even if he starts at Tacoma.

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MLB.com's Daniel Kramer writes that Seattle Mariners infield prospect Cole Young has the "leg up to make the team and would have to struggle mightily to lose his grip on the second-base job." The Mariners are "bullish" on the 22-year-old being their second baseman of the future now that Jorge Polanco is out of town. Young bats left-handed, and there's a likelihood that the Mariners avoid using him against the game's better left-handed pitchers. On those days, new utility man Brendan Donovan could shift to the keystone. Kramer has Young projected to hit eighth in Seattle's batting order against righties. The former 21st overall pick in 2022 struggled in his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .211/.302/.305 with a .607 OPS, four home runs, 24 RBI, and a 47:28 K:BB ratio in 77 games. There's not a ton of short-term upside for Young, and if he struggles, fellow infield prospect Colt Emerson could take playing time from him.

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MLB.com's Daniel Kramer writes that Seattle Mariners utility man Brendan Donovan, who was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this week in a three-team trade, will play all over the field based on matchups, according to sources familiar with the club's thinking. The 2025 All-Star is expected to enter spring training as the primary third baseman, but it could change based on positional competitions, specifically among infielders Cole Young and Colt Emerson, Seattle's first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Donovan's presence as an option all around the infield could benefit both Young and Emerson long term and take pressure off them to perform right away in 2026. Donovan, who had an .853 OPS against righties and a .614 OPS against lefties last year, won't be in a platoon. In addition to playing every day, Donovan will be the M's leadoff hitter. The 29-year-old rarely strikes out (13% K rate in 2025), but his lack of power and speed severely limit his fantasy appeal in mixed leagues.

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The Kansas City Royals announced on Thursday that they re-signed catcher Luke Maile to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league spring training. Maile will return to KC after appearing in 25 games for the Royals last season, going 11-for-45 (.244) at the plate with a home run, six RBI, six runs scored, one stolen base, seven walks, and 16 strikeouts in 54 plate appearances. The 34-year-old veteran backstop has 10 years of major-league experience, but he's expected to begin the 2026 campaign as catching depth at Triple-A Omaha behind Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen. In his 10 years in the majors with six different organizations, Maile has slashed just .209/.277/.320 with a .597 OPS, 22 home runs, and 119 RBI in 458 games played. Maile has never appeared in more than 76 games in a single season.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates signed free-agent right-hander Jose Urquidy to a one-year, $1.5 million deal on Thursday, a source told Jason Mackey of PG Sports Now. The 30-year-old Mexican hurler has pitched for the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers in his six-year MLB career, but he's thrown only 2 1/3 innings in the big leagues in the last two seasons after having right-elbow surgery. The 30-year-old appeared in 49 games (48 starts) for the Astros from 2021 to 2022 and was solid with a 3.81 ERA (4.42 FIP), 1.09 WHIP with 224 strikeouts and 57 walks in 271 1/3 innings pitched. Urquidy had Tommy John surgery in June of 2024. Given the stout nature of Pittsburgh's starting rotation going into the 2026 season, it's unlikely that Urquidy will win an Opening Day starting spot, but he'll give the Bucs some valuable depth and could operate as a swingman. He has a career 19.6% strikeout rate, which limits his fantasy upside.

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Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Corbin Burnes (elbow) has not had any setbacks during his rehab from Tommy John surgery, and the Diamondbacks' ace is still aiming to return in July of this year. "We put an aggressive timeline on it from the get-go. We were looking at the 12 1/2, 13-month mark. We're still on pace with that," Burnes said. It's the same timeline that the 31-year-old veteran gave back in late September, but it's still good news that he's on track after having right-elbow reconstruction in June of 2025. The four-time All-Star signed a six-year, $210 million contract with Arizona in December of 2024 but ended up only making 11 starts in his first year in the desert, posting a 2.66 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 63:26 K:BB in 64 1/3 innings. Before the injury, Burnes was one of the most consistent high-end starters in baseball over the previous five seasons. Fantasy managers can stash Burnes in an IL spot in 2026 in hopes of him being an ace in the second half, but expectations should be tempered as well.

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Cleveland Guardians infield prospect Angel Genao, who is ranked No. 33 on Keith Law's top-100 prospect list for 2026, had a lost year in 2025 due to a sprained right shoulder that he suffered in spring training. Genao still managed to play in 85 games between the Arizona Complex League and Double-A Akron, but he didn't look like his 2024 self and often "seemed hesitant to swing at full speed." Overall, the 21-year-old switch-hitting Dominican slashed .263/.332/.382 with a .715 OPS, five home runs, 42 RBI, 49 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 373 plate appearances. Law believes that second base is more likely for Genao in the long-term, but shortstop is not off the table given his strong defense at the 6. Genao showed more full extension on his swings in the Dominican Winter League and could very well bounce back in 2026. Law has Genao as an above-average regular somewhere in the middle infield in Cleveland whenever he makes the jump to the big leagues.

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Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said at Fenway Fest last month that he "envisions more playing time against lefties" for infielder Marcelo Mayer, which indicates more of a full-time role instead of a platoon, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. The departure of Alex Bregman in free agency left a gaping hole at third base this offseason. Mayer is expected to see most of the playing time at the hot corner, although it's unclear how Wednesday's addition of Isiah Kiner-Falefa will change the dynamic. Boston also has infielders Romy Gonzalez, David Hamilton, and Nick Sogard in the mix, as well as Nate Eaton and Kristian Campbell. The 23-year-old Mayer, who hits left-handed, only had 27 plate appearances against southpaws in 2025 and posted an ugly .416 OPS against them. Mayer struggled in his rookie campaign, striking out 30% of the time while walking at a 5.9% clip. If he struggles against lefties, Kiner-Falefa could take over the short side of a platoon at third in Beantown.

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Free agent starting pitcher Zac Gallen is one of the few impact starting pitchers left on the market after Framber Valdez signed with the Tigers on Wednesday, and that fact could lead to more focus on Gallen from the Orioles, who were considered one of the main teams in the mix for Valdez. Like Valdez, Gallen rejected a qualifying offer, which could be complicating his market, but now that Framber is no longer an option, the O's could turn to Gallen. They need an arm for the top of their rotation that seems stuffed with middle-of-the-rotation arms like Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, and Cade Povich. Gallen struggled early in 2025 but looked better in the second half, finishing with a 4.83 ERA, 4.50 FIP, and 175 strikeouts in 192 innings. The 30-year-old has won at least 12 games in each of the last four seasons, and he'll look to return to his ace form wherever he ends up landing.

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Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang is a perfect example of a post-hype breakthrough. He was considered a top prospect early in his career but took longer than some other players to develop. He had a breakthrough last season, though, hitting .288 with 18 homers, 24 stolen bases, and a .346 wOBA. His blend of power and speed from the top of the lineup made the former first-round pick one of the best second basemen on the board last season, and he's still undervalued in many formats, according to his ADP. Even if his batting average and power regress a little bit, the lefty should remain in a key spot in Milwaukee's lineup, and his speed gives him even more ways to help your fantasy team. The 26-year-old is definitely worth a look as you look for solutions at 2B, which doesn't have many elite options on the board.

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Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers got his first extended look at major-league pitching last season, and the 28-year-old lefty established himself as one of the best emerging power options in the league. He smashed 25 homers in his 117 games while hitting a very solid .288 with a stellar .386 wOBA and 149 wRC+. Stowers hard-hit metrics have been good in the past, but his barrel rate jumped from 10.9% in 2024 all the way to 19.0% in 2025. That barrel rate placed him in the 98th percentile, and his hard-hit rate also fell in the top 10% of the MLB. He crushed right-handed pitching and should be back to play a key role in the Marlins' young, progressing lineup this season. He's a good power option to target in fantasy baseball drafts this season and should remain in a prominent role in Miami. He was shut down at the end of the year with an oblique injury, but should start spring training fully healthy.

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Free agent pitcher Mason Thompson has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers after spending the last several years with the Nationals. The signing is a return home for Thompson, who is from Texas and went to Round Rock High School, near where the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate plays. The 6-foot-6 righty has appeared in 89 games out of the bullpen for the Nats over the last four seasons, compiling a 5.54 ERA and 4.26 FIP in 89 1/3 innings. He was knocked around in both Triple-A and his brief stint in the majors last season, but that was his first action since Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2024. He'll look to complete his recovery and compete for a job in the Rangers' bullpen, and if he can return to his pre-surgery production, he will be an interesting depth option to monitor in spring training.

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Free agent starting pitcher Zac Gallen has drawn interest this offseason from the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles, but the veteran righty remains open to a return to the Arizona Diamondbacks as well. He said in an interview on Fox10 Phoenix, "I think people understand what Phoenix means to me...For us to be here would be awesome." The 30-year-old remains one of the top available starting pitchers, especially now that Framber Valdez landed with the Tigers. Last year, Gallen's numbers dropped off, even though he still logged 192 innings with a 4.83 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and just 175 strikeouts. He looked better late in the season, and he could try to return to Arizona to re-establish his value on a short-term deal. He would provide nice depth for the D-backs' rotation that currently has the re-signed Merrill Kelly, Ryne Nelson, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt, and free agent signee Michael Soroka slotted into the rotation. Managers should expect Gallen to hold mid-end SP4/SP5 upside in 2026, given his inconsistencies last season, but keep an eye on where he lands since his environment will play a big factor in his production.

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Free agent pitcher Josh Fleming will look to add some left-handed depth to the reigning American League champions after signing a minor-league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays that includes an invite to spring training. Felming is a 29-year-old southpaw who last appeared in the majors in 2024 with the Pirates. He went 1-1 with a 4.02 ERA and 4.76 FIP in 31 1/3 innings with Pittsburgh, striking out just 17 and allowing a .457 wOBA to lefties in tough reverse splits. Fleming originally came up with the Rays before spending that season in Pittsburgh, but he spent 2025 in Triple-A for the Mariners, where he went 5-5 in 47 games, working mostly out of the bullpen and compiling a 4.91 ERA and 5.64 xFIP. He could get some work in the bullpen at some point this season, but he's not likely to break camp with the team unless injuries strike Toronto's relievers.

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia is expected to be in serious competition for a starting job during spring training. The Pirates acquired Garcia from the Red Sox earlier in December in a package that sent Johan Oviedo to Boston. Garcia made a brief debut in the major leagues last season, posting a .143/.333/.286 line in a short five-game stint. The 23-year-old spent the majority of his season in the minor leagues. At Double-A, he would post a .256/.355/.393 slash line with three home runs and four stolen bases, across a 33-game stint. Over an 81-game look at Triple-A, Garcia took a step further, posting a .271/.334/.498 line with a .832 OPS and 18 long balls. Given his power upside, he is worth monitoring in deeper five-outfielder leagues.

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