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According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Philadelphia Phillies are the "overwhelming" favorite to sign top free agent infielder Bo Bichette. On Thursday evening, the Dodgers signed outfielder Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract, leaving Bichette as the top available hitter. Throughout the winter, the Phillies have been in active pursuit of the 27-year-old and appear to be the clear favorites to land him in the coming weeks. Last season, Bichette turned in one of the most productive campaigns of his seven-year MLB career, posting a .311/.357/.483 line with 18 home runs and four stolen bases. Under the hood, he generated a .353 xwOBA with a 48.8% hard-hit rate. If he were to join the Phillies, the team would likely pursue a trade partner for current third baseman Alec Bohm, as Bichette would take on an everyday role at the hot corner.

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The New York Mets and New York Yankees are expected to enter a bidding war for free agent outfielder Cody Bellinger. Throughout the winter, both teams were in discussions with Kyle Tucker before he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night. Additionally, Bellinger has been linked to both teams, but with Tucker off the board, Bob Nightengale of USA Today expects both New York franchises to be in heavy pursuit of Bellinger. Last summer, Bellinger spent the season with the Yankees, where he posted a .272/.334/.480 line with 29 home runs and 13 stolen bases. While he only generated a low .327 xwOBA, his left-handed swing was a perfect match for Yankee Stadium. If he were to go to the Mets, he could block outfield prospect Carson Benge from an early-season MLB debut. Bellinger projects to carry mid-end OF2 value in standard leagues given his ability to hit for power and steal double-digit bases.

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According to Jim Duquette of SNY, the New York Mets offered superstar free agent Kyle Tucker a four-year contract worth $220 million before he opted to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday evening. Tucker's contract offer with the Dodgers was slightly higher, at $240 million over the same four years. The Mets have been in heavy pursuit of Tucker since opting not to re-sign first baseman Pete Alonso and relief pitcher Edwin Diaz. The Mets could now turn their attention to the other high-end remaining free agents, such as Cody Bellinger, Eugenio Suarez, or Bo Bichette. In addition to pursuing another bat, the Mets have also been linked to top trade target Freddy Peralta. With Tucker opting to sign with the Dodgers, top outfield prospect Carson Benge has a clearer path to breaking camp with the Opening Day roster and is seeing his fantasy value grow as a late-round target.

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The Baltimore Orioles have designated outfielder Marco Luciano for assignment. In a corresponding move, the Orioles have claimed left-handed pitcher Jose Suarez off waivers. Luciano was once considered a top prospect with the Giants, but has struggled to find his footing throughout his early MLB career. Luciano made his MLB debut in 2024 and held a .231/.333/.308 line across 14 contests. In 2025, he remained with the Giants but took a further step back, carrying a .211/.250/.303 line with a .562 OPS through 27 games. Through 226 career games at the Triple-A level, Luciano struggled as well, posting a .227/.351/.401 line. If Luciano draws interest on waivers, he could be in the mix to compete for a spot on an Opening Day roster. If he were to go unclaimed, he would begin the season with Triple-A Norfolk.

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The Cincinnati Reds are acquiring left-handed reliever Brock Burke from the Los Angeles Angels on Friday in a three-team deal that also includes the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The Reds sent infielder Gavin Lux and right-hander Chris Clark to the Rays, and the Rays sent outfielder Josh Lowe to the Angels. Burke, 29, probably isn't going to be closing games for Cincinnati, but he should fill a late-inning, high-leverage role in his new digs. In 61 2/3 innings pitched for the Halos last year, Burke posted a 3.36 ERA (4.16 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with 52 strikeouts and 18 walks in 69 outings (one start). Burke has been in high-leverage roles the last couple of seasons with the Angels and Texas Rangers, but he still has no career saves in five big-league seasons. He sports a career 3.88 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 22.5% strikeout rate.

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The Tampa Bay Rays are acquiring infielder Gavin Lux and right-hander Chris Clark from the Cincinnati Reds on Friday in a three-team deal that also involves the Los Angeles Angels, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. In his first and only season with the Reds in 2025, Lux slashed .269/.350/.374 with only five home runs, 53 RBI, and 49 runs scored in 140 games played. The trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Reds allowed Lux to accumulate a career-high 503 plate appearances in an everyday role. The problem is that he hit just .179/.270/.196 against left-handed pitchers, which makes it unlikely he'll have an everyday role at second base in his new home in Tampa. Lux has a good command of the strike zone and takes plenty of walks, but he doesn't help himself with poor defensive metrics. He lost 2B eligibility going into 2026 and lacks power and speed, leaving him very little fantasy appeal.

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The Los Angeles Angels are acquiring outfielder Josh Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday in a three-team trade that also involves the Cincinnati Reds, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The Reds are sending infielder Gavin Lux and right-hander Chris Clark to the Rays, and the Angels are sending right-hander Brock Burke to the Reds. Lowe will give the Angels more outfield depth after they traded Taylor Ward to the Baltimore Orioles this offseason for right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. Lowe, a 27-year-old left-handed hitter, has struggled with injuries the last two years with Tampa, but his power/speed upside makes him worth a late-round gamble. The former first-rounder hit 20 homers and stole 32 bases in 2023, and he combined for 21 homers and 43 steals in 214 the last two years in Tampa. In addition to durability concerns, Lowe has struggled against left-handers. A change of scenery could help Lowe, but he still has to stay healthy, and he could be limited to a strong-side platoon outfield role.

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According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with superstar free agent Kyle Tucker on a four-year, $240 million contract. Tucker was considered the top available hitter on the open market and was linked to numerous teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets, before inking his deal with the Dodgers. After spending one season with the Chicago Cubs, Tucker will now join the two-time reigning World Series Champions. Last summer, the 28-year-old battled through a lingering calf injury in the second half but still turned in a strong .266/.377/.464 line with an .841 OPS. He hit 22 home runs and swiped 25 bags. Under the hood, he generated a 93rd percentile .373 xwOBA, suggesting he could be in store for an even more productive 2026 season. Batting alongside a top-tier lineup featuring Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts will provide Freeman with elite scoring opportunities to go along with his power and speed skill set. He will carry top-5 OF upside in all formats in 2026 drafts.

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The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a minor-league contract with free-agent catcher Sam Huff, according to MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko. Huff is expected to attend big league spring training as a non-roster invitee. The 28-year-old has appeared in parts of five major league seasons, hitting 12 home runs while slashing .247/.301/.430 across 272 plate appearances. A former seventh-round pick out of Arizona, Huff was once a top prospect for the Rangers but has not been able to establish himself at the MLB level. He owns a 35.7% career strikeout rate and defensively struggles with blocking balls in the dirt and controlling the running game. To make the Orioles' roster, Huff would likely need to outperform catcher Maverick Handley, who appeared in 16 games last season. From a fantasy perspective, Huff would only be relevant if he made the team and starting catcher Adley Rutschman or top prospect Samuel Basallo suffered an injury. For now, he can safely be left off fantasy radars.

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The Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a minor-league contract with veteran free-agent reliever Miguel Castro, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Castro will attend big league spring training as a non-roster invitee. The 31-year-old righty has pitched for seven MLB teams over 11 seasons. For his career, he holds a 4.24 ERA (4.73 FIP) with a 1.386 WHIP and 414 strikeouts across 466 2/3 innings. Last season with the Chicago White Sox, he pitched just six innings, allowing five earned runs with four strikeouts and five walks. Castro is not expected to make the Angels' major league roster, and even if he does, he is unlikely to be fantasy relevant in 2026.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed free-agent reliever Taylor Clarke to a one-year, $1.5 million contract that includes incentives and could be worth just over $2 million, reports Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. In a corresponding move, the Diamondbacks designated right-hander Gus Varland for assignment. Clarke spent the past three seasons with the Kansas City Royals, posting a 4.46 ERA with 157 strikeouts and a 1.22 WHIP across 163 1/3 innings. In 2025, he made 51 appearances and recorded a 3.25 ERA (3.69 xERA) while holding opponents to a .194 batting average. For Arizona, Clarke projects as another bullpen depth arm, and from a fantasy standpoint, he is unlikely to hold value in 2026.

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The Seattle Mariners are set to acquire right-hander Yosver Zulueta from the Cincinnati Reds, according to Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com. Zulueta was designated for assignment earlier today following Cincinnati's official signing of Pierce Johnson. The return for the Reds is currently unknown. Seattle's 40-man roster is full, so a corresponding move will be required to complete the transaction. Zulueta, 28, has spent the majority of his professional pitching career in the minor leagues and in his native Cuba. Over five minor-league seasons, he has compiled a 3.73 ERA and 1.38 WHIP, striking out 300 batters across 234 innings. In the majors, he owns a 5.32 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 11 walks in 23 2/3 innings. At this point, Zulueta does not appear likely to make the Mariners' Opening Day roster, and even if he reaches the big leagues in 2026, he is unlikely to provide fantasy value.

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According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Seattle Mariners are viewed as the leading suitor to land St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan, largely because Seattle possesses the strongest farm system to facilitate a deal. Rosenthal added that the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals have also expressed interest. However, he believes the Giants lack the prospect capital to entice the Cardinals, while the Royals could make a competitive offer only by parting with some of their minor-league pitching depth. Donovan has posted a 115 wRC+ or better in each of the past four seasons with St. Louis. In 2025, he slashed .287/.353/.422 with 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 64 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 515 plate appearances. If Donovan is traded to any of these clubs, his draft value should remain largely unchanged. For fantasy purposes, the 28-year-old profiles as a solid middle-infielder in 12- or 15-team leagues who can help improve batting average.

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Retired left-hander Clayton Kershaw will suit up one last time for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, USA Baseball announced on Thursday. After winning back-to-back World Series titles, Kershaw, an 11-time All-Star, three-time National League Cy Young winner, and 2014 NL MVP, will ride off into the sunset after representing his country. It will be Kershaw's first time taking part in the WBC after he had to withdraw from the 2023 edition due to insurance issues. "I learned a long time ago, you just want to be a part of great things, and this team seems like a really fun, awesome group," the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer said. Kershaw was an all-time great in his 18 big-league seasons, also winning five ERA titles and becoming the fourth lefty to join the 3,000-strikeout club. The Dodgers legend just wants to be an insurance option for Team USA's pitching staff and most likely won't be on the mound much.

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The Colorado Rockies agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal with free-agent utility man Willi Castro on Thursday, sources told Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Castro, a 28-year-old switch-hitter from Puerto Rico, will be looking to bounce back in 2026 after a rough year with the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs in 2025. In 120 total games last season, he hit .226/.313/.366 with a .679 OPS, 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 58 runs, and 10 stolen bases. After being traded to the Cubs, Castro went 17-for-100 (.170) with a homer, eight walks, and 27 strikeouts in 34 regular-season games. He can play pretty much all over the diamond, which should give him a path to regular playing time in Colorado this year. Castro should also bounce back offensively at hitter-friendly Coors Field, but he remains a glove-first asset that won't be much more than bench depth in deeper fantasy baseball leagues in 2026.

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According to Jessee Rogers of ESPN, Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw could see time in the outfield during the upcoming season. Last week, the Cubs signed free agent third baseman Alex Bregman to a massive five-year contract, which will likely block Shaw out of a starting role in the infield with Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, and Michael Busch slated to cover second base, shortstop, and first base, respectively. However, the team's President of Baseball Operations, Jed Hoyer, expressed that the team could get creative to find Shaw at-bats, especially in the outfield. Shaw made his MLB debut at the beginning of the 2025 season and struggled, posting a low .226/.295/.394 line across 126 gams. However, he did hit 13 home runs and swipe 17 bags. Managers should monitor Shaw's usage during spring training. While the Cubs' outfield is currently crowded as well, Shaw could take on a super-utility role, which could earn him close to every-day at-bats. For now, he is best left for deeper 15+ team redraft leagues given his unknown role.

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According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, top free agent Kyle Tucker could make his decision on Thursday. Heyman noted that the three primary suitors for the superstar are the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Heyman noted that while there are other suitors, if one of them were to sign Tucker, it would come as a major surprise. Tucker spent the 2024 season in Chicago with the Cubs after beginning his MLB career with the Houston Astros. Despite dealing with a lingering calf injury during the second half of the 2025 campaign, Tucker still finished the campaign holding a .266/.377/.464 line with 22 long balls and 25 stolen bases. Under the hood, Tucker generated a .372 xwOBA, suggesting he is primed for an even more productive 2026. Given his ability to draw walks at an elite 14.6% rate and make high-quality contact, Tucker carries high-end OF1 upside in all formats heading into 2026.

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The Seattle Mariners have expressed interest in bolstering their bullpen and have been linked to St. Louis Cardinals reliever JoJo Romero. The Cardinals are currently in the midst of a "re-tool" as they shipped off starting third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks this week and have also been shopping infielder Brendan Donovan. According to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, the Mariners are among the teams that have shown interest in Romero. Last summer, Romero was quite effective in the St. Louis bullpen, logging 61 innings to the tune of a 2.07 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. He tallied just 55 punchouts but was a go-to option in high-leverage situations as he earned 24 holds and eight saves. While Romero would not contend for saves in Seattle as Andres Munoz is slated to remain the closer, he could find value in deeper holds leagues, operating as the primary left-hander in setup situations.

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According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Blue Jays have not closed the door on a potential reunion with top free-agent infielder Bo Bichette. Throughout the winter, Bichette has been linked to several suitors and has even drawn significant interest from certain clubs such as the Philadelphia Phillies. Even though the Blue Jays appear to be pivoting away from Bichette, they have still kept the door open to re-signing their former infielder. Bichette has spent his entire seven-year MLB career with Toronto. In 2025, Bichette turned in a massive bounce-back season after struggling in 2024. Across 139 games, the 27-year-old posted an elite .311/.357/.483 line with 18 home runs and four stolen bases. Under the hood, he generated a strong .353 xwOBA with an elite .295 xBA. If Bichette were to return to Toronto, he would continue to hold high-end value at the shortstop position despite his lack of speed, as he possesses elite contact skills with high-end counting stats.

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The New York Mets have officially sent top free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker a contract proposal with four years in length. As reported earlier this week, the Mets were considering increasing their offer to Tucker to four years. Mike Puma of The New York Post reported on Wednesday that the Mets have finally added an additional year to their proposal in hopes of acquiring the star outfielder. The 28-year-old has been linked to numerous clubs during the winter, including the Mets, Blue Jays, and Dodgers. After opting not to re-sign Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz, it appears the Mets are actively pursuing Tucker to bolster their starting lineup. Last season in Chicago, Tucker had a bit of a down year but still held a strong .266/.377/.464 line with an .841 OPS, 22 home runs, and 25 stolen bases. If he were to sign with the Mets, Tucker would carry elite OF1 upside in all formats, batting alongside high-end hitters such as Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor.

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