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Free-agent first baseman Josh Bell agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal that includes a mutual option for 2027 with the Minnesota Twins on Monday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 33-year-old switch-hitter will play first base and designated hitter for the Twins next season. This is the first big-league signing of the offseason for the rebuilding Twins. Barring more offseason moves, Bell should see the majority of playing time in Minnesota in 2026 after slashing .237/.325/.417 with 22 home runs, 63 RBI, and 54 runs scored in 140 games with the Washington Nationals. The 6-foot-3, 261-pounder still brings some pop from both sides of the plate, but he has only reached the 30-homer mark once (back in 2019 with the Pittsburgh Pirates), and he doesn't contribute really anywhere else for fantasy managers. Bell will be corner-infield depth in fantasy leagues in 2026 in his first year with the Twins.

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Cuban outfielder Adolis Garcia and the Philadelphia Phillies are finalizing a one-year, $10 million deal, pending a physical, on Monday, sources told Francys Romero. Garcia will head to the National League East and look to help a contending team as he tries to get back to his 2023 form, when he was named MVP of the American League Championship Series. The 32-year-old veteran will essentially be replacing Nick Castellanos, who is expected to be traded or released this offseason. The landing spot is an ideal one for Garcia in a hitter-friendly ballpark in a stacked lineup in Philly. Garcia had a second straight season with an OPS under .700 in 2025, and he also hit fewer than 20 home runs for the first time since becoming an everyday player. Injuries are a concern and could have contributed to a drop in his batted-ball metrics and bat speed in 2025. At a slightly discounted price in fantasy drafts next spring, though, Garcia will be an attractive bounce-back candidate in his new digs.

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The Boston Red Sox could reunite with veteran right-handed reliever Chris Martin, who plans to pitch next season, a source told Chris Cotillo of Mass Live. Martin will be heading into his age-40 season in 2026, but he still wants to pitch, and Boston is interested. He was great in Beantown in 2023-24 with a 2.16 ERA, but he finished this past season on the injured list with thoracic outlet syndrome. Before getting hurt in 2025, Martin was solid for the Texas Rangers, posting a 2.98 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, two saves, 43 strikeouts, and eight walks in 42 1/3 innings pitched in relief. If Martin were to return to Boston, he'd most likely be in line to pitch in a high-leverage setup role in front of left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman. Martin had five saves in his two seasons with the BoSox. In 10 big-league seasons, he's sporting a 25.2% strikeout rate and an elite 3.3% walk rate.

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Free-agent infielder Amed Rosario and the New York Yankees agreed on a one-year, $2.5 million deal on Saturday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Rosario played in 46 games with the Washington Nationals in 2025 before getting traded to the Yankees. The veteran infielder only played in 16 regular-season games in the Bronx, though, going 10-for-33 (.303) with a home run and five RBI. Rosario slashed .276/.309/.436 in 62 total games with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 20 runs scored as a utility infielder. The 30-year-old will continue to serve as a bench player for the Yankees in 2026, making him pretty useless in mixed redraft leagues. Rosario's greatest skills are his defensive versatility and his ability to make contact at the plate.

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The Kansas City Royals acquired right-handed reliever Nick Mears and outfielder Isaac Collins from the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday in exchange for left-hander Angel Zerpa, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Mears was a useful arm in Milwaukee's bullpen this past season, sporting a career-best 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with his first career save, 46 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 56 2/3 regular-season innings. The 29-year-old will give the Royals some extra bullpen depth in front of setup man Lucas Erceg and closer Carlos Estevez. Mears won't hold much fantasy value in 2026, outside of deeper holds leagues, but he could become an intriguing pickup if injuries strike Estevez and Erceg. He has a career 4.61 ERA (4.06 FIP) and 1.33 WHIP with 174 punchouts and 72 walks in 164 relief innings with the Brewers, Pirates, and Rockies.

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The Milwaukee Brewers acquired left-hander Angel Zerpa from the Kansas City Royals on Saturday in exchange for outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears. Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said that the team is open to looking at Zerpa as a starter. "He's somebody we've been trying to access for a long time," Arnold said. The 26-year-old Venezuelan southpaw was a starter in the minors, but he was a reliever in KC the last two years, posting a 4.03 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 107 strikeouts and 41 walks in 118 1/3 innings over his 129 outings (two starts). At best, Zerpa is just a name to file away and watch during spring training if Milwaukee indeed stretches him out as a starter. If Zerpa is a full-time starter in 2026 with the Brewers, he'll most likely be on an innings cap after spending the last two years as a full-time reliever.

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The Kansas City Royals acquired outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever Nick Mears from the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday in exchange for left-hander Angel Zerpa, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Collins surprisingly finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2025 after slashing .263/.368/.411 with a .779 OPS, nine home runs, 54 RBI, 56 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases in 130 regular-season games for the Brew Crew. The 28-year-old former ninth-rounder by the Rockies in 2019 out of Creighton struggled down the stretch, though. In Kansas City, the switch-hitting outfielder will likely compete for a platoon spot in the outfield for the Royals in spring training. The move to the American League Central with a clearer path to regular playing time should make him more attractive as a late-round flier in AL-only fantasy leagues in 2026.

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Free-agent right-hander Dustin May and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed on an undisclosed one-year deal on Saturday that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, pending a physical, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. May will return to the National League after starting the 2025 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers before being traded to the Boston Red Sox. The 28-year-old went a combined 7-11 with a career-worst 4.96 ERA (4.88 FIP), 1.42 WHIP, and 123:56 K:BB ratio in 132 1/3 innings pitched over 25 appearances (23 starts). The numbers don't look great, but the biggest takeaway was that May managed to stay healthy for a career-high 132 1/3 frames. Especially after St. Louis traded Sonny Gray away this offseason, May should be a lock for a starting rotation spot with the Cards going into next season. Through his first six MLB seasons, the former third-rounder has been a disappointment due to injuries and a lackluster 21.9% strikeout rate.

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Free-agent right-hander Merrill Kelly agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal to return to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The D-backs traded Kelly to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline in July, but he'll head back to Arizona for the next two years. The 37-year-old veteran will be relied on at the top of the starting rotation again next year, with right-hander Zac Gallen expected to depart in free agency. In 32 total starts in 2025 with Arizona and Texas, he went 12-9 with a 3.52 ERA (3.76 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 167 strikeouts and 48 walks in 184 innings pitched. Kelly has been pretty durable for fantasy managers and displays elite control. He doesn't rely on velocity, but he's still had a decent 22% strikeout rate in his career in seven big-league seasons. Kelly isn't very sexy for fantasy baseball managers, but you could do much worse as a back-end rotation arm.

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Free-agent right-handed reliever Kenley Jansen and the Detroit Tigers agreed on a one-year, $11 million deal on Saturday, pending a physical, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Jansen is the second reliever that the Tigers have added this week after they re-signed right-hander Kyle Finnegan to a two-year deal during the winter meetings. Jansen's deal also includes a team option for 2027. Despite being 38 years old, Jansen could open next season as the favorite for saves in Detroit because of his experience (476 career saves). He didn't look his age at all in 2025 with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a 2.59 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 29 saves, 57 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 59 innings out of the bullpen. With that said, Jansen is clearly no longer in his prime, and he's going to have much more competition for saves next year in Finnegan and Will Vest.

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The New York Mets are among many MLB teams that are inquiring about San Diego Padres right-handed reliever Mason Miller, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. The Padres will listen to offers, but they "love him as much as anyone and would need to be overwhelmed." The Mets lost All-Star closer Edwin Diaz in free agency to the Los Angeles Dodgers, although they did sign reliever Devin Williams. In addition to Miller, the Mets could also be interested in trading for right-handed starter Nick Pivetta or outfielder Ramon Laureano. San Diego is looking to shed payroll and is reportedly interested in New York's prospects and younger position players. It's possible that the Friars also look to trade relievers Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada. Miller, who has been one of the hardest-throwing and most dominant closers in baseball the last couple of years, should be an elite closing target in fantasy baseball, regardless of where he's pitching in 2026.

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The Toronto Blue Jays acquired right-hander Chase Lee from the Detroit Tigers on Friday in exchange for minor-league left-hander Johan Simon, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Lee, a 27-year-old sidearmer, made his major-league debut this year in Detroit and appeared in 32 games out of the bullpen. He allowed 17 earned runs on 32 hits (seven home runs) while walking nine and striking out 36 over 37 1/3 frames. Lee finished his first year in the Show with a 4.10 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. Lee won't be guaranteed to win an Opening Day roster spot for the Jays out of spring training, and if he does, he'll most likely be just another middle-relief option that carries zero fantasy value. Simon, 24, had a 3.42 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 79:29 K:BB ratio in 71 innings at three minor-league levels in 2025.

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Free-agent catcher Danny Jansen has agreed to a two-year, $14.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers. In 2025, Jansen slashed .215/.321/.399 with 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and 38 runs scored, good for a 103 wRC+ across 337 plate appearances. The 30-year-old also posted a career-high 25.5% strikeout rate, offset by a solid 12.5% walk rate. Jansen is expected to serve as the Rangers' primary catcher, though he will split time with Kyle Higashioka. From a fantasy standpoint, Jansen profiles best as a second catcher in two-catcher formats and is unlikely to be a viable option in standard 10- or 12-team leagues.

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The Texas Rangers have signed free-agent reliever Tyler Alexander to a one-year deal on Friday. Alexander split time between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox last season, posting a 4.98 ERA with 82 strikeouts and a 1.40 WHIP across 97 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old left-hander owns a career 4.63 ERA and is expected to provide bullpen depth for Texas. Alexander can safely be left off the fantasy radar for 2026.

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Free-agent reliever Alexis Diaz has agreed to a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers. Daz endured a turbulent 2025 season, beginning the year on the injured list with a hamstring issue and quickly losing his closing role with the Cincinnati Reds after surrendering three home runs in a single outing during his mid-April debut. The 29-year-old was subsequently demoted to Triple-A and later traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he lasted only a few weeks before being designated for assignment. He was then claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves and finished the season with a career-worst 8.15 ERA and a 14.1% walk rate, while striking out just 20% of batters faced. With the Rangers, Daz projects as another bullpen arm, and at this point, he holds no fantasy relevance.

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Outfielder David Dahl announced his retirement earlier this week on his X account, bringing an end to his seven-year major league career. Once a top-100 prospect, Dahl showed flashes of his talent but was unable to stay healthy or consistent over a full season. The 31-year-old spent the bulk of his career with the Colorado Rockies, compiling a .286/.334/.494 slash line with 38 home runs, 142 RBI, 149 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases across 1,020 plate appearances. After not appearing in a game last season, Dahl has decided to call it a career.

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Right-hander Tyler Glasnow has "come up in conversations" between the Los Angeles Dodgers and other teams, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Gonzalez added that any potential trade remains a "long shot," though the Dodgers would not be opposed to moving Glasnow. The 6-foot-8 righty is owed $30 million in both 2026 and 2027, with Los Angeles holding a club option for 2028. Since joining the Dodgers two seasons ago, Glasnow has posted a 3.37 ERA with 274 strikeouts and a 1.01 WHIP over 224 innings. When healthy, the 10-year veteran is among the elite pitchers in baseball, but durability remains the biggest concern, as he has never surpassed 134 innings in a single season. From a fantasy perspective, Glasnow's ADP sits just outside the top 100, making him a calculated gamble with massive upside if he can finally stay on the mound.

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Free-agent infielder Jorge Polanco has agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Mets. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Polanco is expected to see time at first base and designated hitter in Queens. After losing Pete Alonso and Edwin Daz to free agency and trading fan favorite Brandon Nimmo, the Mets have finally made a notable move to stabilize the roster. Polanco, 32, is coming off a strong season with the Seattle Mariners in which he slashed .265/.326/.495 with 26 home runs, 78 RBI, 64 runs scored, six stolen bases, and a 132 wRC+ across 524 plate appearances. From a fantasy perspective, Polanco's multi-position eligibility enhances his value beyond his offensive production. With an ADP around 242, he profiles as a solid middle- or corner-infield option with some upside.

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Mass Live's Chris Cotillo writes that the Boston Red Sox could be pursuing a trade for St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras, according to a source. The Red Sox continue to look for upgrades to their offense after missing out on sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso this week. Boston is one of many teams interested in Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan, too, but St. Louis might not move him. Contreras, a three-time All-Star, is believed to be available with two years and $41 million (plus a 2028 option) left on his deal. He has full no-trade protection, but the 33-year-old veteran might be open to waiving it for the right situation. Acquiring Contreras would give the BoSox a steady right-handed bat while also providing insurance at first base with Triston Casas coming back from knee surgery. Contreras had career-highs in RBI (80), doubles (31), and runs (70) after moving to first base full time in 2025.

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The Washington Nationals avoided salary arbitration with right-hander Josiah Gray (elbow) on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.35 million deal, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan. Gray is expected to be ready to pitch in spring training after missing all of the 2025 campaign due to right-elbow surgery. The 27-year-old will make the same money that he did this past season. Gray was a former second-round selection by the Cincinnati Reds in 2018 out of Le Moyne College in New York. He broke into the big leagues in 2021 with the Los Angeles Dodgers before making his way to D.C. Gray was an All-Star in 2023 despite going 8-13 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 30 starts. He made only two starts in 2024 before being shut down with elbow issues. Fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach on Gray in 2026, especially since he will probably face a strict innings limit in his first season back.

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