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The Athletics are in agreement with free agent relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. on a one-year deal worth around $3 million, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN. Leiter Jr. will turn 35 years old in March 2026. Across 48 1/3 innings (59 games) with the New York Yankees last season, Leiter Jr. pitched to a 6-7 record with a 4.84 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, and 54 strikeouts. Leiter Jr.'s 3.72 xERA and inflated .374 opponent batting average on balls in play could be indicators of poor luck and better results going forward. Still, Leiter Jr. also saw his strikeout rate drop from an excellent 33.6% in 2024 to 24.7% in 2025, his lowest mark since the 2018 season. Leiter Jr. has a tiny bit of closing experience, recording seven saves across two seasons with the Chicago Cubs in 2022 and 2023. With the Athletics, Leiter Jr. could have an outside chance at the closer role, but is more likely ticketed for middle relief.

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San Diego Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller recently shut down any possible trade speculation surrounding outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr., telling Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune that Tatis is "somebody that we're not talking about." Preller has been known for making big moves in the trade market during his time in charge in San Diego, but it does not appear that the team is interested in trading away its superstar. Across 691 plate appearances for the Padres in 2025, Tatis Jr. slashed .268/.368/.446 with 25 home runs, 71 RBI, 111 runs scored, and 32 stolen bases. He upped his walk rate to a career high 12.9% while also slashing his strikeout rate to a career low 18.7%. San Diego has Tatis Jr. locked up under contract through 2034, so there is little impetus for the team to move him other than to save money or get back a monstrous haul of talent.

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USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that the Detroit Tigers "surprised teams by engaging in serious talks" around the possibility of trading starting pitcher Tarik Skubal at the winter meetings this week. Nightengale goes on to predict that Detroit will hang on to Skubal, but it's still noteworthy that the team is apparently willing to listen to offers for its star pitcher. The 29-year-old has won back-to-back American League Cy Young Awards. Across 195 1/3 innings (31 starts) in 2025, Skubal pitched to a 13-6 record with a 2.21 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 241 strikeouts. While the Tigers presumably expect to contend, Skubal can be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season. If the team is unwilling to shell out a monster contract, it could decide that getting a trade return for Skubal is better than watching him leave for nothing.

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New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he views second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. as "currently part of the solution," but that the team will be "open-minded" when asked about a possible trade, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. While it doesn't appear that the Yankees are actively shopping Chisholm Jr., it seems that the team may listen to the right offer. Across 531 plate appearances in the Bronx last season, Chisholm Jr. slashed .242/.332/.481 with 31 home runs, 80 RBI, 75 runs scored, and 31 stolen bases. He will play the entire 2026 season, his final year under club control, at 28 years old. If the Yankees don't view Chisholm Jr. as part of their long-term plans, they could look to move on. However, a Chisholm Jr. trade would leave what is presumably a win-now team with a hole at second base. Depending on how the rest of New York's offseason progresses, Chisholm Jr. could be a name to monitor.

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The Chicago Cubs are signing free-agent relief pitcher Hoby Milner, per Michael Cerami of Bleacher Nation. Across 70 1/3 innings (70) games with the Texans Rangers in 2025, Milner recorded a 3-4 record with a 3.84 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 58 strikeouts. He will turn 35 years old in January 2026. Milner, a left-handed pitcher, specializes in getting out left-handed batters. Across 341 1/3 career big-league innings, lefty batters have slashed .221/.269/.339 against Milner, while righties have punished him to a .277/.343/.451 line. In Chicago, Milner profiles as a middle relief option who will be part of the bridge to projected Cubs closer Daniel Palencia.

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Despite the recent addition of All-Star closer Robert Suarez on a three-year, $45 million deal, right-hander Raisel Iglesias will remain the Atlanta Braves' closer in 2026, a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Suarez will open next season as Atlanta's high-priced, high-leverage setup man in front of Iglesias. The 35-year-old Cuban reliever got off to a rough start with the Braves last year, but he rebounded and had a sharp 1.96 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 51:12 after the start of June to finish with a 3.21 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 29 saves in 67 1/3 innings. His 85.3% save share was the third-highest among closers in baseball, although that figures to drop in 2026 with Suarez in the fold. In the final two months, Iglesias had a 0.38 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, and a league-leading 16 saves. Iglesias still has the stuff to get the job done in the ninth, but he's on much shakier ground now that Suarez is an option to replace him if he struggles again at any point next year.

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Free-agent closer Robert Suarez and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a three-year, $45 million deal on Thursday, sources tell Jeff Passan of ESPN. It's a curious landing spot for Suarez after the Braves already re-signed closer Raisel Iglesias to a one-year, $16 million deal this offseason. Reports suggest that Iglesias will remain the Braves' primary closer in 2026, which means that the 34-year-old Suarez will serve in a high-leverage setup role in his new digs. Suarez has been one of the most dominant closers in recent seasons with the San Diego Padres, posting a 2.87 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 76 saves, 134 strikeouts, and 32 walks in 134 2/3 regular-season innings since the start of the 2024 campaign. He should continue to be useful for his strikeout rate and holds, but if Iglesias actually holds him off for closer duties, Suarez's overall fantasy value will take a hit in Atlanta.

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Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report that the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, and Houston Astros are among the teams with interest in acquiring current Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta. The 29-year-old Peralta is coming off an excellent 2025 season in Milwaukee. Across 176 2/3 innings (33 starts), he recorded a 17-6 record with a 2.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 204 strikeouts. While the Brewers won 97 games in 2025 and appear to be in win-now mode, they could look to move Peralta, given that he has just one season left under team control. Peralta slightly outperformed his underlying metrics and could be in for some regression in 2026. Still, he's established himself as a front-end starting pitcher, sporting a career 3.59 ERA and 29.9% strikeout rate. While Rosenthal and Sammon report that "no deal appears close" and "talks are fluid," it appears as though Peralta has multiple potential suitors. It could just be a matter of time before a deal comes together.

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The Atlanta Braves are in agreement with free agent outfielder Mike Yastrzemski on a two-year, $23 million contract that also includes a third-year club option, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. The 35-year-old spent the first six-plus seasons of his big-league career with the San Francisco Giants before being traded to the Kansas City Royals at the 2025 trade deadline. Across 558 plate appearances split between San Francisco and Kansas City in 2025, Yastrzemski slashed .233/.303/.403 with 17 home runs, 46 RBI, 68 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. He cut his strikeout rate to a career-best 19.4% while upping his walk rate to 12.9%, his highest mark since the shortened 2020 season. The left-handed-hitting Yastrzemski sports a career .648 OPS against left-handed pitching, so he profiles best as a platoon bat. He's likely ticketed for starting corner outfield job against right-handed starters in Atlanta.

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The New York Mets are showing interest in re-signing free-agent relief pitcher Tyler Rogers, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Rogers spent the first six-plus years of his big-league career with the San Francisco Giants before the Mets acquired him from San Francisco at the 2025 trade deadline. The 34-year-old performed well in his time in New York, recording a 2.30 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 27 1/3 innings pitched (28 games). However, Rogers recorded just 10 strikeouts for the Mets and has posted a meager 17.6% strikeout rate across 424 career MLB innings. While Rogers has some closing experience, recording 13 saves for the Giants in 2021, his inability to consistently miss bats likely limits him to high-leverage relief. If the Mets bring him back, Rogers would likely work in a setup role in front of newly acquired potential closer Devin Williams.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have stayed aggressive in their pursuit of a bat this offseason and are among the teams that have inquired about Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. Lowe will make $11.5 million in 2026 after Tampa picked up his option. The Pirates were also pursuing designated hitter Kyle Schwarber before he re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for five years and $150 million. Lowe, 31, hit .256/.307/.477 with 31 home runs, 83 RBI, and 79 runs scored in 134 games in his eighth big-league season in 2025. The oft-injured left-handed-hitting second baseman had his best season since 2021. Lowe has plenty of pop from the left side, but his fantasy ceiling is limited because of his inability to hit left-handers and his lengthy injury history. But Lowe would be an upgrade for a Pittsburgh team looking to bolster its offense as they look to compete with a young and dominant pitching staff.

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The Baltimore Orioles have had talks with free-agent left-hander Framber Valdez, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Despite agreeing to a five-year, $155 million contract with first baseman Pete Alonso on Wednesday, the Orioles remain engaged with the top end of the starting pitching market this offseason. Baltimore has reportedly been discussing a potential trade for Washington Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore, too. Valdez, 32, is expected to be too expensive for Houston's taste as they search for younger, controllable starting pitchers. The veteran southpaw isn't a big strikeout guy, instead leaning on inducing ground balls, but he's been one of the most consistent starters in baseball since 2020. He's also one of just five pitchers to throw 900 innings in the last four years. A move to the AL East wouldn't be ideal for Valdez's fantasy value, but his penchant for keeping the ball on the ground would certainly help.

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The New York Mets never made a formal offer to try and bring first baseman Pete Alonso back, a source told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. It became clear to the Mets that the bidding for Alonso "was heading to places they weren't interested in going." The Baltimore Orioles landed the 31-year-old All-Star for five years and $155 million on Wednesday. It's been a rough week for the Mets, as they also lost former closer Edwin Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Alonso had a strong 2025 season in his last year in Queens, slashing .272/.347/.524 with 38 home runs and 126 RBI in a full 162 games. The Polar Bear is an elite source of power for fantasy managers, as he's clubbed 264 round-trippers in seven seasons since entering the league in 2019. We shouldn't expect Alonso to hit for average again in 2026 in Baltimore, but he's a pretty good bet for 30-plus homers and 100-plus RBI with the O's if he stays healthy.

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The Baltimore Orioles have had steady communication about Washington Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore, sources told Jon Morosi of MLB Network. There is no indication that a deal is close, though. The Orioles have yet to complete a trade with the Nationals since the franchise moved to D.C. ESPN's Buster Olney reportedly recently that there is a perception among several front offices that the Nationals will definitely trade Gore this offseason. The 26-year-old southpaw was heading for a breakout 2025 campaign in the first half before fading in the second half while missing time due to ankle and shoulder injuries. He finished with a 5-15 record, 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 185 strikeouts, and 64 walks in 30 starts (159 2/3 innings) in his fourth MLB season. It would be quite a splash for the O's, who just signed superstar first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million deal.

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Free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso and the Baltimore Orioles are finalizing a five-year, $155 million deal on Wednesday, sources tell ESPN's Jeff Passan. Alonso is leaving the Mets to join the American League East. The 31-year-old right-handed slugger was greeted by a cold market last offseason and eventually re-signed with the Mets for two years and $54 million. Alonso opted out of the final year of the deal after 2025, though, and now he's on the move. The Polar Bear had a career-high .272 batting average in 2025 in his final year with the Mets and added 38 home runs, a league-high 41 doubles, 126 RBI, and 87 runs scored in 162 games played. Alonso isn't the best defensive first baseman, but he makes up for it by being an elite slugger at the plate. He has cleared 30-plus home runs in all six of his full seasons and has topped 40 homers three times. Alonso gives the Orioles some much-needed thump in the middle of their batting order.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder/designated hitter Anthony Santander (back, shoulder) is "finally feeling normal" after back and shoulder injuries limited him to 54 games in his first year with the team in 2025, according to manager John Schneider. Santander was a first-time All-Star in 2024 with the Orioles and had a career-high 44 home runs and 102 RBI before the Jays made him a high-profile free-agent signing last offseason. He was a massive bust in his first year in Canada, slashing .175/.271/.294 with only six home runs, 18 RBI, a 27.6% strikeout rate, and 16 runs in 221 plate appearances in the regular season. The 31-year-old battled a subluxated shoulder and a nagging lower-back injury. Most fantasy managers are going to be avoiding Santander in 2026, so he'll be very cheap, but he'll be losing outfield eligibility. If he can stay healthy, which is a big if, Santander could have a good shot to return to the 30-homer mark.

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The Detroit Tigers and right-handed closer Kyle Finnegan agreed to a two-year, $19 million contract on Tuesday night, pending a physical, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Finnegan will return to Motown after the Tigers acquired him at last summer's trade deadline from the Washington Nationals. The 34-year-old veteran was outstanding in his 16 relief appearances for Detroit, allowing just three earned runs while walking four and striking out 23 in 18 regular-season innings. He also recorded four saves while sharing closing duties with right-hander Will Vest. Finnegan wasn't nearly as dominant with the Nats before the trade, posting a 4.38 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 20 saves in 39 innings. He was third in the league in 2024 with a career-high 38 saves in D.C. Finnegan returns to an ascending Tigers club, but a fourth straight 20-save season is far from a lock.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates and left-handed reliever Gregory Soto have agreed to a one-year, $7.75 million deal, sources tell Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Soto, 30, posted a 4.18 ERA (3.49 SIERA) with a 25.1% strikeout rate across 60 1/3 innings in 2025. For the Pirates, Soto is expected to serve as a high-leverage reliever and could see opportunities in the closer role, depending on matchups. From a fantasy perspective, Soto will be most valuable in leagues that count holds as a category.

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The Boston Red Sox would be comfortable with Marcelo Mayer as their starting third baseman on Opening Day. The 22-year-old endured a rough rookie season, slashing .228/.272/.402 with four home runs, 10 RBI, 20 runs, and no steals while posting an 80 wRC+. He also struck out at a 30.1% clip across 136 plate appearances. His year ended early after a wrist injury that required surgery in August. Looking ahead to 2026, a fully healthy Mayer projects for roughly 15 home runs, 10 steals, and a .250 batting average. At present, he profiles as a viable middle-infield option in deep 12- or 15-team fantasy leagues.

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The price for free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso has "likely" risen in light of Kyle Schwarber's five-year, $150 million contract, per Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive.com. Alonso is now expected to seek a six- or seven-year deal, though it's unclear whether the Boston Red Sox would commit to a contract that would carry him through his age-36 or age-37 season. The 31-year-old slugger bet on himself last year by taking a one-year deal with the Mets, and that decision appears poised to pay off. In 2025, Alonso launched 38 home runs and slashed .272/.347/.524 with a 141 wRC+ across a career-high 709 plate appearances. For fantasy managers, Alonso remains one of the safest sources of home runs in the league, and he's played all 162 games in each of the last two seasons.

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