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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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Free-agent right-hander Bryse Wilson signed an undisclosed deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. This could end up being a minor-league deal with an invite to big-league spring training. The 27-year-old will most likely compete for a multi-inning relief role for the Phils in spring training. Wilson was very hittable this past season in 20 appearances (five starts) with the Chicago White Sox, posting a 6.65 ERA (6.30 FIP) and 1.82 WHIP with 28 strikeouts and 19 walks in 47 1/3 innings pitched. The former fourth-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2016 holds a 4.82 career ERA with a 1.41 WHIP, four saves, a well below-average 16.6% strikeout rate, and a 7.5% walk rate in eight big-league seasons with the White Sox, Braves, Brewers, and Pirates. Wilson will not be on the fantasy radar to begin next season.

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The Seattle Mariners are close to striking a deal to sign veteran free-agent catcher Andrew Knizner on Friday, industry sources told Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. If signed, Knizner would serve as the top backup to Cal Raleigh. The Mariners need catching depth after recently trading top catching prospect Harry Ford to the Washington Nationals last week in exchange for reliever Jose A. Ferrer. Knizner, 30, became a free agent last month when he was non-tendered by the San Francisco Giants. The former seventh-round pick in 2016 out of North Carolina has spent five of his seven big-league seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. His best season came in 2023 in St. Louis, when he hit 10 home runs with a .712 OPS and 1.0 bWAR in 70 games. Knizner hit .221 (17-for-77) with a homer, five RBI, and 12 runs in only 33 games for the Gigantes in 2025.

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Chris Cotillo of Mass Live reports that the Detroit Tigers continue to pursue free-agent right-handed reliever Kenley Jansen, even after they re-signed Kyle Finnegan. The reliever market has moved quickly this past week, and Jansen might be the next one to sign with a team. It's a bit curious that Detroit is still in the market to add the 38-year-old Jansen, though, since they already have both Finnegan and Will Vest to handle closing duties going into next season. If Detroit were to sign Jansen as well, it's unclear how they would structure the back end of their bullpen. Jansen had a solid season in 2025 with the Halos and was tied for eighth in the league with 29 saves. He is nowhere near the dominant closer he once was, but he still posted a very respectable 2.59 ERA and 0.95 WHIP while striking out 57 hitters in 59 innings. The future Hall of Famer's 476 career saves could make him the favorite for closing duties if he were to land in Motown.

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Free-agent right-handed reliever Tyler Rogers and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a three-year, $37 million deal on Friday that includes a fourth-year vesting option, a source told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Rogers has been one of the most consistent relievers over the years and will head to Toronto to help fortify their bullpen in 2026 and beyond. The Jays have been serious about adding arms this winter, already having signed starters Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce. The 34-year-old Rogers had a career year with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets in 2025, posting a sharp 1.98 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and only seven walks in 77 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. The submarining righty had a career-high 13 saves in 2021 with the Giants and could become a ninth-inning option in Toronto if Jeff Hoffman continues to struggle. Rogers has a weak 17.6% strikeout rate, though, so if he's not a candidate for saves, he doesn't hold much fantasy value.

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Free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Christopher Morel agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Miami Marlins on Friday, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. The Marlins are in desperate need of a first baseman, and it appears the Fish plan to play him there in 2026 despite his lack of experience at the position. The 26-year-old right-handed slugger has plenty of pop from the right side, but he swings and misses far too often. He opened eyes with 26 home runs and an .821 OPS with the Chicago Cubs in 2023, but he has struggled to replicate those numbers over the last two seasons. In 2025 with the Tampa Bay Rays, Morel hit just .219/.289/.396 with a .684 OPS, 11 homers, 33 RBI, 37 runs, seven steals, and 109 strikeouts in 305 plate appearances. If the Marlins can somehow get him to make more contact, Morel will be relevant in all fantasy leagues for his power.

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Third baseman Maikel Garcia and the Kansas City Royals are finalizing a five-year contract extension on Friday that includes a club option for a sixth year, sources tell Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 25-year-old won a Gold Glove in 2025 at the hot corner and will stay on the left side of KC's infield with All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. for years to come. According to MLB.com's Anne Rogers, the deal is worth a guaranteed $57.5 million and can reach $85 million if he hits his escalators and his option is exercised. Garcia was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this year as a Super 2 qualifier, but this deal will cover all of his arbitration years and one year of free agency. After swiping 37 bases in 2024, Garcia broke out with the bat in 2025, slashing .286/.351/.449 with 16 homers, 23 steals, 74 RBI, and 81 runs in 160 games. Garcia improved his strikeout and walk rates, launched the ball more, and hit the ball harder. His power/speed combo makes him an attractive target in fantasy once the high-end names come off the board.

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Free-agent outfielder Akil Baddoo has agreed to a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Baddoo appeared in only seven games for the Detroit Tigers last season, slashing .118/.167/.176 with no home runs and a -8 wRC+. He has yet to recapture the promise he showed during his 2021 rookie campaign, when he posted a 108 wRC+ with 13 homers and 18 steals. For Milwaukee, Baddoo is far from a lock to make the roster out of Spring Training, but his athleticism keeps him on the radar as a potential early-season watch-list candidate.

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The Milwaukee Brewers have signed infielder/outfielder Greg Jones to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Jones, 27, is a switch-hitter who has spent nearly his entire professional career in the minors. Over six minor-league seasons, he has tallied 51 home runs, 172 stolen bases, and a .262/.346/.434 slash line across 1,677 plate appearances. He has appeared in the majors only briefly, totaling eight plate appearances. The Brewers are taking a look at Jones because of his athleticism and defensive versatility, particularly his ability to handle the outfield. While he's unlikely to break camp with the major-league club, it's hard not to root for a player who has worked this long and this hard to reach the Show.

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Free-agent outfielder Lane Thomas has agreed to a one-year, $5.25 million deal with the Kansas City Royals, with an additional $1 million available through incentives, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. Thomas battled injuries last season and struggled at the plate, slashing .166/.245/.290 with five home runs and five stolen bases over 177 plate appearances with the Cleveland Guardians. The 30-year-old has yet to recapture his 2023 breakout form, when he hit 28 home runs, stole 20 bases, and posted a .268/.315/.468 slash line with a 109 wRC+. For the Royals, Thomas is expected to open the season as the starting left fielder and will likely slot into the lower part of the batting order. Fantasy managers can safely take a wait-and-see approach for now, but he's a name to monitor early in the season in case he rediscovers his previous level of production.

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Free-agent right-hander Colin Holderman has agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Cleveland Guardians, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. Holderman, 30, has a career 4.13 ERA with a 22.2% strikeout rate and a 1.40 WHIP across 161 1/3 innings. He endured a difficult 2025 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, posting a career-worst 7.01 ERA while dealing with multiple injuries. For Cleveland, Holderman is expected to serve primarily as extra bullpen depth, and for now, he carries no fantasy relevance.

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The Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox met with first baseman Pete Alonso at the Winter Meetings before he ultimately signed his five-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. While details of the discussions remain unclear, it's noteworthy that the Cubs sat down with the 31-year-old slugger. Chicago's current first baseman, Michael Busch, is coming off a career year in which he slashed .261/.343/.523 with 34 home runs, 90 RBI, 78 runs, and four stolen bases, good for a 140 wRC+. The one notable concern is his performance against left-handed pitching. Busch hit just .207 against southpaws last season and struck out 26 times in 95 plate appearances, raising the possibility that the Cubs may view him as a long-term platoon option. For fantasy managers, Busch's usage against same-handed pitching is something worth monitoring moving forward.

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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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