0:00:00

The Philadelphia Phillies met with free-agent infielder Bo Bichette on Monday, and Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports that both sides "emerged with optimism" from the meeting. Across 628 plate appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025, Bichette slashed .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs, 94 RBI, 78 runs scored, and four stolen bases. He'll turn just 28 years old in March, making him one of the younger big-name free agents on the open market. Bichette has spent the majority of his career playing shortstop, but he's graded out as a poor defender and has expressed an openness to moving off the position with his next team. Philadelphia already has Trea Turner at short, so Bichette would likely take over for either Bryson Stott at second base or Alec Bohm at third base with the Phillies. Multiple other teams, including the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, have been linked to Bichette at different points throughout the offseason. However, Gelb highlights Philadelphia's historical willingness to sign longer-term free agent deals as one reason why the organization may emerge as the winner of the Bichette sweepstakes.

From RotoBaller

Free agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt "continues to loom as a potential fit" with the Arizona Diamondbacks, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Goldschmidt spent the 2025 season with the New York Yankees, posting a .274/.328/.403 slash line with 10 home runs, 45 RBI, 76 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 534 plate appearances. Entering his age-38 season, Goldschmidt's days as an everyday player are likely behind him. However, he mashed left-handed pitching to a .336/.411/.570 line in 2025, which could make him an ideal platoon partner for Diamondbacks left-handed hitting first baseman Pavin Smith. Goldschmidt also spent the first eight years of his career in Arizona before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, so a homecoming could be a nice story for both player and team.

From RotoBaller

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that some members of the Boston Red Sox organization are "high on free-agent left-hander Ranger Suarez," and speculates that signing Suarez could be one way for Boston to pivot after losing third baseman Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs. Across 157 1/3 innings (26 starts) for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025, Suarez posted a 12-8 record with a 3.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 151 strikeouts. He lowered his walk rate to a career-best 5.8% in 2025 and now hits free agency going into his age-30 season. In Boston, Suarez would likely slot in alongside veteran right-hander Sonny Gray as one of the top starting pitching options behind ace of the staff Garrett Crochet. However, Rosenthal also reports that Suarez's market "remains unclear," so it does not appear that a signing is imminent.

From RotoBaller

Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports that the Boston Red Sox met with starting pitcher Framber Valdez in person at the MLB general managers' meetings in November, and speculates that the team could circle back to Valdez after losing third baseman Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs in free agency. Valdez, who is entering his age-32 season, posted a 13-11 record with a 3.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 187 strikeouts across 192 innings for the Houston Astros in 2025. The veteran left-hander has made at least 28 starts in four consecutive seasons, posting a 3.21 ERA across 767 2/3 innings pitched in that span. Healey notes that the Red Sox acquired starting pitcher Sonny Gray after meeting with Valdez, so it's possible the team feels it has filled its rotation needs. However, Boston could choose to upgrade its pitching staff with the money it has left over after missing on Bregman.

From RotoBaller

Miami Marlins pitching prospect Robby Snelling appears poised to compete for a starting job in the rotation during spring training. Over the past week, the Marlins have sent two of their starting pitchers, Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers, to competing teams in exchange for top prospects. As a result, Snelling faces even less competition to crack the rotation next month. Last summer, the southpaw was one of the most dominant pitchers at the Triple-A level. While he had a modest start to the season at Double-A, where he posted a 3.61 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP across 72 1/3 innings, he reached a new level with Jacksonville. Through 63 2/3 innings at the top level of the minor leagues, Snelling posted an elite 1.27 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, with an 81:17 K:BB. Snelling is a name to closely monitor in spring training, as he would carry high-end sleeper appeal given the strikeout upside he flashed against the top hitters in the minor leagues if he begins the season in the majors.

From RotoBaller

Free agent relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez is viewed as a top option for the Diamondbacks' bullpen, according to Jack Sommers of Sports Illustrated. The Diamondbacks are in the market to add to their bullpen as both of their top options, A.J. Puk (elbow) and Justin Martinez (elbow), are expected to miss the first half as they recover from Tommy John surgery. While Kevin Ginkel could fill the closer role for the short term, they have begun exploring the free agent market to add some depth to their bullpen. Dominguez is viewed as one of those options. Last summer, the right-hander logged 62 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.16 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP. However, he generated an elite .198 xBA, suggesting he should see better results in 2026. Dominguez has also had experience in the closer role, totaling 11 saves in 2024 and 16 saves back in 2018. If he were to sign with the Diamondbacks, he would carry sleeper appeal as he would be in the mix to earn the primary ninth-inning job during the first half.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Blaze Alexander could see extended time in the outfield during the upcoming season. On Tuesday, the Diamondbacks acquired third baseman Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals. Following the trade, GM Mike Hazen noted that he envisions Arenado playing on a daily basis at third base, which will limit Alexander's opportunities at the hot corner. However, Hazen said there are still "plenty of opportunities available." Alex D'Agostino of Sports Illustrated reported that since Alexander saw limited time in the outfield last season, the team could look to increase that, as it would be his primary path to playing time. In 2025, Alexander saw six games in the outfield compared to 68 in the infield. Through 74 MLB games last summer, Alexander held a .230/.323/.383 linewith 12 doubles and seven home runs. If he can see ample time in the outfield during spring training, he could be worth monitoring in deeper NL-only formats.

From RotoBaller

According to Colin Beazley of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Pirates could look to pursue Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm in a trade. With the Phillies in serious pursuit of Bo Bichette, they could look to move Bohm in a trade, as Bichette would likely become their everyday third baseman. The Pirates have had a rather productive offseason, signing Ryan O'Hearn, who is expected to share time at first base and designated hitter, and trading for power-hitting second baseman Brandon Lowe. Currently, Jared Triolo is slated to serve as the everyday third baseman for the Pirates. Last summer, Bohm posted a .287/.331/.409 line with 11 home runs and two stolen bases. He would provide another solid bat to an improving Pittsburgh lineup, but would likely see his counting stats take a decline moving away from the Phillies.

From RotoBaller

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) will not have an innings limit placed on him during the 2026 season. Padres manager Craig Stammen appeared on the Foul Territory podcast and explained that the right-hander is in a "great spot" following his recovery from Tommy John surgery and noted that the team is not planning to put an innings limit on him. The 33-year-old has not been on the bump since the 2024 campaign. During that season, he logged 99 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.88 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP. He struck out 101 hitters and showed above-average command, allowing walks at a 5.6% rate. However, he generated a rather high 4.31 xERA. Musgrove is worth closely monitoring in spring training. He has sleeper appeal in deeper formats, especially if he can return to his 2022 form when he held a strong 2.93 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP.

From RotoBaller

The Los Angeles Dodgers have designated infielder Ryan Fitzgerald for assignment. This transaction opened a spot on the roster for Andy Ibanez. The Dodgers claimed Fitzgerald off waivers from the Minnesota Twins earlier this week. If Fitzgerald were to clear waivers, he would report to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Last season, Fitzgerald made his MLB debut with the Twins and posted a .196/.302/.457 line with four long balls across a brief 24-game stint. During this small sample, he showed a strong eye at the plate, drawing walks at a 13.2% rate and striking out at a 15.1% rate. Through 59 games with Triple-A St. Paul last summer, Fitzgerald held a .836 OPS with 16 doubles and served home runs. He is worth monitoring in deeper formats as he has shown potential during his small look in the big leagues.

From RotoBaller

The New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays are engaged in an active bidding war for free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker. According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the Mets have offered Tucker a short-term deal believed to be worth roughly $50 million per season. Meanwhile, sources told ESPN that the Blue Jays have countered with a long-term contract carrying a lower average annual value. Tucker is the most prominent free agent still on the market, and he is hoping to land a contract that will carry him through the remainder of his career. Last season with the Chicago Cubs, the 28-year-old slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 25 doubles, and 25 stolen bases while striking out only 14.7% of the time across 597 plate appearances. However, the primary concern surrounding Tucker is durability. He missed time last season with a fractured finger and finished the year while managing a calf injury. In 2024, he also fractured his shin after fouling a ball off his leg. While there is no doubt about his talent, evaluators have raised questions about how well he will age, citing slower bat speed, declining sprint speed, and diminishing outfield range. Even with those concerns, Tucker remains one of the most valuable players in baseball. From a fantasy perspective, he projects as a top-20 overall pick in most formats, with the upside of a first-round bat. Wherever he lands, Tucker should remain a cornerstone player for years to come.

From RotoBaller

According to Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the Boston Red Sox are still rumored to have interest in veteran third baseman Eugenio Suarez following Alex Bregman's signing with the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Boston previously showed interest in Suarez earlier in the offseason but opted to wait in hopes of landing infielders Ketel Marte or Jorge Polanco. Throughout the winter, the Red Sox viewed Suarez largely as a fallback option and did not seriously engage with his camp until Bregman left. In 2025, Suarez crushed 49 home runs but hit only .228 with a lackluster .298 on-base percentage. While the 34-year-old continues to barrel the ball 14.3% of the time, he has become a below-average defender and still strikes out at a near 30% rate. From a fantasy standpoint, Boston would be an ideal landing spot, thanks to the Green Monster and the other hitter-friendly parks within the American League East. However, with Father Time undefeated, it may only be a matter of time before Suarez's elevated strikeout rate begins to overshadow his power production.

From RotoBaller

The Cincinnati Reds have signed free-agent catcher Will Banfield and right-hander Hagen Danner to minor-league deals, according to the Reds' X account. Banfield appeared in just seven games for Cincinnati last year, slashing .100/.100/.100 with one hit in 10 plate appearances. In the minors, the 26-year-old from Georgia has slashed .224/.276/.366 with 63 home runs across 2,428 plate appearances in seven seasons. The Reds already have three catchers on their major-league roster in Tyler Stephenson, Jose Trevino, and Ben Rortvedt, and none of them can be optioned to the minors. While Banfield is unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, he provides glove-first depth at catcher in the event of an injury. Danner, a 27-year-old right-hander, has faced only one hitter in the majors during a brief stint with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023. Across five minor-league seasons, he has posted a 3.86 ERA with 189 strikeouts in 170 1/3 innings. While it is unlikely that either player will make the major-league roster out of spring training, even if they did, neither would be relevant in fantasy for 2026.

From RotoBaller

The New York Yankees have acquired left-hander Ryan Weathers from the Miami Marlins in exchange for minor-league outfielders Dillon Lewis and Brendan Jones, along with infielders Dylan Jasso and Juan Matheus, according to Jack Curry of YES Network. Weathers is coming off a season in which he pitched just 38 1/3 innings, posting a 3.99 ERA (3.95 xERA), 1.28 WHIP, and a 22.3% strikeout rate. The 26-year-old has struggled to stay on the field, as this year was cut short by forearm and lat injuries. For his career, Weathers owns a 4.93 ERA with 235 strikeouts across 281 innings, reflecting both his raw ability and ongoing inconsistency. He brings above-average stuff and solid command, but durability remains the biggest question mark. Weathers joins a Yankees rotation that currently features Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Luis Gil, with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt all expected to return from the injured list at some point in the summer. If Weathers hopes to carve out a long-term role in the rotation, he'll need to prove he can stay healthy. For fantasy, expect his 438.26 ADP to climb quickly.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent pitcher Bryan Sammons is coming back to the United States after spending last year in Japan. The 30-year-old lefty went 5-5 in 16 games (15 starts) for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball last year, posting a 3.78 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 7.7 K/9. He made six appearances out of the bullpen for the Tigers in 2024, posting a 3.62 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings. The tall southpaw will likely serve as organizational depth this season but will get an invitation to Spring Training, so he'll have his chance to earn a larger role. He will likely start the year in Triple-A but could have a chance to earn some starts if injuries strike the Tigers' rotation this season. He's someone to monitor in Spring Training and be aware of for streaming purposes in AL-only leagues.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Chase Shugart was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. In exchange, the Pirates receive infielder Francisco Loreto. Shugart was designated for assignment by the Pirates last week, but will now be shipped out for an 18-year-old infielder. Last season, Shugart registered a 3.40 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 31/17 K/BB ratio across 35 games with the Pirates. The 29-year-old could be an interesting back-end of the bullpen option. Loreto wasn't regarded as one of the Phillies' top prospects anyway. He slashed .237/.332/.396 with five home runs and 16 RBI in Rookie-ball last season.

From RotoBaller

The Chicago Cubs claimed outfielder Justin Dean off waivers from the San Francisco Giants. Dean made his MLB debut last season when he played in 18 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 29-year-old was mainly used as a defensive replacement or a pinch-hitter during his time with the World Series champs. Dean was claimed by the Giants in November, but will now head to the North Side of Chicago. He slashed .289/.378/.431 with six home runs, 33 RBI, with 27 steals across 90 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Dean could be an interesting bench outfielder given his plus defensive ability. He's unlikely to offer fantasy value even if he does make the 26-man roster.

From RotoBaller

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed relief pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga to a minor-league deal on Tuesday. Loaisiga spent the last eight seasons with the New York Yankees. He became a free agent after the organization decided to decline his $5 million option for the 2026 season. The 31-year-old registered a 3.54 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and a 232/82 K/BB ratio across eight seasons with the Yankees. The injury bug has kept Loaisiga on the shelf the last few seasons. He has only pitched in a total of 50 games over the last three seasons. When healthy, Loaisiga is a viable middle reliever that is unlikely to offer fantasy value.

From RotoBaller

The Cleveland Guardians have signed infielder Carter Kieboom to a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Kieboom is a former first-round pick of the Washington Nationals from 2016. He was never able to live up to the hype as he slashed .199/.297/.301 with 12 home runs and 42 RBI across 133 games in parts of four seasons with the Nats. Kieboom briefly played with the Los Angeles Angels last season, but spent most of his time in Triple-A. He hit well there as he slashed .265/.365/.386 with seven home runs and 42 RBI in 91 games with Triple-A Rochester. This is a low-risk move to add corner infield depth, but it's unlikely that Kieboom has a significant impact on the Guardians roster.

From RotoBaller

League sources suggested that the New York Mets are in the range of offering $120 million to $140 million for three years to free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. The Toronto Blue Jays or Los Angeles Dodgers may offer more to Tucker, who is the top free agent available this offseason. Tucker's decision could come as early as this week, according to multiple industry sources. New York held multiple video meetings with Tucker last week and would like to add the left-handed slugger to the middle of their batting order to help replace first baseman Pete Alonso and outfielder Brandon Nimmo. The Mets have a glaring hole in their outfield and could use more lineup protection for outfielder Juan Soto and shortstop Francisco Lindor. Right now, Tucker's preferences for contract length and dollars are unknown.

From RotoBaller