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Free-agent right-hander Alek Manoah and the Los Angeles Angels agreed to a one-year, $1.95 million deal on Tuesday, a source told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 27-year-old became a free agent after he was non-tendered by the Atlanta Braves following the 2025 season. He will now head back to the American League on a fully guaranteed big-league deal. Manoah worked his way back from right-elbow surgery that he had in June of 2024 and didn't pitch at all in the big leagues. In 33 1/3 innings (seven starts) at Triple-A Buffalo, Manoah had a decent 2.97 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 30 strikeouts and 18 walks. The former 11th overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019 out of West Virginia finished third in the AL Cy Young voting in 2022 after going 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 180:51 K:BB in 31 starts. Injuries and mechanical issues caused Manoah to fall off a cliff since then, but the Halos are hoping this low-risk investment will pan out and he'll contribute to a rotation that was a huge liability in 2025.

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Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte has been rumored as a trade candidate this offseason, but The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro thinks it's more likely that the team's trade options involve outfielders Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy, who are both arbitration-eligible. If the D-backs trade one of Thomas or McCarthy away, they have options to replace them with the likes of Jorge Barrosa, Tim Tawa, Blaze Alexander, and potentially even Jordan Lawlar. For fantasy baseball purposes, McCarthy is the more attractive player, although he played in only 67 games in 2025 and hit .204 (42-for-206) with four home runs, 20 RBI, 18 runs scored, and six stolen bases in his fifth year in the league. If McCarthy were ever to win a full-time job in Arizona or elsewhere, though, his speed would make him interesting in fantasy. McCarthy had three straight 20-steal seasons from 2022-24.

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New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler said he's looking to develop a changeup or splitter this offseason to use below the strike zone against left-handed hitters, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Nothing has been decided yet, but pitching coach Matt Blake said a changeup is more likely. The 24-year-old had a highly successful first showing in the big leagues in 2025, posting a 2.96 ERA (3.74 FIP) with a 1.22 WHIP and 84 strikeouts in 73 innings over 14 starts. Schlittler really stood out in the Game 3 win over the division-rival Boston Red Sox in the Wild-Card Series, when he struck out 12 in eight scoreless innings. He mostly relied on his 98 mph four-seam fastball (55% usage) last year, while using a cutter 21% of the time and a curveball 15% of the time. Schlittler also has a sinker and a slider, but adding a changeup could make him more effective against lefties.

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The San Francisco Giants announced on Tuesday that infielder Casey Schmitt (wrist) had surgery to remove the carpal boss in his left wrist, according to Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com. Schmitt is expected to spend the next eight to 10 weeks rehabbing from his surgery. Although the 26-year-old might be eased into the start of spring training, he should be ready for Opening Day in 2026, barring a setback. The former second-rounder hit .237/.305/.401 with a .706 OPS, career-high 12 home runs, 40 RBI, and 34 runs scored for the Giants in 95 games played this past season in his third year in the big leagues. Schmitt filled in at third base when Matt Chapman missed time due to injuries, but he's primarily a second baseman and could be in the mix for the starting job, depending on whether the Giants add any competition at the keystone this offseason. Schmitt is primarily middle-infield depth in NL-only fantasy leagues.

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With outfielder Kyle Tucker expected to depart in free agency this offseason, the Chicago Cubs are projecting regular playing time for outfielder Owen Caissie, a consensus top-100 prospect whose name was prominently mentioned in trade talks last offseason, and again during the July 31 trade deadline. The 23-year-old left-handed slugger doesn't have anything left to prove at Triple-A Iowa after posting an .887 OPS and 277 strikeouts in almost 1,000 Triple-A plate appearances in the last two seasons. The Cubs want to see what they have in Caissie while letting him develop and improve at the big-league level. Caissie could be in a battle for regular playing time with fellow prospect Moises Ballesteros. In his first 12 major-league games in 2025, Caissie went 5-for-26 (.192) with a homer, four RBI, and 11 strikeouts. He has plenty of power upside, but the strikeouts are a concern.

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The St. Louis Cardinals are not necessarily looking to trade infielder Brendan Donovan, but ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that the "market for him is percolating." Several teams see Donovan as an option at second base, third base, or left field. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter gives teams options, as he can hit leadoff or bat in the middle of the order because of his elite bat-to-ball skills and gap power. He has two years of club control left and is very affordable in arbitration before he reaches free agency. The Cardinals are retooling under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, and almost nobody on the roster is off limits. For fantasy purposes, outside of Donovan's excellent contact and on-base skills and positional versatility, he doesn't bring much intrigue. The Dodgers, Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox, Pirates, Giants, Royals, and Guardians are teams that could come calling for Donovan.

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ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that "now is finally the time, it seems," for Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. to be traded. Robert had a career year in 2023, hitting .264/.315/.542 with an .857 OPS, career-high 38 home runs, 80 RBI, 90 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases in 145 games played. The White Sox hung onto him and were hoping to trade him at peak value in 2024, but he once again struggled to stay healthy and played in only 100 games. The 28-year-old Cuban has hit a combined 28 homers the last two years, and the combination of his last two down seasons and a hefty salary will limit the return for the Pale Hose on any potential deal. Robert is still in the 90th percentile or better for sprint speed, defensive range, and bat speed, but he's been injured and unlucky the last two years. Passan lists the Giants, Phillies, Mets, and Reds as potential landing spots for Robert if he's finally dealt.

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ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that the Boston Red Sox are valuing outfielder Jarren Duran more like the seven-win player of 2024 than the four-win version in 2025. The Red Sox "can hold out for a big return" because they don't have to trade him. Although the 29-year-old isn't the best defensive asset, he has plenty of trade value because he's still in his 20s and has three years of club control. Duran also has elite bat and foot speed, and a good arm. He has ranked third in baseball the last three years at plus-23 runs due to his elite baserunning skills. Duran might have had a bit of a down year in 2025, slashing .256/.332/.442 with 16 home runs, 84 RBI, 86 runs scored, and 24 steals in 620 at-bats, but he's still one of the top all-around position players in the league. Passan predicts a 50% chance Duran will be dealt this offseason, with the Tigers, Royals, Giants, Pirates, Phillies, Mets, Reds, and Diamondbacks all being potential suitors.

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The San Francisco Giants are among the teams that have checked in on free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. The elite left-handed slugger is going to receive plenty of interest on the open market this offseason after leading the league in home runs (56) and RBI (132) in a career-high 162 games played in 2025. Schwarber also slashed .240/.365/.563 with a career-best .928 OPS, 111 runs scored, and a career-high-tying 10 stolen bases in 724 plate appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies. As expected, the 32-year-old veteran declined Philly's one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer, which means the Phils will receive draft-pick compensation if he signs with another team this offseason. Schwarber finished second in the National League MVP voting and has at least 32 home runs in each of the last six full seasons. He has 40-plus homers in three of the last four seasons.

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The Athletic's Katie Woo reports that St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras is open to trade offers this offseason and has "become more willing to waive his full no-trade clause." Woo goes on to explain that it won't necessarily change the Cardinals' order of operations, but they are "open to shopping Contreras." The top priority of the winter will be to trade veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado and one of their left-handed hitters. Outfielder Lars Nootbaar and infielder Brendan Donovan continue to receive interest from other clubs. Contreras handled himself very well defensively in his first season as a full-time first baseman, and although his plate discipline isn't anything special, his elite bat speed allows him to do plenty of damage as a hitter. The 33-year-old is owed $41.5 million over the next two years (with a team option for a third season). Teams such as the Padres, Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Pirates could be interested in landing Contreras.

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The New York Mets are still interested in re-signing right-handed closer Edwin Diaz even after agreeing to a three-year contract with right-handed reliever Devin Williams on Monday night, a source told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Williams, who struggled to an ERA over 4.00 in his lone season with the New York Yankees in 2025, is open to pitching in a setup role as he looks to bounce back from a down campaign. The 31-year-old Diaz turned down the Mets' one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer, as expected, after opting out of the final two years and $38 million remaining on his contract. Diaz will have plenty of suitors on the open market, but it remains to be seen if New York will give him the contract he's looking for. The Puerto Rican has an elite 14.5 K/9 mark and 253 saves in his nine-year big-league career, which puts him at the top of the reliever market.

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Free-agent right-handed reliever Devin Williams and the New York Mets agreed to a three-year contract on Monday that guarantees more than $50 million, sources tell ESPN's Jeff Passan. The New York Yankees acquired Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers last December, but he struggled to a career-worst 4.79 ERA in 67 relief appearances in the Bronx. The 31-year-old will stay in the Big Apple and join the Mets, where he figures to take over closing duties if Edwin Diaz leaves in free agency. Williams got off to a rough start in pinstripes in 2025 and ended up sharing the closer's role for much of the season. Before his rough campaign with the Yanks, Williams established himself as one of the most dominant high-leverage relievers in Milwaukee, and he'll be looking to return to that form in 2026. He had four blown saves in 22 chances in his first and only year with the Yankees.

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There is mutual interest in the Detroit Tigers re-signing right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan this offseason, according to the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. Finnegan was really good in Detroit after the Tigers acquired him from the Washington Nationals at the July 31 trade deadline, and both sides are now interested in a reunion in 2026 and possibly beyond. The 34-year-old veteran mixed in for save chances in the second half in Detroit and had a stingy 1.50 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, four saves, and a 23:4 K:BB ratio in 18 regular-season innings. An adductor strain sidelined Finnegan for much of the final month of the regular season, but he should be fully healthy for the start of spring training. If he returns to the Tigers, he should once again share save duties with right-hander Will Vest. Finnegan had a 3.47 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 24 saves in 57 total innings last year with Detroit and Washington.

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The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo report that Houston Astros center fielder Jake Meyers is drawing some trade interest this offseason after coming off a modest offensive breakout in 2025. The Astros are open to moving him for a controllable major-league starter, according to people briefed on their talks. Meyers is projected to earn $3.5 million in the first of his two years remaining of club control, and the interest in him has been considerable. The 29-year-old has a great glove, but Houston could be skeptical of him repeating his offensive performance in 2025, in which he slashed .292/.354/.373 with only three homers, 24 RBI, 53 runs, and 16 steals in 343 at-bats. He played in only 104 games due to right-calf issues. In almost 1,200 prior plate appearances before this year, Meyers hit only .228 with a .662 OPS. The Phillies, Mets, Rays, Orioles, Diamondbacks, and Royals are among the teams looking for upgrades in center field.

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The Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins are among the teams interested in free-agent closer Pete Fairbanks, industry sources briefed on the market told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo. Ryan Helsley just signed with the Orioles, and Fairbanks could be the next closer to sign this offseason. Toronto already signed right-handed starter Dylan Cease to a seven-year deal, but now they are pursuing late-inning relievers after Jeff Hoffman blew a save in Game 7 of the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 31-year-old Fairbanks held Toronto hitters to a .130 average and .468 OPS in 27 career innings against them, and he's familiar with Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix, who was with the Rays from 2009-21. Tampa declined Fairbanks' $11 million option for 2026. He finished with a 2.83 ERA and a career-high 27 saves in 60 innings in 2025 in his third season with the Rays.

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The Boston Red Sox are keeping a close eye on Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans this offseason and are interested in acquiring him in a trade, according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. Boston already acquired veteran right-hander Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason to pair at the top of their starting rotation with left-hander Garrett Crochet, but it appears they might not be done. To land Ragans, it's going to take a "big return," but the Royals and Red Sox could be a match, as Boston is looking to unload an outfielder, potentially Jarren Duran. Connelly Early or Payton Tolle might be involved in a potential deal, which is nothing more than a rumor for now. Ragans was a first-time All-Star in 2024, but the 27-year-old southpaw was limited to only 13 starts due to injury and finished with a 4.67 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 61 2/3 innings. However, he finished the year strong after returning from injury, and his high-strikeout upside makes him a nice fantasy target for a rebound in 2026.

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Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler's (shoulder) 2025 season was cut short when he was put on the injured list in August with a blood clot in his right upper extremity. He had a successful thrombolysis removal surgery a day later. It was a disappointing end to another strong season, as Wheeler had a 10-5 record, 2.71 ERA, an elite 195:33 K:BB ratio, and a 0.94 WHIP in 24 starts. On Sept. 23, he had vascular thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. The type of surgery Wheeler had has produced stronger outcomes than the neuronic version that derailed Stephen Strasburg's career. Wheeler is unlikely to be ready by Opening Day next year, but president of baseball operations David Dombrowski said last month that Wheeler is likely to return near the end of May. Wheeler has been a constant at the top of Philly's starting rotation since 2020, but fantasy managers will be skeptical of a pitcher who will turn 36 on May 30 and who is coming off a major surgery.

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Free-agent right-hander Ryan Helsley agreed to a two-year, $28 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, a source told Katie Woo of The Athletic. Helsely will have the ability to opt out of the deal after his first season in Baltimore. Reports suggested that interested MLB teams were looking at making the 31-year-old veteran into a starting pitcher for next season, but the O's will keep him as a reliever. A dreadful two-month period with the New York Mets in 2025 did little to deter interest in him around the league, as around 15 teams checked in on him this offseason, including the Detroit Tigers. Helsley was an All-Star in 2024 with the St. Louis Cardinals, when he led baseball with 49 saves. He converted 21 of 26 save chances for St. Louis this past season, but he had a 7.20 ERA in 22 outings after being traded to the Mets. He was struggling with predictability issues and pitch tipping. Felix Bautista (shoulder) isn't expected to be ready until late next season, so Helsley should be Baltimore's primary closer for most of 2026.

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The New York Mets' trade of long-time outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers might have cleared a lane for outfield prospect Carson Benge to become the team's starting center fielder on Opening Day in 2026, according to Sam Dykstra of MLB.com. Benge, the team's No. 2 prospect and the No. 21 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, climbed three levels in the minors in his first full season in 2025. He has a real shot to not only make the big-league roster out of spring training, but also win starting center-field duties now that Nimmo is gone. The 22-year-old was drafted 19th overall in 2024 as a two-way player out of Oklahoma State. Benge has since become a full-time outfielder and hit .281/.385/.472 with 15 homers and 22 steals in 116 games over three minor-league levels. Benge has great bat-to-ball skills, developing power, and above-average speed. His primary competition in center field in spring training will be with Tyrone Taylor.

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Free-agent right-hander Nick Anderson agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Athletics earlier this month that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Anderson's MLB salary is $1 million if he's added to the 40-man roster. The 35-year-old has pitched in six big-league seasons with five different teams. He appeared in 12 games out of the bullpen in 2025 for the Colorado Rockies, posting a career-worst 6.14 ERA (10 earned runs in 14 2/3 innings) while striking out 10 and walking two. In his career, Anderson holds a 3.43 ERA (3.38 FIP), 1.11 WHIP, 10 saves, 212 strikeouts, and 49 walks in 173 innings pitched over 177 relief appearances. Anderson will be far from the fantasy radar in all formats and will most likely start the 2026 season at Triple-A Las Vegas.

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