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There is mutual interest between the Arizona Diamondbacks and free-agent right-hander Merrill Kelly in a reunion this offseason, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports. Meanwhile, Gambadoro writes that right-hander Zac Gallen is likely to sign elsewhere. The D-backs shipped Kelly to the Texas Rangers at this year's trade deadline after he spent the first six-plus years of his big-league career in Arizona. Kelly wasn't as good in Texas after the move, posting a 4.23 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 46 strikeouts and 10 walks in 10 starts (55 1/3 innings). Before the trade, he was 9-6 in Arizona with a 3.22 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 121:38 K:BB in 22 starts (128 2/3 innings). The 37-year-old isn't getting any younger and lacks high-end velocity, but he makes up for it with pinpoint command and a kitchen-sink approach to attacking hitters. Home runs and durability are concerns, but a move back to the desert will make him worth a look as a back-end rotation arm for fantasy managers.

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Although free-agent left-hander Ranger Suarez certainly isn't the most experienced starting pitcher on the open market this offseason, he is going to draw plenty of interest. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reports that the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, and Baltimore Orioles are the most serious threats to sign Suarez away from the Philadelphia Phillies. The New York Mets and Detroit Tigers are also in the mix. The Phillies aren't closing the door on a reunion, especially when considering the uncertain health situation with right-hander Zack Wheeler, but the likely scenario is that Suarez moves on. The 30-year-old southpaw topped the 150-inning mark in 2025 (career-high 157 1/3 frames) for only the third time in his career. Where he's especially attractive to interested teams is his postseason resume -- 4-1 with a 1.48 ERA in 11 appearances (eight starts). Despite not lighting up the radar gun, Suarez has been effective, posting a 3.25 ERA since the start of 2021.

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The Atlanta Braves agreed to a minor-league deal with free-agent outfielder Ben Gamel on Friday, sources told Aram Leighton. Gamel, 33, battled more injuries in 2025 and only played in 49 games with the Triple-A affiliates for the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers. He owns a .716 OPS in parts of nine major-league seasons with eight different teams. In 723 career games played, Gamel has a .252/.334/.382 slash line with 41 home runs, 204 RBI, 283 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases. In his 49 minor-league games this past year, Gamel had a strong .914 OPS with eight home runs. He is going to need to stay healthy in 2026 to have a shot at winning a reserve outfield role in Atlanta. Gamel will most likely begin next season at Triple-A Gwinnett.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Friday that they signed free-agent infielder Jacob Amaya to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to major-league spring training. Amaya has a decent glove on the infield, but he can't be counted on for much as a hitter after a rough season with the Chicago White Sox in 2025. The 27-year-old played in only 36 games for the Pale Hose and went 7-for-66 (.106) with no homers, eight RBI, three walks, and 16 strikeouts in 73 plate appearances. He was originally an 11th-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 out of a high school in Southern California. Amaya's three years in the majors have produced a rough .147/.183/.161 slash line as a hitter with zero home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored, seven walks, and 45 strikeouts in 64 games. Amaya will be competing for a utility infield job in Arizona in spring training.

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The Detroit Tigers are one of the teams that are interested in signing free-agent right-hander Brad Keller and turning him back into a starting pitcher, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Keller was solid in a full-time relief role in 2025 with the Chicago Cubs, posting a career-low 2.07 ERA (2.93 FIP), 0.96 WHIP, a career-high three saves, 75 strikeouts and 22 walks in 69 2/3 innings over 68 appearances (one start) during the regular season. The 30-year-old veteran has 117 starts in eight major-league seasons, though, and some teams like the Tigers might be interested in returning him to a starting role in 2026. Will Vest is currently locked into the closing role for Detroit, although he could share duties in the ninth inning if the club decides to bring Kyle Finnegan back. Keller hasn't been a full-time starter since his final season with the Royals in 2023. He had a career-best 27.2% strikeout rate in 2025 with the Cubs after having never posted a strikeout rate above 19.6 as a starter.

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The Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Detroit Tigers are among the teams in on free-agent right-hander Zac Gallen this offseason, sources told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, and Atlanta Braves are also looking at the 30-year-old. Although Gallen's stock is down, he could quickly become a strong alternative for starting-pitching-needy teams if the price tag on starters such as Ranger Suarez, Tatsuya Imai, and Framber Valdez feels too high. Gallen had a career-high 4.83 ERA and a career-low 89 ERA+ in 192 innings in 2025, with his StatCast numbers in the lower half of the league in most categories. But Gallen went 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA in his last 11 starts after Aug 1, and he was a top-five finisher in National League Cy Young voting in 2022 and 2023. His recent track record alone may convince some teams that his poor 2025 season was more of a blip on the radar.

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The Minnesota Twins do not expect to move center fielder Byron Buxton or right-handers Joe Ryan or Pablo Lopez this offseason, league sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rosenthal adds that the Twins' goal is to keep those three players, build around them, and compete in 2026. Minnesota tore down its roster in July and faces an uncertain future as they look to pay down $425 million in debt. Finances will likely continue to be an issue for the Twins, but they don't want to alienate their fan base by trading players lIke Buxton and Ryan. The 32-year-old Buxton has three years and $45 million left on his contract with a full no-trade clause that extends through next year. Ryan, 29, is projected to earn $5.8 million in the next-to-last year of arbitration. Lopez, 29, has two years and $43 million left on his contract. After trading away most of their bullpen in the summer, the Twins could desperately use some additions to their relief corps.

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Free-agent right-hander Drew Anderson agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers on Friday that includes a club option, pending a physical, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Anderson spent the last four years pitching in Japan and Korea. The 31-year-old will come back to the United States after posting a solid 2.25 ERA in 30 starts in Korea this past season. Anderson previously signed a minor-league deal with Detroit in 2024 before departing for Japan in the middle of the year. He was a former 21st-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2012 out of a high school in Nevada. In five MLB seasons with the Phillies, White Sox, and Rangers, Anderson held a 6.50 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with 30 K's and 17 walks in 44 1/3 innings over 19 outings (two starts). Anderson is expected to compete for a starting role with the Tigers in spring training.

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The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they claimed right-hander Osvaldo Bido off waivers from the Athletics. The Braves also added right-hander Anthony Molina off waivers from the Colorado Rockies. Atlanta designated left-hander Josh Walker for assignment to make room on their 40-man roster for the two new acquisitions. Bido will head to Atlanta to give the Braves a swing arm for the upcoming season. The 30-year-old Dominican hurler will be in his fourth year in the big leagues in 2026. Bido had a career-best 3.41 ERA (3.36 FIP) and 1.09 WHIP with 63 strikeouts and 26 walks in 63 1/3 innings over 16 outings (nine starts) for the A's in 2024. However, he regressed to a career-worst 5.87 ERA and 1.61 WHIP with a 68:35 K:BB in 26 appearances (10 starts) covering a career-high 79 2/3 innings in 2025. If Bido makes the Opening Day roster, he'll likely be ticketed for a long-relief role.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed infielder/outfielder Marco Luciano off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Friday, according to Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Luciano was one of the Giants' top overall prospects just a few years ago, but he has not panned out. The 24-year-old Dominican made his major-league debut in 2023 but played in only 14 games. Luciano also surfaced with the Giants for 27 games in 2024. Overall, he hit a disappointing .217/.286/.304 with a .590 OPS, no home runs, three RBI, 14 runs scored, 11 walks, and 45 strikeouts in 126 plate appearances. He also struggled at Triple-A Sacramento in 2025, hitting .214 (99-for-462), although he did hit 23 home runs while driving in 66 in 125 games. The post-hype sleeper will hope the change of scenery flips a switch. Luciano came up as a shortstop, but he dabbled in the outfield this past season.

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The New York Mets claimed right-hander Cooper Criswell off waivers from the Boston Red Sox on Friday, a source told Jorge Castillo of ESPN. The Red Sox had designated Criswell for assignment following their trade on Thursday night that landed them right-hander Johan Oviedo. Criswell has pitched in both a starting and relief role in Beantown each of the last two seasons, going 7-5 with a 4.00 ERA (4.31 FIP), 1.38 WHIP, one save, 82 strikeouts, and 36 walks in 117 innings pitched over 33 appearances (19 starts). The 29-year-old still has several more years of club control. He only made seven big-league appearances (one start) in Boston in 2025 and held a 3.57 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and 9:5 K:BB ratio. Criswell will give New York some rotation insurance, but he won't really be on the fantasy radar, even in deeper leagues. He holds a career 4.48 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 16.7% strikeout rate in five MLB seasons.

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The Boston Red Sox are acquiring right-hander Johan Oviedo, left-hander Tyler Samaniego, and catcher Adonys Guzman from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night in exchange for outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia, sources tell Jeff Passan of ESPN. Boston is serious about adding starting pitching this offseason, having already traded for veteran right-hander Sonny Gray, and now they'll bring the 27-year-old Oviedo in for rotation depth. The Cuban hurler missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. He missed most of 2025 while recovering but managed to make nine starts for the Bucs, going 2-1 with a 3.57 ERA (4.92 FIP), 1.21 WHIP, and 42:23 K:BB ratio in 40 1/3 frames. Oviedo has limited fantasy upside given his career 20.2% strikeout rate and bloated 11% walk rate. He should be in play as a backend rotation option for the BoSox in 2026.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are acquiring outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia from the Boston Red Sox on Thursday in exchange for right-hander Johan Oviedo, left-hander Tyler Samaniego, and catcher Adonys Guzman, sources tell ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Pirates will receive another player in addition to Garcia, who should have a shot in spring training to win the starting left field job in Pittsburgh in 2026. The 22-year-old Venezuelan nicknamed The Password made his big-league debut in Boston this year and had a double in nine plate appearances with two walks and five strikeouts in just five games played. Garcia hit .267/.340/.470 with an .810 OPS, 21 home runs, 75 RBI, 79 runs scored, and seven steals in 114 games with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester in the minors before his call-up. The 6-foot, 163-pounder is listed as Pittsburgh's No. 6 prospect on MLB Pipeline and is known for producing high exit velocities and has the raw power to produce 25 to 30 homers a year as a full-time player for the Bucs.

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The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports that free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger remains the New York Yankees' No. 1 target this offseason. The two sides are not close to a deal yet for him to return to the Bronx, but the Yankees are making a big effort to try and re-sign him. If the Yanks can't lure the left-handed slugger back, the Mets, Phillies, Dodgers, and Angels are teams that could make a run at the 30-year-old former National League MVP. He became a free agent after declining his $25 million player option for next season. In his first and possibly only year with the Yanks, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 with an .813 OPS, 29 home runs, 98 RBI, 89 runs, and 13 stolen bases in 152 regular-season games. Bellinger hit much better at Yankee Stadium, which might play heavily into his decision on whether to re-sign. If he signs elsewhere, his less-than-stellar batted-ball metrics could catch up to him in 2026 and beyond, even though he struck out only 13.7% of the time in 2025.

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The Chicago Cubs have shown renewed interest in All-Star free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman this offseason after a failed bid to sign him last spring training, according to Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic. Pitching is the Cubs' primary focus this winter, but they are also looking to add a bat, with All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker fully expected to depart in free agency. Chicago's ownership group authorized president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to make Bregman a four-year, $115 million offer last year that included opt-out clauses after the second and third seasons. The 31-year-old veteran ultimately signed with Boston for three years and $120 million and opted out after 2025 following a 3.5 WAR season. Bregman, who still plays Gold Glove defense, is the type of two-way player the Cubs have repeatedly targeted. Bregman rebounded in 2025 after a career-worst .768 OPS in 2024, but he hit just 18 homers, and durability is a concern as he enters his age-32 season. Despite the obvious concerns for a player his age, Bregman still has some upside if he's playing in Chicago or Boston in 2026.

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Free-agent left-hander Anthony Kay and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a two-year, $12 million contract on Wednesday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Kay, a former first-round pick by the New York Mets in 2016 out of the University of Connecticut, will make a return to the U.S. after a two-year stint in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Yokohama Bay Stars. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw posted a 2.53 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 249 strikeouts and 94 walks in 291 2/3 frames over the last two years in Japan. He was exceptional this past season, with a 1.74 ERA and a 57.8% ground-ball rate. Kay should have a decent chance to open the 2026 season in Chicago's starting rotation, and he'll be looking to show that he's a different pitcher after recording a 5.59 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and 22.4% strikeout rate in his first five MLB seasons. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues will have better starting options to choose from.

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The Miami Marlins have a glaring need at first base going into next season, but MLB.com's Christina De Nicola writes that as of now, the team doesn't plan to give catcher Agustin Ramirez reps there. However, that could change if he doesn't show progress as a defender behind the plate. The 24-year-old Dominican backstop hit only .231 (124-for-537) in his first major-league season in 2025, but he impressed with 21 long balls, 67 RBI, 72 runs scored, and even 16 stolen bases in 136 games played. Another thing that could change the Marlins' mind with Ramirez playing some first base is if catching prospect Joe Mack, the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, forces their hand and wins the starting catching job on Opening Day. With the glove, Ramirez was one of the worst defensive catchers in baseball last year, so he's going to need to continue to hit to keep a spot in the starting lineup regularly.

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Free-agent All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker visited the Toronto Blue Jays training facility in Florida on Wednesday, according to Robert Murray of Fansided.com. The Blue Jays have already signed free-agent right-hander Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract and right-hander Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million contract, but apparently, they are not done adding after coming up just short in the World Series. Tucker is the biggest free agent on the market, and he is projected to land an 11-year, $418 million contract. Last year for the Chicago Cubs, the four-time All-Star hit 22 home runs with 91 runs, 73 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in 597 plate appearances. The biggest concern with Tucker is his inability to stay on the field, but because of that, fantasy managers can now scoop him up in the second round of most drafts.

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The Cleveland Guardians agreed to a major-league deal with free-agent right-hander Connor Brogdon on Wednesday, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Brogdon, 30, has had limited success in his six seasons in the majors, posting a 4.36 ERA with a 15.3 K-BB% across 192 innings. However, with the Los Angeles Angels last year, he pitched to a 3.86 SIERA with a 24.6% strikeout rate while averaging 95.5 miles per hour on his fastball in 47 innings. For Cleveland, Brogdon is just another arm in the bullpen, but he could help fantasy managers who play in leagues that count holds as a category.

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