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The Athletics have signed catcher Brian Serven to a minor league contract. Serven spent the entire 2025 campaign with the Detroit Tigers. While he never reahced the major leauge,s he logged 62 games with Triple-A Toledo where he posted a .232/.335/.313 line with a modest .648 OPS. He hit just seven doubles with three round-trippers. He made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Rockies and spent two seasons with them before moving to Toronto. Through 101 MLB contests, the former fifth-round pick has held a low .187/.247/.293 line with only six long balls. Given that the Arizona State product has not spent time in the majors since the 2024 campaign, he will likely open the 2026 season in the minor leagues with Triple-A Las Vegas.

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The Kansas City Royals have signed catcher Jorge Alfaro to a minor league contract, according to Aram Leighton of Just Baseball Media. Alfaro spent the 2025 season with the Nationals. Through 14 games, Alfaro held a .256/.256/.308 line with just two extra-base hits and one stolen base. He spent the majority of the season in the minor leagues with the Nashville Sounds. The veteran backstop spent most of his MLB career with the Marlins. Through three seasons in Miami (2019 through 2021), Alfaro held a .252/.298/.386 line through 253 games with the Marlins. Fantasy managers should expect Alfaro to continue to remain in the minor leagues to open the 2026 season, as the Royals have longtime backstop Salvador Perez with budding star Carter Jensen sitting in the No. 2 role.

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According to Mike Puma of The New York Post, the New York Mets have signed second baseman Christian Arroyo to a minor league contract that includes an invite to spring training. Arroyo began his professional career by being selected as the 25th overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants. The infielder would not make his MLB debut until the 2017 campaign with the Giants. Following short stints in San Francisco, Tampa Bay, and Cleveland, Arroyo would enjoy a four-year run with the Red Sox. In 2021 and 2022, Arroyo held an overall .277/.323/.426 line. Over the past two seasons, he has spent his time in the minor leagues, with his latest stint being with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Arroyo will face an uphill battle to make the Opening Day roster, given that he has spent the past two campaigns away from the big leagues.

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Right-handed pitcher George Soriano has been designated for assignment by the Baltimore Orioles on Monday afternoon. In a corresponding move, the Orioles claimed outfielder Jhonkensy Noel from the Cleveland Guardians off waivers. Soriano was claimed by the Orioles earlier in the offseason but will now return to waivers. The 26-year-old has spent his first three MLB campaigns with the Miami Marlins. He has been played primarily as a reliever, as he has made just one start in his career. In 2025, Soriano tallied one save (the third of his career) and logged 36 2/3 innings to the tune of a high 8.35 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. He struck out hitters at a low 20.8% rate and showed weak command, allowing walks at a high 11.0% rate. If he goes unclaimed, Soriano will likely begin the campaign at Triple-A Norfolk.

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The Baltimore Orioles have claimed outfielder Jhonkensy Noel off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians. In a corresponding move, the Orioles have designated right-handed pitcher George Soriano for assignment. Noel has spent his entire MLB career in Cleveland. He made his debut during the 2024 campaign and immediately flashed power upside, hitting 13 long balls with a .486 SLG across 67 games. The following season, Noel would take a massive step back, hitting just six home runs with a .297 SLG across a slightly higher 69-game sample. Under the hood, he carried a .203 xwOBA with a .283 xSLG, suggesting he did not generate quality contact. Through 268 career games at the Triple-A level, Noel has held a .250/.323/.473 line. Managers should expect Noel to likely spend most of the 2026 season with the Norfolk Tides, given his struggles in the majors last summer.

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According to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, the Toronto Blue Jays have designated right-handed pitcher Paxton Schultz for assignment. This transaction opens a spot on the roster for infielder Kazuma Okamoto, whom the team officially signed earlier on Monday. Okamoto inked a four-year $60 million contract with the Blue Jays on Saturday. Schultz made his MLB debut during the 2025 campaign with the Blue Jays. During his brief stint in the big leagues, the right-hander posted a 4.38 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP across 24 2/3 innings of work. He flashed decent strikeout upside, tallying 28, and served up only eight free passes. At Triple-A, he held a solid 3.31 ERA with a 46:17 K:BB across 49 frames. Schultz will likely open the season at Triple-A Buffalo if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

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The Washington Nationals claimed outfielder Joey Wiemer off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Monday, according to Andrew Golden of The Washington Post. The former top-100 prospect has played in 180 major-league games since debuting in 2023 with the Milwaukee Brewers, and he's slashed .205/.279/.359 with 16 home runs, 54 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in three seasons. Last year, Wiemer played in 27 games at the MLB level with the Miami Marlins and went 13-for-55 (.236) with three homers, 12 RBI, and seven runs scored in 61 plate appearances. The 26-year-old right-handed hitter was traded to the Giants in November and will now head to the National League East to compete for a roster spot in spring training with the Nats. The fact that he's out of minor-league options should help his case for making the Opening Day roster, but likely in a reserve role.

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The trade market for Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta is heating up, with the Dodgers, Braves, Red Sox, and both New York clubs among the teams showing interest, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. Teams with lower payrolls are also in play to absorb his $8 million salary in the final year of his club-controlled contract. Even with the 29-year-old starter under club control for one more season, the Brewers' asking price remains high, as they are targeting a major-league-ready starting pitcher as part of the return so that Milwaukee can stay in win-now mode. Peralta is coming off a terrific 2025 campaign, throwing a career-high 176 2/3 innings with a 2.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 19.1% K-BB%. While no deal appears imminent, multiple teams are actively pursuing him, and a trade could materialize sooner rather than later.

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The Philadelphia Phillies are among a number of big-market MLB teams to have shown interest in free-agent shortstop Bo Bichette, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. In addition to the Phillies, the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays are believed to have interest in Bichette. The 27-year-old is the only player to hit .300 against fastballs, breaking balls, and changeups/splitters. Bichette had an injury-plagued 2024 campaign, playing in just 81 games, but he was able to bounce back nicely in his seventh big-league season in 2025. In 139 regular-season games, he slashed .311/.357/.483 with an .840 OPS, 18 home runs, 94 RBI, 78 runs scored, and four steals. Under the right circumstances, Bichette has told teams he's willing to move to second or third base. If he were to land in Philly, Bichette would most likely transition to third base.

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The Los Angeles Angels signed left-handed relief pitcher Tayler Saucedo to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. The 32-year-old was let go by the Seattle Mariners after struggling with the team last season. The southpaw registered a 7.43 ERA, 1.87 WHIP, and a 12/6 K/BB ratio across 10 appearances with Seattle in 2025. Before that, Saucedo had two strong seasons as a middle reliever in Seattle. At best, Saucedo will earn himself a middle-relief role with the Halos. He's unlikely to see any save chances, which means Saucedo won't offer any real fantasy value.

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The San Francisco Giants have signed right-hander Caleb Kilian to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. This is a low-risk move by the Giants to add some depth to their pitching staff. Kilian missed a majority of the season in 2025 due to injuries. When healthy, Kilian registered a 7.47 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, and 14/8 K/BB ratio across 15 2/3 innings with Triple-A Iowa in the Chicago Cubs organization. The 28-year-old has posted ugly numbers during his short time in the MLB, but he has decent minor-league stats. The Giants took Kilian in the eighth round of the 2019 draft. They believe they can tap into something, but he'll likely spend most of his time at Triple-A.

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Miami Marlins starting pitcher Edward Cabrera has been one of the bigger names floated around in trade discussions this offseason. According to Chris Kirschner, the New York Yankees are reportedly expressing interest in acquiring Cabrera. It's unclear how close the two sides are to a deal, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has stated he wants to add another starting pitcher this offseason. The 27-year-old is going to cost more than some other potential trade options, but that's because Cabrera isn't a free agent until 2029. Last season, Cabrera posted a 3.53 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 150/48 K/BB ratio across 26 starts with the Marlins. It'll likely be a hefty return for Cabrera, but adding him to the Bronx rotation would certainly be a huge boost for this team.

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The New York Yankees have signed free-agent infielder Paul DeJong to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. This isn't a blockbuster move, but the veteran infielder does give this team extra depth. Last season, DeJong slashed .228/.269/.373 with six home runs and 23 RBI across 57 games with the Washington Nationals. His best days are likely behind him, but DeJong does have three 20-plus-homer seasons under his belt. The 32-year-old is capable of playing three different infield positions and does have some postseason experience as well. This is a low-risk move to add another bench bat, but DeJong is unlikely to offer much fantasy value.

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The Minnesota Twins have signed free-agent shortstop Orlando Arcia to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. Arcia will look to bounce back after an ugly season in 2025. He slashed .202/.238/.291 with three home runs and 13 RBI across 76 games with the Atlanta Braves and Colorado Rockies last year. Arcia is only a few years removed from an All-Star campaign he had with the Braves in 2023. It's a low-risk gamble for the Twins, who could potentially be getting a quality backup infielder in Arcia.

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The St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox have discussed a trade for Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan, per Will Sammon and Katie Woo of The Athletic. Across 515 plate appearances for St. Louis in 2025, Donovan slashed .287/.353/.422 with 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 64 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Donovan turns 29 in mid-January and is under club control through the 2027 season. His best attribute might be his versatility, as he's spent time at second base, third base, corner outfield, and even shortstop. In Boston, Donovan would likely see most of his playing time in the infield, depending on whether or not the Red Sox bring back free agent third baseman Alex Bregman. Donovan is a better real-life player than a fantasy asset, given his limited power and speed contributions. However, he could see a slight jump in value if he lands an everyday role in a more potent lineup, such as Boston's.

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In a recent radio appearance on First Up with Korolnek & Colaiacovo, ESPN insider Buster Olney reported that the Boston Red Sox have made an "aggressive" offer to free agent third baseman Alex Bregman. Olney also predicts that Bregman will ultimately end up re-signing with the Red Sox. Across 495 plate appearances in his first season in Boston in 2025, Bregman slashed .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs, 62 RBI, and 64 runs scored. Although he owns a middling 6.1% career barrel rate, Bregman remains one of the MLB's best hitters in terms of controlling the strike zone with a career 11.8% walk rate and 13.4% strikeout rate. A reunion with Boston might be the best fit for Bregman from a fantasy perspective, as it would allow him to continue to take advantage of the Green Monster at Fenway Park. In addition to Boston, Bregman has also been linked to the Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Detroit Tigers, among others.

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MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reports that the Toronto Blue Jays "remain the favorite" to sign free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker. Tucker, who turns 29 in mid-January, may be the most sought-after position player in this winter's free-agent market. Across 597 plate appearances in 2025 for the Chicago Cubs, Tucker slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, 91 runs scored, and 25 stolen bases. Tucker also dropped his strikeout rate to a career-best 14.7%, although his hard-hit rate fell to a career-worst 40.2%. In Toronto, Tucker would be an everyday corner outfielder and would likely hit in front of star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Tucker has missed 110 games due to injury over the last two seasons, so he carries some risk for both MLB teams and fantasy managers. However, his ability to be a five-category contributor makes him a priority early-round target in fantasy drafts, particularly if he winds up in a solid lineup like Toronto's.

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The Minnesota Twins acquired infielder Eric Wagaman from the Miami Marlins on Friday in exchange for left-hander Kade Bragg, according to the Marlins. Wagaman will head to the American League Central after the Marlins designated him for assignment earlier in the week. The 28-year-old made his big-league debut in 2024 with the Los Angeles Angels and went 18-for-72 (.250) with two homers and 10 RBI in just 18 games played. He appeared in 140 games for the Fish in 2025, slashing .250/.296/.378 with a .674 OPS, nine home runs, 54 RBI, 56 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 514 plate appearances. In Minnesota, Wagaman will most likely compete for a platoon job against lefties in a corner outfield spot or at first base. Wagaman had a .783 OPS against southpaws. At best, he'll be a bench bat in AL-only leagues in 2026.

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The Toronto Blue Jays have signed free-agent right-hander Josh Winckowski (elbow) to a two-year minor-league contract, according to Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors. Since debuting in 2022 with the Boston Red Sox, Winckowski has logged 242 1/3 innings, posting a 4.20 ERA, 195 strikeouts, and a 1.47 WHIP. Winckowski has made 21 career starts but has spent the bulk of his time coming out of the bullpen. The former 15th-round draft pick by the Blue Jays in 2016 has always done a good job of keeping the ball on the ground, but after being moved to the bullpen in 2022, his fastball velocity ticked up by roughly 2 mph, and his strikeout rate climbed to a career-high 22.3%. The 27-year-old was limited to just 11 2/3 innings in 2025 due to an elbow injury and is currently rehabbing from internal-brace surgery, with hopes of returning late in the 2026 season. Once healthy, the Blue Jays plan to transition him into a starting role. For now, Winckowski carries no fantasy relevance.

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The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports that the New York Yankees and New York Mets are concentrating on free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger at this time, with Bellinger being the Yankees' No. 1 priority. The Mets also love Bellinger for his all-around play and defense in both the outfield and at first base. Heyman also mentioned the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and potentially the Toronto Blue Jays as landing spots for Bellinger, depending on how things work out with free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker. Bellinger declined his $25 million player option for the 2026 season with the Yankees and decided to test free agency after a strong .272/.334/.480 slash line with 29 home runs, 98 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 152 regular-season games in the Bronx in 2025. Re-signing with the Yanks would likely be the best thing for Bellinger's fantasy value going into next year and beyond.

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