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The Tampa Bay Rays have reached an undisclosed two-year deal with free-agent left-hander Steven Matz on Monday night, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Matz has pitched parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues with the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, and Boston Red Sox. The veteran southpaw has a career record of 60-62 with a 4.19 ERA. The 34-year-old veteran spent the 2025 campaign with the Cardinals and Red Sox, going a combined 5-2 with a 3.05 ERA (3.46 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, and 59:11 K:BB ratio in 53 appearances (two starts) over 76 2/3 innings pitched. Matz saved the first two games of his career this year and is expected to continue being used in a relief role in Tampa, potentially in high-leverage situations. Unless Matz is used as the Rays' primary closer, which is unlikely, he'll mostly be a non-factor in fantasy with a career 21.9% strikeout rate.

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The Houston Astros have shown interest in trading for Tampa Bay Rays right-hander and Houston native Shane Baz, multiple league sources told Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. However, a deal isn't believed to be close, and some league sources think Baz being moved is unlikely. In his first trip through salary arbitration, Baz is projected to make $3.1 million this winter, and the 26-year-old has three more years of club control. It makes perfect sense for an Astros team that is looking to acquire young, controllable starting pitching. Houston has been wary of paying high prices for free-agent starters and prefers to go the trade route to help replace lefty Framber Valdez, who is expected to leave in free agency. If Baz is traded to Houston, center fielder Jake Meyers could be part of the package heading back to Tampa. In Baz's first full season post Tommy John surgery, he had a 4.87 ERA in 166 1/3 innings. If Baz can improve his command and limit the home runs against righties, he could take the next step in 2026 with the move back indoors in Tampa.

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Free-agent reliever Robert Suarez is drawing interest from the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and others, according to Robert Murray of FanSided.com. Suarez, one of the top relief arms on the open market this offseason, is projected to land a three-year, $48 million deal. Not only has Suarez been one of the most dominant closers in the game, but he's thrown at least 65 innings in each of the last two seasons while recording 76 saves in that span, including a league-best 40 saves for the San Diego Padres in 2025. After Jeff Hoffman blew the save in Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto is looking for upgrades to the back end of its bullpen. The Blue Jays were rumored to be interested in Emilio Pagan before he re-signed a two-year deal with the Reds. The Dodgers had well-documented relief issues last season, too, and could pluck a late-inning arm away from SD for a second straight season.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he plans to use two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani as a regular starting pitcher next year, although the Dodgers could be creative early in the season with their starting depth to maximize rest days, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. It won't necessarily be a traditional six-man rotation early on for the Dodgers, but Roki Sasaki, who stepped up in the back end of the bullpen during the postseason, will return as a starter in 2026. In addition to Sasaki, the Dodgers will have Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. Right-hander Emmet Sheehan could make starts early on as well. Ohtani didn't debut on the mound in 2025 until June after having arm surgery. The four-time MVP (three straight) was brought along slowly and eventually finished with a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 62 K's, and only nine walks in 14 starts (47 innings). Ohtani might have a higher ceiling as a hitter, but his strikeout upside as a pitcher for his first full season as a two-way player in L.A. isn't too shabby either.

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Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said on Monday that he would like for outfielder Yordan Alvarez to "spend most of his season" as the designated hitter next year, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. This wouldn't be a huge surprise, considering Alvarez played in only 48 games in 2025 due to injuries. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger made only 15 starts in left field last year and 32 as the DH. The three-time All-Star and former American League Rookie of the Year is expected to be ready for the start of spring training despite having his season cut short by a severe left-ankle sprain. Alvarez had four straight 30-plus homer seasons from 2021-24 while also driving in at least 86 runs in each of those seasons. He missed most of 2025 with a hand fracture. The Cuban native still has elite discipline, but he had a career-worst .797 OPS and only six homers. Alvarez is still on the right side of 30 and has high-end plate skills. Fantasy managers who are willing to take on a little more injury risk could be rewarded handsomely if Alvarez can put his 2025 injury woes behind him.

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Free-agent first baseman Pete Alonso is expected to drive from his Tampa home to the winter meetings in Orlando, Fla., to meet in person with interested teams, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles are among the teams that Alonso is scheduled to meet with. The New York Mets are open to considering re-signing the Polar Bear, but they aren't going to break the bank for him. Alonso was a free agent last year, too, but he ended up re-signing to a two-year, $54 million contract. The right-handed power-hitting first baseman opted out of the final year of the deal to become a free agent again this winter. If the Mets and Alonso don't reunite again, they could turn to lefty slugger Kyle Schwarber or Japanese corner infielder Munetaka Murakami. The 31-year-old Alonso isn't great defensively, but he's an elite power bat with at least 34 home runs in all six full seasons in the majors since he debuted in 2019.

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The Washington Nationals are getting pushed aggressively on shortstop CJ Abrams this offseason, people familiar with their talks told Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. According to league sources, the Nationals are open to talks on Abrams, but "the bar is high." The 25-year-old is attractive to teams around the league, given the lack of shortstops available on the open market. He's expected to make $5.6 million next year with two more years of arbitration eligibility before becoming a free agent. Beyond Bo Bichette and Ha-Seong Kim, there is a significant drop-off in talent. Additionally, Abrams is coming off his best offensive season with a .748 OPS, 19 home runs, and 31 stolen bases. Regardless of where Abrams is playing in 2026, the young shortstop is one of the more attractive young power/speed options at the shortstop position for fantasy drafts next spring.

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San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen said on Monday that the team will keep right-handers Mason Miller and David Morgan and left-hander Adrian Morejon in the bullpen next year rather than converting them to starters. "It's a risky proposition health-wise and performance-wise," Stammen said. ESPN's Alden Gonzalez reasonably notes that the Padres are very much in the market for starting arms this offseason after losing right-hander Dylan Cease to free agency. Free-agent righty Michael King is also expected to depart for a multi-year contract. The flamethrowing Miller would have been very intriguing for fantasy baseball purposes as a starter, but instead, he'll remain an elite closing target in San Diego with former ninth-inning arm Robert Suarez expected to leave in free agency. Miller has been one of the best relievers in the game the last two years, posting a 2.56 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a dominant 43.1% strikeout rate in 126 2/3 innings.

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The San Diego Padres have shown a willingness to entertain trade offers for right-hander Nick Pivetta, league sources told The Athletic's Dennis Lin. However, a deal for Pivetta isn't considered likely, as the Padres would require a steep return for Pivetta, who was their best starter in 2025. The 32-year-old veteran's heavily backloaded contract will pay him $19 million next year, up from just $1 million in 2025. He can opt out of his deal next November with two years and $32 million still owed to him. Pivetta is coming off a career year in his first year in SD, in which he had a 2.87 ERA and finished sixth in the National League Cy Young voting. Trading Pivetta would weaken an already thin starting rotation, but the Padres and general manager A.J. Preller's options for rebalancing the payroll are limited. A trade of Pivetta could give the Friars the flexibility and resources to go after multiple controllable starters.

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The Baltimore Orioles are among the teams interested in signing free-agent left-hander Ranger Suarez, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Suarez doesn't light up the radar gun, but his terrific postseason pedigree has many teams looking his way on the open market. The 30-year-old southpaw rejected the Philadelphia Phillies' one-year, $22.025 qualifying offer, so Philly will receive draft-pick compensation if he signs with another team for 2026 and beyond. He went 12-8 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 151 strikeouts, and 38 walks in 157 1/3 innings over 26 regular-season starts in 2025 in his eighth big-league season with the Phils. Since Suarez's first full year in the majors in 2021, he has posted a solid 3.25 ERA with a below-average 22.5% strikeout rate and 7.5% walk rate. A move to Baltimore and the tough American League East would put Suarez in yet another tough pitching environment.

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The New York Yankees don't expect shortstop Anthony Volpe (shoulder) to return in April of next season, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. Volpe suffered a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder while diving for a ball on May 3, but he didn't have surgery on it until the middle of October after the team had been eliminated from the postseason. The 24-year-old is expected to be cleared to hit by February, but he won't be allowed to dive until around April. Expect the Yankees to be cautious with their starting shortstop, so it's possible that we won't see him until mid to late May. Until he's ready, speedy infielder Jose Caballero is expected to see most of the playing time at the 6 in the Bronx. Volpe needed several cortisone shots throughout the year for his shoulder and hit just .204/.253/.374 after the injury. He's going to be much cheaper in fantasy drafts in 2026, and for good reason.

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The New York Yankees are expecting right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) to make his 2026 debut sometime in May or June, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. We already knew that Cole wasn't going to be ready for Opening Day after having Tommy John surgery with an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow back in March. The 35-year-old veteran missed the entire 2025 season. He threw off a bullpen mound at Yankee Stadium last month, but he still has a ways to go in his recovery. The Yankees are hoping that Cole will be able to face live hitters at some point in spring training. Cole is a six-time All-Star and former American League Cy Young winner, but it's fair to wonder how dominant he'll be when he returns next year following a lengthy absence, especially at his age. The Yankees have a clear need in their rotation with Cole, lefty Carlos Rodon (elbow), and Clarke Schmidt (elbow) all recovering from elbow procedures.

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Free-agent right-hander Michael Soroka has agreed to a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, pending a physical, sources tell Jesse Rogers and Jeff Passan of ESPN. In 2025, Soroka pitched to a 4.52 ERA (3.78 SIERA) with a career-high 25.1% strikeout rate across 89 2/3 innings for the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs. When the 28-year-old first reached the majors, he relied heavily on generating ground balls. But after recovering from multiple injuries, he overhauled his pitch mix and became more of a strikeout-oriented hurler. For fantasy managers, Soroka is a solid late-round dart throw with some upside and will likely be the last pitcher you draft in most leagues.

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The Boston Red Sox are among the teams interested in trading for Arizona Diamondbacks superstar second baseman Ketel Marte, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Other teams that could be potential fits for Marte include the Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers, and Toronto Blue Jays. Marte has been involved in trade rumors this offseason, but general manager Mike Hazen recently said that it's unlikely Arizona will move the 32-year-old veteran Dominican. The switch-hitting infielder was one of the big reasons why the D-backs were one of the highest-scoring teams in baseball in 2025, as he slashed .283/.376/.517 with an .893 OPS, 28 home runs, 72 RBI, 87 runs, and four steals in 126 games. Marte's 145 wRC+ led all qualified second basemen for the second straight year.

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The Kansas City Royals are looking to upgrade their outfield this offseason, and they are willing to trade a starting pitcher in order to get one, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The most logical trade candidate could be left-hander Kris Bubic, who is projected to earn $6 million in his final year of salary arbitration before free agency. The Royals aren't pursuing the most expensive outfield options in Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, and they might also be out on Harrison Bader, who is believed to be seeking a three-year deal. According to people briefed on their talks, KC's preference is to add two outfielders. They may re-sign Mike Yastrzemski. Adolis Garcia, Max Kepler, Mike Tauchman, Lane Thomas, and JJ Bleday are other free-agent options. Bubic missed most of the second half with a left rotator-cuff strain, but he was cleared to begin throwing in early November and should have a normal season in 2026 after avoiding shoulder surgery.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have made a four-year offer to free-agent designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, people briefed on the team's talks told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rosenthal reports that the offer is almost certainly worth more than $100 million. The Pirates are considered a long shot to land Schwarber, who will most likely end up re-signing with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Boston Red Sox are known to be interested in the left-handed slugger, and Schwarber's hometown team, the Cincinnati Reds, are also making a push. Pittsburgh has only given out one $100 million contract (Bryan Reynolds), and they have never come close to that number in free agency. Schwarber is one of the best power hitters in baseball and is coming off a career-best 56 home runs. For the Phillies to retain the 32-year-old, they might have to guarantee Schwarber a fifth year.

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The Seattle Mariners acquired left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer from the Washington Nationals in exchange for catching prospect Harry Ford. The 25-year-old has thrown 142 1/3 career innings with a 4.36 ERA (3.24 SIERA), 121 strikeouts, and a 1.26 WHIP. In 2025, he abandoned his four-seam fastball and posted a career-best 21.9% strikeout rate alongside a career-low 4.9% walk rate. Overall, he recorded 11 saves for Washington last season, finishing with a 4.48 ERA across 76 1/3 innings. Seattle apparently felt it needed another left-hander for the back end of its bullpen and paid a steep price to get one. According to MLB Pipeline, Ford is a top-50 prospect and widely regarded as one of the best up-and-coming catchers in the minor leagues.

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The Toronto Blue Jays have outrighted right-hander Yariel Rodriguez off the 40-man roster on Saturday. In 2024, Rodriguez started 21 games for the Jays, pitching to a 4.47 ERA (4.46 SIERA) with 85 strikeouts and a 1.32 WHIP in 86 innings. Last year, the 28-year-old made only one start but still delivered a solid 3.08 ERA (4.27 SIERA) and 1.15 WHIP over 73 innings, most of which came out of the bullpen. Whether Rodrguez will be fantasy-relevant next year depends entirely on where he signs, but for now, he can safely be kept off your fantasy radar.

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The Washington Nationals acquired catching prospect Harry Ford by trading away left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners. The 22-year-old is an MLB Pipeline top-50 prospect who slashed .283/.408/.460 with 16 home runs, 68 runs, 74 RBI, seven steals, and a 125 wRC+ in 458 plate appearances at AAA last year. The Mariners already have All-Star Cal Raleigh behind the dish, which apparently made Ford expendable. For the Nationals, they land a top prospect that can quickly take over for Keibert Ruiz and Riley Adams. Ruiz hasn't come close to replicating his 2023 breakout season, when he slugged 18 home runs with a .274 xBA and a 10.3% strikeout rate. Last year, Ruiz hit only two home runs in 267 plate appearances while battling symptoms from a concussion he sustained on June 23. Ford was called up at the end of last year and may be the Nationals' starting catcher at some point in 2026.

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There is a perception in a couple of front offices that the Washington Nationals plan to trade left-hander MacKenzie Gore, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. The 26-year-old got off to a hot start in 2025, posting a 3.02 ERA with 138 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings before the All-Star break. After the break, however, he struggled mightily to a 6.75 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP in 49 1/3 innings. Gore has always had the stuff to be an ace, but his inability to close out the year strong collides with his lack of control to produce a very risky pitcher to invest in on draft day. Gore is best for leagues with daily lineups, so you can pick and choose which matchups to play him.

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