The San Francisco Giants signed free-agent starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz to a one-year deal on Wednesday, according to sources. The deal is for $1.5 million and it can max out at $5 million with incentives. The left-hander had a rough year in 2018 with the Red Sox, going 2-6 with a 6.08 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and 8.0 K/9 in just 26 outings (11 starts) due to injury. The landing spot in a pitcher-friendly park is nice for the 30-year-old, but his extensive injury history purely makes him a speculative late-round flier in deep mixed leagues. Pomeranz has strikeout stuff, but he's never pitched over 173 2/3 innings in a single season and he's gone over 170 innings just twice in his eight-year career.

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Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Brandon Morrow (elbow) is hoping to play catch around Feb. 6. Morrow had 22 saves in his first season in Chicago in 2018, but his elbow injury cost him the entire second half of the season, and it looks like he won't be ready for Opening Day in 2019. The right-hander underwent surgery and has an extensive injury history. He was solid before the injury, though, posting a 1.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 31 K's in 30 2/3 innings, but the fact that Pedro Strop could easily stay in the ninth-inning role upon his return makes him merely a late-round speculation for saves or a handcuff if you snag Strop.

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The Atlanta Braves re-signed outfielder Nick Markakis to a one-year, $6 million deal on Tuesday, according to a source. The 35-year-old will return to Atlanta after earning his first All-Star nod in 2018. He finished with a slash line of .297/.366/.440 with 14 home runs, 93 RBI, 78 runs and one stolen base in 162 games. Markakis makes a lot of contact and rarely strikes out, which is good for those in on-base percentage leagues, but he doesn't run on the bases and has limited power, giving him a very low ceiling for fantasy purposes.

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The Texas Rangers agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent infielder Asdrubal Cabrera on Tuesday, according to sources. The deal will be for less than $5 million and he will be the team's third baseman. With Adrian Beltre a free agent, the Rangers needed to find a third baseman, so Cabrera will fill in at the hot corner and gain some more position versatility for fantasy owners. The 33-year-old switch hitter batted .262/.316/.458 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI in 147 games with the Mets and Phillies last year. He has decent pop in an everyday role and is moving to a good hitting environment. Target A-Cab in the later rounds of deep mixed leagues for infield depth and versatility.

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Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said second baseman Ketel Marte will play center field and other positions this year. It was the expected course of action with A.J. Pollock to depart in free agency and after the acquisition of infielder Wilmer Flores, who will play the keystone. The position versatility will be nice, but the 25-year-old doesn't move the needle much in shallow mixed leagues after hitting .260/.332/.437 with 14 home runs, 59 RBI, 68 runs and six stolen bases in 2018. Consider him outfield/middle infield depth in deep mixed and NL-only leagues.

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (knee) hinted on Monday that he's open to playing another year after his $60 million, three-year contract is up after the 2020 season. But the catch is that he'd only want to play for St. Louis. The veteran catcher had a bone spur removed from his left knee in the offseason and said he's probably at 50 percent right now, so he's not planning on playing in spring training games until mid-March. Molina was bothered by the bone spur for most of last year but still managed 20 home runs and 74 RBI. 2018 was only Molina's second season with 20-plus home runs, so don't expect that to repeat. He'll also turn 37 in July and has plenty of injury concerns with so much wear and tear on his body. Molina can still hit when healthy, though, and he'll be at the lower end of the top-10 spectrum for fantasy backstops.

From RotoBaller

The St. Louis Cardinals are interested in discussing a contract extension with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt that would keep him with the team past the 2019 season. "Whenever a good player comes to the Cardinals, if they have a year left on their contract, we always think down the road," owner Bill DeWitt said. "We'd love to have him here longer than one year, and we'll just see how that plays out." The Cardinals acquired the 31-year-old slugger from Arizona this offseason. Despite a rough first half in 2018, Goldy bounced back to post strong numbers overall and he remains the top overall fantasy first baseman.

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Sonny Gray, who was traded from the New York Yankees on Monday in exchange for second base prospect Shed Long and a competitive-balance draft pick, agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep him under contract through the 2022 season. He will be paid $30.5 million over three years with a $12 million club option for 2023, according to sources. The Reds also received minor league left-hander Reiver Sanmartin. Gray will reunite with his college pitching coach in Cincy after struggling for two years with the Yankees and falling out of the rotation entirely late in 2018. There is bounce-back potential, as Gray holds a 3.66 career ERA in six seasons, but he hasn't thrown more than 131 innings each of the last two years. He'll be a shaky streaming option as a late-round flier in deep mixed formats. He'll make $7.5 million in 2019 and will make up a completely new rotation that also includes Alex Wood and Tanner Roark.

From RotoBaller

The Cincinnati Reds officially acquired starting pitcher Sonny Gray from the New York Yankees on Monday in exchange for second base prospect Shed Long, according to league sources. The deal could also include the Reds sending a draft pick to the Yankees, and Cincy could be finalizing an extension for Gray as part of the swap. The right-hander had a rough 4.90 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 8.5 K/9 in 30 outings (23 starts) in his second season in New York and was even demoted to the bullpen late in the year. He'll have a chance to bounce back in the Reds rotation, but he'll be a shaky fantasy streamer as a late-round target in deep mixed leagues.

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The Minnesota Twins plan to use starting pitcher Martin Perez in their rotation in 2019. It makes the left-hander more attractive for fantasy purposes, but only as a dollar late-round flier in deep AL-only leagues. Perez was 2-7 last year for the Rangers with an ugly 6.22 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings (22 games, 15 starts). While he could rebound in a better pitcher's park in 2019, Perez isn't worth pursuing in most mixed leagues.

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas said on Sunday that he's open to a possible contract extension before he hits free agency after the 2019 season. He's open to continuing negotiations into the regular season if need be. Mikolas hadn't pitched in the majors since 2014 before last year, and he surprised everyone by going 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA and led the National League with an .818 winning percentage. His big season has put him on the map as a top-25 fantasy starter, although it may be hard for him to match those numbers in 2019.

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Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, who is still only 22, hired a nutritionist in the offseason and has been eating healthier after a challenge from team management after his first full season in the majors. I feel healthy right now, Devers said Saturday at the teams annual Winter Weekend event. I think Im in a good place. Last year, I had a lot of injuries and I think it was a product of the weight. Thankfully, I feel much better now and Ive been focusing on it a lot more this offseason." Devers was 237 pounds in 2018 and dealt with hamstring and shoulder issues throughout the year. He was on the disabled list three separate times in July and August and missed 17 games. He hit .240/.298/.433 with 21 home runs and 66 RBI in 121 games and is listed as RotoBaller's No. 19 fantasy third baseman going into the 2019 season.

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Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (wrist) and starting pitcher Mike Soroka (shoulder) are both expected to report to spring training without physical limitations. However, both are expected to be eased into the Grapefruit League schedule. Swanson's left wrist bothered him pretty much all year until he was shut down in the final week, and he had surgery to remove a lima bean-sized portion of cartilage damage in November. Swanson started hitting off a tee pain-free earlier this week. He's an up-and-coming power/speed threat at the 6, but his injury is likely to keep him limited to NL-only leagues to start 2019. Soroka missed the final three months due to right shoulder pain caused by muscles attached to his scapula. The 21-year-old has a lot of upside and is one to watch if he earns a permanent rotation spot and runs with it.

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Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Cody Allen will be the team's closer in 2019, according to general manager Billy Eppler. He has a history of pitching in big games and big spots," Eppler said. Allen was recently signed to a one-year deal after a disappointing 4.70 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 2018, although he did save 27 games and struck out 10.7 hitters per nine innings. The right-hander's value is a bit down after struggling last season, but he could easily bounce back after reaching at least 30 saves in the previous three seasons.

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Los Angeles Angels general manager Billy Eppler said designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (elbow) will have his next follow-up appointment soon. Ohtani is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, but they are unsure beyond that on his timetable for hitting. Ohtani, the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year, won't pitch at all in 2019, but he's expected to be allowed to hit and serve as the team's primary DH, at least against right-handed pitchers. The 24-year-old hit .285/.361/.564 with 22 home runs, 61 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 326 at-bats last year and will be in play in all mixed leagues for his bat only in 2019.

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St. Louis Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said first baseman Jose Martinez "could play every day" and will push for playing time in 2019. Mozeliak said he expects Martinez to contribute in some way every game. While Martinez hit .305/.364/.457 with 17 home runs and 83 RBI in 2018, he's more suited for a designated hitter role and isn't a solid defender in the outfield. Outfield is the only place he'd be able to play in 2019 after the team traded for Paul Goldschmidt, so Martinez's playing time is a serious concern. Unless he's traded, he'll be a low-ceiling corner infield option in deep mixed and NL-only leagues.

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The Boston Red Sox have had contract-extension talks with shortstop Xander Bogaerts this offseason, according to multiple sources. He can become a free agent after the 2019 season and had a breakout year in 2018, hitting .288 with a .360 on-base percentage, .522 slugging percentage and 23 home runs. Bogaerts makes a lot of contact and gets on base frequently, but his lack of elite power at the plate puts him just outside of the mix of the elite shortstop options for fantasy owners. He's in the conversation as a top-10 shortstop, however, and resides in the most potent lineup in all of baseball.

From RotoBaller

The Los Angeles Dodgers have increasing interest in signing free-agent outfielder A.J. Pollock, but there is no indication that any deal is close at this time. Pollock has the ability to play center field and would help balance a lefty-heavy Dodgers lineup. The 31-year-old would be a top-of-the-order hitter for the Blue and provides fantasy owners with an intriguing mix of power and speed. However, he hasn't played in over 113 games either of the past two seasons due to injuries and is an early-round risk because of it. He hit .257/.316/.484 with 21 home runs, 65 RBI, 61 runs scored and 13 steals last season and has 30-homer, 20-steal potential if he plays a full season. In a potent Dodgers lineup, his fantasy value would increase if he signed with LA.

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The Cincinnati Reds are finalizing a deal for New York Yankees starting pitcher Sonny Gray on Sunday. Infield prospect Shed Long and a draft pick are expected to be sent to the Yankees, with a possible third piece also involved. Gray struggled mightily in his two seasons with the Yankees and was demoted to the bullpen late last year as a result. He's a bounce-back candidate with a change of scenery, but Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati might not be the best place to do it. Gray will be a shaky backend starter in deep mixed leagues if the deal goes through. Long hit .261/.353/.412 with 12 home runs, 56 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 126 games for Double-A Pensacola in 2018. The fact that the Yanks are willing to trade Gray means that they are confident in CC Sabathia's health heading into spring training.

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The Minnesota Twins agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with free-agent starting pitcher Martin Perez. The deal also includes a team option for 2020. The 27-year-old left-hander has pitched the last seven seasons with the Rangers and went an ugly 2-7 with a 6.22 ERA in 2018, missing some time with an injury to his non-throwing elbow. Perez was moved to the bullpen late last year because of his struggles in Texas' rotation. It's unclear what Perez's role will be in Minnesota, but he'll only be an option in AL-only leagues if he wins a rotation spot out of spring training.

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