December 24, 2025
The Washington Nationals signed free-agent first baseman
Matt Mervis to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. According to Jon Heyman, this is a minor-league deal with a non-roster invite to spring training. The Washington D.C. native will get a chance to catch on as a possible depth option for the Nats. Last season, Mervis slashed .175/.254/.383 with seven home runs and 14 RBI in 42 games with the Miami Marlins. Mervis came up through the minors with some buzz after slugging 36 homers during the 2022 season. The 27-year-old hasn't been able to put it together at the MLB level, but he could be decent depth for the organization.
--Andy WebbSource: Andrew Golden
December 24, 2025
Free-agent right-handed reliever
Pete Fairbanks and the Miami Marlins agreed on a one-year, $13 million contract on Wednesday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Fairbanks landed on the open market this offseason after the Tampa Bay Rays turned down an $11 million option for the 32-year-old closer. His deal with Miami also includes a $1 million signing bonus and another $1 million in appearance-based incentives in 2026. Fairbanks should immediately become the Marlins' primary closing option for next season after they went with a committee approach to close out games for most of 2025. In 60 1/3 frames in Tampa last year, Fairbanks was solid, with a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 59 strikeouts, 18 walks, and a career-high 27 saves in 32 chances. Health has been an issue for Fairbanks in his career, though, and Miami isn't exactly the greatest landing spot for save opportunities.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 23, 2025
The Chicago White Sox and free-agent left-hander
Sean Newcomb have agreed to a one-year deal worth $4.5 million, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. Sammon also reported that Newcomb "will at least get the chance to start" for Chicago. Newcomb was a first-round pick by the Angels in 2012 and had his best season with the Braves in 2018. That year, the 32-year-old southpaw posted a 3.90 ERA (3.69 xERA) with 160 strikeouts across 164 innings. Unfortunately, he struggled in 2019, eventually getting demoted to Triple-A and moving into the bullpen when he returned. Since then, he's been going back and forth between starting and relieving without much luck, until last year. In 2025, Newcomb struck out 91 batters in 92 1/3 innings while posting a career-low 2.73 ERA with the Red Sox and Athletics. For 2026, he will join a White Sox rotation that includes
Shane Smith,
Davis Martin,
Sean Burke, and
Anthony Kay. Right now, Newcomb can be safely left off your fantasy radar, but he's worth keeping an eye on since he's a lefty who once showed some potential.
--Marty TallmanSource: Will Sammon
December 23, 2025
The Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander
Levi Stoudt have agreed to a minor-league deal, reports Ari Alexander of 7News Boston WHDH. Stoudt was a third-round pick in 2019 by the Seattle Mariners. Shortly after being drafted, the 28-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the shortened 2020 season. Since then, he has spent nearly his entire career in the minors, pitching to a 5.06 ERA with 341 strikeouts, 177 walks, and a 1.42 WHIP across 389 1/3 innings. His only brief stint in the majors came in 2023 with the Cincinnati Reds, where he posted a 9.58 ERA (5.23 xERA) with nine strikeouts in 10 innings. Stoudt may never see the majors again, so he can safely be left off your fantasy radar.
--Marty TallmanSource: Ari Alexander
December 23, 2025
The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent right-hander
Jacob Webb that includes a club option for the 2027 season, according to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. Per Will Sammon, Webb will earn $1.5 million in 2026, with a $2.5 million club option for 2027. Incentives could increase those totals to $2 million in 2026 and $3 million in 2027. The 32-year-old reliever comes off a season with the Texas Rangers where he posted a 3.00 ERA (3.09 xERA), a 14.6% K-BB rate, and a 1.03 WHIP across 66 innings. Overall, Webb's arsenal generates more weak contact than strikeouts. With the Cubs, he is expected to serve as a middle reliever and currently has no fantasy relevance for 2026.
--Marty TallmanSource: Patrick Mooney
December 23, 2025
The New York Mets are showing interest in free-agent outfielder
Austin Hays, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Hays, 30, slashed .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 60 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 416 plate appearances in 2025. Hays has posted a 105 wRC+ or better in five of his last seven seasons. The right-handed hitter's biggest flaw has been his inability to stay on the field. Over the past two seasons, he's dealt with multiple hamstring and calf injuries and finished last year on the bench due to back spasms. Right now, the Mets have their No. 2 prospect,
Carson Benge, penciled in as the starting left fielder. With that said, they need as much outfield depth as possible after losing
Cedric Mullins,
Starling Marte,
Jesse Winker,
Jose Siri, and
Jose Azocar in free agency, along with trading
Brandon Nimmo and
Jeff McNeil. If Hays signs with the Mets, he'll be most fantasy relevant in 15-team fantasy leagues.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jon Heyman
December 23, 2025
Free-agent first baseman
Ryan O'Hearn and the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed on a two-year, $29 million contract, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. The deal also includes $500,000 in performance bonuses for each season. For the Pirates, O'Hearn should split time between first base and designated hitter and slide right into the middle of the lineup. In 2025, the 32-year-old left-handed hitter posted a .272 xBA with a 10.7% walk rate while hitting 21 home runs across 544 plate appearances for the Baltimore Orioles and the San Diego Padres. Even though the Pirates aren't a great offensive team, O'Hearn should have the freedom to play every day. Overall, you don't need to bump him up your board much, but you should feel more confident clicking his name on draft day.
--Marty TallmanSource: Robert Murray
December 23, 2025
The Cincinnati Reds have re-engaged in trade talks for Chicago White Sox outfielder
Luis Robert Jr., according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Robert is under contract for $20 million in 2026 with a club option for 2027. In return, the White Sox are reportedly looking for young talent and prospects who are close to MLB-ready. Over a year ago, the Reds showed interest in Robert, and now it appears they're even more serious about making a deal happen. The 28-year-old is a former Gold Glove Winner and All-Star who hasn't been able to recapture the success he had earlier in his career due to injuries and underperformance. Last year, Robert slashed .223/.297/.364 with 14 home runs, 53 RBI, 52 runs scored, and a career-high 33 stolen bases across 431 plate appearances. Right now, the Reds outfield consists of
TJ Friedl,
Noelvi Marte,
Gavin Lux, and
Will Benson. Robert would be a clear defensive upgrade, and hitting in Great American Ball Park would be a huge boost for his fantasy value. At an ADP around 133, you're drafting a potential 30/30 candidate without spending an early pick. If he does get traded, don't be surprised if he starts moving up draft boards pretty quickly.
--Marty TallmanSource: Gordon Wittenmyer
December 22, 2025
The Pittsburgh Pirates have added some depth by signing outfielder
Dominic Fletcher to a minor-league contract. The 28-year-old will get an invitation to spring training to catch on as outfield depth. Fletcher is a former second-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2019. He hasn't panned out at the MLB level yet, but maybe a change of scenery will help. Fletcher is slashing .233/.280/.325 with four home runs and 33 RBI across 112 big league games between the D-Backs and Chicago White Sox. He played well in Triple-A Charlotte last season, so hopefully he can bring it to the next level. This doesn't seem like anything more than a depth move for Pittsburgh.
--Andy WebbSource: Alex Stumpf
December 22, 2025
The Chicago Cubs agreed to a minor-league contract with catcher
Christian Bethancourt on Monday. According to Jon Heyman, Bethancourt will get an invitation to spring training with the Cubs. The 34-year-old is likely coming in to serve as depth at catcher with the organization moving on from
Reese McGuire this offseason. During his last big league season, Bethancourt slashed .209/.241/.367 with five home runs and 22 RBI in 62 games between the Miami Marlins and Cubs in 2024. The Cubs have
Carson Kelly,
Miguel Amaya, and
Moises Ballesteros as their top options behind the plate right now. It looks like Bethancourt will have an uphill battle to make the 26-man roster to begin the season.
--Andy WebbSource: Jon Heyman
December 22, 2025
The Seattle Mariners have signed free-agent first baseman/outfielder
Rob Refsnyder on Monday, according to Jeff Passan. The deal is reportedly a one-year contract worth $6.25 million for the 2026 campaign. The journeyman has spent each of the last four seasons as a part-time player with the Boston Red Sox. Refsnyder mostly plays against left-handed pitching, but has excelled enough at that to carve out a decent career for himself. Last season, Refsnyder slashed .302/.399/.560 with seven home runs and 25 RBI against southpaws. The 34-year-old figures to be a platoon option at both first base and right field, and possibly sees time at designated hitter, making him mainly an option in AL-Only Leagues.
--Andy WebbSource: Jeff Passan
December 22, 2025
The New York Mets have been busy making moves this offseason, and that continued on Monday when they traded infielder/outfielder
Jeff McNeil to the Athletics. The Mets are wasting no time looking for this replacement as they've reportedly explored trading for Arizona Diamondbacks infielder
Ketel Marte, per MLB Insider Francys Romero. The biggest problem with this move is that Marte would likely have to shift to the outfield in New York, since they have second base locked up after acquiring
Marcus Semien earlier this offseason. Marte would likely take over in center field, which is a position he hasn't played in consistently since the 2021 campaign. The Mets seem to be fine with the downgrade in defense with Marte being an elite-level bat. This is nowhere near a done deal, but it will be something to monitor throughout the offseason.
--Andy WebbSource: Francys Romero
December 22, 2025
New York Mets infielder/outfielder
Jeff McNeil was traded to the Athletics on Monday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. In exchange, the Mets will receive right-hander Yordan Rodriguez from the A's. The assumption is that McNeil will take over the starting second base job to begin the 2026 season. Last season, McNeil slashed .243/.335/.411 with 12 home runs and 54 RBI in 122 games with the Mets. His numbers have fallen over the last few seasons, but McNeil is still a decent contributor. McNeil finished with a 2.0 WAR last season, so the A's will take that in exchange for a 17-year-old pitcher. The hope is that the move to a smaller stadium with the A's should boost his offensive numbers. The 33-year-old did undergo thoracic outlet surgery in November, but he's expected to be ready for spring training.
--Andy WebbSource: Jeff Passan
December 22, 2025
The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired right-handed pitcher
Hunter Dobbins and right-handed pitching prospects Blake Aita and Yhoiker Fajardo from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for veteran first baseman
Willson Contreras, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. As part of the deal, St. Louis will cover $8 million of the $41.5 million remaining on Contreras' contract. The Cardinals are in rebuild mode and did not see Contreras as their first baseman of the future. Dobbins, 26, logged a 4.13 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 45 strikeouts over 61 innings during the 2025 season before suffering a torn ACL in his right knee while attempting to cover first base. He has since begun a throwing program and is expected to be ready for spring training, where he'll compete for a rotation spot. Aita, 22, spent last season between Single-A and High-A Greenville, posting a 3.98 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 14.9% K-BB rate across 115 1/3 innings. He is expected to remain in the minors next season. Fajardo, the youngest of the trio at 19, recorded a 2.81 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with a 28.8% strikeout rate over 51 1/3 innings last season. Although Fajardo is a few years away from being called up to the majors, his strikeout ability gives him the highest ceiling among the three pitchers.
--Marty TallmanSource: Ken Rosenthal
December 21, 2025
The Boston Red Sox are acquiring first baseman
Willson Contreras in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. In return, the Cardinals will receive right-hander
Hunter Dobbins along with right-handed pitching prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. According to Passan, the Red Sox will be responsible for $33.5 million of the $41.5 owed to Contreras. Boston had previously pursued
Pete Alonso and was rumored to be in on a few other sluggers, but the club now appears to have found its first baseman. Contreras is coming off a season in which he hit 20 home runs while slashing .257/.344/.447 across 563 plate appearances. With the Cardinals in the middle of a rebuild, the organization did not view Contreras as part of its long-term future. The 33-year-old former catcher is expected to take over for
Triston Casas at first base, who struggled to a .580 OPS in 112 plate appearances last season. Casas is often hurt and has missed significant time over the years. Overall, this move is a net positive for Contreras' fantasy value, as he joins a more potent offensive lineup in a substantially better hitting environment.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Passan
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