December 15, 2025
The Kansas City Royals are still interested in trading for Boston Red Sox outfielder
Jarren Duran, but only if Boston lowers their asking price, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Royals have signed
Lane Thomas in free agency and also acquired
Isaac Collins from the Milwaukee Brewers, but they remain open to adding another outfielder. KC believes they'd have to give up left-hander
Cole Ragans to land Duran. The Royals see Ragans as a player with greater value as a potential Game 1 starter in a playoff series. Both Ragans and Ruan are under team control for three more seasons, with Ragans under contract for a combined $12 million the next two years and Duran for $7.75 million in 2026. If the Royals were to land Duran, he'd play left field with
Jac Caglianone getting most of the playing time in right. The 29-year-old regressed offensively and defensively in 2025, slashing .256/.332/.442 with 16 homers and 24 steals in 157 games, but he's still a highly coveted commodity with 20-20 potential that figures to be moved this offseason.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
December 15, 2025
Free-agent first baseman
Josh Bell agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal that includes a mutual option for 2027 with the Minnesota Twins on Monday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 33-year-old switch-hitter will play first base and designated hitter for the Twins next season. This is the first big-league signing of the offseason for the rebuilding Twins. Barring more offseason moves, Bell should see the majority of playing time in Minnesota in 2026 after slashing .237/.325/.417 with 22 home runs, 63 RBI, and 54 runs scored in 140 games with the Washington Nationals. The 6-foot-3, 261-pounder still brings some pop from both sides of the plate, but he has only reached the 30-homer mark once (back in 2019 with the Pittsburgh Pirates), and he doesn't contribute really anywhere else for fantasy managers. Bell will be corner-infield depth in fantasy leagues in 2026 in his first year with the Twins.
UPDATE: Bell's one-year deal is worth $7 million.--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 15, 2025
Cuban outfielder
Adolis Garcia and the Philadelphia Phillies are finalizing a one-year, $10 million deal, pending a physical, on Monday, sources told Francys Romero. Garcia will head to the National League East and look to help a contending team as he tries to get back to his 2023 form, when he was named MVP of the American League Championship Series. The 32-year-old veteran will essentially be replacing
Nick Castellanos, who is expected to be traded or released this offseason. The landing spot is an ideal one for Garcia in a hitter-friendly ballpark in a stacked lineup in Philly. Garcia had a second straight season with an OPS under .700 in 2025, and he also hit fewer than 20 home runs for the first time since becoming an everyday player. Injuries are a concern and could have contributed to a drop in his batted-ball metrics and bat speed in 2025. At a slightly discounted price in fantasy drafts next spring, though, Garcia will be an attractive bounce-back candidate in his new digs.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Francys Romero
December 14, 2025
The Boston Red Sox could reunite with veteran right-handed reliever
Chris Martin, who plans to pitch next season, a source told Chris Cotillo of Mass Live. Martin will be heading into his age-40 season in 2026, but he still wants to pitch, and Boston is interested. He was great in Beantown in 2023-24 with a 2.16 ERA, but he finished this past season on the injured list with thoracic outlet syndrome. Before getting hurt in 2025, Martin was solid for the Texas Rangers, posting a 2.98 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, two saves, 43 strikeouts, and eight walks in 42 1/3 innings pitched in relief. If Martin were to return to Boston, he'd most likely be in line to pitch in a high-leverage setup role in front of left-handed closer
Aroldis Chapman. Martin had five saves in his two seasons with the BoSox. In 10 big-league seasons, he's sporting a 25.2% strikeout rate and an elite 3.3% walk rate.
--Keith HernandezSource: Mass Live - Chris Cotillo
December 14, 2025
Free-agent infielder
Amed Rosario and the New York Yankees agreed on a one-year, $2.5 million deal on Saturday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Rosario played in 46 games with the Washington Nationals in 2025 before getting traded to the Yankees. The veteran infielder only played in 16 regular-season games in the Bronx, though, going 10-for-33 (.303) with a home run and five RBI. Rosario slashed .276/.309/.436 in 62 total games with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 20 runs scored as a utility infielder. The 30-year-old will continue to serve as a bench player for the Yankees in 2026, making him pretty useless in mixed redraft leagues. Rosario's greatest skills are his defensive versatility and his ability to make contact at the plate.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
December 14, 2025
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired left-hander
Angel Zerpa from the Kansas City Royals on Saturday in exchange for outfielder
Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever
Nick Mears. Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said that the team is open to looking at Zerpa as a starter. "He's somebody we've been trying to access for a long time," Arnold said. The 26-year-old Venezuelan southpaw was a starter in the minors, but he was a reliever in KC the last two years, posting a 4.03 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 107 strikeouts and 41 walks in 118 1/3 innings over his 129 outings (two starts). At best, Zerpa is just a name to file away and watch during spring training if Milwaukee indeed stretches him out as a starter. If Zerpa is a full-time starter in 2026 with the Brewers, he'll most likely be on an innings cap after spending the last two years as a full-time reliever.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
December 14, 2025
The Kansas City Royals acquired right-handed reliever
Nick Mears and outfielder
Isaac Collins from the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday in exchange for left-hander
Angel Zerpa, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Mears was a useful arm in Milwaukee's bullpen this past season, sporting a career-best 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with his first career save, 46 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 56 2/3 regular-season innings. The 29-year-old will give the Royals some extra bullpen depth in front of setup man
Lucas Erceg and closer
Carlos Estevez. Mears won't hold much fantasy value in 2026, outside of deeper holds leagues, but he could become an intriguing pickup if injuries strike Estevez and Erceg. He has a career 4.61 ERA (4.06 FIP) and 1.33 WHIP with 174 punchouts and 72 walks in 164 relief innings with the Brewers, Pirates, and Rockies.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 14, 2025
The Kansas City Royals acquired outfielder
Isaac Collins and right-handed reliever
Nick Mears from the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday in exchange for left-hander
Angel Zerpa, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Collins surprisingly finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2025 after slashing .263/.368/.411 with a .779 OPS, nine home runs, 54 RBI, 56 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases in 130 regular-season games for the Brew Crew. The 28-year-old former ninth-rounder by the Rockies in 2019 out of Creighton struggled down the stretch, though. In Kansas City, the switch-hitting outfielder will likely compete for a platoon spot in the outfield for the Royals in spring training. The move to the American League Central with a clearer path to regular playing time should make him more attractive as a late-round flier in AL-only fantasy leagues in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 14, 2025
Free-agent right-hander
Dustin May and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed on an undisclosed one-year deal on Saturday that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, pending a physical, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. May will return to the National League after starting the 2025 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers before being traded to the Boston Red Sox. The 28-year-old went a combined 7-11 with a career-worst 4.96 ERA (4.88 FIP), 1.42 WHIP, and 123:56 K:BB ratio in 132 1/3 innings pitched over 25 appearances (23 starts). The numbers don't look great, but the biggest takeaway was that May managed to stay healthy for a career-high 132 1/3 frames. Especially after St. Louis traded
Sonny Gray away this offseason, May should be a lock for a starting rotation spot with the Cards going into next season. Through his first six MLB seasons, the former third-rounder has been a disappointment due to injuries and a lackluster 21.9% strikeout rate.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 14, 2025
Free-agent right-handed reliever
Kenley Jansen and the Detroit Tigers agreed on a one-year, $11 million deal on Saturday, pending a physical, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Jansen is the second reliever that the Tigers have added this week after they re-signed right-hander
Kyle Finnegan to a two-year deal during the winter meetings. Jansen's deal also includes a team option for 2027. Despite being 38 years old, Jansen could open next season as the favorite for saves in Detroit because of his experience (476 career saves). He didn't look his age at all in 2025 with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a 2.59 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 29 saves, 57 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 59 innings out of the bullpen. With that said, Jansen is clearly no longer in his prime, and he's going to have much more competition for saves next year in Finnegan and
Will Vest.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 14, 2025
Free-agent right-hander
Merrill Kelly agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal to return to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The D-backs traded Kelly to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline in July, but he'll head back to Arizona for the next two years. The 37-year-old veteran will be relied on at the top of the starting rotation again next year, with right-hander
Zac Gallen expected to depart in free agency. In 32 total starts in 2025 with Arizona and Texas, he went 12-9 with a 3.52 ERA (3.76 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 167 strikeouts and 48 walks in 184 innings pitched. Kelly has been pretty durable for fantasy managers and displays elite control. He doesn't rely on velocity, but he's still had a decent 22% strikeout rate in his career in seven big-league seasons. Kelly isn't very sexy for fantasy baseball managers, but you could do much worse as a back-end rotation arm.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
December 14, 2025
The New York Mets are among many MLB teams that are inquiring about San Diego Padres right-handed reliever
Mason Miller, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. The Padres will listen to offers, but they "love him as much as anyone and would need to be overwhelmed." The Mets lost All-Star closer
Edwin Diaz in free agency to the Los Angeles Dodgers, although they did sign reliever
Devin Williams. In addition to Miller, the Mets could also be interested in trading for right-handed starter
Nick Pivetta or outfielder
Ramon Laureano. San Diego is looking to shed payroll and is reportedly interested in New York's prospects and younger position players. It's possible that the Friars also look to trade relievers
Adrian Morejon and
Jeremiah Estrada. Miller, who has been one of the hardest-throwing and most dominant closers in baseball the last couple of years, should be an elite closing target in fantasy baseball, regardless of where he's pitching in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
December 13, 2025
The Milwaukee Brewers have discussed the possibility of trading outfielders
Isaac Collins and
Blake Perkins, according to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic. Outfielder
Garrett Mitchell could also be included in those talks. After signing
Akil Baddoo earlier this week, the Brewers suddenly have a surplus of outfield options. Collins is coming off his rookie season, during which he slashed .263/.368/.411 with nine home runs and 16 stolen bases across 441 plate appearances. Perkins, meanwhile, posted a .226/.298/.348 line with three home runs and seven stolen bases in 171 plate appearances. Mitchell appeared in just 78 plate appearances at the major-league level, hitting .206 with no home runs and three stolen bases.
Christian Yelich,
Jackson Chourio, and
Sal Frelick are not currently on the trade block.
--Marty TallmanSource: Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon
December 13, 2025
Outfielder
David Dahl announced his retirement earlier this week on his X account, bringing an end to his seven-year major-league career. Once a top-100 prospect, Dahl showed flashes of his talent but was unable to stay healthy or consistent over a full season. The 31-year-old spent the bulk of his career with the Colorado Rockies, compiling a .286/.334/.494 slash line with 38 home runs, 142 RBI, 149 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases across 1,020 plate appearances. After not appearing in a game last season, Dahl has decided to call it a career.
--Marty TallmanSource: David Dahl
December 13, 2025
The Texas Rangers have signed free-agent reliever
Tyler Alexander to a one-year deal on Friday. Alexander split time between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox last season, posting a 4.98 ERA with 82 strikeouts and a 1.40 WHIP across 97 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old left-hander owns a career 4.63 ERA and is expected to provide bullpen depth for Texas. Alexander can safely be left off the fantasy radar for 2026.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Passan
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