December 16, 2025
San Diego Padres right-hander
Yu Darvish (elbow) may retire after completing rehab from his latest injury, according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic. Over the weekend, Darvish spoke at a charity event and said he is focused on his rehab and is unsure if he will try to pitch again after the process is complete. The 39-year-old veteran underwent surgery in October to repair a flexor tendon and the UCL in his right elbow. Darvish is one of the most decorated Japanese pitchers in MLB history. Over his 13-year career, he has a 3.65 ERA with 2,075 strikeouts across 1,778 innings. Hopefully, we get to see the five-time All-Star pitch again, but if not, he had an amazing career.
--Marty TallmanSource: Dennis Lin
December 16, 2025
The Arizona Diamondbacks have expressed interest in free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman, though re-signing him remains the Boston Red Sox's top priority. Bregman, 31, opted out of his three-year deal with Boston after slashing .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs, 62 RBI, and 64 runs scored across 495 plate appearances, good for a 125 wRC+. While he would fit well with either club, Fenway Park is the preferred landing spot for fantasy purposes, as his pull-heavy approach plays perfectly off the Green Monster. For 2026, Bregman profiles as a top-10 third baseman with top-five upside if he lands in the right situation.
--Marty TallmanSource: Bob Nightengale
December 16, 2025
The Los Angeles Angels may allow outfielder
Mike Trout to play center field again in 2026. General manager Perry Minasian said he's keeping his options open, which includes Trout seeing time at all three outfield positions. Trout, 34, appeared in 130 games last season, his highest total since 2019. He served as the designated hitter in 106 games and played right field in just 22, reinforcing the idea that keeping him out of center field is likely the best path to preserving his health. In 2025, Trout slashed .232/.359/.439 with 26 home runs, 64 RBI, and 74 runs scored, good for a 120 wRC+. With a current ADP of 194, the future Hall of Fame slugger offers power upside without requiring a significant draft-day investment.
--Marty TallmanSource: Rhett Bollinger
December 16, 2025
Free-agent righty reliever
Chris Martin has agreed to a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. Martin, 39, was effective in 2025, posting a 2.98 ERA (3.11 SIERA) and a 24.7% strikeout rate over 42 1/3 innings. He recorded two saves and 13 holds last season and could see a few matchup-based closing chances again in 2026 because the incumbent closer,
Robert Garcia, is a lefty. However, the Rangers also recently signed
Alexis Diaz, so fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach before drafting any of the Rangers' relievers.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Passan
December 16, 2025
The San Francisco Giants announced on Tuesday that they agreed to terms with free-agent right-handed reliever
Jason Foley (shoulder) on an undisclosed one-year major-league deal. Foley had arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder and didn't appear at all in the big leagues in 2025 as a result. The 30-year-old veteran comes to San Francisco with a career 3.16 ERA (3.22 FIP), 1.24 WHIP, 35 saves, 150 strikeouts, and 51 walks in 199 2/3 innings over 210 appearances out of the bullpen for the Detroit Tigers in four seasons. Foley won't be on the fantasy radar at all next year, especially since he's not expected to be ready to pitch for the Giants until around the All-Star break in mid-July. He'll be under team control through the 2028 season, though. In his last season in Detroit in 2024, Foley had a 3.15 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with a career-high 28 saves in 69 outings.
--Keith HernandezSource: San Francisco Giants
December 16, 2025
Free-agent left-handed reliever
Caleb Ferguson agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, pending a physical, a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Ferguson brings much more real-life value to Cincinnati's bullpen for the 2026 season than he carries fantasy appeal. The 29-year-old southpaw appeared in a career-high 70 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners last season over 65 1/3 innings pitched. He had a combined 3.58 ERA (3.26 FIP) and 1.16 WHIP with 51 strikeouts and 22 walks. Ferguson's strikeout rate dropped to a career-low 18.9% in 2025, but he held left-handed hitters to a weak .184/.261/.204 slash line on the year. He'll continue to be a lefty specialist in 2026 for the Reds and won't carry any real fantasy appeal.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
December 16, 2025
Free-agent right-hander
Adrian Houser and the San Francisco Giants agreed on a two-year, $22 million deal on Tuesday that includes a club option for a third season, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. In addition to Houser, the Gigantes also added right-handed reliever
Jason Foley on Tuesday to help shore up their pitching staff. Houser, 32, looked much better this past season, going 8-5 with a 3.31 ERA (3.81 FIP) and 1.28 WHIP with 92 strikeouts and 38 walks in 125 innings over 21 starts with the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. He was much better in Chicago, posting a nice 2.10 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 47:22 K:BB ratio in his 11 starts. Houser showed better velocity than he did in a rough 2024 season with the New York Mets, in which he had a career-worst 5.84 ERA, but he still had a weak 17.8% strikeout rate. The landing spot in SF is nice, but Houser brings limited fantasy upside with his 18.4% career K rate.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 16, 2025
Free-agent left-hander
Foster Griffin and the Washington Nationals agreed on a one-year, $5.5 million deal on Tuesday, pending a physical, sources familiar with the deal told Robert Murray of FanSided.com. With incentives, Griffin can make up to $6.5 million. The 30-year-old southpaw will make a return to the U.S. after three seasons pitching for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. Griffin had a nice 2.57 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with a 25.1% strikeout rate in 315 2/3 innings in Japan the last three seasons, and he'll be competing for a spot in Washington's starting rotation in spring training. He was originally a first-round pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2014. Griffin made his MLB debut in 2020 in KC but only appeared in seven big-league games in two seasons, allowing seven runs (six earned) in eight innings pitched.
--Keith HernandezSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
December 16, 2025
With newly signed outfielder
Adolis Garcia taking over in right field for the Philadelphia Phillies next season, the team is looking to use prospect
Justin Crawford as a center fielder, according to Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We believe so," president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. "We'd like to have that happen. "If you're going to give Crawford an opportunity, you've got to give it to him. And that's where we are. We're going to give him an opportunity and have him play a lot."
Brandon Marsh will likely be the left fielder, at least against right-handed pitchers. The Phillies are unlikely to add another outfielder this offseason. There's plenty to like about the 21-year-old Crawford in fantasy baseball after he hit .334/.411/.452 with seven homers and 46 steals at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2025. His defense is a work in progress, but for his speed alone in a stacked Philly lineup, Crawford's stock is on the rise. Per MLB Pipeline, Crawford is the Phillies' No. 3 prospect.
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
December 15, 2025
Sendai University right-hander Genei Sato is transferring to a school in the United States in February to become MLB draft-eligible in 2027, according to Yakyu Cosmopolitan. The Japanese pitching prospect has impressed with a fastball that tops out at 99 mph. The soon-to-be 21-year-old will be taking an atypical path to the big leagues, as most Japanese players end up coming through the posting system, which was introduced in the late 1990s. Rintaro Sasaki, who is the first Japanese high-schooler to choose the NCAA over Nippon Professional Baseball, is still only a sophomore at Stanford. In addition to his high-90s fastball, the 6-foot, 180-pound Sato features a low-90s splitter and a slider. "He's real," top draft prospect Roch Cholowsky told Baseball America. "[He] was like 97-99, throwing a splitter at like 92. A lot of ride on the fastball. Throws his splitter hard but has depth on it, too."
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru
December 15, 2025
Free-agent infielder
Ha-Seong Kim re-signed with the Atlanta Braves on Monday night on a one-year, $20 million deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Kim started the 2025 season with the Tampa Bay Rays but didn't make his season debut until July 4 after recovering from shoulder surgery. The 30-year-old South Korean native played in only 24 games with Tampa before being cut, and he finished the year with the Braves. Kim slashed a combined .234/.304/.345 with a .649 OPS, five home runs, 17 RBI, 19 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 191 plate appearances over 48 games played. He hit .253 with three homers and 12 RBI in 24 games in Atlanta, and he figures to see most of the playing time at short for the Braves going into next season. Kim's biggest draw in fantasy baseball is for his speed, as he swiped a combined 60 bases in 2023 and 2024. His reckless playing style makes him injury-prone, which we've seen firsthand the last two years.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
December 15, 2025
The Boston Red Sox acquired left-handed pitching prospect
Jake Bennett from the Washington Nationals on Monday in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect
Luis Perales, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. Bennett, 25, was drafted by the Nats in the 39th round in 2019. The young southpaw pitched for Single-A Fredericksburg, High-A Wilmington, and Double-A Harrisburg in 2025 in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, going a combined 2-5 with a 2.27 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 64:19 K:BB ratio in 75 1/3 innings over 19 outings (18 starts). Per MLB Pipeline, Bennett immediately becomes the BoSox's No. 7 prospect. The 6-foot-6, 234-pounder is predominantly a sinker/changeup pitcher who has held impressive ground-ball rates in the minors. Bennett also features a low- to mid-90s heater. Bennett might be another full year away from the big leagues, but his combination of size and stuff gives him decent upside at the major-league level.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 15, 2025
The Washington Nationals acquired right-handed pitching prospect
Luis Perales from the Boston Red Sox on Monday in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect
Jake Bennett, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Perales, 22, has missed most of the past two years while recovering from Tommy John surgery, appearing in only 12 games (10 starts) across the Red Sox's minor-league system. He has a fastball that hits triple digits and is already being considered Washington's No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Venezuelan hurler also has a nasty splitter and features a slider and a cutter as other secondary pitches. Perales has athleticism and elite arm speed, but he's small for a starter, and his durability is a concern. If Perales cannot make it as a starter, the Nats could try him in a high-leverage relief role. His innings will be closely monitored in 2026, and he's probably a long shot to make his MLB debut.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 15, 2025
The New York Mets are open to trading infielder/designated hitter
Mark Vientos this winter, sources told Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated. Vientos could draw plenty of interest, as he has four years of club control as a pre-arbitration player. He won't be a free agent until after the 2029 season. However, it remains to be seen how many MLB teams would be interested after Vientos regressed to a .233/.289/.413 slash line with a .702 OPS, 97 OPS+, 17 home runs, 61 RBI, and a -0.2 bWAR in 121 games in 2025. The year prior, Vientos broke out with 27 long balls, 71 RBI, an .837 OPS, and 3.0 bWAR in 111 games.
Brett Baty is likely to be the starter at third in 2026, and the Mets just signed
Jorge Polanco to take over at first base to replace
Pete Alonso, who signed with Baltimore in free agency. Vientos was able to drop his strikeout rate to a career-low 24.8% in 2025, but he isn't great defensively and still has a lot to prove.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Pat Ragazzo
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
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