December 21, 2025
Japanese infielder Munetaka Murakami and the Chicago White Sox have agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract, sources tell Jeff Passan of ESPN. Murakami, 25, has slashed .270/.394/.557 with 246 home runs, 647 RBI, 535 runs scored, and 59 stolen bases across 3,780 plate appearances in eight NPB seasons. Passan went on to say that Murakami is expected to play first base for the White Sox. There are concerns that the 25-year-old has a lot of swing-and-miss in his profile, but he also has a ton of power. The Japanese star has an ADP of 232, making him a calculated gamble that could pay off in a big way. However, the transition from the NPB is not easy, so nothing is guaranteed. As a result,
Lenyn Sosa, who spent time at first base with the White Sox last season, will likely shift to the keystone or the DH spot, and
Miguel Vargas, the other primary first baseman, will now likely cover the hot corner for most of 2026.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Passan
December 20, 2025
The Kansas City Royals are willing to move left-hander
Kris Bubic (shoulder) to shed some payroll, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Bubic is projected to earn $6 million in arbitration, and the Royals are looking to add a bat. Royals have been linked to Red Sox outfielder
Jarren Duran and Cardinals second baseman/outfielder
Brendan Donovan. Bubic is coming off a strong year in which he posted a career-low 2.55 ERA (3.15 xERA) with a 24.4% strikeout rate and a 1.18 WHIP across 116 1/3 innings. He missed most of the second half of the season with a left rotator cuff strain, but is expected to be ready by the time pitchers and catchers report. The 28-year-old southpaw has a 211.85 ADP and could move up draft boards if he is traded to a winning team.
--Marty TallmanSource: Ken Rosenthal
December 20, 2025
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Toronto Blue Jays are showing interest in free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman. Bregman just opted out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox and is looking for a multi-year deal. In 2025, Bregman missed 59 games due to a strained quadricep, yet still hit 18 home runs with 62 RBI and 64 runs scored while slashing .273/.360/.462 across 495 plate appearances. For fantasy purposes, the 31-year-old re-signing with Boston would be ideal given his pull-heavy approach and the Green Monster. That said, the Blue Jays had the fourth-best offense last year, and Rogers Centre is one of the most home-run-friendly ballparks in MLB. Right now, he's the eighth third baseman off draft boards, but he still has top-five upside.
--Marty TallmanSource: Ken Rosenthal
December 19, 2025
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired second baseman
Brandon Lowe, left-hander
Mason Montgomery, and outfielder
Jake Mangum. In return, the Tampa Bay Rays received right-hander Anderson Brito and outfielder
Jacob Melton. The Houston Astros acquired right-hander
Mike Burrows. Lowe will give the Pirates some much-needed pop in their lineup. The 31-year-old hit 31 home runs last year with a .256/.307/.477 slashine, good for a 114 wRC+. Montgomery projects as a serviceable middle reliever with nasty stuff, while Mangum should immediately rank among the Pirates' better defensive outfielders. The Rays add more upper-level prospect depth to their farm system in Brito and Melton. Meanwhile, the Astros acquire an up-and-coming right-hander in Burrows, who has less than a year of service time and still has an option remaining.
--Marty TallmanSource: Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal
December 19, 2025
The Baltimore Orioles acquired right-hander
Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for four prospects, outfielders Slater de Brun and
Austin Overn, right-hander Michael Forret, catcher Caden Bodine, plus a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick (No. 33 overall), sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. Baz, 26, is an electric young arm that just hasn't been able to take the next step in his career. Last year for the Rays, Baz posted a 4.87 ERA (3.85 xERA) with a 15.8 K-BB% and a 1.33 WHIP across a career-high 166 1/3 innings. On the bright side, he was able to pitch nearly the entire season for the first time in his career. The 6-foot-3 hurler joins
Trevor Rogers,
Kyle Bradish,
Dean Kremer, and
Tyler Wells in the revamped O's rotation. Fantasy managers should welcome the change of scenery for Baz, even if Camden Yards isn't as pitcher-friendly as Tropicana Field.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Passan
December 19, 2025
Free-agent infielder Sung-mun Song and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a contract, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. Sources tell Francys Romero of BeisbolFR that it's a three-year deal that guarantees Song around $13 million. Song, 29, enjoyed a strong campaign last year in the KBO, posting a .315/.387/.530 slash line with 26 home runs, 25 steals, and 37 doubles across 646 plate appearances. Song has primarily played third base in Korea, but with
Manny Machado entrenched there, he'll likely see most of his time at first or second base. From a fantasy perspective, he projects as a low double-digit home run and stolen-base contributor while being the primary utility infielder for SD. Currently, he will be best suited for deep 12- and 15-team leagues.
--Marty TallmanSource: Robert Murray
December 19, 2025
The Kansas City Royals traded right-hander
Jonathan Bowlan to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for left-hander
Matt Strahm. Strahm returns to Kansas City, the organization that originally drafted him in 2012. The 34-year-old has spent the last three seasons in Philly, posting a 2.71 ERA with 257 strikeouts across 212 2/3 innings. In Kansas City, Strahm projects as a high-leverage lefty and should be most valuable in leagues that count holds as a statistic. Bowlan, 29, is coming off his first full season in the majors. Last year, the 29-year-old pitched to a 3.86 ERA and a 25.6% strikeout rate across 44 1/3 innings. At this point, it's unclear whether Bowlan will make the major league roster out of spring training. Overall, the move is widely viewed as a salary dump by the Phillies, as Strahm is set to earn $7.5 million next season while Bowlan remains pre-arbitration eligible.
--Marty TallmanSource: Robert Murray
December 18, 2025
The San Diego Padres re-signed right-hander
Michael King on a three-year, $75 million deal on Thursday night, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The deal includes a $12 million signing bonus, and then salaries of $5 million next year, a $28 million player option in 2027 ($5 million buyout), and a $30 million player option in 2028 (no buyout). It will either be worth $22 million for one year, $45 million for two seasons, or $75 million for three years. The 26-year-old was excellent in his first year in SD, sporting a 2.95 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a career-high 201 strikeouts in 30 regular-season starts (173 2/3 frames). However, right-shoulder and knee injuries limited him to just 15 starts in 2025. King demonstrated in 2024 that he has the stuff to be a high-end fantasy starter in a good spot in SD, but that was also his only full season in the big leagues. It makes him a high-risk, high-reward pitching target in fantasy in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
December 18, 2025
Free-agent left-hander
John Means (Achilles) announced on his Instagram account on Thursday that he suffered a ruptured Achilles earlier this week, according to Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. Means also said that he was close to signing with a team before suffering the devastating injury that will almost certainly knock him out for the entire 2026 season. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw had his second Tommy John surgery in June of 2024 and didn't pitch at all in the big leagues in 2025. He was set to be fully recovered by Opening Day before his unfortunate Achilles injury. Means has had terrible injury luck recently and has made only 10 starts since the start of 2022. In 26 2/3 innings during his rehab in the minors with Cleveland this year, Means had a rough 6.41 ERA. Means will now be fighting an uphill battle for a big-league roster spot when he's able to return in 2027.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
December 18, 2025
Free-agent first baseman Tyler Austin has agreed to a one-year major-league deal with the Chicago Cubs, sources tell Jeff Passan of ESPN. The contract is worth $1.25 million, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Austin, 34, is a former New York Yankees prospect who has spent the last five seasons in Japan. In 2024, Austin won the NPB batting title when he hit .316 while collecting 25 home runs in 106 games for the Yokohama Bay Stars. Austin's biggest flaws are his high strikeout rate and ongoing injury concerns. He has appeared in more than 100 games just once over the past five seasons. With the Cubs, he currently projects as the backup first baseman behind
Michael Busch, making him safe to leave off your fantasy radar for now.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Passan
December 18, 2025
San Francisco Giants right-handed pitcher
Logan Webb announced on Thursday that he will join Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in 2026. Webb enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign, posting a 3.22 ERA (3.58 xERA) with a career-high 20.8 K-BB% and a 1.24 WHIP across 207 innings. The 29-year-old veteran struck out 26.2% of all hitters he faced while maintaining a 53.2% ground-ball rate. Webb joins
Tarik Skubal,
Paul Skenes,
Joe Ryan,
Nolan McLean,
Clay Holmes, and
Matthew Boyd in the United States' potential starting rotation.
--Marty TallmanSource: MLB X Account
December 18, 2025
Detroit Tigers left-handed pitcher
Tarik Skubal announced on X Thursday afternoon that he will join Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in 2026. Skubal is coming off another Cy Young season, and now he will demonstrate his dominance on the world stage. Last year, the 29-year-old pitched to a 2.21 ERA (2.72 xERA) with a 32.2 K-BB% and a 0.89 WHIP across a career-high 195 1/3 innings. Skubal joins National League Cy Young winner
Paul Skenes to create the best 1-2 punch the world has ever seen. Team USA's first game is on March 6 at 8 p.m. EST against Brazil.
--Marty TallmanSource: Tarik Skubal
December 18, 2025
The Atlanta Braves made a five-year proposal to reliever
Edwin Diaz before he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency, according to Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Castillo went on to say that none of the financial information was leaked, but the Braves were serious about landing the star closer. Ultimately, Diaz signed with the Dodgers, while the Braves signed
Robert Suarez and brought back
Raisel Iglesias. Most notably, Iglesias will start as the primary closer in Atlanta, but if he falters, Suarez will be right there to take his job.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jorge Castillo
December 18, 2025
The Cleveland Guardians and right-handed reliever
Shawn Armstrong have agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with a mutual option. Armstrong was one of the best relievers last season with the Texas Rangers. The 35-year-old righty pitched to a 2.31 ERA (2.96 xERA), 26.1% strikeout rate, and 0.81 WHIP while collecting 12 holds across 74 innings. For 2026, Armstrong is expected to be used in high-leverage situations and could take over the closing role if there is an injury to
Cade Smith. For now, Armstrong will be most helpful in leagues that count holds as a category.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Passan
December 18, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays and free-agent relief pitcher
Jorge Alcala have agreed to a minor-league deal, which includes an invite to big-league camp in spring training. Alcala pitched for the Twins, Red Sox, and Cardinals last year, posting a 6.22 ERA (4.54 xERA) with a 12.1 K-BB% and a 1.75 WHIP across 55 innings. If the 30-year-old Dominican right-hander does make the team, he will be nothing more than an extra bullpen arm. At this point, Alcala is not fantasy-relevant.
--Marty TallmanSource: Ari Alexander
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