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
December 13, 2025
Free-agent infielder
Jorge Polanco has agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Mets. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Polanco is expected to see time at first base and designated hitter in Queens. After losing
Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz to free agency and trading fan favorite
Brandon Nimmo, the Mets have finally made a notable move to stabilize the roster. Polanco, 32, is coming off a strong season with the Seattle Mariners in which he slashed .265/.326/.495 with 26 home runs, 78 RBI, 64 runs scored, six stolen bases, and a 132 wRC+ across 524 plate appearances. From a fantasy perspective, Polanco's multi-position eligibility enhances his value beyond his offensive production. With an ADP around 242, he profiles as a solid middle- or corner-infield option with some upside.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Passan
December 13, 2025
Free-agent reliever
Alexis Diaz has agreed to a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers. Díaz endured a turbulent 2025 season, beginning the year on the injured list with a hamstring issue and quickly losing his closing role with the Cincinnati Reds after surrendering three home runs in a single outing during his mid-April debut. The 29-year-old was subsequently demoted to Triple-A and later traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he lasted only a few weeks before being designated for assignment. He was then claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves and finished the season with a career-worst 8.15 ERA and a 14.1% walk rate, while striking out just 20% of batters faced. With the Rangers, Díaz projects as another bullpen arm, and at this point, he holds no fantasy relevance.
--Marty TallmanSource: Jeff Passan
December 13, 2025
Free-agent catcher
Danny Jansen has agreed to a two-year, $14.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers. In 2025, Jansen slashed .215/.321/.399 with 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and 38 runs scored, good for a 103 wRC+ across 337 plate appearances. The 30-year-old also posted a career-high 25.5% strikeout rate, offset by a solid 12.5% walk rate. Jansen is expected to serve as the Rangers' primary catcher, though he will split time with
Kyle Higashioka. From a fantasy standpoint, Jansen profiles best as a second catcher in two-catcher formats and is unlikely to be a viable option in standard 10- or 12-team leagues.
--Marty TallmanSource: Robert Murray
December 13, 2025
Right-hander
Tyler Glasnow has "come up in conversations" between the Los Angeles Dodgers and other teams, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Gonzalez added that any potential trade remains a "long shot," though the Dodgers would not be opposed to moving Glasnow. The 6-foot-8 righty is owed $30 million in both 2026 and 2027, with Los Angeles holding a club option for 2028. Since joining the Dodgers two seasons ago, Glasnow has posted a 3.37 ERA with 274 strikeouts and a 1.01 WHIP over 224 innings. When healthy, the 10-year veteran is among the elite pitchers in baseball, but durability remains the biggest concern, as he has never surpassed 134 innings in a single season. From a fantasy perspective, Glasnow's ADP sits just outside the top 100, making him a calculated gamble with massive upside if he can finally stay on the mound.
--Marty TallmanSource: Alden Gonzalez
December 12, 2025
Mass Live's Chris Cotillo writes that the Boston Red Sox could be pursuing a trade for St. Louis Cardinals first baseman
Willson Contreras, according to a source. The Red Sox continue to look for upgrades to their offense after missing out on sluggers
Kyle Schwarber and
Pete Alonso this week. Boston is one of many teams interested in Cardinals second baseman
Brendan Donovan, too, but St. Louis might not move him. Contreras, a three-time All-Star, is believed to be available with two years and $41 million (plus a 2028 option) left on his deal. He has full no-trade protection, but the 33-year-old veteran might be open to waiving it for the right situation. Acquiring Contreras would give the BoSox a steady right-handed bat while also providing insurance at first base with
Triston Casas coming back from knee surgery. Contreras had career-highs in RBI (80), doubles (31), and runs (70) after moving to first base full time in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Mass Live - Chris Cotillo
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