December 5, 2025
There is mutual interest between the Arizona Diamondbacks and free-agent right-hander
Merrill Kelly in a reunion this offseason, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports. Meanwhile, Gambadoro writes that right-hander
Zac Gallen is likely to sign elsewhere. The D-backs shipped Kelly to the Texas Rangers at this year's trade deadline after he spent the first six-plus years of his big-league career in Arizona. Kelly wasn't as good in Texas after the move, posting a 4.23 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 46 strikeouts and 10 walks in 10 starts (55 1/3 innings). Before the trade, he was 9-6 in Arizona with a 3.22 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 121:38 K:BB in 22 starts (128 2/3 innings). The 37-year-old isn't getting any younger and lacks high-end velocity, but he makes up for it with pinpoint command and a kitchen-sink approach to attacking hitters. Home runs and durability are concerns, but a move back to the desert will make him worth a look as a back-end rotation arm for fantasy managers.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - John Gambadoro
December 5, 2025
Although free-agent left-hander
Ranger Suarez certainly isn't the most experienced starting pitcher on the open market this offseason, he is going to draw plenty of interest. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reports that the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, and Baltimore Orioles are the most serious threats to sign Suarez away from the Philadelphia Phillies. The New York Mets and Detroit Tigers are also in the mix. The Phillies aren't closing the door on a reunion, especially when considering the uncertain health situation with right-hander
Zack Wheeler, but the likely scenario is that Suarez moves on. The 30-year-old southpaw topped the 150-inning mark in 2025 (career-high 157 1/3 frames) for only the third time in his career. Where he's especially attractive to interested teams is his postseason resume -- 4-1 with a 1.48 ERA in 11 appearances (eight starts). Despite not lighting up the radar gun, Suarez has been effective, posting a 3.25 ERA since the start of 2021.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
December 5, 2025
The Atlanta Braves agreed to a minor-league deal with free-agent outfielder
Ben Gamel on Friday, sources told Aram Leighton. Gamel, 33, battled more injuries in 2025 and only played in 49 games with the Triple-A affiliates for the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers. He owns a .716 OPS in parts of nine major-league seasons with eight different teams. In 723 career games played, Gamel has a .252/.334/.382 slash line with 41 home runs, 204 RBI, 283 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases. In his 49 minor-league games this past year, Gamel had a strong .914 OPS with eight home runs. He is going to need to stay healthy in 2026 to have a shot at winning a reserve outfield role in Atlanta. Gamel will most likely begin next season at Triple-A Gwinnett.
--Keith HernandezSource: Aram Leighton
December 5, 2025
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Friday that they signed free-agent infielder
Jacob Amaya to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to major-league spring training. Amaya has a decent glove on the infield, but he can't be counted on for much as a hitter after a rough season with the Chicago White Sox in 2025. The 27-year-old played in only 36 games for the Pale Hose and went 7-for-66 (.106) with no homers, eight RBI, three walks, and 16 strikeouts in 73 plate appearances. He was originally an 11th-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 out of a high school in Southern California. Amaya's three years in the majors have produced a rough .147/.183/.161 slash line as a hitter with zero home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored, seven walks, and 45 strikeouts in 64 games. Amaya will be competing for a utility infield job in Arizona in spring training.
--Keith HernandezSource: Reno Aces
December 5, 2025
The Detroit Tigers are one of the teams that are interested in signing free-agent right-hander
Brad Keller and turning him back into a starting pitcher, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Keller was solid in a full-time relief role in 2025 with the Chicago Cubs, posting a career-low 2.07 ERA (2.93 FIP), 0.96 WHIP, a career-high three saves, 75 strikeouts and 22 walks in 69 2/3 innings over 68 appearances (one start) during the regular season. The 30-year-old veteran has 117 starts in eight major-league seasons, though, and some teams like the Tigers might be interested in returning him to a starting role in 2026.
Will Vest is currently locked into the closing role for Detroit, although he could share duties in the ninth inning if the club decides to bring
Kyle Finnegan back. Keller hasn't been a full-time starter since his final season with the Royals in 2023. He had a career-best 27.2% strikeout rate in 2025 with the Cubs after having never posted a strikeout rate above 19.6 as a starter.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
December 5, 2025
The Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, and Detroit Tigers are among the teams in on free-agent right-hander
Zac Gallen this offseason, sources told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, and Atlanta Braves are also looking at the 30-year-old. Although Gallen's stock is down, he could quickly become a strong alternative for starting-pitching-needy teams if the price tag on starters such as
Ranger Suarez, Tatsuya Imai, and
Framber Valdez feels too high. Gallen had a career-high 4.83 ERA and a career-low 89 ERA+ in 192 innings in 2025, with his StatCast numbers in the lower half of the league in most categories. But Gallen went 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA in his last 11 starts after Aug 1, and he was a top-five finisher in National League Cy Young voting in 2022 and 2023. His recent track record alone may convince some teams that his poor 2025 season was more of a blip on the radar.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
December 5, 2025
The Minnesota Twins do not expect to move center fielder
Byron Buxton or right-handers
Joe Ryan or
Pablo Lopez this offseason, league sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rosenthal adds that the Twins' goal is to keep those three players, build around them, and compete in 2026. Minnesota tore down its roster in July and faces an uncertain future as they look to pay down $425 million in debt. Finances will likely continue to be an issue for the Twins, but they don't want to alienate their fan base by trading players l
Ike Buxton and Ryan. The 32-year-old Buxton has three years and $45 million left on his contract with a full no-trade clause that extends through next year. Ryan, 29, is projected to earn $5.8 million in the next-to-last year of arbitration. Lopez, 29, has two years and $43 million left on his contract. After trading away most of their bullpen in the summer, the Twins could desperately use some additions to their relief corps.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
December 5, 2025
Free-agent right-hander
Drew Anderson agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers on Friday that includes a club option, pending a physical, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Anderson spent the last four years pitching in Japan and Korea. The 31-year-old will come back to the United States after posting a solid 2.25 ERA in 30 starts in Korea this past season. Anderson previously signed a minor-league deal with Detroit in 2024 before departing for Japan in the middle of the year. He was a former 21st-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2012 out of a high school in Nevada. In five MLB seasons with the Phillies, White Sox, and Rangers, Anderson held a 6.50 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with 30 K's and 17 walks in 44 1/3 innings over 19 outings (two starts). Anderson is expected to compete for a starting role with the Tigers in spring training.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
December 5, 2025
The Atlanta Braves announced on Friday that they claimed right-hander
Osvaldo Bido off waivers from the Athletics. The Braves also added right-hander
Anthony Molina off waivers from the Colorado Rockies. Atlanta designated left-hander
Josh Walker for assignment to make room on their 40-man roster for the two new acquisitions. Bido will head to Atlanta to give the Braves a swing arm for the upcoming season. The 30-year-old Dominican hurler will be in his fourth year in the big leagues in 2026. Bido had a career-best 3.41 ERA (3.36 FIP) and 1.09 WHIP with 63 strikeouts and 26 walks in 63 1/3 innings over 16 outings (nine starts) for the A's in 2024. However, he regressed to a career-worst 5.87 ERA and 1.61 WHIP with a 68:35 K:BB in 26 appearances (10 starts) covering a career-high 79 2/3 innings in 2025. If Bido makes the Opening Day roster, he'll likely be ticketed for a long-relief role.
--Keith HernandezSource: Atlanta Braves
December 5, 2025
The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed infielder/outfielder
Marco Luciano off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Friday, according to Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Luciano was one of the Giants' top overall prospects just a few years ago, but he has not panned out. The 24-year-old Dominican made his major-league debut in 2023 but played in only 14 games. Luciano also surfaced with the Giants for 27 games in 2024. Overall, he hit a disappointing .217/.286/.304 with a .590 OPS, no home runs, three RBI, 14 runs scored, 11 walks, and 45 strikeouts in 126 plate appearances. He also struggled at Triple-A Sacramento in 2025, hitting .214 (99-for-462), although he did hit 23 home runs while driving in 66 in 125 games. The post-hype sleeper will hope the change of scenery flips a switch. Luciano came up as a shortstop, but he dabbled in the outfield this past season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Kevin Gorman
December 5, 2025
The New York Mets claimed right-hander
Cooper Criswell off waivers from the Boston Red Sox on Friday, a source told Jorge Castillo of ESPN. The Red Sox had designated Criswell for assignment following their trade on Thursday night that landed them right-hander
Johan Oviedo. Criswell has pitched in both a starting and relief role in Beantown each of the last two seasons, going 7-5 with a 4.00 ERA (4.31 FIP), 1.38 WHIP, one save, 82 strikeouts, and 36 walks in 117 innings pitched over 33 appearances (19 starts). The 29-year-old still has several more years of club control. He only made seven big-league appearances (one start) in Boston in 2025 and held a 3.57 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, and 9:5 K:BB ratio. Criswell will give New York some rotation insurance, but he won't really be on the fantasy radar, even in deeper leagues. He holds a career 4.48 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 16.7% strikeout rate in five MLB seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
December 4, 2025
The Boston Red Sox are acquiring right-hander
Johan Oviedo, left-hander
Tyler Samaniego, and catcher Adonys Guzman from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night in exchange for outfield prospect
Jhostynxon Garcia, sources tell Jeff Passan of ESPN. Boston is serious about adding starting pitching this offseason, having already traded for veteran right-hander
Sonny Gray, and now they'll bring the 27-year-old Oviedo in for rotation depth. The Cuban hurler missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. He missed most of 2025 while recovering but managed to make nine starts for the Bucs, going 2-1 with a 3.57 ERA (4.92 FIP), 1.21 WHIP, and 42:23 K:BB ratio in 40 1/3 frames. Oviedo has limited fantasy upside given his career 20.2% strikeout rate and bloated 11% walk rate. He should be in play as a backend rotation option for the BoSox in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 4, 2025
The Pittsburgh Pirates are acquiring outfield prospect
Jhostynxon Garcia from the Boston Red Sox on Thursday in exchange for right-hander
Johan Oviedo, left-hander
Tyler Samaniego, and catcher Adonys Guzman, sources tell ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Pirates will receive another player in addition to Garcia, who should have a shot in spring training to win the starting left field job in Pittsburgh in 2026. The 22-year-old Venezuelan nicknamed The Password made his big-league debut in Boston this year and had a double in nine plate appearances with two walks and five strikeouts in just five games played. Garcia hit .267/.340/.470 with an .810 OPS, 21 home runs, 75 RBI, 79 runs scored, and seven steals in 114 games with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester in the minors before his call-up. The 6-foot, 163-pounder is listed as Pittsburgh's No. 6 prospect on MLB Pipeline and is known for producing high exit velocities and has the raw power to produce 25 to 30 homers a year as a full-time player for the Bucs.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
December 4, 2025
The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports that free-agent outfielder
Cody Bellinger remains the New York Yankees' No. 1 target this offseason. The two sides are not close to a deal yet for him to return to the Bronx, but the Yankees are making a big effort to try and re-sign him. If the Yanks can't lure the left-handed slugger back, the Mets, Phillies, Dodgers, and Angels are teams that could make a run at the 30-year-old former National League MVP. He became a free agent after declining his $25 million player option for next season. In his first and possibly only year with the Yanks, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 with an .813 OPS, 29 home runs, 98 RBI, 89 runs, and 13 stolen bases in 152 regular-season games. Bellinger hit much better at Yankee Stadium, which might play heavily into his decision on whether to re-sign. If he signs elsewhere, his less-than-stellar batted-ball metrics could catch up to him in 2026 and beyond, even though he struck out only 13.7% of the time in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
December 4, 2025
The Chicago Cubs have shown renewed interest in All-Star free-agent third baseman
Alex Bregman this offseason after a failed bid to sign him last spring training, according to Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic. Pitching is the Cubs' primary focus this winter, but they are also looking to add a bat, with All-Star outfielder
Kyle Tucker fully expected to depart in free agency. Chicago's ownership group authorized president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to make Bregman a four-year, $115 million offer last year that included opt-out clauses after the second and third seasons. The 31-year-old veteran ultimately signed with Boston for three years and $120 million and opted out after 2025 following a 3.5 WAR season. Bregman, who still plays Gold Glove defense, is the type of two-way player the Cubs have repeatedly targeted. Bregman rebounded in 2025 after a career-worst .768 OPS in 2024, but he hit just 18 homers, and durability is a concern as he enters his age-32 season. Despite the obvious concerns for a player his age, Bregman still has some upside if he's playing in Chicago or Boston in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma
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