January 14, 2026
The Boston Red Sox are getting aggressive in pursuing top-level starting pitching on the trade market this offseason, sources told Rob Bradford of WEEI. The Red Sox are ready to make a move after losing third baseman
Alex Bregman in free agency to the Chicago Cubs. Bradford suggests they'd be willing to trade for a No. 1 or 2 starter. Boston has already been linked to Milwaukee Brewers righty
Freddy Peralta, Minnesota Twins right-hander
Joe Ryan, and Kansas City Royals left-hander
Cole Ragans since the beginning of the offseason. In addition to the trade market, the BoSox could go after free-agent left-handers
Framber Valdez or
Ranger Suarez. St. Louis already acquired righty
Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals, but they want to add another top-of-the-rotation arm to pair with lefty ace
Garrett Crochet.
--Keith HernandezSource: WEEI - Rob Bradford
January 14, 2026
The San Diego Padres were the team besides the Arizona Diamondbacks that "mounted the heaviest pursuit" of
Nolan Arenado, people briefed on the talks told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Padres already have
Manny Machado entrenched at third base, so the Padres intended for Arenado to play first base. However, the Padres were unwilling to take on as much of Arenado's salary as the D-backs were. Arizona owes Arenado $1 million less than the White Sox gave left-hander
Anthony Kay in the final two years of Arenado's contract. The Padres have payroll concerns, so they might have been trying to land Arenado for something close to the minimum salary. The 34-year-old has been on a three-year offensive decline. He had an xwOBA under .300 for the second straight year, and his exit velocity was in the bottom-10th percentile. Arenado is still strong defensively and makes a lot of contact, but moving to first base will make him even less attractive in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
January 14, 2026
The Philadelphia Phillies met with free-agent infielder
Bo Bichette on Monday, and Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports that both sides "emerged with optimism" from the meeting. Across 628 plate appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025, Bichette slashed .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs, 94 RBI, 78 runs scored, and four stolen bases. He'll turn just 28 years old in March, making him one of the younger big-name free agents on the open market. Bichette has spent the majority of his career playing shortstop, but he's graded out as a poor defender and has expressed an openness to moving off the position with his next team. Philadelphia already has
Trea Turner at short, so Bichette would likely take over for either
Bryson Stott at second base or
Alec Bohm at third base with the Phillies. Multiple other teams, including the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, have been linked to Bichette at different points throughout the offseason. However, Gelb highlights Philadelphia's historical willingness to sign longer-term free agent deals as one reason why the organization may emerge as the winner of the Bichette sweepstakes.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Matt Gelb
January 14, 2026
Free-agent first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt "continues to loom as a potential fit" with the Arizona Diamondbacks, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Goldschmidt spent the 2025 season with the New York Yankees, posting a .274/.328/.403 slash line with 10 home runs, 45 RBI, 76 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 534 plate appearances. Entering his age-38 season, Goldschmidt's days as an everyday player are likely behind him. However, he mashed left-handed pitching to a .336/.411/.570 line in 2025, which could make him an ideal platoon partner for Diamondbacks left-handed hitting first baseman
Pavin Smith. Goldschmidt also spent the first eight years of his career in Arizona before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, so a homecoming could be a nice story for both player and team.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
January 14, 2026
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that some members of the Boston Red Sox organization are "high on free-agent left-hander
Ranger Suarez," and speculates that signing Suarez could be one way for Boston to pivot after losing third baseman
Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs in free agency. Across 157 1/3 innings (26 starts) for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025, Suarez posted a 12-8 record with a 3.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 151 strikeouts. He lowered his walk rate to a career-best 5.8% in 2025 and now hits free agency going into his age-30 season. In Boston, Suarez would likely slot in alongside veteran right-hander
Sonny Gray as one of the top starting pitching options behind ace of the staff
Garrett Crochet. However, Rosenthal also reports that Suarez's market "remains unclear," so it does not appear that a signing is imminent.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
January 14, 2026
Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports that the Boston Red Sox met with starting pitcher
Framber Valdez in person at the MLB general managers' meetings in November, and speculates that the team could circle back to Valdez after losing third baseman
Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs in free agency. Valdez, who is entering his age-32 season, posted a 13-11 record with a 3.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 187 strikeouts across 192 innings for the Houston Astros in 2025. The veteran left-hander has made at least 28 starts in four consecutive seasons, posting a 3.21 ERA across 767 2/3 innings pitched in that span. Healey notes that the Red Sox acquired starting pitcher
Sonny Gray after meeting with Valdez, so it's possible the team feels it has filled its rotation needs. However, Boston could choose to upgrade its pitching staff with the money it has left over after missing on Bregman.
--Will BradySource: The Boston Globe - Tim Healey
January 14, 2026
Miami Marlins pitching prospect
Robby Snelling appears poised to compete for a starting job in the rotation during spring training. Over the past week, the Marlins have sent two of their starting pitchers,
Edward Cabrera and
Ryan Weathers, to competing teams in exchange for top prospects. As a result, Snelling faces even less competition to crack the rotation next month. Last summer, the southpaw was one of the most dominant pitchers at the Triple-A level. While he had a modest start to the season at Double-A, where he posted a 3.61 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP across 72 1/3 innings, he reached a new level with Jacksonville. Through 63 2/3 innings at the top level of the minor leagues, Snelling posted an elite 1.27 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, with an 81:17 K:BB. Snelling is a name to closely monitor in spring training, as he would carry high-end sleeper appeal given the strikeout upside he flashed against the top hitters in the minor leagues if he begins the season in the majors.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 14, 2026
Former first-round pick Caden Bodine was included in the package to Tampa Bay that sent right-handed pitcher
Shane Baz to the Baltimore Orioles earlier this offseason. The Orioles selected the young backstop with the 30th overall pick in last year's MLB Draft and will now join his second professional club. Following his selection out of Coastal Carolina, the backstop was set to Low-A Delmarva, where he appeared in his first 11 professional contests. In this brief stint, Bodine held a .326/.408/.349 line with a .757 OPS. The 22-year-old hit one double and had an 8:5 K:BB. The catcher is considered Tampa Bay's No. 13 overall prospect. Entering the draft, Bodine was credited with having some of the best contact skills in the class. Dynasty managers should expect the switch-hitting catcher to spend most of 2026 in the lower levels of the Tampa Bay system.
--Andy SmithSource: Jeff Passan
January 14, 2026
Right-handed pitching prospect Michael Forret was the top piece the Rays acquired in exchange for right-handed pitcher
Shane Baz, who was shipped to the Orioles earlier in the offseason. Forret is now considered the No. 7-ranked prospect in the Tampa Bay system on MLB.com. Last summer, Forret enjoyed an impressive campaign with High-A and Double-A, logging 74 total innings to the tune of a 1.58 ERA and a .082 WHIP. With High-A, the right-hander held an elite 1.51 ERA with a 76:17 K:BB. Through his first 14 1/3 innings at Double-A, the former 14th-round selection posted a similar 1.88 ERA and 0.91 WHIP, with a 15:4 K:BB. Given his impressive control and high strikeout upside, Forret is worth closely monitoring in dynasty leagues. Given his dominant performance last summer, the budding 21-year-old could reach Triple-A much sooner than expected.
--Andy SmithSource: Jeff Passan
January 14, 2026
New York Yankees infield prospect
Dylan Jasso was included in the package that sent left-handed starting pitcher
Ryan Weathers to the New York Yankees on Tuesday evening. Additionally, Jasso was sent to the Malrins alongside fellow prospects
Dillon Lewis,
Brendan Jones, and
Juan Matheus. Jasso, the No. 23-ranked prospect in the Yankee system ahead of the trade, spent his entire 2025 campaign with Double-A. During his first look with Double-A Somerset, Jasso held his own, posting a .257/.326/.400 line with a .726 OPS. Across 127 games, Jasso hit 13 round-trippers, added 17 doubles, but held a rough 130:42 K:BB. In 2024, Jasso posted a .728 OPS split between Low-A and High-A. Managers should expect Jasso to make a case to begin the 2026 campaign with Triple-A, which could open the door for a second-half MLB debut.
--Andy SmithSource: Jack Curry
January 14, 2026
The New York Yankees have traded outfield prospect
Dillon Lewis to the Miami Marlins in the package that brought
Ryan Weathers to the Bronx. Additionally, the Yankees sent fellow prospects
Brendan Jones,
Dylan Jasso, and
Juan Matheus to Miami. Lewis was viewed as the No. 16-ranked prospect in the New York pipeline ahead of Tuesday's trade. Lewis joined the Yankees in the 2024 draft in the 13th round out of Queens University of Charlotte. After a small taste of Low-A following the draft in 2024, Lewis received his first full look at professional baseball last season with Low-A and High-A. Across 122 games split between the levels, Lewis held a .237/.321/.445 line with 21 doubles, 22 home runs, and 26 stolen bases. Given that he spent 76 of these games with High-A, Lewis should be in the mix to debut at Double-A early in the 2026 campaign.
--Andy SmithSource: Jack Curry
January 14, 2026
The New York Yankees have traded outfield prospect
Brendan Jones to the Miami Marlins in return for left-handed pitcher
Ryan Weathers. With Jones, the Yankees also sent prospects
Dillon Lewis,
Dylan Jasso, and
Juan Matheus. Jones was considered the No. 15-ranked prospect in the Yankee system on MLB.com before the trade. The former 12th-round pick out of Kansas State spent the 2025 season with High-A and Double-A. He began the campaign with High-A Hudson Valley and held a .236/.349/.362 line with four home runs and 23 stolen bases. During his first look at Double-A, Jones posted a .250/.365/.415 line with seven home runs and an eye-catching 28 stolen bases. In total, Jones swiped 51 bags across 124 contests. Managers should expect Jones to begin the season at Double-A and push for his Triple-A debut in the second half.
--Andy SmithSource: Jack Curry
January 14, 2026
Free agent relief pitcher
Seranthony Dominguez is viewed as a top option for the Diamondbacks' bullpen, according to Jack Sommers of Sports Illustrated. The Diamondbacks are in the market to add to their bullpen as both of their top options,
A.J. Puk (elbow) and
Justin Martinez (elbow), are expected to miss the first half as they recover from Tommy John surgery. While
Kevin Ginkel could fill the closer role for the short term, they have begun exploring the free agent market to add some depth to their bullpen. Dominguez is viewed as one of those options. Last summer, the right-hander logged 62 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.16 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP. However, he generated an elite .198 xBA, suggesting he should see better results in 2026. Dominguez has also had experience in the closer role, totaling 11 saves in 2024 and 16 saves back in 2018. If he were to sign with the Diamondbacks, he would carry sleeper appeal as he would be in the mix to earn the primary ninth-inning job during the first half.
--Andy SmithSource: Jack Sommers
January 14, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman
Blaze Alexander could see extended time in the outfield during the upcoming season. On Tuesday, the Diamondbacks acquired third baseman
Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals. Following the trade, GM Mike Hazen noted that he envisions Arenado playing on a daily basis at third base, which will limit Alexander's opportunities at the hot corner. However, Hazen said there are still "plenty of opportunities available." Alex D'Agostino of Sports Illustrated reported that since Alexander saw limited time in the outfield last season, the team could look to increase that, as it would be his primary path to playing time. In 2025, Alexander saw six games in the outfield compared to 68 in the infield. Through 74 MLB games last summer, Alexander held a .230/.323/.383 line with 12 doubles and seven home runs. If he can see ample time in the outfield during spring training, he could be worth monitoring in deeper NL-only formats.
--Andy SmithSource: Alex D'Agostino
January 14, 2026
The Arizona Diamondbacks are expected to rely on a "bridge "closer in the first half of the season while top relievers
A.J. Puk (elbow) and
Justin Martinez (elbow) recover from their respective injuries. Jack Sommers of Sports Illustrated reported that the team is looking for a "gem," similar to how
Shelby Miller was for the Diamondbacks when injuries hit the bullpen last season. Puk underwent Tommy John surgery last June, but appears to be in serious contention to return in the second half of 2026. Martinez also underwent Tommy John surgery, but according to Sommers, appears to be in contention to contribute in the back half of the upcoming season. While the Diamondbacks could look to sign any of the top remaining relievers, managers should expect
Kevin Ginkel and
Andrew Saalfrank to potentially take on the "bridge" role in the opening months. If they were to share the save opportunities, both would have limited fantasy values and be reserved for those in deeper 15+ team formats.
--Andy SmithSource: Jack Sommers
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