November 7, 2025
The Cleveland Guardians declined their 2026 option on left-hander
John Means (elbow) on Thursday, officially making him a free agent this offseason, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Means was an All-Star with the Baltimore Orioles in 2019, posting a 3.60 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 121:38 K:BB in 155 innings over his 31 outings (27 starts) in his first full season in the big leagues. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw has struggled to return to that form, though, and injuries have been the biggest issue. He was recovering from Tommy John surgery and did not pitch at all in the big leagues in 2025. However, Means did make seven minor-league rehab appearances late in the season, so barring a setback, he should be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. It remains to be seen where he'll land in free agency, though, and fantasy managers will want to see him stay healthy before considering him off the waiver wire.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
November 7, 2025
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter
Shohei Ohtani headlines the list of the National League Silver Slugger award winners for the 2025 season, according to David Adler of MLB.com. The other players in the NL to win the award on Thursday were New York Mets first baseman
Pete Alonso (first selection), Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman
Ketel Marte (second), San Diego Padres third baseman
Manny Machado (third), Diamondbacks shortstop
Geraldo Perdomo (first), Mets outfielder
Juan Soto (sixth), Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll (first), Chicago Cubs outfielder
Kyle Tucker (second), Colorado Rockies catcher
Hunter Goodman (first), and St. Louis Cardinals utility player
Alec Burleson (first). The Dodgers were named the best slugging team in the NL after pacing the league in runs (825), homers (244), walks (580), OPS (.768), and total bases (2,415).
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - David Adler
November 7, 2025
Japanese star third baseman Munetaka Murakami will officially be posted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball for major-league teams on Friday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. It will officially start the process of one of the most anticipated free agencies of the winter, and Murakami's 45-day negotiating window to come to a deal with an MLB team will start on Saturday. He will have until 5 pm ET on Dec. 22 to agree to a deal with a big-league team. Murakami was a two-time Central League Most Valuable Player and a four-time All-Star, playing the bulk of his games at third base. However, some people think he'll be better suited across the diamond at first base in the U.S. In his 892 games in Japan, the 6-foot-2, 213-pounder hit 246 home runs, including 56 in 2022, which broke the record for most homers in a single season by a Japanese-born player. "He has legit power" that "should translate to the majors," according to a scout.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
November 6, 2025
Catcher
Austin Wynns (abdomen) and the Athletics are in agreement on Thursday on a one-year, $1.1 million deal that includes performance incentives, sources told Robert Murray of FanSided. Wynns suffered an abdominal injury in the second half of the season and landed on the injured list in August. He ended up playing in 40 big-league games in 2025 with the A's and Cincinnati Reds, slashing a solid .291/.321/.544 with a career-high six home runs, 21 RBI, and 13 runs scored in 110 plate appearances. The 34-year-old veteran will return to the Bay Area in 2026 as insurance behind starter
Shea Langeliers. In his seven seasons in the big leagues, Wynns has done very little at the plate, hitting .239 (173-for-724) with 19 home runs and 84 RBI in 278 games played with six different teams. Wynns won't be on the fantasy radar anywhere.
--Keith HernandezSource: FanSided - Robert Murray
November 6, 2025
ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that Chicago Cubs outfielder
Kyle Tucker headlines a list of 13 MLB players who were tendered $22.025 million qualifying offers on Thursday, according to sources. In addition to Tucker, the other 12 players to receive qualifying offers were Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber, Toronto Blue Jays shortstop
Bo Bichette, Houston Astros left-hander
Framber Valdez, San Diego Padres right-hander
Dylan Cease, Phillies left-hander
Ranger Suarez, New York Mets closer
Edwin Diaz, Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander
Zac Gallen, Cubs left-hander
Shota Imanaga, Padres right-hander
Michael King, New York Yankees outfielder
Trent Grisham, Detroit Tigers second baseman
Gleyber Torres, and Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Brandon Woodruff. The deadline to accept the offers is on Nov. 18. If these players don't accept the offer and sign with other teams, their previous club will receive draft-pick compensation.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
November 6, 2025
Right-handed closer
Pete Fairbanks is officially on the free-agent market after the Tampa Bay Rays declined his $11 million option for the 2026 season on Thursday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Fairbanks will receive a $1 million buyout and will now be free to sign with any MLB team this winter. The 31-year-old veteran will have his fair share of suitors after a strong 2025 campaign in his sixth full season with the Rays. Fairbanks had a 2.83 ERA (3.63 FIP), 1.04 WHIP, a career-high 27 saves, 59 strikeouts, and 18 walks in 60 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. His fantasy value for the upcoming season will depend entirely on where he lands in free agency, but at the very least, Fairbanks should be attractive in fantasy as a high-leverage arm at the back end of a bullpen. He has become a high-end closer in recent seasons, saving 75 games in his 156 relief outings.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
November 6, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers designated right-hander
Tony Gonsolin (elbow) for assignment on Thursday, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Gonsolin only made seven starts for the Dodgers in 2025 before being shut down and undergoing an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow. The 31-year-old veteran hurler will not be ready for the start of the 2026 season, but barring a setback in his recovery, there's a chance he'll be ready to make his season debut before the All-Star break in mid-July. Gonsolin also had Tommy John surgery back in 2023, so he may never return to his All-Star form in 2022, when he won 16 games, posted an ERA of .214, and struck out a career-high 119 hitters in 130 1/3 innings. He had an ERA just under 5.00 in 2023, missed all of 2024, and had a 5.00 ERA in his seven starts this year. You can see why Gonsolin was DFA'd by the world champions.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
November 6, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly won't be returning to the team next year after the Jays fell one win shy of winning the World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he doesn't plan to retire just yet. The 64-year-old former manager joined Toronto back in November of 2022 under first-time manager John Schneider. The 2025 season ended in heartbreak yet again for the former New York Yankees great. Mattingly didn't make the playoffs as a player until his final season in 1995. He was also a part of the Yankees' coaching staff the year that they blew a 3-0 lead to the division-rival Boston Red Sox in the 2004 American League Championship Series. As a manager with the Dodgers from 2011-15, Mattingly couldn't get the club past the NLCS hump before being replaced by Dave Roberts. Before joining Toronto, Mattingly was the manager of the Miami Marlins from 2016-22.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Thomas Harrigan and Elizabeth Muratore
November 6, 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays extended a $22.025 million qualifying offer to star shortstop
Bo Bichette on Thursday, according to the team. Bichette can either accept the offer and return to Toronto for the 2026 season or decline it and officially become a free agent. If Bichette declines and signs with another team this offseason, the Blue Jays would receive draft-pick compensation. The 27-year-old two-time All-Star had a bounce-back season for the Jays in 2025 and came just short of helping the team win their first World Series championship in over 30 years. He hit .311/.357/.483 with an .840 OPS, 18 home runs, 94 RBI, 78 runs, and four steals in 139 regular-season games. A knee sprain in early September knocked him out until the World Series, where he went 8-for-23 with a homer and six RBI in seven games. The expectation is that Bichette will turn down the qualifying offer and hit the open market.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - David Adler
November 6, 2025
The San Diego Padres hired former right-handed relief pitcher
Craig Stammen to a three-year deal on Thursday to be their new manager, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Stammen, who just retired from professional baseball three years ago, will take over for Mike Shildt. The Padres chose Stammen, who has no managerial experience, over Texas Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley, current pitching coach Ruben Niebla, and future Hall of Famer
Albert Pujols. Stammen was mostly used as a reliever in his 13 big-league seasons, six of which came with the Padres from 2017-22. After retiring, he joined San Diego's front office, serving as a special assistant to the major-league staff and baseball operations. The Padres are still looking for their first World Series championship, although they have been to the postseason in three of the last four years.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
November 6, 2025
Free-agent right-hander
Kenta Maeda announced on Wednesday that he will return to his native country of Japan in 2026 to continue his career. Maeda made his debut in the big leagues in 2016 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitched for the Blue until 2019 before short stints with the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers. The 37-year-old veteran spent the last two seasons with Detroit and was demoted to a bullpen role in 2024. He only made seven appearances out of the bullpen for the Tigers this past season, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits (one homer) while walking six and striking out eight in eight innings pitched. Maeda also pitched at the Triple-A level in 2025 in the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees organizations and wasn't very sharp, posting a combined 5.40 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 100 innings. There's a good chance we won't see Maeda in MLB again.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB
November 6, 2025
Free-agent outfielder
Leody Taveras is signing with the Baltimore Orioles on a one-year, $2 million deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Taveras will be hoping to bounce back in 2026 in the American League East after hitting rock bottom this past season with the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners. In just 58 combined games with two teams, he hit .205/.226/.304 with a .530 OPS, three home runs, 17 RBI, 13 runs scored, nine stolen bases, and a 50:5 K:BB in 180 plate appearances. The 27-year-old Dominican brings versatility at all three outfield spots, but he'll strictly be outfield depth in Baltimore and will merely be battling to make the major-league roster out of spring training. Taveras has a lot to prove after once being a top prospect in the Rangers' system. Since debuting in the big leagues in 2020, he's hit .236 (418-for-1,769) with 41 homers, 177 RBI, and 75 steals in 533 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
November 5, 2025
The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Wednesday that they exercised the $9.5 million club option on left-handed reliever
Jose Alvarado (forearm) for the 2026 season. Alvarado will be back with the Phillies next season despite ending the season on the 15-day injured list with a left-forearm strain. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw had a 2025 campaign to forget after being suspended for the first 80 games due to a performance-enhancing drug violation. The Venezuelan reliever appeared in 28 games out of the bullpen and managed to save seven games while producing a 3.81 ERA (3.60 FIP) and 1.31 WHIP with 32 strikeouts and only seven walks in 26 innings pitched. Barring a setback, Alvarado should be ready for the start of spring training in February and should be an important piece at the back end of Philadelphia's bullpen.
--Keith HernandezSource: Philadelphia Phillies
November 5, 2025
The Cincinnati Reds announced on Wednesday that they declined the $12 million mutual option on outfielder
Austin Hays for the 2026 season, making him a free agent. The team also declined the 2026 club options on right-hander
Scott Barlow and left-hander
Brent Suter. Hays will be given a $1 million buyout and will be free to sign with any MLB team this offseason. The 30-year-old veteran was on the injured list multiple times with various injuries in his first and only season in Cincinnati, but when he was active, he played well, slashing .266/.315/.453 with a .768 OPS, 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 60 runs scored, and a career-high seven stolen bases in 416 plate appearances over 103 games played. Hays will garner attention in free agency as a platoon outfielder who is best used against left-handed pitching. He hit .319 against southpaws in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: Cincinnati Reds
November 5, 2025
Seattle Mariners second baseman
Jorge Polanco declined his $6 million vesting player option for the 2026 season on Wednesday, a source told Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Polanco is now officially a free agent, although there will be interest from the Mariners to try and re-sign him. The 32-year-old Dominican switch-hitter played in 138 games in 2025 for the M's, just the fourth time in his 12 MLB seasons he's played over 130 games, and hit .265/.326/.495 with an .821 OPS, 26 home runs, 78 RBI, 64 runs scored, and six stolen bases in his second year in Seattle. The oft-injured middle infielder will now try to parlay his strong season into a multi-year deal on the open market. The Mariners are expected to make a strong push to retain Polanco's services after they came just one game shy of advancing to their first-ever World Series appearance.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
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