The Houston Astros are interested in free-agent outfielders Michael Conforto and Andrew Benintendi as potential options to play left field, per MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. Both are left-handed hitters and would complement the host of right-handed hitters in the Astros' current lineup. Conforto did not play in 2022 due to shoulder surgery, but he compiled a .255/.356/.468 slash line in seven seasons with the New York Mets. Benintendi had a decent season with the Royals and Yankees, slashing .304/.373/.399 with five home runs, 51 RBI and eight steals. While neither offers a ton of upside from a fantasy perspective, either player's value would certainly be higher if they held an everyday role in the Astros' lineup.
The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided arbitration with starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin on Tuesday by agreeing to a two-year, $6.65 million deal. Per the agreement, Gonsolin will be paid $3.25 million in 2023 and $3.4 million in 2024, with built-in incentives around how many starts he makes in 2024. The 28-year-old had an All-Star 2022 season, going 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 23.9% strikeout rate in 24 starts and 130 1/3 innings pitched. However, Gonsolin did miss almost two months with a right forearm injury, and he dealt with right shoulder injuries in 2021. Given his career numbers and the strong offense supporting him, Gonsolin should be a solid fantasy contributor in all formats as long as he is healthy.
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed free-agent right-hander Matt Andriese to a minor-league deal on Tuesday. Andriese had a strong 2.86 ERA in 63 innings pitched for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan last year and will return to the States hoping to win an Opening Day roster spot with LA. The 33-year-old was more of a starter earlier in his career, but he last started a game in the big leagues in 2020 with the Los Angeles Angels, and it was only one start. In 2021 with the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners, Andriese had a 5.21 ERA (4.04 FIP), 1.61 WHIP, one save, 13 walks and 50 strikeouts in 48 1/3 relief innings over 34 appearances. Andriese is well off the fantasy radar entering the 2023 campaign.
The Tampa Bay Rays finalized a three-year, $24 million contract extension with infielder Yandy Diaz on Tuesday. Diaz will earn $6 million in 2023, $8 million in 2024 and $10 million in 2025. The Rays will also have a $12 million option for 2026 that doesn't include a buyout. The 31-year-old Cuban corner infielder should be a solid source of runs, average and on-base percentage near the top of Tampa's lineup again in 2023. He finished his sixth year in the majors and fourth with the Rays in 2022 by slashing .296/.401/.423 with a career-high .824 OPS, nine home runs, 57 RBI, 71 runs scored and three stolen bases in 137 games. Diaz is not flashy by any means and doesn't have a ton of power, but he's a nice complementary piece for fantasy managers as a corner infield option.
The Washington Nationals signed free-agent right-hander Wily Peralta to a minor-league deal on Tuesday that includes an invite to major-league spring training. Peralta was strong for the Detroit Tigers in 28 relief appearances last year, posting a 2.58 ERA (4.08 FIP), 1.51 WHIP, 24 walks and 32 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings pitched. He was eventually released in August and didn't latch on with another team before the end of the year. Peralta has 10 years of big-league experience, including 16 career saves in 911 1/3 innings pitched, so he can offer the Nationals depth in either the rotation (139 career starts) or the bullpen in 2023.
The Arizona Diamondbacks signed free-agent second baseman Yairo Munoz to a minor-league deal on Monday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Munoz was with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022 and played in 29 major-league games, going 12-for-57 (.211) with three home runs, seven RBI, seven runs scored and one stolen base. The 28-year-old has a career slash line of .268/.319/.396 with a .716 OPS, 14 home runs, 66 RBI, 72 runs scored and 16 stolen bases in five major-league seasons with the Phillies, Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. Munoz could certainly carve out a utility infield role with Arizona this season, but he's unlikely to make much of a fantasy impact, even in the deepest of NL-only leagues.
Free-agent relief pitcher Jandel Gustave agreed to a minor-league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to a source. Gustave had a 3.86 ERA in 27 appearances for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. The 30-year-old Dominican right-hander has five years of major-league experience with the Brewers, San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros. He has a 3.56 career ERA (4.25 FIP), 1.29 WHIP, one save and 18.8 percent strikeout rate in 91 innings over 84 relief appearances. Gustave won't be fantasy relevant in 2023, even if he makes the Diamondbacks' Opening Day bullpen.
The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent infielder Adeiny Hechavarria to a minor-league deal on Monday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. The Braves also signed right-handers Daniel Martinez, Nolan Martinez, Zach Mort and Jon Olczack, left-handers Brian Moran and Domingo Robles and outfielders Kevin Pillar, Magneuris Sierra and Forrest Wall. The 33-year-old Hechavarria spent the last two years in Japan playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines. The utility infielder from Cuba last played in the big leagues in 2020 with the Braves and hit .254/.302/.305 with a .607 OPS, no homers, two RBI and seven runs scored in just 27 games. Hechavarria will strictly serve as infield depth for Atlanta and won't be on the fantasy radar.
The Chicago White Sox claimed reliever A.J. Alexy off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on Monday. Alexy had recently been designated assignment by the Twins in order to make room for recently acquired outfielder Michael Taylor. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed nine earned runs on 10 hits while walking nine and striking out six in just seven relief innings over four appearances for the Texas Rangers last year in just his second MLB season. There's no guarantee that he'll make the White Sox's Opening Day roster out of spring training, but he'll offer them relief depth to open the year. In his two MLB campaigns with Texas, Alexy has a 6.30 ERA (6.49 FIP), 1.63 WHIP, 26 walks and 23 strikeouts in nine appearances (four starts).
The Detroit Tigers signed free-agent center fielder Jonathan Davis to a minor-league deal on Monday. The deal includes an invite to big-league spring camp. The 30-year-old has played in 171 games in parts of five major-league seasons for three teams. He hit .224 with a .344 on-base percentage in 37 games with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022. Davis also had no home runs, four RBI, nine runs scored and a career-high seven stolen bases in 91 plate appearances. He will have to show out in spring training and impress the coaching staff to have a shot at making the Opening Day roster as outfield depth. In his five MLB seasons, Davis has only four home runs, 20 RBI, 44 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 350 plate appearances.
Free-agent catcher Roberto Perez signed an undisclosed deal with the San Francisco Giants over the weekend, according to a source. Perez only played in 21 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022 and hit .233/.333/.367 with a .700 OPS, two home runs, eight RBI and eight runs scored. The 34-year-old suffered a season-ending torn right hamstring, but he should be healthy for this year. Perez could stand a decent chance of backing up Joey Bart in 2023, but he won't really be on the fantasy radar, even in deeper leagues. In his nine-year major-league career, Perez has a .207/.298/.360 slash line with a .658 OPS, 55 home runs and 192 RBI. He's never come remotely close to replicating his 2019 season with the Cleveland Guardians, when he hit .239 with a career-high 24 home runs and 63 RBI.
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