MLB News

The St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox have discussed a trade for Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan, per Will Sammon and Katie Woo of The Athletic. Across 515 plate appearances for St. Louis in 2025, Donovan slashed .287/.353/.422 with 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 64 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Donovan turns 29 in mid-January and is under club control through the 2027 season. His best attribute might be his versatility, as he's spent time at second base, third base, corner outfield, and even shortstop. In Boston, Donovan would likely see most of his playing time in the infield, depending on whether or not the Red Sox bring back free agent third baseman Alex Bregman. Donovan is a better real-life player than a fantasy asset, given his limited power and speed contributions. However, he could see a slight jump in value if he lands an everyday role in a more potent lineup, such as Boston's.

In a recent radio appearance on First Up with Korolnek & Colaiacovo, ESPN insider Buster Olney reported that the Boston Red Sox have made an "aggressive" offer to free agent third baseman Alex Bregman. Olney also predicts that Bregman will ultimately end up re-signing with the Red Sox. Across 495 plate appearances in his first season in Boston in 2025, Bregman slashed .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs, 62 RBI, and 64 runs scored. Although he owns a middling 6.1% career barrel rate, Bregman remains one of the MLB's best hitters in terms of controlling the strike zone with a career 11.8% walk rate and 13.4% strikeout rate. A reunion with Boston might be the best fit for Bregman from a fantasy perspective, as it would allow him to continue to take advantage of the Green Monster at Fenway Park. In addition to Boston, Bregman has also been linked to the Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Detroit Tigers, among others.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reports that the Toronto Blue Jays "remain the favorite" to sign free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker. Tucker, who turns 29 in mid-January, may be the most sought-after position player in this winter's free-agent market. Across 597 plate appearances in 2025 for the Chicago Cubs, Tucker slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 73 RBI, 91 runs scored, and 25 stolen bases. Tucker also dropped his strikeout rate to a career-best 14.7%, although his hard-hit rate fell to a career-worst 40.2%. In Toronto, Tucker would be an everyday corner outfielder and would likely hit in front of star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Tucker has missed 110 games due to injury over the last two seasons, so he carries some risk for both MLB teams and fantasy managers. However, his ability to be a five-category contributor makes him a priority early-round target in fantasy drafts, particularly if he winds up in a solid lineup like Toronto's.

The Minnesota Twins acquired infielder Eric Wagaman from the Miami Marlins on Friday in exchange for left-hander Kade Bragg, according to the Marlins. Wagaman will head to the American League Central after the Marlins designated him for assignment earlier in the week. The 28-year-old made his big-league debut in 2024 with the Los Angeles Angels and went 18-for-72 (.250) with two homers and 10 RBI in just 18 games played. He appeared in 140 games for the Fish in 2025, slashing .250/.296/.378 with a .674 OPS, nine home runs, 54 RBI, 56 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 514 plate appearances. In Minnesota, Wagaman will most likely compete for a platoon job against lefties in a corner outfield spot or at first base. Wagaman had a .783 OPS against southpaws. At best, he'll be a bench bat in AL-only leagues in 2026.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports that the New York Yankees and New York Mets are concentrating on free-agent outfielder Cody Bellinger at this time, with Bellinger being the Yankees' No. 1 priority. The Mets also love Bellinger for his all-around play and defense in both the outfield and at first base. Heyman also mentioned the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and potentially the Toronto Blue Jays as landing spots for Bellinger, depending on how things work out with free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker. Bellinger declined his $25 million player option for the 2026 season with the Yankees and decided to test free agency after a strong .272/.334/.480 slash line with 29 home runs, 98 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 152 regular-season games in the Bronx in 2025. Re-signing with the Yanks would likely be the best thing for Bellinger's fantasy value going into next year and beyond.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports that the New York Yankees are among the teams showing interest in free-agent shortstop Bo Bichette this offseason. In addition to the Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs have checked in on Bichette. The Yankees could try to pry the superstar shortstop away from the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays. The 27-year-old is open to moving to second base long-term, which will expand what is a weak middle-infield market this winter. Bichette had a down year in 2024, but he rebounded nicely in 2025 with a .311/.357/.483 slash line with 18 home runs and 94 RBI in 139 regular-season games for Toronto. His 2026 fantasy value will depend on where he lands, but Bichette has proven that he's a strong candidate to hit around 20 home runs while delivering a high average for fantasy managers. Adding second base eligibility would make him even more attractive.

Right-hander Spencer Howard is signing with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball, according to Yakyu Cosmopolitan. Howard pitched in NPB last year, but before that, he spent five seasons in MLB. In 2025 for the Rakuten Eagles, Howard was limited to just nine starts due to injury, though he still posted a strong 2.22 ERA across 48 2/3 innings. The 29-year-old was once a top prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, but he has struggled to find consistent success in the major leagues, finishing his five MLB seasons with a 7.00 ERA, 136 strikeouts, and a 1.736 WHIP over 144 innings. The hope is that Howard can refine his skills overseas and potentially earn another opportunity with an MLB club in the future.

The Toronto Blue Jays have signed free-agent right-hander Josh Winckowski (elbow) to a two-year minor-league contract, according to Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors. Since debuting in 2022 with the Boston Red Sox, Winckowski has logged 242 1/3 innings, posting a 4.20 ERA, 195 strikeouts, and a 1.47 WHIP. Winckowski has made 21 career starts but has spent the bulk of his time coming out of the bullpen. The former 15th-round draft pick by the Blue Jays in 2016 has always done a good job of keeping the ball on the ground, but after being moved to the bullpen in 2022, his fastball velocity ticked up by roughly 2 mph, and his strikeout rate climbed to a career-high 22.3%. The 27-year-old was limited to just 11 2/3 innings in 2025 due to an elbow injury and is currently rehabbing from internal-brace surgery, with hopes of returning late in the 2026 season. Once healthy, the Blue Jays plan to transition him into a starting role. For now, Winckowski carries no fantasy relevance.

The Los Angeles Angels have shown interest in St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Arenado's performance has steadily declined over the past few seasons, and the Cardinals appear to be entering a rebuild. St. Louis has already moved on from veterans such as right-hander Sonny Gray and first baseman Willson Contreras. In 2025, Arenado slashed .237/.289/.377 with 12 home runs, 52 RBI, and 48 runs scored across 436 plate appearances. His 84 wRC+ was the lowest mark of his career outside of his 2013 rookie season. The 34-year-old also missed time with a shoulder injury, limiting him to just 107 games. For a trade to be possible, Arenado would need to waive his no-trade clause, and it remains unclear whether he would be willing to do so to return to his native Southern California. Earlier this week, the Angels restructured the contract of oft-injured third baseman Anthony Rendon, thus making a trade for Arenado more plausible. While Arenado is no longer the elite offensive force he once was, he remains an above-average defender with solid contact skills. If traded to Los Angeles, he would likely play every day and hit in the middle of the lineup. From a fantasy perspective, Arenado currently carries an ADP of around 580, making him essentially free in drafts. That price makes him a reasonable late-round flyer as a corner infielder or bench bat in 15-team leagues. If Arenado is moved, then the Cardinals' top prospect, J.J. Wetherholt, would have a greater chance of making the club out of spring training. Keep Wetherholt on your fantasy radar for 2026.

Free-agent right-hander Tyler Mahle agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Mahle will head to the National League West and an excellent pitcher's ballpark after spending the last two years with the Texas Rangers. The 31-year-old veteran only made 16 starts for the Rangers last year due to shoulder injuries, but when he was on the mound, he was great. Mahle went 6-4 with a career-best 2.18 ERA (3.37 FIP) and 1.13 WHIP with 66 strikeouts and 29 walks in 86 2/3 innings pitched. He had Tommy John surgery in 2023 and has had a strikeout rate under 20% in each of the last two years. That, along with his recent injury history, will limit Mahle's fantasy appeal. However, despite not missing many bats, Mahle could be a decent back-of-the-rotation arm for fantasy managers if he stays healthy in San Fran.

Free-agent outfielder Jarred Kelenic is signing a non-roster deal with the Chicago White Sox, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. The 26-year-old spent the last couple of years with the Atlanta Braves after originally being a first-round pick by the New York Mets back in 2018. Kelenic was once one of the Seattle Mariners' top prospects, but he has never been able to put it all together at the plate and has a career .658 OPS in five big-league seasons. He'll have a better shot to make the big-league roster in Chicago, but Kelenic is coming off his worst season as a pro, slashing .167/.231/.300 with a .531 OPS, two home runs, two RBI, and 23 strikeouts in 65 plate appearances in 24 games for Atlanta. He wasn't much better at Triple-A Gwinnett, hitting .213/.286/.309 in 95 games. At best, Kelenic will probably be hoping for a platoon role with the White Sox in 2026.

The Los Angeles Angels and third baseman Anthony Rendon agreed to restructure the rest of his contract on Tuesday, a league source told Sam Blum of The Athletic. The agreement will allow the 35-year-old Rendon to retire with one year left on his contract. He is owed the $38 million for the final year of his seven-year, $245 million deal, and the Angels will pay out that money over the next three to five years to free up significant cash for the club to pursue high-profile free agents in 2026. A second hip surgery caused Rendon to miss all of 2025. He will remain on the roster next year, but he's likely to be placed on the 60-day injured list at the outset of spring training. In six years with the Halos, Rendon appeared in just 257 of a possible 1,032 games.

Free-agent right-handed reliever Kirby Yates and the Los Angeles Angels agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday, pending a physical, a source told Ari Alexander. Yates will stay in L.A. after spending the 2025 campaign with the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, where he went 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA (4.76 FIP), 1.33 WHIP, three saves, 52 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 41 1/3 innings out of the bullpen during the regular season. It was a disappointing year for the 38-year-old veteran after he recorded a 1.17 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 33 saves the year prior with the Texas Rangers. Yates is no spring chicken, but he could bounce back to better results in 2026 and will be in the mix for more saves next season in an Angels bullpen that lost Kenley Jansen in free agency. Yates' primary competition for saves next season will come from the oft-injured Robert Stephenson and veteran lefty Drew Pomeranz.

The Miami Marlins are acquiring speedy outfielder Esteury Ruiz from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in exchange for Cuban right-hander Adriano Marrero, sources told Francys Romero. Marrero had signed with the Marlins for a $350,000 signing bonus on Jan. 15 of last year. Ruiz, 26, led all of baseball with 67 stolen bases back in 2023 with the Athletics, but he couldn't replicate that success with the A's in 2024 and was eventually cut. The Dominican outfielder latched on with the Dodgers last year but ended up playing in only 19 games at the big-league level, going 4-for-21 (.190) at the plate with a homer, two RBI, and four steals. Ruiz, despite his electric wheels, has not been an asset defensively and has slashed only .241/.296/.343 in his four seasons in the majors. While he could start 2026 in the minors, Ruiz has a much better shot to return to the big leagues and stick around now that he's in Miami.

Right-hander Zach Eflin re-signed with the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday night on a one-year deal worth $10 million, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The deal includes a mutual option for the 2027 season. The 31-year-old veteran will stick around in Baltimore as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season, in which he went 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA (5.64 FIP), 1.42 WHIP, and 50:13 K:BB ratio in 14 starts (71 1/3 frames). Eflin's poor season probably had a lot to do with a back injury that required season-ending surgery in August. He should be back to full health for spring training in February. Eflin also dealt with a right-lat strain. Even if he's fully healthy come Opening Day, outside of his elite control, he won't have a ton of fantasy upside on the wrong side of 30, especially in the tough American League East.

Left-handed pitcher Andrew Heaney officially announced his retirement from professional baseball on Sunday after 12 seasons in the big leagues. Heaney will ride off into the sunset after winning a World Series ring with the Los Angeles Dodgers in October. The 34-year-old southpaw began the 2025 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates before joining the Dodgers. He made only one appearance for L.A. during the regular season, allowing three earned runs in two innings of relief. Overall, Heaney had a 5.52 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 86 strikeouts and 40 walks in 122 1/3 innings over 27 outings (23 starts) in 2025. He was originally the ninth overall pick by the Marlins in 2012 out of Oklahoma State. In his 12 MLB seasons with six different teams, Heaney went 56-72 with a 4.57 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 23.8% strikeout rate in 1,136 2/3 regular-season innings over 230 appearances (208 starts).

The Cincinnati Reds acquired outfielder Dane Myers from the Miami Marlins on Saturday. The two teams have agreed on a deal that sends Myers to the Reds in exchange for outfielder Ethan O'Donnell. Myers didn't have a clear path to playing time in Miami, so the Marlins decided to move on from him. He slashed .235/.291/.326 with six home runs, 31 RBI, and 18 stolen bases in 106 games with the Marlins this past season. The expectation is that Myers will compete for a starting corner outfield spot, but will likely end up settling into a bench role. As for O'Donnell, he slashed .236/.327/.325 with seven homers, 56 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in 125 games in Double-A this past season. He's a former sixth-round pick who offers decent upside due to his speed. This seems like a fair trade for both sides, but it's unlikely to have much of an impact in fantasy leagues next season.

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed relief pitcher Genesis Cabrera to a minor-league contract with an invite to Spring Training. Cabrera has found a new home after being removed from the Minnesota Twins' 40-man roster. The southpaw pitched with four different MLB teams this past season. He didn't have much success at any of his stops, but maybe Philly can figure him out. Cabrera finished with a 6.54 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, and 35/18 K/BB ratio across 42.2 innings last season. He experienced success earlier in his career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Hopefully, the Phillies can tap into that, but if not, it's a low-risk move, with only an invite to camp extended to Cabrera.

The Chicago Cubs have signed free-agent relief pitcher Hunter Harvey to a one-year deal, according to Will Sammon. The Cubs bulk up their bullpen with this low-risk signing. Harvey was limited to 12 games last season due to multiple injuries. He allowed zero earned runs while striking out 11 batters across 10.2 innings of work with the Kansas City Royals in 2025. The 31-year-old does have a good track record with a few quality seasons with the Washington Nationals in 2022 and 2023. He has regressed since then, but is still worth the gamble given the low risk. The Cubs have done a good job at bringing in project arms and turning them into viable options. Harvey figures to be a late-inning option, but is unlikely to see many save situations with Daniel Palencia being the primary closer.

The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a contract with free-agent outfielder JJ Bleday, according to MLB insider Robert Murray. Bleday is just one year removed from a strong 2024 season in which he slashed .243/.324/.437 with 20 home runs, 60 RBI, 74 runs scored, a 19.5% strikeout rate, and a 10.4% walk rate across 642 plate appearances. The 28-year-old struggled to replicate that success in 2025, posting a 26.5% strikeout rate and a 90 wRC+ over 98 games, and was optioned twice to Triple-A Las Vegas by the Athletics. While the Reds were rumored to have interest in trading for outfielder Luis Robert Jr., it appears they've pivoted to Bleday instead. The left-handed-hitting Bleday can play all three outfield spots for Cincinnati, but he'll likely see most of his time in left field, pushing Will Benson to the bench. From a fantasy perspective, unless you're in a 15-team league or deeper, he can be ignored on draft day. That said, his power and patience could play very well at Great American Ball Park, so keep an eye on his early-season performance to see if he's worth a waiver-wire pickup.