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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The New York Yankees declined to pick up right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga's (elbow) $5 million club option for the 2026 season on Wednesday, making him a free agent, a source told Jorge Castillo of ESPN. It's not much of a surprise after Loaisiga had another injury-plagued season that limited him to just 30 relief appearances (29 2/3 innings pitched). He allowed 15 runs (14 runs) on 34 hits (seven homers) while walking 10 and striking out 25. The 31-year-old Nicaraguan picked up one save. A back injury and a flexor strain in his right elbow kept him out for the final two months of the season, and he eventually underwent surgery on his right elbow. The good news is that Loaisiga is expected to be ready for spring training, but it remains to be seen where he'll be pitching. Loasiga has become a full-time reliever since 2021 and won't have much fantasy appeal, if any, regardless of where he lands.

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The Atlanta Braves are picking up future Hall of Fame left-hander Chris Sale's $18 million option for the 2026 season on Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Even though Sale missed extended time once again in 2025 due to injury (a left rib-cage fracture), there was never any doubt that the Braves would bring him back for his 16th MLB season. The 36-year-old nine-time All-Star and former Cy Young winner looked good again when he was healthy, going 7-5 for Atlanta with a 2.58 ERA (2.67 FIP) and 1.07 WHIP with 165 strikeouts and 32 walks in 125 2/3 innings over 21 outings (20 starts). Sale won the National League Cy Young in 2024 in his first year with the Braves, when he led the league with 18 wins, a 2.38 ERA, and 225 punchouts. Injuries are an issue, but Sale's high-end strikeout upside makes him worth the risk in fantasy.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber will stay in Canada next year after exercising his $16 million player option for the 2026 season on Tuesday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. After spending the first seven years of his MLB career with the Cleveland Guardians, Bieber made his debut in Toronto in 2025, and it was a success. The 30-year-old former American League Cy Young winner and two-time All-Star got a late start after recovering from Tommy John surgery, limiting him to just seven regular-season starts. In 40 1/3 innings pitched, Bieber went 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 37 strikeouts, and only seven walks. In five postseason outings (four starts), he allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 21 hits (three homers) while walking six and fanning 18 in 18 2/3 innings. Bieber may never recapture his pre-Tommy John form in Toronto in the tough AL East, but he's certainly worth gambling on in fantasy in 2026 as a mid-rotation starter.

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The Kansas City Royals announced on Tuesday that they agreed to a two-year contract extension with veteran catcher Salvador Perez through the 2027 season. The deal is worth $25 million. Before the extension, Perez had a $13.5 million team option for the 2026 campaign. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star showed his age by hitting .236 (141-for-597) in 2025, but he still managed to reach the 30-homer mark for just the second time in his career while driving in 100 runs for the third time in his career and in back-to-back seasons. The Venezuelan backstop is heading into his 15th MLB campaign, and while he still has plenty of fantasy value at a weak position because of his power and run-producing ability, injuries will be a concern, and fantasy managers will no longer be able to count on a high batting average.

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader declined his side of a $10 million mutual option for the 2026 season on Tuesday, as expected, and is officially a free agent, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Bader is now on the open market, but the Phillies said last month that they'd be interested in re-signing Bader this winter. The 31-year-old former third-rounder in 2015 by the St. Louis Cardinals out of the University of Florida began the 2025 campaign began his ninth year in the big leagues with the Minnesota Twins before being dealt to Philly in the summer. Although Bader had only five home runs in his 50 regular-season games with the Phillies, he was m and 30 much better offensively than in Minnesota, going 54-for-177 (.305) with 16 RBI and 30 runs scored. The Phils will pay Bader a $1.5 million buyout after declining his option.

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Minnesota Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said on Tuesday that right-hander Pablo Lopez (forearm) is "fully healthy" and will "be able to have a normal offseason routine," according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. Lopez missed time early in the 2025 season with a Grade 2 teres major strain and was shut down in late September due to a mild right-forearm strain. The 29-year-old has since recovered and should be a full-go for spring training and the 2026 regular season next year. It's great news for the Twins, as Lopez was pitching like a top-of-the-rotation starter when he was healthy. The Venezuelan hurler finished his third year in Minnesota with a 5-4 record, career-low 2.74 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 73 strikeouts, and 20 walks in 75 2/3 frames over his 14 starts. Lopez is a peg below a true ace for fantasy purposes, and his home ballpark should continue to be a plus for his 2026 value if he remains with the Twins.

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Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty is not opting out of his $20 million contract for the 2026 season, according to sources. Flaherty will return to Motown, where he has played in each of the last two seasons. The 30-year-old veteran began the 2024 season in Detroit before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the second half of the season, where he eventually ended up winning a World Series title. He returned to the Tigers in 2025 to go 8-15 with a 4.64 ERA (3.85 FIP), 1.28 WHIP, and 188:59 K:BB in 161 innings over his 31 starts. Flaherty didn't exactly have the season he wanted -- he led the league with his 15 losses -- but a bounce-back certainly could be in the cards in 2026 if he can stay healthy. At the very least, Flaherty's above-average strikeout rate is appealing, even if he has been inconsistent.

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Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said on 929 The Game on Tuesday that the team is picking up the $7 million club option on second baseman Ozzie Albies (hand), according to Mark Zinno. Albies will stick around in Atlanta for his 10th season in 2026 despite having his worst full-season offensive performances. The three-time All-Star hit just .240/.306/.365 with a career-low .671 OPS, 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 74 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 157 games played. In addition to disappointing with the bat for his standards, Albies fractured his left hand late in the season. The 28-year-old switch-hitting second baseman will look to bounce back offensively and stay healthy for the entire year in 2026 as Atlanta looks to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2025 campaign as well. Albies has two seasons with 30-plus homers and 100-plus RBI, so the ceiling remains high.

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The Milwaukee Brewers declined their $15 million mutual option on left-hander Jose Quintana on Tuesday, making him a free agent, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. Quintana will be given a $2 million buyout and will be free to sign with any MLB team this offseason. The 36-year-old veteran southpaw only struck out 89 hitters in 131 2/3 innings in 2025 with the Brew Crew, but he managed to go 11-7 with a decent 3.96 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 50 walks over 24 starts during the regular season. Quintana's 4.81 FIP indicates he was very fortunate to have an ERA under 4.00, though, and his market most likely won't be very robust this winter. At best, he's a back-end starter for a big-league rotation at this stage of his career, and his lack of strikeout upside makes him pretty unattractive for fantasy purposes outside of deep leagues.

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Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins has become a free agent after the team declined their $18 million mutual option on him on Tuesday, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Instead, Hoskins will receive a $4 million buyout and will be free to sign with any team this winter. The decision to decline the 32-year-old veteran's option doesn't come as a surprise after Andrew Vaughn took over regular first-base duties in Milwaukee toward the end of the year, relegating Hoskins to a bench role. Hoskins missed more time due to injury in 2025 and ended up playing in only 90 regular-season games, hitting .237 (66-for-279) with a career-low 12 home runs and 42 RBI. Hoskins just hasn't been the same slugger he was in Philadelphia after tearing his ACL and missing all of 2023. However, he did have 26 home runs while driving in 82 in his first year with the Brewers, so he should have a market as more of a full-time DH going into next year.

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The Milwaukee Brewers declined catcher William Contreras' $12 million option for the 2026 season, but he will remain with the team next year and go into his second year of salary arbitration, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 27-year-old Venezuelan backstop remains under team control through the 2027 season, but he will receive a $100,000 buyout after Milwaukee declined his 2026 option. After making his second All-Star team in 2024, Contreras took a step back in 2025, although it may have had to do mostly with the fact that he played through a left middle-finger injury that required offseason surgery. He was still an above-average-hitting catcher in the big leagues with his .260/.355/.399 slash line, .754 OPS, 17 home runs, 76 RBI, 89 runs scored, and six steals in 150 games played for the Brew Crew. With better health, Contreras could bounce back in 2026. He has at least 17 homers in each of his last four years, making him a high-end fantasy catching target.

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