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The Philadelphia Phillies and right-hander Levi Stoudt have agreed to a minor-league deal, reports Ari Alexander of 7News Boston WHDH. Stoudt was a third-round pick in 2019 by the Seattle Mariners. Shortly after being drafted, the 28-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the shortened 2020 season. Since then, he has spent nearly his entire career in the minors, pitching to a 5.06 ERA with 341 strikeouts, 177 walks, and a 1.42 WHIP across 389 1/3 innings. His only brief stint in the majors came in 2023 with the Cincinnati Reds, where he posted a 9.58 ERA (5.23 xERA) with nine strikeouts in 10 innings. Stoudt may never see the majors again, so he can safely be left off your fantasy radar.

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The Chicago White Sox and free-agent left-hander Sean Newcomb have agreed to a one-year deal worth $4.5 million, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. Sammon also reported that Newcomb "will at least get the chance to start" for Chicago. Newcomb was a first-round pick by the Angels in 2012 and had his best season with the Braves in 2018. That year, the 32-year-old southpaw posted a 3.90 ERA (3.69 xERA) with 160 strikeouts across 164 innings. Unfortunately, he struggled in 2019, eventually getting demoted to Triple-A and moving into the bullpen when he returned. Since then, he's been going back and forth between starting and relieving without much luck, until last year. In 2025, Newcomb struck out 91 batters in 92 1/3 innings while posting a career-low 2.73 ERA with the Red Sox and Athletics. For 2026, he will join a White Sox rotation that includes Shane Smith, Davis Martin, Sean Burke, and Anthony Kay. Right now, Newcomb can be safely left off your fantasy radar, but he's worth keeping an eye on since he's a lefty who once showed some potential.

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The Cincinnati Reds have re-engaged in trade talks with the Chicago White Sox on outfielder Luis Robert Jr., according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Robert is under contract for $20 million in 2026 with a club option for 2027. In return, the White Sox are reportedly looking for young talent and prospects who are close to MLB-ready. Over a year ago, the Reds showed interest in Robert, and now it appears they're even more serious about making a deal happen. The 28-year-old is a former Gold Glove Winner and All-Star who hasn't been able to recapture the success he had earlier in his career due to injuries and underperformance. Last year, Robert slashed .223/.297/.364 with 14 home runs, 53 RBI, 52 runs scored, and a career-high 33 stolen bases across 431 plate appearances. Right now, the Reds outfield consists of TJ Friedl, Noelvi Marte, Gavin Lux, and Will Benson. Robert would be a clear defensive upgrade, and hitting in Great American Ball Park would be a huge boost for his fantasy value. At an ADP around 133, you're drafting a potential 30/30 candidate without spending an early pick. If he does get traded, don't be surprised if he starts moving up draft boards pretty quickly.

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Free-agent first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed on a two-year, $29 million contract, according to Robert Murray of FanSided. The deal also includes $500,000 in performance bonuses for each season. For the Pirates, O'Hearn should split time between first base and designated hitter and slide right into the middle of the lineup. In 2025, the 32-year-old left-handed hitter posted a .272 xBA with a 10.7% walk rate while hitting 21 home runs across 544 plate appearances for the Baltimore Orioles and the San Diego Padres. Even though the Pirates aren't a great offensive team, O'Hearn should have the freedom to play every day. Overall, you don't need to bump him up your board much, but you should feel more confident clicking his name on draft day.

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The New York Mets are showing interest in free-agent outfielder Austin Hays, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Hays, 30, slashed .266/.315/.453 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 60 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 416 plate appearances in 2025. Hays has posted a 105 wRC+ or better in five of his last seven seasons. The right-handed hitter's biggest flaw has been his inability to stay on the field. Over the past two seasons, he's dealt with multiple hamstring and calf injuries and finished last year on the bench due to back spasms. Right now, the Mets have their No. 2 prospect, Carson Benge, penciled in as the starting left fielder. With that said, they need as much outfield depth as possible after losing Cedric Mullins, Starling Marte, Jesse Winker, Jose Siri, and Jose Azocar in free agency, along with trading Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil. If Hays signs with the Mets, he'll be most fantasy relevant in 15-team fantasy leagues.

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The New York Mets have been busy making moves this offseason, and that continued on Monday when they traded infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil to the Athletics. The Mets are wasting no time looking for this replacement as they've reportedly explored trading for Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte, per MLB Insider Francys Romero. The biggest problem with this move is that Marte would likely have to shift to the outfield in New York, since they have second base locked up after acquiring Marcus Semien earlier this offseason. Marte would likely take over in center field, which is a position he hasn't played in consistently since the 2021 campaign. The Mets seem to be fine with the downgrade in defense with Marte being an elite-level bat. This is nowhere near a done deal, but it will be something to monitor throughout the offseason.

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The Seattle Mariners have signed free-agent first baseman/outfielder Rob Refsnyder on Monday, according to Jeff Passan. The deal is reportedly a one-year contract worth $6.25 million for the 2026 campaign. The journeyman has spent each of the last four seasons as a part-time player with the Boston Red Sox. Refsnyder mostly plays against left-handed pitching, but has excelled enough at that to carve out a decent career for himself. Last season, Refsnyder slashed .302/.399/.560 with seven home runs and 25 RBI against southpaws. The 34-year-old figures to be a platoon option at both first base and right field, and possibly sees time at designated hitter, making him mainly an option in AL-Only Leagues.

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The Chicago Cubs agreed to a minor-league contract with catcher Christian Bethancourt on Monday. According to Jon Heyman, Bethancourt will get an invitation to spring training with the Cubs. The 34-year-old is likely coming in to serve as depth at catcher with the organization moving on from Reese McGuire this offseason. During his last big league season, Bethancourt slashed .209/.241/.367 with five home runs and 22 RBI in 62 games between the Miami Marlins and Cubs in 2024. The Cubs have Carson Kelly, Miguel Amaya, and Moises Ballesteros as their top options behind the plate right now. It looks like Bethancourt will have an uphill battle to make the 26-man roster to begin the season.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have added some depth by signing outfielder Dominic Fletcher to a minor-league contract. The 28-year-old will get an invitation to spring training to catch on as outfield depth. Fletcher is a former second-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2019. He hasn't panned out at the MLB level yet, but maybe a change of scenery will help. Fletcher is slashing .233/.280/.325 with four home runs and 33 RBI across 112 big league games between the D-Backs and Chicago White Sox. He played well in Triple-A Charlotte last season, so hopefully he can bring it to the next level. This doesn't seem like anything more than a depth move for Pittsburgh.

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New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil was traded to the Athletics on Monday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. In exchange, the Mets will receive right-hander Yordan Rodriguez from the A's. The assumption is that McNeil will take over the starting second base job to begin the 2026 season. Last season, McNeil slashed .243/.335/.411 with 12 home runs and 54 RBI in 122 games with the Mets. His numbers have fallen over the last few seasons, but McNeil is still a decent contributor. McNeil finished with a 2.0 WAR last season, so the A's will take that in exchange for a 17-year-old pitcher. The hope is that the move to a smaller stadium with the A's should boost his offensive numbers. The 33-year-old did undergo thoracic outlet surgery in November, but he's expected to be ready for spring training.

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The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins and right-handed pitching prospects Blake Aita and Yhoiker Fajardo from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for veteran first baseman Willson Contreras, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. As part of the deal, St. Louis will cover $33.5 million of the $41.5 million remaining on Contreras' contract. The Cardinals are in rebuild mode and did not see Contreras as their first baseman of the future. Dobbins, 26, logged a 4.13 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 45 strikeouts over 61 innings during the 2025 season before suffering a torn ACL in his right knee while attempting to cover first base. He has since begun a throwing program and is expected to be ready for spring training, where he'll compete for a rotation spot. Aita, 22, spent last season between Single-A and High-A Greenville, posting a 3.98 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a 14.9% K-BB rate across 115 1/3 innings. He is expected to remain in the minors next season. Fajardo, the youngest of the trio at 19, recorded a 2.81 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with a 28.8% strikeout rate over 51 1/3 innings last season. Although Fajardo is a few years away from being called up to the majors, his strikeout ability gives him the highest ceiling among the three pitchers.

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The Boston Red Sox are acquiring first baseman Willson Contreras in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. In return, the Cardinals will receive right-hander Hunter Dobbins along with right-handed pitching prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, St. Louis will also cover a substantial portion of the $40.5 million remaining on Contreras' contract. Boston had previously pursued Pete Alonso and was rumored to be in on a few other sluggers, but the club now appears to have found its first baseman. Contreras is coming off a season in which he hit 20 home runs while slashing .257/.344/.447 across 563 plate appearances. With the Cardinals in the middle of a rebuild, the organization did not view Contreras as part of its long-term future. The 33-year-old former catcher is expected to take over for Triston Casas at first base, who struggled to a .580 OPS in 112 plate appearances last season. Casas is often hurt and has missed significant time over the years. Overall, this move is a net positive for Contreras' fantasy value, as he joins a more potent offensive lineup in a substantially better hitting environment.

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The Seattle Mariners remain interested in re-signing free-agent third baseman Eugenio Suarez, according to Mariners general manager Justin Hollander, who spoke on MLB Network Radio. Last season, Surez tied his career high with 49 home runs, 13 of which came as a Mariner. Seattle's top offseason priorities were re-signing first baseman Josh Naylor and infielder Jorge Polanco, but with both now off the market, attention has shifted back to Surez. Despite maintaining a 14.3% barrel rate, Surez has become a below-average defender and continues to strike out nearly 30% of the time. The 34-year-old slugger is projected to earn a two-year, $45 million contract. With an ADP of 112, it appears the market believes he has another productive season in him. Although that is very possible, the strikeouts are a concern, and hitting at T-Mobile Park isn't helping him if he ends up back in Seattle. Unless he slips significantly on draft day, he may be someone to pass on, especially with the Giants' Matt Chapman going about 60 picks later.

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Free-agent right-hander Paul Blackburn and the New York Yankees have agreed to a one-year deal worth $2 million, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. After being released by the Mets last year, Blackburn signed with the Yankees and made eight appearances, posting a 5.28 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 15 1/3 innings. Over the past two seasons, the 32-year-old has dealt with injuries to various parts of his body, including his shoulder, knee, spine, and hand. Blackburn hasn't posted an ERA below 4.28 since his rookie season in 2017. For the Bronx Bombers, he will most likely serve as just another bullpen arm and currently holds no fantasy relevance.

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The Detroit Tigers have designated outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy for assignment to clear room for reliever Kyle Finnegan on the 40-man roster, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Malloy, 25, slashed .221/.346/.308 with one home run, 17 RBI, 15 runs scored, with zero stolen bases across 127 plate appearances in 2025. The former sixth-round pick out of Georgia Tech just has not been able to find his footing as a big-leaguer. Although he has a good eye at the plate, he is a below-average defender and has posted a .137 ISO with a 32.8% strike out rate over his 357 career plate appearances. For 2026, fantasy managers can safely remove Malloy from their radar until further notice.

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The Cleveland Guardians have designated left-hander Justin Bruihl for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for reliever Shawn Armstrong, the team announced Saturday night on their X account. Cleveland acquired Bruihl for cash considerations on Wednesday after the Toronto Blue Jays designated him for assignment. The 28-year-old was initially drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021 and has spent time with four teams over his five-year career. Over those years, he has posted a 4.72 ERA, 69 strikeouts, and a 1.372 WHIP across 89 2/3 innings. At this point, Bruihl has no fantasy relevance for 2026.

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The Toronto Blue Jays are showing interest in free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. Bregman just opted out of his contract with the Boston Red Sox and is looking for a multi-year deal. In 2025, Bregman missed 59 games due to a strained quadricep, yet still hit 18 home runs with 62 RBI and 64 runs scored while slashing .273/.360/.462 across 495 plate appearances. For fantasy purposes, the 31-year-old re-signing with Boston would be ideal given his pull-heavy approach and the Green Monster. That said, the Blue Jays had the fourth-best offense last year, and Rogers Centre is one of the most home-run-friendly ballparks in MLB. Right now, he's the eighth third baseman off draft boards, but he still has top-five upside.

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The Kansas City Royals are willing to move left-hander Kris Bubic (shoulder) to shed some payroll. Bubic is projected to earn $6 million in arbitration, and the Royals are looking to add a bat. Royals have been linked to Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran and Cardinals second baseman/outfielder Brendan Donovan. Bubic is coming off a strong year in which he posted a career-low 2.55 ERA (3.15 xERA) with a 24.4% strikeout rate and a 1.18 WHIP across 116 1/3 innings. He missed most of the second half of the season with a left rotator cuff strain, but is expected to be ready by the time pitchers and catchers report. The 28-year-old southpaw has a 211.85 ADP and could move up draft boards if he is traded to a winning team.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired second baseman Brandon Lowe, left-hander Mason Montgomery, and outfielder Jake Mangum. In return, the Tampa Bay Rays received right-hander Anderson Brito and outfielder Jacob Melton. The Houston Astros acquired right-hander Mike Burrows. Lowe will give the Pirates some much-needed pop in their lineup. The 31-year-old hit 31 home runs last year with a .256/.307/.477 slashine, good for a 114 wRC+. Montgomery projects as a serviceable middle reliever with nasty stuff, while Mangum should immediately rank among the Pirates' better defensive outfielders. The Rays add more upper-level prospect depth to their farm system in Brito and Melton. Meanwhile, the Astros acquire an up-and-coming right-hander in Burrows, who has less than a year of service time and still has an option remaining.

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The Kansas City Royals traded right-hander Jonathan Bowlan to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for left-hander Matt Strahm. Strahm returns to Kansas City, the organization that originally drafted him in 2012. The 34-year-old has spent the last three seasons in Philly, posting a 2.71 ERA with 257 strikeouts across 212 2/3 innings. In Kansas City, Strahm projects as a high-leverage lefty and should be most valuable in leagues that count holds as a statistic. Bowlan, 29, is coming off his first full season in the majors. Last year, the 29-year-old pitched to a 3.86 ERA and a 25.6% strikeout rate across 44 1/3 innings. At this point, it's unclear whether Bowlan will make the major league roster out of spring training. Overall, the move is widely viewed as a salary dump by the Phillies, as Strahm is set to earn $7.5 million next season while Bowlan remains pre-arbitration eligible.

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