Ranger Suarez Agrees to Five-Year Deal With Red Sox: Free-agent left-hander Ranger Suarez agreed to a five-year deal worth $130 million with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. The Red Sox were bound to make another big move after losing third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency to the Chicago Cubs. Suarez, 30, will now join ace lefty Garrett Crochet at the top of Boston's starting rotation going into the 2026 season. Boston also acquired veteran righty Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this offseason to boost their starting rotation. Suarez isn't a big strikeout guy (career 22.1% strikeout rate) and has never reached the 200-inning mark in eight big-league seasons. However, the crafty southpaw has been lights-out in the playoffs with a 1.48 ERA in 42 2/3 innings, and he holds a strong 3.38 career ERA with a 1.27 WHIP, 705 K's, and 240 walks in 762 frames. Suarez might have the track record of a high-end starter, but he's a solid, command-driven ground-ball artist. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:43:33
Padres Were Interested in Nolan Arenado to Play First Base: The San Diego Padres were the team besides the Arizona Diamondbacks that "mounted the heaviest pursuit" of Nolan Arenado, people briefed on the talks told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Padres already have Manny Machado entrenched at third base, so the Padres intended for Arenado to play first base. However, the Padres were unwilling to take on as much of Arenado's salary as the D-backs were. Arizona owes Arenado $1 million less than the White Sox gave left-hander Anthony Kay in the final two years of Arenado's contract. The Padres have payroll concerns, so they might have been trying to land Arenado for something close to the minimum salary. The 34-year-old has been on a three-year offensive decline. He had an xwOBA under .300 for the second straight year, and his exit velocity was in the bottom-10th percentile. Arenado is still strong defensively and makes a lot of contact, but moving to first base will make him even less attractive in fantasy. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:24:45
Phillies Optimistic About Chances to Sign Bo Bichette?: The Philadelphia Phillies met with free-agent infielder Bo Bichette on Monday, and Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports that both sides "emerged with optimism" from the meeting. Across 628 plate appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025, Bichette slashed .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs, 94 RBI, 78 runs scored, and four stolen bases. He'll turn just 28 years old in March, making him one of the younger big-name free agents on the open market. Bichette has spent the majority of his career playing shortstop, but he's graded out as a poor defender and has expressed an openness to moving off the position with his next team. Philadelphia already has Trea Turner at short, so Bichette would likely take over for either Bryson Stott at second base or Alec Bohm at third base with the Phillies. Multiple other teams, including the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, have been linked to Bichette at different points throughout the offseason. However, Gelb highlights Philadelphia's historical willingness to sign longer-term free agent deals as one reason why the organization may emerge as the winner of the Bichette sweepstakes. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:54:39
Paul Goldschmidt "Continues to Loom as a Potential Fit" in Arizona: Free-agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt "continues to loom as a potential fit" with the Arizona Diamondbacks, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Goldschmidt spent the 2025 season with the New York Yankees, posting a .274/.328/.403 slash line with 10 home runs, 45 RBI, 76 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 534 plate appearances. Entering his age-38 season, Goldschmidt's days as an everyday player are likely behind him. However, he mashed left-handed pitching to a .336/.411/.570 line in 2025, which could make him an ideal platoon partner for Diamondbacks left-handed hitting first baseman Pavin Smith. Goldschmidt also spent the first eight years of his career in Arizona before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, so a homecoming could be a nice story for both player and team. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:38:41
Ranger Suarez has Fans in the Red Sox Organization: Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that some members of the Boston Red Sox organization are "high on free-agent left-hander Ranger Suarez," and speculates that signing Suarez could be one way for Boston to pivot after losing third baseman Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs in free agency. Across 157 1/3 innings (26 starts) for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2025, Suarez posted a 12-8 record with a 3.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 151 strikeouts. He lowered his walk rate to a career-best 5.8% in 2025 and now hits free agency going into his age-30 season. In Boston, Suarez would likely slot in alongside veteran right-hander Sonny Gray as one of the top starting pitching options behind ace of the staff Garrett Crochet. However, Rosenthal also reports that Suarez's market "remains unclear," so it does not appear that a signing is imminent. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:27:41
Red Sox Interested in Framber Valdez?: Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports that the Boston Red Sox met with starting pitcher Framber Valdez in person at the MLB general managers' meetings in November, and speculates that the team could circle back to Valdez after losing third baseman Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs in free agency. Valdez, who is entering his age-32 season, posted a 13-11 record with a 3.66 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 187 strikeouts across 192 innings for the Houston Astros in 2025. The veteran left-hander has made at least 28 starts in four consecutive seasons, posting a 3.21 ERA across 767 2/3 innings pitched in that span. Healey notes that the Red Sox acquired starting pitcher Sonny Gray after meeting with Valdez, so it's possible the team feels it has filled its rotation needs. However, Boston could choose to upgrade its pitching staff with the money it has left over after missing on Bregman. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:13:40
Robby Snelling Slated for Early MLB Debut in 2026?: Miami Marlins pitching prospect Robby Snelling appears poised to compete for a starting job in the rotation during spring training. Over the past week, the Marlins have sent two of their starting pitchers, Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers, to competing teams in exchange for top prospects. As a result, Snelling faces even less competition to crack the rotation next month. Last summer, the southpaw was one of the most dominant pitchers at the Triple-A level. While he had a modest start to the season at Double-A, where he posted a 3.61 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP across 72 1/3 innings, he reached a new level with Jacksonville. Through 63 2/3 innings at the top level of the minor leagues, Snelling posted an elite 1.27 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, with an 81:17 K:BB. Snelling is a name to closely monitor in spring training, as he would carry high-end sleeper appeal given the strikeout upside he flashed against the top hitters in the minor leagues if he begins the season in the majors. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:51:39
Dylan Jasso Traded to Marlins on Tuesday: New York Yankees infield prospect Dylan Jasso was included in the package that sent left-handed starting pitcher Ryan Weathers to the New York Yankees on Tuesday evening. Additionally, Jasso was sent to the Malrins alongside fellow prospects Dillon Lewis, Brendan Jones, and Juan Matheus. Jasso, the No. 23-ranked prospect in the Yankee system ahead of the trade, spent his entire 2025 campaign with Double-A. During his first look with Double-A Somerset, Jasso held his own, posting a .257/.326/.400 line with a .726 OPS. Across 127 games, Jasso hit 13 round-trippers, added 17 doubles, but held a rough 130:42 K:BB. In 2024, Jasso posted a .728 OPS split between Low-A and High-A. Managers should expect Jasso to make a case to begin the 2026 campaign with Triple-A, which could open the door for a second-half MLB debut. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:24:40
Dillon Lewis Sent to Marlins: The New York Yankees have traded outfield prospect Dillon Lewis to the Miami Marlins in the package that brought Ryan Weathers to the Bronx. Additionally, the Yankees sent fellow prospects Brendan Jones, Dylan Jasso, and Juan Matheus to Miami. Lewis was viewed as the No. 16-ranked prospect in the New York pipeline ahead of Tuesday's trade. Lewis joined the Yankees in the 2024 draft in the 13th round out of Queens University of Charlotte. After a small taste of Low-A following the draft in 2024, Lewis received his first full look at professional baseball last season with Low-A and High-A. Across 122 games split between the levels, Lewis held a .237/.321/.445 line with 21 doubles, 22 home runs, and 26 stolen bases. Given that he spent 76 of these games with High-A, Lewis should be in the mix to debut at Double-A early in the 2026 campaign. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:18:51
Brendan Jones Traded to Marlins: The New York Yankees have traded outfield prospect Brendan Jones to the Miami Marlins in return for left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers. With Jones, the Yankees also sent prospects Dillon Lewis, Dylan Jasso, and Juan Matheus. Jones was considered the No. 15-ranked prospect in the Yankee system on MLB.com before the trade. The former 12th-round pick out of Kansas State spent the 2025 season with High-A and Double-A. He began the campaign with High-A Hudson Valley and held a .236/.349/.362 line with four home runs and 23 stolen bases. During his first look at Double-A, Jones posted a .250/.365/.415 line with seven home runs and an eye-catching 28 stolen bases. In total, Jones swiped 51 bags across 124 contests. Managers should expect Jones to begin the season at Double-A and push for his Triple-A debut in the second half. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:12:32
Seranthony Dominguez Linked as Potential Option for Diamondbacks: Free agent relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez is viewed as a top option for the Diamondbacks' bullpen, according to Jack Sommers of Sports Illustrated. The Diamondbacks are in the market to add to their bullpen as both of their top options, A.J. Puk (elbow) and Justin Martinez (elbow), are expected to miss the first half as they recover from Tommy John surgery. While Kevin Ginkel could fill the closer role for the short term, they have begun exploring the free agent market to add some depth to their bullpen. Dominguez is viewed as one of those options. Last summer, the right-hander logged 62 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.16 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP. However, he generated an elite .198 xBA, suggesting he should see better results in 2026. Dominguez has also had experience in the closer role, totaling 11 saves in 2024 and 16 saves back in 2018. If he were to sign with the Diamondbacks, he would carry sleeper appeal as he would be in the mix to earn the primary ninth-inning job during the first half. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:56:28
Blaze Alexander Could Shift to the Outfield: Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Blaze Alexander could see extended time in the outfield during the upcoming season. On Tuesday, the Diamondbacks acquired third baseman Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals. Following the trade, GM Mike Hazen noted that he envisions Arenado playing on a daily basis at third base, which will limit Alexander's opportunities at the hot corner. However, Hazen said there are still "plenty of opportunities available." Alex D'Agostino of Sports Illustrated reported that since Alexander saw limited time in the outfield last season, the team could look to increase that, as it would be his primary path to playing time. In 2025, Alexander saw six games in the outfield compared to 68 in the infield. Through 74 MLB games last summer, Alexander held a .230/.323/.383 line with 12 doubles and seven home runs. If he can see ample time in the outfield during spring training, he could be worth monitoring in deeper NL-only formats. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:46:27
Alec Bohm Linked to Pirates as Possible Trade Target: According to Colin Beazley of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Pirates could look to pursue Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm in a trade. With the Phillies in serious pursuit of Bo Bichette, they could look to move Bohm in a trade, as Bichette would likely become their everyday third baseman. The Pirates have had a rather productive offseason, signing Ryan O'Hearn, who is expected to share time at first base and designated hitter, and trading for power-hitting second baseman Brandon Lowe. Currently, Jared Triolo is slated to serve as the everyday third baseman for the Pirates. Last summer, Bohm posted a .287/.331/.409 line with 11 home runs and two stolen bases. He would provide another solid bat to an improving Pittsburgh lineup, but would likely see his counting stats take a decline moving away from the Phillies. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:30:38
Dodgers Designate Ryan Fitzgerald for Assignment: The Los Angeles Dodgers have designated infielder Ryan Fitzgerald for assignment. This transaction opened a spot on the roster for Andy Ibanez. The Dodgers claimed Fitzgerald off waivers from the Minnesota Twins earlier this week. If Fitzgerald were to clear waivers, he would report to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Last season, Fitzgerald made his MLB debut with the Twins and posted a .196/.302/.457 line with four long balls across a brief 24-game stint. During this small sample, he showed a strong eye at the plate, drawing walks at a 13.2% rate and striking out at a 15.1% rate. Through 59 games with Triple-A St. Paul last summer, Fitzgerald held a .836 OPS with 16 doubles and served home runs. He is worth monitoring in deeper formats as he has shown potential during his small look in the big leagues. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:18:39
Joe Musgrove Won't Have Innings Limit in 2026: San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) will not have an innings limit placed on him during the 2026 season. Padres manager Craig Stammen appeared on the Foul Territory podcast and explained that the right-hander is in a "great spot" following his recovery from Tommy John surgery and noted that the team is not planning to put an innings limit on him. The 33-year-old has not been on the bump since the 2024 campaign. During that season, he logged 99 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.88 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP. He struck out 101 hitters and showed above-average command, allowing walks at a 5.6% rate. However, he generated a rather high 4.31 xERA. Musgrove is worth closely monitoring in spring training. He has sleeper appeal in deeper formats, especially if he can return to his 2022 form when he held a strong 2.93 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP. - as of Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:11:46
Reds Sign Will Banfield and Hagen Danner to Minor-League Deals: The Cincinnati Reds have signed free-agent catcher Will Banfield and right-hander Hagen Danner to minor-league deals, according to the Reds' X account. Banfield appeared in just seven games for Cincinnati last year, slashing .100/.100/.100 with one hit in 10 plate appearances. In the minors, the 26-year-old from Georgia has slashed .224/.276/.366 with 63 home runs across 2,428 plate appearances in seven seasons. The Reds already have three catchers on their major-league roster in Tyler Stephenson, Jose Trevino, and Ben Rortvedt, and none of them can be optioned to the minors. While Banfield is unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, he provides glove-first depth at catcher in the event of an injury. Danner, a 27-year-old right-hander, has faced only one hitter in the majors during a brief stint with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023. Across five minor-league seasons, he has posted a 3.86 ERA with 189 strikeouts in 170 1/3 innings. While it is unlikely that either player will make the major-league roster out of spring training, even if they did, neither would be relevant in fantasy for 2026. - as of Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:12:42