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The Cleveland Guardians and pitcher Triston McKenzie avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a $1.95 million deal for one year. McKenzie was the 42nd overall pick in the 2015 Draft, but after peaking with a 2.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a 19.7% K-BB% in 2022, the last two seasons have been marred by injury and underperformance, culminating with his demotion to the minors in late June. Things didn't go well there either, posting a 5.23 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and a 9.7% K-BB% over 53 1/3 IP. The Guardians need rotation help though and McKenzie is still only 27 years old, so if he can return to some semblance of his former self, then he could help Cleveland and fantasy managers. Keep an eye on how his spring goes to see if he appears to be headed in the right direction.

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The Washington Nationals have signed pitcher Mason Thompson to a one-year deal. The 26-year-old missed the entire 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery and it is presumed that he'll miss at least some portion of the beginning of 2025 as well. Once he returns, the righty will help the Nats out of the bullpen. When Thompson last played in 2023, the former third-round draft pick pitched to a 5.50 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, and a 9.2% K-BB% in 51 appearances (54 IP). Unless he finds himself in some high-leverage role, the 6-foot-6 hurler will be off the fantasy radar until further notice.

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The Boston Red Sox have signed catcher Seby Zavala to a minor league contract. The veteran debuted back in 2019 but hasn't logged more than 205 plate appearances in any season and is a career .205 hitter, although it was even lower in 2024, batting just .154 in 38 at-bats with Seattle. It wasn't much better in the minors, hitting .188 in 101 ABs at Triple-A. With a career K% of 35.9% in the majors, it's hard to see that getting any better. The former 12th-round pick will provide depth for the Red Sox but the backstop doesn't move the needle for fantasy.

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Free Agent first baseman/designated hitter Joey Meneses has signed with the New York Mets on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring camp. Meneses debuted with the Nationals back in August of 2022 and impressed with a .324/.367/.563 slashline over 240 plate appearances with a .395 wOBA and 158 wRC+, but failed to come close to that type of production over the next two seasons. The 32-year-old finished last season with a .231/.291/.302 slashline with a .264 wOBA and 68 wRC+ in 313 PA. If Meneses wants to make it back to the majors he may have an easier path if the Mets don't re-sign Pete Alonso. Either way, he won't be on the fantasy radar until he's getting regular at-bats with the big league club.

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As expected, Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was named the 2024 National League Most Valuable Player on Thursday night, his third MVP award in the last four seasons. If not for Aaron Judge's amazing season in 2022 in which he set a new American League mark for home runs in a season, Ohtani would have four straight MVP awards under his belt. Ohtani is the first DH to win the award after becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases in the same season. The Japanese two-way player (he'll return to pitching in 2025) becomes the 12th player ever to win three MVPs and the second to do so within his first seven seasons, joining Stan Musial. After signing an unprecedented $700 million deal with LA, Ohtani led the Dodgers to a World Series title and led the NL in homers (54), RBI (130) and OPS (1.036).

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New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was named the 2024 American League Most Valuable Player on Thursday night after receiving all 30 first-place votes for the award. It's Judge's second career MVP award as he beat out the Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. and teammate Juan Soto. The honor was well-earned, as Judge led the majors in home runs (58), RBI (144), OPS (1.159) and wins above replacement (11.2) this year while spending most of his time in center field in the Bronx. He also led the Yankees back to the World Series, although they fell short against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Judge's 223 adjusted OPS was the highest for a right-handed hitter since 1900, according to ESPN research. He becomes the seventh Yankees player to win multiple MVPs, joining Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Alex Rodriguez and Roger Maris.

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Free-agent left-hander Rich Hill said that he wants to pitch again in 2025. Hill's performance for the United States in the WBSC Premier12 tournament with four scoreless innings against Japan certainly helps his cause, although he'll most likely have to settle for a minor-league deal. The 44-year-old southpaw only pitched in 3 2/3 relief innings for the Boston Red Sox in 2024 and allowed two earned runs. If Hill does land with another team on the open market this offseason, he'll be a long shot to return any fantasy value and will mostly be used in mop-up relief duty out of the bullpen instead of as a starter. In 2023 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres, Hill wasn't very effective, posting a 5.41 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 129 strikeouts and 58 walks in 146 1/3 innings over 32 outings (27 starts).

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The Philadelphia Phillies are high on right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Painter, especially after he just looked dominant in the Arizona Fall League, but they will surely limit his innings in 2025. Painter is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, but he'll also turn 22 in April of next year and has problems with injuries in the past. He made six shortened starts in the AFL and logged 15 2/3 innings while being named the league's top pitcher, but he will be limited in 2025 in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. The Phillies would prefer to have Painter at the back of their rotation later in 2025, which means he might not pitch spring training games to preserve his innings. It means that the Phillies need a plan for the back of their rotation in the early portion of the season. Painter's fantasy value will be limited in 2025, but there's no doubt his stuff makes him a high-upside, long-term fantasy starter.

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The Boston Red Sox could be looking to trade outfielder Wilyer Abreu this offseason as they seek to upgrade their starting rotation. The primary reason that makes Abreu expendable is the fact that Boston is rich with young outfielders at the moment -- Roman Anthony is their top prospect, while Kristian Campbell is their No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and they also have Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela. The Seattle Mariners are one team that would be interested in Abreu after he received some votes for Rookie of the Year in 2024. MLB Network's Jon Morosi also mentioned the San Francisco Giants as a potential good fit for Abreu. The 25-year-old Dominican also won a Gold Glove in 2024 while slashing .253/.322/.459 with 15 home runs, 58 RBI, eight steals and 59 runs scored in 132 games in his first full MLB campaign.

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The Athletics said at the winter meetings that they will not trade designated hitter Brent Rooker, and center fielder JJ Bleday also falls into that category, according to a source briefed on the team's thinking. The A's desperately want to add plays as they transition to playing their home games in a minor-league stadium in Sacramento in 2025, but they are also reluctant to trade the few quality players they have. Star closer Mason Miller perhaps could be on the trade block, but the A's would want a quality position player under long-term control in return. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal wrote earlier this year that if the San Diego Padres wanted Miller, the A's likely would have asked for outfielder Jackson Merrill. The A's are deep in outfield prospects, but they're looking for immediate big-league help, which the rest of the league is also doing.

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Rival executives are saying the Chicago Cubs want to trade first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger this offseason, but it might not be that easy. The 29-year-old has a remaining guarantee of $32.5 million -- $27.5 million in salary with $5 million in a potential buyout -- by choosing not to opt out of his deal. Bellinger could sacrifice his buyout and opt in for another $27.5 million in 2026. He was 11 percent above league average in OPS but wasn't as impactful in 2024 as he was in 2023. If the New York Yankees don't re-sign outfielder Juan Soto, Bellinger could be one of their options. However, the $32.5 million that Bellinger is guaranteed would mitigate the return. In order to trade the lefty slugger, Chicago might need to take back an inflated contract or accept marginal prospects in any deal. Bellinger hit .266 with 18 homers, 78 RBI and nine steals in 130 games for the Cubs in 2024.

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Free-agent left-hander Blake Snell recently met with the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, according to sources with knowledge of the talks. It's also possible that Snell met, or will meet, with the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and other teams looking for a high-end starter this offseason. He did not sign until March 19 with the San Francisco Giants in 2024, so Snell is surely looking to land with a team sooner than he did a year ago. The soon-to-be 32-year-old is older than both Max Fried and Corbin Burnes, the other two high-profile free-agent starters on the market. However, unlike Fried and Burnes, he wasn't given a qualifying offer, so a team that signs him won't have to give up draft-pick compensation. Snell got off to a slow start in 2024 and dealt with injuries, but he once again finished strong and exercised an opt-out clause to once again become a free agent.

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Free-agent utility man Nate Eaton signed a minor-league deal with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to a source. If Eaton joins the 40-man roster, the MLB side of his contract is worth $780,000. He will turn 28 years old in December and played in a total of 72 games with the Kansas City Royals in 2022 and 2023, slashing just .201/.266/.283 with a weak .549 OPS, a homer, 13 RBI, 14 steals and 18 runs scored in 178 trips to the plate. The 27-year-old will most likely start the 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester. The former 21st-round pick in 2018 out of Virginia Military Institute played in 116 games at Triple-A Omaha in 2024 and hit .252 (108-for-428) with 16 home runs, 60 RBI and 27 stolen bases. If he returns to the majors in 2025, it will likely be in a bench role.

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The Detroit Tigers signed infielder/outfielder Jahmai Jones to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to camp. The 27-year-old last played with the Yankees in 2024, having logged just 47 plate appearances this season in 33 games, slashing .238/.304/.381 before he was sent down to Triple-A in August for the rest of the season. The former second-round draft pick hit well at Triple-A, batting .304 with an .880 OPS while adding 10 steals in 34 games, and owns a career slashline of .259/.351/.756 in the minors, but has yet to translate that to the big leagues. There are financial incentives in his contract if he makes the big league roster out of camp, but regardless, he'd likely be no more than a platoon player. If Jones were able to work his way into an everyday role, then presumably he'd be hitting and, combined with his speed, he could be an impactful fantasy asset. But that is a big 'if' at this point.

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The Athletics avoided salary arbitration with outfielder/first baseman Seth Brown on Wednesday, agreeing to terms on an undisclosed one-year contract for the 2025 campaign. Brown made $2.6 million in 2024 and provided a .231/.283/.379 slash line with a below-average .662 OPS, 14 home runs, 44 RBI, four stolen bases and 32 runs scored in 400 plate appearances and 124 games in his sixth season with the organization. The 32-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran will remain with the club as they transition to playing their home games in Sacramento in 2025 and figures to play a platoon role against right-handed pitching. He actually had a lower average (.229) against lefties than righties last season but hit 13 of his 14 round-trippers against righties. Brown will mostly be an AL-only outfielder for depth given his limited upside on one of the weakest teams in baseball.

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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale won the NL Cy Young Award on Wednesday, the first time the 35-year-old has won the award in his 15-year career, despite finishing in the top five in six consecutive seasons from 2013-18. The lefty went 18-3 while posting a 2.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a 26.5% K-BB% while earning a trip to the All-Star game for the eighth time. The veteran also won his first career Gold Glove award in 2024. It looks like the Braves won this trade with the Red Sox, as Vaughn Grissom was sent to the Red Sox in exchange for Sale, and Grissom played just 31 games this season due to injury, posting just a .190/.246/.219. Hopefully Sale's injury issues are behind him and he can continue to pitch a few more years with this type of effectiveness before any age-related decline kicks in. The southpaw was quite the value in fantasy drafts in 2024, but he will cost much more in 2025.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal won the AL Cy Young Award on Wednesday, the first time the 28-year-old has won the award. The lefty dominated in his 15 starts in 2023 after his return from Tommy John surgery and backed it up with a full season of dominance in 2024. The southpaw went 18-4 while posting a 2.39 ERA -- FIP, xFIP, and SIERA were all under 3.00 as well -- with a 0.92 WHIP, and an elite 25.6% K-BB% in 31 starts (192 IP). The former ninth-round draft pick also made it to his first All-Star game this season. He'll certainly cost quite a bit more in 2025 fantasy drafts than he did this year, but so long as he can stay healthy, he has the repertoire to deliver on a high draft-day price tag.

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The Chicago Cubs acquired catcher Matt Thaiss on Wednesday from the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations, while RHP Trey Wingenter was designated for assignment (DFA) in a corresponding move. A week ago, Thaiss was DFAd after the Angels signed veteran Travis d'Arnaud as their backup catcher to Logan O'Hoppe. The Cubs saw too much offensive futility out of their backstops in 2024 and are now without veterans Yan Gomes and Christian Bethancourt after they became free agents in June and November respectively. Thaiss figures to slot in as the veteran presence behind Miguel Amaya, and this could further delay the debut of 21-year-old star prospect Moises Ballesteros unless the Cubs bring him up as a DH. Thaiss made his major league debut in 2019 but is a career .208 hitter with a career .292 wOBA and 83 wRC+, so he's off the fantasy radar for now and he may not be able to hold off Ballesteros long.

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The Athletics signed free-agent left-hander Matt Krook and right-hander Jason Alexander to minor-league deals late last week. Krook, 30, pitched one inning in relief for the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 and allowed three runs (two earned) while walking one and striking out two. He saw most of his action at Triple-A Norfolk, posting a 3.92 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with a save, 54 strikeouts and 31 walks in 41 relief appearances. Alexander, 31, hasn't pitched in the majors since debuting in 2022 with the Milwaukee Brewers, when he had a 5.40 ERA and 1.62 WHIP over 71 2/3 innings in 18 appearances (11 starts). He spent this past season pitching for Triple-A Worcester in the Red Sox's organization, going 7-6 with a 4.42 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP and a 129:39 K:BB in 29 outings (27 starts) covering 138 1/3 frames. Both Krook and Alexander are likely to start at Triple-A Las Vegas in 2025.

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Free-agent first baseman Trenton Brooks signed a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres. Brooks will stay in the National League West division after making his major-league debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2024. The 29-year-old former 17th-round pick by the Cleveland Guardians in 2016 out of the University of Nevada only played in 12 games for the Gigantes and went 3-for-25 (.120) with an RBI, stolen base and three runs scored while striking out six times. The left-handed hitter was much better in the minors in 94 games with Triple-A Sacramento, slashing a robust .302/.410/.453 with an impressive .863 OPS, 10 home runs, 58 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 62 runs scored in 407 plate appearances. Brooks will likely start the 2025 season with the Padres in Triple-A El Paso as he looks to work his way back to the majors.

From RotoBaller