According to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com, the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed left-handed pitcher Caleb Ferguson to a one-year contract worth $3 million. Ferguson spent the entire 2024 season in the bullpen but has been stretched out as a starter in the past. Last season, across 54 1/3 innings of relief with the Astros and Yankees, the southpaw posted a 4.64 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. He tallied one save. He generated a solid 26.9% K rate and 46.4% ground-ball rate, which placed him in the 78th and 72nd percentile, respectively. In 2023, Ferguson posted a 3.43 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP across 60 1/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should monitor his production during spring training as he could have an outside chance to be deployed as a starter in the Steel City.

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According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, several teams have checked in on the availability of Oswaldo Cabrera. Kuty noted that the 25-year-old switch-hitter is on an affordable contract and still has another year before salary arbitration, which makes him an intriguing target. He also has experience playing multiple positions in the infield and outfield, which adds to his flexibility. The Yankees are still in the market for an infielder and could potentially use Cabrera as a trade chip to acquire a more experienced bat. With Gleyber Torres now in Detroit, the Yankees have an open spot in their starting lineup. While internal options like Cabrera, DJ LeMahieu, or Oswald Peraza could eventually earn that role, the Yankees have expressed interest in several free agents and trade targets. Last season, Cabrera posted a .247/.296/.365 line with eight home runs and four stolen bases.

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According to the team, the Chicago White Sox have signed veteran backstop Omar Narvaez to a minor-league deal that contains an invite to spring training. The 32-year-old opened the 2024 season with the New York Mets before being released in June. In his limited stint in Queens, Narvaez posted a .154/.191/.185 line with just two extra-base hits. He then finished the season in the Astros minor league system. Through 42 games with Triple-A Sugar Land, the backstop posted a .196/.325/.304 slash line. Narvaez began his major league career on the Southside in 2016 before spending time with the Milwaukee Brewers. He made the National League All-Star roster in 2021, where he posted a .266/.342/.402 line. Given his struggles in the majors last season, he will likely open the 2025 team at Triple-A.

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According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, free agent relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle is drawing interest from eight clubs. Kahnle enjoyed a strong 2024 season with the New York Yankees, posting a 2.11 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 42 2/3 innings of work. He struck out batters at a modest 25.7% clip and generated a strong .203 xBA. He also generated an excellent 59.8% ground ball rate and a 32.1% hard-hit rate which were both among the top marks among pitchers last season. Kahnle tallied 16 holds as he was typically deployed in a set-up role for the Yankees. Given the reported interest, many clubs may view the 35-year-old as a potential closer. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor where he signs, as he could be a valuable target in leagues that score holds if he joins a competing club.

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According to Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe, right-handed pitcher Garrett Whitlock is returning to the bullpen in 2025. Whitlock opened the 2024 season in the rotation but was only able to make four starts before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in May. Across these four starts, the 28-year-old posted a 1.96 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He struck out 17 batters (across 18 1/3 innings) and generated a 36.0% hard-hit rate and 6.0% barrel rate. In 2023, Whitlock spent time in both the bullpen and rotation and held a 5.15 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP across 71 2/3 total innings. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during spring training as he may be able to return to the mound before Opening Day if he does not face a setback in his recovery. Whitlock will likely see time as a long relief option but could eventually earn a high-leverage role later in the summer.

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According to Craig Mish of the Miami Herald, Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara will not be traded before Opening Day. Reports earlier this week suggest the former Cy Young winner could be on the trade block, but Mish dismisses any of these claims. The 2022 Cy Young winner was sidelined for the entire 2024 campaign due to Tommy John surgery. However, he has been progressing very well and should be a full go for spring training. During the 2023 season, he took a step back as he posted a 4.14 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 184 2/3 innings of work. This was a sharp decline from the excellent 2.18 ERA and the 0.98 WHIP he held across a hefty 228 2/3 innings of work in 2022. The right-hander will operate as the ace of the rotation and could eventually find himself on the trade block if the Marlins fall out of the playoff picture later in the season.

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According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the New York Yankees have expressed interest in free agent infielder Paul DeJong. The Yankees have been in the infield market all offseason after losing Gleyber Torres to the Detroit Tigers. Over the past week, they have been linked to San Diego's Luis Arraez but have reportedly begun to lose interest. DeJong would provide a much cheaper alternative and would likely see all his time at the hot corner. Last summer, across 139 games with the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals, DeJong hit 24 home runs with a .227/.276/.427 line. Under the hood, he generated a solid 10.2% barrel rate and a 41.5% hard-hit rate. However, he struggled at the plate, with a hefty 32.4% K rate and a 4.8% walk rate. If he were to head to the Bronx, Jazz Chisholm Jr. would likely spend most of the season at the keystone.

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According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Arizona Diamondbacks would like to trade starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery. Heyman noted that moving his contract would free up salary for a "big-time" relief pitcher. The 32-year-old had a disappointing debut season with Arizona last summer, as he posted a 6.23 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP across 117 innings. He struck out just 83 batters and generated a poor 5.18 xERA and a .287 xBA, placing him in the seventh and third percentile among qualified pitchers. This was a sharp decline to the 3.20 ERA and 1.19 WHIP he held during the 2023 campaign. With the Diamondbacks acquiring Corbin Burnes earlier in free agency, Montgomery is already on the outside of the current rotation. With their surplus of starting pictures, moving Montgomery would allow Arizona to improve in other positions on their roster.

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According to Jon Heyman, the Cincinnati Reds have expressed interest in right-handed pitcher Carlos Estevez. Heyman noted that the Blue Jays are also among the interested suitors. Last season, the 32-year-old spent time with the Angels and the Phillies. Across 55 innings pitched, the reliever held a 2.45 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. He tallied 26 saves. Under the hood, he generated a high 42.3% hard-hit rate and 10.1% barrel rate, which suggests he may be due for some regression in 2025. However, he did show elite command with a 5.7% walk rate. If Estevez were to agree to a contract with Cincinnati, he would likely compete for save opportunities with Alexis Diaz, who posted a high 3.99 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in 2024.

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According to John Denton of MLB.com, the St. Louis Cardinals and infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan could not come to a long-term agreement before Thursday's arbitration deadline. Earlier this week, it was reported that both sides were inching towards a long-term deal but were unable to finalize it. The 27-year-old has spent his entire three-year major league career in St. Louis. Last season, he held a .278/.342/.417 line with 14 home runs and five stolen bases. He showed an elite eye at the plate with a stellar 12.4% K rate and a 15.1% whiff rate. Fantasy managers should expect Donovan to operate as the team's starting second baseman in 2025 but could also see time in the outfield. In addition, he may eventually be shifted to the hot corner with Nolan Arenado's name on the trade block.

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The Detroit Tigers avoided salary arbitration with right-hander Jason Foley on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.15 million deal. In addition to Foley, Detroit also signed one-year deals for 2025 with infielder/outfielder Matt Vierling ($3.005 million), catcher Jake Rogers ($2.64 million), right-handers Casey Mize ($2.34 million), Will Vest ($1.4 million) and Beau Brieske ($1.025 million), and infielders Zach McKinstry ($1.65 million) and Andy Ibanez ($1.4 million). Foley broke out in 2024 with a career-high 28 saves for the Tigers while also sporting a 3.15 ERA (3.82 FIP), a 1.18 WHIP and a 46:20 K:BB in 60 innings pitched. Although the Tigers are a team on the rise after making the postseason last year, Foley lost the closing job midseason and also during the playoffs, so fantasy managers shouldn't bet on a repeat.

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Infielder Edmundo Sosa and the Philadelphia Phillies settled on a one-year, $3.0 million deal on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration, according to a source. Sosa will return to the Phillies in 2025 once again as utility infield depth for one of the strongest rosters in baseball. It means the 28-year-old will mainly be an option for fantasy managers in NL-only formats. The 28-year-old hit .257/.313/.422 with a .734 OPS, seven home runs, 31 RBI, a career-high seven stolen bases and 39 runs scored in 90 games played in 2024 in his second year in Philadelphia. At best, he's a league-average hitter as a utility infielder. Sosa is most valuable in real life as insurance at third base, second base and shortstop for the Phils. He has a modest power and speed profile but strikes out frequently due to poor plate discipline. His multi-position eligibility makes him more attractive as a reserve in deeper fantasy leagues.

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The Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Tyler Wells (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $2.075 million deal on Thursday, avoiding salary arbitration, according to a source. Wells had an internal-brace procedure to fix the UCL in his right elbow in mid-June, which limited him to only three starts in 2024 for the Orioles. Because of the timing of the surgery, the 30-year-old veteran is expected to miss at least the first half of the 2025 campaign. Despite that, he'll receive a $1.96 million raise as an arbitration-eligible player. Fantasy managers in all single-year leagues can avoid wells in drafts this spring. The former 15th-round selection by the Minnesota Twins in 2016 out of California State San Bernardino has a 4.06 career ERA with a 1.04 WHIP, a 271:77 K:BB and five saves in his four years with the O's covering 294 2/3 innings over 95 outings (46 starts).

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The Baltimore Orioles and infielder Ramon Urias settled on a one-year, $3.15 million deal to avoid salary arbitration on Thursday. Even before missing time with an ankle injury, Urias was seeing less playing time in Baltimore. When the 30-year-old veteran infielder did play, he was solid, slashing .254/.322/.423 with 11 home runs, 37 RBI and 39 runs scored in 100 games played. Urias made plenty of contact and hit more fly balls, with his 11 homers representing the second-highest total of his career. He typically doesn't make a ton of loud contact at the plate, though, and with a bench role likely in 2025, there's not enough upside to consider Urias in shallow-mixed fantasy leagues. However, Urias can play almost everywhere on the infield, so an injury could quickly open up regular playing time for him.

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According to Robert Murray of FanSided.com, the Toronto Blue Jays have signed right-handed pitcher Jeff Hoffman to a three-year contract worth $33 million. Hoffman enjoyed a strong campaign in Philadelphia last summer as he posted a 2.17 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP across 66 1/3 innings of work. He tallied ten saves and 21 holds while being deployed as a high-leverage option out of the bullpen. Under the hood, the East Carolina product generated a 2.87 xERA and a .202 xBA which were both within the 90th percentile. In addition, Hoffman's 33.6% K rate and 35.3% whiff rate were significantly above the average marks. Earlier this offseason, the Athletic reported that several clubs viewed Hoffman as a potential starter. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during spring training. If he were to continue to operate as a reliever, he would compete for save opportunities with Chad Green.

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According to Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports, the Chicago Cubs have acquired right-handed pitcher Matt Festa from the Texas Rangers in exchange for cash considerations. In a corresponding move, the Cubs designated infielder Miles Mastrobuoni for assignment. Festa was initially designated for assignment by Texas earlier this week but will now look to compete for a spot on the Cubs Opening Day Roster. Last season, Festa posted a 5.70 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP across 23 2/3 innings of relief in the majors. Mastrobuoni was deployed as a depth option in the Chicago infield last season and held a .191/.245/.224 line across 50 games. If Festa were to earn a spot on the roster, he would likely see time as a low-leverage relief option.

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According to Alex Weiner of AZ Sports, the Arizona Diamondbacks have claimed catcher Rene Pinto off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. Pinto will now join a crowded catching room that consists of Gabriel Moreno, prospect Adrian Del Castillo, and Jose Herrera. Pinto has spent his entire major league career with the Tampa Bay Rays. Last season, Pinto appeared in 19 games and posted a .214/.292/.429 line with three doubles and two home runs. Across 83 career major league games, the 28-year-old holds a .231/.263/.404 line with ten home runs. Given the crowded state of the Arizona catcher room, this may suggest that Del Castillo may see time as a designated hitter this season, or another transaction is in the works. For now, fantasy managers should expect Moreno to see the majority of starts behind the dish.

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According to the team, the Baltimore Orioles have claimed starting pitcher Roansy Contreras off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. In a corresponding move, the Orioles designated infielder Livan Soto for assignment. Contreras has been claimed and released by several clubs this offseason. Last season, across 68 1/3 innings with Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, the right-hander held a 4.53 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He struck out 56 batters and served up 31 free passes. Under the hood, he generated a 4.94 ERA and .260 xBA. In addition, he allowed hard contact at a hefty 43.5% rate and barrels at a 9.7% rate, both of which were well below the average marks. Fantasy managers should not have Contreras on their radar heading into the 2025 season, given his lack of proven success at the major league level.

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According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, right-handed pitcher Colin Rea has signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs worth $6 million. Earlier this offseason, the Brewers declined Rea's option. The 34-year-old has spent the past three seasons with the Brewers. Last summer, Rea spent most of the season operating out of the starting rotation but will likely be deployed out of the bullpen in Chicago, given their depth at starting pitching. Across 167 2/3 innings of work, Rea held a 4.29 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He showed strong command with a 6.0% walk rate but struggled to generate strikeouts as he posted an underwhelming 18.9% clip. He also generated a poor 4.91 xERA and .272 xBA, both well below the average marks. Rea could eventually join the rotation later in the season but is best left as a streaming option in deeper NL-only formats.

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According to MLB.com, Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (elbow/forearm) is throwing off the mound and hopes to return early in the 2025 season. The 31-year-old underwent surgery to repair his right flexor in June of 2023 but faced a setback last season due to soreness. As a result, McCullers has not pitched in a major league game since 2022 but could be nearing a return. In 2022, the right-hander posted a 2.27 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP across 47 2/3 innings of work. During this stint, he struck out 50 batters and generated a solid 32.5% hard-hit and 50.4% barrel rates. During his last complete season in 2021, McCullers posted a 3.16 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP across 162 1/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers in deeper AL-only formats should continue to monitor his progression, as he could be a candidate to rejoin the rotation sometime in early 2025.

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