Tracking the offseason MLB trades and signings with fantasy baseball implications for the upcoming season, Eric Karabell and Tristan H. Cockcroft will analyze and provide an outlook for all of the key players involved.
While players were allowed to sign with new teams as early as Nov. 6, things really started to heat up at the league's annual winter meetings in Orlando, Florida, which took place Dec. 7-10. Expect more news of trades and signings now that the calendar has turned to 2026.
Many top free agent options have already found new teams. However, there are still a few outstanding names who may yet end up with new teams.
Recent big additions: Bo Bichette | Kyle Tucker | Nolan Arenado | Framber Valdez
As the contracts get signed, this is the place to find all of the fantasy fallout of those deals, so be sure to check back throughout the hot stove season for updates.
Note: Not every transaction warrants the attention of fantasy managers, but for those signings and trades that do merit analysis, you'll find them listed below. Players will be separated by position and then listed in chronological order of the move within each positional grouping, with the latest news coming first. Also included are links to any standalone analysis stories and/or videos regarding major free agent signings and trades. Players who end up re-signing with their previous team will not always be included.
Jump to:
Catcher | First base | Second base | Shortstop | Third base
Outfield | DH | Starting pitcher | Relief pitcher
Catcher
J.T. Realmuto re-signs with Phillies: As the years progress, Realmuto has become the kind of catcher whose value to his real team declines at a much lesser pace than his value does in fantasy leagues. He'll play the 2026 season at 35 years old -- an age at or after which only two catchers (defensive whizzes Yadier Molina, in 2018, and Salvador Perez, in 2025) have exceeded 500 plate appearances over the last 12 seasons. And almost all of Realmuto's offensive metrics noticeably tumbled in 2025.
His return to Philadelphia is a big boost to the Phillies' pitching staff, and he'll deepen the lower half of their lineup even if simply that he's a better hitter than Rafael Marchan or Garrett Stubbs might be, but Realmuto is more name-value than true-value for our purposes at this stage of his career. Consider him to be a volume-oriented backstop to round out your draft if you waited on the position, or an average starter in a two-catcher, 15-team mixed league or deeper. -- Cockcroft (1/16)
Nationals acquire Harry Ford from Mariners: Ford, the No. 12 pick in the 2021 amateur draft, was clearly blocked in Seattle by Cal Raleigh, but he should see legitimate opportunity with the Nationals, where veteran Keibert Ruiz underachieved in recent seasons. Questions remain about Ford's power upside and defensive prowess (he may move off catcher), but there is little worry about him reaching base. Ford boasted a 16% walk rate and .408 OBP over 97 Triple-A games this past season, which is consistent with prior results and certainly good news for points-league investors.
In addition, the speedy Ford was a solid stolen base threat during most of his minor-league run, though he stole only seven bases in 11 attempts at Triple-A. More than a handful of big-league stolen bases would differentiate him from other catchers, where only two (including Raleigh) reached double digits. It may be a tad premature to call Ford a top-10 fantasy catcher as he enters his age-23 season, but he could certainly get there with volume and the reasonable lure of both double-digit home runs and stolen bases. -- Karabell (12/8)
First base
Carlos Santana signs with Diamondbacks: Once a points-league star, Santana has seen his skills gradually erode as he has aged and, after a 2025 that saw him post career worsts in OBP, slugging, isolated power and average exit velocity, he'll likely settle for a weak-side platoon role for the Diamondbacks. Santana is primarily useful for daily matchups, when he gets the call against a weaker starter or in a hitter-friendly venue. His arrival, though, steals some playing time from Pavin Smith, locking Smith into a matchups-oriented role in daily formats as well. -- Cockcroft (2/4)
Luis Arraez signs with Giants: Arraez's agreement with the Giants buoys his fantasy value in a way you might not expect at this stage of the year. Largely a first baseman for the Padres in 2025, he's expected to be the Giants' everyday second baseman this season, restoring his eligibility there after 10 games played in 2026. It's also likely he'll remain a top-two hitter in the lineup, whereas he might have to settle for a lower-in-the-order or part-time role had he signed elsewhere. Arraez's skills took a tumble last year, but he remains one of the game's best contact hitters, making him a potential top-100 overall pick with his new team. -- Cockcroft (2/1)
Ryan O'Hearn signs with Pirates: O'Hearn, 32, was an All-Star and a top-100 hitter in ESPN points formats last season, hitting 13 home runs for the Orioles, and then four more for the Padres, with a solid walk rate. Perhaps most notably, he was far from a liability against left-handed pitching, posting an .832 OPS against lefties over 109 PA. That bodes well for O'Hearn getting a chance for full-time duty in Pittsburgh, where he can play first base, corner outfield or DH. O'Hearn isn't likely to break out into a 25-HR fellow performing half the time in that picturesque, but pitcher-friendly ballpark. Still, he's worth a late-round fantasy pick in many standard formats, perhaps providing similar production to far bigger, more popular names. -- Karabell (12/23)
Red Sox acquire Willson Contreras from Cardinals: Contreras, no longer eligible at catcher in fantasy leagues (sigh), finished outside the top 100 hitters in ESPN points formats with his 20 home runs, 80 RBI and declining walk rate. Fantasy managers were hoping for more with Conteras moving from behind the plate, but Gavin Sheets, Ryan O'Hearn and Miguel Vargas were among the unsung, 1B-eligible options to outscore him.
Contreras should see a boost in production by heading to Boston, hitting in the middle of a stronger lineup and lining myriad doubles off Fenway Park's left field wall. It would also be nice to see his walk rate head back to double digits. While younger brother William Contreras is the one you want in the top 100 (and perhaps in the top 50), Willson, entering his age-34 season, can still matter in ESPN formats. He should go in a similar draft spot to fellow 1B options Christian Walker, Spencer Torkelson and Alec Burleson. -- Karabell (12/21)
Josh Bell signs with Twins: Bell, 33, hit 22 home runs and drew 57 walks for the Nationals in 2025, consistent with recent numbers as he continues on what appears to be a quest to play with every single MLB franchise. These numbers hardly make Bell a fantasy star, but they are enough to make him among the top 25 points scorers at first base. Rare is the contact-oriented first baseman, but Bell posted an 81.2% rate in 2025, with a low 16.5% strikeout rate. Every at-bat not ending in a strikeout matters in points formats!
Bell, who signed a one-year deal and seems a candidate for another midseason trade to a contender -- it wouldn't be his first -- is likely to remain a free agent in ESPN's shallow formats. However, in deeper, more traditional leagues, he has a role as a late-round pick, as his consistency has value. Bell is going in a similar range in NFBC ADP to Jeff McNeil, Nathaniel Lowe and Mike Yastrzemski, outside the overall top 400. -- Karabell (12/15)
Pete Alonso signs with Orioles: A year after testing the free agent waters only to return to the Mets on a two-year deal with an opt-out clause (which he predictably exercised), Alonso finally found his big payday, becoming the latest star to migrate to the American League East. Alonso gives the Orioles the big bopper they haven't had -- not simply last year, but in a decade -- as he has hit 34 or more home runs in each of his six full-length major league seasons, whereas no Oriole in history has more than four such campaigns (Boog Powell, Rafael Palmeiro). The Orioles' 2025 leader in homers had 17, less than half of Alonso's 38.
Alonso's installation into the cleanup, or possibly No. 3, spot in the order, depending upon new manager Craig Albernaz's lineup construction, provides a significant boost to the Orioles' offense, especially the team's up-and-coming stars. If -- and, really, when -- the team sees an uptick in run scoring as a result of the signing, perhaps closer to the 4.85 per game average it had in 2024, it'll be no coincidence that it came in years where the Orioles had a power-hitting bat in those run productive lineup spots (it was Anthony Santander in 2024). Gunnar Henderson enjoyed a breakthrough 2024 that vaulted him into the first round in many fantasy drafts last season, scoring 118 runs split between the Nos. 1 and 3 lineup spots, and he's a much more attractive rebound candidate now with a stronger core around him.
As for Alonso's own numbers, the move to Baltimore's Camden Yards could represent a noticeable boost to his power potential, as after the team shifted its left-field fence back in last season, the venue ranked second in home runs and seventh in run scoring among park factors. I prefer using a three-year analysis, but with the dimensions shifting, a reasonable guess would be to regress last season's numbers slightly, which would mean a decent boost in home runs. The No. 27 performer in terms of fantasy points and No. 37 on the Player Rater (rotisserie scoring), Alonso should deliver similar, if not a round better, numbers in 2026.
One final thought: Alonso's departure from the Mets, coupled with the trade of Brandon Nimmo, does take two of the team's better on-base specialists off the roster. Yes, the Mets still have one of baseball's best in that regard in Juan Soto, as well as an owner who will probably invest payroll in suitable replacements to pick up the on-base slack, but there could be an adverse impact on the team's run-scoring potential dependent upon how that gets addressed. -- Cockcroft (12/10)
Josh Naylor re-signs with Mariners: Among the more unexpected statistical outcomes of 2025 was Naylor's 30 stolen bases, a total propped up by the 19 he swiped in 54 games following his July trade from the Diamondbacks. With the speedy finish, Naylor finished 16th overall on the Player Rater, his production in the stolen base category making him especially valuable in leagues that use rotisserie scoring. He'd also finish 36th in fantasy points, still an outstanding outcome.
Back in Seattle for the next five seasons, Naylor's rotisserie value is less likely to regress than it might have almost anywhere else. Under manager Dan Wilson, the Mariners were one of the most aggressive teams on the basepaths in baseball, attempting steals on a third most-frequent 8.7% of their opportunities for the season, and a second-most 10.0% from the date of Naylor's Mariners debut (July 25) forward. Though he lacks top-shelf raw speed, Naylor has been successful on 85.9% of his career stolen base attempts, a facet of his game that Wilson should surely continue to exploit.
Maybe Safeco Field's pitcher-friendly nature will keep Naylor's home run output closer to the 20-HR number he had in 2025 than the 30 he hit in 2024, but he's much more likely to steal 20 bases in Seattle than the 7.3 he averaged from 2022-24. He'll once again be a top-10 fantasy first baseman and a near top-50 player overall, similarly valued to fellow first baseman Freddie Freeman. -- Cockcroft (11/17)
Second base
Mariners acquire Brendan Donovan from Cardinals in three-team deal: He's a more valuable points-league player than in roto, having finished at least 44 ranking spots higher in the former than latter in each of the past three seasons. Donovan's combination of contact-hitting and extra-base ability makes him a consistently reliable pick for the back end of your lineup.
Getting out of St. Louis will be good for his fantasy value, not necessarily because of the park translations -- Safeco Field on the whole is as much of a pitchers' heaven as was Busch Stadium -- but because the Cardinals are in a full-fledged rebuild and wouldn't have surrounded him with the kind of lineup that would fatten his runs scored and RBI totals. Donovan will probably lead off for the Mariners against right-handers, padding his run total and giving him a decent boost in plate appearances as well, even if he's now unlikely to see enough playing time away from second base to qualify anywhere else in 2026.
The bigger story to the Donovan trade, however, might be back in St. Louis, where top prospect JJ Wetherholt's chances at making the Opening Day roster -- if not getting a mid-April recall -- substantially improved. His elite plate discipline should help him more easily adapt to MLB competition than a typical rookie, and he's now a clear stash in all fantasy formats with the likelihood he'll be their starting second baseman. Lars Nootbaar, meanwhile, will probably inherit Donovan's vacated starts at leadoff against right-handers. -- Cockcroft (2/3)
Willi Castro signs with Rockies: Valued in fantasy leagues primarily for his multi-positional versatility, Castro's arrival in Colorado makes him a useful bench piece in ESPN standard leagues, where managers can freely choose from his Coors Field games and occasional road matchups against weak starting pitchers. His line-drive oriented swing -- his 27.0% rate over the past two seasons ranks in the 90th percentile -- is ideal for Coors' spacious outfield gaps, which dramatically boosts hitters' BABIP and results in higher batting averages.
The Rockies, too, are almost certain to play him regularly (OF/2B/3B/SS?) and volume is a major driving factor in his fantasy value. This isn't to say that Castro warrants a hearty investment in drafts, as he'd be a league-average regular (if not beneath that) playing at sea level, but he has landed in perhaps the singularly most-relevant city for a player with his skill set. -- Cockcroft (1/16)
Athletics acquire Jeff McNeil from Mets: Though the true excitement surrounding this trade will center upon the Mets possibly pursuing Ketel Marte, McNeil landed in one of the better situations for a player who no longer seemed to have a role in New York. Sacramento's Sutter Health Park, after all, was one of the most hitter-friendly venues in baseball last season, ranking second in run scoring and sixth in home run factors, per Statcast -- putting aside for a moment the volatility involved in single-year park factors -- meaning the ballpark change alone should add a little value to McNeil's bat.
He'll play regularly for the A's, presumably all at second base, and his penchant for contact should keep him in the middle infield tier of fantasy players, regardless of format. -- Cockcroft (12/22)
Pirates acquire Brandon Lowe from Rays: Lowe hit 31 home runs for the 2025 Rays, tied for the most among all middle infielders, and it wasn't a fluke. Lowe, 31, smacked 39 blasts in 2021 and has always slugged well against right-handed pitching (.500 career slugging). He doesn't hit left-handers well (.420 career, .695 OPS). The Pirates might not care. As a team, they hit just 117 home runs in 2025 -- 31 fewer than the next-worst MLB team (Cardinals). No Pirate reached 21 home runs. Lowe has done this four of the past five seasons. Hitting in PNC Park can be a challenge, but Lowe's power is legit.
Then again, Lowe used to be a better fantasy option, one who drew a double-digit walk rate each season. That has fallen drastically over the past two seasons, though his batting average has risen. It's odd and potentially a problem. Lowe hit .256 last season, his best mark in a full season. He hasn't been the most durable fellow, participating in 135 games only once in his career, and 15 2B-eligibles scored more fantasy points last year. Still, Lowe is going among the top 175 players in NFBC ADP, and he should go in ESPN drafts as well. Just don't make him a top-100 choice. -- Karabell (12/19)
Jorge Polanco signs with Mets: Well, he isn't Pete Alonso, but it appears the Mets intend for Polanco to replace Alonso at first base (and DH) and offer some semblance of his production at a fraction of the price. This is semi-sensible. Polanco was a solid value for the Mariners and fantasy managers in 2025, finishing No. 61 among hitters in fantasy points when few targeted him on draft day. Polanco hit .265 with 26 home runs, each his best mark since 2021, with his adjusted approach chopping his bloated strikeout rate nearly in half while still increasing power in a challenging home Seattle ballpark (where his OPS was .902).
He is going just inside the top 250 of NFBC ADP, so perhaps he goes undrafted in ESPN formats, but there should be more interest in a switch-hitting, 2B-eligible option coming off a 26-HR season who should earn eligibility at a second infield spot quite quickly in 2026. -- Karabell (12/14)
Mets acquire Marcus Semien from Rangers: Semien comes off arguably the worst season of his long career, posting a .669 OPS and delivering only 32 extra-base hits. While he was one of the most durable players in the sport for years, he missed 35 games in 2025, most with a late-season foot injury, when many fantasy managers had already moved on. As recently as 2023, Semien was a building block fantasy option.
Now entering his age-36 season, Semien continues to see his hard-hit rate and exit velocity figures head in the wrong direction. While leaving the pitcher's haven of Globe Life Field for anywhere else feels like an important upgrade, it's not like Citi Field is Coors Field, either. These ballparks were similar for right-handed power in 2025. Semien finished outside the top 20 second basemen in ESPN points, and he was No. 28 at the position on the (roto/categories) Player Rater. While it is possible Semien, who still runs well and defends, bounces back somewhat at the plate, he is far from a top 100 pick on draft day. -- Karabell (11/23)
Shortstop
Bo Bichette signs with Mets: Bichette, who turns 28 in March, bounced back nicely from a rough 2024 season, hitting .311 with 18 home runs for the pennant-winning Blue Jays, ranking 27th among hitters in fantasy points. He parlayed his success into a potential three-year deal, although he can opt out after each of the first two years and seek a longer-term contract. In other words, Bichette is a Met for 2026. After that, who knows?
A shortstop until the most recent playoffs, when he handled second base, Bichette figures to make his debut at third base for the Mets, although the team's DH role is also in play considering the plight of Brett Baty, Mark Vientos and Jorge Polanco. Bichette's most important role will be at the plate, of course, where he earns a coveted lineup spot near the top of the order, likely to be either directly ahead of or immediately following OF Juan Soto, an OBP star. That will be a prime spot.
If Bichette can replicate his 2025 season, hitting for his typical high average (he is a career .294 hitter, fifth among active players) with modest power and an 84.4% contact rate (albeit with few walks and fewer stolen bases), the Mets -- and fantasy managers -- will be pleased. Bichette is not a "building block" fantasy option for points or roto/categories formats, but he should be among the top 75 selections. -- Karabell (1/16)
Third base
Red Sox acquire Caleb Durbin from Brewers: Durbin finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting, and fantasy managers enjoyed his 11 home runs, 18 stolen bases and 60 runs scored, along with a sub-10% strikeout rate. This production may not seem like much, but it made Durbin the No. 11 third baseman in ESPN points formats, and nearly a top-100 hitter.
Unfortunately, unless he walks and/or steals more, there may not be much more offensive upside, since Durbin was among the lesser regulars in hard-hit rate, Barrel rate and average exit velocity. This version works well enough for deeper formats, even though the Red Sox may place him near the bottom of their deep lineup. Durbin will likely be underrated in many drafts, regardless of format, making him a surprising sleeper. -- Karabell (2/9)
Eugenio Suarez signs with Reds: After hitting 49 home runs combined for the Diamondbacks and Mariners last season, Suarez returns to the team for which he first hit a career-high 49 homers (2019), not to mention the ballpark in which he hit 20 more home runs and slugged 50 points higher than in his road games as a member of the Reds from 2015-21. Suarez rejoined the Reds with this in mind, and he'll slide in as their DH -- superior defender Ke'Bryan Hayes will handle third base -- and presumed cleanup hitter.
It's one of the most favorable offensive environments he could reasonably have picked, and it gives Suarez his best chance at repeating his No. 6 finish among third basemen (Player Rater or fantasy points scored) from 2025. It does take away at-bats from younger players like Sal Stewart and Spencer Steer, however. -- Cockcroft (2/2)
Diamondbacks acquire Nolan Arenado from Cardinals: Arenado may be a future Hall of Famer (10 Gold Gloves, 57.8 WAR), but he has not been much of a fantasy option in recent seasons. Arenado, who turns 35 in April, hit only .237 with 12 home runs over 107 games in 2025. He finished just outside the top-20 third basemen in fantasy points, but barely inside the top 50 at his position on the Player Rater. His high contact rate/low strikeout rate makes him more valuable in points formats these days, but not immensely valuable.
Arenado remains a strong defender, however, and the Diamondbacks didn't trade much to get him. The Cardinals just wanted to move on and drop salary. Arenado should bounce back a bit at the plate, and if he can play 140 games, perhaps he hits 20 home runs. He doesn't have to be selected in ESPN's shallow leagues (no corner infielder spot), but he probably will be.
Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks had already indicated longtime prospect Jordan Lawlar would play outfield moving forward, and the recent trade of Jake McCarthy only reiterates that intention. Despite his struggles to hit big-league pitching in brief opportunities since 2023 (.165 batting average in 97 AB), Lawlar eventually will hit. He will run. In fact, we can make a solid case one is better off investing in Lawlar over Arenado in 2026 fantasy leagues. -- Karabell (1/13)
Alex Bregman signs with Cubs: Bregman is one of the more underrated players in fantasy points leagues, with his 1,866 points scored 20th among hitters and 2.80 points per game 19th over the past five seasons, despite the fact that he has never hit 30 home runs, batted as high as .275 or accumulated as many as 175 hits or 100 walks in any one of those years. His keen eye at the plate, resulting in elite contact and walk rates, and penchant for doubles are perfect for our standard scoring system, and fantasy managers have come to accept that he's no longer the player who placed top five in the MVP voting at the ages of 24 and 25 in 2018-19.
The move to Chicago shouldn't change much for Bregman statistically. He'll slot in second or third in the Cubs lineup, behind a potential leadoff combination of Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner, and ahead of probable heart-of-the-order hitters Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and/or Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Cubs lineup tends to be fluid based upon the matchup, so Bregman should reside in a comfortable position however the roster eventually settles. Bregman's fly ball-, pull-oriented swing also didn't grant him a huge advantage at Boston's Fenway Park -- he hit .246/.347/.414 at home last year -- so the park change shouldn't have an adverse impact upon him.
Bregman's signing, however, raises a major roster question: Is he going to supplant second-year player Matt Shaw, a .258/.317/.522 second-half hitter, at third base, or might Shaw shift to second base, with Hoerner traded? As things stand, Shaw stands to suffer the most in terms of playing time, making him an effective non-factor in redrafts, though it's entirely possible that the Cubs will dabble with him in the outfield during spring training. -- Cockcroft (1/11)
Kazuma Okamoto signs with Blue Jays: The Blue Jays continue their impressive offseason by securing Okamoto to a four-year contract. Okamoto, a right-handed slugger in the Seiya Suzuki mold who delivered power with high walk and contact rates in Japan, missed much of last season due to an elbow injury, but he is expected to be ready for spring training.
Okamoto hit .278 with 41 home runs during the 2023 season, but fantasy managers should not expect numbers quite at that level for the Blue Jays. Something like .260 with 25 home runs seems more reachable and would make Okamoto worth drafting in most leagues. He is currently going just inside the top 300 in NFBC ADP, but that figure will rise with the confirmation that he will play half of his games in a solid Toronto lineup and in a solid home ballpark for hitting. -- Karabell (1/3)
Munetaka Murakami signs with White Sox: One of the top Japanese sluggers is headed to Chicago, where fantasy managers will dream of big power numbers. Murakami mashed 56 home runs in 2022, and while he hasn't approached that number since, he did swat 22 home runs in 56 games in a 2025 season that was shortened because of an injury.
A third baseman likely to handle first base for Chicago, Murakami will also draw many walks and strike out quite a bit, a quintessential three-true-outcomes slugger. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect a high batting average as he enters his age-26 season, but there is certainly top-200 points league upside. Murakami is going inside the top 250 in NFBC ADP, but that figure will certainly rise now that he has found a team. -- Karabell (12/21)
Outfield
Harrison Bader signs with Giants: Bader, 31, comes off a "career" offensive season in which he hit .277 with 17 home runs for the Twins and Phillies, while continuing to play excellent defense. It was his first season reaching 500 plate appearances. Bader stole double-digit bases for the fourth consecutive season and greatly raised his unsatisfactory walk rate, but it was not enough to convince fantasy managers that this is a top-50 outfielder in points leagues moving forward.
The Giants, Bader's seventh MLB team (all since 2022), intend to play him in center field and move Jung Hoo Lee to right. We hope the strides Bader seemed to make in 2025 stick -- drawing walks, hitting right-handed pitching, simply staying healthy -- but there's a reason he isn't among the top 300 players in NFBC ADP. -- Karabell (1/26)
Cody Bellinger re-signs with Yankees: By electing to remain in pinstripes, Bellinger should continue to benefit from perhaps the most singularly ideal destination for his skill set. Though his underlying metrics -- particularly in the contact-quality departments -- leave a lot to be desired, his extreme fly ball, pull-oriented swing is a perfect match to Yankee Stadium and its short right-field porch. Plus, batting behind Aaron Judge, as Bellinger did in 105 of his 148 starts last year, is a boon to his RBI total.
The Yankees, too, make the most of Bellinger's versatility, starting him at least 38 times at each of the three outfield positions as well as three times at first base, which affords them the luxury of squeezing in better matchups across the lineup around him. Memories of his 2019 MVP campaign are now quite distant, but Bellinger should be due at least another 2025-caliber year of production. -- Cockcroft (1/21)
Mets acquire Luis Robert Jr. from White Sox: Coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons, Robert has at least offered elite baserunning and defensive metrics, things that will be put to good use by the Mets. Now three years removed from a breakthrough 38-HR, 20-SB season, he has seen his contact-quality metrics regress in both of the years since -- despite elite bat speed -- probably due to some combination of his poor plate discipline and injury issues.
Nevertheless, rotisserie managers were surely pleased with his career-high 33 steals last season, so long as they either held him at a discount rate in a dynasty/keeper league or acquired him at a beneath-his-ADP cost. The Mets provide Robert a far stronger supporting cast, even if he's likelier to hit lower in the lineup than he did for the White Sox. Expect an overall boost in his plate appearances, runs and RBI. He's a decent rebound bet, albeit more so in rotisserie than points leagues, especially with a strong spring. -- Cockcroft (1/21)
Angels acquire Josh Lowe from Rays: Lowe, who had a top-30 rotisserie season as a 25-year-old in 2023, has seen his career take noticeable downturns in both of the two seasons since, with an oblique injury perhaps influencing what was a rock-bottom 2025. Instead of going with the Rays back to pitcher-heaven Tropicana Field (after a year at much friendlier-to-bats George M. Steinbrenner Field), he'll now play 2026 in a more hitter-oriented environment at Angel Stadium, for a team that'll have outfield at-bats to spare due to a lack of depth and/or players with the ability to stay on the field.
Recent reports say Lowe has spent the winter working on his conditioning and he's in a better environment to fuel a rebound, making him a player to watch during spring training. He's not draft-worthy in standard leagues yet, and is more roto- than points-oriented, but could be a potential value with a strong March. -- Cockcroft (1/16)
Rays acquire Gavin Lux from Reds: Though he'll begin 2026 as an OF-only in ESPN leagues, make no mistake that Lux will in all likelihood be their starting second baseman and leadoff hitter. He has fallen massively short of the expectations that surrounded him as a top-five overall prospect entering the 2020 season in his four full years in the big leagues, settling in as more of an elite-discipline, line-drive type best used in a straight platoon (both in the on-field and fantasy games).
The move from Great American Ball Park to Tropicana Field as his home ballpark represents dramatic contrast in park factors, so Lux shouldn't be expected to be much more than what he has been in his career to date. Still, that has value in leagues that afford you streaming ability, at least in those deeper than ESPN's standard. -- Cockcroft (1/16)
Kyle Tucker signs with Dodgers: Debate all you want about whether it's "good for baseball" for the Dodgers to have a near-$400 million payroll, but for fantasy baseball purposes, Tucker in Los Angeles is great for him and all of his new teammates. The Dodgers are effectively building themselves a monster fantasy team, rostering five of the 13 best individual hitting point totals of the past three seasons, accumulated by the four players now projected to occupy the top four spots in their lineup (Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and now Tucker).
That's one of the most loaded top fours in any lineup, and that's not even including Will Smith, Teoscar Hernandez and Max Muncy, all of them heart-of-the-order types if they played for any other team. The Dodgers will almost assuredly pace the majors in runs scored, padding every hitter's run and RBI totals, while turning the lineup over at a high rate, giving their hitters a volume advantage as well. Betts and Freeman might now be on the downslope of their careers, however gradual, but the team's lineup depth could mask that, at least for 2026.
Tucker, incidentally, was a top-10 overall fantasy player during the first three months of 2025, before a hand fracture he attempted to play through caused him to bat only .225/.348/.342 the rest of the way. The Dodgers will surely do their due diligence to ensure he's now fully healthy, so the Tucker we saw early last year, or the one who nearly went 30/30 in 2023, seems likely to be the model we see for most of 2026. He's a clear first-round pick universally with the move, moving up to ninth overall in my rankings, ahead of Corbin Carroll. -- Cockcroft (1/15)
Adolis Garcia signs with Phillies: Garcia, who turns 33 in March, posted a career-low .665 OPS for the 2025 Rangers, which is worse than what Nick Castellanos, who is on the way anywhere else from Philadelphia, achieved. Garcia is a far better right fielder -- well, every right fielder is -- and the Phillies are hoping he returns, on this one-year deal, to his stellar 2023 production, when he hit 39 home runs with a 10.3% walk rate and .836 OPS. Fantasy managers sure loved that version!
That seems unlikely, especially since Garcia's hard-hit and barrel rates are trending in the wrong direction, but leaving Globe Life Field for Citizens Bank Park figures to help. Garcia failed to finish among the top 50 outfielders in points scoring in 2025, and he is going outside that range in early NFBC ADP, but fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised with some bounce back to 25 home runs and an OPS more like his career .734 mark. Ignore Garcia in ESPN's shallow three-outfielder formats but be open to the possibility in traditional five-outfielder leagues. -- Karabell (12/15)
Mike Yastrzemski signs with Braves: One might initially scoff at this signing for fantasy, but Yaz was a top-50 outfielder in ESPN points formats last season. The 17 home runs he hit for the Giants and Royals were on par with prior results, but the 72 walks and 12.9% walk rate were not. Throw in 558 PA (tying a career high) and this is a reasonable choice in five-outfielder formats. The Braves will likely platoon Yastrzemski, as he slugged a meager .223 off lefties last season, but that makes him a lively streamer in daily formats, too. -- Karabell (12/11)
Cedric Mullins signs with Rays: Mullins may seem like someone fantasy managers can ignore, since he hit just .216 for the Orioles and Mets last season and hasn't hit above .235 since 2022, but the power/speed combination remains interesting in deeper formats. Don't expect another 30-HR, 30-SB season like in 2021, but Mullins has hit at least 15 homers and stolen at least 19 bases in each year since then. That matters, more in roto/categories leagues, and it offsets the low batting average.
Mullins struggled for the Mets after last summer's trade, hitting a sad .182 in 42 games, but he gets a new start in Tampa, presumably as a platoon option, because the Rays dabble in that sort of thing. That may help Mullins in batting average while costing him plate appearances. Regardless, expect relevant home runs and stolen bases, which is not bad for a final outfielder. Mullins is going just outside the top 75 outfielders and top 300 players in NFBC ADP. At 31, he is hardly too old to bounce back a bit. -- Karabell (12/4)
Rangers acquire Brandon Nimmo from Mets: Nimmo has been a reliable fantasy outfielder for four seasons, and he comes off a career-best 25 home runs in 2025. The problem, at least in points formats, is his reliable double-digit walk rate cratered to 7.7%. Still, Nimmo should hit near the top of the Texas lineup and ostensibly replace the departed Adolis Garcia, a very different player.
Nimmo hasn't been a terrific source of on-base percentage over the past two seasons, but he still finished 2025 as the No. 20 outfielder on points formats, and there is room for improvement. Switching to pitcher-friendly Globe Life Park may not affect him as much as it would most, if he can rediscover his excellent plate discipline, continue hitting for modest power and play in more than 150 games for the fifth consecutive campaign. This isn't a top 100 player on draft day, but a fine, reliable, mid-round choice. -- Karabell (11/23)
Orioles acquire Taylor Ward from Angels: In 2025, the Orioles hit 44 fewer home runs than the year prior and nobody reached 20, so the franchise coveted power, especially from the right side. Ward helps the offense (though at the high cost of younger, controllable, albeit brittle RHP Grayson Rodriguez), achieving a career-high (easily) 36 blasts this past season, and he also drew 75 walks. Only five hitters reached the combination of both those figures, and only 13 outfielders (39 hitters) scored more fantasy points.
It took several years, but Ward has finally delivered consecutive seasons with power, plate discipline and durability. His 2026 season will be his last before free agency, which is quite the motivating factor and probably a key reason the Angels made him expendable. While the change in home ballpark may not help, a better lineup around Ward, with SS Gunnar Henderson expected to bounce back offensively, may offset it. Expect another solid power/walk season from Ward, who has been going around the 17th round of early National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC) drafts. -- Karabell (11/19)
Designated hitter
Marcell Ozuna signs with Pirates: This seems like an odd one, but the Pirates wanted more power in their lineup, and a healthy Ozuna may be primed to provide it. Remember, Ozuna hit a composite .289/.364/.552 for the 2023-24 Braves over 1,280 PA, with 79 home runs and 204 RBI. He did not hit near that level last season, blaming a hip injury, though he still managed 21 home runs and drew 94 walks, the latter figure bettered by only six players.
No Pirates hit 21 home runs last season. They were last in runs scored last season and welcome Ozuna as the regular DH and perhaps cleanup batter. While his new, underwhelming lineup and challenging home ballpark makes a return to his 2023-24 numbers seem rather unlikely, Ozuna should come at such a significant discount in drafts that it will make him an appealing later-round pick. -- Karabell (2/9)
Kyle Schwarber re-signs with Phillies for five years: Schwarber took his typical production to an even higher level in 2025, swatting 56 home runs, batting in 132 runs and torching left-handed pitching, while playing every game and drawing a 14.9% walk rate. He was among the top options in both points formats and roto/categories, and there is little reason to believe Schwarber will struggle in 2026, even as he turns 33. Schwarber is DH-only for 2026, but this is safe production for the early fantasy rounds. -- Karabell (12/9)
Starting pitcher
Framber Valdez signs with Tigers: Wait, weren't the Tigers rumored to be spending the winter shopping staff ace and two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, under the guise that he'd soon become unaffordable? Apparently, theirs is instead an all-in strategy, at least for 2026, as Valdez and his $38.33 million annual salary piles atop Skubal's $32-or-19 million (depending upon Thursday's arbitration result) to give the team one of the game's most formidable one-two punches.
It's all great news up and down the Tigers' pitching staff, after the team has spent much of the last two playoff-run seasons mixing and matching on that side of the ball. Skubal and Valdez, while both lefties, also provide great contrast in style, with the former's elite velocity and top-shelf swing-and-miss stuff and the latter's sinker/curve repertoire that generates oodles of grounders.
With Valdez, the question for fantasy purposes is always the defense behind him, being that he has MLB's third-highest ground ball rate (58.7%) among pitchers with at least 50 starts over the last three seasons. The Tigers defense is generally sound, with far more Defensive Runs Saved (36) than the Astros (2) had last season, but a lot of that was contributed by catcher Dillon Dingler, whereas their infield defense isn't quite that of the Mauricio Dubon/Jeremy Pena middle the Astros had for much of 2025.
Fantasy managers should root for free-swinging Javier Baez to handle shortstop most regularly, and for top prospect Kevin McGonigle to break in at either second or third base, in order for Valdez to have his best defense behind him. There's enough quality either way, however, for Valdez to remain a top-20 fantasy starter. -- Cockcroft (2/5)
Rangers acquire MacKenzie Gore from Nationals: Gore, now 26, averaged 30 starts, 154 innings, 172 strikeouts, a 4.15 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP over three seasons with Washington. In theory, this move to Texas should help him, as Globe Life Field has been a fun ballpark for pitchers, and Gore should see more run support with the Rangers (even though the Nationals scored three more runs than Texas in 2025). Gore pitched like a fantasy ace during the first half of 2025 (3.02 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 30% K rate) before falling apart in the second half (6.75 ERA, 1.70 WHIP).
There really is no reason to expect Gore to struggle moving forward. Fantasy managers hoping for a full-season repeat of his first half may get it, and Gore's fantasy value rises due to this trade, making him a potential top-40 starting pitcher in ADP. -- Karabell (1/22)
Mets acquire Freddy Peralta from Brewers: Continuing to assemble their very own "east-coast Brewers," the Mets acquired Peralta, one of two pitchers to strike out at least 200 batters in each of the last three seasons (Dylan Cease) and the fifth highest-scoring pitcher with 1,216 fantasy points during that time. Peralta has shaken what was an injury-prone reputation earlier in his career, avoiding the IL in all of those years while totaling 95 starts, tied for fifth-most.
Getting out of American Family Field, one of the more HR-friendly environments in baseball (even if it played more neutral-to-pitcher-friendly from a run scoring perspective over the past three years), can only help Peralta in his quest to repeat 2025's high-point top-10 fantasy output among starting pitchers. While he did have an ERA there nearly three-quarters of a run lower than in his road games from 2023-25, his isolated power at home was 17 points higher than on the road, further testament to the HR-boosting environment. Citi Field, by comparison, placed five ranking spots lower on the home run park factors scale -- an above-average environment in the category, though it has long been regarded as being pitcher-friendly.
I had Peralta ranked within my top-10 starting pitchers under the assumption he'd probably be traded, but with the Mets being his landing spot, he'll now remain in that tier with greater confidence and a higher floor. -- Cockcroft (1/22)
Ranger Suarez signs with Red Sox: Suarez, 30, has been a key piece of Philadelphia's rotation for the past four seasons (and in the Phillies organization since he was 16), posting an aggregate 3.38 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, with 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. He was effective. What he wasn't was overly durable. Suarez neither made 30 starts in any season nor reached 160 innings. That might not change in Boston, but the Red Sox get an often-underrated left-hander with excellent playoff production.
Fantasy managers saw Suarez average 12.6 fantasy points per game in 2025, which was a top-40 mark for starting pitchers, roughly what Kevin Gausman, Jesus Luzardo and Matthew Boyd provided. NFBC ADP has Suarez among the top 200 players and top 75 pitchers. Invest in Suarez as a top-50 starting pitcher and expect solid results, just not with as much volume as most others in that tier. -- Karabell (1/14)
Yankees acquire Ryan Weathers from Marlins: The Yankees added Weathers, who has averaged 20.4 professional starts over the past five seasons (across all levels) while totaling 13 in 2025, to their stable of injury-question pitchers. What can go wrong? The lefty should be fine for Opening Day, whereas Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt will not, so there'll be opportunity for Weathers, who had a 3.74 ERA and a much-improved 6.8% walk rate in the majors over the past two seasons.
Yankee Stadium's cozier confines could prove problematic for Weathers' ERA, however, considering he's moving away from one of the most pitcher-friendly environments in baseball, but he should be a worthwhile "matchups candidate" with a chance at taking another step forward given some injury luck. -- Cockcroft (1/14)
Cubs acquire Edward Cabrera from Marlins: Cabrera, in his age-27 season, enjoyed a mini-breakout in 2025, as he made 26 starts and posted a 3.53 ERA, dramatically reducing his walk rate while still striking out at least 25% of hitters. The hard-throwing Dominican has long boasted a compelling skill set, but injuries and walks continually derailed him. The Cubs take the reasonable chance that Cabrera's most recent campaign signals more consistency and better numbers, and optimistic fantasy managers may feel the same way.
It feels relevant to point out Cabrera, in 226 career innings at Miami's pitcher-friendly park, boasts a 3.50 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. In 205 2/3 road innings, however, that ERA is an unsightly 4.68, with a 1.39 WHIP. Perhaps he will truly be a top-50 starting pitcher in fantasy, but don't pretend there isn't risk. -- Karabell (1/7)
Tatsuya Imai signs with Astros: Imai, a 27-year-old right-hander who posted a 1.92 ERA with a 27.8% strikeout rate for the Seibu Lions in Japan this past season, signed a three-year contract with Houston, though there are opt-outs after each season. Imai throws a mid-90s fastball in his five-pitch arsenal (and from a deceptive, low-slot delivery) and fantasy managers must decide how effective he will be in a much tougher hitting environment.
Many scouts view Imai as a No. 3-4 MLB starter, far from countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto, even though they posted similar statistics in Japan and each stands a bit below 6 feet tall. Imai is among the top 50 starting pitchers and top 200 selections in early NFBC ADP, in the same range as LHPs Shota Imanaga and Ranger Suarez, and RHPs Tanner Bibee and Cade Horton. However, let's be clear: There is a large range of statistical possibilities for his ceiling and floor. Take the chance in the middle rounds. -- Karabell (1/2)
Orioles acquire Shane Baz from Rays: A onetime top prospect -- he ranked 15th in Kiley McDaniel's preseason 2022 top 100 -- Baz endured a pair of elbow surgeries that year, first to remove loose bodies from his elbow in March and then Tommy John surgery in September, which delayed his return to the majors for a year and a half. Forty-five starts later, he appears to be one of 2026's better late-round pitching values, reflecting better peripherals than his 4.87 ERA last season indicated, with lesser concern in the health department than you might think.
Granted, I'd be more intrigued by what Baz (whose average fastball velocity last season matched his 2021 pre-surgery peak of 97.0 mph and, in fact, reached 97.5 after Aug. 1) might have done in pitching-heaven Tropicana Field, but there's still reason to think he's headed for a growth season -- even in Baltimore. The No. 64 starting pitcher in fantasy points last season, Baz has top-50 breakthrough potential. -- Cockcroft (12/19)
Red Sox acquire Johan Oviedo from Pirates: Another pitcher to tuck away for prospective spring watch lists, Oviedo returned last season from Tommy John surgery with a more strikeout-oriented repertoire, albeit with the same control issues he has had in 10 years as a pro. He worked higher in the strike zone with more rise on the pitch thanks to his elite extension -- this gives his fastball greater perceived velocity -- and got 4% more swinging strikes with it. He'll have better-than-even odds of claiming a back-end rotation spot during spring training. Oviedo figures to be more of a streaming fantasy option than a regular mixed-league option, but keep tabs on his March progress as you formulate your back-of-staff upside list. -- Cockcroft (12/5)
Cody Ponce signs with Blue Jays The three years and $30 million he received from the Blue Jays might throw fantasy managers for a loop, being that the last time we saw Ponce pitch in the States, he accrued a 5.75 ERA in five starts and a 5.91 ERA in 15 relief appearances in 2020-21 working in a pitcher-friendly home for the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, this isn't the same pitcher we saw back then... and it isn't close.
Ponce, who worked three years in Japan (2022-24), flourished in a move to the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) last season, winning the league's MVP and Choi Dong-won Award (the equivalent to the U.S. Cy Young) thanks to his 17-1 record, 1.89 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 180â…” innings across 29 starts.
Ponce is a very different pitcher today than he was that half-decade ago, now reaching the upper 90s with his four-seam fastball -- he averaged 93.2 mph with it in 2020-21. He has also added a kick-change, the pitch that generated much excitement surrounding Clay Holmes when he began using it following his signing with the New York Mets last winter.
Ponce is not the first pitcher to remake himself overseas, with Merrill Kelly being one of the more prominent success stories among pitchers who returned from the KBO. Many accounts suggest the KBO is comparable in competition level to Double-A ball, so expect an adjustment period for Ponce, as was the case for Kelly. Still, Ponce's hefty workload overseas and the fit make him one of the better pitchers to stash in the later rounds of a 23-man, 12-team mixed draft. If he looks good during spring training, he could be on the ESPN standard radar, too. -- Cockcroft (12/3)
Dylan Cease signs with Blue Jays: Cease is one of the more durable strikeout options in the majors, having made 32 or more starts and surpassed 200 strikeouts in five consecutive seasons, and there is little reason to believe those streaks end with the Blue Jays, a team featuring a strong defense. The problem, of course, is that Cease isn't always so consistent with his run prevention. For example, his ERA for the 2025 Padres was 4.55, and it came with a 1.33 WHIP. His final season with the White Sox, in 2023, featured a 4.58 ERA and an elevated 1.42 WHIP. His other seasons have been better. Frankly, it is anyone's guess whether Cease will deliver a 3.50 or 4.50 ERA in 2026, or any season.
Cease, who relies mostly on a 97 mph fastball and power slider, finished among the top 20 in earned runs allowed and top 10 in walks permitted, but he still ended up as the No. 36 starting pitcher via ESPN scoring, thanks to volume. We can depend on his volume, and that's why the Blue Jays are paying him more than $200 million. Cease was the No. 85 starting pitcher on the roto/categories Player Rater, which isn't as attractive. He was among the top 25 hurlers the year prior. Regardless, Cease is going in the top 100 of NFBC average draft position, and just outside the top 20 starting pitchers, as fantasy managers like procuring 32 starts and more than 200 whiffs. Hopefully his ERA and WHIP can be a bit more presentable as well. -- Karabell (11/26)
Red Sox acquire Sonny Gray from Cardinals: Gray, 36, finished 25th in fantasy points among starting pitchers in 2025, winning 14 games and striking out more than 200 hitters, each for the third time in his long career. He has been a reliable fantasy option (although rarely a star) for more than a decade. He now joins his sixth franchise and should slot in safely in the middle of the Boston rotation.
There were, however, a few areas of concern in 2025. Gray's fastball velocity slipped a bit and he posted a 5.45 ERA after the All-Star break, with 15 home runs permitted, albeit with a higher strikeout rate. Gray has had streaks like that before and performed capably the following season. He is currently going at around pick No. 139 in early NFBC ADP, making him a top-50 hurler for 2026. -- Karabell (11/25)
Angels acquire Grayson Rodriguez from Orioles: Rodriguez, once one of the top pitching prospects in the sport, last started an MLB game on the final day of July 2024, with a lat strain ending that season and elbow issues keeping him out all of 2025. Rodriguez, 26, gets a new start with the Angels in a rotation that needed right-handed help.
With a 4.11 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP in his 43 career starts (albeit with a healthy strikeout rate), there's no guarantee that Rodriguez fulfills the promise the Orioles and so many fantasy managers once had for him, but it feels worth the risk for the Angels. Rodriguez has been a relative afterthought in early NFBC ADP, going outside the top-300 picks. If healthy, he feels like he might be worth that disappointing ADP. -- Karabell (11/19)
Relief pitcher
Kirby Yates signs with Angels: The Angels are building a much-improved bullpen after finishing 28th in relief ERA (4.86) in 2025, adding free agents Jordan Romano, Drew Pomeranz and now Yates to talented but injury-prone arms Ben Joyce, Robert Stephenson and Chase Silseth. Yates might not be guaranteed the closer's role initially, but it's worth mentioning that he's reunited in Anaheim with Mike Maddux, his pitching coach during his comeback, career-year 2024 for Texas. The seeds are there for Yates to rebound significantly from a disappointing 2025, and if he's looking good during spring training, his ceiling might raise as high as the positional top 25 come draft day. -- Cockcroft (12/30)
Pete Fairbanks signs with Marlins: Fairbanks, 32, saved 75 games for the Rays over the last three seasons with reasonable run prevention. Now, he heads to the other side of Florida, likely with similar role security. Eight different Marlins saved games in 2025, led by Calvin Faucher with 15. Fairbanks, for his skills and the financial commitment on his one-year deal, should close in 2026. Of course, he could also end up playing with a contender before August.
The key for Fairbanks is health, as this past season was his first with more than 50 MLB innings. It was also his second consecutive season with a below-average strikeout rate among relief pitchers. This isn't a top-10 fantasy closer, but he is going among the top 150 players in NFBC ADP for a reason. -- Karabell (12/24)
Kenley Jansen signs with Tigers: Considering Jansen made his major league debut in 2010, it is quite stunning that we are still discussing him as a relevant provider of saves in the year 2025. Alas, Jansen, the active leader with 476 saves, is far from the best relief pitcher for fantasy purposes, as he doesn't pile on the innings or strikeouts, but he did manage to post a 2.59 ERA and an 0.95 WHIP for this past season's Angels, his best marks since 2021.
Only 18 relief pitchers scored more fantasy points than Jansen in 2025. That counts for something. Jansen is the No. 15 relief pitcher in early NFBC ADP, and he should be an underrated, middle-round pick in ESPN formats. Look for new Tigers teammates Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan to handle setup roles, mostly. -- Karabell (12/14)
Robert Suarez signs with Braves: Suarez saved an NL-leading 40 games for the Padres (two behind Carlos Estevez for the MLB lead), but since he now joins a franchise that recently brought back a more established closer in Raisel Iglesias, there is some lack of clarity on 2026 roles. Perhaps Iglesias, who saved 29 games in 2025 and ranks tied for fourth among active hurlers with 253 saves, will keep the ninth inning. Time will tell. Suarez was the better pitcher of the two in 2025, posting an excellent 0.90 WHIP in 69â…” innings, though neither right-hander was among the top relief pitchers in strikeout percentage.
Regardless, Suarez earned himself a three-year contract and there is little reason for concern about his skills (even in his age-35 season) or potential run prevention for what should be a playoff-contending team. He was fantasy's No. 3 relief pitcher for fantasy points and on the 2025 Player Rater. Until we know his role for sure, however, there is little way to tell whether he is a potential top-five fantasy reliever worthy of top-50 overall attention or a pitcher better left for the latter rounds of drafts. Stay tuned. -- Karabell (12/11)
Edwin Diaz signs with Dodgers: Diaz signed for three years and $69 million, so while the Dodgers could have gone with a similar matchups-oriented approach to closing as in their 2024-25 championship seasons, this contract makes it likely that he will be their singular ninth-inning option. Diaz, after all, has 235 saves in the past nine seasons, third most in baseball despite his missing the entirety of the 2023 campaign due to injury. Meanwhile, his 40.5% strikeout rate in his seven years with the Mets was second best among qualified relievers.
Pitching for a team likely to be projected for the most wins has its advantages. The Dodgers placed fifth in the majors in saves in both 2024 and 2025, meaning the argument that "better teams have fewer close leads to protect" is exaggerated. The greater concern for Diaz's save total is the slight chance he could cede matchups-driven chances to alternatives like Tanner Scott or Alex Vesia -- and not that his Dodgers might be "too good" to generate 45-plus save opportunities.
Diaz finished fourth as a reliever both on the Player Rater and in fantasy points in 2025 (21 points off the lead in the latter), but he also had a modest 28 saves. There's little reason to think he won't have at least that many in 2026 and there's every reason to think he'll be part of fantasy's top relief pitching tier alongside Andres Munoz, Josh Hader and Mason Miller. -- Cockcroft (12/9)
Devin Williams signs with Mets: With Edwin Diaz, their closer for six of the past seven seasons (he missed all of 2023 following knee surgery) opting out of the remaining two years of his five-year, $102 million contract, the Mets were in search for a ninth-inning option this winter. Diaz might still re-sign with the team, leaving some fluidity in the role, but Williams gives the Mets a proven closer option in the event they don't invest in a similarly accomplished reliever.
Williams' 2025 was easily the worst of his career, with a 4.79 ERA, four blown saves (matching his 2023 total) and a minus-0.1 WAR. While with the crosstown Yankees, he lost his closer role twice -- once after he surrendered three-plus runs on three occasions in April and then again after the team bolstered its bullpen at the trade deadline and he gave up runs across five consecutive appearances at the end of July/beginning of August. If "wilting under the New York spotlight" was a factor, Williams' decision to sign across town with the Mets is a curious choice.
That said, Williams totaled nine scoreless appearances in setup relief to conclude the regular season, then an additional four combined between the wild card and division series, flashing a much-improved changeup and quelling questions about the pressures of the Big Apple. If he indeed emerges as the Mets' closer -- and three years and $51 million of guaranteed money says it's a better-than-even chance that he will -- Williams could be one of the best bounce-back candidates at his position and a prospective top-10 positional ADP choice who could again contend for the top spot in scoring. Citi Field, after all, will represent (by far) the most pitcher-friendly venue he has called his home to date. -- Cockcroft (12/2)
Ryan Helsley signs with Orioles: Helsley gets a two-year contract with a player opt-out after the first season, so his 2026 performance will dictate his future. We know Helsley is capable of great things. He posted a 1.25 ERA with a 39% strikeout rate in 2022 and a 2.04 ERA with 49 saves in 2024. The Cardinals made it clear that Helsley was "trade bait" last season and, after he saved 21 games for them with a 3.00 ERA, he went to the Mets. There, he struggled mightily, posting a 7.20 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP over 20 innings, with nary a save.
Helsley, 31, believes his problems as a Met were due to tipping pitches, pitch sequencing and just plain old bad luck. This contract proves that the Orioles weren't too concerned, either. The stuff was there. Felix Bautista (shoulder) will not pitch in 2026, leaving Helsley (who still hits 100 mph with regularity) with the closer role. While his strikeout rate has headed in the wrong direction in recent seasons, it's still a good rate. He should bounce back. Helsley may not be quite a top-10 relief pitcher on draft day, but his upside surely makes him worthy of inclusion in that tier. -- Karabell (11/29)
