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Twins staff includes LaTroy Hawkins as bullpen coach for new manager Derek Shelton

After working as a special assistant to the baseball operations department over the last nine seasons and taking some turns as an analyst on Twins television broadcasts, Hawkins accepted his first coaching assignment.

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Tejay Antone

CIN Relief Pitcher #70

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Reds re-signed RHP Tejay Antone to a minor league contract.

A little under a week after electing free agency, Antone is back with the organization he’s been with since 2014. The 31-year-old was once among the better relief prospects in baseball and looked like he was on his way to becoming a closer, but injuries have derailed his career with only nine MLB appearances since 2021. He’ll get a chance to win a spot in the Reds’ bullpen this spring.
Eliezer Alfonzo

LAD

Dodgers signed C Eliézer Alfonzo Jr. to a minor league contract.

The 26-year-old backstop spent his first eight minor league seasons in the Tigers’ organization. In 2025, he slashed .247/.297/.322 with one homer and 34 RBI in 250 plate appearances between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo. He’ll add additional catching depth in the upper minors for the Dodgers.
Erasmo Ramirez

FA Relief Pitcher #30

Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Erasmo Ramírez wants to pitch as a starter in 2026.

The 35-year-old right-hander has pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen since the 2018 season where he made 10 starts for the Mariners. He did a nice job in nine appearances with the Twins in 2025, posting a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 5/2 K/BB ratio over 11 innings. It’s tough to see him landing anything more than a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp this winter — regardless of role.
James Hicks

HOU Starting Pitcher

Astros’ prospect James Hicks was named as the Pitcher of the Year in the Arizona Fall League.

The 24-year-old right-hander was absolutely brilliant in four appearances (two starts), hurling 14 innings of shutout baseball with a 0.57 WHIP and a 19/2 K/BB ratio. Hicks became just the third pitcher in the AFL since 2005 to throw 14 or more scoreless innings. It’s a stark contrast from the results that the Astros got out of Hicks at Double-A Corpus Christi in 2025 where he posted a 5.59 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 46/14 K/BB ratio over 46 2/3 frames.
Jackson Cluff

NYM Shortstop #35

Mets signed INF Jackson Cluff to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

Cluff, 28, was originally a 6th round selection by the Nationals from the 2019 draft class. He spent the entire 2025 season at Triple-A Rochester where he slashed .242/.349/.422 with 12 homers, 40 RBI, 23 swipes and a 110/51 K/BB ratio over 383 plate appearances. He’ll add infield depth during big league camp, but he’ll be fighting a major uphill battle for inclusion on the Mets’ Opening Day roster.
Richard Guasch

BAL Starting Pitcher

Orioles signed RHP Richard Guasch to a minor league contract.

The 27-year-old hurler spent the 2025 campaign in the Tigers’ organization where he posted a stellar 2.74 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 57/18 K/BB ratio over 46 innings at Double-A Erie. Look for him to open the 2026 season at Triple-A Norfolk and if he performs well there he could break through to the big leagues for the first time at some point during the season.
Kevin McGonigle

DET Shortstop #80

Tigers’ SS/3B prospect Kevin McGonigle was named as the Most Valuable Player of the Arizona Fall League.

The dynamic 21-year-old infielder slashed a blistering .362/.500/.710 with five homers, 19 RBI and three stolen bases in 69 at-bats over 19 games. He paced the league in total bases (49) while finishing second in runs scored (22) and tied for second in home runs (5) and extra-base hits (12). With little left to prove in the minor leagues, the only question that remains is whether McGonigle will crack the Tigers’ Opening Day lineup in 2026 or if he’ll have to wait for an early season promotion.
Edwin Diaz

FA Relief Pitcher #39

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Blue Jays are among the teams interested in free agent right-hander Edwin Díaz.

It’s no secret that the Blue Jays are looking to bolster the back end of their bullpen after Jeff Hoffman coughed up the lead in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series against the Dodgers. Díaz is one of the top options available and though he’ll command top dollar on the open market, that isn’t going to scare the Blue Jays away. The 31-year-old hurler posted a brilliant 1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and a 98/21 K/BB ratio over 66 1/3 innings while saving 28 games for the Mets during the 2025 season.
Justin Verlander

FA Starting Pitcher #35

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Astros could be interested in a reunion with free agent right-hander Justin Verlander.

The 42-year-old hurler is back on the open market after one season with the Giants in which he compiled a 3.85 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 137/52 K/BB ratio over 152 innings. He finished the season strong though after battling through injuries early in the year and looks poised for a rebound in 2026. With goals of pitching until he reaches 300 career victories, look for Verlander to prioritize winning when choosing his next destination. The Giants have expressed interest in bringing him back while a return to the Tigers could also be mutually beneficial as well.
Brad Keller

Relief Pitcher #40

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that multiple teams have expressed interest in free agent right-hander Brad Keller.

Sherman notes that several clubs are interested in shifting the 30-year-old hurler back to the rotation, while others are content with keeping him as a high-leverage bullpen arm. For fantasy purposes, unless he’s going to serve as a closer, it would be a boon to his value if he’s moved back to the rotation. Keller posted an outstanding 2.07 ERA and a 75/22 K/BB ratio across 69 2/3 innings for the Cubs during the 2025 campaign. The Cubs have already expressed interest in bringing him back for 2026, though they’re likely to face ample competition for his services on the open market.