MLB Player News

Collins, 28, finished in fourth place in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2025 after slashing a healthy .263/.368/.411 with nine homers, 54 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 441 plate appearances. The door should be open for him to see everyday action with the Royals, which should boost his overall appeal for fantasy purposes.

Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com adds that it’s a one-year deal with a mutual option for the 2027 season, though the financial terms of the contract are not yet known. The 28-year-old hurler compiled a 4.96 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and a 123/56 K/BB ratio over 132 1/3 innings in 25 appearances between the Dodgers and Red Sox in 2025. He’ll add stability to a Cardinals’ rotation that has already dealt away ace Sonny Gray this offseason.

Rosenthal, Lin and Sammon add the Padres have expressed interest in the Mets’ trio of elite pitching prospects — Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat — while noting that franchise cornerstones Francisco Lindor and Fernando Tatis Jr. have not surfaced in trade discussions. Any deal involving those prospects would qualify as a blockbuster, though McLean’s inclusion would be especially surprising given that he’s been viewed as virtually untouchable since making his major-league debut late last season. New York remains in the market for an established front-line starter and an additional high-leverage reliever to pair with newly acquired stopper Devin Williams following Edwin Díaz’s departure to Los Angeles. While The Athletic notes that nothing appears imminent, this is a situation worth monitoring closely from a fantasy standpoint.

Detroit continues fortifying their high-leverage mix with Jansen joining Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest as ninth-inning options for manager A.J. Hinch. The 38-year-old veteran enters next season just 24 saves shy of the 500 mark after converting 29 chances to accompany a strong 2.59 ERA — 3.98 FIP — and 24.4 percent strikeout rate across 59 innings for the Angels this past season. It’s a phenomenal landing spot from a fantasy perspective as Jansen projects as the clear favorite to handle closing duties with Finnegan and Vest positioned as contingency plans rather than true competition.

Rosario returns to New York in a bench role after slashing .276/.309/.436 with six homers, 23 RBI and one steal in 62 games between the Nationals and Yankees this past season. The 30-year-old veteran offers ample defensive versatility, logging time between four different positions last year, but he’s strictly a lefty-mashing platoon option at this stage of his career. He’ll presumably split time at the hot corner with Ryan McMahon next season. There’s minimal mixed-league fantasy appeal, though he retains some usefulness in AL-only formats — particularly daily leagues where his matchups against southpaws can be exploited.

Polanco makes a ton of sense as a short-term first base and DH stopgap option for the Mets in the aftermath of losing middle-of-the-order force Pete Alonso to the Orioles earlier this week. Durability will always be the caveat — chronic knee issues have limited him at an average of just 118 games per season over the last four years — but last year’s resurgence with the Mariners was real, as he produced a robust .821 OPS with 26 homers and six steals across 138 games. With eligibility at second base, one of the thinnest positions in the fantasy landscape, Polanco quietly carries late-round intrigue thanks to his counting-stats upside in New York’s strong lineup.

The deal also includes a vesting option for a fourth season that would bring the total contract to $48 million. The 34-year-old submariner delivered the finest season of his career in 2025, posting a minuscule 1.98 ERA — 2.88 FIP — 0.94 WHIP and 48/7 K/BB ratio over 77 1/3 innings in a league-leading 81 appearances between the Giants and Mets. He’ll add another proven weapon to Toronto’s deep and talented bullpen mix leading to closer Jeff Hoffman.

The deal is now official. What do you get for the team that has everything? An elite closer. Díaz shores up the lone metaphorical fatal flaw in the Dodgers’ ever-expanding Death Star as they make a run at their third consecutive World Series title. The 31-year-old stabilizes the ninth inning for Los Angeles after a dominant six-year run with the Mets where he compiled 144 saves to accompany a sparkling 2.93 ERA — 2.56 FIP — and 40.5 percent strikeout rate across 329 1/3 innings. He’ll be one of the first closers off the board in all fantasy drafts next spring.

Ken Rosenthal notes that the expectation is that he will play first base in 2026. Morel was non-tendered by the Rays after slashing just .208/.277/.355 over 154 games in Tampa Bay. The 26-year-old will have a chance to earn consistent playing time with Miami and offers some power upside, but there’s more risk than reward in his profile.

Passan notes that the extension will also have a club option for a sixth season. Garcia was excellent this past season, slashing .286/.351/449 slash along with 16 homers and 23 stolen bases over his 160 games. He also was a deserved Gold Glove Award winner at third base, and he and Bobby Witt Jr. will make up one of the better left sides of an infield for the foreseeable future. The long-term agreement keeps him in Kansas City through his entire prime and into his early 30’s as one of their key building blocks.