MLB

Even after landing Juan Soto, the Yankees do not seem intent to stand pat. Kuty reports that the team intends to bolster their bullpen, and Jordan Hicks is the top name on their list of targets. In 2023, Hicks split the season with the Cardinals and the Blue Jays, posting a 3.29 ERA and 28.4 percent strikeout rate in 65 2/3 innings. While he did register an 11.2 percent walk rate that was actually lower than his career mark, and Hicks continued to induce a high amount of groundballs (59 percent) with his power sinker. One of the hardest throwers in the game, Hicks has tons of late-inning experience and at just 27-years-old is one of the top relievers remaining on the market. If he does land with New York, he would give the Yankees a stellar bridge to Clay Holmes and even a pivot option should Holmes struggle.

While a lot of McCaffrey’s report is dot connecting, the dots do make sense. Earlier in the offseason, there was a report that the Padres would be open to trading Ha-Seong for the right price and Tuesday’s trade of Juan Soto made it only more likely that the Padres may be looking to reset their roster a bit. Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer, Craig Breslow, also said that the Red Sox are looking to add a second base option who, ideally, “would be a right-handed bat who plays Gold Glove-caliber defense.” He mentioned that the team is more likely to acquire said player via trade than free agency. Kim had a breakout 2023 season, hitting .260/.351/.398 with 17 home runs, 84 runs, 60 RBI, and 38 steals in 152 games while also registering an Outs Above Average grade of 7. All the pieces line up, but whether or not the Red Sox will offer the prospects necessary to grab Kim remains to be seen.

Heyman adds that the deal also includes an additional $1 million in performance bonuses. Senzel becomes the latest reclamation project for the rebuilding Nationals, who have had some success with these types of moves in recent years. The 28-year-old former top prospect struggled to stay healthy, and never quite settled into an everyday role for Cincinnati, who elected to non-tender him a couple weeks ago. He’ll get a change of scenery in Washington.

Feinsand adds the deal also includes a $15 million club option for 2027. The last thing on Cincinnati’s offseason to-do list was likely bolstering their infield depth as this move likely forces them to bump Spencer Steer to the outfield or deal one of their top prospects this offseason, which might ultimately happen in a deal for a frontline starting pitcher. It’s a reasonable contract for Candelario, who put together an excellent 2023 campaign, posting an .807 OPS with a career-high 22 homers and eight steals in 576 plate appearances between the Cubs and Nationals. It’s an extremely favorable landing spot for a fantasy standpoint as Great American Ball Park should boost his home run totals moving forward.

Feinsand adds that Lee is said to be high on San Diego’s wish list, adding that one source says a deal could come together quickly now that Juan Soto and Trent Grisham’s contract are off their books, giving the organization over $30 million in financial flexibility. The 25-year-old former KBO MVP was officially posted earlier this week and is expected to have plenty of suitors.

The blockbuster deal is official. Soto heads to the Bronx, where he’ll pair up with Aaron Judge as the co-anchors of a formidable Yankees’ lineup for at least next season, before either reaching free agency or signing a long-term extension to remain in New York. The 25-year-old fantasy superstar possesses generational plate skills, leading the majors in walks each of the last three seasons. He matched a career-high with 32 round-trippers this past season in San Diego and could easily threaten the lofty 50-homer plateau in the hitter-friendly confines of Yankee Stadium. A perennial first-round selection in all fantasy formats, the blockbuster trade merely raises his potential ceiling from an over-the-fence pop and counting stats standpoint. He’ll be a consensus first-round pick next spring in all fantasy drafts.

Unless he’s flipped to another organization later this offseason, Grisham figures to occupy a versatile reserve outfielder role for the Yankees heading into 2024. There’s a strong possibility he winds up exceeding playing time forecasts due to the lengthy injury history of some of his new teammates, most notably Giancarlo Stanton, but for the moment it’s difficult to project him garnering enough playing time to make a significant impact for fantasy managers outside of AL-only formats.

King is easily the most interesting name heading to the Padres from a fantasy standpoint as the former high-leverage reliever seamlessly made a late-season transition to New York’s starting rotation in mid-August, posting a brilliant 1.88 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 48/9 K/BB ratio across 38 1/3 innings (eight starts) to close out the year. It’s too small of a sample size to draw any firm conclusions, and a checkered injury history raises some additional red flags, but King certainly looked like a viable fantasy contributor. The 28-year-old righty figures to open the 2024 campaign in San Diego’s starting rotation and will be an extremely popular sleeper candidate in all fantasy formats.

Thorpe is widely-regarded as one of New York’s top pitching prospects and will open next season in the upper minors after compiling a stellar 2.52 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 182/38 K/BB ratio across 139 1/3 innings (23 starts) this past season between High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset. The 23-year-old righty, who boasts a formidable changeup, was selected in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft and should make it to San Diego rather quickly, barring an unexpected setback.

Vásquez ascended to the big leagues this past season for New York, finishing with a serviceable 2.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 33/18 K/BB ratio across 37 2/3 innings (11 appearances, five starts) in the majors. The 25-year-old righty figures to have a decent shot at making San Diego’s season-opening starting rotation given all of their offseason roster turnover in the pitching department. There’s a chance he’s a viable streaming option next season for fantasy managers in NL-only formats.