The Milwaukee Brewers have traded ace Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: In exchange, the Orioles will send infield prospect Joey Ortiz, left-hander DL Hall, and the 34th overall pick to the Brewers in the deal. The 29-year-old Burnes is a free agent at season's end and regressed, by his standards, to a 3.39 ERA in 2023 after posting an ERA of 2.94 or better in each of his previous three seasons. Needless to say, his addition could put a powerhouse Orioles team over the top the in 2024.
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager has undergone surgery to repair a sports hernia. (Source: Evan Grant on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: A firm timetable for his return is unclear but Seager is likely to miss most of spring training with his Opening Day status up in the air. Despite a pair of IL stints, Seager put forth an MVP-type season in 2023, hitting .327 with 33 home runs and 96 RBI in just 119 games played, his second of a 10-year megadeal signed with the Rangers prior to the 2022 campaign.
The Texas Rangers have signed relief pitcher David Robertson to a one-year contract in the $11-12 million range. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The specific amount has yet to be released but the reigning World Series champions add a big arm to their relief corps. Robertson worked to a 2.05 ERA across 40 appearances with the Mets last season but struggled upon a trade to the Miami Marlins at the deadline. The veteran owns a career 2.90 ERA with 175 saves across 793 appearances.
The Houston Astros and reliever Josh Hader have agreed to a historic five-year, $95 million contract. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Hader's deal falls short of the $102 sum handed to Mets closer Edwin Diaz last winter but it's the largest present-day value contract for a relief pitcher in MLB history as it contains zero referrals. The left-hander posted a surreal 1.28 ERA and 36.8% K% across 61 outings with the Padres in 2023, recording 33 saves in the process. He sports a 2.50 ERA and a monstrous 42.2% K% across 349 career appearances, notching 165 saves between the Brewers and Padres.
Free agent SP Marcus Stroman is in agreement on a contract with the New York Yankees. (Source: Jeff Passan)
Fantasy Impact: Stroman had a tale of two halves with the Cubs in 2023. He had an ERA of 2.96 in the first half with a BAA of .205. In the second, he dealt with injuries and carried an ERA of 8.63 with a BAA of .327. Stroman is projected to slot in as the No. 3 starter behind Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon. His current ADP is in the 280s and should be considered a fringe SP5 in traditional 5x5 leagues.
Shota Imanaga has reached a tentative deal with the Cubs. (Source: Bob Nightengale on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Imanaga's pact with the Cubs is still contingent on a physical he is scheduled to undergo in Chicago on Thursday. The 30-year-old southpaw has been excellent over an eight-year career in his native Japan, putting up a 2.96 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 26.0 K% in more than 1,100 innings.
Teoscar Hernandez joins the Dodgers on a one-year deal. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Hernandez had been linked to various other potential suitors in recent weeks, but it's ultimately the Dodgers that come away with yet another serious free-agent pickup. Hernandez brings even more pop to an already deep and powerful L.A. lineup, as he has averaged 28 homers alongside a .481 SLG across the last three seasons. It's a bit surprising to see Hernandez sign just a one-year deal, but the $23.5 million pay day is significant.
The Red Sox have traded SP Chris Sale to the Braves in exchange for INF Vaughn Grissom. (Source: Jeff Passan)
Fantasy Impact: Sale has battled an array of injuries over the past few years, which have limited him to 31 starts since 2020. In 20 starts last season, the 34-year-old racked up 125 strikeouts in 102 2/3 innings, finishing with a 4.30 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. The ERA was inflated (xERA of 3.61), and he still offers strikeout upside. His biggest question mark is health, but he could be worth a flier in later rounds of drafts.
Free agent SP Frankie Montas has agreed to a one-year, $16 million deal with Cincinnati. (Source: Jon Heyman)
Fantasy Impact: Montas appeared in only one game in 2023 due to shoulder surgery. The 30-year-old has a career ERA of 3.90 and WHIP of 1.29, and now he moves to one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in baseball. Montas is much more of a name than he is a fantasy asset and can be passed over on draft day.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers for a deal worth more than $300 million, according to multiple reports. (Source: Jack Curry on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Yamamoto was a star in Japan, and many believe he can step in right away and be the ace of an MLB rotation. With this reported deal and the heavily-deferred $700 million contract the Dodgers gave Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles has now committed more than $1 billion to the pair of Japanese players. As for fantasy implications, Yamamoto has excellent command and a deep repertoire of pitches that make him an instant Rookie of the Year and NL Cy Young award candidate. The Dodgers are an ideal landing spot, especially after they landed Ohtani on his record-breaking deal. Early projections have Yamamoto winning a dozen games with close to 200 strikeouts and an ERA under 4.00.
The Detroit Tigers have signed right-hander Jack Flaherty to a one-year contract. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The deal is worth $14 million in base salary but can increase to $15 million with incentives. The veteran emerged as an ace at just 22 years old with the Cardinals but has largely struggled with both injuries and underperformance over the last few seasons. He worked to a 4.99 ERA across 29 outings (27 starts) between the Cardinals and Orioles in the 2023 season.
The Tampa Bay Rays have traded outfielder Manuel Margot to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a blockbuster deal on Thursday evening. (Source: Jeff Passan)
Fantasy Impact: Margot is not the headliner in the deal as right-hander Tyler Glasnow is also headed to the Dodgers in exchange for right-hander Ryan Pepiot and outfield prospect Jonny Decluca. Margot is in the final season of a two-year $19 million contract that contains a mutual option for the 2025 season. He hit .264 with four homers and nine stolen bases in 99 appearances in 2023.
The Tampa Bay Rays have traded pitcher Tyler Glasnow to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a blockbuster deal. (Source: Jeff Passan)
Fantasy Impact: Outfielder Manuel Margot joins the right-hander in heading to the Dodgers while the Rays acquire right-hander Ryan Pepiot and outfield prospect Jonny Deluca. It was only a matter of time before Glasnow was dealt as he is owned $25 million for the 2024 season and the frugal Rays were looking to acquire value for a pitcher with a significant injury history. Glasnow tossed a career-high 120 innings in the 2023 season while working to a 3.53 ERA across 21 starts. While excellent when healthy, he has made just 60 starts since the 2019 season.
Sat, Dec 9th 3:09pm EST
By Mike Maher
Shohei Ohtani posted on Instagram that he is signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and MLB insider Jeff Passan reports the deal is for 10 years, $700 million. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Ohtani had perhaps the most unique free agency of any player in MLB history: it was shrouded in mystery due to his camp's strict guidelines for secrecy from MLB teams, and Ohtani is one of the best pitchers AND one of the best hitters on the planet but won't be able to pitch in 2024 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. His $700 million contract shatters the MLB record and will almost certainly come with heavily deferred amounts, but that doesn't matter to fantasy managers. With the Dodgers, Ohtani will be on what should be a competitive team for much of the next decade while hitting in a hitter-friendly ballpark. He was already an elite (for lack of a better term) fantasy contributor on bad Angels teams for the last several years, and his value only goes up now that he'll play for a competitor with a good lineup around him.
Sat, Dec 9th 3:09pm EST
By Mike Maher
Shohei Ohtani posted on Instagram that he is signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and MLB insider Jeff Passan reports the deal is for 10 years, $700 million. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Ohtani had perhaps the most unique free agency of any player in MLB history: it was shrouded in mystery due to his camp's strict guidelines for secrecy from MLB teams, and Ohtani is one of the best pitchers AND one of the best hitters on the planet but won't be able to pitch in 2024 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. His $700 million contract shatters the MLB record and will almost certainly come with heavily deferred amounts, but that doesn't matter to fantasy managers. With the Dodgers, Ohtani will be on what should be a competitive team for much of the next decade while hitting in a hitter-friendly ballpark. He was already an elite (for lack of a better term) fantasy contributor on bad Angels teams for the last several years, and his value only goes up now that he'll play for a competitor with a good lineup around him.
Sat, Dec 9th 3:09pm EST
By Mike Maher
Shohei Ohtani posted on Instagram that he is signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and MLB insider Jeff Passan reports the deal is for 10 years, $700 million. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Ohtani had perhaps the most unique free agency of any player in MLB history: it was shrouded in mystery due to his camp's strict guidelines for secrecy from MLB teams, and Ohtani is one of the best pitchers AND one of the best hitters on the planet but won't be able to pitch in 2024 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. His $700 million contract shatters the MLB record and will almost certainly come with heavily deferred amounts, but that doesn't matter to fantasy managers. With the Dodgers, Ohtani will be on what should be a competitive team for much of the next decade while hitting in a hitter-friendly ballpark. He was already an elite (for lack of a better term) fantasy contributor on bad Angels teams for the last several years, and his value only goes up now that he'll play for a competitor with a good lineup around him.
Eduardo Rodriguez and the Arizona Diamondbacks are in agreement on a four-year, $80 million contract. With vesting options, it could become a five-year, $99-million deal. (Source: Jeff Passan)
Fantasy Impact: Rodriguez is coming off a great year where he pitched 152 2/3 innings, struck out 143 batters, and had a 3.30 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. The 30-year-old has a career K% of 23.75 and figures to slot in as Arizona's SP2 behind Zac Gallen. Fantasy managers should note that his xERA last season was 4.04, which would make him more of an SP3/4 on fantasy rosters. However, he is currently going in the 17th round in 12-team NFBC drafts, so the investment isn't outrageous.
San Diego has traded Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees in exchange for five players: Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Kyle Higashioka. (Source: Joel Sherman)
Fantasy Impact: There were rumors that the Padres would try to move the 25-year-old phenom for his last year before hitting free agency, and they found a deal with the Yankees. Soto brings elite batting skills; in 2023, he hit 35 HR with 109 RBI, 97 runs, and 12 stolen bases while slashing .275/.421/.524. He will slot into a lineup that needs an offensive boost; New York slashed .227/.304/.397 as a team last year. (Aaron Judge was limited to 106 games.) No matter where he plays, Soto is a first-round talent in fantasy baseball. And now, he will be showcasing his skills heading into his first free-agency contract on the biggest stage in baseball. Soto is poised for a monster year in the Bronx.
Aaron Nola and the Phillies have reached a tentative agreement on a seven-year contract. It is expected to be in the $170-$175 million range. (Source: Bob Nightengale on X)
Fantasy Impact: Nola is undergoing a physical Sunday, but all signs point to the longest-tenured member of the Phillies returning. He has been vital to their back-to-back NLCS appearances and will continue to provide stability at the top of their rotation. Since 2015, he has a 3.72 ERA and a 10 K/9 in over 1400 innings.
Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. has been voted as the 2023 National League MVP Award winner. (Source: MLB on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: In the end, it came down to Acuna and the Dodgers' Mookie Betts but it's hardly a surprise the Braves superstar prevailed. Acuna hit .337 with 41 homers and 73 stolen bases, becoming the first-ever 40-homer, 70-steal player in league history. He also struck out in just 11.4% of his plate appearances, a massive improvement from his 23.6% mark in each of his last two seasons.
