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Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said on Wednesday that right-handed closer Felix Bautista (shoulder), who had right-shoulder surgery this year, could be back after the trade deadline in 2026, according to Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. The Orioles are still planning on adding late-inning help this offseason, though, because they aren't "banking on him immediately being himself." Specifically, Bautista's surgery fixed a torn labrum and torn rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder. He was a first-time All-Star in 2023, when he closed out a career-high 33 games, but he missed all of the 2024 season due to injury as well. The 30-year-old veteran had a career-high 2.60 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 19 saves, 50 K's, and 23 walks in 34 2/3 frames this year before being shut down. Bautista will be a risky late-inning fantasy reliever next year after his long layoff.

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Atlanta Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said on Wednesday that the team will have a better idea of catcher Sean Murphy's (hip) rehab plan in January, according to David O'Brien of The Athletic. The Braves plan on him playing and sharing at-bats with Drake Baldwin at catcher and designated hitter, unless they add a DH in the offseason. O'Brien thinks that if Murphy is expected back early next year, Atlanta will pass on adding a big DH. The 31-year-old backstop needed surgery in September to fix a labral tear in his right hip that he's been dealing with for several years. Health issues have caused the former third-rounder to hit a lowly .197/.293/.384, albeit with 26 home runs and 70 RBI, in 166 games the last two years in Atlanta. Baldwin just won the NL Rookie of the Year and is on the rise, so Murphy could lose more playing time going forward, even if he can stay healthy.

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New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga is "attracting trade interest from multiple teams" this offseason, league sources told The Athletic's Will Sammon. Some MLB teams are viewing the 32-year-old as an interesting buy-low candidate after he got hurt in 2025 and ended the year pitching in the minors due to poor performance. The Mets have had conversations about Senga, but it's unclear if they'd be willing to trade him after the Japanese native went 7-6 with a 3.02 ERA (4.12 FIP), 1.31 WHIP, and 109:55 K:BB in 113 1/3 innings over his 22 big-league starts. He is owed $28 million over the next two years with a team option for 2028, which is a reasonable price. Senga has a 3.00 ERA in his three MLB seasons and finished in the top 10 for the Cy Young as a rookie. However, he had a 6.56 ERA in the second half in 2025, is particular about his mechanics, and missed time due to injury each of the last two years. As such, he'll be a risk/reward fantasy target going into his fourth year in the majors.

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Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said at the GM meetings in Las Vegas on Wednesday that he's not trading first baseman Christian Walker, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. "We haven't talked about Walker in a trade. Walker is our everyday first baseman. He will get some time off. We'll play Paredes there," Brown said. USA Today Sports' Bob Nightengale wrote earlier this week that the Astros will "gladly listen to all offers" for Walker this offseason after signing him to a three-year, $60 million deal last December. The 34-year-old veteran right-handed hitter finished on a good note in his first year with the Astros, but it didn't cover up the fact that he had career lows in average (.238), on-base percentage (.297), and slugging percentage (.421) in 154 games. Walker still has plenty of pop (27 homers), but he also struck out a career-high 177 times. At his age, though, his power numbers could drop off even more in 2026.

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Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias hinted on Wednesday at the GM meetings in Las Vegas that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (elbow) will face workload restrictions next season, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. "You miss a year and 2 months, we've got to be realistic about that, and it's not something that we're planning around very heavily. But he's a guy that provides a real wild card for us talent-wise," Elias said. Rodriguez was expected to start ramping up his throwing program in October after he missed all of 2025 due to multiple right-elbow issues before having surgery to remove a bone spur in his arm in August. The 25-year-old former 11th overall pick in 2018 is expected to be ready for the start of spring training in mid-February. However, even if he doesn't have any setbacks with his elbow, his innings will be monitored closely in 2026, limiting his fantasy upside.

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Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said at the GM meetings in Las Vegas on Wednesday that left-handed closer Josh Hader (shoulder) has thrown off a mound three times and is "progressing well," according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Hader's 2025 season ended early in the middle of August after he strained his left shoulder. Although it's unclear if the 31-year-old six-time All-Star will be ready for the start of spring training in mid-February, he should be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback. Before his injury in August, Hader was once again one of the more dominant closers in fantasy baseball, posting a 6-2 record, 2.05 ERA (3.25 FIP), 0.85 WHIP, 28 saves, 76 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 52 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. He now has 227 saves in his nine-year MLB career, including 62 the last two years in Houston.

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Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said at the GM meetings in Las Vegas on Wednesday that outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (ankle) is jogging at 65-70 percent but is expected to be ready for spring training in 2026, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. It was an injury-plagued 2025 season for Alvarez, who suffered a pretty serious left-ankle sprain towards the end of the final month of the regular season in September. The 28-year-old Cuban slugger only played in 48 games for the Astros this year, slashing .273/.367/.430 with a career-worst .797 OPS, just six home runs, 27 RBI, and 17 runs scored in 199 plate appearances. Before his ankle injury, Alvarez missed extended time with a right-hand fracture. Assuming he's completely healthy for the start of next season, Alvarez will be a bounce-back candidate in fantasy baseball.

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Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton wants to play for a winner and may reconsider his stance for certain teams if the Twins continue to break up their roster, a major-league source told The Athletic's Dan Hayes. Buxton, a two-time All-Star, has three years and $45 million left on his current contract. He also has full no-trade protection through next season and the ability to block trades to five teams in 2027 and 2028. The Twins organization is in a precarious state this offseason after trading away shortstop Carlos Correa and most of their bullpen over the summer. Baseball Prospectus estimates the team's current payroll at $95 million, which is a steep drop-off from where the Twins have been the last five seasons. Buxton's decision on whether to waive his no-trade clause could depend on whether Minnesota trades away one or both of starting pitchers Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez.

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Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes won the National League Cy Young award on Wednesday night, getting all 30 first-place votes one season after winning Rookie of the Year, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez finished second in the voting, with Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto coming in third. It's crazy how quickly Skenes has become one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. In his first two years in the majors, Skenes' 1.96 career ERA is the lowest through 55 starts in any pitcher's career since 1920. The former first overall pick out of LSU only got 3.4 runs of support per game, the third-lowest of any qualified pitcher in 2025. His MLB-best 1.97 ERA was more than a half-run lower than his closest competition in the NL. Skenes is the first pitcher in MLB to have a sub-2.00 ERA with at least 185 innings since Jacob deGrom did it in 2018. He's going to be a mainstay as the top-rated fantasy starting pitcher for years to come.

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Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal was named the American League Cy Young winner for the second straight year on Wednesday night, becoming the first back-to-back winner in the AL since Pedro Martinez in 1999-00, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Boston Red Sox lefty Garrett Crochet finished second in the voting, with Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown coming in third. Skubal won the AL pitching Triple Crown in 2024 and followed that amazing feat up by posting an AL-best 2.21 ERA and a career-high 241 strikeouts in 195 1/3 regular-season innings in 2025. He also led baseball with a 0.89 ERA. The talented southpaw's changeup was rated as the league's most dominant pitch, and combined with his high-90s heater, he struck out 32.2% of opposing batters and limited them to a .200 average and .559 OPS. Heading into his walk year in Detroit, Skubal will be a clear high-end fantasy ace.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers won their second straight World Series title this fall by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games, but it's no secret their bullpen was a weak spot in 2025. They are expected to "dive into the deep waters of the free-agent relief market" again this offseason. According to league sources, the Dodgers are "looking to add at least one high-leverage right-handed bullpen arm, per The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya. Two-time All-Star and current free agent Devin Williams is a candidate to be signed by L.A. after they were in the mix to trade for Williams last winter before the Brewers dealt him to the Yankees. Williams had a rough 4.79 ERA in the Bronx and lost the closer role by the end of the year, but his 2.68 FIP and 13.1 K's per nine innings suggest he could bounce back as a high-end reliever in 2026. There appears to be mutual interest between L.A. and Williams. Stay tuned.

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MLB Network announced on Tuesday night that Cleveland Guardians skipper Stephen Vogt won American League Manager of the Year for the second straight season. Brewers skipper Pat Murphy went back-to-back as well in the NL, with both managers in their first two seasons at the helm. Pretty crazy stuff. Despite making it to the ALCS in 2024 and being 15 1/2 games out of first place in the AL Central in July, the Guardians battled back to take the division title over the Detroit Tigers in the final week of the regular season. It was the largest deficit a team has overcome to win a division since 1969. Cleveland went on a 19-4 run to overtake Detroit in the season's final month. Somehow, Vogt was able to lead the Guards to the postseason despite a franchise-low .226 batting average while also losing two key pitchers -- Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Ortiz -- to non-disciplinary paid leave for gambling violations. The 41-year-old has quickly proven he can do a lot with a little as a manager.

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Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) is pain-free, according to president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos. Schwellenbach fractured his right elbow at the end of June and didn't pitch again for Atlanta in 2025. The 25-year-old was cleared to resume throwing in late September, though, which means that barring a setback, he should be an option for the Braves' starting rotation to begin the 2026 season. Schwellenback should be a lock for the rotation if he's healthy after going 15-11 with a nice 3.23 ERA (3.27 FIP), 1.01 WHIP, and 235:41 K:BB in 234 1/3 innings over 38 starts in his first two big-league seasons the last two years. There's a lot to like about Schwellenbach's fantasy profile, but there's also plenty of risk for a player coming off a major injury who made the leap straight from Double-A to the big leagues when he debuted in 2024.

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Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman/outfielder Tommy Edman (ankle) will undergo surgery on his right ankle next week, according to executive vice president and general manager Brandon Gomes. Barring a setback, Edman is expected to be ready around the start of spring training in February, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. The 30-year-old switch-hitter has had issues with the same ankle over the last couple of seasons, but hopefully the surgery will alleviate any concerns he might have had going forward. Edman has won World Series rings with L.A. in his first two seasons with the team while hitting .229/.280/.392 with a .672 OPS, 19 home runs, 69 RBI, 69 runs, and nine steals in 134 regular-season games. He hasn't been all that relevant in fantasy, but he has stepped up in the playoffs when it matters most the last two seasons, as Edman has hit .282 with 33 hits, four homers, 20 RBI, and 16 runs scored for the Blue.

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Arizona Diamondbacks executive vice president and general manager Mike Hazen said on Tuesday in Las Vegas at the GM meetings that "it's mostly unlikely" that the team will trade All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte this offseason, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. USA Today Sports' Bob Nightengale reported on Monday that the D-backs are motivated to trade Marte this offseason, but Hazen at least did a good job of deflecting that rumor a day later. The 32-year-old Marte will have 10-and-5 rights and a full no-trade provision by mid-April, so if a trade does occur, it will no doubt come before then. Marte has $71 million remaining on his contract through 2030, so the Snakes will surely have an extremely high asking price for any teams that come calling. He has become one of the best second basemen in baseball since the start of the 2023 season and has totaled 89 homers and 249 RBI in that span.

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The Kansas City Royals announced on Monday that they acquired outfielder Kameron Misner from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The move was made after the Rays designated Misner for assignment last week. The 27-year-old former first-rounder by the Miami Marlins in 2019 out of Missouri played in eight games for the Rays in 2024 before appearing in 71 games this past season, recording a .213 average (42-for-197) with five homers, 22 RBI, 27 runs, eight steals, and a 69:16 K:BB in his 217 plate appearances. Misner will now give the Royals extra outfield depth, and he'll be competing for an Opening Day roster spot during spring training. The athletic outfielder showed an intriguing power/speed combination in the minors, but he'll need to cut down on the strikeouts at the big-league level to get an extended shot with the Royals.

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Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said on Monday that outfield prospect Roman Anthony (oblique) is asymptomatic and is expected to have a normal offseason, according to The Boston Globe. Anthony, one of the team's top prospects, strained his left oblique in early September, missed the rest of the regular season, and was unavailable in the playoffs. The 21-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder should be full-go for spring training and the start of the 2026 season, though, and will be a starter from the get-go in his first full season in the big leagues. Anthony, a former second-rounder in 2022, was as advertised in his first year in the majors in 2025, slashing .292/.396/.463 with an .859 OPS, eight home runs, 32 RBI, 48 runs, and four steals in 257 at-bats after making his debut on June 9. He is not going to come cheap in fantasy drafts next spring.

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It would be a huge surprise if Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran is with the team in spring training next year in Fort Myers, Fla., in the opinion of Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Boston is looking for an upgrade over Duran and thinks he "needs a fresh start." The BoSox are trying to deal from a position of strength to acquire some starting pitching, as they already have prospect Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela in the outfield. The 29-year-old Duran isn't a great defensive outfielder, and he took a step back in 2025 after hitting .285 with a career-high 21 home runs and 34 stolen bases while leading the league in doubles (48) and triples (14). He led the league in triples (13) again in 2025 but regressed to slash .256/.332/.442 with 16 homers, 84 RBI, 86 runs, and 24 steals in 157 regular-season games. Despite his defensive limitations and lack of high-end power, Duran will be an attractive contributor across all roto categories, regardless of where he's playing in 2026.

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Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports writes that the Washington Nationals are expected to use left-hander MacKenzie Gore as "trade bait to kick-start their new era." Gore is a talented young starter just entering his prime in the big leagues, but the Nationals now have an entirely new front office, a new coaching staff, and new ideas for their future. The 26-year-old dealt with some ankle issues this year and finished the season on the injured list, but he should be fully healthy in time for spring training in 2026. The former first-rounder was a first-time All-Star for the Nats in 2025 in his third year with the team despite going 5-15 in 30 starts (159 2/3 innings). Gore posted a 4.17 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with a career-high 185 strikeouts and 64 walks. He had a career-best 27.2% strikeout rate, but Gore must find better control if he's going to take the next step as a potential fantasy ace.

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The Detroit Tigers will at least listen to trade offers for left-hander Tarik Skubal, but they "would have to be completely overwhelmed" to move him, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. MLB teams won't be willing to give up more than two top-10 prospects in exchange for Skubal, knowing that he won't sign an extension and plans to hit free agency following the 2026 season. Nightengale adds that the Tigers are "expected to hang onto him until at least the July 2026 trade deadline." The 28-year-old southpaw is likely to win a second straight American League Cy Young award after leading the league with a 6.5 WAR, 2.21 ERA, 2.45 FIP, and 0.89 WHIP in 195 1/3 innings in 2025. Skubal also struck out a career-high 241 hitters while walking just 33 in 31 regular-season starts. Regardless of where he's pitching in 2026, Skubal will be an elite fantasy ace.

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