The San Francisco Giants have designated outfielder Justin Dean for assignment to make room for right-hander Tyler Mahle, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Dean never appeared in a game for the Giants after being claimed off waivers in early November. The 29-year-old most recently played for the World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers, appearing in 18 games last season, primarily as a pinch-runner. Mahle joins a Giants starting rotation that includes Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, Adrian Houser, and Landen Roupp. The 31-year-old righty spent the past two seasons with the Texas Rangers, where he posted a 2.54 ERA with 76 strikeouts across 99 1/3 innings. However, durability remains a major concern. Since 2022, Mahle has undergone Tommy John surgery and hasn't made more than 20 starts in a season. In 2025, he missed 85 games with right-shoulder fatigue, and his declining velocity only adds to the concerns. His fastball, which averaged around 94 mph in 2021, dipped to roughly 92 mph last season. While Mahle still does a solid job locating the ball, and Oracle Park is pitcher-friendly, he's mainly a fantasy option for deeper formats, like 15-team leagues. Even then, it's best to leave him on the waiver wire to start the season until he proves he can stay healthy and that his stuff can still play at the major-league level.

The New York Yankees are running out of viable options to replace outfielder Cody Bellinger, which, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, is giving Bellinger significant leverage in his free-agent talks with New York. Rosenthal added that free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker is likely too expensive for the Yankees' taste, while third baseman Alex Bregman and shortstop Bo Bichette don't appear to be great fits for their roster. Last week, the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported that Bellinger is still the Yankees' top priority. However, other teams, such as the Mets, Angels, Dodgers, and Blue Jays, have also shown interest in the former National League MVP. In 2025, Bellinger slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 89 runs scored, 98 RBI, and 13 stolen bases with a career-low 13.7% strikeout rate. If Bellinger does re-sign with New York, he'll be a clear top-25 outfielder heading into fantasy drafts in 2026.

The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired left-hander Justin Bruihl from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for cash considerations, as announced by both teams. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals designated right-hander Zak Kent for assignment. Bruihl has pitched five years in the majors, posting a 4.72 ERA, 69 strikeouts, and a 1.37 WHIP across 89 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old does a solid job of keeping the ball on the ground and has held left-handed hitters to a .224 batting average over his career. Bruihl appears to be a replacement for lefty reliever John King, who was non-tendered by St. Louis following the 2025 season. Outside of very deep leagues that count holds, Bruihl can safely be left off fantasy radars heading into 2026.

The Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a minor-league deal with free-agent left-hander Tucker Davidson, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. It is currently unclear whether the contract includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Davidson has spent parts of five seasons in the majors, pitching for the Braves, Angels, and Orioles. The 30-year-old lefty owns a 5.76 career ERA (5.13 SIERA) across 129 2/3 innings. In 2025, he pitched in Korea for the Lotte Giants, where he started 22 games and posted a 3.65 ERA, a 22.5% strikeout rate, 9.1% walk rate, and a 46.4% ground-ball rate. If Davidson earns a spot on the Phillies' roster, he would likely serve as depth out of the bullpen. As such, he is not expected to have any fantasy relevance heading into the 2026 season.