Free-agent outfielder Miguel Andujar, who is coming off a big season with the Athletics and Reds, is drawing significant interest from the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, and A's. Andujar hit a combined .318/.352/.470 with an .822 OPS, 10 home runs, 44 RBI, and 36 runs scored in 94 games with the A's and Reds. He missed time with a Grade 2 right-oblique strain and a quadriceps injury. The 30-year-old was a lefty killer and will most likely be a candidate for a platoon outfielder role wherever he lands. Fantasy managers definitely shouldn't expect him to come anywhere close to his 208 production with the New York Yankees, when he hit a career-best 27 home runs and drove in 92 in 149 games. In deeper fantasy leagues, Andujar is attractive for his power and dual eligibility at third and outfield.

The Chicago Cubs and agent Scott Boras have continued to talk about free-agent right-hander Zac Gallen, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. "Those talks are ongoing. My reporting is the possibility is that it'll be a shorter-term type of deal," Levine said. Gallen has been connected with the Cubs in free agency since early December, but the two sides have been unable to work anything out. The 30-year-old All-Star is coming off a career-worst 4.83 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 175 strikeouts and 66 walks in 33 starts over 192 innings in 2025 in his seventh year in the big leagues. Going with a shorter deal would allow Gallen to build some of his value back up before potentially hitting free agency one more time as he nears the tail end of his career. Gallen is probably past his prime, but going to Wrigley Field could help lower his home run rate, which was a career high in 2025.

The Atlanta Braves announced on Monday that they signed free-agent infielder Jorge Mateo to a one-year, $1 million deal. Mateo will essentially be insurance after it was announced over the weekend that infielder Ha-Seong Kim (finger) will miss around the first six weeks of the 2026 season due to finger surgery. Like Kim, the 30-year-old Dominican has been injured in recent seasons, playing in only 110 combined games the last two years with the Baltimore Orioles, slashing .214/.253/.362 with six home runs, 21 RBI, 39 runs scored, and 28 stolen bases. He hit only .177 in 42 games for the O's last year. The most likely scenario to open the year with Kim injured is that utility man Mauricio Dubon will begin as the primary shortstop in Atlanta. If Mateo does get an extended chance at the 6 or another position for the Braves, he could be interesting for his speed (he stole a league-high 35 bags in 2022).

Cleveland Guardians top prospect Travis Bazzana is expected to begin the 2026 season with Triple-A Columbus. The Guardians selected the second baseman with the top pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Oregon State. Following the draft, Bazzana was given a brief 27-game taste of High-A to conclude 2024, where he struggled, holding a modest .238 AVG with a .738 OPS. In 2025, Bazzana began the season with Double-A and was eventually able to earn a promotion to Triple-A. Across 77 games split between the top two levels in the Cleveland system, Bazzana held a .246/.383/.430 line with an .813 OPS, nine home runs, and 11 stolen bases. Unfortunately, multiple oblique injuries significantly limited his total playing time. While Bazzana figures to compete for a first-half MLB debut, fantasy managers should expect the top prospect to begin 2026 at Triple-A.