The New York Mets' trade of long-time outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers might have cleared a lane for outfield prospect Carson Benge to become the team's starting center fielder on Opening Day in 2026, according to Sam Dykstra of MLB.com. Benge, the team's No. 2 prospect and the No. 21 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, climbed three levels in the minors in his first full season in 2025. He has a real shot to not only make the big-league roster out of spring training, but also win starting center-field duties now that Nimmo is gone. The 22-year-old was drafted 19th overall in 2024 as a two-way player out of Oklahoma State. Benge has since become a full-time outfielder and hit .281/.385/.472 with 15 homers and 22 steals in 116 games over three minor-league levels. Benge has great bat-to-ball skills, developing power, and above-average speed. His primary competition in center field in spring training will be with Tyrone Taylor.

Free-agent right-hander Nick Anderson agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Athletics earlier this month that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. Anderson's MLB salary is $1 million if he's added to the 40-man roster. The 35-year-old has pitched in six big-league seasons with five different teams. He appeared in 12 games out of the bullpen in 2025 for the Colorado Rockies, posting a career-worst 6.14 ERA (10 earned runs in 14 2/3 innings) while striking out 10 and walking two. In his career, Anderson holds a 3.43 ERA (3.38 FIP), 1.11 WHIP, 10 saves, 212 strikeouts, and 49 walks in 173 innings pitched over 177 relief appearances. Anderson will be far from the fantasy radar in all formats and will most likely start the 2026 season at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Free-agent relief pitcher Sam Hentges and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million deal on Thursday, a source familiar with the deal told Robert Murray of FanSided. Hentges became a free agent after he was non-tendered by the Cleveland Guardians last week. The 29-year-old is expected to be ready for spring training in February after missing the entire 2025 season after having surgery on his left shoulder and arthroscopic surgery on his right knee back in September. The southpaw won't be on the fantasy radar, but he could end up being a key bullpen piece for the Gigantes if he can return to his pre-injury form. The former fourth-round selection had a 3.04 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 23 2/3 relief innings before being shut down in 2024, and he holds a career 4.18 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, one save, and a 223:74 K:BB in 168 appearances (12 starts) in the majors since debuting in Cleveland in 2021.

Free-agent right-hander Dylan Cease and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed on a seven-year, $210 million deal on Wednesday, pending a physical, sources tell Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. The defending American League champions take one of the best starting arms off the open market a day before Thanksgiving. Cease will join an already strong rotation in Toronto that includes Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber, and Jose Berrios. The 29-year-old has five straight seasons with 200 strikeouts, but he's coming off a disappointing final season with the San Diego Padres in 2025, in which he went 8-12 with a 4.55 ERA (3.56 FIP), 1.33 WHIP, and 215:71 K:BB in 168 innings over 32 regular-season starts. His 71 free passes were one of the highest marks in baseball. Cease remains an elite strikeout artist who has been durable in his career, but he'll be a risk-reward for both Toronto and fantasy managers going into 2026 in the American League East.