As expected, outfielder Seiya Suzuki received a one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer from the Chicago Cubs, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Suzuki will almost certainly decline the offer and enter the free-agent market this winter as one of the top free-agent outfield bats available. It remains to be seen if Chicago is serious about re-signing the 32-year-old, who had another strong season in 2026 in his fifth year in the majors, slashing .270/.368/.473 with an .841 OPS, 26 home runs, 86 RBI, 96 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 143 games across 634 plate appearances. Suzuki sold out for power in 2025 with a career-low .245 batting average (140-for-571), but he did produce career highs in home runs (32) and RBI (103) in 151 regular-season games played. In addition to being a consistent power bat in the outfield, Suzuki has graded out well defensively in right field, which will make him even more attractive on the open market this offseason. If he declines the Cubs' qualifying offer (he should), the Cubs will receive draft-pick compensation if he signs elsewhere.

Outfielder Jacob Young and the Washington Nationals agreed to a four-year, $23 million contract extension on Friday that includes an $8 million option for a fifth season, a source familiar with the deal told Robert Murray of FanSided. The deal helps the Nats avoid salary arbitration for the first time with Young. The 27-year-old is more glove and speed than bat, as he is considered one of the better defensive center fielders in the game. Although the former seventh-rounder in 2021 from the University of Florida does not have much power at the plate, he does have enough speed to make him fantasy-relevant in deeper leagues. Young stole a career-high 33 bases for the Nats in his first full season in 2024 and has at least 15 steals in the last two seasons. The 2026 campaign was one of his better showings at the plate, hitting .252/.318/.390 with a career-high .707 OPS, a career-high 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases in 140 games across 471 plate appearances. Fantasy managers seeking power from an outfielder will want to avoid Young, as he has hit just 15 home runs in his four big-league seasons since debuting with Washington in 2023.

Future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols will interview for the Houston Astros' managerial vacancy on Thursday, sources told Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. The Astros named former St. Louis Cardinals executive Randy Flores as their new general manager five days ago. Flores spent eight years in the big leagues before joining St. Louis' front office, with five of those years spent as Pujols' teammate in St. Louis, including a World Series championship in 2006. Pujols has made it clear that he has a desire to manage in the big leagues, and he won a championship in the Dominican winter league in his first season leading the Leones del Escogido in January of 2025 while also serving as the skipper for the Dominican Republic in this year's World Baseball Classic, where his squad lost to the United States in the semifinals. Pujols was a finalist for the managerial openings in the last hiring cycle with the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres. New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus is also among those being considered by the Astros for their managerial position.

The San Diego Padres extended a one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer to left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon, according to the New York Post's Joel Sherman. The 27-year-old hard-throwing southpaw is expected to decline the offer and become one of the top relievers available in his prime. Morejon has until Nov. 17 to accept or decline the offer. The Padres chose not to extend a qualifying offer to first baseman Ty France. Morejon, who hits triple digits on the radar gun regularly with his fastball and has pinpoint control, had a strong 2.83 ERA over 76 relief outings this year after posting a 2.08 ERA in 2025. If Morejon declines the offer, as expected, and signs elsewhere, the Padres would receive a compensatory draft pick. The Padres will have one of the better bullpens in baseball again in 2027, even if Morejon does not return, but they are definitely interested in a reunion. Morejon also expressed a desire to return at the end of the season. "Everybody knows that," Morejon said of his desire to return. "My agent knows that. It's not really in my hands right now." Morejon could have a chance to be a full-time closer if he tests the market, though, but in San Diego, he would remain a late-inning setup man in front of Mason Miller.