Free-agent right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Hendriks, a three-time All-Star, has only made 19 relief appearances since the start of the 2023 season due to injuries. The 37-year-old veteran Australian missed time last year with hip and elbow injuries and pitched in only 14 games for the Boston Red Sox, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out 12 in 13 2/3 innings. The Twins certainly could use the experience in their bullpen, but Hendriks is going to have to pitch well this spring and stay healthy to earn an Opening Day bullpen spot in Minnesota. Hendriks has 116 career saves in 14 major-league seasons, but fantasy managers should be looking to ignore him for now.

Free-agent right-hander Chris Bassitt and the Baltimore Orioles agreed on a one-year, $18.5 million contract on Wednesday night, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 36-year-old now joins an overhauled Orioles rotation that also includes Shane Baz, Zach Eflin, Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, and Dean Kremer. Bassitt will stay in the American League East after going 11-9 with a 3.96 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 166:52 K:BB in 170 1/3 innings over 32 regular-season outings (31 starts) in 2025 with the Toronto Blue Jays. The veteran hurler isn't overpowering (career 22% strikeout rate), but he does an excellent job at avoiding hard contact. Bassitt was in the 85th percentile last year in average exit velocity and the 80th percentile in hard-hit rate, and he's made at least 30 starts each year since 2022. At his age, fantasy managers know what they are getting: a safe, dependable back-end starter with a limited ceiling.

The Denver Post's Kyle Newman writes that new Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy "could very well end up starting in right field" to begin the 2026 season over Mickey Moniak. McCarthy can play all three outfield spots and will be the fastest Rockies player with a sprint speed in the 99th percentile. The 28-year-old finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting back in 2022 and played in a career-high 142 games in 2024, but he dealt with injuries and slumped to the tune of a .204/.247/.345 slash line with a career-worst .591 OPS in 67 games (222 plate appearances) last year. McCarthy faces significant competition in Colorado's outfield, but if he bounces back, he could make the left-handed-hitting Moniak expendable. Speed is McCarthy's greatest asset, and although he doesn't have much power, he's a more intriguing bench stash in deeper fantasy leagues now that he's in Colorado.

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday to make room on the 40-man roster for recently signed right-hander Jose Urquidy, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Jones' placement on the 60-day IL was expected, as he's not projected to make his 2026 season debut until sometime in late May after he had surgery to fix a torn UCL in his right arm last May. We'll have a clearer timetable for the 24-year-old once he begins to ramp up his throwing program. Despite the surgery, Jones has lots of long-term potential in Pittsburgh after impressing in his rookie campaign in 2024. In his first 22 big-league starts, the former second-rounder went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 132:39 K:BB in 121 2/3 frames. At best, Jones will be a speculative late-round selection in fantasy drafts this year, with the Bucs most likely handling him with extreme caution when he's finally back.