The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed free-agent first baseman Luken Baker to a minor-league deal, per Just Baseball Media's Aram Leighton. Baker became a minorleague free agent at the end of last season and decided to test the open market instead of staying within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Since 2023, Baker has played in just 73 major-league games, posting a .655 OPS with four home runs, 22 RBI, 15 runs scored, and one stolen base across 189 plate appearances. The Diamondbacks currently have Pavin Smith set as their primary first baseman with Tim Tawa backing him up. In 2025, Smith slashed .258/.362/.434 with eight home runs and a 31.9% strikeout rate across 288 plate appearances, while Tawa posted a 72 wRC+ in 225 plate appearances. With Arizona shopping All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte, it looks like the team is trying to shed payroll while rebuilding. Although it's unlikely, if Baker makes the roster, he'd serve as first-base depth for 2026. For now, you can safely leave him off your fantasy radar.

Outfielder/infielder Alec Burleson is set to be the St. Louis Cardinals' everyday first baseman in 2026, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The move comes after St. Louis dealt Willson Contreras to the Red Sox earlier this week for right-handers Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo, and Blake Aita. With Contreras gone, Burleson will move over to first base after spending most of 2025 in the outfield. He put together a strong offensive season last year, posting a .802 OPS and .275 xBA with 18 home runs, 69 RBI, 54 runs scored, and five stolen bases, good for a 124 wRC+. He also showed excellent plate discipline, striking out just 14.5% of the time. Defensively, Burleson graded out as a below-average outfielder, but he did make 38 starts at first base in 2025, so the transition shouldn't be much of an issue. From a fantasy perspective, Burleson offers dual eligibility and is expected to play every day, including against left-handed pitching after showing real improvement against them last season. Looking ahead to 2026, Burleson projects for up to 25 home runs with a .270 batting average while hitting in the middle of the Cardinals' lineup, making him a player who should be rostered in both 12- and 15-team leagues.

Free-agent left-hander Helcris Olivarez and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, according to Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston. Olivarez has spent his entire professional career in the minor leagues, posting a 4.18 ERA with 387 strikeouts, 238 walks, and a 1.46 WHIP across 325 innings. The 25-year-old isn't a lock to make the team, and even if he does, he's unlikely to have any fantasy relevance in 2026.

Outfielder/first baseman Tyler Soderstrom and the Athletics have agreed to a seven-year, $86 million contract extension, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The deal includes a club option for 2033 and can escalate to $131 million if all incentives are reached. This is the largest guaranteed deal in A's history. The 2025 season marked Soderstrom's first full year in the majors and his first extended run in the outfield, and he impressed on both sides of the ball. He slashed .276/.346/.474 with 25 home runs, 93 RBI, and 75 runs scored across 624 plate appearances, good for a 125 wRC+, while also finishing as a Gold Glove finalist. While the 24-year-old ran at a relatively high.327 BABIP, his 49.8% hard-hit rate suggests the production was driven more by skill than luck. The former first-round pick consistently barreled the ball while keeping his strikeout rate to a manageable 22.6%. Looking ahead to 2026, Soderstrom is expected to hit in the middle of the A's lineup in one of the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball. With a current 95.6 ADP, he offers legitimate 30-homer, 100-RBI upside while providing positional flexibility, making him a solid target for fantasy managers in all leagues.