The Los Angeles Angels have signed left-handed relief pitcher Aaron Loup to a two-year contract with $17 million dollars guaranteed. Loup will make $7.5 million dollars in the 2022 and 2023 seasons and then be subject to a $7.5 million dollar option in 2024 with a $2 million dollar buyout. This move reunites Loup with general manager Perry Minasian, who worked for the Blue Jays when Loup was in Toronto. Loup was arguably the best relief pitcher in the major leagues in 2021, when he allowed a 0.95 ERA in 56 2/3 innings for the New York Mets. He'll only hold value in fantasy leagues that reward holds, and he is not worth drafting.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed free-agent left-hander Jose Quintana to a one-year, $2 million deal on Sunday, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. The 32-year-old had a year to forget, posting a 6.43 ERA and 1.73 WHIP while striking out 28.6% of the batters he faced across 63 innings split between the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants. He appeared in 29 games but started just 10, though he will likely be utilized as a starter with the Pirates given their lack of big-league starting pitching. After being a solid arm for many years, Quintana is all but irrelevant in fantasy at this point, as he owns a 5.13 ERA over the past three seasons, and he won't win many games while pitching for Pittsburgh.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander had at least one major contract on the table other than the one he accepted from the Astros, in the form of a one-year $25 million dollar offer from the New York Yankees. It's easy to see why Verlander stuck with his former team, as his new deal is essentially worth $50 million dollars over two years with the option to opt out halfway through. This news means the Yankees are likely to be in play for starting pitchers in a market flush with options. Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery are locked into the rotation for 2022, but Luis Severino, Nestor Cortes Jr., Domingo German, Jameson Taillon, and others will be battling against each other, and any new acquisitions, for the rest of the spots.

Free-agent starting pitcher Max Scherzer finished third in the voting for the National League Cy Young Award, which went to the Milwaukee Brewers' Corbin Burnes on Wednesday. The Philadelphia Phillies' Zack Wheeler was second. Scherzer threw 179.1 innings during the 2021 season, pitching to a 2.46 ERA and a 2.97 FIP. He also struck out 236 batters while walking 36. It was the ninth time in the right-hander's career that he's topped 200 strikeouts. Scherzer had finished in the top five in Cy Young voting seven different times before this season. He won the award with the Detroit Tigers in 2013 and with the Washington Nationals in 2016 and 2017.

Veteran right-hander Justin Verlander is reportedly re-signing with the Houston Astros, according to a tweet from his brother, Fox Sports' Ben Verlander. Per Ben Verlander's tweet, it's a one-year deal worth $25 million that also includes a player option for the second season. Justin Verlander didn't pitch in 2021 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The veteran's last full season was in 2019 when he pitched to a 2.58 ERA, a 3.27 FIP, 300 strikeouts, and 42 walks in 223 innings, winning a Cy Young award in the process. The veteran will rejoin a rotation that also includes Jose Urquidy, Lance McCullers Jr., Luis Garcia, Framber Valdez, and Jake Odorizzi.

Free-agent starting pitcher Justin Verlander could choose his new team within the week, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. Verlander reportedly has both one-year and multi-year offers on the table. Teams that have expressed interest include the Braves, the Blue Jays, the Yankees and the White Sox, though it is expected that many more teams may be in the running, including his most recent club, the Houston Astros. Verlander did not pitch in 2021 and made just one appearance in 2020 before needing Tommy John surgery, but he was his usual elite self in 2019, posting a 2.58 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in 223 innings. The 37-year-old has stated that he intends to pitch until he is 45.

The Los Angeles Angels are interested in big arms on short-term deals, which could make free-agent starting pitcher Justin Verlander a fit for them. Verlander is expected to turn down the Houston Astros' one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer by Wednesday's deadline. The Halos just signed oft-injured, hard-throwing righty Noah Syndergaard to a one-year, $21 million deal on Tuesday and will have to give up a second-round pick as compensation, though, so it's unclear if the Angels are willing to give up another draft pick to land a 38-year-old that has made just one start in the last two seasons after having surgery on his arm, similar to Syndergaard.

The Atlanta Braves signed catcher Manny Pina to a two-year, $8 million deal on Monday that includes a $4 million team option for the 2024 season. Pina is a highly regarded backup catcher that will help take some of the stress off starting catcher Travis d'Arnaud as the Braves attempt to defend their World Series title in 2022. The presence of Pina as catching depth will give Atlanta extra time to develop catching prospects William Contreras and Shea Langeliers, who is the team's No. 2 prospect. The 34-year-old Pina hit a career-high 13 home runs while batting just .189 with a .732 OPS for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021. Pina can provide occasional pop with his bat, but he's best known for his defense, throwing out 29.7% of 37 potential base-stealers last year.

Free-agent pitcher Aaron Loup is in contract discussions with the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and other teams, per Jon Heyman of the MLB Network. The 33-year-old was impressive in 2021, posting a 6-0 record along with a 0.95 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and a 57:16 K:BB over 56 2/3 innings with the Mets. Loup will boost most team's bullpens but is mainly an option in deep formats in upcoming fantasy drafts in 2022.

Free-agent starting pitcher Justin Verlander had a showcase in front of scouts from 15-20 teams on Monday, including the New York Yankees and the New York Mets, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The future Hall of Famer missed most of 2020 and all of 2021 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. In '19, his most recent full season, Verlander won the Cy Young award while amassing a 21-6 record, 2.58 ERA, 35.4 K%, and 0.80 WHIP in 223.0 innings with the Houston Astros. He entered free agency after this season and received the one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer from the Astros. However, there's a strong chance he'll decline it. Fantasy managers should be careful drafting Verlander, as he's 38 years old and there's no way to predict how he'll perform after missing almost two seasons.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander received a one-year, $18.4 million qualifying offer from the team on Sunday. If Verlander rejects the offer and signs with another club in free agency, the Astros would receive draft-pick compensation. The right-hander could end up accepting the offer, however, after missing almost two full seasons due to a right elbow injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery. He is now 38 years old and is coming off a significant injury, so he may not want to take his chances on the open market and instead return to Houston to try and prove that he's healthy in 2022. Even if Verlander returns for next season, the Astros have already shifted to more of a young starting rotation with Framber Valdez, Jose Urquidy and Luis Garcia, who was a rookie in 2021.

The Boston Red Sox declined their club options on right-hander Garrett Richards ($10 million) and left-hander Martin Perez ($6 million) on Sunday, making them both free agents. Both pitchers started the year in Boston's rotation but ended the season pitching in relief. Richards will receive a $1.5 million buyout, while Perez receives a $500,000 buyout. Richards, 34, was 7-8 on the season with a 4.87 ERA in 40 outings (22 starts) for Boston in 2021. Perez also went 7-8 with a 4.74 ERA in 36 appearances (22 starts) for the BoSox during the regular season. While one or both of them could get some consideration in starting roles on the free-agent market, neither of them will be very attractive fantasy options in deeper leagues.

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Mark Melancon declined the option on his contract Friday, instead choosing to re-enter the free-agent pool. He will receive a $1 million buyout. This does not come as a surprise, as Melancon led the majors with 39 saves in 2021. He figures to do better than his $5 million option on the open market. In addition to his impressive save total, he recorded a 2.23 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 59 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings across 64 appearances. Wherever he lands, fantasy managers should take note of the bullpen hierarchy, as this will largely dictate Melancon's value in 2022 drafts.

New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner declined his $2.3 million player option on Thursday, and the Yankees declined his team option for $7.5 million, which makes him a free agent this winter. Gardner will receive a $1.15 million buyout after making $1.85 million this year. The 38-year-old outfielder hit just .222/.327/.362 with 10 home runs and 39 RBI in 140 games in 2021, and he will contemplate his future with his family during the offseason. Relief pitcher Darren O'Day also declined his $1.4 million player option and took a $700,000 buyout. If Gardner does not retire, he has interest in re-signing with the Yankees as a veteran bench bat and outfielder.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Avisail Garcia opted out of his deal with the team on Thursday and will become a free agent after a strong 2021 season. Garcia had a mutual $12 million option for 2022, but instead he'll receive a $2 million buyout and hit the free-agent market this winter. The 30-year-old from Venezuela had a solid season in his second year in Milwaukee, slashing .262/.330/.490 with a career-high and team-high 29 home runs, 86 RBI, 68 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 515 plate appearances over 135 games for the Brew Crew. Milwaukee already has an expensive outfield with Christian Yelich, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Lorenzo Cain, so the chances of Garcia re-signing with the Brewers or accepting a qualifying offer (if one is extended) are slim.

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager is set to be a free agent, as assistant general manager Justin Hollander informed Seager via email Sunday that his option would be declined. Seager will receive a buyout of two million dollars. The 34-year-old slashed .212/.285/.438 with 35 homers and 101 RBI in 159 games this season and was recently named a finalist for the American League Silver Slugger award. He has not known another organization since being drafted in 2009, but wherever he catches on, the lefty swinger will be a solid corner-infield option for fantasy managers in search of power.

Houston Astros pitcher Zack Greinke is getting the start on Saturday for Game 4 of the World Series. The veteran pitched to a 4.16 ERA and a 4.71 FIP in 171 innings during the regular season, allowing 36 walks while striking out 120 batters. He's pitched in a relief role so far during the playoffs. Since the postseason began, the right-hander has allowed three hits, three walks, two earned runs, and a home run in 2.1 innings while recording a strikeout. Greinke is also batting eighth on Saturday, with catcher Martin Maldonado hitting ninth. In 600 career plate appearances during the regular season, the veteran is batting .225 with a .262 on-base percentage, nine home runs, and a stolen base.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley will start and hit second in Game 1 of the World Series against the Braves. The veteran is hitting .311 through 45 postseason at-bats but his power has been sapped by an August knee injury ever since. Brantley, however, has been dangerous with runners in scoring position, going 5-for-10 in those situations with eight runs batted in during this playoff run. Brantley may not be sending the ball over the fence at present but will provide a tough, professional at-bat every time up at the dish.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Albert Pujols isn't in the lineup on Saturday for Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. The veteran collected a pair of hits, two runs scored, and a walk in Los Angeles' Game 5 win. However, he'll head to the bench with right-handed starter Ian Anderson on the mound for the Atlanta Braves. Most of Pujols' plate appearances this postseason have come against left-handed pitching. It'll be Matt Beaty getting the start at first base and batting eighth against Anderson. Pujols is hitting .333 with a .375 on-base percentage in 16 plate appearances for the Dodgers in the playoffs this year.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will turn to starting pitcher Walker Buehler on short rest for Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday, with starter Max Scherzer dealing with general arm fatigue. Buehler has made three starts this postseason and last pitched on Oct. 19. Scherzer admitted to having "dead arm" during his 79-pitch start in Game 2 against the Braves when he allowed two runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings. It's unknown if Mad Max would be available to pitch in a potential Game 7 on Sunday, but the team is holding out hope that he'll feel better. Buehler made his first start on short rest in Game 4 of the Division Series against the San Francisco Giants and gave up just one run in 4 1/3 innings.