The Los Angeles Dodgers gave starting pitcher Trevor Bauer his unconditional release on Thursday. The Dodgers designated Bauer for assignment last Friday and could not find a trade partner by the deadline this Friday, so the 31-year-old right-hander will become a free agent. Bauer has been reinstated by the league following his lengthy suspension for domestic violence, but it remains to be seen if any other MLB teams will take a chance on the former National League Cy Young winner. The Dodgers are on the hook for $22.5 million. He missed all of last season, so even if a team takes a chance on Bauer for 2023, it will be tough to predict how he'll perform after previously being one of the better pitchers in the game.

The New York Mets and New York Yankees won't pursue starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, according to sources, either via trade by the Friday deadline or as a free agent. Bauer, who is still currently on the Los Angeles Dodgers roster, was reinstated his 194-game suspension. However, it's unclear if any major-league team will take a chance on him. The Dodgers would like to trade him out of the National League West, if possible. One baseball decision-maker said Bauer would have to be signed by a "team on another planet." Pitching is at a premium this year, and Bauer won the NL Cy Young as recently as 2020. The Dodgers have until Friday to trade him, and if they can't, he'll be on the open market as a free agent.

The San Diego Padres and free-agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal on Wednesday, pending a physical, according to sources familiar with the deal. Cruz wants to win a World Series ring and was willing to take less money to play for a contender. He is also familiar with general manager AJ Preller from their days in the Texas Rangers organization. Boomstick looked his age (42) in 2022 with the Washington Nationals, hitting .234/.313/.337 with only 10 home runs, 64 RBI, 50 runs scored, four stolen bases and a 23.6% strikeout rate. Cruz ended the year on the injured list and eventually needed surgery on his left eye, but he should be good to go for the start of the 2023 season. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect a whole lot from the seven-time All-Star in what is likely to be his final season, but he could provide some modest power numbers as a part-time DH in his new digs.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Tuesday that the New York Mets are among the teams interested in free-agent relief pitcher Zack Britton. Britton was managed by current Mets manager Buck Showalter with the Baltimore Orioles and also has a close relationship with new Mets coach Dom Chiti. Britton has been a reliable high-leverage bullpen arm throughout his career, but he pitched just two-thirds of an inning in 2022 with the Yankees, as he spent the majority of the season recovering from left elbow UCL reconstruction. As a solid left-handed arm, it makes sense that competitive teams would be interested in adding him to their bullpen, although he would likely hold little fantasy value if he did join the Mets.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Tuesday that the San Diego Padres are among the teams interested in free-agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz. Padres general manager AJ Preller and Cruz were both with the Texas Rangers organization earlier in their careers. The 42-year-old finally took a step back in 2022, slashing .234/.313/.337 with 10 home runs and 64 RBI in 507 plate appearances. However, until 2022, Cruz had managed to hit for elite power late into his career and still hit the ball harder than most during his down season. His DH-only eligibility limits his fantasy value beyond the potential production decline, but there may still be something left in the tank for Cruz.

According to a tweet from The New York Post's Jon Heyman on Monday, the Colorado Rockies have reportedly signed left-handed relief pitcher Fernando Abad to a minor-league contract. Heyman tweeted the following on Monday morning: "Rockies sign LHP Fernando Abad to a minor league contract with a non roster invite to big league camp." The veteran relief pitcher has made an even 400 appearances at the Major League level. All told, he's logged a 3.77 ERA and a 4.22 FIP in 348.1 career innings of work. He pitched in 16 games for the Baltimore Orioles in 2021, throwing 17.2 innings for the American League East club while registering a 5.60 ERA and a 3.96 FIP. Most recently, Abad threw 43 innings for the Seattle Mariners Triple-A affiliate in 2022, pitching to a 3.56 ERA, a 4.79 FIP, 32 strikeouts, and 12 walks.

The Chicago White Sox signed free-agent outfielder Jake Marisnick to a minor-league deal on Friday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to a source. Marisnick, a big-league veteran of 10 seasons, spent the 2022 campaign with the Pittsburgh Pirates and hit .234/.272/.390 with a .661 OPS, two home runs, six RBI, nine runs scored and two stolen bases in 82 plate appearances over just 31 games. The 31-year-old has always been a defense-first player with some decent speed on the base paths, but he doesn't bring much to the table offensively with a career slash line of .228/.281/.384 with 63 home runs in 831 games played. Marisnick has been much better against left-handed pitchers in his career and should battle for Chicago's fourth outfield spot in spring training.

The Los Angeles Dodgers designated starting pitcher Trevor Bauer for assignment on Friday. They still have seven days to trade him, but it's hard to imagine that they'd be able to get anything of real value in return. The Dodgers are biting the bullet and will pay the remaining $22.5 million left on Bauer's deal as he likely heads to the free-agent market. The 31-year-old right-hander has been suspended for violating the league's domestic-abuse policy since June 28 of the 2021 season but has since been reinstated by the league. Bauer was the 2020 National League Cy Young winner, but given the incredibly long layoff since he last pitched in the majors and the significant baggage he brings with him, it remains to be seen if another team will take a chance on him in 2023.

The Cincinnati Reds released infielder Mike Moustakas on Thursday after designating him for assignment on Dec. 22 when the team signed catcher Curt Casali. Moustakas went unclaimed on waivers and is now free to sign with any team he so chooses. The 34-year-old left-handed slugger finished the 2022 season on the injured list with a calf injury that caused him to miss the final six weeks. In 78 games with Cincinnati, he hit a weak .214/.295/.345 with a .640 OPS, seven home runs, 25 RBI, 30 runs scored and two stolen bases in 285 plate appearances. The three-time All-Star hasn't played in over 78 games since his final season in Milwaukee in 2019. Moose will hope to latch on with another team and bounce back in 2023, but at this point in his career, he's likely to be a platoon infield bat in a best-case scenario.

The Chicago Cubs agreed to a major-league deal with free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer on Wednesday, according to sources. Terms of the deal haven't been made available yet, but it wouldn't be surprising if it was just a one-year deal. The 33-year-old began last season with the San Diego Padres before being shipped to the Boston Red Sox at the Aug. 2 trade deadline. He ended the season with a bum back and was designated for assignment and then released at the end of December. He'll likely be the team's starting first baseman to begin the 2023 campaign, but his power is declining and he won't be all that attractive at the position in shallow mixed fantasy leagues. Hosmer finished 2022 by hitting .268/.334/.382 with a .716 OPS, only eight home runs, 44 RBI and 38 runs scored in 104 total games.

The Chicago Cubs agreed to a major-league deal with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, according to sources. Terms of the deal haven't been made available yet, but it wouldn't be surprising if it was just a one-year deal. The 33-year-old began last season with the San Diego Padres before being shipped to the Boston Red Sox at the Aug. 2 trade deadline. He ended the season with a bum back and was designated for assignment and then released at the end of December. He'll likely be the team's starting first baseman to begin the 2023 campaign, but his power is declining and he won't be all that attractive at the position in shallow mixed fantasy leagues. Hosmer finished 2022 by hitting .268/.334/.382 with a .716 OPS, only eight home runs, 44 RBI and 38 runs scored in 104 total games.

The Chicago Cubs are close to agreeing to a deal with free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer on Tuesday. Hosmer was designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox and then released at the end of December, but it looks like he's going to find a new home in the National League Central. The 33-year-old left-handed hitter continues to see his power decline, and he finished the 2022 campaign by hitting .268/.334/.382 with a .716 OPS, eight home runs, 44 RBI and 38 runs scored in 419 plate appearances and 104 games with the San Diego Padres and Red Sox. If he lands with the Cubbies, he could be used in the strong side of a platoon at first base against right-handed pitching, although at this point in his career he's not very attractive in shallow mixed fantasy leagues at the first base position.

The Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly signed relief pitcher Alex Claudio to a minor-league deal, per a tweet from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Todd Rosiak on Tuesday. Claudio has pitched to a 3.60 ERA and a 3.79 FIP in 347 2/3 career innings at the major-league level. He appeared in three games for the New York Mets during the 2022 season, allowing a hit and two walks in 3 1/3 innings of work while striking out a pair of batters. The veteran will provide the Brewers with some additional bullpen depth heading into next season.

The Chicago Cubs have been in talks with free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer. It looks promising, but no deal has been agreed upon yet. Hosmer was officially released by the Boston Red Sox last week after being designated for assignment. He began the 2022 season with the San Diego Padres before being traded to Boston at the Aug. 2 deadline. The 33-year-old left-handed first baseman hit a combined .268/.334/.382 with a career-low-tying .716 OPS, eight home runs, 44 RBI and 38 runs scored in 419 plate appearances and 104 games for the Friars and BoSox. In addition to the Cubs, the Baltimore Orioles are reportedly interested in Hosmer. He's never been much of a power threat at the first base position, and he's become even less attractive in fantasy as he loses more of what little power he had towards the end of his career.

Veteran utility player Marwin Gonzalez signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan on Friday. The 33-year-old hit just .185/.255/.321 in 86 games for the New York Yankees last season with a .576 OPS, six home runs, 18 RBI, 20 runs scored and three stolen bases in 207 plate appearances. The switch-hitter appeared at every defensive position except catcher and center field, and he even made appearances as a pitcher, designated hitter, pinch-hitter and pinch-runner. He hasn't quite been the same since he hit .303 with a career-high 23 home runs and 90 RBI for the World Series champion Houston Astros in 2017. Gonzalez has a .252 career average with a .709 OPS in 11 big-league seasons, and he'll try to repair his value for one year in Japan.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and free-agent third baseman Evan Longoria agreed to a one-year deal on Friday. The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro reported that the deal is for $4 million and includes $1 million in incentives. Longoria wanted to play for a contender, and while Arizona isn't necessarily viewed as one by most folks, they are a young team on the rise. He also lives in Scottsdale. Longo, now 37 years old, only managed to play in 89 games for the San Francisco Giants in 2022 and hit .244/.315/.451 with a .767 OPS, 14 home runs, 42 RBI and 31 runs scored in 298 plate appearances. At this point in his career, he may no longer be an everyday player -- he hasn't played in over 100 games since 2019 -- but he could be more productive for fantasy managers in spurts against left-handed pitching.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to release starting pitcher Trevor Bauer after his suspension was reduced by 130 games and he became eligible to play in 2023. The word around the Dodgers clubhouse is that they would prefer that he pitch elsewhere next season. It remains to be seen if a small-market club that normally wouldn't have a chance at a player of Bauer's caliber will take a chance on him. The 31-year-old right-hander missed most of 2021 and all of the 2022 campaign, but he'll get a chance to return next season if anyone will have him. Bauer, who won the National League Cy Young in 2020 with the Cincinnati Reds, will be a complete wild card next year if he's picked up.

The Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles have free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer on their radar after he was recently released by the Boston Red Sox. The Miami Marlins, who continue to look for more hitters, also make some sense for Hosmer. The 33-year-old spent the first 90 games of the 2022 season with the San Diego Padres before getting traded to Boston at the Aug. 2 deadline. In 104 total games, he hit .268/.334/.382 with a career-low-tying .716 OPS, eight home runs, 44 RBI and 38 runs scored in 419 plate appearances. Hosmer has never had much home-run power (career-high 25 homers in 2016 and 2017), which doesn't make him very attractive in fantasy as any more than corner-infield depth in deeper leagues.

The Atlanta Braves acquired left-hander Lucas Luetge from the New York Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league right-hander Indigo Diaz and infielder Caleb Durbin. To make room on their 40-man roster, the Braves designated infielder Lewin Diaz for assignment. Luetge finds a new home after he was designated for assignment by the Yanks last week. The 35-year-old southpaw reliever was sharp in 57 1/3 relief innings in the Bronx last season, posting a 2.67 ERA (3.02 FIP), 1.39 WHIP, two saves and a 23.9 percent strikeout rate in his 50 appearances out of the bullpen. He also had a sub-3.00 ERA for the Yanks in 2021, but before that he hadn't pitched in the big leagues since 2015 for the Seattle Mariners. Luetge will have a shot to give Atlanta some left-handed relief depth in 2023.