Free-agent left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano announced his retirement on Monday after 21 seasons in Major League Baseball, according to his agent, Mike Maulini. Liriano spent most of his playing days pitching for the Minnesota Twins (seven years) and Pittsburgh Pirates (five years). The southpaw was an All-Star just once, and it came in his first full season with Minnesota in 2006. Liriano had his best seasons in his first four years with Pittsburgh, when he had under a 3.50 ERA in each of the team's playoff-bound campaigns from 2013-15. He won his first and only World Series ring as a reliever for the Houston Astros in 2017. Liriano finished his impressive career with a 4.15 ERA in 419 games (300 starts) and recorded 1,815 career strikeouts in 1,813 2/3 innings pitched for six different teams.

Long-time outfielder Melky Cabrera announced his retirement on Friday. Cabrera hadn't played in the major leagues since 2019, but he had played in winter ball each of the last two years. The switch-hitter broke into the bigs in 2005 with the New York Yankees. He spent the first five seasons of his career in the Bronx before making stops with the Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates. Cabrera's most productive season came in 2012 with the Giants when he hit .346/.390/.516 with 11 home runs, 60 RBI and 13 stolen bases in his only All-Star appearance. The Melk Man never had much power (career-high 18 home runs), but he had a productive 15-year career that saw him hit .285/.334/.417 with 144 homers, 383 doubles, 854 RBI and 101 stolen bases in 1,887 games.

Three-time World Series champion and 200-game winner Jon Lester announced his retirement on Wednesday after a 16-year career. The 38-year-old made 30-plus starts in a season 12 times, including 28 starts in his final season with the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals last year. The southpaw made five All-Star teams and had a 2.51 career postseason ERA. Lester will be known for a nasty cutter, and he is one of only nine modern left-handers with 200 wins, a .600 winning percentage and a career ERA under 4.00. Six of the other eight southpaws are all in the Hall of Fame. From 2016 to 2018, Lester had a sparkling 1.93 ERA in 10 playoff outings. "I never wanted fans to leave a game and ask, 'Was the effort there?'" Lester said. "I think I always gave it."

Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager announced his retirement in a statement that was posted to Twitter by his wife on Wednesday. Seager is calling it quits after a career season in 2021 in which he posted 35 home runs and 101 RBI. In his 11 seasons in MLB, all with the Mariners, Seager recorded 242 home runs, 807 RBI and had a .251 batting average. The 34-year-old was originally a third-round pick by Seattle in 2009, and he made his big-league debut in 2011. Seager's breakout came in his second season in 2012, when he hit 20 home runs in 155 games while slashing .259/.316/.423. Abraham Toro is an option to settle into the hot corner with Seager gone in 2022, but the Mariners could address the position via free agency or trade once the lockout is lifted.

The New York Yankees signed outfielder Ender Inciarte to a minor league deal on Wednesday. The three-time Gold Glover can sign with a team during MLB's lockout because he was not on a 40-man roster to end last year. The 31-year-old was an All-Star in 2017 and has hit .280 with 118 stolen bases and a 91 OPS+ in eight seasons in the majors. Inciarte is best known for his defense in center field, though, but he has seen a sharp decline with his glove since his last Gold Glove season in 2018. He played 52 games with the Atlanta Braves in 2021 before he was designated for assignment in July, and he finished out the year at Triple-A for the Cincinnati Reds before being released in August. The Yankees also signed center fielder Blake Perkins, shortstop Wilkerman Garcia and right-hander Vinny Nittoli to minor league deals.

Right-hander Nick Martinez's four-year, $20 million deal with the San Diego Padres didn't quite make it through before the deadline on Wednesday night, so he technically remains a free agent with the sport's lockout beginning on Thursday. However, there's no reason to believe that the two sides won't finalize the agreement after a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is done. Martinez's deal includes opt-outs after the first and second seasons. The 31-year-old spent the last four years in Japan and had a very nice 1.62 ERA for the SoftBank Hawks last season. In his four seasons with the Texas Rangers before going overseas, he was 17-30 with a 4.77 ERA. It's unclear if San Diego's crowded starting rotation will have room for Martinez to begin the 2022 season.

The Boston Red Sox traded outfielder Hunter Renfroe to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., minor-league infielders David Hamilton and Alex Binelas. Bradley Jr. returns to Boston, where he spent the first eight years of his MLB career (2013-2020). The 31-year-old is a phenomenal defender and is expected to be Boston's everyday centerfielder, but struggles to make contact and slashed .163/.236/.261 with six home runs, 29 RBI, 39 runs scored, and seven stolen bases with a 30.8 percent strikeout rate in 134 games for the Brewers. Binelas slashed .314/.379/.636 with nine home runs in Low-A Carolina and is a few years away from making his MLB debut. Hamilton was an eighth-round pick by the Brewers in 2019, slashing .242/.318/.409 with three home runs, 12 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in Double-A last season. The 24-year-old will most likely make his MLB debut sometime in 2023.

The Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Jordan Lyles agreed to a one-year deal worth $7 million on Wednesday night, pending a physical. However, the deal is unlikely to become official until the new Collective Bargaining Agreement is completed. Lyles' deal could be worth $17 million if his 2023 option is picked up. The 31-year-old had a 5.15 ERA in a career-high 180 innings over 30 starts for the Texas Rangers in 2021. Lyles led all of baseball with 38 home runs allowed, and that could again be a problem in 2022 at hitter-friendly Camden Yards and in the tough American League East division. On a bright not, Lyles had a 2.87 ERA and 0.99 WHIP after Sept. 1 when he started using his sinker and curveball more to attack hitters. Lyles has a career 5.21 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with seven different teams.

Right-hander Justin Verlander's $50 million, two-year deal with the Houston Astros never was announced and presumably is not official. That means that Verlander and the Astros have to wait to finalize their new deal until a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is done. The league is officially in a lockout as of Thursday, meaning that no transactions will be permitted. It's odd that Verlander's deal wasn't officially inked after the two sides agreed two weeks ago, but there's no reason to suspect that it won't be finalized once a new CBA is agreed on. Verlander pitched in just six innings in 2020 before needing Tommy John surgery and missing all of the 2021 campaign. But back in 2019 when he was healthy, he had 300 strikeouts and a 2.58 ERA to win the American League Cy Young.

The San Diego Padres agreed to a four-year, $20 million deal with right-hander Nick Martinez on Wednesday evening, according to sources familiar with the deal. The 31-year-old former Texas Ranger was excellent in Japan this past season for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, posting a 1.62 ERA. His contract with the Friars will include opt-outs after the first and second years. Martinez will be back in the big leagues for the first time since 2017 and was a back-of-the rotation arm in Texas before heading overseas. In his four seasons with the Rangers, he had a 4.77 ERA (5.36 FIP), 1.45 WHIP, 5.1 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 415 1/3 innings over 88 appearances (68 starts). Martinez could be an option as a long-relief arm out of the bullpen if he doesn't win a spot at the back end of San Diego's crowded starting rotation.

The San Diego Padres have signed relief pitcher Luis Garcia, according to a tweet from MLB Network's Jon Heyman. Per Heyman, the reliever will earn $7 million in two seasons, $500,000 of which is a signing bonus. The 34-year-old pitched to a 3.24 ERA and a 2.72 FIP in 33.1 innings for the St. Louis Cardinals last season, registering two saves, 34 strikeouts, and eight walks. He'll join a San Diego bullpen that also features Emilio Pagan, Pierce Johnson, Tim Hill, and Craig Stammen in high-leverage roles.

According to a tweet from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly re-signed infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor to a four-year deal. Per Rosenthal, the contract is worth $60 million and includes an option for a fifth year, that if exercised, would take the contract's total value to $73 million. The 31-year-old hit .254 with a .344 on-base percentage, 20 home runs and 13 stolen bases in 582 plate appearances for the Dodgers last season. With shortstop Corey Seager now in Texas, Taylor could, in theory, see more starts at both middle infield spots alongside Trea Turner.

According to a tweet from FanSided's Robert Murray, the Boston Red Sox have reportedly agreed to terms with free-agent starting pitcher Rich Hill. Hill pitched to a 3.86 ERA and a 4.34 FIP in 158 2/3 innings last season, registering 150 strikeouts while surrendering 55 walks. He'll give the Red Sox another rotation option to slot in after left-hander Chris Sale and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed relief pitcher Mark Melancon, according to a tweet from MLB Network's Jon Heyman. Per Heyman, it's a two-year deal that includes a third-year option with a $2 million buyout. Including the buyout, the contract is for $14 million with an additional $2 million potentially in incentives. The veteran reliever pitched for the division-rival San Diego Padres in 2021, notching 39 saves in 64 appearances. Melancon also pitched to a 2.23 ERA and a 3.36 FIP in 64 2/3 innings while registering 59 strikeouts and 25 walks. He seems like a decent bet to close games for the Diamondbacks with Joe Mantiply, Noe Ramirezand J.B. Wendelken on hand as setup options.

According to a tweet from ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Chicago Cubs have reportedly signed free-agent starting pitcher Marcus Stroman. Per Passan, it'll be a three-year contract for Stroman worth $71 million that also includes an opt-out after the second season. The 30-year-old pitched to a 3.02 ERA and a 3.49 FIP in 179 innings for the New York Mets this past season, striking out 158 batters while allowing just 44 walks. He'll step in as the ace of a rotation that should also feature Kyle Hendricks, Wade Miley, Alec Mills, and Adbert Alzolay, among others.

The Philadelphia Phillies and free-agent reliever Corey Knebel agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal on Wednesday. The 30-year-old is one of the hardest throwers in baseball, but he's had trouble staying healthy in his career. Knebel missed more than three months in 2021 with a right lat strain but had a 2.45 ERA and 2.90 FIP in 27 appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He relies on a high-90s four-seam fastball and a curveball that helped him strike out 30 hitters in 25 2/3 innings for LA. Knebel was an All-Star in 2017 with the Milwaukee Brewers when he led the National League with 76 appearances and had a 1.78 ERA and 39 saves. With Phillies bullpen in flux, the right-hander will have a shot to win the closing gig in 2022 if the team doesn't end up going with a committee approach.

Utilityman Phil Gosselin is set for free agency, as the Los Angeles Angels have opted not to tender him a contract. They did tender their three other eligible players, catcher Max Stassi, pitcher Mike Mayers, and utilityman Tyler Wade. It is the acquisitions of Wade and Andrew Velazquez, both from the Yankees, which likely made Gosselin expendable. The 33-year-old recorded a .676 OPS in 345 at-bats in 2021, appearing at first base, third base, and in the corner outfield. He should catch on with another team after the expected lockout but will remain off the fantasy radar.

The New York Yankees have expressed interest in a trade for Texas Rangers shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The slick fielder may be expendable now that Texas has added both Marcus Semien and Corey Seager in free agency. New York has also been connected to free agent shortstop Andrelton Simmons. The Yankees had been speculated as a potential landing spot for one of the top free agent shortstops, of which Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, and Chris Taylor remain, but it now appears they will not make such a splash unless contract demands decrease. Prospects Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza lurk in the minors as potential shortstops of the future, and ... [More]

The San Francisco Giants and starting pitcher Alex Cobb have finalized a deal to add the veteran right-hander to their rotation for the next two seasons, agreeing on a contract worth $20 million dollars. Cobb will be paid $9 million dollars in each of 2022 and 2023, and the club holds an option for 2024 worth $10 million dollars with a $2 million dollar buyout. Cobb had a strong 2021 until he went down with injury, recording a 3.76 ERA in 93 1/3 innings with an impressive career-high 24.9 percent strikeout rate. The team now has signed Anthony DeSclafani, Alex Wood, and Cobb to follow Logan Webb in the rotation, while losing Kevin Gausman to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Washington Nationals are signing free-agent second baseman Cesar Hernandez to a one-year, $4 million deal on Tuesday evening. The deal will include $1 million in incentives. Hernandez became a free agent when the Chicago White Sox didn't pick up his $6 million option for the 2022 season. The switch-hitting second baseman had just a .299 slugging percentage after being acquired in a trade from Cleveland. In total, the 31-year-old hit just .232/.309/.299 in 53 games for the White Sox with three home runs and 15 RBI in 217 plate appearances. Hernandez totaled a career-high 21 home runs, 62 RBI and 84 runs scored in 149 total games with Cleveland and Chicago, though, and he'll provide some solid pop at the keystone for the Nats next season.