The Philadelphia Phillies have signed right-hander Jose Ruiz to a minor-league deal. Ruiz's deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training camp in 2024. The 29-year-old Venezuelan comes to the Phillies with seven years of major-league experience with the San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks. He appeared in 38 games (one start) for Chicago and Arizona in 2023 and had a 5.89 ERA (6.26 FIP) and 1.65 WHIP with 21 walks and 39 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings while surrendering 10 home runs. Ruiz will likely open the 2024 season in the minors for the Phillies as relief depth. He has a 4.51 ERA (4.85 FIP) and 1.49 WHIP in 219 1/3 major-league innings across seven seasons.

The Chicago White Sox designated outfielder Adam Haseley for assignment on Tuesday to make room for recently signed infielder Paul DeJong on the 40-man roster. Haseley hit .222/.282/.278 with no home runs, two doubles, two RBI, one stolen base and six runs scored in only 28 games played for the White Sox in his second year in Chicago. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter also underwhelmed in 72 games for Triple-A Charlotte down on the farm. In his five major-league seasons (three with the Philadelphia Phillies), Haseley has slashed .259/.319/.356 with only five home runs (all in his rookie season in 2019), 43 RBI, five stolen bases and 49 runs scored in 158 games played.

The Milwaukee Brewers signed right-hander Easton McGee (elbow) and outfielder Brewer Hicklen to minor-league deals on Tuesday that include invitations to major-league spring training camp next year. McGee's deal is a two-year contract. McGee had Tommy John surgery in May and is unlikely to be ready to pitch in 2024 until around midseason. The 25-year-old former fourth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 made his major-league debut with the Rays in 2022 and made just one appearance. He resurfaced with the Seattle Mariners at the big-league level this year and tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings while walking one and striking out two in one start.

The Chicago Cubs are among the teams active in trade conversations for Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow, according to sources. The Cincinnati Reds are also involved. The frugal Rays are ready to let someone else take Glasnow off their hands with one year of team control remaining at $25 million. Glasnow can be one of the better starting pitchers in baseball when he's healthy and he misses plenty of bats, but he hasn't exactly been the perfect picture of health. The 30-year-old would be a big upgrade for the Cubs' starting rotation in 2024 and beyond, though, and he likely wouldn't require a huge prospect package in return in a trade with Tampa.

The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are among the teams active in trade conversations for Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber, according to sources. There are limited options available for starting arms on the open market this winter, so the Cubs and Reds are looking for trade options. Bieber, 28, is still on the right side of 30, although he's coming off a year in which he was limited to 21 starts due to injury. Still, he was solid with a 6-6 record, 3.80 ERA (3.87 FIP) and 1.23 WHIP with 34 walks and 107 strikeouts in 128 innings pitched. Bieber would require a nice prospect haul, though, and it's unclear how willing the Cubs are to part with some of their big prospect names. The Reds, meanwhile, have a logjam of young talent at the major-league level.

Free-agent outfielder Jason Heyward and the Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly agreed to a one-year, $9 million deal Monday, per MLB.com's Juan Toribio. The deal is pending a physical and the club has not confirmed the agreement. The 34-year-old veteran had a resurgent offensive 2023 season with the Dodgers, slashing .269/.340/.473 with 15 home runs and 40 RBI in 377 plate appearances. He also provided veteran leadership in the clubhouse. While Heyward will still likely not have an everyday role, his newfound power in a strong Dodgers lineup could make him a useful daily fantasy play at times.

FanSided's Robert Murray says that the Los Angeles Dodgers have interest in free-agent right-hander Lucas Giolito this offseason as they look for starting-rotation depth heading into the 2024 campaign. Walker Buehler missed all of 2023 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) is a free agent and is expected to miss around half the season. Giolito, 29, started last season with the Chicago White Sox before being traded to the Los Angeles Angles and then claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Guardians. It was a second straight down year for the right-handed hurler with a 4.88 ERA (5.27 FIP) and 1.31 WHIP overall, but he was an All-Star in 2019 and was in the AL Cy Young running from 2019-21.

Free-agent right-hander Robert Stephenson has been one of the most popular free-agent relievers this offseason, according to sources. Stephenson had a 0.678 WHIP in 42 appearances for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023 and is drawing interest from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels, among other clubs. The 30-year-old former first-round pick has an underwhelming career 4.64 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in eight big-league seasons, but he also has a 25.9 percent strikeout rate and looked pretty dominant as a late-inning reliever for the Rays this past season. Depending on where he lands, he could be a sneaky high-leverage fantasy reliever in 2024 in leagues that reward points for holds.

The St. Louis Cardinals have made teams interested in adding starting pitching this offseason aware that left-hander Steven Matz is available via trade, according to sources. Matz signed a four-year, $44 million deal with the Cardinals before the 2022 season. It comes after St. Louis has already added right-handers Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn to their starting rotation via free agency this offseason. The Cardinals are also interested in Japanese starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, so moving Matz would free up a spot for him. The 32-year-old southpaw was better in 2023 than he was in his first year in St. Louis, going 4-7 with a 3.86 ERA (3.75 FIP) and 1.33 WHIP with 32 walks and 98 strikeouts in 105 innings over 25 outings (17 starts).

The Miami Marlins have claimed relief pitcher Ryan Jensen off waivers from the Seattle Mariners. The right-hander was designated for assignment by the Mariners following their acquisitions of Carlos Vargas and Seby Zavala in a trade with the D-backs for Eugenio Suarez last week. The recently-turned 26-year-old has largely pitched in the Cubs' organization in his professional career and worked to a 6.10 ERA in 16 appearances with Triple-A Iowa before turning it around and posting a 3.18 ERA in 13 appearances with Triple-A Tacoma in the Seattle organization last season. As a result of his increased performance and young age, it's no surprise to see a club scoop him up in the hopes he can continue to excel in the 2024 campaign.

The Cincinnati Reds are showing interest in Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow, who is widely expected to be dealt by the club this offseason. Owed $25 million in 2024 before hitting the open market next offseason, the frugal Rays are likely to trade their prized hurler but are seeking MLB-ready starting pitching in return rather than taking in prospects. When healthy, Glasnow has been excellent with an ERA of 3.53 or better in four of the last five seasons, but he has made a total of only 60 starts in that time. His 21 starts and 120 innings of 3.53 ERA ball in 2023 mark the heaviest workload of his big-league career. Nonetheless, given his on-field production, the Rays will be able to get a sizeable return for the big right-hander.

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman could be traded away this offseason, according to former MLB general manager Jim Duquette. The two-time All-Star is in the final season of his current five-year contract that carries an average annual value of $20 million, but it is believed the club will not be able to re-sign him given his Scott Boras representation and the fact the club could not retain Carlos Correa or George Springer when they hit the open market in recent offseasons. The 29-year-old is coming off another quality season that saw him hit .262 with 25 home runs, 103 runs, 98 RBI, and an .804 OPS across 161 appearances. The 2019 AL MVP runner-up is an excellent option at the hot corner in fantasy drafts next spring.

The Atlanta Braves have joined the Los Angeles Dodgers and several other teams that are engaged in trade talks with the Chicago White Sox for ace Dylan Cease. The White Sox have made it very clear this offseason that they are willing to listen on trade talks for all of their players as they rebuild, and Cease has been one of the most popular names so far this winter. The 27-year-old right-hander saw his velocity decrease slightly in 2023 and he took a big step back from his excellent 2022 campaign when he went 14-8 with a 2.20 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. Cease went 7-9 in 2023 with a 4.58 ERA (3.72 FIP), 1.42 WHIP, 79 walks and 214 strikeouts in 177 innings over 33 starts. He has cleared 200 K's in each of the last three seasons, though, and could bounce back to his 2022 level if he can throw more strikes.

Free-agent outfielder Jason Heyward is nearing a one-year deal on Monday to re-sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to a source. It makes sense for both sides, as Heyward had a resurgence in 2023 in LA, slashing .269/.340/.473 with an .813 OPS, 15 home runs, 23 doubles, 40 RBI, two stolen bases and 56 runs scored in 377 trips to the plate over 124 games for the Blue. The 34-year-old will hope to stay productive as a platoon option in right field against right-handed pitching for the Dodgers. The expectation is that Mookie Betts will continue to play more second base in 2024, and the return of Heyward only confirms that. Heyward has never had much power (career-high 27 home runs in 2012), but he can be a useful streaming bat in deeper fantasy leagues and DFS in a strong Dodgers lineup.

Free-agent right-hander Sonny Gray and the St. Louis Cardinals are finalizing a three-year, $75 million deal on Monday, according to sources. Because Gray was given a qualifying offer from the Minnesota Twins, the Cardinals will have to give up a draft pick and international bonus pool money to land Gray on the open market. Still, for a team in desperate need of starters going into next season, landing the 34-year-old Cy Young runner-up in the American League in 2023 is worth it. Gray posted a strong 2.79 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 183 strikeouts and 55 walks in 184 innings for the Twins this past season and should have a good chance to put up similar numbers in the National League Central in 2024. He joins Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn as recent additions to St. Louis' starting staff this offseason.

Free-agent pitcher Kenta Maeda and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a two-year, $24 million contract. The right-hander will remain in the American League Central after spending the past four seasons with the Minnesota Twins, one of which was eliminated due to Tommy John surgery. Maeda returned from the UCL procedure to work to a 4.23 ERA across 21 outings (20 starts), but underlying numbers suggest he was better than his surface ERA may indicate. Maeda also posted a 3.76 SIERA and a 20.8% K-BB%, which is the second-best mark of his career and his top figure aside from his 28.2% mark posted in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He will provide a veteran presence for a youthful Tigers rotation in the 2024 campaign.

A visit to Seattle as the special guest of the Seattle Seahawks has spiked rumors that the lefty starter and the Seattle Mariners could have mutual interest.Snell, a native of Washington that graduated from Seattle suburb Shoreline before being a first-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011. He spent his first five MLB seasons with the Rays, winning the Cy Young for Tampa Bay in 2018. He's pitched the last three seasons for the San Diego Padres after a trade from the Rays.The 2023 season was an impressive one for Snell, as he posted a 14-9 record and 2.25 ERA over 180 innings, with 234 strikeouts, earning him his second career Cy Young Award. In his eight pro seasons, Snell, who will turn 31 in December, has won 71 games over 191 starts with a 3.20 ERA and 1,223 strikeouts over 992 2/3 innings.The 6'4" left-hander should have wide interest as one of the best pitchers in the market, but with a need in the rotation for Seattle and his continued residence in the Seattle area in the offseason make the Mariners a logical potential fit.

Pittsburgh Pirates Cuban right-hander Johan Oviedo (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery in the coming days, according to sources. Tommy John surgery was on the table for Oviedo once the 2023 season ended, and now it's become a reality that will knock him out for the entire 2024 season. The 25-year-old went 9-14 with a 4.31 ERA (4.49 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP while walking 83 and striking out a career-high 158 in a career-high 177 2/3 innings over 32 starts in his first full season in Pittsburgh in 2023. Oviedo wasn't really anything special from a fantasy perspective, but he was a useful innings-eater for a beleaguered Pirates starting rotation. In his four major-league seasons, Oviedo has a 4.32 ERA (4.57 FIP), 1.39 WHIP, a 10.8 percent walk rate and 19.6 percent strikeout rate in 320 2/3 innings over 72 appearances (58 starts).

Free-agent outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who was one of the better defensive center fielders of his era, is expected to retire this offseason. Bradley played in 43 games for the Kansas City Royals in 2023 before being waived in June. In his 113 plate appearances, he went just 14-for-105 (.133) with a home run, five doubles, six RBI and 10 runs scored. The 33-year-old was an All-Star back in 2016 with the Boston Red Sox, when he slashed .267/.349/.486 with an .835 OPS, a career-high 26 home runs, 87 RBI and nine stolen bases in 156 games. Bradley won a Gold Glove in 2018 and will finish his 11 year big-league career with a .225 career batting average, 109 home runs, 449 RBI, 69 stolen bases and 514 runs scored in 1,181 career games with Boston, Kansas City, Toronto and Milwaukee if he indeed hangs up his cleats.

The New York Yankees remain interested in re-signing right-hander Frankie Montas this offseason. The Yankees are very much in the starting pitching market this winter and are also eyeing Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto and free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery, among others. The Yankees acquired Montas from the Oakland Athletics in the second half of the 2022 season, but he made just eight starts for them that year and required arthroscopic shoulder surgery. The 30-year-old then managed to pitch in one game in relief in 2023. New York must think Montas has the potential to return to his 2021 form with better health, when he went 13-9 with a 3.37 ERA and career-high 207 strikeouts in 187 innings (32 starts).