The Atlanta Braves have agreed to trade catcher Max Stassi to the Chicago White Sox. Stassi is on the move again after being acquired by Atlanta earlier in the week. In exchange, the Braves will receive a player to be named later. It sounds like the Braves are going to cover a majority of the $7 million salary for Stassi next season. The 32-year-old is a solid defensive catcher, but doesn't bring much to the plate with the bat. He could end up seeing decent playing time after the departure of Yasmani Grandal this offseason. Despite that, Stassi isn't expected to be a fantasy relevant player.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Jordan Balazovic is expected to remain in the team's bullpen, according to manager Rocco Baldelli. The 25-year-old was once one of the Twins' best starting pitching prospects. However, Balazovic has been primarily pitching out of the pen with the big league club. He posted a 4.44 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 18 appearances with the Twins last season. The right-hander figures to remain a middle relief type of pitcher for Minnesota. That being said, Balazovic probably won't have much fantasy value heading into next season.

The Cleveland Guardians have reportedly signed free-agent catcher Austin Hedges. The deal is a one-year contract for $4 million for the upcoming 2024 season. The expectation is that Hedges is going to be the backup to Bo Naylor. Hedges is a solid defensive catcher, but his skills with the bat are not desirable. He slashed 184/.234/.227 with one home run and 16 RBI last season. Hedges won't be someone worth rostering in fantasy formats. Although, it's a nice pickup for the Guardians on a cheap one year deal.

The Detroit Tigers have agreed to a deal with relief pitcher Andrew Chafin. The left-hander will get a one-year deal worth $4.25 million for the upcoming 2024 season. The deal includes a $6.5 million club option for the 2025 campaign. The veteran southpaw pitched well during his time with the team in 2022. Last season, Chafin posted a 4.73 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and eight saves across 51 1/3 innings. He'll likely be used as a late inning or set-up reliever, which means there won't be a ton of fantasy value here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed free agent two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow) to a 10-year, $700 million contract on Saturday. Ohtani's deal is the largest in MLB history and includes no opt-outs. The 29-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in September and will not pitch during the 2024 season. Ohtani will be the Dodgers' primary designated hitter after slashing .304/.412/.654 with 44 home runs, 95 RBI, 102 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases over 594 plate appearances for the Angels in 2023. Ohtani also posted a (10-5) record with a 3.14 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and a 167:55 K: BB across 132 innings. He will hit in the heart of the order for a loaded Dodgers lineup that includes Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Ohtani becomes arguably the Dodgers' best offensive weapon and is a surefire first-round pick in upcoming 2024 fantasy baseball drafts.

Minnesota Twins outfielder/designated hitter Byron Buxton is slated to start in center field next season, according to manager Rocco Baldelli. The Twins skipper told reporters during MLB winter meetings that Buxton is recovering well from his October arthroscopic knee surgery and should be ready to go for spring training. The oft-injured dynamic 29-year-old served as a DH-only last season to keep him healthy. He ended up playing in just 85 games, however, and put up a poor .207/.294/.438 batting line to go along with 17 home runs, 42 RBI, and nine stolen bases. Buxton will always carry considerable injury risk, but when he is locked in and healthy, he's one of the most productive fantasy outfielders in the league.

Contrary to an earlier report on Friday, free-agent two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was not on a plane that landed in Toronto that many assumed he was on. It's been a whirlwind day for Ohtani news, and this is yet another conflicting report with what had been released earlier in the day. As of right now, nothing is official in the Ohtani sweepstakes and he remains unsigned, despite reports that he was expected to make a decision on his next team by Friday. The Los Angeles Dodgers have been the favorites to land the two-time MVP all offseason, but the Blue Jays could be going strong for the generational talent after losing out on Juan Soto this week. Stay tuned.

First baseman Evan White is headed from Atlanta to the Los Angeles Angels. White was just acquired by Atlanta from Seattle. He hasn't appeared in the big leagues in two years. The 27-year-old has pop but it doesn't look like he has a good enough hit tool to carve out a regular role for a big-league squad.

Infielder David Fletcher and catcher Max Stassi are on the move from the Los Angeles Angels to the Atlanta Braves. Fletcher is a 29-year-old utility man who provided a 0.1 WAR in 89 games last season. Stassi is 32 years old and hit .180 in 2022. He did not play in 2023 due to a family medical issue. If Stassi is to return in 2024, it probably won't be with Atlanta, as they are stacked at catcher. Neither player moves the needle much in fantasy leagues.

The Minnesota Twins have received increased trade interest in infielder Jorge Polanco over the last week. The Twins exercised their $10.5 million option on Polanco for the 2024 season, but teams have come calling on the 30-year-old veteran this offseason. Durability issues have been Polanco's Achilles heal, as he missed a considerable chunk of time in 2023 due to ankle, knee and hamstring issues. But he was solid at the plate when he was on the field, slashing .255/.335/.454 with a .789 OPS, 14 home runs, 18 doubles, 48 RBI, four stolen bases and 38 runs scored in 343 trips to the plate over 80 total games. The switch-hitting Dominican might have a better fantasy outlook outside of Minnesota, but durability concerns aren't going to go away. If the Twins do trade Polanco, Edouard Julien would become the team's regular at the keystone in 2024.

Free-agent pitcher Jordan Montgomery is unlikely to re-sign with the Texas Rangers due to the fact the club lost a local television deal. The left-hander is certainly in heavy demand after dazzling during the 2023 campaign. Montgomery worked to a career-best 3.20 ERA across 32 starts between the St. Louis Cardinals and Rangers this past season and went on to post a 2.90 ERA across six appearances (five starts) for the Rangers in the postseason en route to a World Series championship. The 30-year-old has quietly been one of the more reliable starting pitchers in baseball since debuting in 2017, as he owns a career 3.68 ERA across 141 outings between the Yankees, Cardinals, and Rangers.

Free-agent designated hitter/pitcher Shohei Ohtani is reportedly set to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays. The most coveted free agent in baseball history is likely headed north of the border with a $500 million contract, or more, certainly in play. The two-way phenom underwent another procedure on his UCL in September, which will prevent him from pitching at all in the 2024 season. He also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018, which kept him off the mound the following season. The right-hander worked to a stellar 3.14 ERA across 23 starts before going down to injury and also slugged 44 home runs alongside a .304 average and 20 stolen bases across 599 trips to the plate, cruising to his second AL MVP award in the process in the 2023 campaign.

Outfielder Billy McKinney and left-hander Anthony Misiewicz have both re-signed with the New York Yankees. Both contracts are of the minor-league variety. McKinney, whose career began with New York in the 2018 season, returned to the organization in the 2023 season and hit .227 with six home runs and one stolen base across 147 trips to the plate. His 101 wRC+ suggests his production was 1% superior to the league average. As for Misiewicz, the 29-year-old made 11 MLB appearances between the D-backs, Tigers, and Yankees in the 2023 season and worked to an unhealthy 7.36 ERA in that time. The southpaw owns a career 4.71 ERA across 130 big-league outings, most of which came with the Seattle Mariners as he made a career-high 66 appearances out of the Mariners' bullpen in the 2021 campaign.

Free-agent two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani's decision on his next team is imminent, and it's possible he signs as early as Friday, according to a source. There have been a handful of teams that have been connected to Ohtani this offseason, and the Japanese superstar reportedly met with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels and Atlanta Braves were mentioned as suitors as well, but the Dodgers are the overwhelming favorites due to their location and perennial winning tradition. Wherever the 29-year-old two-time MVP goes, he's expected to land a record-breaking contract worth over $600 million, even though he won't be able to pitch at all in 2024 following right-elbow surgery.

The Kansas City Royals agreed to terms on minor-league deals with right-handers Tyler Duffey and Dan Altavilla, infielder Mike Brosseau and left-hander Sam Long on Thursday. Duffey and Brosseau are the most notable names. The 32-year-old Duffey made only one relief appearance with the Chicago Cubs in the majors in 2023, but he carries nine years of big-league experience with a career 4.57 ERA (3.97 FIP), 1.29 WHIP and six saves in 477 innings pitched. Brosseau, 29, hit just .205 (15-for-73) with four home runs and eight RBI in 29 games for the Milwaukee Brewers this past season before being cut and heading overseas to play in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. All four of KC's signings on Thursday will add minor-league depth for the 2024 campaign.

Free-agent right-handed reliever Jorge Lopez and the New York Mets agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal on Thursday, according to sources. The 30-year-old pitched for the Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins and Baltimore Orioles in 2023 and had a poor 5.95 ERA (5.76 FIP), 1.51 WHIP, three saves, 22 walks and 49 strikeouts in 59 innings out of the bullpen over 61 appearances. The 30-year-old was a first-time All-Star the year prior with the Orioles and Twins when he had a 2.54 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, a career-high 23 saves and 72 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched. If Lopez is able to bounce back in 2024 for the Mets, he'll be a nice late-inning bridge to returning closer Edwin Diaz (knee) alongside setup men Brooks Raley and Drew Smith.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge's (toe) injury is "a resolved issue," according to general manager Brian Cashman. "We think it's behind him." Judge never required surgery for a torn ligament in his right big toe that he suffered when he crashed into the outfield wall at Dodgers Stadium on June 4. It was an injury that sidelined the 31-year-old slugger for two months, but he's healthy now and should have a normal spring training leading into the start of the 2024 campaign. The Yankees acquired left-handed-hitting corner outfielders Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo the last two nights, so Judge appears ticketed for the starting center field job next year. Judge, who stands at 6-foot-7, 282 pounds, has already had trouble staying on the field in his big-league career, so a move to a more demanding position could be bad news for his durability.

Free agent outfielder Franchy Cordero and free agent reliever Albert Abreu have both signed in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league with the Seibu Lions. Cordero slugged eight home runs in just 24 games for the Yankees in the 2023 season but also hit just .188 with a 35.2% K% across 71 trips to the plate in the majors a season ago. He is the owner of a career .217 average with 27 HR and 13 stolen bases across 797 trips to the plate in parts of seven seasons between the Padres, Royals, Red Sox, and Yankees. Abreu, 28, also spent the 2023 season with the Yankees, working to a 4.73 ERA across 45 relief outings. The right-hander owns a 4.58 ERA across 108 MLB appearances between the Yankees, Rangers, and Royals.

Atlanta Braves first baseman Evan White has been outrighted off the club's 40-man roster and has been assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett. The move comes on the heels of a one-year, non-guaranteed split contract given to relief pitcher Angel Perdomo. White was acquired as part of this week's trade for Jarred Kelenic while the 27-year-old is still owed $17 million from the six-year, $24 million contract he signed with the Seattle Mariners prior to his MLB debut. Despite his early extension, White has struggled mightily at the plate in the big leagues as he's logged a .165 average with 10 home runs and one stolen base across 306 plate appearances and has not appeared in the majors since the 2021 season. He would forfeit his remaining salary should he reject the outright assignment so expect White to begin the 2024 season in Gwinnett.

The Cincinnati Reds agreed to an undisclosed deal with free-agent infielder Jeimer Candelario on Wednesday night, according to a source. The deal is pending a physical. The Reds were not one of the teams expected to land Candelario, as they already have plenty of third base options at the big-league level in Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer. Cincy has been rumored to be interested in some high-level starting pitchers on the trade market, though, so perhaps their plan is to flip several of their young players for a rotation arm. The 30-year-old Candelario is a switch-hitter and can also play first base. He'll be a bit more interesting with the Reds from a fantasy perspective after hitting .251/.336/.471 with an .807 OPS, career-high 22 home runs, 70 RBI and eight stolen bases in 140 total games with the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs in 2023.