Cincinnati Reds outfielder Bubba Thompson has decided to try his hand at football as a walk-on at South Alabama this year. The 26-year-old was an all-state quarterback at McGill-Toolen Catholic School in 2016 but has been playing professional baseball for the last eight seasons. The former first-rounder by the Texas Rangers in 2017 has been in the big leagues the last three years with both the Rangers and Reds, slashing a weak .232/.273/.295 with a .568 OPS, one home run, 13 RBI, 27 stolen bases and 33 runs scored in 109 games played. Because Thompson never enrolled in college, he'll have five full years to play four seasons in college. With the 6-foot-2, 197-pounder's decision to go back to football, it's unlikely that he'll be a candidate to make it back to the big leagues in baseball. In seven minor-league seasons, Thompson hit .263/.321/.417 with 52 homers, 226 RBI and 165 steals in 486 games.

According to the team, the Chicago White Sox have signed right-handed pitcher Jonathan Heasley to a minor-league contract that contains an invite to spring training. Heasley logged just five innings in the majors last season with the Baltimore Orioles. The right-hander allowed ten earned runs and ten hits in this small stint. He logged a career-high 104 innings during the 2022 season with the Kansas City Royals and held a high 5.28 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP over this stretch. He struck out just 70 batters. Through 164 2/3 career innings at the Triple-A level, Heasley posted a 5.47 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Given his struggles in the majors, the 27-year-old will likely spend most of the 2025 season in the minor leagues.

According to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, the Chicago Cubs have had "casual conversations" with player agent Scott Boras on potentially signing free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman to a short-term contract. Bregman is one of the top remaining bats on the free-agent market and is currently seeking a longer extension. Throughout the offseason, the Detroit Tigers have been viewed as one of the top landing spots for the infielder. However, Bregman has been unable to find the contract he is looking for. According to Levine, the Cubs are not willing to sign Bregman to a large extension but have expressed interest in a short-term deal. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor this situation, as the Cubs could become Bregman's top target if he were to look for a short-term contract. If Bregman were to sign with Chicago, he would have an everyday role at the hot corner, limiting top prospect Matt Shaw's opportunities to make a big-league debut early in the season.

Free-agent relief pitcher Joe Kelly (shoulder) noted on the Dodgers Beat podcast that he will either return to Los Angeles or retire. His decision will come down to his health, as he is currently recovering from a shoulder injury that cut his 2024 campaign short. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the offseason, as his health will dictate the future of his professional career. The 36-year-old was limited to just 32 innings of work last season and held a 4.78 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He struck out 35 batters but posted a high 11.2% walk rate. In 2023, the right-hander had a similar 4.12 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. If Kelly were to move past this injury and return to the Dodgers for the 2025 campaign, he would likely continue to see time as a middle reliever, as he tallied 13 holds last season.

The Seattle Mariners acquired infielder Miles Mastrobuoni from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations, the Cubs announced. The move comes after the Cubs designated Mastrobuoni for assignment last week. The 29-year-old infielder will now head to the American League West and will provide the M's with infield depth heading into the 2025 season. Mastrobuoni, a former 14th-round selection by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 out of the University of Nevada, Reno, debuted in the big leagues in 2022 with Tampa but played in only eight games. He hit .221/.282/.268 with a homer, nine RBI, 15 steals and 33 runs scored in 110 games for the Cubbies the last two years as a reserve. He's a serviceable utility infielder but has very little offensive upside, and with minor-league options remaining, there's a good chance he'll open the year at Triple-A Tacoma.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, free agent outfielder/designated hitter Anthony Santander is open to signing a short-term deal with a high annual value. Santander has been one of the top bats on the market all offseason but has been unable to seal a longer-term extension. Rosenthal noted that Santander might opt to take a short-term deal like many Scott Boras clients have done and would seek a larger contract before the 2026 season. For example, Matt Chapman and Blake Snell have taken shorter deals, which have allowed them to sign a larger contract in the future. The 30-year-old slugger launched at least 28 home runs for the third straight season and even hit a career-best 44 in 2024. He generated an impressive .506 SLG and an 11.7% barrel rate. Earlier this offseason, it was reported that the Toronto Blue Jays are among the clubs interested in Santander.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, several clubs have checked in on free agent left-handed pitcher Brooks Raley. According to Rosenthal, the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs are among the clubs that have expressed interest in Raley. The southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery last May but is on track to return sometime in the second half of the 2025 campaign. The 36-year-old tossed seven shutout innings last summer before being sidelined. During the 2023 campaign, Raley held a strong 2.80 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP across 54 1/3 innings. He struck out 61 batters, generating a strong 29.2% hard-hit rate and a .321 xSLG. Raley would likely earn a high-leverage role once he returns to the big league mound in 2025.

According to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the San Diego Padres would prefer to hold infielder Luis Arraez. Arraez has had his name circling around several trade discussions throughout the offseason. However, the Padres and Arraez settled on a $14 million to avoid arbitration last week. Lin noted that even though the team remains focused on winning a championship, they remain open to moving a few of their higher contracts to create some roster flexibility. Starting pitcher Dylan Cease and right-handed relief pitcher Robert Suarez have also had their names around trade talks. Last season, Arraez posted at least a .300 AVG for the third-straight campaign. Last summer, he held a .314 AVG across time with Miami and San Diego. Under the hood, he posted a stellar 4.3% K rate but lacked in power production. The 27-year-old remains one of the top targets for batting average but carries very low power upside.

According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, second baseman Whit Merrifield is considering retirement. Bowman noted that Merrifield was a good fit in Atlanta last season and could be in contention to earn a spot on their Opening Day roster but is currently considering retirement. The veteran opened the 2024 season with the Phillies and ended the campaign in Atlanta. Across 42 games with the Braves, Merrifield held a .248/.348/.336 line with a 20:33 BB:K ratio and six stolen bases. He swiped 17 total bags last summer. He showed a strong eye at the plate with a 10.4% walk rate and a 15.5% K rate. In addition, he placed in the 90th percentile in sprint speed. If Merrifield were to end his career, he would finish with a strong career .280/.328/.413 line, 218 stolen bases, and three All-Star Game appearances across nine MLB seasons.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Justin Verlander (back, shoulder) said on a video call with the media that he started throwing earlier this offseason and is up to 92 mph and is feeling good. Verlander was limited to 17 starts with the Houston Astros last season in his 19th year in the big leagues due to back and shoulder ailments, but he said he's addressed the physical issues that cut his season short in 2024. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Gigantes last week and will hope to stay healthier in his 20th MLB campaign. The three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP will be hoping to rebound in his new digs in a good pitcher's park in the Bay Area in 2025, but with his strikeout rate continuing to fall and with injuries now a big issue, fantasy managers may want to temper expectations.

According to Jeff Young of FanSided, the San Francisco Giants have signed right-handed pitcher Miguel Diaz to a minor-league contract. Diaz logged just one inning in the major leagues last summer with the Houston Astros. He then spent the remainder of the season with Triple-A Toledo and posted a 4.30 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP across 46 innings. Diaz has spent the majority of his major league career with the San Diego Padres. Across 127 1/3 big league frames, the right-hander had held a 4.81 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Through 204 2/3 innings at Triple-A, the 30-year-old has posted a 4.93 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Given his lack of proven success in the majors, Diaz will likely open the 2025 campaign at the Triple-A level.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette has "no real interest" in re-signing with Toronto, according to a source. Bichette is currently in the final year of his contract, and it looks like the infielder will test free agency after the 2025 season. Bichette was very productive over the first five seasons of his big-league career but struggled last summer, as he posted a career-low .225/.277/.322 slash line. He hit just four home runs and stole five bases. He generated a poor .303 xwOBA and .375 xSLG, both well below the average marks. In 2023, Bichette posted a strong .306/.339/.475 line with 20 home runs and 20 doubles. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also set to enter free agency after this season, it appears the Blue Jays will focus on re-signing him over Bichette. However, fantasy managers should expect Bichette to continue to operate as the starting shortstop in Toronto in 2025, and he could be worth drafting, as he should be expected to bounce back in a contract year.

According to Andy Martino of SNY, the Tampa Bay Rays are not expected to trade first baseman Yandy Diaz. According to Martino, the Rays plan to hold onto Diaz for the time being as he is one of the top options for offensive production. The 33-year-old enjoyed another strong season in 2024 as he posted a .281/.341/.414 line with 14 home runs and 31 doubles. He showed a great eye at the plate with a 15.3% K rate and a 14.2% whiff rate, which were among the top marks in the sport. He also generated a strong 48.7% hard-hit rate, suggesting his power production could see some positive regression in 2025. This was a slight drop in production compared to the stellar .330/.410/.522 line he posted in 2023. Fantasy managers should expect Diaz to have a consistent spot in the Rays lineup, and he is an excellent target for points leagues, given his elite contact and low strikeout rate.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, free agent relief pitcher Jorge Lopez has signed a one-year deal worth $3 million with the Washington Nationals. Lopez began his 2024 campaign with the New York Mets but was eventually cut after 26 innings. He then finished his campaign with the Chicago Cubs, where he logged a strong 2.03 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 26 2/3 innings of work. He struck out 31 batters during this stint and only allowed eight free passes. The right-hander generated a solid .220 xBA and a .3.59 xERA, placing him in the 76th and 68th percentile, respectively. With Kyle Finnegan still on the free agent market, the Nationals lack a proven ninth-inning option. If Lopez performs well early on, he could eventually earn a high-leverage role in this bullpen.

According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, several teams have checked in on the availability of Oswaldo Cabrera. Kuty noted that the 25-year-old switch-hitter is on an affordable contract and still has another year before salary arbitration, which makes him an intriguing target. He also has experience playing multiple positions in the infield and outfield, which adds to his flexibility. The Yankees are still in the market for an infielder and could potentially use Cabrera as a trade chip to acquire a more experienced bat. With Gleyber Torres now in Detroit, the Yankees have an open spot in their starting lineup. While internal options like Cabrera, DJ LeMahieu, or Oswald Peraza could eventually earn that role, the Yankees have expressed interest in several free agents and trade targets. Last season, Cabrera posted a .247/.296/.365 line with eight home runs and four stolen bases.

According to Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe, right-handed pitcher Garrett Whitlock is returning to the bullpen in 2025. Whitlock opened the 2024 season in the rotation but was only able to make four starts before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in May. Across these four starts, the 28-year-old posted a 1.96 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He struck out 17 batters (across 18 1/3 innings) and generated a 36.0% hard-hit rate and 6.0% barrel rate. In 2023, Whitlock spent time in both the bullpen and rotation and held a 5.15 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP across 71 2/3 total innings. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during spring training as he may be able to return to the mound before Opening Day if he does not face a setback in his recovery. Whitlock will likely see time as a long relief option but could eventually earn a high-leverage role later in the summer.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Arizona Diamondbacks would like to trade starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery. Heyman noted that moving his contract would free up salary for a "big-time" relief pitcher. The 32-year-old had a disappointing debut season with Arizona last summer, as he posted a 6.23 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP across 117 innings. He struck out just 83 batters and generated a poor 5.18 xERA and a .287 xBA, placing him in the seventh and third percentile among qualified pitchers. This was a sharp decline to the 3.20 ERA and 1.19 WHIP he held during the 2023 campaign. With the Diamondbacks acquiring Corbin Burnes earlier in free agency, Montgomery is already on the outside of the current rotation. With their surplus of starting pictures, moving Montgomery would allow Arizona to improve in other positions on their roster.

The Detroit Tigers avoided salary arbitration with right-hander Jason Foley on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $3.15 million deal. In addition to Foley, Detroit also signed one-year deals for 2025 with infielder/outfielder Matt Vierling ($3.005 million), catcher Jake Rogers ($2.64 million), right-handers Casey Mize ($2.34 million), Will Vest ($1.4 million) and Beau Brieske ($1.025 million), and infielders Zach McKinstry ($1.65 million) and Andy Ibanez ($1.4 million). Foley broke out in 2024 with a career-high 28 saves for the Tigers while also sporting a 3.15 ERA (3.82 FIP), a 1.18 WHIP and a 46:20 K:BB in 60 innings pitched. Although the Tigers are a team on the rise after making the postseason last year, Foley lost the closing job midseason and also during the playoffs, so fantasy managers shouldn't bet on a repeat.

The Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Tyler Wells (elbow) agreed to a one-year, $2.075 million deal on Thursday, avoiding salary arbitration, according to a source. Wells had an internal-brace procedure to fix the UCL in his right elbow in mid-June, which limited him to only three starts in 2024 for the Orioles. Because of the timing of the surgery, the 30-year-old veteran is expected to miss at least the first half of the 2025 campaign. Despite that, he'll receive a $1.96 million raise as an arbitration-eligible player. Fantasy managers in all single-year leagues can avoid wells in drafts this spring. The former 15th-round selection by the Minnesota Twins in 2016 out of California State San Bernardino has a 4.06 career ERA with a 1.04 WHIP, a 271:77 K:BB and five saves in his four years with the O's covering 294 2/3 innings over 95 outings (46 starts).

The Baltimore Orioles and infielder Ramon Urias settled on a one-year, $3.15 million deal to avoid salary arbitration on Thursday. Even before missing time with an ankle injury, Urias was seeing less playing time in Baltimore. When the 30-year-old veteran infielder did play, he was solid, slashing .254/.322/.423 with 11 home runs, 37 RBI and 39 runs scored in 100 games played. Urias made plenty of contact and hit more fly balls, with his 11 homers representing the second-highest total of his career. He typically doesn't make a ton of loud contact at the plate, though, and with a bench role likely in 2025, there's not enough upside to consider Urias in shallow-mixed fantasy leagues. However, Urias can play almost everywhere on the infield, so an injury could quickly open up regular playing time for him.