According to the team, the Chicago White Sox have signed veteran backstop Omar Narvaez to a minor-league deal that contains an invite to spring training. The 32-year-old opened the 2024 season with the New York Mets before being released in June. In his limited stint in Queens, Narvaez posted a .154/.191/.185 line with just two extra-base hits. He then finished the season in the Astros minor league system. Through 42 games with Triple-A Sugar Land, the backstop posted a .196/.325/.304 slash line. Narvaez began his major league career on the Southside in 2016 before spending time with the Milwaukee Brewers. He made the National League All-Star roster in 2021, where he posted a .266/.342/.402 line. Given his struggles in the majors last season, he will likely open the 2025 team at Triple-A.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the New York Yankees have expressed interest in free agent infielder Paul DeJong. The Yankees have been in the infield market all offseason after losing Gleyber Torres to the Detroit Tigers. Over the past week, they have been linked to San Diego's Luis Arraez but have reportedly begun to lose interest. DeJong would provide a much cheaper alternative and would likely see all his time at the hot corner. Last summer, across 139 games with the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals, DeJong hit 24 home runs with a .227/.276/.427 line. Under the hood, he generated a solid 10.2% barrel rate and a 41.5% hard-hit rate. However, he struggled at the plate, with a hefty 32.4% K rate and a 4.8% walk rate. If he were to head to the Bronx, Jazz Chisholm Jr. would likely spend most of the season at the keystone.

According to Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports, the Chicago Cubs have acquired right-handed pitcher Matt Festa from the Texas Rangers in exchange for cash considerations. In a corresponding move, the Cubs designated infielder Miles Mastrobuoni for assignment. Festa was initially designated for assignment by Texas earlier this week but will now look to compete for a spot on the Cubs Opening Day Roster. Last season, Festa posted a 5.70 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP across 23 2/3 innings of relief in the majors. Mastrobuoni was deployed as a depth option in the Chicago infield last season and held a .191/.245/.224 line across 50 games. If Festa were to earn a spot on the roster, he would likely see time as a low-leverage relief option.

According to the team, the Baltimore Orioles have claimed starting pitcher Roansy Contreras off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. In a corresponding move, the Orioles designated infielder Livan Soto for assignment. Contreras has been claimed and released by several clubs this offseason. Last season, across 68 1/3 innings with Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, the right-hander held a 4.53 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He struck out 56 batters and served up 31 free passes. Under the hood, he generated a 4.94 ERA and .260 xBA. In addition, he allowed hard contact at a hefty 43.5% rate and barrels at a 9.7% rate, both of which were well below the average marks. Fantasy managers should not have Contreras on their radar heading into the 2025 season, given his lack of proven success at the major league level.

According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, right-handed pitcher Colin Rea has signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs worth $6 million. Earlier this offseason, the Brewers declined Rea's option. The 34-year-old has spent the past three seasons with the Brewers. Last summer, Rea spent most of the season operating out of the starting rotation but will likely be deployed out of the bullpen in Chicago, given their depth at starting pitching. Across 167 2/3 innings of work, Rea held a 4.29 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He showed strong command with a 6.0% walk rate but struggled to generate strikeouts as he posted an underwhelming 18.9% clip. He also generated a poor 4.91 xERA and .272 xBA, both well below the average marks. Rea could eventually join the rotation later in the season but is best left as a streaming option in deeper NL-only formats.

The Minnesota Twins acquired catcher Diego Cartaya from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday in exchange for minor-league right-hander Jose Vasquez. Cartaya was once one of the Dodgers' top catching prospects, but he has struggled at the plate the last two seasons in the minors and slashed .221/.323/.363 with a .686 OPS, 11 home runs, 52 RBI and 113 strikeouts in 400 trips to the plate over 95 games with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2024. The move to trade the 23-year-old comes after the Dodgers dropped the Venezuelan backstop from their 40-man roster recently. With minor-league options still remaining, expect Cartaya to begin the 2025 campaign at Triple-A St. Paul with his new organization as minor-league depth behind Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez at the major-league level.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman/outfielder Pavin Smith and the team have settled on a $1.5 million contract to avoid salary arbitration. The 28-year-old performed well over his 60-game stint in the majors last summer. Smith held a .270/.348/.547 slash line with 11 doubles, nine home runs, 36 RBI, and one stolen base. He generated a strong .395 xwOBA, .529 xSLG, and a 14.7% barrel rate. He also held a solid 19.6% strikeout rate and an 11.4% walk rate. Fantasy managers should expect the Virginia product to be the primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching this season with Joc Pederson now in Texas. Smith will be worth targeting in deeper formats, as he hit right-handed pitching very well last summer and would carry solid upside, even in a platoon role.

The New York Mets signed free-agent outfielder Travis Swaggerty and infielder Yonny Hernandez to minor-league deals on Wednesday. Swaggerty posted an .800 OPS with seven home runs and 41 RBI in 73 games in Independent baseball last year and appeared in five major-league games with the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 2022. Hernandez debuted in the majors in 2021 with the Texas Rangers before joining the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2022 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023. In 221 total MLB plate appearances, he's hit just .190/.286/.222 with no home runs, 10 RBI, 13 steals and 22 runs scored in 69 games. The Venezuelan infielder played in 81 games at Triple-A Nashville in 2024 and hit .241 with two homers, 32 RBI and 13 thefts. Both Swaggerty and Hernandez will likely open up the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Syracuse.

According to LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago White Sox have designated infielder Jacob Amaya for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for Josh Rojas, who the White Sox signed earlier this week. The White Sox claimed Amaya off waivers late in the 2024 season. He made just 26 appearances on the Southside and held a .179/.222/.191 slash line with one double, one stolen base, and a 4:28 BB:K. Across 76 games at the Triple-A level last season, the former 11th-round selection held a .221/.308/.330 line with 10 doubles, five home runs, and six stolen bases. If Amaya is able to find a new club, he would likely spend most of the 2025 season at the Triple-A level given his struggles in the major leagues.

The Los Angeles Angels signed free-agent veteran reliever Connor Brogdon to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Brogdon began the 2024 campaign with the Philadelphia Phillies before being designated for assignment early on. He eventually latched on with the Los Angeles Dodgers but spent the majority of the year on the injured list due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot. The 29-year-old right-hander appeared in only four games at the big-league level in relief and gave up nine runs (eight earned) on five hits (four home runs) while walking six and striking out three in only three innings. It appears that Brogdon is healthy in 2025 and looking to find a way back to the big leagues as a bat-missing, high-leverage reliever. In his five years in the majors, Brogdon does have three saves and a 23.8% strikeout rate.

The Kansas City Royals announced on Wednesday that they claimed infielder Braden Shewmake off waivers from the Chicago White Sox. Shewmake will remain in the American League Central after being taken off the White Sox's 40-man roster this offseason. The 27-year-old will merely serve as organizational infield depth for KC entering the 2025 season, if he's still on the roster by Opening Day. The former 21st overall pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2019 out of Texas A&M hasn't lived up to his draft stock and has gone 8-for-68 (.118) with a homer, four RBI and five stolen bases in the big leagues since debuting with Atlanta in 2023. Shewmake does have a strong glove on the infielder and came up as a shortstop, but he's most likely to open the season at Triple-A Omaha on the farm.

According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds have designated right-handed pitcher Roansy Contreras for assignment. This transaction opened a roster spot for Gavin Lux who was acquired via a trade on Monday evening. Contreras was claimed by the Reds earlier this offseason but will now be placed waivers once again. Contreras logged 68 1/3 innings in the majors with Pittsburgh and Los Angeles last season. In this stint, he posted a 4.35 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Under the hood he generated a poor 9.7% barrel rate and a 43.5% hard-hit rate with an underwhelming 18.8% K rate. The 25-year-old would likely open the 2025 season at Triple-A, if he is not claimed by another club.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Dodgers are trading infielder Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for outfield prospect Mike Sirota and a competitive balance pick. According to a source, that balance pick currently sits at No. 37. After the Dodgers signed Hyeseong Kim to a three-year deal, Gavin Lux did not have a spot in the starting lineup which encouraged several teams to begin acquiring on him. Over the week several teams have expressed interest in the former first rounder but the Reds were able to get a deal complete. Fantasy managers should expect Lux to have a role at the keystone in Cincinnati which will likely move Matt McClain to the outfield. Last season, Lux held a .251/.330/.383 line with ten home runs and five stolen bases. Lux could be worth a look in deeper formats if he bats near the top of the Cincinnati lineup.

Miami Marlins left-hander Ryan Weathers, who has been long-tossing for the last few weeks, is 20 pounds lighter this offseason. The 25-year-old has adopted a Keto diet due to his high-insulin resistance. Weathers missed three months in 2024 with a left index-finger strain, but before that he was looking good with a 3.55 ERA in his first 13 starts. The young southpaw returned late in the year to make three starts in September and will be full healthy heading into the 2025 campaign. Following the trade of lefty Jesus Luzardo to the Philadelphia Phillies, Weathers will undoubtedly be counted on in the Marlins starting rotation behind right-hander Sandy Alcantara. Pitching in Miami is not the most attractive circumstances at all, but Weathers has some late-round flier appeal in fantasy going into 2025 after setting career-best strikeout and walk rates in 2024.

According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, the St. Louis Cardinals have not had "concrete conversations" regarding shortstop Masyn Winn's potential contract extension. Woo noted that since the team's current plan is trying to bolster a youth movement, locking up Winn for the long-term would be a great way to build upon that idea. Earlier this offseason, the Cardinals opted to let first baseman Paul Goldschmidt walk in free agency and the team has had several trade discussions around third baseman Nolan Arenado. After having an underwhelming major league debut in 2023, Winn took a significant step forward in 2024 holding a strong .267/.314/.416 line with 15 home runs and a 11 stolen bases. He showed a strong eye at the plate by only striking out 17.1% of the time. Winn will likely be penciled in as the leadoff hitter in St. Louis and carries a solid power and speed combination and is worth a look later in drafts this offseason.

According to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated, the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners have shown interest in acquiring infielder Gavin Lux. The Yankees will have a hole in their infield at either second or third base, depending where Jazz Chisholm Jr. starts the season. While the Yankees have a few internal options to fill that void, in DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, or Oswald Peraza, Lux would provide some more upside in their lineup and would remain under team control for another two seasons. Ragazzo noted that the Seattle Mariners have also expressed interest in acquiring Lux as they are also in need of another infielder. Lux could find himself at the forefront of trade conversations in the coming weeks as the Dodgers recently brought in infielder Hye-Seong Kim from the KBO on a three-year deal who is expected to have a starting role in 2025. Last season, Lux held a .251/.320/.383 line with ten home runs and five stolen bases.

According to James Fox of FutureSox, the Chicago White Sox are showing interest in free-agent right-handed pitcher Jakob Junis. The 32-year-old has been deployed as both a reliever and starter throughout his big-league career. Last season, Junis spent time with both the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds. Across 67 frames, the 32-year-old held a solid 2.69 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP. He showed elite command with a stellar 3.2% walk rate but struggled to generate whiffs as he held an underwhelming 20.2% strikeout rate. In addition, he posted a poor 42.4% hard-hit rate and 38.7% ground-ball rate, which suggests he could be due for some regression during the 2025 campaign. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should continue to monitor his status, as he could be a viable low-end starting pitcher in AL/NL-only formats if he can sign a 2025 contract.

Free-agent infielder Andrew Velazquez signed a minor-league deal that includes an invitation to major-league spring training with the New York Yankees on Friday. Velazquez, who was born in the Bronx, will return to the Yankees after playing for them in 2021, when he hit .224 (15-for-68) with a homer, six RBI and four stolen bases in only 28 games at the major-league level. The 30-year-old switch-hitter was originally a seventh-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012. Velazquez made his big-league debut in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays and has played for five teams over his six major-league seasons. He has hit just .189/.244/.293 with 12 homers, 40 RBI and 40 stolen bases in 275 games played in the majors. Velazquez will provide infield depth for the Yanks in 2025 after posting a .692 OPS with 16 homers and 33 steals at Triple-A Gwinnett in 2024.

According to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Dodgers are designating catching prospect Diego Cartaya for assignment to open a roster spot for infielder Hye-seong Kim. Cartaya was a former top catching prospect but has never lived up to his prospect pedigree. Before the transaction, MLB Pipeline ranked Cartaya as the 16th-best prospect in the Dodger system. In 2023, the backstop held a mere .189/.278/.379 slash line across 93 games at Double-A. Last season across both Double-A and Triple-A, Cartaya posted a .221/.323/.363 slash line with just 11 home runs and a 47:113 BB:K. Cartaya may draw interest from another suitor but will likely need more time at Triple-A in 2025 before making his major-league debut.

MassLive.com's Sean McAdam writes that Boston Red Sox infielder Vaughn Grissom is the "nominal favorite" to open next season as the team's starting second baseman. Grissom's first year with Boston in 2024 was highly disappointing, as he entered spring training with a shot to see most of the playing time at the keystone before multiple injuries set him back. The 23-year-old former Atlanta Braves middle infielder eventually lost the job to David Hamilton and hit just .190/.246/.219 in just 31 games at the big-league level. However, Grissom looked good to end the year at Triple-A Worcester and appears to be fully healthy with spring training just around the corner. Grissom has looked great in the minor leagues but has yet to put it together at the major-league level in small stints. If he's healthy in 2025, though, and secures the 2B job, he has potential for double-digit homers and steals for fantasy managers.