New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson began his offseason work earlier than usual and cited a new "intensity" and "focus" in ensuring he was ready for spring training this year. He went 1-for-2 with a single, walk and strikeout in his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday and is ready to bounce back after posting a career-worst .682 OPS for the Yankees in 2022. The 37-year-old former American League MVP in 2015 will need to prove to fantasy managers that he's not in full decline towards the end of his career. "You can definitely see that he put a lot of work in the offseason," said bench coach Carlos Mendoza. "Physically he looks really good. I like where he's at right now physically, mentally." Donaldson will be the team's primary third baseman, but he could find the bench more often if he continues to struggle offensively in 2023.

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that third baseman Josh Donaldson projects to be the team's starter at third base in 2023 despite hitting .222 with 15 home runs in 2022 in his first year in the Bronx. Donaldson has one year and at least $27 million left on his deal, but the Yankees have explored trading him. Hitting coach Dillon Lawson said that the 37-year-old has been working hard to get back into top form. He saw his walk and strikeout rates go in the wrong direction last year, and his power and on-base percentage also took a dive. Health is also a question as he nears the end of his career. The three-time All-Star and former American League MVP could bounce back in 2023, but there's reason to believe that last year was the beginning of more decline.

Left-handed relief pitcher Jake McGee has announced his retirement from professional baseball after pitching 13 years in the majors. He finished his final season in 2022 with a career-worst 6.81 ERA (4.84 FIP), 1.43 WHIP, three saves and career-low 15.3 percent strikeout rate in 37 relief innings between the San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals. The 36-year-old southpaw spent six of his 13 MLB seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. McGee had a career-high 31 saves for the Giants in 2021 and amassed 79 career saves in 572 1/3 innings pitched (all in relief). He finishes his 13-year career with a 3.71 ERA (3.48 FIP), 1.15 WHIP and 613 strikeouts over 650 relief appearances.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed 42-year-old left-hander Rich Hill to a one-year, $8 million deal on Tuesday. The southpaw is entering his 19th big-league season and is currently the oldest player in the majors. The Boston native spent this past season in his hometown with the Red Sox, where he went 8-7 while posting a 4.27 ERA across 124 1/3 innings. He struck out 109 batters with a 20.7 percent strikeout rate. This may be Hill's final year on the mound, and the Pirates are the perfect fit for the veteran. He may contribute a little fantasy value if things go well in Pittsburgh.

Along with the Baltimore Orioles, the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers are interested in free-agent left-hander Rich Hill this offseason, according to sources. Hill will be 43 years old for the 2023 season, but he can still be a respectable innings-eater at the back end of a starting rotation. He went 8-7 with a 4.27 ERA (3.92 FIP), a 1.30 WHIP and a 20.7 percent strikeout rate in 124 1/3 innings over 26 starts for the Boston Red Sox last season. Hill doesn't have much left in the tank, but he can still be useful for rotation depth in deeper fantasy leagues as long as he can stay healthy in 2023.

The Atlanta Braves re-signed veteran relief pitcher Jesse Chavez to a one-year minor-league deal on Saturday that will pay him $1.2 million if he's in the majors. Chavez pitched for the Braves, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels last year, finishing the year with a 3.76 ERA (3.39 FIP), a 1.31 WHIP, 74 strikeouts and 20 walks in 69 1/3 innings over 60 relief appearances (one start). In 46 outings (one starts) for Atlanta, the 39-year-old right-hander posted a solid 2.72 ERA (2.89 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP, 61 strikeouts and 14 walks in 53 frames. Chavez will have a pretty good shot at winning a spot in the bullpen out of spring training next year, but he won't have any fantasy appeal.

New York Yankees skipper Aaron Boone said that he has no plan to move away from third baseman Josh Donaldson in the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros. "He's got on at a 40% clip in the postseason so far, for all his struggles. We need him to do something big within this series," Boone said. Donaldson has struggled at the plate in seven postseason games so far this October, going 5-for-22 (.227) with no home runs, no RBI, one run scored and 11 strikeouts in 28 plate appearances, but he also has six walks. He's not the only one guilty of striking out too much on the Yankees roster, and his on-base abilities despite his struggles will keep him in the lineup heading into Game 3 of the ALCS in the Bronx on Saturday.

Former Boston Red Sox infielder Eduardo Nunez announced his retirement on his personal Instagram account on Thursday. Nunez last played in 2020 in just two games for the New York Mets. The 35-year-old hand not played at all this year and last played in seven games for the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League in 2021. He spent 11 years in the big leagues with the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Red Sox, San Francisco Giants and Mets. Nunez will finish his career with a career slash line of .276/.310/.404 with 58 home runs, 309 RBI, 353 runs scored and 142 stolen bases in 858 regular season games. He was part of Boston's 2018 World Series champion team and was platooning with third baseman Rafael Devers.

New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson is at third base and has been moved up to fifth in the batting order for Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Shane Bieber on Friday. Donaldson hit sixth in the first game of the series on Tuesday and went 2-for-2 with two singles and a walk in the 4-1 victory. He's also gone 3-for-10 with two home runs in his career against Bieber. Outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera is moving to the sixth spot with Donaldson moving up in the order on Friday. In 478 at-bats during the regular season, the 36-year-old slugger hit just .222/.308/.374 with 15 home runs, 62 RBI, 59 runs scored and two stolen bases in 132 games in his first year in the Bronx.

New York Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar came through in a big way Tuesday night, driving in all five runs in a 5-4 extra-inning victory over the Miami Marlins. Escobar was 3-for-5 at the plate with a two-run home run. The round-tripper was his 20th of the year, and he has now scored 57 runs and driven in 68 in 480 at-bats. Escobar has been on fire in September with a .330/.379/.638 slash line that has surely turned the tide for fantasy managers in playoff matchups.

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (foot) and third baseman Josh Donaldson are back in the starting lineup on Saturday against Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Corey Kluber. Stanton is serving as the designated hitter and is batting second after missing the last four games after he fouled a ball off his foot on Monday. Fantasy managers will want to get the power-hitting right-hander back into their lineups immediately. Donaldson was reinstated from the paternity list and will return to the lineup after missing the last three games following the birth of his child. He's starting at third base and hitting cleanup for the struggling Bombers. Hopefully for the Yankees, the return of both Stanton and Donaldson can get them going offensively.

The New York Yankees placed third baseman Josh Donaldson on the paternity list on Wednesday. The veteran is batting .220 with a .309 on-base percentage, 12 home runs, and a pair of stolen bases in 457 plate appearances in his first season in New York. The Yankees also recalled right-handed pitcher Deivi Garcia from Triple-A to take Donaldson's place on the active roster. Garcia has yet to appear in the Majors this season but made two starts for the Yankees last year. He's pitched to a 7.26 ERA, 59 strikeouts, and 25 walks in 53.1 innings, mainly as a starter, in the minors this season.

New York Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar went deep for the second straight day Saturday, as he went 1-for-2 at the plate with the solo shot and a walk. With Luis Guillorme and Brett Baty sidelined with injuries, Escobar has started every game at third base since he returned from the injured list. Before these last few games, he had not homered since July 26, and he now has 14 on the season to go with a .669 OPS, 43 runs scored, and 48 RBI. Regularly batting in the bottom third of the New York lineup, fantasy managers should look elsewhere for better third base options.

The Atlanta Braves claimed right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez off waivers on Tuesday from the Los Angeles Angels. Chavez was shipped to LA at the Aug. 2 trade deadline in the trade that sent reliever Raisel Iglesias to the Braves. Along with the Braves and Angels, Chavez has also spent time with the Chicago Cubs in 2022. The 39-year-old veteran was a key part of Atlanta's bullpen last year on their way to winning the World Series, but he shouldn't be on the fantasy radar at all. In 54 2/3 innings this year, Chavez has a 3.62 ERA (3.29 FIP), a 1.37 WHIP and a 60:16 K:BB. The Braves will most likely use him in middle relief in his return to the organization.

New York Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar (oblique) has been activated off the IL and will start at third and bat eighth against Kyle Freeland and the Colorado Rockies. Escobar missed just over a week after suffering a left oblique strain. The 33-year-old veteran has struggled this year, but has managed a .250/.286/.500 slash line against lefties, making him an intriguing option in DFS. It is likely that he will form a platoon with rookie Brett Baty, limiting both of their fantasy upsides. Yolmer Sanchez was sent to Triple-A to make room for Escobar.

New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson (illness) is back at third base and is hitting fifth on Monday for the opener of the series against the New York Mets and right-hander Max Scherzer. Donaldson missed the last two games with a stomach issue, but he'll be back in there on Monday night. The 36-year-old is looking for his fifth straight game with a hit, but he's batting just .223/.305/.388 on the season with 12 home runs, 47 RBI, 40 runs scored and two stolen bases in 358 at-bats. In 17 career at-bats against Scherzer, Donaldson is hitting .176 with no home runs or RBI. In DFS formats, it would probably be wise to ignore the veteran third baseman.

New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson (illness) remains out of the starting lineup on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Donaldson will miss his second straight game due to a stomach ailment. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day, and he could even come off the bench on Sunday. DJ LeMahieu is starting at the hot corner and hitting cleanup on Sunday against Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah. LeMahieu is pretty attractive in DFS in the cleanup spot. He's hitting .242 (15-for-62) in the month of August with a homer, one RBI and six runs scored in 15 games played.

New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson played the hero in Wednesday's 8-7, extra-inning win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Donaldson went 1-for-4 with a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning to send the Bronx faithful home happy amidst their current slump. The 36-year-old has struggled in August, as have most of the rest of the Yankees hitters, but perhaps this dramatic walkoff win will get them going down the stretch. After Donaldson's heroics, he's now hitting .255 (14-for-55) with three home runs, 12 RBI, seven runs scored and 19 strikeouts in 15 games in the month of August.

New York Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar (oblique) has been officially placed on the 10-day injured list. The 33-year-old suffered a left oblique strain last week. The expectation was that he'd need a trip to the injured list, but the team was trying to wait it out. He was in the lineup on Tuesday, but was eventually scratched due to renewed soreness in his oblique. Brett Baty has been recalled from the minors and is starting in his place during Wednesday's game. Fantasy managers should see if Baty is available because he could have some short term value with Escobar sidelined.

The expectation is that New York Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar (oblique) might need a stint on the injured list for his sore left oblique, and he remains out of the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves. With Luis Guillorme (groin) landing on the injured list on Monday, the Mets have called up third base prospect Brett Baty. Deven Marrero is getting the start at the hot corner and is batting eighth on Tuesday against Braves right-hander Charlie Morton, but Baty could see regular playing time at the position moving forward with both Guillorme and Escobar injured. Escobar is hitting just .216 on the year with 12 home runs and 44 RBI, and he isn't a must-stash in mixed fantasy leagues. Baty was hitting .312 with 19 homers and 59 RBI in 89 games for Double-A Binghamton before recently being promoted to Triple-A Syracuse. He's worth a pickup in deeper leagues.