Texas Rangers left-hander Brett Martin (shoulder) is set to have left shoulder surgery this week, according to a source. Martin's timetable for a return is to be determined. The 27-year-old southpaw went on the injured list in September with a left shoulder strain and he obviously didn't improve over the winter. Although we don't have specific timeline for his return, it's likely that he'll miss at least half of the 2023 campaign. Martin pitched in his fourth major-league season with Texas last year and went 1-7 with a 4.14 ERA (3.63 FIP), 1.36 WHIP, career-high three saves and 40 strikeouts in 50 innings over 55 appearances (one start).

The Miami Marlins have had talks with free-agent first baseman Yuli Gurriel, according to a source. If signed by the Marlins, Gurriel could potentially share time at the cold corner with Garrett Cooper. General manager Kim Ng and Gurriel have spoken directly, but it remains to be seen if the Fish will actually sign the former Houston Astro. The 38-year-old veteran suffered an MCL sprain of his right knee during the World Series, but he should be fine for spring training and the start of 2023. Gurriel has never been a big power guy -- he's gone over 18 home runs in a season just once in his seven big-league seasons -- and showed some decline in 2022 with a .242/.288/.360 slash line, .647 OPS, eight home runs, 53 RBI, 53 runs scored and a career-high eight stolen bases in 146 games. Gurriel's fantasy stock would drop further with a move to Miami in a part-time role.

The Miami Marlins are among a few teams considering free-agent relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who lives in South Florida. The hard-throwing left-hander fell on hard times in 2022, posting a career-worst 4.46 ERA (4.57 FIP), 1.43 WHIP, nine saves and a career-low 26.9 percent strikeout rate in 36 1/3 relief innings in what will likely being his final season with the New York Yankees. The 35-year-old southpaw ended the year on a sour note with the club after landing on in the injured list due to a leg infection from a tattoo and then being left off the playoff roster after missing a mandatory meeting. He lost the closing gig to Clay Holmes last season and won't be guaranteed to land a closing job on the free-agent market. In Miami, Dylan Floro is projected to open the 2023 campaign as their primary closer.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Monday that the Boston Red Sox have "expressed interest" in free-agent shortstop Elvis Andrus and free-agent second baseman/outfielder Jurickson Profar. The team will be without Trevor Story (elbow) for several months at least, as he recovers from elbow surgery, and they no longer have Xander Bogaerts, so either or both players would provide depth. Andrus had a surprise 2022 season, slashing .249/.303/.404 with 17 home runs, 58 RBI and 18 stolen bases with the Athletics and White Sox. Profar slashed .243/.331/.391 with 15 home runs, 58 RBI and five stolen bases with the Padres. The Red Sox's lineup will not be as strong as it historically has been, and while either player could provide speed with some power, they would be, at best, late-round rotisserie picks if they signed.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Monday that the San Diego Padres are planning to be "all in" on starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani if he becomes a free agent in the 2023 offseason. The 28-year-old phenom has one year left on his contract with the Los Angeles Angels, so he could potentially be traded this season or sign a contract extension with the Angels. If he does become a free agent, there will likely be high competition to sign him given his elite hitting and pitching talent. Ohtani slashed .273/.356/.519 with 34 home runs, 95 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 666 plate appearances in 2022 while also going 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 33.2% strikeout rate in 28 starts. The Padres would be even more formidable if they were to sign him.

The Chicago Cubs and first baseman Trey Mancini agreed to a two-year, $14 million deal with an option year for 2025. Mancini will bank seven million a year and could earn more with escalators and incentives. The 30-year-old was hauled to the Astros in a three-team deal that included Christian Vazquez to Houston. Mancini slashed .268/.347/.404 across 401 plate appearances with the Orioles before encountering some struggles in Houston. He didn't make much of an impact for the reigning champs after amassing just a .622 OPS. Despite the signing of Eric Hosmer, it appears that Mancini was brought in to address the lefty-righty split. Mancini should get some outfield reps and can also DH when Hosmer occupies first base.

New York Yankees right-hander Frankie Montas (shoulder) is expected to miss the first month of the regular season in 2023 due to shoulder inflammation that he dealt with at the end of 2022, according to sources. Montas is eight to 10 weeks behind in his offseason training. The 29-year-old missed two weeks with the Oakland Athletics last year and then landed on the injured list on Sept. 20 with the Yankees after eight lackluster outings in pinstripes. The Yanks sent left-handers JP Sears and Ken Waldichuk, along with two minor-leaguers, to acquire Montas and reliever Lou Trivino from the A's at last year's trade deadline. Montas had a 6.35 ERA in 39 2/3 innings in his eight starts for New York in 2022, but they're hoping he'll be an important part of their rotation in 2023 once he returns from his shoulder issues.

The New York Yankees and left-handed starting pitcher Nestor Cortes agreed to a one-year, $3.2 million deal to avoid salary arbitration on Friday. The 28-year-old Cuban southpaw made the All-Star team for the first time in 2022 in his fifth major-league season and second with the Yanks. He went 12-4 with a career-best 2.44 ERA (3.12 FIP), 0.92 WHIP, career-high 163 strikeouts and 38 walks in 158 1/3 frames over his 28 starts. Cortes suffered a left groin injury while pitching in the American League Championship Series, but he should be fine for the start of 2023. Fantasy managers should consider him a fringe top-30 fantasy starter.

The Texas Rangers and catcher Mitch Garver avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.9 million deal on Friday. Garver had a down year in his first year with the Rangers in 2022, hitting just .207/.298/.404 with a .702 OPS, 10 home runs, 24 RBI, 23 runs scored and a stolen base in 54 games. The 31-year-old backstop had season-ending surgery on his right forearm in July. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to return to the 31-homer mark he set in 2019 with the Minnesota Twins, but a bounce-back could be in the cards in 2023 if he can stay fully healthy. Still, fantasy managers should only consider him as a backup catcher for the time being. Garver is expected to split time with Jonah Heim in his second year with the team.

The Tampa Bay Rays and catcher Francisco Mejia avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.155 million deal. The 27-year-old switch-hitting Mejia hit .242/.264/.381 with a .645 OPS, six home runs, 31 RBI and 32 runs scored in 299 plate appearances and 93 games for Tampa in 2022 in his second season with the team and sixth in the big leagues. Mejia is set to share playing time behind the dish with Christian Bethancourt in 2023, leaving him fantasy value only in two-catcher leagues. In his six major-league seasons, Mejia has slashed .241/.288/.393 with a .681 OPS, 24 home runs and 99 RBI in 305 games played.

The New York Yankees agreed to a one-year, $7.5 million deal with starting pitcher Frankie Montas to avoid salary arbitration on Friday. The Yankees acquired Montas at the trade deadline from the Oakland Athletics last August to beef up their rotation, but the only made eight starts in pinstripes and dealt with a right shoulder issue. He had an ERA over 6.00 in the Bronx and finished 2022 with a combined 5-12 record, 4.05 ERA (3.78 FIP), 1.25 WHIP and 23.4 percent strikeout rate in 144 1/3 innings over 27 starts. With better health in 2023, the 29-year-old right-hander could bounce back for the Yankees and fantasy managers, but it will admittedly be much tougher pitching in Yankee Stadium and the tough American League East for a full season.

The Atlanta Braves and relief pitcher Joe Jimenez avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.765 million deal on Friday. The Braves picked up Jimenez in a trade last month with the Detroit Tigers. The 27-year-old right-hander had a career-best 3.49 ERA (2.00 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, two saves, 77 strikeouts and 13 walks in 56 2/3 relief innings in 2022 for the Tigers. He has 20 career saves in six major-league seasons with Detroit, but he'll probably only have any fantasy value in holds leagues in 2023 as one of Atlanta's setup men in front of closer Raisel Iglesias. Jimenez holds a 5.24 ERA (4.03 FIP) and 1.34 WHIP in 266 major-league relief innings.

The Miami Marlins and relief pitcher Tanner Scott avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.825 million deal on Friday. Scott had a career-high 20 saves in his first season in Miami in 2022, but he also had a 4.31 ERA (3.67 FIP), 1.61 WHIP, 31.1 percent strikeout rate and didn't finish the regular season as the team's primary closer. Because of the way things ended last year in Miami's bullpen, Dylan Floro, not Scott, is expected to open the 2023 season as the team's primary closing option. It's bad news for Scott's fantasy appeal in drafts this spring. The 28-year-old reliever had one career save entering 2022 and has a 4.61 career ERA (3.91 FIP), 1.56 WHIP and 29.9 percent strikeout rate in six major-league seasons.

The Philadelphia Phillies and left-handed reliever Gregory Soto avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.925 million on Friday. The Phillies just acquired Soto in a trade with the Detroit Tigers a week ago after finishing up back-to-back All-Star seasons in Detroit. Last year, he went 2-11 but had a career-low 3.28 ERA (3.59 FIP), 1.38 WHIP, career-high 30 saves and 22.8 percent strikeout rate in 60 1/3 innings over a career-high 64 relief appearances. The 27-year-old southpaw has never had a BB/9 under 5.00 in his four major-league seasons, so without nearly as many save opportunities in what is expected to be a closer-by-committee situation in Philly, Soto loses considerable fantasy appeal with his move to the Phillies. Along with Soto, the team will also have Seranthony Dominguez, Craig Kimbrel and Jose Alvarado as options to save games.

The St. Louis Cardinals and left-hander Jordan Montgomery avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $10 million deal, according to a source. Montgomery came to St. Louis at last year's trade deadline from the New York Yankees. He had a combined 9-6 record with a 3.48 ERA (3.61 FIP), 1.09 WHIP and 21.8 percent strikeout rate in 178 1/3 innings over 32 starts. The 30-year-old southpaw figures to be a key piece in St. Louis' rotation moving forward, and he'll have more fantasy appeal pitching in the National League Central division instead of the brutal American League East. Montgomery went 6-3 with a 3.11 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in his 11 starts for the Red Birds to close out 2022.

The New York Mets remain in contact with free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Trey Mancini, according to reports. It's worth noting that manager Buck Showalter was Mancini's manager for his first two major-league seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. In addition to Mancini, the Mets are considering Andrew McCutchen for the fourth outfielder role in 2023. Other options for the Mets on the open market include Adam Duvall, Jurickson Profar, David Peralta and Tyler Naquin. Mancini was pretty bad after getting dealt to the Houston Astros at the trade deadline last August, but he has 125 career home runs in six big-league seasons and could fit well as a part-time outfielder/DH for the Mets next year.

The Los Angeles Dodgers gave starting pitcher Trevor Bauer his unconditional release on Thursday. The Dodgers designated Bauer for assignment last Friday and could not find a trade partner by the deadline this Friday, so the 31-year-old right-hander will become a free agent. Bauer has been reinstated by the league following his lengthy suspension for domestic violence, but it remains to be seen if any other MLB teams will take a chance on the former National League Cy Young winner. The Dodgers are on the hook for $22.5 million. He missed all of last season, so even if a team takes a chance on Bauer for 2023, it will be tough to predict how he'll perform after previously being one of the better pitchers in the game.