The Chicago Cubs will likely try to work out a contract extension with catcher Willson Contreras, who can become a free agent a year from now. However, if a deal can't be reached, president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer "will almost certainly shop" the 29-year-old backstop. Contreras was worth 2.1 Wins Above Replacement in 2021, according to FanGraphs, which was 12th among all catchers. But only five catchers have had a better WAR than Contreras since he made his major league debut in 2016. If the Cubs keep him around for the long term, they'd like to get him more help behind the plate, as they think he wore down offensively from playing so much. Only seven catchers have logged more innings than Contreras behind the dish since 2016, and only two of them (Yasmani Grandal and Buster Posey) have a better wRC+ than his 114.

The Seattle Mariners announced on Wednesday that the team outrighted first baseman and outfielder Jake Bauers after the 26-year-old cleared waivers. Bauers hit .209 with a .290 on-base percentage, a 63 wRC+, four home runs, and six stolen bases in 315 plate appearances split between Cleveland and Seattle this past season. Seattle currently has Evan Whiteand Ty France on hand as options at first base. Seattle's current outfield options on the 40-man roster include Mitch Haniger, Jake Fraley, Jarred Kelenic, Kyle Lewis, and Taylor Trammell.

Left-handed pitcher Tucker Davidson has been added to the Atlanta Braves' World Series roster as a replacement for injured pitcher Charlie Morton (leg). Morton suffered a fractured right fibula during the team's Game 1 win against the Houston Astros and will miss the rest of the series. A starter for most of his career, Davidson made four starts for Atlanta during the regular season, pitching to a 3.60 ERA and a 4.52 FIP in 20 innings while striking out 18 batters and surrendering eight walks.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler is batting fifth on Wednesday night against Houston Astros right-handed starter Jose Urquidy. Soler is starting at designated hitter for Game 2 of the World Series after collecting a pair of hits, including a leadoff home run, in Atlanta's Game 1 win. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Kansas City Royals, the 29-year-old hit .269 with a .358 on-base percentage and 14 home runs in 242 plate appearances for Atlanta after the trade. So far this postseason he's batting .222 with a .300 on-base percentage.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Eddie Rosario is batting leadoff for Game 2 of the World Series against the Houston Astros on Wednesday. Rosario hit fifth during Tuesday's Game 1 win but returns to the leadoff spot, where he's started five of Atlanta's last seven postseason games. In 47 plate appearances this postseason, the outfielder is batting .465 with a .511 on-base percentage, three home runs, and a stolen base. Jose Urquidy will start for Houston on Wednesday, but Rosario has yet to face the right-hander in his career.

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (shoulder) is unlikely to opt for offseason surgery on his troublesome left shoulder, according to sources. The decision isn't necessarily final, but it's tied to Tatis' belief that his shoulder is stable and will hold up moving forward. The superstar shortstop has partially dislocated his shoulder on at least four separate occasions this year and spent two stints on the injured list as a result. Each dislocation makes it more likely for future dislocations, but Tatis prefers to avoid an operation to repair his shoulder. Recovery for that surgery would take around five months, so if he changes his mind, his availability for the start of 2022 would be in question. Tatis hit an impressive .282/.364/.611 with 42 home runs and 25 stolen bases, and he figures to be in serious consideration for the National League MVP.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Charlie Morton (leg) suffered a fractured right fibula in the team's Game 1 win over the Houston Astros in the World Series on Tuesday night. Morton will obviously miss the rest of the World Series, but he's expected to be ready for spring training next season. The veteran right-hander suffered the fracture on a 102.4 mph Yuli Gurriel comebacker in the second inning. Kyle Wright, who made 24 starts at Triple-A Gwinnett this year, was included on the World Series roster and could be asked to step up and make a start later in the series with Morton now out. Potential roster replacements include Kyle Muller, Touki Toussaint and Tucker Davidson. Lefty Drew Smyly is also an option to start later in the series. Reliever A.J. Minter relieved Morton on Tuesday and tossed a career-high 43 pitches.

Miami Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas agreed to a two-year, $10 million extension to stay with the team through 2023. Rojas had a vesting option activate upon reaching 500 plate appearances in 2021, so this really only adds one year to his contract. Still, he's a solid veteran presence whose bat has developed into a usable fantasy asset in deeper leagues. He hit .265/.322/.392 with nine home runs, 48 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 2021 despite missing some time due to injury. He should remain near the top of what is expected to be an improved Marlins lineup for the 2022 season.

Houston Astros infielder/outfielder Marwin Gonzalez was added to the World Series roster after being left off both the ALDS and ALCS rosters. He started the year with the Boston Red Sox before they designated him for assignment on August 13. He then signed with Houston after spending seven seasons with the club from 2012-2018. He struggled at the plate this season, slashing .199/.275/.304 with five home runs across 91 games. He was better against left-handers, though, posting a much higher .713 OPS. Don't expect Gonzalez to see much playing time, but he should get some pinch-hitting opportunities while playing in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Braves have listed right-hander Kyle Wright on its World Series roster, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The Braves left him off of both the division and league championship series rosters. Wright only appeared in two games this season. He pitched to a 9.95 ERA with six strikeouts and five walks over 6.1 innings. Expect Wright to be used as a long reliever, or start a bullpen game down the road. He takes the spot of fellow right-hander Jacob Webb. Webb struggled in two appearances this postseason, posting a 21.60 ERA after he produced a decent 4.19 ERA in 34 relief appearances during the regular season. The Braves also added outfielder Terrance Gore this time around, who replaces utility man Johan Camargo.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler will be the designated hitter for the World Series opener against the Houston Astros on Tuesday, according to MLB.com. He will also bat leadoff, something he did near the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs. The Braves placed Soler on the COVID-19 injured list before Game 4 of the NLDS. He was activated on October 21 but didn't start the final two games of the league championship series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The slugging outfielder slashed .223/.316/.432 with 27 HRs in 2021. He turned a corner after joining the Braves midseason, posting a .882 OPS and 14 HRs in 55 games. Across 15 postseason plate appearances this year, he's batting just .154 with two doubles and a 33.3 K%. Expect Soler to continue getting reps at DH while playing in Houston.

Houston Astros starter Framber Valdez will take the mound to start Game 1 of the World Series against the Braves. After a shaky postseason start, Valdez was fantastic when it counted most, tossing eight strong innings of one-run baseball in Game 5 of the ALCS. Late-season injuries to Zack Greinke and Lance McCullers Jr. suddenly have Valdez serving as de facto ace for the Astros staff. Valdez posted a 5-2 mark at Minute Maid Park during the regular season with a 1.37 WHIP and a 3.45 ERA through 11 home starts this season. Valdez will have a tough test against a top-to-bottom dynamic Braves lineup in Game 1.

Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel will hit seventh for Game 1 of the World Series against the Braves. Gurriel came alive in the ALCS, going 10-for-22 (.454) with two extra-base hits, four runs scored and six runs batted in. In a lineup full of big names and potent hitters, Gurriel can easily fly under the radar. But the 37-year-old is just as talented and is 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position hitting from the bottom-half of the lineup. Gurriel will present excellent DFS value for Game 1 as the veteran posted an .889 OPS during the regular season at Minute Maid Park.

Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker will hit sixth for Game 1 of the World Series against the Braves. The 24-year-old has exploded during this postseason run, posting four multi-RBI games through the team's 10 postseason games. Over his last 40 at-bats, Tucker is slashing .275/.310/.625 with two doubles, four home runs, nine runs scored and a team-leading 15 runs batted in. Tucker has been dynamite with runners in scoring position in the playoffs, going 8-for-17 in those situations with a 1.118 slugging percentage. Tucker and teammate Yordan Alvarez will be the best DFS options for Game 1.

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa will hit fifth for Game 1 of the World Series against the Braves. Correa has been fantastic hitting at home in the playoffs, slashing .412/.500/.647 through five postseason games at Minute Maid Park. Correa posted a .494 slugging percentage mark at home during the regular season and has come up with some huge hits in the playoffs. Correa is once again having a strong postseason run, slashing .297/.395/.459 through 37 playoff at-bats.

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez will hit cleanup for Game 1 of the World Series against the Braves. Alvarez has been fantastic throughout the playoffs, registering at least one hit in eight of the team's 10 playoff games and at least one RBI in six of the 10. The talented young slugger is slashing .441/.535/.794 with one triple, two home runs, four doubles, nine runs batted in and 11 runs scored through his postseason run. Alvarez is a fantastic DFS option for Game 1 at Minute Maid Park as the 24-year-old is 9-for-15 (.600) with five extra-base hits, five runs batted in and six runs scored in five playoff games at home.

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman is hitting third for Game 1 of the World Series against the Braves. Bregman has been clutch, hitting .429 with runners in scoring position, but has only two extra-base hits through 39 postseason at-bats. Bregman's quad injury that shelved him for months during the regular season has taken away his power during the playoffs but is a strong DFS play Tuesday and is 7-for-19 (.368) through five playoff games at Minute Maid Park.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley will start and hit second in Game 1 of the World Series against the Braves. The veteran is hitting .311 through 45 postseason at-bats but his power has been sapped by an August knee injury ever since. Brantley, however, has been dangerous with runners in scoring position, going 5-for-10 in those situations with eight runs batted in during this playoff run. Brantley may not be sending the ball over the fence at present but will provide a tough, professional at-bat every time up at the dish.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will hit leadoff in Game 1 of the World Series against the Braves. Altuve has five extra-base hits through 10 postseason games with seven runs batted in and 15 runs scored. Altuve has been dynamite at Minute Maid Park during the regular season, slashing .296/.374/.558 with 18 doubles, 19 home runs, 49 runs batted in and 59 runs scored through 75 home games. Altuve hasn't hit for a high average during this postseason run but has come up with clutch hit after clutch hit and will be a top selection for anyone interested in DFS tournaments for the World Series.

New York Yankees impending free-agent first baseman Anthony Rizzo is quite eager to return to the Bronx in 2022, according to a family member. The Yankees acquired Rizzo from the Chicago Cubs ahead of the trade deadline during the summer, and he slashed .249/.340/.428 with eight home runs and 21 RBI over 49 games in pinstripes. For the season on the whole, Rizzo had a .738 OPS in 576 plate appearances in 2021. Rizzo reportedly turned down a four-year, $70 million contract extension from the Cubs in March. Atlanta Braves MVP first baseman Freddie Freeman will be a free agent this offseason, and the thought is that he'll top Paul Goldschmidt's five-year, $130 million extension. But if Freeman returns to the Braves, as expected, Rizzo could be in position to capitalize on first base-needy teams.