The probability of the Minnesota Twins trading outfielder Max Kepler has been significantly reduced with spring training quickly approaching. The Twins are fully stocked on left-handed-hitting corner outfielders with Joey Gallo, Kepler, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner and Nick Gordon. The desired interest in Kepler just wasn't there this offseason after he produced a 2.0 wins above replacement despite hitting just .227/.318/.348 with nine home runs in 446 plate appearances. The 29-year-old continues to show great plate discipline, but his drop in power in 2022 was worrisome. But it could be attributed to multiple injuries that limited him to 115 games played. Kepler needs to put the ball in the air more to rediscover his power, but the ban on shifts should help his cause as far as overall average.

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed free-agent infielder Chris Owings to a minor-league deal on Thursday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Owings, a veteran of 10 major-league seasons, spent the 2022 season with the Baltimore Orioles but hit just .107/.254/.143 with no homers, six runs scored and a stolen base in 26 games played. He didn't fare a whole lot better in the minors for the New York Yankees or in an independent league after he was released by Baltimore. Owings hasn't played over 100 games in a single major-league season since 2018 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he'll strictly serve as veteran infield depth with the rebuilding Pirates.

Miami Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez won his salary arbitration case at $6.1 million over the team on Thursday, according to a source. The Minnesota Twins filed a number of $5 million before they traded Arraez to the Marlins this offseason, but the number didn't change following his trade. Arraez won the American League batting title in 2022 with the Twins when he hit .316. The 25-year-old also added a .375 on-base percentage, .420 slugging percentage, .795 OPS, career-high eight home runs, 49 RBI, 88 runs scored and four stolen bases in 603 plate appearances over 144 games. He will be Miami's everyday second baseman and leadoff batter in 2023. Although Miami isn't the best hitting environment and their offense as a whole isn't anything to write home about, Arraez should once again be a great source of average, OBP and runs scored.

The Seattle Mariners and super utilityman Dylan Moore avoided salary arbitration on Wednesday by agreeing to a three-year, $8.875 million extension, according to sources. The deal contains no options and escalators to $9 million-plus while buying out one free-agent year. Moore posted a strong .368 on-base percentage in 2022 and played seven different positions. The 30-year-old had offseason surgery on his abdomen but is expected to be ready for Opening Day, where he should continue to get plenty of playing time against left-handed pitchers all over the field. In his fourth MLB season for the M's last year, Moore slashed .224/.368/.385 with a .753 OPS, six home runs, 24 RBI, 41 runs scored and 21 stolen bases in 104 games. He is valuable in deeper leagues for his positional versatility and speed.

Free-agent right-hander Gray Fenter signed a minor-league deal with the New York Yankees on Wednesday. Fenter was formerly with the Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants and had a nice 2.95 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League in 2022. The 27-year-old was previously drafted by the Orioles in the seventh round in 2015. He has never made it to the major-league level and sports a 3.93 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 183 walks and 402 strikeouts in 347 2/3 innings over 113 appearances (69 starts) in six seasons in the minors. There's a very good chance that Fenter will open the 2023 season in the minor leagues for the Yankees as pitching depth.

Seattle Mariners closer Paul Sewald (elbow, heel) has resumed throwing and should be ready to pitch in spring training games. Sewald had surgeries on his right elbow and his heel in the offseason. The 32-year-old could be eased into spring training action, but relievers typically don't need a ton of work before the regular season. He had a team-high 20 saves last season and will enter Opening Day as Seattle's primary closer yet again, giving him plenty of value in fantasy leagues on an improved Mariners team. Sewald could have a short leash if he falters, though, and Andres Munoz and Diego Castillo are plenty capable of handling ninth-inning duties as well. Sewald had a career-best 2.67 ERA (3.88 FIP), 0.77 WHIP, 20 saves and 72 strikeouts in 64 relief innings last year.

Seattle Mariners first baseman Evan White (hip) is as healthy as he's ever been with spring training approaching. Meanwhile, infielder/outfielder Sam Haggerty (groin) should also be good to go for spring training. Reliever Andres Munoz (foot) is out of a walking boot and has started his throwing program after having foot surgery. White had sports-hernia surgery in 2022 and also deal with a hip injury, limiting him to just 107 plate appearances at Triple-A Tacoma. The 26-year-old will need to stay healthy and produce in order to find regular at-bats at the major-league level in 2023. Haggerty will serve in a utility role yet again after hitting .256 with five homers, 23 RBI and 13 steals in 83 games. He's worth rostering in AL-only leagues for his speed. Munoz had a breakout season in 2022 and should serve as a top setup man ahead of closer Paul Sewald when he's healthy.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo will not be pitching for the Dominican Republic in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, according to president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto. "It's a choice that we made together," Dipoto said. The 30-year-old right-hander was a huge asset for the Mariners in the second half of last season after they acquired him from the Cincinnati Reds at the trade deadline. The two-time All-Star was 4-2 with a 3.17 ERA (2.91 FIP), 1.10 WHIP and 29 percent strikeout rate in 11 regular season starts for the Mariners. With a full and normal spring training heading into his first full season with the M's, fantasy managers should feel confident that he will produce strong numbers yet again. RotoBaller currently has Castillo ranked as the No. 18 fantasy starter.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Diego Castillo lost his salary arbitration case against the team on Wednesday, according to a source. Castillo will make $2.95 million in 2023, instead of the $3.225 million he filed for. In his first full season with the Mariners in 2022, Castillo went 7-3 with a 3.64 ERA (3.68 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, seven saves, 22 walks and 53 strikeouts in 54 1/3 relief innings over 59 appearances out of the bullpen. The 29-year-old right-hander could see a handful of save chances again in 2023, but he'll mostly be serving as a late-inning setup man in Seattle's bullpen alongside Andres Munoz. Paul Sewald is coming off injury, but he's projected to begin the year as the M's primary closer.

The ex-girlfriend of New York Mets outfielder Khalil Lee is alleging that Lee physically and verbally abused her in Syracuse last year. The 24-year-old Lee is named in a warrant issued for criminal obstruction of breath, a charge often associated with domestic incidents. Keriwyn Hill alleges that Lee assaulted her on May 7, 2022, by pulling her hair and choking her during an argument. She said the assault left multiple bruises and marks on her body. It remains to be seen if this incident will lead to a suspension for Lee, but Major League Baseball will surely investigate the matter. Lee played in only two games for the Mets last season and has played in just 13 big-league games in the last two years, going 2-for-20 with a homer, four RBI and 13 strikeouts.

The Cincinnati Reds signed infielder/outfielder Jason Vosler to a minor-league deal on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Vosler signed with the Seattle Mariners late last month but was granted his release last weekend in order to join the Reds. The 29-year-old played in 36 games for the San Francisco Giants in his second MLB season last year, going 26-for-98 (.265) with four home runs, 12 RBI, 14 runs scored and a stolen base in 111 plate appearances. Vosler has little major-league experience, but he stands a much better chance of making and sticking on Cincinnati's big-league roster in 2023 than he did in Seattle.

The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided arbitration with starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin on Tuesday by agreeing to a two-year, $6.65 million deal. Per the agreement, Gonsolin will be paid $3.25 million in 2023 and $3.4 million in 2024, with built-in incentives around how many starts he makes in 2024. The 28-year-old had an All-Star 2022 season, going 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 23.9% strikeout rate in 24 starts and 130 1/3 innings pitched. However, Gonsolin did miss almost two months with a right forearm injury, and he dealt with right shoulder injuries in 2021. Given his career numbers and the strong offense supporting him, Gonsolin should be a solid fantasy contributor in all formats as long as he is healthy.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed free-agent right-hander Matt Andriese to a minor-league deal on Tuesday. Andriese had a strong 2.86 ERA in 63 innings pitched for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan last year and will return to the States hoping to win an Opening Day roster spot with LA. The 33-year-old was more of a starter earlier in his career, but he last started a game in the big leagues in 2020 with the Los Angeles Angels, and it was only one start. In 2021 with the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners, Andriese had a 5.21 ERA (4.04 FIP), 1.61 WHIP, one save, 13 walks and 50 strikeouts in 48 1/3 relief innings over 34 appearances. Andriese is well off the fantasy radar entering the 2023 campaign.

The Tampa Bay Rays finalized a three-year, $24 million contract extension with infielder Yandy Diaz on Tuesday. Diaz will earn $6 million in 2023, $8 million in 2024 and $10 million in 2025. The Rays will also have a $12 million option for 2026 that doesn't include a buyout. The 31-year-old Cuban corner infielder should be a solid source of runs, average and on-base percentage near the top of Tampa's lineup again in 2023. He finished his sixth year in the majors and fourth with the Rays in 2022 by slashing .296/.401/.423 with a career-high .824 OPS, nine home runs, 57 RBI, 71 runs scored and three stolen bases in 137 games. Diaz is not flashy by any means and doesn't have a ton of power, but he's a nice complementary piece for fantasy managers as a corner infield option.

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed free-agent second baseman Yairo Munoz to a minor-league deal on Monday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Munoz was with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022 and played in 29 major-league games, going 12-for-57 (.211) with three home runs, seven RBI, seven runs scored and one stolen base. The 28-year-old has a career slash line of .268/.319/.396 with a .716 OPS, 14 home runs, 66 RBI, 72 runs scored and 16 stolen bases in five major-league seasons with the Phillies, Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. Munoz could certainly carve out a utility infield role with Arizona this season, but he's unlikely to make much of a fantasy impact, even in the deepest of NL-only leagues.

The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent infielder Adeiny Hechavarria to a minor-league deal on Monday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. The Braves also signed right-handers Daniel Martinez, Nolan Martinez, Zach Mort and Jon Olczack, left-handers Brian Moran and Domingo Robles and outfielders Kevin Pillar, Magneuris Sierra and Forrest Wall. The 33-year-old Hechavarria spent the last two years in Japan playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines. The utility infielder from Cuba last played in the big leagues in 2020 with the Braves and hit .254/.302/.305 with a .607 OPS, no homers, two RBI and seven runs scored in just 27 games. Hechavarria will strictly serve as infield depth for Atlanta and won't be on the fantasy radar.

The Chicago White Sox claimed reliever A.J. Alexy off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on Monday. Alexy had recently been designated assignment by the Twins in order to make room for recently acquired outfielder Michael Taylor. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed nine earned runs on 10 hits while walking nine and striking out six in just seven relief innings over four appearances for the Texas Rangers last year in just his second MLB season. There's no guarantee that he'll make the White Sox's Opening Day roster out of spring training, but he'll offer them relief depth to open the year. In his two MLB campaigns with Texas, Alexy has a 6.30 ERA (6.49 FIP), 1.63 WHIP, 26 walks and 23 strikeouts in nine appearances (four starts).

The Detroit Tigers signed free-agent center fielder Jonathan Davis to a minor-league deal on Monday. The deal includes an invite to big-league spring camp. The 30-year-old has played in 171 games in parts of five major-league seasons for three teams. He hit .224 with a .344 on-base percentage in 37 games with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022. Davis also had no home runs, four RBI, nine runs scored and a career-high seven stolen bases in 91 plate appearances. He will have to show out in spring training and impress the coaching staff to have a shot at making the Opening Day roster as outfield depth. In his five MLB seasons, Davis has only four home runs, 20 RBI, 44 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 350 plate appearances.

Free-agent catcher Roberto Perez signed an undisclosed deal with the San Francisco Giants over the weekend, according to a source. Perez only played in 21 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022 and hit .233/.333/.367 with a .700 OPS, two home runs, eight RBI and eight runs scored. The 34-year-old suffered a season-ending torn right hamstring, but he should be healthy for this year. Perez could stand a decent chance of backing up Joey Bart in 2023, but he won't really be on the fantasy radar, even in deeper leagues. In his nine-year major-league career, Perez has a .207/.298/.360 slash line with a .658 OPS, 55 home runs and 192 RBI. He's never come remotely close to replicating his 2019 season with the Cleveland Guardians, when he hit .239 with a career-high 24 home runs and 63 RBI.

The Seattle Mariners released third baseman Jason Vosler over the weekend. The 29-year-old infielder only spent 10 days with the organization, but he may have other opportunities. Vosler played in 36 games for the Giants in 2022 and hit .265/.342/.469 with an .812 OPS, four home runs, 12 RBI, 14 runs scored and a stolen base in 111 plate appearances. In two MLB seasons (both with San Francisco), he's slashed .228/.306/.421 with a .727 OPS, seven long balls, 21 RBI, 26 runs scored and three stolen bases in just 77 games played. Wherever Vosler lands, he'll be well off the fantasy radar for the 2023 season.