USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Monday that the Los Angeles Angels have "strong interest" in free-agent relief pitcher Zack Britton if his price tag were to drop. The 35-year-old lefty was one of baseball's better relief pitchers from 2014-2020 with the Orioles and Yankees. However, a number of injuries limited Britton to just 19 innings pitched between the 2021-22 seasons. The Angels have already somewhat bolstered their bullpen this offseason by signing Carlos Estevez, and health is a concern for Britton. However, given his experience as a closer and track record of solid pitching, he could have a shot to see considerable save opportunities if he were to join the Angels, which would instantly make him fantasy relevant.

The Washington Nationals signed free-agent reliever Alexander Colome to a minor-league deal on Friday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. The Nationals have had plenty of interest in Colome before, including advanced trade talks with the Chicago White Sox at the 2019 trade deadline. The 34-year-old right-hander was an All-Star back in 2016 with the Tampa Bay Rays when he had a 1.91 ERA and 37 saves, but he's no longer in his prime heading into his 11th big-league campaign. In 47 relief innings for the Colorado Rockies in 2022, he posted a career-worst 5.74 ERA (4.54 FIP), 1.68 WHIP, four saves and 14.9 percent strikeout rate. Colome does have 159 career saves, but he's unlikely to pitch in too many high-leverage situations for the Nats if he makes the team out of spring training.

MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reported Monday that New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks will likely be the team's starting left fielder for the 2023 season. General manager Brian Cashman said of Hicks, "I suspect he will be the guy that emerges, because he's still really talented and everything's there." The 33-year-old has spent much of his career with the Yankees in a platoon role and slashed an uninspiring .216/.330/.313with eight home runs, 40 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 453 plate appearances in 2022. While the Yankees do have a strong lineup overall, Hicks' speed and benefit of hitting in that lineup do not provide enough to make him a compelling fantasy option, except perhaps in deep five-outfielder leagues.

The Milwaukee Brewers have reportedly designated first baseman Jon Singleton for assignment on Monday, per a tweet from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Curt Hogg. Per Hogg's tweet, Singleton was designated for assignment to open up a 40-man roster space for new signing Brian Anderson. Singleton appeared in 134 games for Milwaukee's Triple-A club this past season, hitting .219 with a .375 on-base percentage, 24 home runs, and three stolen bases in 581 plate appearances. As of now, Milwaukee's options at first base include Rowdy Tellez, Owen Miller, Keston Hiura, Brian Anderson, and Josh VanMeter.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that left-hander Chris Sale (wrist) has thrown off a mound this offseason. Sale just has not been able to stay healthy for Boston in the last few seasons. He got a late start to 2022 and then broke his wrist in a bicycle accident in August. The 33-year-old southpaw only ended up making two starts for the Red Sox, but it sounds like he's getting his work in this offseason. However, we have no idea if Sale will be ready for the 2023 regular season, and quite honestly, fantasy managers shouldn't be holding their breath. The seven-time All-Star has had plenty of swing-and-miss stuff when healthy (career 11.1 K/9), but the injury risk now far outweighs the rewards with Sale.

Right-handed pitcher Adam Warren announced his retirement from professional baseball on Wednesday after eight seasons. Warren last pitched in the majors with the San Diego Padres in 2019 and hadn't pitched since due to a shoulder injury and Tommy John surgery. The 35-year-old began his MLB career in 2012 with the New York Yankees and spent seven of his eight seasons pitching in pinstripes. He had a decent career in mostly a relief role, posting a 3.53 ERA (4.02 FIP), 1.23 WHIP, six saves and 20.9 percent strikeout rate in 492 1/3 innings pitched over 323 appearances (21 starts) in the regular season.

Right-handed pitcher David Phelps officially announced his retirement from professional baseball. The 36-year-old reliever spent 10 years in the big leagues, three each with the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays. He finished up the 2022 season in Toronto with a strong 2.83 ERA (3.16 FIP), 1.30 WHIP, one save, 31 walks and 64 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings over 65 appearances (one start). Phelps made the decision to hang up his cleats after having surgery to reattach his lat muscle to his right shoulder. Over the span of his 10-year career, Phelps went 34-40 with a 3.80 ERA (3.87 FIP), 1.31 WHIP, seven saves and 22.9 percent strikeout rate in 682 2/3 innings thrown in the regular season.

The Atlanta Braves agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran outfielder Kevin Pillar on Wednesday, according to a source. Pillar will earn $3 million if he makes the big-league roster. The deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Pillar only played four games for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season and eventually had left shoulder surgery in June. In his last full season with the New York Mets in 2021, he slashed .231/.277/.415 with a .692 OPS, 15 home runs, 47 RBI, 40 runs scored and four stolen bases in 347 plate appearances and 124 games. The 34-year-old defensive stalwart is nearing the end of his career and is unlikely to have much fantasy value at all if he's in the big leagues in 2023 with Atlanta.

The San Diego Padres and free-agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal on Wednesday, pending a physical, according to sources familiar with the deal. Cruz wants to win a World Series ring and was willing to take less money to play for a contender. He is also familiar with general manager AJ Preller from their days in the Texas Rangers organization. Boomstick looked his age (42) in 2022 with the Washington Nationals, hitting .234/.313/.337 with only 10 home runs, 64 RBI, 50 runs scored, four stolen bases and a 23.6% strikeout rate. Cruz ended the year on the injured list and eventually needed surgery on his left eye, but he should be good to go for the start of the 2023 season. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect a whole lot from the seven-time All-Star in what is likely to be his final season, but he could provide some modest power numbers as a part-time DH in his new digs.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Tuesday that the New York Mets are among the teams interested in free-agent relief pitcher Zack Britton. Britton was managed by current Mets manager Buck Showalter with the Baltimore Orioles and also has a close relationship with new Mets coach Dom Chiti. Britton has been a reliable high-leverage bullpen arm throughout his career, but he pitched just two-thirds of an inning in 2022 with the Yankees, as he spent the majority of the season recovering from left elbow UCL reconstruction. As a solid left-handed arm, it makes sense that competitive teams would be interested in adding him to their bullpen, although he would likely hold little fantasy value if he did join the Mets.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Tuesday that the San Diego Padres are among the teams interested in free-agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz. Padres general manager AJ Preller and Cruz were both with the Texas Rangers organization earlier in their careers. The 42-year-old finally took a step back in 2022, slashing .234/.313/.337 with 10 home runs and 64 RBI in 507 plate appearances. However, until 2022, Cruz had managed to hit for elite power late into his career and still hit the ball harder than most during his down season. His DH-only eligibility limits his fantasy value beyond the potential production decline, but there may still be something left in the tank for Cruz.

The San Diego Padres agreed to a minor-league deal with free-agent right-hander Wilmer Font on Thursday. The deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Font returns to the big leagues after posting a 3.03 ERA with a 24.5 percent strikeout rate over 28 starts in Korea over the last two seasons for the SSG Landers of the Korea Baseball Organization. The 32-year-old will likely stay stretched out this spring in order to give the Friars some more back-end rotation depth in case Nick Martinez and Seth Lugo don't pan out. In parts of six major-league seasons with the Rays, Dodgers, Rangers, Blue Jays, Mets and A's, Font had a 5.82 ERA (5.41 FIP), 1.48 WHIP and 22.3 percent strikeout rate in 151 2/3 frames over 96 outings (22 starts).

The Atlanta Braves acquired left-hander Lucas Luetge from the New York Yankees on Wednesday in exchange for minor-league right-hander Indigo Diaz and infielder Caleb Durbin. To make room on their 40-man roster, the Braves designated infielder Lewin Diaz for assignment. Luetge finds a new home after he was designated for assignment by the Yanks last week. The 35-year-old southpaw reliever was sharp in 57 1/3 relief innings in the Bronx last season, posting a 2.67 ERA (3.02 FIP), 1.39 WHIP, two saves and a 23.9 percent strikeout rate in his 50 appearances out of the bullpen. He also had a sub-3.00 ERA for the Yanks in 2021, but before that he hadn't pitched in the big leagues since 2015 for the Seattle Mariners. Luetge will have a shot to give Atlanta some left-handed relief depth in 2023.

The Cincinnati Reds signed free-agent catcher Austin Romine and right-hander Alan Busenitz to minor-league deals on Tuesday that include invitations to major-league spring training. Romine, an 11-year veteran, hit just .155/.187/.248 with three home runs, nine RBI and 10 runs scored in 51 games with the Los Angeles Angels, St. Louis Cardinals and Reds in 2022. The 34-year-old backstop will provide organizational depth with a career slash line of .230/.268/.348 in 484 games. Busenitz, a 32-year-old right-handed reliever hasn't appeared in the majors since 2018. In his two years with the Minnesota Twins, he had a 4.58 ERA (5.49 FIP), 1.44 WHIP and 49 strikeouts in 57 innings over 51 relief appearances. He pitched much better in Japan the last four years, but Busenitz will strictly be organizational relief depth.

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.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale has been on the radar of a few clubs around the league. The oft-injured 33-year-old started two games last season (and 11 in the previous three years), posting an 0-1 record along with a 3.18 ERA and five strikeouts. Sale has two years left on his current contract and has a no-trade clause. As a result, moving the veteran may be challenging, even if the team was actively looking to deal him. While it's apparent Sale's best days are well behind him, he could have plenty of quality outings left in the tank if he can remain healthy moving ahead.

The Chicago White Sox are saying that while they might be listening on trade offers, their current plan is to retain All-Star closer Liam Hendriks in hopes that they can bounce back and win the American League Central in 2023. The New York Mets reportedly have been feeling out the White Sox for a potential acquisition of Hendriks to use as a high-leverage setup man in front of All-Star closer Edwin Diaz. But it's looking more likely that Hendriks will remain in Chicago for the start of next season after making the All-Star team for the second straight season in 2022. He had a 2.81 ERA (2.68 FIP), a 1.04 WHIP, 37 saves and a 36.2 percent strikeout rate in 57 2/3 relief innings. Hendriks has 75 saves in his first two years with the Pale Hose and will remain an elite fantasy closer if he stays with the Sox.

The New York Mets are among the teams showing interest in Chicago White Sox All-Star closer Liam Hendriks, according to a source. If the Mets were able to land Hendriks, they'd have the best back end of a bullpen in baseball with Hendriks and Edwin Diaz. Hendriks has posted a 2.66 ERA, 75 saves, a 0.87 WHIP and a 13.8 K/9 in his two seasons for the White Sox and is one of the best all-around relievers in the game. If he were traded to New York, Hendriks would likely be the one losing a ton of fantasy value, with Diaz staying in the closer's role. And back in Chicago, a departure of Hendriks would open up save opportunities for Kendall Graveman and Aaron Bummer.