Cody Bellinger OF NYY Wed 1/21/26 1:31 PM
Cody Bellinger
OF NYY
The Yankees re-signed Bellinger to a five-year, $162.5 million contract Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
There are opt-outs after the second and third years of the contract, and Bellinger also received a $20 million signing bonus along with a full no-trade clause. Re-signing Bellinger has been the Yankees' biggest offseason priority, and they have finally got a deal across the finish line after months of negotiations. It's the best-case scenario for the fantasy value of Bellinger, whose swing is tailor made for Yankee Stadium. The 30-year-old slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 home runs, 98 RBI and 13 stolen bases over 152 regular-season games in 2025, which included a .302/.365/.544 batting line and 18 long balls at home. With Bellinger sticking around as the Yankees' primary left fielder, Jasson Dominguez is now without a clear spot in the everyday lineup.
Andrew Painter P PHI Wed 1/21/26 1:21 PM
Andrew Painter
P PHI
The Phillies hope Painter will be part of their Opening Day rotation, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola are locked into the Opening Day rotation, but there's a good chance the Phillies will have two open spots if Zack Wheeler (shoulder) isn't quite ready. Taijuan Walker and Painter are considered the favorites to fill those last two slots. Painter didn't have great results in 2025 in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, holding a 5.26 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 123:47 K:BB over 118 innings covering 26 starts between Single-A Clearwater and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. However, the top prospect's stuff was intact, and the fact that he was able to get to nearly 120 innings was encouraging. Painter was added to the 40-man roster this offseason, and while he will have to pitch well in spring training, he stands a good chance of heading north with the big club.
Luisangel Acuña 2B CWS Wed 1/21/26 12:05 PM
Luisangel Acuña
2B CWS
White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Wednesday that Acuna will be given "runway to show off his talent, ability and ceiling," Brooke Fletcher of the Chicago Sports Network reports.
EDGE Analysis
Acuna is the key piece acquired from the Mets in a trade that sent Luis Robert to New York. Getz's words suggest the White Sox plan to play Acuna every day in 2026, though it's unclear if it will be at one or a variety of positions. Acuna is primarily an infielder, but he's played lots of center field, as well, and it's possible he could slide into that spot as Robert's replacement. While he's slashed only .248/.299/.341 so far at the big-league level, Acuna is 16-for-18 in stolen-base attempts in limited time, and it's in the speed department where he could be a fantasy asset in 2026. Acuna will turn 24 in March.
Vidal Bruján SS/3B MIN Wed 1/21/26 10:02 AM
Vidal Bruján
SS/3B MIN
The Twins designated Brujan for assignment Wednesday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.
EDGE Analysis
Just one week after being claimed off waivers, Brujan is off the 40-man roster in favor of Tristan Gray, who was acquired via trade from the Red Sox on Wednesday. The defensively-versatile Brujan is a career .199/.267/.276 hitter across parts of five seasons.
Tristan Gray 2B MIN Wed 1/21/26 9:13 AM
Tristan Gray
2B MIN
The Twins acquired Gray from the Red Sox on Wednesday in exchange for Nate Baez, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
It's the second time this offseason that Gray has been traded, as he was dealt from the Rays to the Red Sox in November. The 29-year-old has slashed .207/.264/.369 over parts of three big-league seasons and he is capable of playing all four infield spots. Gray will compete for a reserve role in Minnesota.
Luisangel Acuña 2B CWS Tue 1/20/26 11:40 PM
Luisangel Acuña
2B CWS
The Mets traded Acuna and Truman Pauley to the White Sox on Tuesday in exchange for Luis Robert, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Acuna opened 2025 as the Mets' starting second baseman but gradually saw his playing time disappear while slashing .234/.293/.274 over 193 plate appearances. Moving to the White Sox will help his chances of sticking around in the big leagues, though he'll still face some competition for playing time at the keystone from Chase Meidroth.
Luis Robert CF NYM Tue 1/20/26 11:31 PM
Luis Robert
CF NYM
The White Sox traded Robert to the Mets on Tuesday in exchange for Luisangel Acuna and Truman Pauley, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Although he finished the 2025 campaign with a .661 OPS, Robert showed flashes of returning to his 2023 form by slashing .298/.352/.456 across 125 plate appearances after the All-Star break before a hamstring strain ended his season in late August. He also delivered his most productive season on the basepaths, tallying a career-high 33 stolen bases despite missing the final month of the year. With Jeff McNeil (shoulder), Brandon Nimmo and Cedric Mullins all having departed Queens this offseason, Robert figures to have a clear path to starting in center field every day for the Mets.
Ryan Fitzgerald 2B/SS/3B LAD Tue 1/20/26 9:21 PM
Ryan Fitzgerald
2B/SS/3B LAD
Fitzgerald cleared waivers Tuesday and was sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
EDGE Analysis
Fitzgerald was booted off the Dodgers' 40-man roster last Tuesday, but he will officially remain with the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 31-year-old infielder made his MLB debut last year and slashed .196/.302/.457 with four homers in 24 games with the Twins. He'll likely spend the vast majority of 2026 in Triple-A.
Phil Bickford RP FA Tue 1/20/26 7:48 PM
Phil Bickford
RP FA
Bickford signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Tuesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Bickford spent time with the Cubs' and Phillies' Triple-A affiliates in 2025, posting a 3.38 ERA and 0.98 WHIP to go with a 54:17 K:BB across 48 total innings. The 30-year-old righty will likely spend the majority of 2026 at Triple-A Toledo but could return to the big leagues if he continues to find success in the minors.
OUTJosh Sborz RP TEX Tue 1/20/26 4:57 PM
OUTJosh Sborz
RP TEX
The Rangers re-signed Sborz (shoulder) to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training.
EDGE Analysis
After being non-tendered by the Rangers in November, Sborz is now back in the fold on a minor-league deal. The 32-year-old missed much of the 2025 season while recuperating from shoulder surgery and was eventually shut down in September due to poor velocity and results during his rehab assignment. It's unclear whether Sborz will have any restrictions at the beginning of spring training.