The Texas Rangers are making progress on a local TV deal this offseason and now seem likely to be back in play to re-sign left-hander Jordan Montgomery and make a run at free-agent lefty closer Josh Hader. The Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels are possibilities for Montgomery if he doesn't return to the World Series champions. Hader, meanwhile, has been connected more to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Montgomery has also been linked to the New York Yankees, where he spent the first six years of his career. The 31-year-old was a huge midseason acquisition for Texas in 2023, as he had a strong 2.79 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 11 regular season starts for the Rangers late in the year. Hader would immediately become Texas' primary closer as one of the most dominant left-handed arms in all of baseball.

The New York Mets claimed infielder Diego Castillo off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. Castillo was dropped from Arizona's 40-man roster this offseason when the team re-signed Lourdes Gurriel Jr. He had just one plate appearance at the major-league level with the Snakes in 2023 after hitting .206 (54-for-262) with 11 home runs, 29 RBI and 28 runs scored in 96 games in his rookie year with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022. The 26-year-old Venezuelan infielder hit an impressive .313 (142-for-454) at Triple-A Reno, adding only three home runs, 72 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 124 games. Castillo will mostly likely open the 2024 season at Triple-A Syracuse as infield depth for the Mets.

The Colorado Rockies are expected to sign free-agent catcher Jacob Stallings and right-hander Dakota Hudson to undisclosed one-year deals on Friday, according to a source. Both Stallings and Hudson were non-tendered by the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively. Stallings should serve as the backup to Elias Diaz in 2024 after hitting .210/.287/.290 with seven home runs and 54 RBI in 202 games for the Fish the last two seasons. Hudson had a 4.64 ERA (4.60 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with a weak 13 percent strikeout rate in his last two seasons with the Cardinals over 221 innings and 45 outings (38 starts). The 29-year-old has a good shot to open the 2024 season in Colorado's starting rotation, but Coors Field isn't usually a place where pitchers go to turn things around.

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired left-handed-hitting outfielder Richie Palacios from the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday in exchange for right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge, according to a source. Palacios made his debut for the Cardinals in 2023 when he was promoted on Aug. 18, and he posted an impressive .823 OPS with six home runs and 16 RBI in 102 plate appearances over 32 games to close out the year. In his rookie season in 2022, the 26-year-old hit .232 (26-for-112) with no homers and 10 RBI in 54 games for the Cleveland Guardians. He'll effectively be replacing Luke Raley, who was shipped to the Seattle Mariners on Friday, as a lefty hitting outfield bat for Tampa in 2024. But with Randy Arozarena, Jose Siri and Josh Lowe serving as regulars, Palacios should open the year as more of a fourth outfielder that will get bats here and there against right-handers.

The St. Louis Cardinals acquired relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge from the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday in exchange for outfielder Richie Palacios, according to a source. Kittredge returned from Tommy John surgery in August of 2023 and was able to hold opponents to a .683 OPS in his 14 relief appearances for Tampa. The 33-year-old right-hander was an All-Star in 2021, when he had a 1.88 ERA (3.04 FIP) and 0.98 WHIP with a career-high eight saves and career-high 77 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings over 57 outings (four starts). Kittredge won't be a favorite saves in St. Louis -- that falls to Ryan Helsley -- but he'll remain in a high-leverage role and is a solid acquisition for a Cardinals bullpen that really let them down this past season. Kittredge should be relevant in deep holds leagues if he can stay healthy.