Free-agent first baseman Joey Votto said he's feeling better physically than he has in years after two months of rehab and strength training since the end of the 2023 season and believes that will be seen on the field, saying he's made "major improvements." Votto hasn't really gotten any bites in his first foray into free agency after spending 17 years with the Cincinnati Reds, though. The Reds have an abundance of infielders and multiple players who can split time at first base, so they have moved on from Votto. But the 40-year-old Canadian still thinks there's a place for him in the league, if only for his ability to hit right-handers -- he's hit .310/.418/.532 against them. Votto's last productive season was in 2021, when he surprisingly hit 36 homers. His days as an everyday player are likely over, and his best bet is to take a discount to return home to Toronto to play for the Blue Jays.

Free-agent left-hander Danny Young signed a minor-league deal with the New York Mets on Friday, according to a source. Young will be invited to big-league spring training and would earn $825,000 if he's in the majors in 2024. The 29-year-old southpaw gave up one run in 11 innings pitched with two walks and 12 strikeouts with the Atlanta Braves over the last two seasons but missed most of 2023 due to hip surgery. Overall in his time in the majors, Young has a 2.45 ERA (four earned runs allowed in 14 2/3 innings) and 1.50 WHIP with four walks and 17 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings for the Braves and Seattle Mariners over two seasons. Young will provide minor-league left-handed relief depth for the Mets to open the 2024 campaign.

The Chicago White Sox signed free-agent outfielder Rafael Ortega to a minor-league deal. Ortega spent most of his time in 2023 in the minors with the New York Mets and Texas Rangers but also played in 47 games with the Mets, going 25-for-114 (.219) with a home run, eight RBI and six stolen bases in 136 plate appearances. The 32-year-old could get some run with the rebuilding White Sox in 2024 given their lack of outfield depth, but Ortega can probably be ignored in the vast majority of fantasy leagues. In seven major-league seasons with the Rockies, Angels, Marlins, Braves, Cubs and Mets, he has a .247 career batting average with 22 home runs, 109 RBI, 47 stolen bases and 136 runs scored in 411 games played.

The Atlanta Braves signed Charlie Culberson to a minor-league deal on Friday as a pitcher. The 34-year-old former infielder/outfielder is returning to the Braves after playing in just one game at the major-league level for them in 2023. He also spent three seasons in Atlanta from 2018-20, hitting .265/.314/.454 with 17 home runs and 66 RBI in 230 games played. Culberson has actually thrown 7 1/3 innings in his big-league career in mop-up duty and only allowed one run, so perhaps there's something there. It will be an interesting storyline for the Braves in spring training in 2024, but Culberson will almost certainly begin the year in the minor leagues and will be a long shot to become fantasy relevant, let alone pitch out of the Braves' bullpen.

The San Diego Padres have considered re-signing catcher Gary Sanchez, but there is a big gap in contract talks. Sanchez kept the Padres' offense afloat in the middle of last season and was one of their biggest offensive contributors despite not even starting the year with the club. Despite the strong season for the Friars, the Padres were fully expected to move on from Sanchez heading into 2024, especially after they acquired Kyle Higashioka from the New York Yankees in the blockbuster deal involving outfielder Juan Soto. If he can stay healthy, Luis Campusano has a clear path to regular catching duties this season. Sanchez hit 19 home runs and had a .780 OPS in just 75 games in 2023 but finished the season on the injured list due to a fractured wrist. He'll most likely be looking at a part-time role in 2024 with whichever team signs him.