The San Francisco Giants acquired outfielder Cooper Hummel from the New York Mets on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations. The Mets had claimed Hummel off waivers earlier in the offseason and then designated Hummel for assignment. Hummel played in only 10 major-league games for the Seattle Mariners in 2023 and went 2-for-23 (.087) with a double, stolen base and two runs scored. The 29-year-old slashed .262/.409/.435 with an .844 OPS, eight home runs, 47 RBI and 26 stolen bases in 104 games with Triple-A Tacoma in the minor leagues last year. He has gone 33-for-199 (.166) with only three home runs and 17 RBI in 76 major-league games with the M's and Arizona Diamondbacks in the last two seasons. Expect Hummel to provide minor-league outfield depth for the Gigantes in 2024.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez will "be an everyday guy" in his first year with the team in 2024, according to general manager Brandon Gomes. The Dodgers added Hernandez on a one-year, $23.5 million deal this offseason following a disappointing 2023 campaign with the Seattle Mariners in which he slashed .258/.305/.435 with 26 hoe runs, 29 doubles, two triples, 93 RBI, seven stolen bases and 70 runs scored in 160 games played. An everyday role in a much better lineup is going to raise the 31-year-old's fantasy draft price by itself. Despite decent counting stats for Seattle last season, Hernandez posted the lowest OPS (.740) since his rookie year and he struck out 31 percent of the time. Moving out of a pitcher-friendly park in Seattle should help him bounce back for the Dodgers. Hernandez is a buy candidate with 30-homer potential.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Jonathan Aranda could see additional playing time at designated hitter for the club in 2024 now that Luke Raley is in Seattle. Aranda doesn't play the outfield, but he's a left-handed hitter, and the Rays want to create an opportunity for Aranda to prove himself after he dominated Triple-A pitching the last few years. Given Aranda's defensive limitations, it will be hard for him to crack the Rays' infield, so his best path to more playing time will be DH duties on a more regular basis. Tampa could also look to create more of a role for Curtis Mead, MLB Pipeline's No. 34 overall prospect. The 25-year-old Aranda has 43 homers in the last two years at Triple-A Durham, but he's hit just .212/.311/.346 in 190 big-league plate appearances the last two seasons. There's intriguing power potential in his bat, but his lack of positional versatility merely will make him a bench bat for fantasy managers in 2024 drafts.

Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said it's "unlikely" shortstop Taylor Walls (hip) will be ready for Opening Day after having right-hip surgery this offseason. The Rays don't know what will happen with Wander Franco, who remains under investigation in the Dominican Republic. Jose Caballero, who was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, can play multiple positions and provides value with his defense, baserunning and willingness to find ways to get on base. Right now, Caballero looks like Tampa's Opening Day shortstop, which will put less pressure on Wall's rehab, young infielder Osleivis Basabe or top prospect Junior Caminero. The 27-year-old has little power to speak of but hit lefties well in 2023 and will be valuable in deeper mixed fantasy leagues for his speed.

The Washington Nationals hired former left-handed relief pitcher Sean Doolittle as a pitching strategist on Tuesday. The former two-time All-Star and World Series winner will serve as a liaison between the analytics department and pitching staff while also assisting the manager and pitching coach with strategy, mental preparation and mechanics for the team's pitching staff. The 37-year-old southpaw spent six years in D.C. with the Nats but retired last year after an 11-year big-league career. Doolittle ranks tied for third in Nationals history with 75 saves, and his 153 relief appearances are second-most by a Nationals pitcher since 2017 and 13th-most in Nationals history. He won the World Series in 2019 and finished his career going 26-24 with 112 saves, a 3.20 ERA and 522 K's in 450 2/3 innings pitched.