New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that first baseman Anthony Rizzo (concussion) is currently cleared from the concussion he suffered last year and that doctors aren't concerned about symptoms returning. Rizzo was probably fine to play in games at the end of the regular season, but the Yankees weren't going to put him in harm's way with their chance at the playoffs already over. The left-handed slugger was limited to 99 games because of his head injury last year, and he didn't play after August. The 34-year-old veteran played through the concussion before eventually being shut down, too, and he finished with a .244 average (91-for-373) with only 12 home runs and 41 RBI. If Rizzo's concussion issues are truly behind him, he could be a decent late-round value pick in a Yankees lineup that should be stronger in 2024.

The Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox are in the bidding for free-agent outfielder Adam Duvall, and unless another team comes in late, he's likely to pick between the Angels and Red Sox. Duvall spent the 2023 season with the Red Sox, so a return to Beantown seems like a good move after he hit .247/.303/.531 with an .834 OPS, 21 home runs, 24 doubles, two triples, 58 RBI, four stolen bases and 45 runs scored in only 92 games due to injuries. On-base percentage and batting average aren't Duvall's forte because of his free-swinging ways, but he still is an intriguing power bat for fantasy managers as outfield depth. The 35-year-old veteran has 184 career home runs in 10 major-league seasons to go along with a strong .763 OPS over 922 games played. Boston would be the best landing spot for fantasy purposes in 2024.

Despite already having one of the best closers in postseason history in right-hander Ryan Pressly, the Houston Astros are trying to sign free-agent left-hander Josh Hader, who is considered perhaps the best closer in baseball. According to sources briefed on their discussions, the Astros are making a push for the 29-year-old southpaw who has been seeking a contract in excess of Mets closer Edwin Diaz's five-year, $102 million deal, which was the largest ever for a reliever. The addition of Hader would help boost a bullpen that won't have Kendall Graveman (shoulder) for the entire season. Houston has wanted Hader since the trade deadline in 2023, but adding him now would raise questions about how first-year manager Joe Espada would handle the closer role. If Hader is added on a huge deal, it's likely that he'd serve as the primary closer, with Pressly moving to a setup role.

The Detroit Tigers have claimed right-hander Devin Sweet off waivers from the San Francisco Giants and subsequently designated infielder Tyler Nevin for assignment. Sweet, 27, made his big-league debut with the Mariners and A's in the 2023 season, allowing 10 earned runs on 10 hits and six walks against six strikeouts across just 8 2/3 frames between the two clubs. He spent the bulk of the season at Double-A within the Mariners organization, tossing a stealth 1.54 ERA alongside a massive 28.7% K-BB% in 27 relief outings. Nevin, 26, appeared in 41 games with the Tigers last season but hit just .200 with two home runs and a .622 OPS across 111 plate appearances. He's a lifetime .203 hitter with five homers and a .611 OPS across 313 big-league plate appearances between the Tigers and Baltimore Orioles.

The Cincinnati Reds have signed left-hander Tyler Gilbert to a minor-league deal with an invite to big-league spring training. The 30-year-old appeared with the Arizona Diamondbacks in each of the last two seasons, working to a combined 4.32 ERA, 9.6% K-BB%, and 36.9% ground-ball rate in that time. Thirteen of his 28 appearances in the majors have been starts as he owns a 4.39 ERA across 67 2/3 innings as a starter and a 4.13 ERA across 24 frames out of the bullpen. However, all 11 of his MLB appearances last season came as a reliever as he posted a 5.19 ERA in 17 1/3 in the majors to pair with a 5.30 ERA across 30 outings (seven starts) with Triple-A Reno.