The Milwaukee Brewers are finalizing a two-year, $34 million deal with free-agent first baseman Rhys Hoskins, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Tuesday. The Brewers have not confirmed the deal, and another source told MLB.com that the sides were still working on final details. If completed, the Brewers would fill their gap of a power bat at first while providing the 30-year-old a chance to redeem himself, as he missed all of the 2023 season with the Phillies after tearing his left ACL in spring training. Hoskins owns a .242/.353/.492 career slash line and hit 30 home runs in 2022 with the Phillies, so he would fit nicely with the Brewers from a fantasy perspective. The key will be seeing if Hoskins can rebound from his injury and still provide high-end power.

Free-agent reliever Jay Jackson has drawn interest from 14 teams throughout the offseason, and there is growing optimism that he will receive a major-league deal, according to a source. The 36-year-old right-hander posted a 2.12 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023. In his five major-league campaigns with the Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers, he's had a 3.50 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings pitched. He became a free agent when he rejected an outright assignment to Triple-A Buffalo in November. Depending on where he lands, Jackson could have some appeal in deep fantasy leagues that reward points for holds.

Free-agent right-handers Noah Syndergaard and Michael Lorenzen threw bullpen sessions for around 16 MLB teams in California on Tuesday, according to sources. Both players were impressive, with Syndergaard consistently sitting at 93-95 mph. Syndergaard, 31, had a rough 6.50 ERA in 88 2/3 innings with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians in 2023 and is a candidate to receive a one-year, prove-it deal. He's drawing interest from the Pittsburgh Pirates, among others. Lorenzen, 32, had a 3.58 ERA in 105 2/3 innings with the Detroit Tigers last year and threw a no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies after being traded to the National League, but he had a 5.51 ERA in 11 games (seven starts) for the Phils and was moved to the bullpen late in the season.

Newly signed right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson said that he doesn't expect to fill in for closing duties in 2024, but he will if necessary. Meanwhile, general manager Perry Minasian noted that right-hander Carlos Estevez is the closer on paper, but the final decision will be made by manager Ron Washington. Estevez made his first All-Star team in 2023 with the Halos and had a career-high 31 saves in 62 1/3 relief innings, but he had an ERA approaching 4.00 and had a 6.59 ERA in the second half. The 31-year-old will probably open the 2024 regular season as the Halos' primary ninth-inning arm, but Washington could have him on a short leash early on, especially if his struggles from the second half of last year resurface. And on another Angels team that probably won't be a contender, Estevez will have shaky fantasy value at the closer position.

Free-agent left-hander James Paxton and the Los Angeles Dodgers officially agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal on Tuesday that includes a $1 million Opening Day roster bonus and another $1 million in performance-based incentives. The oft-injured 35-year-old Canadian hurler went 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA (4.68 FIP) and 1.31 WHIP with 33 walks and 101 strikeouts in 2023 for the Boston Red Sox in 19 starts, his first year pitching in the big leagues since 2021. He was sharp in the first half before posting an ERA near 7.00 in the second half while dealing with a knee injury. Paxton should be healthy in spring training and will have more fantasy upside with the move to LA if he makes the team's starting rotation, but he's also a huge health risk, having thrown only 117 2/3 innings since 2020.