Third baseman Adrian Beltre, catcher Joe Mauer and power-hitting first baseman Todd Helton were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, with both Beltre and Mauer getting in on their first ballot. Helton was elected on his sixth try. Beltre had 95.1% of the votes, Helton at 79.7%, and Mauer at 76.1%. Closer Billy Wagner (73.8%) fell just five votes shy and will have his last chance in 2025. Slugger Gary Sheffield (63.9%) didn't get the required support in his 10th and final ballot. Beltre is a member of the 400-homer club and was one of the best defensive third basemen of all time. Helton played his entire 17-year career with the Rockies and was a five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger. Mauer was arguably the best catcher of his generation after being taken as the No. 1 overall pick in 2001. He was a six-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger and three-time batting champion.

Free-agent corner infielder/designated hitter Miguel Sano and the Los Angeles Angels agreed to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training on Tuesday, according to sources. Sano is currently playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic after not playing last summer. The Halos are taking a low-cost flier on a 30-year-old right-handed power bat as they seek more offense heading into the 2024 season. Sano played in only 20 games in his last season in the bigs in 2022 with the Minnesota Twins, battled knee injuries and went 5-for-60 (.083) with one homer and three RBI. If he's healthy, Sano will compete for at-bats in the designated hitter role vacated when two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani signed with the crosstown-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Sano reached the 30-homer mark in both 2019 and 2021, but expecting him to return to that level is probably a pipe dream.

The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent left-hander Kolby Allard on Tuesday. Allard will remain in the National League East after returning to the Atlanta Braves for the 2023 season. He only made four appearances (three starts) for the Braves and allowed nine earned runs with four walks and 13 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings pitched at the big-league level. The 26-year-old southpaw didn't make his season debut until mid-July due to nerve inflammation in his left shoulder. Allard will give the Phillies some starting-pitching depth entering the 2024 campaign and has an option remaining, so he could open the year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He's been pretty inconsistent in 245 career innings in the majors over six seasons, posting a 6.10 ERA (5.31 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP with 204 strikeouts and 84 walks in 69 outings (38 starts).

The Washington Nationals and free-agent left-handed slugger Joey Gallo agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal on Tuesday, according to multiple sources familiar with the deal. The contract is pending a physical and includes an additional $1 million in performance bonuses. Gallo hit just .177 (50-for-282) with 142 strikeouts in 111 games with the Minnesota Twins last year, but he also produced 21 home runs and 40 RBI in 332 plate appearances and will give the rebuilding Nats a power bat that they can put in right field, first base or designated hitter. He should play regularly in 2024 as long as he's healthy, giving fantasy managers a power option. However, his struggles to make contact leave him vulnerable to prolonged slumps and potentially being benched. This might be his last real opportunity for regular playing time in the big leagues.

If left-handed-hitting outfielder Cody Bellinger signs elsewhere in free agency this offseason, the Chicago Cubs could turn to right-handed-hitting third baseman Matt Chapman while seeking another left-handed bat some other way. Ultimately, the Cubs may want to give the majority of their designated hitter at-bats to Christopher Morel, as they did in 2023. The 30-year-old Chapman took a slight step backward offensively in his second year with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023 and managed a modest 17 home runs despite finishing second in hard-hit rate with a barrel rate in the 98th percentile. His swing-and-miss issues are also concerning, but Chapman's deficiencies at the plate are offset by his excellent defense at third base.