The New York Mets signed free-agent left-hander Genesis Cabrera to a minor-league deal on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Cabrera, a 28-year-old Dominican hurler, made his big-league debut back in 2019 with the St. Louis Cardinals and has posted a 3.89 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, five saves and a 268:136 K:BB in 275 2/3 innings over 272 appearances (two starts) in his six MLB seasons. He held a 3.59 ERA (5.13 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP while saving two games and striking out 50 batters in 62 2/3 relief innings for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024. Cabrera's strikeout rate fell to 18.5% this past season, while he remained inconsistent throwing strikes with a 10.7% walk rate. He will represent left-handed relief depth for the Mets heading into spring training in 2025 and will be off the fantasy radar.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox are reportedly viewed as the major contenders to try and trade for Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet this offseason. According to a National League executive, "the team to watch on (Crochet), for sure" is the Orioles. Baltimore was in on lefty Blake Snell before he signed with the Dodgers and could try to re-sign Corbin Burnes, but they've been linked more to Max Fried and Nathan Eovaldi. The O's may be the most likely to get Crochet, as MLB Pipeline has their farm system ranked as No. 3 in baseball. The Red Sox are also loaded with highly touted position-player prospects. Even after signing Snell, the Dodgers are interested in trading for Crochet or signing Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki. The 25-year-old Crochet was one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2024 before slowing down in the second half and having his innings limited.

The Arizona Diamondbacks re-signed left-hander Jose Castillo to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Castillo spent all of the 2024 season pitching at Triple-A Reno, posting a 4.35 ERA in 21 games and 20 2/3 innings pitched. He will return to return for the second straight year in 2025 while providing the D-backs will a valuable left-handed relief arm. Arizona currently has a strong left-handed relief group at the major-league level, including A.J. Puk, but Castillo could be on the short list to be called up to the majors if any of their southpaws is injured. The Venezuelan hurler made his MLB debut in 2018 with the San Diego Padres, and all four of his big-league seasons have come with them. In his 40 relief appearances for the Padres, he recorded a 4.24 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 55 strikeouts and 16 walks in 40 1/3 innings pitched. Of his 40 1/3 innings in the bigs, 38 1/3 of them came in 2018.

A handful of MLB teams have shown interest in free-agent outfielder Socrates Brito, who slashed an impressive .310/.359/.516 with 26 home runs for the KIA Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization in 2024 in his third season playing professionally in Korea. The 32-year-old Dominican outfielder last appeared in the big leagues in 2019 with the Toronto Blue Jays, playing in only 17 games and hitting .077 (3-for-39) with no homers and two RBI. In his four big-league seasons (three with the Arizona Diamondbacks), Brito was not very great from the left side of the plate, batting .179/.216/.309 with a weak .525 OPS, five home runs, 18 RBI, three stolen bases and 23 runs scored in 99 games played and 218 plate appearances. If he returns to the States for the 2025 season, he'll merely be competing for a roster spot for outfield depth in spring training.

Super utilityman Tommy Edman and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a five-year, $74 million contract extension on Friday, according to sources. The deal runs from 2025 through the 2029 season and includes a sixth-year team option. There's also a $17 million signing bonus and deferred money included. The 29-year-old started the 2024 season with the St. Louis Cardinals but didn't make his season debut until midway through August after he had already been traded to the Dodgers. The former sixth-round pick of the Cardinals in 2016 out of Stanford played both center field and shortstop for the Blue on their way to a World Series title, and he was named the National League Championship Series MVP against the Mets. In 37 regular-season games, Edman hit .237/.294/.417 with a .711 OPS, six homers, 20 RBI and six steals. The switch-hitter is better against lefties and should be an everyday player in 2025.