Free-agent relief pitcher Ryan Brasier and the St. Louis Cardinals have "engaged in talks," according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. The Cardinals aren't alone, though, as Goold notes "they are one of several teams" in negotiations with the veteran right-hander. Brasier was cut loose by the Red Sox after a woeful start to the 2023 season, but he signed with the Dodgers and quickly bounced back. Over 38 2/3 innings with Los Angeles, he posted a fantastic 0.70 ERA, 2.48 FIP, 8.84 K/9, and 2.33 BB/9. After a strong finish to the 2023 campaign, it appears Brasier may be vying for a major-league contract ahead of spring training.

The New York Yankees are considering making right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga a multi-inning reliever this year. Of his 160 appearances for the Yankees in his six years in the big leagues, only 11 have been starts. He hasn't started a game since the shortened 2020 campaign. It could be asking a lot of the 29-year-old to help replace Michael King, who was sent to the Padres in the blockbuster deal for Juan Soto. Elbow issues limited Loaisiga to just 17 relief outings in 2023, in which he allowed only seven runs (six earned) while walking one and striking out six in 17 2/3 frames. He's only thrown more than 48 innings in one season (2021) and has struck out just 204 hitters in 215 2/3 career innings. Loaisiga isn't lining up to be fantasy relevant in many leagues in 2024.

Minnesota Twins corner infielder Jose Miranda (shoulder) had scar tissue removed from his labrum and rotator cuff on Oct. 4 and was given a timeline of three to four months and feels "pretty good." He's currently hitting off a machine and started throwing two weeks ago. "There are some days it feels good, some days it feels so-so," Miranda said. His expectation would be to start playing as a DH in spring training and eventually work his way to the field. The 25-year-old was able to clean up his swing mechanics after the surgery and has liked how he's been feeling. Shortstop Carlos Correa saw video of Miranda's hitting sessions and was impressed. The Puerto Rican infielder impressed with 15 homers in his rookie season in 2022 but played in just 40 games due to injury last year. When healthy, the Twins could ease him in as a platoon option at first base next to Alex Kirilloff (shoulder), who also has health questions.

Minnesota Twins first baseman/outfielder Alex Kirilloff (shoulder) said he's starting to ramp up after beginning to hit earlier in January, and his goal is to be ready for live at-bats next month and to play when spring training games kick off on Feb. 23. The labrum surgery he had in October to his right shoulder was far less invasive than he and the Twins expected. If Kirilloff or Jose Miranda (shoulder) are behind schedule, the Twins could look to Kyle Farmer and Edouard Julien to play first base. But if Kirilloff can finally stay healthy, he projects to be Minnesota's starting first baseman in 2024. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger didn't debut until May in 2023 due to a wrist injury that required surgery. He's shown enough power in the minors to be worth a late-round flier in fantasy drafts in hopes that he can finally stay healthy and put it all together in the majors.

Right-handed reliever Joe Smith announced his retirement from professional baseball on Wednesday via Excel Baseball. Smith did not pitch at all in 2023 and had a 4.61 ERA (6.29 FIP) and 1.54 WHIP while walking nine and striking out 17 in only 27 1/3 relief innings with the Minnesota Twins in 2022. The 39-year-old veteran was originally drafted by the New York Mets in the third round in 2006 out of Wright State. He never made an All-Star team, but when it was all said and done, Smith had a pretty solid 15-year big-league career, going 55-34 with a 3.14 ERA (3.66 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP, 30 saves, 254 walks and 666 strikeouts in 726 1/3 relief innings with the Mets, Guardians, Angels, Cubs, Blue Jays, Astros, Mariners and Twins. In 2014 with the Angels, Smith had a 1.81 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and a career-high 15 saves.