The Rule 5 Draft will take place Wednesday at 2 p.m. EST, and the Chicago White Sox have the first pick after finishing last season with the worst record in baseball. The team is reportedly set to pick pitcher Shane Smith from the Brewers' organization. The 24-year-old spent most of his time last season at Double-A, pitching to a 3.08 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and a strong 22.6% K-BB% over 87 2/3 innings (27 appearances, 16 starts). The righty tossed six-and-two-thirds innings of relief at Triple-A as well, allowing two earned runs with a 3:7 BB:K. With the selection, Smith will be put on Chicago's 40-man roster. Last season, 10 players were selected in the Rule 5 Draft, with six of those players sticking on the roster for the entire season.

The Cincinnati Reds have "checked in on" outfielder Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox in an effort to upgrade their outfield, both on defense and on offense. The Reds have already shored up their rotation by trading for right-hander Brady Singer last month but would like to fill the void left on offense with the departure of Jonathan India. The team has Matt McLain set to return from injury, so they are looking to the outfield, and Robert fits the bill. It would be costly, as the Reds would have to pay his $15 million salary, but the 27-year-old is a former All-Star and Gold Glove award winner. The right-handed hitter has played more than 100 games in a season just once since debuting in 2020. In 2024, the Cuban played 100 games on the nose after a hip-flexor strain caused him to miss about two months. He finished with a .224/.278/.379 slash line with 14 home runs but was able to set a new career high in stolen bases with 23 despite the lengthy absence. If he's able to stay healthy for a full season, he could be a strong multi-category contributor for fantasy in 2025.

The Baltimore Orioles are in the market for pitching help as it seems less and less likely that free-agent right-hander Corbin Burnes will be returning to the team in 2025, so the O's are reportedly interested in acquiring the Padres' Dylan Cease. The 28-year-old is set to become a free agent in 2026 and the Padres may be willing to trade him if they think they won't be able to re-sign him after next season. The righty finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting last season and was the AL runner-up in 2022. The former sixth-round draft pick threw a no-hitter for San Diego last season and remarkably allowed just one hit on five other occasions where he pitched at least six innings. The six-year veteran will be a strong fantasy option in 2025 drafts regardless of where he ends up.

The Houston Astros are targeting Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki and infielder Isaac Paredes in a possible trade for outfielder Kyle Tucker, according to sources briefed on the team's talks. The two teams have exchanged a variety of names in discussions, and any package for Tucker would also likely included prospects. Houston is also interested in third baseman Cam Smith, who was a first-rounder earlier this year. A source says the Cubs are highly unlikely to trade Suzuki and would prefer to unload Cody Bellinger's contract this offseason in a separate trade. Tucker is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season, so the Astros could be wanting to get something in return if they feel they won't be able to re-sign him. After Juan Soto's huge deal, Tucker, one of the best hitters in baseball, could command a deal of at least $400 to $500 million. The Yankees are another team pursuing a trade for Tucker.

In addition to the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs, the New York Post's Joel Sherman lists the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies as teams interested in trading for Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker this offseason. The soon-to-be 28-year-old left-handed slugger will be a free agent after the 2025 season and could command a contract worth up to $500 million on the open market, so the Astros are willing to see if they can get something in return before potentially losing him next offseason. Houston is prioritizing major-league-ready corner infielders and starting pitchers if they were to trade Tucker away. Keep in mind the Astros are bracing to also lose free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. After the signing of lefty Max Fried, the Yankees could be more motivated to trade starters Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes or even Luis Gil.