After a dismal season in 2023, Chicago White Sox outfielder Gavin Sheets tried to become "more athletic" with his swing this offseason, getting better ball flight while making mechanical changes. The 27-year-old lefty reached double-digit home runs in each of his first three major-league seasons, but he slashed an awful .203/.267/.331 in 344 plate appearances for the Pale Hose in 2023. He worked with a new, younger hitting coach out of Philadelphia this offseason. "Just getting my upper body more on posture. Getting back more to the middle of the field," Sheets said. "I kind of bought in a little bit to the new age of hitting and used all the data that was available. I went away from the old-school model and pulled in everything." Sheets could be sent back to the minors if he struggles early on in 2024, and he's going to need to improve on fastballs.

Free-agent right-hander Phil Maton is finalizing an undisclosed deal with the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, according to a source. Maton had the best season of his career in 2023 with the Houston Astros, going 4-3 with a 3.00 ERA (3.74 FIP), a 1.12 WHIP, his second career save, 25 walks and 74 strikeouts in 66 relief innings. In the last two seasons with the Astros, he has a combined 3.42 ERA (4.03 FIP) and 1.18 WHIP with 49 walks and 147 punchouts in 131 2/3 relief frames. Pete Fairbanks and Jason Adam should see most of Tampa's high-leverage closing situations at the back end of the bullpen in 2024, but the 30-year-old Maton should be a valuable late-inning setup piece in front of them this year. An impressive 26.5 percent strikeout rate for his career should make him valuable in deep holds leagues in 2024.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Oscar Colas is expected to start the 2024 season in the minor leagues, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Colas drastically underwhelmed during his debut season last year, slashing just .216/.257/.314 with a 4.6 BB%, 27.0 K%, and 53 wRC+. He was also a letdown in the outfield with his -8.4 fWAR on defense, -5.0 DRS, and -15.5 UZR/150. With that said, he did fare better at Triple-A and figures to be one of the first names called upon when Chicago needs to add an outfielder or bench bat this season. In the meantime, look for Andrew Benintendi, Luis Robert Jr., and Gavin Sheets to start most games in the outfield. Additional depth will be provided through the likes of Eloy Jimenez and Andrew Vaughn, as well as Nicky Lopez in a pinch.

Seattle Mariners infielders Josh Rojas and Dylan Moore, who had been projected to split time at second base in 2024, will now likely shift their platoon to third base following a trade that sent Jorge Polanco to Seattle. More than two-thirds of Polanco's appearances last season came at second base, so he'll get first dibs on the keystone with the Mariners. That moves Rojas and Moore to the hot corner and presumably demotes Luis Urias, who was originally penciled into third base after being traded by the Red Sox. All in all, the Mariners would be wise to find playing time for Rojas and Moore, both of whom are above-average defenders.

Free-agent first baseman Carlos Santana has agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins worth roughly $5.25 million, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. The veteran split 2023 with the Pirates and Brewers, slashing .240/.318/.429 while slugging 23 homers. He maintained respectable levels of discipline at the plate with his 10.5 walk rate and 16.8 strikeout rate. Even if Santana's declining defensive value limits him to designated hitter for most of 2024, he remains a strong contributor at the plate and should see significant playing time in Minnesota.