While the Tampa Bay Rays' signing of free-agent relief pitcher Phil Maton is pending a physical exam and may not be finalized until next week, the framework of the deal is now in place, per Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin. The 30-year-old is set to make $6.25 million in 2024, with a 2025 option for $7.75 million or a $250,000 buyout. Maton had the best season of his career in 2023 with the Houston Astros, going 4-3 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 27.0% strikeout rate to go with 10 holds in 66 innings pitched. Maton will likely not be in line for save opportunities with the Rays, but he should see hold opportunities, making him a fantasy option in deeper saves-plus-holds leagues.

The San Francisco Giants acquired pitcher Ethan Small from the Milwaukee Brewers Monday for cash considerations, per NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic. The 26-year-old lefty spent most of his 2023 out of the bullpen with Triple-A Nashville, compiling a 3.18 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 28.5% strikeout rate in 51 innings pitched. It remains to be seen what role the former first-round pick will play for the Giants, but his fantasy forecast is low for the time being.

The Milwaukee Brewers and free-agent pitcher Jakob Junis agreed to a one-year, $7 million deal, pending a physical, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. The 31-year-old will be paid $4 million this season with a $3 million buyout on a mutual option. The Brewers currently have some holes to fill in their starting rotation, so Junis should have an opportunity. He made only four starts in 40 appearances for the Giants in 2023, going 4-3 with a 3.87 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 26.2% strikeout rate in 86 innings pitched. Junis will first need to earn a stable rotation job and then prove he can produce in the role before earning fantasy managers' trust.

The Texas Rangers re-signed left-hander Danny Duffy to a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league spring training on Monday. In addition to Duffy, the Rangers also signed catcher Jose Godoy and left-hander Chasen Shreve. The 35-year-old Duffy didn't appear in the big leagues with the World Series champions in 2023, instead going 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with 29 walks and 42 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings over 28 relief appearances for Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock after 11 years as a starter for the Kansas City Royals. Injuries have kept him from appearing in the majors since 2021, so he hasn't been anywhere near the fantasy radar.

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Anthony Bender (elbow) said that he's fully recovered from Tommy John surgery that he had in August of 2022 and is expecting to enter spring training without any limitations. "I'm ready to go in and help out anywhere I can," Bender said. "If there's a spot where my name is called, I'll go out there and do my job." The 29-year-old right-hander didn't pitch at all in 2023 as a result of his Tommy John procedure in addition to a hip surgery he had in 2022. In his first two big-league seasons with the Fish in 2021 and 2022, Bender had a 2.90 ERA (3.57 FIP), 1.12 WHIP, nine saves, 28 walks and 88 K's in 80 2/3 relief innings. Expect Miami to ease Bender back into the fold as more of a middle reliever early in 2024, but he could eventually find himself in high-leverage situations again while competing for saves with Tanner Scott and A.J. Puk.