Free-agent right-hander Brent Honeywell agreed with the Pittsburgh Pirates on a minor-league deal on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Honeywell would earn a $1.25 million salary in the major leagues in 2024. The 28-year-old former second-rounder was once one of the Tampa Bay Rays' top pitching prospects, but injuries have since derailed his career and shifted him to a relief role. He spent the 2023 campaign with the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox, going a combined 2-4 with a 4.82 ERA (5.62 FIP) and 1.45 WHIP with 23 walks and 45 strikeouts in his first full major-league season. Honeywell should eventually resurface in the big leagues in the Pirates' bullpen, but he could begin the year at Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Boston Red Sox signed free-agent right-hander Michael Fulmer (elbow) to a two-year, minor-league deal on Thursday. Fulmer won't be on the fantasy radar at all in 2024, as he's expected to miss the entire season after having UCL revision surgery. The 30-year-old will then serve as relief depth for the BoSox in 2025. The former first-round pick and American League Rookie of the Year in 2016 with the Detroit Tigers went 3-5 with a 4.42 ERA (4.15 FIP), a 1.33 WHIP, two saves, 28 walks and 65 strikeouts in 57 innings over 58 appearances (one start) for the Chicago Cubs this past season. Fulmer began his career as a starter, but injuries have forced him into a full-time relief role at this point of his career.

Outfielder Adolis Garcia and the Texas Rangers reached an undisclosed two-year deal on Thursday to avoid a salary arbitration hearing that was scheduled for Thursday. Garcia had filed for $6.9 million for the 2024 season and was offered $5 million by the Rangers. The 30-year-old Cuban is under team control for one more year in 2026. He made his second All-Star team in 2023 by hitting .245/.328/.508 with career-highs in OPS (.836), home runs (39), RBI (107) and runs scored (108) in 148 regular-season games played. Garcia had eight home runs in the playoffs to help lead the team to their first World Series championship as well. He ran less last season, but he made gains in most other categories and should continue to be a valuable contributor in homers, RBI and runs scored in a strong Rangers lineup in 2024. UPDATE: Garcia will receive $14 million over two years guaranteed with performance bonuses.

New York Mets All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season and there has been no sign that a contract extension will be agreed upon before then. The Mets say they are "invested" in keeping Alonso around, but it's looking unlikely that a deal will be reached before he tests the free-agent market. "The best thing for us is for Pete to have a great year and the best thing for Pete is to have a great year, and we'll go forward from there. We're certainly invested in keeping Pete a Met and I'm hopeful, over time, we'll be able to work that out," president of baseball operations David Stearns said. The 29-year-old Alonso hired agent Scott Boras this offseason, essentially assuring he'll play out the 2024 season and reach the open market next winter. Contract issues aside, Alonso is an elite power hitter for fantasy managers after slugging 46 homers and driving in 118 in 2023.

Houston Astros first baseman Jose Abreu could be rested more often in 2024. At the very least, Abreu should see more at-bats as the team's designated hitter to keep him fresh. The 37-year-old Cuban veteran was a disappointment in 2023 in his first year in Houston, hitting a career-worst .237 (128-for-540) with a career-low 18 home runs, 23 doubles, a triple, 90 RBI and 62 runs scored in 594 plate appearances over 141 games played. A lot of his struggles could be attributed to a back injury that he played with for much of the year. The good news is that Abreu had a .776 OPS with 14 home runs and 57 RBI in his final 63 regular season games, which he carried into the postseason. Abreu will most likely continue his decline in 2024, but at least he resides in one of the strongest lineups in baseball.