It seems as though the New York Mets and other teams are waiting for the price tag to drop on free-agent designated hitter J.D. Martinez and outfielder/DH Jorge Soler this offseason. Soler can play some outfield, but he's not the greatest of defenders, so interested teams are most likely looking at both Soler and Martinez as full-time DH options for a discounted price. MLB teams don't really want to pay for DH-only types anymore, but both Martinez and Soler proved last year that they can be impact bats. Martinez, 36, bounced back with the Dodgers to hit .271 with 33 home runs and 103 RBI in 432 at-bats, while Soler made his first All-Star team with the Marlins by hitting .250 with 36 long balls and 75 RBI in 137 games played.

The New York Mets are close to an agreement with free-agent left-handed reliever Jake Diekman on Thursday, according to league sources. Diekman is an affordable lefty veteran who has had some success in the majors. The 37-year-old southpaw was great after joining the Tampa Bay Rays in May, posting a 2.18 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 50 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings. Prior to joining Tampa, he had a terrible 7.94 ERA in 13 appearances with the Chicago White Sox. In his 12-year career, Diekman has a 111 ERA+ and 3.82 ERA. Brooks Raley is currently the Mets' top lefty option in the bullpen. Diekman would give New York another experienced left-hander to pair with Raley, but he won't have much fantasy appeal in 2024.

The Minnesota Twins are considered a possible landing spot for veteran outfielder Michael A. Taylor, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Taylor was mentioned as a potential target after the Twins created payroll by trading Jorge Polanco to the Seattle Mariners. The veteran outfielder spent 2023 with the Twins, slashing .220/.278/.442 while slugging a career-high 21 home runs. He was also terrific defensively, posting a 95th-percentile OAA and 90th-percentile arm strength. Taylor appeared in 129 games last year and figures to maintain a very large role in 2024 regardless of where he signs. If the Twins don't bring back Taylor, another outfield option is veteran slugger Adam Duvall.

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.