Free-agent outfielder Jorge Soler is drawing interest from the Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox, according to sources. He had some trouble staying healthy early in his career, playing more than 100 games just once from 2015-18. But since 2019, he's played at least 137 games in three of four full seasons and has averaged more than 30 home runs a season in that span, excluding 2020. Soler hit 36 long balls for the Miami Marlins in 2023 and led the American League in bombs with 48 in 2019. The 31-year-old is the best pure power bat on the open market this winter and he's also had a double-digit walk rate in each of his last eight seasons. The veteran right-handed slugger is more appealing to teams looking to sign a power bat for multiple years.

The Texas Rangers are making progress on a local TV deal this offseason and now seem likely to be back in play to re-sign left-hander Jordan Montgomery and make a run at free-agent lefty closer Josh Hader. The Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels are possibilities for Montgomery if he doesn't return to the World Series champions. Hader, meanwhile, has been connected more to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Montgomery has also been linked to the New York Yankees, where he spent the first six years of his career. The 31-year-old was a huge midseason acquisition for Texas in 2023, as he had a strong 2.79 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 11 regular season starts for the Rangers late in the year. Hader would immediately become Texas' primary closer as one of the most dominant left-handed arms in all of baseball.

The New York Mets claimed infielder Diego Castillo off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. Castillo was dropped from Arizona's 40-man roster this offseason when the team re-signed Lourdes Gurriel Jr. He had just one plate appearance at the major-league level with the Snakes in 2023 after hitting .206 (54-for-262) with 11 home runs, 29 RBI and 28 runs scored in 96 games in his rookie year with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022. The 26-year-old Venezuelan infielder hit an impressive .313 (142-for-454) at Triple-A Reno, adding only three home runs, 72 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 124 games. Castillo will mostly likely open the 2024 season at Triple-A Syracuse as infield depth for the Mets.

The Colorado Rockies are expected to sign free-agent catcher Jacob Stallings and right-hander Dakota Hudson to undisclosed one-year deals on Friday, according to a source. Both Stallings and Hudson were non-tendered by the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, respectively. Stallings should serve as the backup to Elias Diaz in 2024 after hitting .210/.287/.290 with seven home runs and 54 RBI in 202 games for the Fish the last two seasons. Hudson had a 4.64 ERA (4.60 FIP) and 1.47 WHIP with a weak 13 percent strikeout rate in his last two seasons with the Cardinals over 221 innings and 45 outings (38 starts). The 29-year-old has a good shot to open the 2024 season in Colorado's starting rotation, but Coors Field isn't usually a place where pitchers go to turn things around.

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired left-handed-hitting outfielder Richie Palacios from the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday in exchange for right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge, according to a source. Palacios made his debut for the Cardinals in 2023 when he was promoted on Aug. 18, and he posted an impressive .823 OPS with six home runs and 16 RBI in 102 plate appearances over 32 games to close out the year. In his rookie season in 2022, the 26-year-old hit .232 (26-for-112) with no homers and 10 RBI in 54 games for the Cleveland Guardians. He'll effectively be replacing Luke Raley, who was shipped to the Seattle Mariners on Friday, as a lefty hitting outfield bat for Tampa in 2024. But with Randy Arozarena, Jose Siri and Josh Lowe serving as regulars, Palacios should open the year as more of a fourth outfielder that will get bats here and there against right-handers.