The Philadelphia Phillies acquired right-hander Michael Rucker from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Phillies designated right-hander Andrew Bellatti for assignment. Rucker had been designated for assignment by the Cubs before the trade. The 29-year-old made 35 appearances out of Chicago's bullpen in 2023 and posted a 4.91 ERA (4.84 FIP) and 1.44 WHIP with 19 walks and 40 strikeouts in a total of 40 1/3 innings pitched. In three seasons with the Cubbies, he's totaled a 4.96 ERA (4.57 FIP), a 1.39 WHIP, one save, 50 walks and 120 strikeouts in 96 total relief appearances (123 1/3 frames). Rucker will be competing for a middle-relief role with the Phillies this spring.

Free-agent infielder Gio Urshela has drawn interest from the New York Mets, Miami Marlins and New York Yankees, according to a source. The 32-year-old veteran had a .703 OPS in 62 games with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023 before seeing his season come to an end in the middle of June due to a fractured left pelvis. Urshela didn't need surgery, though, and should be fine for the start of the 2024 regular season, barring any type of setback in spring training. He's probably going to have to settle for a one-year deal wherever he lands. In addition to his .703 OPS with the Angels, Urshela hit .299/.329/.374 with two home runs, 24 RBI, three steals and 22 runs scored last year before his season-ending injury. He possesses good bat-to-ball skills but little power for fantasy managers at the hot corner.

Baltimore Orioles shortstop prospect Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 overall prospect in the game per MLB Pipeline, was one of 20 non-roster players invited to the team's major-league spring training. This had been the expectation all along, but it's now official. The 20-year-old son of former big-leaguer Matt Holliday made it all the way to Triple-A Norfolk in 2023 and hit a combined .323/.442/.499 with 12 home runs in 125 games over four minor-league stops last year. He'll be joined by fellow top prospects Samuel Basallo, Coby Mayo and Connor Norby and will have a legitimate shot at cracking the Opening Day roster for the O's if he impresses in spring training. Even if Holliday doesn't start the 2024 season in the big leagues, he deserves to be drafted in all single-year formats.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward has won his arbitration case with the team, securing a $4.8 million salary for 2024, which is $500,ooo more than the team initially filed for him. The 30-year-old had another productive season in 2023, posting a 107 wRC+ with a .253 batting average and 14 home runs. This marked the third consecutive year where Ward achieved at least a 100 wRC+, solidifying his status as one of the team's better offensive producers. Ward is expected to continue in the outfield alongside Mike Trout and Mickey Moniak, and he should be ready for Opening Day after undergoing surgery in August for multiple facial fractures sustained from being hit in the face by a pitch.

Houston Astros utility man Mauricio Dubon won his arbitration case, securing a $3.5 million salary for the upcoming season, compared to the $3 million the team filed for. The 29-year-old posted a 97 wRC+ in 2023, batting .278 and playing in 132 games. After featuring at seven different positions in 2023, the team sees him as an invaluable asset, offering tremendous lineup flexibility, especially during playoff time. Despite the presence of Jose Altuve, Chas McCormick, Kyle Tucker, and Jake Meyers, Dubon's role as a super-utility man is expected to remain unchanged, ensuring his frequent appearances across various positions in the lineup.