Free-agent right-hander Zack Greinke wants to return for a 21st season in 2024, according to two sources briefed on his thinking. However, the Kansas City Royals' signings of right-handers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha almost certainly will preclude him from returning to the Royals. Greinke was 2-15 with a rough 5.06 ERA last year, but he's only 21 strikeouts shy of becoming only the 20th pitcher in major-league history to record 3,000 strikeouts. His Hall of Fame case likely won't be affected by whether he retires now or some point in the future. In addition to winning the 2009 American League Cy Young award, the 40-year-old has made six All-Star teams and earned six Gold Gloves. Greinke and Justin Verlander are the only active pitchers who have worked more than 3,000 innings.

Houston Astros outfielder Mauricio Dubon's salary arbitration hearing is scheduled for Monday. When the two sides exchanged figures, Dubon asked for $3.5 million and the Astros countered at $3 million. The two sides could settle in the middle before actually going to a hearing on Monday. The 29-year-old was an effective super-utility player for the Astros in 2023, especially with regular second baseman Jose Altuve missing significant time last year due to injuries. Dubon slashed .278/.309/.411 with a career-high 10 home runs, 26 doubles, three triples, 46 RBI, seven stolen bases and 76 runs scored in a career-high 132 games in his first year in Houston. He's set to return in 2024 in a similar role, although he's unlikely to do as well for fantasy managers with less playing time projected.

The Toronto Blue Jays and All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have a salary arbitration case set for Tuesday, and it's believed there have been no negotiations since the Jan. 11 filing deadline, when the team offered $18.05 million and Guerrero asked for $19.9 million. Toronto has been a "file-and-trial" team, meaning they'll only do a multi-year deal outside of a hearing room. Guerrero is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season, so even a two-year deal that only covers 2024 and his final year of arbitration-eligibility next year would be difficult to complete by Tuesday. A $1.85 million gap between offer and ask suggests the two sides struggled to find common ground, which could make things even more contentious after the hearing on Tuesday.

Free-agent relief pitcher Jay Jackson and the Minnesota Twins agreed to an undisclosed major-league deal on Monday, pending a physical, according to a source familiar with the deal. The 36-year-old veteran right-hander has a 92-94 mph fastball with a good slider and has a 2.73 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 53 innings since returning from Japan in 2021. In 25 relief appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays last year, Jackson had a 2.12 ERA (4.20 FIP) and 0.91 WHIP with nine walks and 27 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings pitched. He was outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo last October but chose free agency in November and will now head to spring training with Minnesota this year. Jackson should give the Twins some more valuable relief depth in 2024.

The Cincinnati Reds have signed free-agent infielder Josh Harrison to a minor-league deal that presumably includes an invitation to big-league spring training. The 36-year-old spent the 2023 season with the Phillies, hitting just .204 with two homers before being cut loose after just 41 appearances. He briefly latched on with the Rangers but hit just .222 with one homer in six games at the Triple-A level before being released in late August. All told, Harrison is a career .270 hitter with 73 HR, 91 stolen bases, and a tiny 15.2% BB% across 1,209 games with the Pirates, Tigers, Nationals, A's, White Sox, and Phillies. He will be hard-pressed to get many reps with the Reds given their glut of impressive young infielders.