American League
Sign in
Sign in and connect Sleeper to unlock personalized fantasy insights.
797 articles found
CHC • 2B
about 9 hours ago
The 29-year-old is a .238/.287/.342 hitter with 15 homers and a 21.3 percent strikeout rate in 1,032 MLB plate appearances, but he can play a few positions around the infield and has been a solid minor league hitter over his career. He could provide infield depth at a few spots if he wins a minor league job.
CHC •
1 day ago
Velasquez hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the 2023 season. He made 18 starts at Triple-A Columbus for the Guardians in 2025 before moving to the Korea Baseball Organization where he struggled to an 8.23 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and a 28/18 K/BB ratio across 35 frames. He’s nothing more than extra rotation depth for the Cubs and can be ignored for fantasy purposes.
CHC •
8 days ago
The 30-year-old hurler hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since making 11 appearances out of the Nationals’ bullpen during the 2021 season. He pitched in the independent Atlantic League and American Association in 2025, compiling a 2.08 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 42/15 K/BB ratio over 34 2/3 innings of work.
CHC •
9 days ago
Barnes returned to major league baseball in 2025 after pitching in Korea for four seasons. He registered a 3.58 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 516/166 K/BB ratio in 553 innings in four seasons in the KBO. He signed with the Reds in August of 2025 and compiled a 7.13 ERA and 27/5 K/BB ratio in 24 innings at Triple-A. He will operate as organizational depth for the Cubs.
CHC • Pitcher • #35
12 days ago
Steele has been throwing since October, but this was the first time that he was able to get up on the mound and do so. Barring any setbacks, he remains on track to return at some point during the first half of the 2026 season.
Source: MLB
CHC • PH-RF
12 days ago
The 27-year-old former top prospect elected free agency from the Orioles back in November after slashing a meager .203/.278/.336 with six home runs and three stolen bases in 265 plate appearances. While another change of scenery may be just what he needs to get his career back on track, Carlson can be ignored for fantasy purposes at this stage.
CHC • RF
15 days ago
It’s a little surprising McCormick couldn’t get a guaranteed deal, given that there were so few free agent outfielders available capable of handling center field. Still, he has a clear path to a roster spot on the Cubs. McCormick started out strong with the Astros in 2021, putting together three nice years as a semi-regular before struggling and missing times the last two seasons. The 30-year-old is a lifetime .247/.321/.413 hitter, though he’s at .211/.273/.301 in 383 plate appearances since the beginning of 2024. He should be the Cubs’ fourth outfielder, unless Matt Shaw perhaps overtakes him.
Source: Chandler Rome
CHC • Pitcher • #46
17 days ago
The move was announced by Tread Athletics, where Thornton has been training this offseason. He spent the last three seasons with the Mariners posting a 3.65 ERA in 140 2/3 innings. He tore his Achilles in August but was reportedly up to 93 mph on his fastball in a pro day workout and looking healthy. If he is healthy, he has a chance to win a spot in Chicago’s bullpen.
Source: Tread Athletics
CHC •
20 days ago
Ríos fortifies Chicago’s bullpen depth entering spring training after making just a handful of appearances in the Mets’ system last year. The well-traveled 32-year-old veteran last appeared in the majors back in 2023 but he’s made 92 career appearances at the highest level dating back to 2017. He’s merely an emergency depth addition at this stage of his journeyman odyssey.
CHC • Infielder • #6
22 days ago
Hoyer’s remarks came during Alex Bregman’s introductory press conference when discussing Shaw’s role with the club moving forward. The 24-year-old top prospect was a significant disappointment last year in his first taste of the majors, and he’s likely to transition to a versatile multi-position moving forward, unless the Cubs decide to trade second baseman Nico Hoerner. The additional defensive versatility slightly increases his appeal as a bench option in deeper fantasy leagues but he needs to display some growth in the plate skills department before he’s a viable mixed-league option in the future.
Source: Jesse Rogers
CHC •
22 days ago
Cowles, who came over from the Yankees in the Mark Leiter Jr. trade back in 2024, returns to the organization after spending time last year with the White Sox. The 25-year-old infielder has yet to reach the big leagues but might get a look at some point next season.
CHC • 3B
22 days ago
Team USA already has both Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson rostered, so the assumption is that Handerson would play third base. Obviously, the team now has another strong option there if Henderson proves shaky. Or perhaps Mark DeRosa will just bypass Henderson altogether and go with the safe choice at the hot corner.
Source: Bob Nightengale
CHC • 3B
23 days ago
The deal was reported over the weekend and is now official. Bregman will also get a full no-trade close and have no opt-outs in the contract, which includes $70 million in deferrals. Bregman is a fantastic defensive addition next to shortstop Dansby Swanson, but unless the Cubs make another offensive signing, he will be asked to essentially replace the offensive production of Kyle Tucker, which would be a tall task.
CHC • 3B
23 days ago
The deal was reported over the weekend and is now official. Bregman will also get a full no-trade close and have no opt-outs in the contract, which includes $70 million in deferrals. Bregman is a fantastic defensive addition next to shortstop Dansby Swanson, but unless the Cubs make another offensive signing, he will be asked to essentially replace the offensive production of Kyle Tucker, which would be a tall task.
CHC • Outfielder
24 days ago
Dean served as a late-game defensive replacement for the World Series champion Dodgers last postseason before being claimed off waivers by the division-rival Giants in early November. The speedy 29-year-old center fielder makes a ton of sense as a bench outfielder for the Cubs since he’s capable of handling all three spots in a pinch.
CHC • Infielder • #2
24 days ago
The Yankees have also reached out to the Cubs about Hoerner, but all indications, for now, are that the Cubs would rather hold onto Hoerner and trade Matt Shaw. Both Hoerner and Donovan are high-contact rate hitters who would provide nice balance to a Giants infield that features power bats in Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, and Rafael Devers. Nothing appears imminent, but the Giants don’t appear comfortable beginning the 2026 season with Casey Schmitt or Christian Koss as their starting second baseman.
Source: Jeff Passan
CHC • Infielder • #6
24 days ago
There was some thought that the Cubs would try to trade Nico Hoerner and move Shaw to second base, but Law suggests that Shaw may be wearing out his welcome in Chicago. After a poor rookie season, Law reported that Shaw has shown “resistance to help from the Cubs’ staff.” His approach at the plate in 2025 was “undisciplined and often defensive,” according to Law, and he wasn’t eager to make adjustments with the hitting coaches. If that’s the case, it’s easy to see why the Cubs would want to trade Shaw, but may limit his market if teams are worried about him taking the same approach in a new place.
Source: The Athletic
CHC •
25 days ago
Chicago continues fortifying its relief mix with Martin representing their latest middle relief lottery ticket this offseason. The 30-year-old former top pitching prospect was the centerpiece of the Zack Greinke trade between the Astros and Diamondbacks in 2019 before injuries derailed his promising trajectory. He compiled an underwhelming 6.00 ERA — 5.30 FIP — and 23/9 K/BB ratio across 18 innings over 17 appearances for the Orioles this past season in his first big-league action since the 2022 campaign.
CHC •
26 days ago
The 32-year-old hurler opened the 2025 season pitching at the Triple-A level for the Twins, posting an 8.00 ERA, 2.33 WHIP and a 7/9 K/BB ratio over nine innings before being let go. He then logged 21 1/3 innings for the Long Island Ducks in the independent Atlantic League and 13 1/3 frames in the Mexican League. He’ll add organizational bullpen depth for the Cubs.
CHC • Pitcher • #27
29 days ago
The Cubs weren’t going to fight it out with their newly acquired right-hander, so he’ll get a $2.5 million raise in his second of four arbitration seasons. Cabrera had a 3.53 ERA in 26 starts for the Marlins last season.
Source: Jesse Rogers
CHC • Pitcher • #72
29 days ago
Assad was a first-time arbitration eligible, so the option would cover his second year there. The 28-year-old Assad missed most of 2025, but he has a 3.43 ERA in 54 starts and 24 relief appearances for the Cubs since debuting in 2022. Alas, the missed time and the subpar peripherals have knocked him down the depth chart some, and he’ll enter camp no higher than seventh in line for the rotation. He could pitch out of the pen, but Triple-A is also a possibility.
Source: Jordan Bastian
CHC • Pitcher • #35
29 days ago
Steele gets only a very slight increase over his $6.55 million salary from 2025 after being limited to four starts last April. He’s due back from Tommy John in the first half of 2026, and he’ll remain under Cubs control in 2027 before becoming a free agent for the first time.
Source: Patrick Mooney
CHC •
29 days ago
The 33-year-old spent most of the 2025 season in the Diamondbacks organization before getting released in August while he was on the minor league injured list. He had just an 8.10 ERA and 2.40 WHIP in 3 1/3 MLB innings and has a 4.85 ERA and 10.7% walk rate in his career.
CHC • Pitcher • #27
about 1 month ago
Cabrera, who has three years left before free agency, looked like he turned the corner after making mechanical adjustments last season, though he did miss time down the stretch with another arm issue. The 27-year-old’s 144 2/3 innings (including two rehab starts) were easily a career high in his nine seasons in the Marlins organization. The Cubs are hoping he’s the kind of pitcher who gets healthier with age, but we’ll see. He’d seem to finish off a rotation that will also include Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Cade Horton, with Justin Steele expected back in June or July. Colin Rea is now due to open up in middle relief, though that was also the case at this time last year (he went on to make 27 starts). Caissie’s departure leaves Moisés Ballesteros as the now obvious Kyle Tucker replacement, with Seiya Suzuki shifting from DH to right field, but it also could make it more likely that they’ll add a bat.
CHC • Outfielder • #19
about 1 month ago
The deal is pending physicals. Caissie is the 47th-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, and a solid return for Miami in exchange for three years of Edward Cabrera. Despite being unable to break into the Cubs’ lineup in 2025, Caissie hit .286/.386/.551 with 22 homers in 99 games for Triple-A Iowa. He did miss time at the end of the season with a concussion, but Caissie pairs solid power with a consistently high walk rate, which helps to offset some of his strikeout concerns. The likely profiles best in right field and will join an exciting young outfield in Miami that also features Kyle Stowers in left field and Jakob Marsee in center field.
Source: Craig Mish
CHC • Pitcher • #50
about 1 month ago
So far this offseason, Rolison has been designated for assignment by the Rockies, traded to the Braves, designated for assignment by the Braves, claimed by the White Sox, designated for assignment by the White Sox, and claimed by the Cubs. That’s a busy couple of months. The 28-year-old Rolison posted a 7.02 ERA in 31 appearances for the Rockies in 2025.
Source: Jesse Rogers
CHC •
about 1 month ago
He can make an extra $1.5 million in bonuses, according to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. When he wasn’t on the IL with shoulder and groin injuries, Harvey threw 10 2/3 scoreless innings for the Royals last season, though his velocity was down about two mph. He has a career 3.11 ERA in 185 innings since debuting with the Orioles in 2019. He’ll probably be helpful in a setup role when healthy.
CHC • C
about 2 months ago
The Cubs declined to keep an out-of-options Reese McGuire as a third catcher, so Bethancourt will fill that role from Triple-A Iowa. The 34-year-old hit .173/.219/.332 for the Jays’ Triple-A club last season. He’s a lifetime .229/.259/.362 hitter in 1,301 plate appearances.
Source: Jon Heyman
CHC • PH
about 2 months ago
The deal is now official. Austin returns stateside following a six-year odyssey overseas in Japan. The 34-year-old slugger batted .269/.350/.484 with 11 homers over 65 games for the Yokohama BayStars this past season. He figures to occupy a bench role with the Cubs, splitting time at first base and DH, mostly against tougher left-handed starters. The over-the-fence pop is real but it’s challenging to envision enough playing time to make an impact outside of NL-only formats.
CHC •
about 2 months ago
He’ll get $4 million next season and then the $500,000 if his mutual option isn’t exercised (and it won’t be). Thielbar, who debuted with the Twins in 2013 and went four straight seasons from 2016-19 without making a major league appearance, will be making his highest salary ever at age 39. He had a 2.64 ERA and 25 holds last season in his first year with the Cubs.
Source: Patrick Mooney