Fantasy Baseball Impact of More MLB Transactions: Robert Suarez, Mike Yastrzemski and More

It's been a busy week for MLB transactions, and the trend has continued into Thursday. Let's discuss some of the moves from a fantasy baseball perspective.

Here are similar stories we did on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

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Yastrzemski Signs with New Squad

Mike Yastrzemski signed a two-year deal with Atlanta, worth $23 million.

He played 146 games last season, splitting time between the Giants and Royals. Yastrzemski had a .233 average and .333 on-base percentage.

Among his 111 hits, Yastrzemski had 28 doubles, 17 home runs and a triple. He also had 46 RBIs, 68 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 72 walks and 108 strikeouts.

He has some pop in his bat, and gets on base at a pretty solid clip. What holds Yastrzemski back is a lower average, and semi-high strikeout totals. 

He could fall into a platoon as well, so that's another negative thing working against him. At that salary, Atlanta hopes he's in the lineup daily, and with more right-handed pitchers out there, the left-handed Yastrzemski should play most days.

I like his outlook in the Atlanta lineup. I see a lot of talent in that lineup, and a bounceback year coming for several players. I expect Yastrzemski to hit near the bottom third of the order, but with guys like Jurickson Profar, Matt Olson, Ronald Acuna Jr., Drake Baldwin, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II around him, there's plenty of opportunities for Yastrzemski to make a fantasy difference.

Yastrzemski isn't likely going to be drafted in any standard leagues to kick off the 2026 season, but he'll be a pretty solid deep-league option. That doesn't mean that Yastrzemski couldn't sneak into standard leagues in time, because he has in the past.

Maybe the change of scenery can help Yastrzemski deliver a career season. Again, he has fantasy value to offer, and Atlanta could help him thrive, so keep eyes on him in 2026.

Suarez also Moving to Atlanta

The other big signing was the Braves adding reliever Robert Suarez on a three-year deal worth $45 million.

It's an interesting signing, as Atlanta already had Raisel Iglesias as a closing option. Suarez has been the Padres' closer the past couple seasons.

Most are expecting Iglesias to still be the closer, but if he struggles (like he did in 2025 at times) Suarez is an option Atlanta can turn to.

Suarez was 4-6 and earned 40 saves over 70 appearances in 2025 with San Diego. He covered 69 2/3 innings, striking out 75 batters and walking 16 along the way.

Iglesias had a 3.21 earned run average over his 67 1/3 innings pitched last season. He went 4-6 with 29 saves, while striking out 73 batters and walking 16.

The Suarez signing gives Atlanta a great 1-2 punch at the end of the bullpen. Both relievers could end up being decent fantasy assets if Atlanta is a good team again in 2026.

Iglesias looks like he'll close games to open the season, but I would keep close tabs on Suarez. In deeper leagues, both guys should be rostered.

If Atlanta is winning a ton of games, it's possible both guys earn enough saves for standard league ownership. It'll be a fascinating thing to follow in spring training and throughout the season.

Other Signings

There were a couple other lower-level deals made on Thursday as well. 

Mark Leiter Jr. signed a one-year deal with the Athletics. Hoby Milner signed a one-year contract with the Cubs. Akil Baddoo came to an agreement with the Brewers on a one-year deal.

Leiter was with the Yankees in 2025, going 6-7 with a 4.84 ERA and two saves over 48 1/3 innings and 59 appearances. He had 54 strikeouts and 17 walks along the way.

Leiter has a chance to earn saves for the Athletics after the team traded away Mason Miller at the trade deadline last summer. I'm not sure if the Athletics will do enough winning to support even one fantasy closer, so hopefully someone separates themselves, or else it will be tough to know which Athletics' relievers to roster.

Milner is just a bullpen arm for the Cubs. He went 3-4 with a 3.84 ERA over 70 1/3 innings and 73 games with Texas in 2025. Milner had 58 strikeouts and 21 walks.

He will only have fantasy relevance in really deep leagues. It would take several injuries to give Milner a chance at saves - he has just one of those in his career, and that's over nine years and 367 games overall.

Baddoo looks like a depth signing for the Brewers, as the Brewers are pretty set in the outfield right now. Baddoo played in just seven MLB games in 2025, but had some success earlier in his career, so we'll see if Milwaukee can reignite his career.

With Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Blake Perkins and Garrett Mitchell, plus Brandon Lockridge, Isaac Collins, Christian Yelich and Jake Bauers, there's a lot of outfielders already in Milwaukee. I wouldn't be surprised if the Brewers made a trade involving some outfielders before the offseason is over, so that's more something to track than the signing of Baddoo.