Merrill Kelly to Start on Opening Day for Arizona

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that right-hander Merrill Kelly will be the team's Opening Day starter, per Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Kelly, 37, began last season with the D-backs before being traded to the Texas Rangers. In 32 total starts (184 innings), he went 12-9 with a 3.52 ERA (3.76 FIP), 1.11 […]

Jac Caglianone to Have "Plenty of Opportunities to Play" in 2026

Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Jac Caglianone had a frustrating debut season in the major leagues last year, slashing .157/.237/.295 with seven home runs, 18 RBI, 19 runs scored, 18 walks, and 52 strikeouts in 62 games over 232 plate appearances. The 23-year-old former sixth overall pick in 2024 out of Florida had impressive exit […]

Jordan Lawlar Could Earn Everyday Playing Time Early in 2026

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder/outfielder Jordan Lawlar struggled in his first taste of big-league action in 2025, hitting .182/.257/.288 with zero home runs, five RBI, nine runs scored, and two stolen bases across 74 plate appearances. The 23-year-old also posted below-average defensive metrics while bouncing around between third base, second base, and shortstop. Over the offseason, Arizona […]

Maikel Garcia Poised to Build on 2025 Breakout?

Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia put together a breakout season in 2025, hitting .286/.351/.449 with 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 81 runs scored, and 23 stolen bases across 666 plate appearances. The 25-year-old posted career-best walk (9.3%) and strikeout (12.6%) rates, while still posting a stellar 45.1% hard-hit rate. Garcia also spent time […]

Nick Pivetta a Regression Candidate Following Career-Year in 2025?

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta put together a breakout season in 2025, posting a 13-5 record with a 2.87 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 190 strikeouts across 181 2/3 innings (31 starts). 2025 was the 32-year-old's first season with an ERA under 4.04, and he still holds a career ERA of 4.47 across over […]

Brusdar Graterol's Opening Day Availability in Question

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that the team is going to "slow play" relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol's (shoulder) ramp-up this spring, per Jack Harris of the California Post. Harris reports that Graterol's availability for Opening Day has yet to be determined, but that Roberts said Graterol is "going to take some time." Graterol […]

Spencer Jones "Currently Blocked" from Playing Time with the Yankees

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that outfield prospect Spencer Jones is "currently blocked" from playing time at the big-league level, per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. A former first-round pick by the Yankees in 2022, Jones will turn 25 years old in May. He posted monster numbers split between […]

Jace Jung Taking Reps at First Base

Detroit Tigers infielder Jace Jung is taking reps at first base in camp, per Tigers beat writer Chris McCosky. The 25-year-old Jung has previously appeared at both second base and third base across two separate stints with Detroit in 2024 and 2025. Jung has struggled to hit at the big-league level, posting a .190/.315/.230 slash […]

MLB Power Rankings: Biggest MLB Hall of Fame Snubs [2026]

With Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltran being inducted into the 2026 MLB Hall of Fame Class, it is time to take a look at the remaining superstars who are still awaiting their chance to reach Cooperstown. Several of these players have had their fair share of scandals during their playing years, but seeing Beltran get […]

5 Hitter Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: Late-Round Rebound Candidates (2026)

One of the best ways to find value in fantasy baseball drafts is to exploit recency bias. Too often, players fall too far because they've had one or two down years, even though they have a lengthy track record of success. Identifying which of these players is well-positioned to bounce back can help build a […]

Yankees Want Everyday Reps for Jasson Dominguez

The New York Yankees want to give outfielder Jasson Dominguez everyday reps, but they might not be able to offer that at the major-league level to begin the 2026 season, according to general manager Brian Cashman. It means that Dominguez could begin the year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 23-year-old Dominican switch-hitter lost his path to […]

Shota Imanaga Adjusting his Pitch Repertoire

Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga has teamed with pitching coach Tommy Hottovy to adjust his pitch repertoire going into the 2026 season, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Hottovy said the goal is to keep honing a sweeper from his "natural arm slot" while reintroducing a cutter and finding a sinker grip that "helps maintain […]

Andrew Chafin Signs Minor-League Deal With Twins

The Minnesota Twins signed free-agent left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin to a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league spring training on Saturday, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Chafin, 35, will bring some much-needed high-leverage experience to the rebuilding Twins' bullpen this year, although he probably won't be an option for saves. The former […]

Griffin Canning, Padres Agree to a Deal

Free-agent right-hander Griffin Canning (Achilles) and the San Diego Padres agreed to an undisclosed contract on Saturday, pending a physical, sources familiar with the deal told Robert Murray of FanSided.com. Canning was in the midst of a breakout campaign last year with the New York Mets, going 7-3 with a career-best 3.77 ERA (4.04 FIP) […]

Nick Castellanos Heading to the Padres

Free-agent outfielder Nick Castellanos is joining the San Diego Padres on a league-minimum MLB deal ($780,000), according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The Athletic's Dennis Lin reports that Castellanos is expected to make his first-base debut with the Padres while also seeing time in the outfield and at designated hitter. The Philadelphia […]

Updated 2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Rankings

    2026 Fantasy Baseball Rankings Articles by MLB Position ALL - C - 1B - 2B - SS - 3B - OF - SP - RP Above you will find all of RotoBaller's 2026 fantasy baseball rankings, tiers, auction dollar values, stats and projections for your 2026 fantasy baseball leagues. Our Ranking Wizard displays our staff's fantasy baseball rankings for various formats, all in one easy […]

Top Fantasy Baseball Pitching Prospects for Dynasty Leagues (2026)

Pitchers and catchers are starting to roll into teams' workout facilities, and spring training is just around the corner. As teams start to get ready for an exciting season ahead, fantasy managers in dynasty leagues should always stay busy. Whether considering potential trades, reviewing positional prospect depth, reacting to free-agent signings, or preparing for first-year […]

Building a Breakout: How to Find Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Values Using Advanced Metrics (2026)

Pitchers and catchers reported to camp this week, and I reported back to my duties as a fantasy baseball analyst after lending my time and research to both basketball and football since last season concluded. I love researching and writing about baseball, especially pitchers. I was pretty excited to receive a nomination for "Best Research […]

Joey Gallo Throwing for Interested Teams

Free-agent Joey Gallo, who is making a full-time transition as a pitcher, is starting to throw for interested teams and has been working out in Florida, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Gallo was in spring training with the Chicago White Sox last year before being released after going 2-for-20 with 11 […]

Jason Adam Thinks he Could be Ready for Opening Day

San Diego Padres right-handed reliever Jason Adam (quadriceps) told 97.3 The Fan on Friday that he thinks he could be available for Opening Day in late March as he works his way back from a ruptured left quadriceps tendon that he suffered late last year. Adam has been throwing bullpen sessions, but he still has […]

Diamondbacks Re-Sign Zac Gallen

The Arizona Diamondbacks re-signed right-hander Zac Gallen for around $22 million on Friday night, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. He rejected Arizona's $22.025 million qualifying offer back in November, but he'll end up making around the same amount in 2026 as he looks to bounce back in a familiar environment. Gallen […]

Zac Veen Overcomes Substance Abuse, Adds Muscle

Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen finished his first MLB season at an unhealthy 202 pounds, but he's now at 245 pounds after adding muscle in the offseason, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding. "Definitely one of the bigger, main things was sobering up," said Veen, 24. "I had a pretty big substance abuse problem for […]

Yohel Pozo Drops Significant Weight Heading into 2026 Season

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yohel Pozo announced on his X account that he has dropped 33 pounds since last season. The 28-year-old Venezuelan will be battling for a big-league roster spot in spring training after he hit .231/.262/.375 with a .637 OPS, five home runs, 19 RBI, and 16 runs scored in 67 games in […]

Sandy Alcantara Adding a Sweeper

Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara is adding a sweeper to his arsenal, which already consists of a four-seam fastball, sinker, cutter, slider, and changeup, according to Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. In his first year back from Tommy John surgery in 2025, Alcantara went 11-12 with a career-worst 5.36 ERA (4.28 FIP), 1.27 WHIP, […]

Nate Pearson Coming Off Offseason Elbow Surgery

Houston Astros right-hander Nate Pearson (elbow) had a cleanup surgery on his right elbow in the offseason, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Pearson was scheduled to throw a bullpen session in camp on Friday, though, and appears to be just fine for the start of the 2026 season with his new team. The 29-year-old […]

Clarke Schmidt Seen Throwing on Friday

New York Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt (elbow), who is on the 60-day injured list as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery last July, was seen throwing in the outfield in camp on Friday, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Schmidt won't be an option for the Yankees' starting rotation until some […]

Spencer Steer's Quad Injury a Thing of the Past?

Cincinnati Reds infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer (quadriceps) played through a sore right quadriceps that bothered him for most of last season, and he finished with a .238/.312/.411 slash line, 21 home runs, and 75 RBI in 146 games. Steer also dealt with a sore right shoulder that lingered after the 2024 campaign. To avoid re-injuring his […]

Royals Agree to Two-Year Minor-League Deal With John Means

The Kansas City Royals announced on Friday that they agreed to a two-year minor-league deal with left-hander John Means (Achilles). It feels like ages ago when Means was an All-Star with the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 in his second major-league season. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw didn't see the mound in the big leagues at all […]

Gleyber Torres Should be Good to Go for Opening Day

Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (groin) should be ready to go on Opening Day this year after the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold reported in December that Torres had been cleared for all baseball activities. The 29-year-old had sports-hernia surgery in October after playing injured in the final month of the regular season and […]

Kyle Manzardo Packs on Muscle in Offseason

The Athletic's Zack Meisel wrote in December that Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo added 14 pounds of muscle since the end of the 2025 season. The Guardians want him to hold up better physically and be a candidate for more reps at first base in 2026. The 25-year-old former second-rounder by the Tampa Bay […]