Fantasy Baseball Prospects With The Best Hit Tools - Top Rookie Breakout Candidates (2026)

There are plenty of exciting young prospects in today's game, and this year, more so than in recent years, there seems to be more than a few who have yet to make their MLB debut who appear ready to help fantasy teams from the onset of the regular season. In this article, we're going to […]

Cade Smith Emerging as an Elite Source of Saves

Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith has emerged as an elite source of saves in 2026, now sitting as the fourth-highest ranked reliever for the upcoming 2026 fantasy season at RotoBaller, just ahead of Andres Munoz, who registered 38 saves for Seattle a season ago. The right-hander has had a phenomenal first two seasons in the […]

Xavier Edwards Exits With Calf Tightness on Thursday

Miami Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards was removed from Thursday's Grapefruit League game with left calf tightness. The diminutive infielder was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base before his removal in the fourth inning. The severity of the injury is not yet clear, but for a player whose speed could be his greatest […]

Could Jordan Lawlar Finally Be Ready for a Breakout?

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Jordan Lawlar started off Cactus League action with a bang, belting two home runs in his first two games and going 4-for-6 with a walk during that time. Since then, he's gone 0-for-6 over the next three games, but the former first-rounder has also drawn five walks over that stretch, so he's […]

Is Kyle Bradish Going Too High in Drafts?

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish had Tommy John surgery in June of 2024 and finally made his long-awaited return to the mound last August. The right-hander was superb in the six starts that he tallied, posting a 2.53 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and an elite 29.4 percent K-BB%. In 30 starts back in 2023, the […]

Drey Jameson Could be a Sleeper Out of the Arizona Bullpen

Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Drey Jameson could be a key piece of the team's bullpen in 2026 after injuries have left the staff thin, as A.J. Puk (elbow) is not expected to return until July and Justin Martinez (elbow) is targeting an August return. That leaves closing duties to the likes of Kevin Ginkel and Paul […]

Mick Abel Making his Case as Twins Starter in 2026

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Mick Abel turned in his second strong spring performance this past Sunday, allowing no earned runs on one hit and no walks while striking out six over three innings of work. Combined with his spring debut, the right-hander has yet to allow a run and just three hits while walking none […]

Byron Buxton Looking Like a Draft-Day Value

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton went 0-for-2 with a walk in Tuesday's World Baseball Classic (WBC) game, where the U.S. won 15-1 over the San Francisco Giants squad. Importantly, Buxton also stole a base, showing that his veteran wheels are healthy and ready for the regular season. Despite having played in the most games in […]

Merrill Kelly Scheduled for Bullpen Session on Thursday

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (back) is slated to throw a bullpen session on Thursday, per manager Torey Lovullo. The veteran has been on a throwing program, tossing from up to 60 feet as recently as Tuesday, and the bullpen session is the next step in that process. At some point, he'll face live […]

Cam Schlittler to Make Grapefruit League Debut on Friday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (back/lat) will make his spring debut this Friday in a start against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to manager Aaron Boone. The 6-foot-6 hurler had been dealing with left lat/mid-back discomfort earlier in camp and has been working his way back up to game action. It's good news […]

Brendan Rodgers to Seek Second Opinion on Shoulder

Boston Red Sox infielder Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) got discouraging MRI results back on his injured shoulder, prompting him to seek a second opinion. The 29-year-old is expected to see Dr. Neal ElAttrache, but manager Alex Cora has already stated that he anticipates that the right-handed slugger is going to need surgery. The former first-rounder was […]

Merrill Kelly Throwing from 60 Feet

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (back) is throwing from out to 60 feet, per manager Torey Lovullo. The veteran is dealing with a back injury, but played catch on Sunday, and this is a continuation of a throwing progression that would next get him into a bullpen session. The 37-year-old is optimistic about being […]

Bobby Miller Throws Off Mound Tuesday

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller (shoulder) threw off a mound on Tuesday for the first time this spring. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, it was only about 10 throws, although it was not off the rubber, and the catcher was standing. The right-hander has been dealing with right shoulder soreness, which has slowed […]

Hunter Gaddis Dealing With Forearm Tightness

Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Hunter Gaddis (forearm) made his spring debut this past Friday, striking out two while allowing no hits or walks in the one-inning outing. However, the right-hander experienced mild forearm tightness following the appearance. According to manager Stephen Vogt, the 27-year-old went for imaging that "came back clean," and will be reevaluated […]

Home Run (HR) Risers for Fantasy Baseball - September Power Surgers (2026)

Welcome, RotoBallers! In this article, we're going to take a look at players who had powerful finishes in 2025 to see if it's sustainable in 2026. Yes, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Cal Raleigh had the most home runs in September, but no, we're not going to discuss them. You know they're going to hit […]

Top Fantasy Baseball Sleeper Prospects To Target In 2026 Drafts

Building a winning fantasy team is a combination of many things, including staying on top of the waiver wire throughout the season and a bit of luck, but it all starts with the draft. Drafting some core All-Star caliber players in the early rounds, rounding it out with some multi-category producers in the middle, and […]

Astros Not Done Dealing After Joey Loperfido Trade

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown commented on Friday, "We're not done yet," after completing the trade with the Blue Jays that brought outfielder Joey Loperfido back to the organization that drafted him. The Astros have been in talks with multiple teams about possibly trading corner infielder Isaac Paredes, who appears to be the odd […]

Joey Loperfido Traded to the Astros

Outfielder Joey Loperfido was sent from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Houston Astros on Friday in exchange for outfielder Jesus Sanchez. Loperfido heads back to the team that drafted him back in 2021 and the team he debuted with in 2024. In 122 career games in the big leagues, the former seventh-round draft pick […]

Munetaka Murakami Will Primarily Play First Base, Could See Some Time at Third

Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami is expected to get some run at third base over the course of the season, per manager Will Venable. Chicago's skipper stated that the Japanese slugger will play mostly first base, though, as the complementary pieces around him fit better that way. The 26-year-old's main position over the […]

Jordan Westburg's Oblique is Progressing, Still on Track for Opening Day

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (oblique) continues to rehab his strained oblique and feels "pretty good," per Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Banner. The 26-year-old Westburg missed large chunks of time in both 2024 and 2025 due to injury, so to pick up an injury already in the preseason is concerning, especially since the right-handed […]

Juan Soto to Play Left Field for Mets in 2026

New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto will play left field for the team in 2026, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns. The 4x All-Star played 157 games in right field for the Mets last year, but will make the transition to left, which is the same position he played when he broke in […]

Kris Bryant Heads to 60-Day Injured List

Colorado Rockies outfielder/first baseman Kris Bryant (back) was placed on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, meaning he's already set to miss a big chunk of the 2026 campaign. The move wasn't necessarily a surprise as the former first-round draft pick continues to rehab his ailing back, and the move also cleared up space for […]

Orioles Believe Shane Baz is a Cy Young-Caliber Pitcher

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Shane Baz, who was acquired this offseason via trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, is viewed very positively within his new organization. Baltimore's new manager, Craig Albernaz, recently commented that "Shane Baz's upside is a Cy Young award winner." The right-hander certainly has the pedigree, having been selected with the 12th-overall […]

Francisco Lindor to be Evaluated for Stress Reaction in Left Hamate

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) is set to be evaluated on Wednesday for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns. The 5x All-Star may need surgery, and if he does, it typically comes with a six-week recovery timeline. The Mets are still optimistic that, […]

Justin Verlander, Tigers Agree to One-Year Deal

Free-agent pitcher Justin Verlander agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, $11 million of which is deferred. The veteran pitcher spent 2025 with the Giants, going 4-11 with a 3.85 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and a 12.8 percent K-BB% in 152 innings pitched. Although it was an improvement on an […]

Yankees Acquire Max Schuemann From Athletics

Athletics infielder Max Schuemann was traded to the Yankees on Monday for pitching prospect Luis Burgos. The A's designated Schuemann for assignment this past Friday, but he'll now head to the Yankees and should compete for a backup role in the spring. The 28-year-old spent time at third base, shortstop, and second base last year, […]

Chris Paddack Agrees to One-Year Deal With Marlins

Free-agent pitcher Chris Paddack is expected to sign with the Miami Marlins. The two are in agreement on a one-year, $4 million contract that also has some performance-based incentives. The right-hander should begin the season as the team's fifth starter and will look to right the ship after a poor 2025 campaign. The 6-foot-5 hurler […]

Erick Fedde, White Sox Agree to One-Year Deal

Free-agent pitcher Erick Fedde and the Chicago White Sox agreed on a one-year deal, pending a physical. The veteran saw some success in his return from the KBO in 2024, pitching to a 3.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 14.0 percent K-BB%. However, he was unable to parlay that production into 2025. The 6-foot-4 hurler […]

Nick Martinez Agrees to One-Year Deal With Rays

Free-agent pitcher Nick Martinez and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a one-year deal on Monday, pending a physical. The contract is for $13 million and includes a mutual option for 2027. Martinez had an up-and-down season last year, going 11-14 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. However, he fared much better as a […]

4 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Who Struggled in the Arizona Fall League - 2026 Dynasty Fallers

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) capped off its season a little over a month ago, and we looked at some of the prospects who thrived there in my Arizona Fall League Standouts article. In this article, we'll take a look at four prospects who struggled. Now, keep in mind that this league is renowned for […]