February 11, 2026
Texas Rangers starting pitcher
MacKenzie Gore (ankle) threw a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to video from Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Gore was acquired from the Nationals in a blockbuster trade last month. The trade wouldn't have happened if he hadn't passed a physical, but it's still worth noting that he is coming back from shoulder and ankle injuries that sidelined him for all of September last year. Thus, Rangers fans and fantasy managers should be encouraged that he threw a bullpen, seemingly without any limitations. The 26-year-old has posted an ERA of 3.90 or higher in each of his four MLB seasons, but he still fetched a significant prospect haul in the trade because of his underlying metrics, pitch characteristics, and team control. There's a lot to like about his 10.43 K/9 and 3.61 BB/9 from last year, and his 1.13 HR/9 should settle down now that he's in the Rangers' pitcher-friendly environment. As it stands, Gore ranks as the #59 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Kennedi Landry
February 11, 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars 25-year-old tight end
Brenton Strange is currently being drafted outside of the top 12 at his position in dynasty startups after a 2025 season in which he showed glimpses of taking his game to the next level. After a strong start that saw him catch 19 of 23 targets across his first four weeks, he was slowed by a quad injury that landed him on Injured Reserve and cost him five games. Upon his return, he became an integral part of Liam Coen's expanding offense, closing the year on a 17-game pace of 63 receptions for 816 yards and seven touchdowns, numbers that would have put him right in line with the top five at the position. Entering into year two of Coen's offensive installation, Strange could see his role expanded and his value rise, making the 2023 second-round pick a clear target in dynasty leagues.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 11, 2026
New York Mets manager
Carlos Mendoza said that
Bo Bichette and
Jorge Polanco will likely bat third and fourth, respectively. Presumably, that alignment is contingent on
Francisco Lindor (hand) being ready for opening day. Bichette was the Mets' biggest addition of the offseason. The former Blue Jays shortstop will likely shift to third base in New York when Lindor is healthy. He's a dependable contributor with the bat in his hands, slashing .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs and 134 wRC+ across 139 games in 2025. Polanco is also a new addition for the Mets after inking a free agent contract in December. He spent the last two years in Seattle, primarily slotting in as the Mariners' second baseman or designated hitter. He slashed .265/.326/.495 with 26 home runs and 132 wRC+ last season. He typically led off for the Mariners, but he did make 21 cleanup appearances with a suboptimal .615 OPS in the fourth slot.
--Andersen PickardSource: Anthony DiComo
February 11, 2026
Wide receiver
Keenan Allen has played 12 of his 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. While he enters the 2026 season without a contract, he has recently stated that he fully intends to continue his career and isn't considering any team besides the Chargers. After playing one season in Chicago, Allen returned to Los Angeles in 2025 and led the team in targets and receptions, while playing in all 17 games. With the Chargers welcoming in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, there is little doubt that their offense will see an influx of pre-snap motion, which should help to create space for a receiving corps that saw no player top 800 yards in 2025. Assuming Allen's return on another short-term deal, the question then becomes where he fits in, with
Ladd McConkey and
Quentin Johnston both seeing stints as the team's most reliable wideout, and second-rounder Tre Harris handling an increased role down the stretch. Regardless of where he lands in the pecking order, Allen is a practically free pickup in dynasty leagues for contenders looking to add fill-in depth.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
February 11, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers have signed free-agent catcher
Gary Sanchez to a one-year, $1.75 million contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Sanchez most recently appeared with Milwaukee in 2024, but he spent last season with the Baltimore Orioles. Across 30 games in 2025, the veteran backstop slashed .231/.297/.418 with a 4.0% walk rate, 26.7% strikeout rate, and 100 wRC+. His defense took a step backward as he posted -2.6 FRM and -5 FRV behind the dish. Despite the subpar metrics, he's a solid depth addition for the Brewers, who needed another catcher. He'll join a depth chart that also includes
William Contreras and
Jeferson Quero. Sanchez might have an early jump on the backup catcher competition over Quero, who hasn't made his MLB debut yet.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jon Heyman
February 11, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Dylan Cease said that he's working to add a changeup this spring, and he is preaching consistency as a main component of his 2026 outlook, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Cease joined the Jays this offseason after two seasons with the Padres. Across 32 starts last year, he posted 11.52 K/9, 3.80 BB/9, a 36.6% ground ball rate, and a 3.56 FIP. It's interesting that Cease is looking for more consistency, especially after making at least 32 starts in each of the last five seasons. He presumably means more consistency on the process and results side, but there's still a ton to like about the underlying metrics. His fastball jumped to 97.1 mph last year, and his slider graded out at 115 on FanGraphs' Stuff+ model. It will be interesting to see what his new changeup looks like; he has thrown one in the past, but it accounted for just 1% of his pitch usage over the last two seasons.
--Andersen PickardSource: Keegan Matheson
February 11, 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers have re-signed veteran reliever
Evan Phillips (elbow) to a one-year, $6.5 million contract, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. In a corresponding move, catcher
Ben Rortvedt was designated for assignment. Phillips is coming off Tommy John surgery and is not expected to pitch until July. He made just seven appearances prior to injury last season, allowing zero earned runs with six strikeouts and a pair of walks. He posted a 2.08 FIP, but it came over such a small sample size that we should really pay closer attention to his 3.28 FIP from 2024. The 31-year-old is a very effective right-hander with a track record of posting high K/BB and ground ball rates. He won't be a closer in the Dodgers' deep bullpen, but he does have plenty of experience in save situations and can be trusted in high-leverage scenarios.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jeff Passan
February 11, 2026
The Carolina Panthers hired former Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach and passing-game coordinator Darrell Bevell as associate head coach/offensive specialist on Wednesday, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Bevell is a long-time respected NFL assistant coach who will bring a wealth of experience to head coach Dave Canales' staff as Carolina looks to take another step forward after making the postseason in 2025. Canales was the Seattle Seahawks' wide receivers coach when Bevell was the offensive coordinator, so the two have worked together before. The Panthers are hoping that the addition of Bevell will help quarterback
Bryce Young take the next step in his development after Carolina's offense ranked only 26th in EPA per play and 18th in success rate last season.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 11, 2026
The Green Bay Packers named former Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Luke Getsy as their new quarterbacks coach on Wednesday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Getsy also has previous experience as an offensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears. He returned to Green Bay in 2025 as a senior assistant and will now take over for
Sean Mannion, who left for the OC job with the Philadelphia Eagles. Before leaving to become an OC, Getsy was the team's QBs coach under head coach Matt LaFleur from 2019 to 2021. The 41-year-old didn't have much success in Chicago or Las Vegas, so the move isn't particularly great for the development of QB
Jordan Love as he heads into his sixth season in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
February 11, 2026
The New York Giants hired former Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan as their new quarterbacks coach and passing-game coordinator on Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Callahan will work under head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy while specifically looking to develop former first-round QB
Jaxson Dart. The Ole Miss product took over starting QB duties from
Russell Wilson early in the year and impressed in 14 games (12 starts) in 2025, throwing for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions while adding 487 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground on 86 attempts. Callahan failed in his time with the Titans, but he spent five years before that as the Bengals' offensive coordinator while helping to develop
Joe Burrow. Dart will now have two former head coaches in Callahan and Nagy helping groom him going into Year 2.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
February 11, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies infield prospect
Aidan Miller will take most of his spring training reps at shortstop and third base, according to manager Rob Thomson. He may also play some second base. However, the skipper shut down any chance of him playing left field. Miller was a first-round pick out of high school in 2023, and a meteoric rise through the minors resulted in him playing eight games at Triple-A last year. Between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, he slashed .264/.392/.433 with 14 home runs, 59 stolen bases, a 15.6% walk rate, a 23.4% strikeout rate, and 137 wRC+. It seems like he'll probably open 2026 at Triple-A, but his minor league statistics and his impending spring training workload both indicate that he should make his MLB debut in the very near future. He's already generating buzz in fantasy baseball circles, ranking as the #40 shortstop in RotoBaller's latest draft rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Tim Kelly
February 11, 2026
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell expects a bigger workload for right-hander
Cade Horton in 2026 after a successful rookie campaign in which he went 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 97:33 K:BB in 118 innings over 23 appearances (22 starts) during the regular season. "He dominated the league last year. Now it's do it again and do it over a full season, workload increased," Counsell said. The 24-year-old left his final regular-season start with a right-rib fracture and wasn't available for the Wild-Card round or Division Series in the playoffs, but all indications are that he had a normal offseason and is ready to roll this spring. Horton finished second in voting for National League Rookie of the Year in 2025. He'll have a secure spot in Chicago's rotation, but regression could be coming after he disappointed with a 20.4% strikeout rate. Horton is RotoBaller's No. 57 fantasy starting pitcher in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: WGN News - Josh Frydman
February 11, 2026
Atlanta Braves outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. said on Wednesday after launching a ball just shy of the scoreboard in batting practice at spring training that he's "healthy now." Acuna recovered from a second torn ACL in his knee last year but was limited to 412 plate appearances and 95 games played in his eighth year in the big leagues. The five-time All-Star and former MVP hit .290/.417/.518 with a .935 OPS, 21 home runs, 42 RBI, 74 runs scored, and nine stolen bases, signaling that a huge 2026 could be in store if he is indeed fully healthy. Perhaps the 28-year-old will run more this year as well. Acuna's talent is hard to match around the league, but fantasy managers must remember that he has only played 100 games in a season twice in the last five years due to injuries. His elite contributions across all categories make him a top-10 overall fantasy asset, though.
--Keith HernandezSource: Alison Mastrangelo
February 11, 2026
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone expects designated hitter/outfielder
Giancarlo Stanton and his elbows to be "good to go" when he arrives at spring training, according to the New York Daily News' Gary Phillips. Boone typically slow-plays getting the oft-injured Stanton into games in camp, which should especially be the case this spring after the 36-year-old veteran had his 2025 season debut delayed until mid-June due to serious tennis elbow in both of his arms. Reports surfaced last week that Stanton's elbows will need to be managed again this year, but as of right now, everything looks good. He only played in 77 regular-season games last year, but he had a strong .273/.350/.594 slash line, .944 OPS, 24 home runs, and 66 RBI. Injuries seem inevitable with the right-handed slugger, as are plenty of strikeouts, but the power remains.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
February 11, 2026
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that right-hander
Gerrit Cole (elbow) could start throwing live batting practice in a couple of weeks and might graduate to Grapefruit League action by the end of spring training, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Cole had Tommy John surgery with an internal brace last March and didn't pitch at all in 2025. The 35-year-old veteran and former American League Cy Young winner has been throwing since last August, though, and he could be ready to make his 2026 debut in late May or early June, barring setbacks along the way. Cole, a six-time All-Star, will obviously be a pretty big injury risk for fantasy managers this year, especially since his stuff was down in 2024 before he was sidelined. It's a pretty big stretch to expect Cole to immediately recapture his 2023 form when he returns from a long layoff this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
February 11, 2026
Denver Broncos safety JL Skinner (shoulder) announced on his Instagram account that he underwent surgery to fix his labrum. Skinner played with an entirely torn labrum all season long and fought through the pain to play in all 17 regular-season games in his third year in the league with the Broncos. The 24-year-old defensive back also injured his quadriceps in the playoffs and was unable to play in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots. He was mostly a special-teamer for Denver this year and played only 34 defensive snaps over 17 regular-season games. Skinner finished the regular season with just 12 tackles (eight solo) and a fumble recovery.
--Keith HernandezSource: DNVR Sports - Zac Stevens
February 11, 2026
Houston Texans Pro Bowl linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (thumb) had successful surgery on his thumb, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. A full recovery is expected this offseason for Al-Shaair, although he might not be fully ready for the start of offseason workouts. The 28-year-old was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2025, recording 103 tackles (48 solo), a career-high two interceptions, nine pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 16 regular-season contests. It was the third time in Al-Shaair's seven NFL seasons that he reached 100 total tackles. He's a big reason why the Texans had one of the stingiest defenses in the league last year, and he should be in play again in IDP fantasy leagues for his tackling ability as he heads into the final year of his current contract.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
February 11, 2026
ESPN's Field Yates believes that Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is the "ideal partner" to pair with new head coach and offensive play-caller Klint Kubiak. Mendoza did it all in 2025 while leading the Hoosiers to their first undefeated season and a national championship, including showing elite accuracy and overall arm talent while improving his pocket awareness. The young signal-caller also has a strong frame, in-pocket mobility, and enough creativity to handle duress out of structure. Kubiak is fresh off winning the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks and QB
Sam Darnold, a former third overall pick. Kubiak seems like the perfect person to oversee the development of Mendoza, who should have a pretty high floor at the next level.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Field Yates
February 11, 2026
Los Angeles Chargers running back
Kimani Vidal emerged as a viable NFL rusher in 2025, recording 643 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 155 carries across 13 games played (10 starts). Vidal was thrust into a feature role in the Chargers' backfield early in the season after Los Angeles backs
Omarion Hampton and
Najee Harris went on Injured Reserve with ankle and Achilles injuries, respectively. A first-round draft pick in 2025, Hampton looks like the long-term RB1 in Los Angeles as long as he can return to full health in 2026 and beyond. However, Vidal may have done enough in 2025 to prove he is worthy of maintaining a role alongside Hampton. Additionally, the Chargers have brought in former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their offensive coordinator heading into 2026. In his time in Miami, McDaniel's best offenses supported quality fantasy production from multiple running backs. Vidal's dynasty upside is limited by Hampton's presence, but he still may be worth rostering as a solid handcuff option with some level of standalone appeal.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 11, 2026
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-handed reliever
Daniel Palencia is his closer, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Palencia said he learned to be more calm and confident after some failures last year, but overall, he was great at the back end of Chicago's bullpen. The 26-year-old Venezuelan had a career-best 2.91 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 22 saves, 61 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 52 2/3 innings out of the bullpen in the regular season. Palencia lost the closing role to
Brad Keller late last year after dealing with a shoulder injury, but Keller is now gone, and Palencia has a chance to take a step forward in 2026. He was able to break out last year by dropping his walk rate from 13.8% his first two MLB seasons to 7.4% last year. Palencia is one of the hardest-throwing relievers in the game with nasty stuff, but he'll need to throw strikes to stave off regression.
--Keith HernandezSource: 670 The Score - Bruce Levine
February 11, 2026
After an electric rookie season in 2024 that saw him lead his team to the NFC Championship Game, Washington Commanders quarterback
Jayden Daniels battled through a miserable follow-up campaign in 2025. The 25-year-old suffered a knee injury in Week 2, a hamstring injury in Week 7, a dislocated elbow in Week 9, and finally a season-ending re-aggravation of the elbow injury in Week 14. Overall, Daniels was limited to just seven games played and completed 60.6% of his pass attempts for 1,262 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions while rushing for 278 yards and two scores on 58 attempts. In addition to the reduced volume, Daniels' efficiency as both a passer and a rusher also suffered. After averaging 7.4 yards per pass attempt and 6.0 yards per rush attempt in 2024, Daniels averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt and 4.8 yards per rush attempt in 2025. In 2026, former Commanders' assistant quarterbacks coach
David Blough will take over for Kliff Kingsbury as Washington's offensive play-caller, throwing some uncertainty into the offensive environment around Daniels. Daniels high-end dual-threat potential means he still carries elite fantasy upside in dynasty formats, but he will have to prove he can stay healthy in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 11, 2026
Despite the return of first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year deal, New York Yankees first baseman/catcher
Ben Rice should see the majority of playing time at first base in 2026, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. "I think Benny's going to definitely be planning to get the bulk of the playing time over there. And I'm definitely fine with whatever role they need me to [do]," Goldschmidt said. The Yankees said early in the offseason that Rice would play "a lot" against left-handed pitchers, but the return of Goldy complicates things at first base. Goldschmidt had a .981 OPS against southpaws in 2025, so he should play often at first in those situations. Rice, meanwhile, could give
Austin Wells a break behind the dish against lefties. As long as Rice swings the bat like he did last year (26 home runs in 138 regular-season games), fantasy managers shouldn't have to worry about his playing time. Rice is a top-10 fantasy first baseman at RotoBaller.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
February 11, 2026
Baltimore Orioles right-hander
Zach Eflin (back) is a full-go in spring training and will have a normal camp, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Eflin missed the final two months of last season after having a lumbar microdiscectomy on Aug. 18. After re-signing on a one-year, $10 million deal last October, the 31-year-old veteran hurler should have a spot in the back of Baltimore's starting rotation. Eflin's greatest strength is his ability to pepper the strike zone, as his 4.2% walk rate last year was in the 98th percentile. The former first-rounder doesn't do anything that well outside of throwing strikes, though, and he had a rough 5.93 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 14 starts in 2025 while striking out only 50 and walking 13 in 71 1/3 innings pitched. With durability concerns to boot, Eflin has very limited fantasy upside.
--Keith HernandezSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
February 11, 2026
Heading into his draft year in 2024, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver
Marvin Harrison Jr. was widely considered to be a sure-fire superstar at his position. So far through his first two NFL seasons, the 23-year-old has struggled to live up to the hype. Across 12 games played in 2025, Harrison Jr. recorded 41 receptions for 608 yards and four touchdowns on 73 targets. He also dealt with myriad injuries before eventually ending the season on Injured Reserve due to a foot issue. In fairness to Harrison Jr., Cardinals quarterback
Kyler Murray missed most of the season with a foot injury of his own, furthering an already unstable offensive environment in Arizona. Heading into 2026, Harrison Jr. will be working with a new coaching staff, with former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur taking over as the Cardinals' head coach. While LaFleur's presence could help kick-start Harrison Jr.'s career, 2026 looks like a make-or-break season for the young wideout's fantasy value, which is trending downwards in dynasty formats.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 11, 2026
There's a chance that Houston Astros left-handed closer
Josh Hader (biceps) will be forced to open the 2026 regular season on the injured list, which would open the door for right-handed reliever
Bryan Abreu to begin the campaign as the team's primary closer. Hader experienced "arm soreness" before his fourth bullpen session of the winter, and imaging showed "bicep inflammation." The veteran closer will resume his throwing program on Wednesday, but Hader's status for Opening Day is now in question. The 28-year-old Abreu was one of just five relievers to record 100 strikeouts in 2025, and he did it for the third straight year. The 28-year-old Dominican added a 2.28 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a career-best seven saves in 70 relief appearances in 2025. If Hader should miss any time at all, Abreu's stock would increase dramatically.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
February 11, 2026
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Zay Flowers arguably had the best season of his young career in 2025, recording 86 receptions for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns on 118 targets across 17 games. Flowers' production is made even more impressive by the fact that he played four games without star Ravens quarterback
Lamar Jackson, who missed time with both hamstring and back injuries. Flowers has been a highly consistent pass-catcher so far throughout his three NFL seasons, recording at least 108 targets and 74 catches in each year. His greatest flaws have been red-zone usage, as he's never had more than five touchdown grabs in a season, and target volume, as he's averaging 6.8 targets per contest for his career. However, the Ravens have made major coaching staff changes heading into 2026. Former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle will take over for former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, meaning Flowers will be working with a new play-caller for the first time in his NFL career. While there's no guarantee Doyle will drastically change Flowers' role in the offense, there's a chance his presence could help Flowers break through to a new level. Even if Flowers simply repeats his established standards of performance, he profiles as a high-end fantasy WR3 in dynasty formats going forward.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 11, 2026
Baltimore Orioles infielder
Jordan Westburg (oblique) is dealing with a strained oblique and will be slow-played to start spring training, according to Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. President of baseball operations Mike Elias said he doesn't expect Westburg to play in Grapefruit League games right away, but he's not currently in jeopardy of missing Opening Day in late March. It's something to watch for the 26-year-old this spring. Baltimore's starting infield is a bit banged up early on, with starting second baseman
Jackson Holliday (hand) set to open the regular season on the injured list with a broken hamate bone. Westburg missed extended stretches in 2025 due to injury as well, first with a hamstring injury, and then due to a right-ankle sprain. When healthy, he makes enough contact and has enough power to be a worthy corner-infield bat. Westburg should be a lock for 20 homers if he can stay healthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Baltimore Sun - Matt Weyrich
February 11, 2026
Houston Astros right-hander
Hunter Brown has been named the team's Opening Day starter, manager Joe Espada told The Athletic's Chandler Rome. After a breakout 2025 campaign, Brown will be a must-start for fantasy managers in his Opening Day nod in a plus matchup against the Los Angeles Angels at home. The 27-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2019 out of Wayne State finished third in the American League Cy Young voting last year after going 12-9 with a career-best 2.43 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 206:57 K:BB in 185 1/3 innings pitched over 31 starts for the Astros. Brown was able to hold opponents to a .201 batting average with a six-pitch mix. He has a high floor because of his ability to neutralize both righties and lefties. Brown might struggle to improve on his 2025 numbers, but going into 2026 fantasy drafts, he should be considered a top-12 starting pitcher.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
February 11, 2026
Arizona Cardinals tight end
Trey McBride earned first-team All-Pro honors after setting the all-time single-season reception record by a tight end in his banner 2025 season. Across 17 games, the 26-year-old recorded 126 catches for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns on 169 targets. McBride was the number one scoring tight end in fantasy football in 2025, and given his age, he projects to continue his dominance for at least the next few seasons. The Cardinals are reportedly looking to trade quarterback
Kyler Murray this offseason, which means McBride could be facing another season of uncertainty under center in Arizona. However, McBride proved he could be highly productive even with career backup
Jacoby Brissett throwing him passes this past season. Heading into 2026, McBride looks like the clear fantasy TE1 in both redraft and dynasty formats.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 11, 2026
Houston Astros catcher
Yainer Diaz (foot) sprained his left foot while playing winter ball in December, manager Joe Espada told Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Diaz is still participating in baseball activities, but his running progression will be behind some of the other players. The 27-year-old backstop is hitting and will catch a bullpen session at camp on Wednesday. The Astros don't seem to have any concerns that Diaz might not be ready for Opening Day in late March. The Dominican catcher reached 20 home runs in 2025 for the second time in his career while slashing .256/.284/.417 with a .701 OPS, 70 RBI, and 56 runs scored in 143 games played. Diaz's drop in batting average from .299 to .256 was likely due to his regression in BABIP from .338 to .277. He doesn't have ideal plate discipline, but he makes enough contact to hold a decent average while supplying enough power to make him a low-end starting catcher in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
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