February 11, 2026
Detroit Tigers right-handed pitching prospect
Ty Madden (shoulder) is expected to be a full-go ahead of spring training. Madden suffered a strained rotator cuff last spring and was unable to pitch the next campaign. However, following a successful offseason, the 25-year-old appears to be trending in the right direction ahead of the 2026 campaign. In 2024, the Texas product made his MLB debut with the Tigers, logging 23 innings with a 4.30 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. During this stint, he struck out just 17 batters with a modest 7.9% walk rate. Through 79 innings at Triple-A that same season, Madden posted a hefty 7.97 ERA with 1.77 WHIP. Given the missed time, managers should expect Madden to likely open the 2026 campaign at Triple-A or as a low-leverage bullpen option in the majors if he performs well in spring training.
--Andy SmithSource: MLB.com
February 11, 2026
According to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman
Pavin Smith is expected to play primarily at first base in the upcoming season. In 2025, Smith drew 36 starts at first base while seeing a much higher 47 starts at the DH spot. In 2024, Smith spent most of his time in the outfield, but now appears to be moving to first base for the foreseeable future. Last summer, the 30-year-old was typically deployed on the strong side of a platoon and held a .258/.362/.434 slash line with eight home runs and two stolen bases. However, he generated a strong 46.1% hard-hit rate with an 11.7% barrel rate, suggesting he could see some positive regression in the power department. With
Carlos Santana joining the Diamondbacks, managers should expect Smith to continue to operate as a platoon bat and hold solid streaming upside in deeper leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: Steve Gilbert
February 11, 2026
Chicago Cubs catcher
Miguel Amaya (ankle, oblique) feels "100 percent" entering spring training. The team's backstop played in only 28 games during the 2025 campaign due to oblique and ankle injuries. During this limited stint of action, Amaya was quite productive, posting a .281/.314/.500 slash line with nine doubles, four home runs, and a 22:4 K:BB. Under the hood, the 26-year-old generated an elite 38.2% LA-sweet-spot% but with a low .295 xwOBA. With Amaya on the shelf, that paved the way for
Carson Kelly to emerge as the team's top backstop. However, with Amaya back to full health and set to represent Panama in the World Baseball Classic, he could end up sharing the dish with Kelly. Managers should monitor his production in camp in case he faces any setbacks. Given that both will likely share playing time, they are best left for 15-team, two-catcher formats in 2026.
--Andy SmithSource: Jordan Bastian
February 11, 2026
According to Robert Murray of FanSided.com, the Colorado Rockies have signed veteran left-handed pitcher
Jose Quintana to a one-year contract worth $6 million. Quintana was one of the top remaining starting pitchers on the market ahead of spring training. Last summer, the 37-year-old spent his 14th MLB season with the Milwaukee Brewers. Across 131 2/3 innings, the southpaw held a 3.96 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP. He struck out hitters at a low 16.0% rate and generated a hefty 5.20 xERA under the hood, suggesting he may face some regression in the upcoming campaign. He also allowed walks at a high 9.0% rate. The 37-year-old is not expected to hold much fantasy value outside of a low-end streaming option in NL-only formats, given his minimal strikeout potential and that he is now pitching in a hitter's paradise, Coors Field.
--Andy SmithSource: Robert Murray
February 11, 2026
New York Mets outfield prospect
Carson Benge is viewed as a potential starting option in right field ahead of spring training. The team's President of Baseball Operations, David Stearns, announced on Tuesday that with
Juan Soto shifting to left field, Benge will be given an opportunity to earn the starting job. Additionally, he will compete alongside infielder
Brett Baty, newly signed
MJ Melendez, and veteran
Tyrone Taylor. Baty spent the entire 2025 season in the minor leagues but was knocking on the MLB door for most of the summer. He began the campaign with High-A but would spend the second half at Triple-A. Across 116 total games, the Oklahoma State product posted a .281/.385/.472 line with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases. He is a top name to monitor in spring training, as he would hold five-category upside if he sees every day at-bats.
--Andy SmithSource: SNY
February 11, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers top outfield prospect
Josue De Paula earned a non-roster invite to MLB spring training. The young outfielder is considered the team's top prospect on MLB.com and is quickly establishing himself as one of the top hitters in the entire minor leagues. According to MLB.com, the 20-year-old enters the 2026 regular season as the overall No. 13 prospect. Last summer, De Paula spent most of his regular season with High-A, alongside fellow budding star
Zyhir Hope. At High-A, De Paula would hold a strong .263/.406/.421 line with an .827 OPS. During this 98-game stint, De Paula hit 12 home runs and swiped 32 bases. He then earned a four-game taste of Double-A, where he was unable to tally a hit. Even though De Paula is still likely one calendar year away from the major leagues, he is a top dynasty asset and could even debut at Triple-A in the second half of 2026.
--Andy SmithSource: Sonja Chen
February 11, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect
Zyhir Hope earned an invite to MLB spring training. Hope is quickly climbing prospect boards and is entering the 2026 campaign as one of the top outfield prospects in the game. According to MLB.com, Hope is the team's No.2-ranked prospect and the sport's No. 20-ranked prospect, sitting behind fellow outfield teammate
Josue De Paula. Last summer, the 21-year-old spent the majority of the campaign with High-A Great Lakes before earning a short six-game stint at Double-A. With Great Lakes, Hope posted a .264/.377/.428 slash line with 13 home runs and 26 stolen bases. He carried this momentum into Double-A, posting a .316/.350/.421 line. While Hope will not break camp with the MLB roster, he will likely open the season with Double-A, which could open the door for a second-half Triple-A promotion.
--Andy SmithSource: Sonja Chen
February 11, 2026
Chicago Cubs first base prospect
Jonathon Long has earned an invite to MLB spring training. Long is considered the team's No. 6-ranked prospect in the system per MLB.com and is now quickly approaching his MLB debut. Long joined the Cubs in the seventh round of the 2023 MLB Draft but has since emerged as one of their top bats. Last summer, the infielder spent the entire 2025 campaign with Triple-A Iowa and performed at a high level. Across 140 contests, the Long Beach State product held a .305/.404/.479 line with a strong .883 OPS. He hit 20 home runs while holding a 116:79 K:BB. The previous season, Long held a similar .283/.391/.461 line across 114 games between High-A and Double-A. Even though
Michael Busch is the team's primary first baseman, Long could be in the mix for an early call-up as an injury replacement, given his quick adjustments to Triple-A pitching.
--Andy SmithSource: Jordan Bastian
February 11, 2026
Chicago Cubs top pitching prospect
Jaxon Wiggins is among the non-roster invitees set to attend MLB spring training. On MLB.com, Wiggins is considered the team's No. 2-ranked prospect and the sport's overall No. 67 prospect. Last summer, the right-hander was one of the most effective arms in the entire minor leagues and is now quickly approaching his MLB debut. He began the 2025 campaign with High-A but finished the second half with Triple-A Iowa. At High-A, Wiggins logged 26 1/3 innings to the tune of a 1.71 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He was then bumped up to Double-A, where he logged 42 innings with a stellar 1.92 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. In his first taste of Triple-A, Wiggins took a step back, allowing five runs over 9 2/3 innings. Despite his struggles, Wiggins will likely begin the 2026 season with the Iowa Cubs, leaving the door open for an early first-half MLB debut.
--Andy SmithSource: Jordan Bastian
February 11, 2026
According to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com, Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect
Chase DeLauter is expected to see time in both center and right field during camp. The team's No. 2-ranked prospect is expected to not only compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster but also potentially carve out a starting role. Throughout his minor league career, the former 16th overall selection from the 2022 MLB Draft has shown high upside but has struggled to stay on the field. Last summer, DeLauter appeared in just 42 total MiLB games, with the majority of them at Triple-A Columbus. With the Clippers, DeLauter held a .278/.383/.476 line with five home runs and a strong 23:22 K:BB. Later in the season, he joined the Guardians in the postseason. If he were to perform well in camp, he should have the edge over
Daniel Schneemann in center field or potentially
George Valera in right field.
--Andy SmithSource: Tim Stebbins
February 10, 2026
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Garrett Crochet replaced his changeup with a splitter during the offseason, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. Crochet reportedly used informative videos from pitching coach Andrew Bailey and coach Devin Rose to experiment and ultimately implement the new pitch while working out at Vanderbilt University during the offseason. Crochet only threw his changeup 4% of the time last year, but it produced an impressive .080 wOBA and 42.1% whiff rate. In comparison to the changeup, we'd expected his splitter to have an even lower spin rate, and perhaps additional drop (lower induced vertical break). Crochet posted a spectacular 2.64 xFIP during his first season in Boston last year, and he ranks as RotoBaller's #2 starter heading into 2026 fantasy baseball drafts.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jen McCaffrey
February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays reliever
Yimi Garcia (right elbow) has been "feeling good and throwing for numerous weeks now," manager John Schneider told Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Garcia underwent surgery to clean up scar tissue in his right elbow last September, and he also dealt with an ankle sprain last season. Schneider wouldn't officially commit to Garcia being on the Opening Day roster, but the pennant-winning skipper did express optimism that he might be ready for the season opener. The Jays, of course, will be cautious with Garcia's build-up and have no plans to rush him back. Injuries limited the veteran reliever to 21 innings last year, during which he amassed 10.71 K/9, 5.14 BB/9, and 0.86 HR/9 along with a 3.85 FIP. He has just 12 saves over his last four seasons but can still be trusted in leverage situations this year, assuming he's healthy and returns to his pre-injury form.
--Andersen PickardSource: Arden Zwelling
February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitcher
Ricky Tiedemann (elbow) will be stretched out to multiple innings during spring training, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Tiedemann is coming off Tommy John surgery, and while the Jays will stretch him out during the coming weeks, he won't be in a bulk role for the entire season. The organization will evaluate his workload on a month-to-month basis, and he has a shot to make his MLB debut as a bullpen option late in the season. Tiedemann hasn't thrown in a live game since 2024, when he amassed just 17.1 innings before getting injured. He made four short Triple-A starts that year, posting 12 walks and 11 strikeouts over nine innings of work. That was a small sample size, though, and he had pitched to a much more encouraging 1.68 FIP, 16.77 K/9, and 4.70 BB/9 in the minors the year before. Toronto won't rush the former third-round pick into making his MLB debut, but the fact that he's already on the 40-man roster bodes well for his chances of making the big-league squad at some point in 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Arden Zwelling
February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
George Springer (knee, oblique, wrist) dealt with a variety of injuries during the 2025 season, according to manager John Schneider. In addition to the previously reported knee and oblique soreness, Schneider said Tuesday that Springer also experienced right wrist discomfort as the season went along. The injuries impacted Springer's ability to throw, but he recovered well during the offseason and is not expected to face any setbacks for the 2026 regular season. Schneider specifically noted that Springer "is going to be out (in the OF) whenever we need him." That's good news for the Jays and fantasy managers after the veteran outfielder slashed .309/.399/.560 with 32 home runs and 166 wRC+ across 140 games last year. He spent most of 2025 in the designated hitter slot but could be tasked with playing more outfield innings after
Anthony Santander (shoulder) was ruled out for at least five months. Springer currently ranks as the #26 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ben Nicholson-Smith
February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays corner infielder
Kazuma Okamoto will see some time at first base, according to manager John Schneider. Okamoto is widely viewed as a third baseman, but he played both corner infield spots in Japan. In fact, he posted an impressive .996 fielding percentage across 130 games at first base in 2024. Presumably, he'll be the Jays' go-to first baseman when
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is designated hitting. Schneider's willingness to play Okamoto at first could also indicate that he wants to get Guerrero fewer games in the field. No matter how the lineup looks, it's encouraging to know that Schneider plans to get Okamoto's bat in the lineup consistently, whether that's at first base or third base. He slashed .327/.416/.598 with 15 homers and 210 wRC+ during his final season in Japan, and he walked as much as he struck out. He currently ranks as the #27 third baseman in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for the 2026 season.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
RADIO
