January 29, 2026
Not much went right for second baseman
Marcus Semien in 2025 in what ended up being his final season with the Texas Rangers. The 35-year-old three-time All-Star continued to decline offensively and finished with a .230/.305/.364 slash line, career-worst .669 OPS, 15 home runs, 62 RBI, 62 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases in 127 games. Semien's 127 games played were his fewest in a full season since 2017 with Oakland, and his 15 homers were his fewest in a full season since 2018. The iron man -- Semien has played in a full 162 games three times in the last six full seasons -- might be succumbing to Father Time. A foot injury ended his season prematurely, but he should be ready for the start of 2026 with the Mets. While fantasy managers shouldn't be banking on a late-career resurgence like
George Springer in 2025, Semien can still provide moderate power/speed numbers as the Mets' starter at the keystone. Semien is best drafted as middle infield insurance now rather than a starting 2B in 12-team fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 29, 2026
With right-hander
Emmanuel Clase out of the saves picture in Cleveland, Guardians right-handed reliever heads into the 2026 season as the team's likely closer. Smith took over for Clase in the middle of last season and finished out the year with a 2.93 ERA (1.95 FIP), 1.00 WHIP, a career-high 16 saves, 104 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 73 2/3 innings pitched out of the bullpen. He had earned 76.4% of the team's save share, and he was one of just five relievers in major-league baseball to strike out 100-plus batters. The 26-year-old has proven pretty dominant in high-leverage situations in his two MLB seasons in Cleveland, striking out 207 batters and walking 36 in 149 innings pitched. Smith relied mostly on his fastball to post a 28.3 K-BB percentage, which ranked sixth among all qualified relievers. His fantasy value has skyrocketed from last year to this year, and RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 5 fantasy reliever.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 28, 2026
Boston Red Sox outfielder
Roman Anthony made his MLB debut on June 9 of 2025 and looked the part of the top prospect in baseball after his promotion, finishing his first season in the big leagues with a .292/.396/.463 slash line, .859 OPS, eight home runs, 32 RBI, 48 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 71 games played (303 plate appearances). The 21-year-old former second-rounder in 2022 already signed an eight-year, $130 million contract as a building block in Boston's outfield for the future. Anthony's first year with the BoSox ended disappointingly when he was shut down due to an oblique strain, which caused him to miss the playoffs. Fantasy managers should consider him a top-15 fantasy outfielder because he's expected to have a normal offseason following his oblique injury. Anthony has tons of long-term and short-term upside. He was only the second player in Red Sox history (other than Ted Williams) to have 20-plus extra-base hits and 25-plus walks in his first 52 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 28, 2026
New York Yankees outfielder
Trent Grisham had a career year in 2025 in his second year in the Bronx, slashing .235/.348/.464 with an .811 OPS, a career-high 34 home runs, a career-high 74 RBI, a career-high 87 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 143 regular-season games. Grisham's previous career-high in home runs was 17 in 2022 with the San Diego Padres. The left-handed-hitting outfielder's strong campaign was particularly a surprise because he hit under .200 in each of the previous three seasons. The 29-year-old's 2025 campaign was supported by a 46.4% hard-hit rate and 14.2% barrel rate, and he also had a .249 xBA and .481 xSLG. Grisham should open the 2026 season with regular playing time in a starting role, and it's also a plus that he'll have the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium again. Power is what you're searching for with Grisham, but don't overspend. He's ranked as the No. 61 fantasy outfielder at RotoBaller.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 28, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder/designated hitter
George Springer had a late-career resurgence to help lead the team to the World Series in 2025, hitting .309/.399/.560 with a .959 OPS, 32 home runs, 84 RBI, 106 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases in 140 regular-season games played. It was a bit of a surprise, considering Springer's offensive profile had been in decline leading up to the 2025 campaign. His .309 batting average and 166 wRC+ were both career-highs. Springer's surface stats were backed up by a 15.8% barrel rate and 46.7% hard-hit rate, and it helped that he put the ball in the air more often. In a hitter-friendly home ballpark and with a strong lineup around him, Springer has the skills to repeat his performance, but the injury risk because of his age (36) is very real. You'll have to pay slightly more for Springer in 2026 if you're willing to take on the risk. RotoBaller has Springer ranked as the No. 26 fantasy outfielder, but Toronto might keep him primarily as their DH to keep him healthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 28, 2026
After a rough 2025 campaign with the New York Yankees in which right-handed closer
Devin Williams posted a career-worst 4.79 ERA and was demoted from the closer's role two separate times, he signed a three-year, $50 million deal to join the crosstown-rival New York Mets. Williams certainly didn't have the season he was hoping for in the Bronx, but he's primed for a bounce-back year. The 31-year-old veteran still has excellent stuff to close out games, his 2.68 FIP shows he ran into some bad luck, and his 25.1 K-BB percentage was 13th among qualified relief pitchers last year. The former second-rounder in 2013 by the Milwaukee Brewers is a two-time All-Star and has saved 86 games in his seven-year major-league career to this point. From 2022 to 2024 with the Brewers, Williams had a 1.66 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 65 saves. Despite his struggles with the Yanks, RotoBaller still has him as a top-10 fantasy closer.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 28, 2026
New York Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (elbow) appears to be making good progress in his recovery process. On Wednesday, general manager Brian Cashman said there have been no surprises with Cole's rehab work. Cole missed all of the 2025 season while rehabbing his surgically repaired elbow. He has already started throwing the ball and plans to join the team's facility in Florida soon. Barring any setbacks, Cole should be able to rejoin the Yankees in late May or early June. When healthy, Cole is one of the best pitchers in the league, so he'll be worthy of holding on an IL spot until he's ready to pitch.
--Andy WebbSource: Gary Phillips
January 28, 2026
New York Yankees starting pitcher
Carlos Rodon (elbow) appears to be making solid progress in his recovery process. On Wednesday, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that there have been no surprises so far during Rodon's rehab process. The veteran southpaw began throwing in December and has reported to the team's facility in Florida. Rodon underwent a procedure to address a bone spur in his left elbow late last season. Barring any setbacks, Rodon should be able to take the mound for the Yankees in late April or early May. Last season, Rodon posted a 3.09 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 203/73 K/BB ratio across 33 starts. The upside makes him worth stashing even if fantasy managers might get nothing from Rodon during the first month of the season.
--Andy WebbSource: Gary Phillips
January 28, 2026
The Washington Nationals have claimed shortstop
Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from the New York Mets. Cheng will now land with his third team of the offseason after being designated for assignment by the Mets last week. The 24-year-old figures to offer organizational depth and is hopeful for a bounce-back season in 2026. Last season, Cheng slashed .207/.305/.267 with 36 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 110 games in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system. He'll look to earn a bench role with the Nats during Spring Training.
--Andy WebbSource: Washington Nationals
January 28, 2026
Colorado Rockies outfielder
Yanquiel Fernandez has been designated for assignment by the organization on Wednesday. It's surprising to see Fernandez booted off the roster, given he's only 23 years old. He did struggle during his 52 games in the big leagues last season, but Fernandez still has promising upside. He slashed .284/.347/.502 with 13 home runs and 39 RBI across 64 games in Triple-A Albuquerque last season. Given the upside here, it wouldn't be shocking if multiple teams put in a waiver claim on Fernandez. His fantasy value will be dependent on where he goes and if he makes another team's 26-man roster.
--Andy WebbSource: Francys Romero
January 28, 2026
The Los Angeles Angels have claimed relief pitcher
Kaleb Ort off waivers from the New York Yankees. Ort was designated for assignment by the Yankees last week. He'll now head to Los Angeles, which will be his third team since the end of the regular season. At best, Ort will likely be used as a middle reliever, assuming he makes the Halos' 40-man roster. Last season, Ort posted a 4.89 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and a 49/27 K/BB ratio across 49 games with the Houston Astros. Ort is unlikely to have much fantasy value, even if he does make the final roster.
--Andy WebbSource: New York Yankees
January 28, 2026
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder
Aaron Judge's right elbow is "doing really well" as he ramps up his throwing in preparation for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "He looks great," Boone said. The 33-year-old was sent to the injured list last year with a flexor strain in his elbow, and it limited him to designated hitter duties for a while after he returned. Judge returned to the outfield in September and avoided surgery, so he should be good to play the outfield to begin the 2026 regular season. Judge is the best hitter in baseball and has been the American League MVP in three of the last four years. He's the No. 2 overall fantasy player for a reason, as he's clubbed over 50 homers in three out of the last four seasons. Judge had 53 long balls and led the league in 2025 in WAR (9.7), runs (137), walks (124), batting average (.331), on-base percentage (.457), slugging percentage (.688), OPS (1.144), and total bases (372) in 152 regular-season contests.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
January 28, 2026
New York Yankees shortstop
Anthony Volpe (shoulder) is "working his tail off" as he rehabs from offseason left-shoulder surgery, according to general manager Brian Cashman. There's no updated return timetable on Volpe, but the Yankees said earlier this offseason that they don't expect Volpe to make his 2026 debut until after April, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. The 24-year-old shortstop's fantasy stock has definitely taken a hit going into 2026 after having surgery for a shoulder injury that he suffered in the first half of last season. RotoBaller has Volpe ranked as the No. 34 fantasy shortstop after he hit .212/.272/.391 with 19 home runs, 72 RBI, 65 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases in 153 games in 2025. Volpe will be much cheaper in fantasy drafts this year because of his shoulder surgery, and it could take him a while to regain his power stroke in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
January 28, 2026
The Atlanta Braves brought back right-handed closer
Raisel Iglesias on a one-year, $16 million deal for the 2026 campaign, but they also added high-leverage reliever
Robert Suarez in free agency. The Braves are saying that Iglesias will begin the year as their primary closer, but should Iglesias get injured or stumble, Suarez could take over quickly after leading baseball with 40 saves for the San Diego Padres in 2025. Suarez has 76 saves in the last two seasons, so he's plenty capable of handling the role in his new digs. The 36-year-old Iglesias didn't look like himself early in 2025, but he bounced back with an ERA under 2.00 and a 0.83 WHIP since the start of June. Iglesias had a league-best 16 saves over the final two months and was nearly unhittable during that time. He definitely still has the stuff to be a successful fantasy closer, but Suarez's presence has made him around the 12th fantasy closer off the board in drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 28, 2026
Because he missed almost the entire second half of the 2025 season due to a left rotator-cuff strain, Kansas City Royals left-hander
Kris Bubic (shoulder) is the No. 62-ranked starting fantasy pitcher at RotoBaller going into 2026. It's unclear if Bubic will be ready for the start of the regular season, but he was cleared to start throwing in November. Before his shoulder injury last year, the 28-year-old southpaw was in the midst of a breakout campaign, going 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 116:39 K:BB in 20 starts over 116 innings pitched. Bubic only threw 30 1/3 innings in relief for KC in 2024, and his arm simply couldn't handle the volume increase. He doesn't have high-end velocity, but Bubic makes up for it with a diverse arsenal and excellent location that he uses to keep hitters off balance. If he's ready for the start of the 2026 season, Bubic could be a nice late-round value pick in fantasy drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
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