January 29, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman has been extremely reliable and consistent for the Blue Jays in the first four years of his five-year deal signed as a free agent before the 2022 season. The 36-year-old righty is entering the final year of his contract, and over the last five seasons (including his last with the Giants), he has racked up 1,020 strikeouts in 925 2/3 innings while making 158 starts and posting a 3.34 ERA and 16.4 WAR. Gausman has made at least 30 starts in each of those five seasons and won at least 10 games. He could be an intriguing veteran free agent next offseason, or the Blue Jays could try to extend their workhorse before he hits the open market. His consistency and reliability make him an undervalued fantasy asset coming into this year in many leagues.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Buster Olney
January 29, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays first base prospect
Tre' Morgan is expected to be in contention for an early promotion to the major leagues in 2026. Morgan is currently considered the No. 11-ranked prospect in the Tampa Bay system on MLB.com. Last summer, the former third-round pick from the 2023 MLB Draft spent the entire campaign with Triple-A Durham, playing at a high level. Through 92 games, Morgan held a .274/.398/.412 line with a strong .810 OPS. Morgan hit 15 doubles, three triples, and added eight round-trippers. He swiped eight bags and showed strong eye at the plate, posting a 77:64 K:BB. While
Jonathan Aranda will likely serve as the primary first baseman in Tampa Bay, Morgan has experience in the outfield, which could be an easier path to the majors. Given his strong play last season, he is a top name to monitor during spring training.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 29, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals catching prospect
Leonardo Bernal is progressing through the system and should be in the mix to compete for a 2026 MLB debut. Last summer, Bernal spent the entire campaign with Double-A Springfield. Across 107 contests, the backstop posted a .247/.332/.394 line with 19 doubles, 13 home runs, and 13 stolen bases. He enjoyed a dominant first half, posting a .290/.368/.527 line but stumbled over the final months, carrying a much lower .210/.300/.276 line. Bernal is currently considered the No. 4-ranked prospect in the system and the No. 92 overall prospect in the sport on MLB.com. While he will likely not compete for an MLB role in spring training, he could begin the season with Triple-A, which would open the door for a midseason call to St. Louis.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 29, 2026
San Diego Padres catching prospect
Ethan Salas is a name to watch in spring training as he could contend for an early promotion to Triple-A. Salas had a disappointing 2025 season while dealing with a stress fracture in his back. This injury limited him to only 10 total games in the minor leagues. Across this brief 10-game stint with Double-A, Salas held a .188/.325/.219 slash line with one double and two stolen bases. In 2024, Salas spent the entire season with High-A, where he struggled at times, holding an overall .206/.288/.311 line with a low .599 OPS. However, Salas was able to play in the Arizona Fall League, suggesting he should be a full-go to open 2026. While he had a disappointing season, the backstop is still only 19 years old and appears poised for a resurgent campaign in 2026. He will likely begin the season with Double-A, but may only need a few months of action to earn the call to Triple-A.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 29, 2026
Chicago Cubs top infield prospect
Jefferson Rojas is expected to begin the 2026 campaign with Double-A Knoxville. Rojas is considered the No. 4-ranked prospect in their system on MLB.com. Rojas began the 2025 season with High-A South Bend and was quite productive, posting a .278/.379/.492 line with an .871 OPS. During this 67-game stint, Rojas hit 13 doubles, 11 home runs, and swiped 14 bases. He was then bumped up to Double-A, where he saw his production take a decline. Through his first 39 games in the upper levels, Rojas stumbled to a .164/.279/.205 line with no long balls and only five stolen bases. Given his struggles against Double-A pitching in the second half, managers should expect Rojas to spend most of the 2026 season there. If he were to turn the corner, he could push for a second-half taste of Triple-A.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
January 29, 2026
The Athletics have invited left-handed pitching prospect
Gage Jump to MLB spring training. Jump was drafted by the Athletics in the 2024 MLB Draft and has quickly progressed through their system. Jump made his professional debut in 2025 with High-A Lansing but needed only 31 innings to prove he was ready to make the leap to Double-A. With High-A, the southpaw struck out 45 hitters while holding a 2.32 ERA with a 0.84 WHIP. During his first stint at Double-A, Jump would log 81 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.64 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Jump would tally 89 punchouts and serve up 29 free passes. Given his inconsistent play at Double-A, managers should expect him to remain at Midland to start 2026. However, if he can join Triple-A Las Vegas in the first half, he could compete for a late-season MLB debut.
--Andy SmithSource: Athletics
January 29, 2026
The Athletics have invited top infield prospect
Leodalis De Vries to big-league spring training. De Vries is considered the No. 3-ranked prospect in the entire sport on MLB.com. He was the top piece included in the trade that sent
Mason Miller to San Diego last season. De Vries began his 2025 season with High-A Fort Wayne but finished it with Double-A. Through 97 games at High-A (split between Fort Wayne and Lansing), De Vries posted a .249/.354/.426 line with 21 doubles, 10 home runs, and nine stolen bases. He was then given a short 21-game stint at Double-A Midland, where he posted a .281/.359/.551 line with five long balls. Managers should closely monitor De Vries' progression as he could make a strong case to begin the season at Triple-A, which would open the door for a 2026 MLB debut.
--Andy SmithSource: Athletics
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
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