February 3, 2026
Detroit Tigers right-hander
Reese Olson (shoulder) is on track to be ready for spring training after suffering a season-ending right-shoulder strain last year, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. Olson was shut down in late July and didn't pitch again in 2025. The 26-year-old went 4-4 with a career-low 3.15 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 65 strikeouts and 25 walks in 68 2/3 innings over his 13 starts. He hasn't exceeded 112 innings in his three years in the big leagues with the Tigers, but he has a solid 3.60 ERA (3.55 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP with a 23% strikeout rate and 7.8% walk rate in 284 2/3 total innings. Olson should have a rotation spot locked up in 2026 and has proven he can be a pretty reliable starting option for fantasy managers. If Olson can stay healthy, a step forward in his fourth big-league season is possible. He's ranked as the No. 86 starting pitcher at RotoBaller.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jason Beck
February 3, 2026
San Diego third baseman
Manny Machado continues to turn in consistent seasons for the Padres, and he may be a little under the radar based on his current average draft position. Machado didn't have an eye-catching season in 2025, but he did continue his run of reliable production. He finished with 27 homers in his 159 games and has 25+ homers in 10 straight seasons (not counting the shortened 2020 season). He hit .275 for the second straight year, and his wOBA ticked up from .340 to .341 while his wRC+ crept up from 122 to 123. He mixed in 14 stolen bases as well, his highest total since 2018. Even though he has been around the majors for 14 seasons, he'll still only be 33 at the start of this year, so he still should have several strong seasons left, barring any major injury. Machado has played at least 150 games in nine of the last 10 full seasons as well, and his consistency and reliability make him a solid piece to build around.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
February 3, 2026
Seattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh had unprecedented success last year, breaking through for 60 home runs and 125 RBI. He's clearly the top bat available at a thin catcher position, and the fact that he's in the lineup almost every day, either behind the plate or at DH, makes him an even more valuable asset at one of the thinnest fantasy baseball positions. Raliegh played 159 games for the Mariners last year, hitting .247 with those 60 homers and a .392 wOBA while also adding in a sneaky 14 stolen bases. Big Dumper cut down on his strikeout rate and increased his barrel rate to a career-high 19.5%. He has at least 30 homers in three straight seasons and will be 29 when this season begins. There's likely to be some regression since no switch-hitting catcher has been so productive, but he was better than every other catcher by such a wide margin that he's still a great fantasy option for 2026. Barring injury, we should have a few more seasons of peak Raleigh, and he makes a lot of sense as an early target in most formats, where no other catcher comes close to matching his upside and production.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
February 3, 2026
Miami Marlins catcher
Agustin Ramirez had a strong offensive season overall in his first year in the majors, and he showed enough upside to be a starter at the position in almost all formats in 2026. The 23-year-old made his MLB debut in April and played 136 games for Miami, totaling 33 doubles, 21 homers, 67 RBI, and a .231 batting average. His 47% hard-hit rate and 11% barrel rate back up his .302 wOBA and show the potential for even more power production as he adjusts to the league. In September, he hit just two homers in 25 games and was held to a .267 wOBA. He has been working on adjustments and improving his defense behind the plate this offseason and will look to be a regular bat in the middle of the Marlins' young lineup. He is definitely a young player with a high ceiling in 2026, and his power from the catcher position deserves attention in all formats.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
February 3, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher
Ken Waldichuk was designated for assignment as a corresponding move to the Rays picking up
Ben Williamson in the three-way trade that sent
Brendan Donovan to Seattle. The Rays just acquired Waldichuk after the Braves designated him for assignment a few weeks ago. He actually started the offseason with the A's, who designated him for assignment when they acquired
Jeff McNeil, and then the Braves claimed him off waivers. After being designated for assignment for a third time this offseason, the 28-year-old lefty could either end up being claimed again, traded, or sent to Triple-A by the Rays. After showing some promise as a prospect early in his career, he hasn't pitched in the majors since 2023. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2024 and pitched in the minors after his recovery last year. He is an interesting enough project that brings enough upside for the Braves and Rays to be interested in him, and since those organizations have a good track record of turning pitchers back around, it'll be very interesting to see where Waldichuk is sitting when the music stops on his game of musical chairs this offseason.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Marc Topkin
February 3, 2026
Free-agent infielder
Jeimer Candelario has reached an agreement with the Los Angeles Angels on a minor-league contract that includes an invite to spring training. Candelario started his career with the Tigers and spent time with the Nationals and Cubs before signing a three-year deal with the Reds before the 2024 season. He was released in late June last year after knee, toe, and back issues limited him to just 22 games. He spent the rest of the season in Triple-A for the Yankees, where he slashed just .203/.289/.357. He joins a crowded list of reclamation projects trying to earn playing time for the Angels. He could earn his way onto the Opening Day roster or get called up at some point this season if he can prove that his bat still has a little pop after his last several injuries. He's well off the fantasy radar for now, but it's good to know where he landed and keep an eye on his progress this spring.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Jon Heyman
February 3, 2026
Chicago White Sox left-handed pitching prospect
Hagen Smith could push for an early-season ticket to Triple-A. Smith is currently ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the system and the No. 88 overall prospect on MLB.com. Smith made his professional debut in 2024 following the 2024 MLB Draft, where he was selected with the fifth overall pick out of Arkansas. During this brief 7 2/3-inning stint, Smith posted a 3.52 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP. In 2025, the southpaw spent his entire campaign with Double-A Birmingham. During this stint, Smith logged 75 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.57 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. While he allowed a high 56 walks. He showed high-end strikeout potential, totaling 108. If Smith can improve his command in camp, he could be in the mix to join Triple-A early in 2026, opening the door for a second-half MLB debut.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
February 3, 2026
Cleveland Guardians left-handed pitcher
Parker Messick is a name to monitor during spring training. Messick made his MLB debut last season and looked quite comfortable at the MLB level. Across his first 39 2/3 innings in Cleveland, Messick held a 2.72 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP. He struck out 38 batters while generating an elite 3.6% walk rate and a 29.8% hard-hit rate. He spent the majority of his campaign with Triple-A Columbus. Through 98 2/3 innings with the Clippers, Messick posted a 3.47 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP. During this stretch, the southpaw racked up 119 punchouts with 42 free passes. Currently, Messick is expected to compete for the No. 5 role in camp alongside
Joey Cantillo and
Slade Cecconi. While Messick may not have the same track record, he has shown significant upside in the minors and is worth closely monitoring in spring training.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
February 3, 2026
Washington Nationals first base prospect
Yohandy Morales is expected to compete for the starting first base job during spring training. Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reported that a mix of Matt Merivis,
Andres Chaparro,
Trey Lipscomb, and Morales is expected to compete for the lead role at first base. Morales began the season with Double-A but was able to spend the majority of the campaign with Triple-A. Across 33 games at Double-A, Morales posted a .315/.366/.520 slash line with 120 doubles, four home runs, and two stolen bases. At Triple-A, the team's No. 21-ranked prospect held a lower .241/.330/.401 slash line with a modest .731 OPS. Managers in deeper formats should keep an eye on Morales's progression as he could crack the Opening Day roster.
--Andy SmithSource: Jessica Camerato
February 3, 2026
Washington Nationals catching prospect
Harry Ford is expected to compete alongside
Keibert Ruiz for the starting catcher role in spring training. The Nationals acquired Ford from the Mariners earlier this offseason. Ford is currently viewed as the No. 42-ranked prospect in the sport on MLB.com and one of the top young backstops. Last summer, Ruiz struggled at the plate, holding a modest .247/.277/.318 slash line across a short 68-game stint. Ford spent the majority of the campaign with Triple-A Tacoma, where he carried a .283/.408/.460 slash line with 18 doubles, 16 home runs, and seven stolen bases. He showed an elite eye at the plate, posting an 88:74 K:BB. Even though Ford has only eight games of MLB experience, he is in serious consideration to see the majority of time behind the dish in D.C. He is a name to closely monitor in camp, as he would carry high-end sleeper appeal in two-catcher leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: Jessica Camerato
February 3, 2026
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell has said that budding prospect
Moises Ballesteros is expected to see opportunities behind the plate during camp. Ballesteros progressed through the minor leagues as a primary catcher but is expected to shift to a designated hitter role with the Cubs in 2026 and with the potential to see occasional starts at backstop. Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reported that, currently,
Carson Kelly and
Miguel Amaya are ahead of Ballesteros on the catching depth chart and that the DH spot is his best path for consistent at-bats early in 2026. However, Bastian noted the team has seen Ballesteros make strides defensively, but there is still "more development to go." Ballesteros spent most of the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Iowa, where he hit .316/.385/.473 line. While the young backstop will likely be in a primary DH role to begin the season, he could eventually carve out time behind the plate if his bat continues to produce at the MLB level. Given his potential to see nearly every day at-bats, he is a top breakout candidate at the catcher position.
--Andy SmithSource: Jordan Bastian
February 3, 2026
According to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, Chicago Cubs outfield prospect
Kevin Alcantara is expected to be in the mix for one of the final spots on the Opening Day roster. However, the outfielder does have one more minor league option, which could push him to Triple-A to begin the regular season. Bastian noted that the Cubs currently need a fourth outfielder, and Alcantara should "push" for that role. Last summer, the 23-year-old appeared in just 10 MLB games and held a .364/.417/.364 line. He spent the majority of his season at the Triple-A level, where he posted a solid .266/.349/.470 with 26 doubles, 17 long balls, and 10 stolen bases. While Alcantara will not win a starting job out of camp, he could carve out a depth role, making him a name to watch in deeper NL-only formats.
--Andy SmithSource: Jordan Bastian
February 3, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers prized outfield signing
Kyle Tucker remains a top-tier fantasy baseball option heading into the 2026 season. Tucker inked a four-year deal with the Dodgers after a season in Chicago, bringing even more firepower to a World Series-winning roster. The 29-year-old had a "down" year by his standards in 2025, but he still slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 22 stolen bases, a 14.6% walk rate, and a 14.7% strikeout rate. His ISO dipped below .200 for the first time since his rookie season, but he still contributed a whopping 136 wRC+. Meanwhile, he posted at least 4.2 fWAR for the fifth year in a row. As a Dodger, Tucker will have extreme protection in the lineup with less weight on his shoulders. He projects to bat second or third, and he will play right field on an everyday basis. As it stands, he ranks as the #5 outfielder and #8 hitter in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 3, 2026
New York Yankees starting pitcher
Max Fried had a spectacular 2025 season, his first in the Bronx. He maintained an impressive 2.86 ERA and 3.07 FIP across 32 starts (195.1 innings), going 19-5 with 4.8 fWAR. He posted 8.7 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, and 0.7 HR/9, offering effectiveness atop the Yankees' rotation. He'll remain their No. 1 option as the 2026 regular season gets underway, and his health should not go underappreciated with
Gerrit Cole (elbow) and
Carlos Rodon (elbow) sidelined for Opening Day. FanGraphs has projected that Fried will finish the 2026 season with a 3.35 ERA and 3.9 fWAR. As it currently stands, he ranks as the overall #13 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 3, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher
Will Smith has produced positive fWAR as a hitter and fielder every season throughout his career, and he remains a top fantasy baseball threat in 2026. Smith is coming off the best year of his career, slashing .296/.404/.497 with 17 home runs and a career-high 153 wRC+. His strikeout rate jumped to 20.4%, but he also posted a career-best 14.7% walk rate. Behind the dish, he contributed -8 FRV but 1.6 fWAR. Between hitting and fielding combined, he produced 4.1 fWAR. That ranked third-highest on the Dodgers, trailing only
Shohei Ohtani and
Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Now that the Dodgers are armed with
Kyle Tucker, and Smith is a prime candidate for slight regression, FanGraphs is projecting the veteran backstop for 3.3 fWAR in 2026. That ranks sixth-highest on the team but is still an incredible mark, especially for a catcher. He is the #8 backstop in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
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