February 16, 2026
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Tanner Houck (elbow) resumed throwing on Monday. He made about 25 throws from 45 feet out, marking the first time he had thrown a baseball since undergoing Tommy John surgery nearly six months ago. It's a major step in the right direction for Houck, whose long recovery gives him a timetable to return around September 2026. He hasn't pitched in the majors since last May, when he suffered a right flexor pronator strain and later experienced a setback while rehabbing in the minors. The right-hander didn't pitch very well even when healthy, allowing 39 earned runs over 43.2 innings (nine starts). His strikeout rate dropped to a career-low 6.60 K/9 while his home run rate ballooned to 2.06 HR/9. Therefore, in addition to getting healthy, Houck will look to make mechanical adjustments focused on helping him return to pre-2025 form. He was an All-Star in 2024, and he looked like a potential Cy Young candidate during the first half of that season before things fell apart in the second half.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Browne
February 16, 2026
Kansas City Royals catcher
Salvador Perez (thumb) took live batting practice on Monday during the team's full-squad workout in camp, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Perez appears to be fully healthy at spring training after injuring his thumb in the offseason while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League. Despite being long in the tooth, Perez managed to reach the 30-homer mark for just the second time in his career in 2025 in his 14th season in the big leagues. He reached the 100-RBI mark for just the third time in his career and for the second straight season. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star hit a career-low .236, though. The Royals split Perez's playing time between catcher, first base, and designated hitter to try to keep him fresh, and the expectation is that this will continue in 2026, with
Carter Jensen ready to take on a bigger catching role. Perez can still be productive in fantasy, but he's more of a low-end starting catcher now than a high-end one.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
February 16, 2026
The Chicago Cubs have not engaged in extension conversations with outfielder
Ian Happ, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. The everyday left fielder is scheduled to hit free agency next offseason at the expiration of his three-year, $61 million contract. Happ played 150 games last year, and he has played at least 148 games in each of the last five seasons. He slashed 243/.342/.420 with 23 home runs, 116 wRC+, a 13.1% walk rate, and a 22.8% strikeout rate in 2025. He also got his defense back up to league average, posting 0 OAA and 0 FRV in the outfield. In addition to Happ, Chicago also has an important decision to make regarding
Seiya Suzuki, who is slated for free agency next offseason. It seems unlikely that the Cubs would bring both back, especially since outfield prospect
Kevin Alcantara appears ready to take on an everyday role in the majors.
--Andersen PickardSource: Maddie Lee
February 16, 2026
Colorado Rockies infielder/outfielder
Tyler Freeman (back) is dealing with back soreness in spring training and is expected to return a "week or so into camp," according to MLB.com. Freeman began running on Feb. 12 and started taking grounders last Friday. He underwent an anti-inflammatory injection weeks before camp began. Barring a setback once Freeman returns to baseball activities, he should be ready in plenty of time for Opening Day in late March. The 26-year-old former second-round selection by the Cleveland Guardians in 2017 hit .281/.354/.361 with a career-best .715 OPS, two home runs, 31 RBI, 50 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases in 110 games in his first year with the Rockies in 2025. Freeman's defensive versatility -- he played mostly second base and left field, but also four other positions -- should make him a lock for a utility role. He has a contact-oriented approach at the plate and 80th percentile speed. The lack of power and consistent playing time limits his fantasy appeal to NL-only leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
February 16, 2026
The Chicago Cubs have not engaged in extension conversations with outfielder
Seiya Suzuki, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. Suzuki is nearing the end of a five-year, $85 million deal, which was the first contract that he signed stateside. He slashed .245/.326/.478 with a career-high 32 home runs at the age of 30 last year, adding 123 wRC+ with a 10.9% walk rate and a 25.2% strikeout rate. When asked about a potential extension with the Cubs, Suzuki said (via an interpreter), "I want to work hard and perform well, and hopefully they say yes." Chicago also has an important decision to make regarding
Ian Happ, who is slated for free agency next offseason. It seems unlikely that the Cubs would bring both back, especially since outfield prospect
Kevin Alcantara appears ready to take on an everyday role in the majors.
--Andersen PickardSource: Maddie Lee
February 16, 2026
New York Yankees third baseman/outfielder
Oswaldo Cabrera (ankle), who is coming off an ugly left-ankle fracture from last year, said that he expects to be a full-go this spring, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. However, manager Aaron Boone said he plans to slow-play getting Cabrera into Grapefruit League games. The 26-year-old had surgery on his ankle last May and was limited to a career-low 34 games. In his 122 plate appearances, he went 26-for-107 (.243) with a homer, 11 RBI, and 17 runs scored. Cabrera's ability to play both infield and outfield should assure him of an Opening Day roster spot as a utility man off the bench, barring a setback with his surgically repaired ankle. The Venezuelan switch-hitter is a career .234/.295/.346 hitter with a .641 OPS, 20 homers, 95 RBI, and 15 steals in 301 major-league games in his four seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
February 16, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Konnor Griffin has been showcasing extreme power early in spring training, according to Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com. The 2024 first-round pick was reportedly hitting home runs so far that they bounced off the roof of Pirate City deep beyond the outfield fence. This shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise after Griffin belted 21 homers across 122 games last year. He ascended from Single-A to Double-A, ultimately slashing .333/.415/.527 with an 8.9% walk rate, a 21.7% strikeout rate, and 165 wRC+. If the contact and power skills weren't enough, he also showed off blazing speed with 65 stolen bases. The 19-year-old is a five-tool prospect with superstar upside. He's not quite ready to make the leap to the majors, but he'll push to open the year at Triple-A with his MLB debut not far down the road.
--Andersen PickardSource: Anthony Castrovince
February 16, 2026
Texas Rangers shortstop
Corey Seager (appendix) was seen taking live batting practice in camp on Monday. Seager had an appendectomy in late August last year and closed out the season on the injured list. The veteran shortstop had a normal offseason, though, and he should be fully ready for the start of the 2026 season. The 31-year-old former Rookie of the Year and five-time All-Star has had trouble staying healthy the last three seasons in Texas, but when healthy, he has been a consistent contributor for fantasy managers with a 152 wRC+. Seager played in only 102 games in 2025 and finished with a .271/.373/.487 slash line, .860 OPS, 21 home runs, 50 RBI, 61 runs scored, and three steals. It ended a run of three straight 30-homer seasons. If he stays healthy in 2026, a return to the 30-homer mark should be expected. Durability concerns make him the No. 13 fantasy shortstop at RotoBaller.
--Keith HernandezSource: Matthew Postins
February 16, 2026
Miami Marlins outfielder
Kyle Stowers (obliques) took part in live batting practice on Monday during the team's first full-squad workout of the spring, according to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extra Base. Stowers suffered a Grade 1 left-oblique strain in mid-August of last year and was shut down for the rest of the season after injuring his other oblique on a minor-league rehab assignment, so it was good to see the 28-year-old taking swings early in camp. He should be good to go for Opening Day this year after a 2025 breakout campaign that saw him slash .288/.368/.544 with 25 home runs, 73 RBI, 61 runs scored, and five steals in 117 games. It was good enough to earn him his first All-Star nod. Stowers had some issues making contact before last season, but his batted-ball metrics were strong last year, and he'll hit in the heart of Miami's batting order in 2026. RotoBaller has Stowers ranked as the No. 32 fantasy outfielder.
--Keith HernandezSource: El Extra Base - Daniel Avlarez-Montes
February 16, 2026
Athletics second baseman
Zack Gelof isn't expected to be pushed out of the lineup despite the team's offseason moves, and his defensive versatility could result in him playing some innings in center field. According to Martín Gallegos of MLB.com, the A's offseason addition of
Jeff McNeil "could have been viewed as an indictment" against Gelof. However, the team is leaving the door open for Gelof to carve out opportunities to contribute. The 26-year-old got his usual reps at second base on Monday, and then he moved to center field. This was a fairly surprising move for Gelof, considering he only made one appearance in the outfield as a pro (Double-A in 2022). We'll see if the University of Virginia product ends up logging any outfield innings this season, but at the very least, the A's are giving him the chance to showcase his defensive versatility. He'll probably need to show a little more at the plate, too, as he slashed just .174/.230/.272 with a 45.5% strikeout rate across 30 games in the majors last year.
--Andersen PickardSource: Martín Gallegos
February 16, 2026
Detroit Tigers infield prospect
Kevin McGonigle may eventually shift to second or third base as he tries to win an Opening Day roster spot out of spring training, but the Tigers have been adamant that he has the "defensive chops to stick at shortstop," according to Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. "My biggest thing is I've always wanted to be a shortstop in Major League Baseball," McGonigle said. "And I'm going to keep working as hard as I can to stick there." The 5-foot-10, 185-pound, 21-year-old is the consensus No. 2 prospect in baseball. The former 37th overall pick in 2023 was dominant at High-A West Michigan last year, hitting .372 with a 1.110 OPS over 171 plate appearances. McGonigle might have what it takes to skip Triple-A entirely and begin in the big leagues in 2026, but manager A.J. Hinch isn't promising anything. Shortstop is probably the clearest path he has to the big leagues, with
Javier Baez and Zack McKinstry better suited for utility roles. McGonigle's power/speed upside puts him on the radar in all fantasy leagues this year, even if he starts the season at Triple-A Toledo.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLive.com - Evan Woodbery
February 16, 2026
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Pete Crow-Armstrong became the first player in franchise history to reach 30 homers, 30 doubles, and 30 stolen bases in a season in 2025, but a second-half fade left him feeling a sense of disappointment when it was all said and done. Despite the up-and-down season, Crow-Armstrong finished ninth in the National League MVP voting. His goal this spring is to "reduce the dramatic peaks and valleys," according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. PCA hit 25 homers with a .544 slugging percentage and an .846 OPS in the first half, but after the All-Star break, he had an OPS of .634 while slashing just .160/.216/.230 in August. He ended last year with the highest swing rate (59.5%) and ranked third in outside-zone swings (45.6%) and swinging-strike rate (16%). The 23-year-old should be viewed as a top-15 fantasy outfielder, but to take the next step in 2026, his plate discipline must improve.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jordan Bastian
February 16, 2026
Cincinnati Reds hard-throwing right-handed pitching prospect
Chase Burns is competing for the fifth rotation spot with the team this spring, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. Burns, the second overall pick in 2024 out of Wake Forest, made his big-league debut in 2025 in his first year as a pro and had a 4.57 ERA (2.65 FIP), 1.31 WHIP, and 67:16 K:BB in 43 1/3 innings over 13 appearances (eight starts). The 23-year-old will be competing with
Rhett Lowder,
Brandon Williamson, and
Julian Aguiar. He's one of the most talented young arms in baseball and became the first MLB starter in the expansion era to strike out each of his first five batters. "He has the stuff to be an ace. He has the stuff to be a No. 1 no matter what team he's on," lefty
Andrew Abbott said. Burns is off to a great start in camp and has displayed an improved changeup. His fastball velocity averaged 98.7 mph while often touching 101-102 mph. Burns also features a swing-and-miss slider (43.7% whiff rate). His elite strikeout abilities make him a very intriguing No. 3 starting pitcher in fantasy with upside for more.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Sheldon
February 16, 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed free-agent infielder
Santiago Espinal to a minor-league deal on Monday, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Espinal will be in spring training with the big-league team and will provide infield depth if he remains with the World Series champions going into the regular season. He will most likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, but he'll provide depth for the Dodgers with both
Tommy Edman (ankle) and
Enrique Hernandez (elbow) slated to open the season on the injured list. The 31-year-old Dominican hit .243/.292/.282 with a career-worst .575 OPS, no home runs, 16 RBI, 25 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 2025 in 301 at-bats with the Cincinnati Reds. Espinal was originally a 10th-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2016. In his six years in the majors, Espinal sports a .261/.316/.349 slash line, .665 OPS, and 20 homers in 578 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Fabian Ardaya
February 16, 2026
The Los Angeles Angels signed free-agent second baseman
Adam Frazier to a minor-league deal on Monday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Frazier hits from the left side and can play second base, third base, and the corner-outfield spots, giving him a shot to win an Opening Day roster spot as a bench player. The 34-year-old hit a combined .267/.319/.365 with a .684 OPS, seven home runs, 44 RBI, 43 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 134 games over 459 plate appearances last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals. Frazier is heading into his 11th big-league season, and the Angels will be the sixth team he's played for. With limited power (career-high 13 homers in 2023) and likely limited playing time, fantasy managers can safely ignore Frazier in all but the deepest of AL-only formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
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