January 24, 2026
Houston Astros infielder/outfielder
Jose Altuve will mostly play second base in 2026. Astros manager Joe Espada said Altuve will mainly be at second base, but will occasionally play in left field as well. The long-time second baseman made the switch to the outfield last season. The Astros quickly realized that having a five-foot-six-inch outfielder with below-average arm strength might not be the best decision. They've decided to put Altuve back in his primary position, which is the best move for everyone involved. At his age, Altuve is best served playing second base or getting reps at designated hitter.
--Andy WebbSource: Chandler Rome
January 24, 2026
Houston Astros infielder
Isaac Paredes will reportedly get reps at second base during Spring Training. Paredes is primarily a third baseman, but will get some playing time at the keystone in camp. This isn't a completely foreign position to Paredes, as he's played 67 games at second base during his pro career. During his first season with the Astros last season, Paredes saw time only at third base and designated hitter. The Astros could be attempting to shift Paredes over to second base to give
Jose Altuve more time in left field and at DH. Paredes isn't known for his defensive abilities, but a move to second base might help him on defense.
--Andy WebbSource: Chandler Rome
January 24, 2026
Houston Astros infielder
Brice Matthews will reportedly take some reps in the outfield during Spring Training. According to Chandler Rome, Matthews is going to see some playing time in center field during camp. Until this point, Matthews has almost exclusively played in the infield during his pro career. He did play nine games in center field during his time in Triple-A Sugar Land last season. The Astros need another outfielder with
Jesus Sanchez,
Jake Meyers,
Cam Smith, and
Jose Altuve as the main options. Matthews appears to be ready for the big league level after posting impressive numbers in the minors last season. His best path to playing time might be moving to the outfield.
--Andy WebbSource: Chandler Rome
January 24, 2026
Houston Astros outfielder
Yordan Alvarez will reportedly play some left field this upcoming season. According to Chandler Rome, Alvarez will see time in left field, but will mostly serve as the designated hitter. This isn't shocking news, given Alvarez was limited to 48 games due to injuries last season. The Astros keeping Alvarez as the DH is the best way to protect him from injury. Alvarez played 15 games in left field in 2025 and 53 games in the outfield during the 2024 campaign. The 28-year-old isn't exactly known for his defensive ability, so keeping him at DH for the majority of the games makes sense. He's an elite player when healthy, so hopefully, fantasy managers will get a full season from Alvarez in 2026.
--Andy WebbSource: Chandler Rome
January 24, 2026
The Arizona Diamondbacks are reportedly the favorites to re-sign free-agent starting pitcher
Zac Gallen. A reunion appears to be in the works after it seemed likely that the two sides would go their separate ways at the beginning of the winter. Gallen rejected the qualifying offer and entered free agency, but with draft pick compensation tied to his name. The Orioles, Braves, Giants, and Tigers have reportedly expressed interest in Gallen, but there is no deal in place. The 30-year-old is coming off a down year with the D-Backs in 2025. Last season, Gallen posted a 4.83 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 175/66 K/BB ratio across 33 starts. It was the first year that Gallen had finished with a 4-plus ERA since the 2021 campaign. It seems possible that Gallen would take a short-term deal with opt-out options to try to re-establish his value. The D-Backs haven't replaced Gallen's spot in the rotation, so a reunion could still happen. Gallen is a quality arm that makes sense for a team that doesn't have a ton of established arms to count on right now.
--Andy WebbSource: Diamondbacks on SI
January 24, 2026
The San Diego Padres have signed infielder/outfielder
Samad Taylor to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. Taylor recently elected free agency after being removed from the Seattle Mariners' 40-man roster. His versatility makes Taylor an attractive utility option, but he lacks experience at the big league level. The 27-year-old has only played 38 games across parts of three seasons. He slashed .296/.378/.461 with 17 home runs, 86 RBI, and 44 stolen bases across 137 games in Triple-A with the Mariners last season. He only played in three big league games last season, but his excellent play in the minors makes him worthy of a flier. He figures to compete for a bench role on the 26-man roster during Spring Training.
--Andy WebbSource: Chris Cotillo
January 24, 2026
San Diego Padres right-hander
Yu Darvish's (elbow) agent, Joel Wolfe, said that no decision has been made on Darvish's retirement, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. A report earlier on Saturday said that Darvish was hanging up his cleats. "Yu has not made a final decision yet. This is a complicated matter we are still working through," Wolfe said. The 39-year-old veteran will not play at all in 2026 after having an internal-brace procedure and flexor-tendon surgery. Darvish is set to make $46 million over the next three seasons if he doesn't retire, but the Japanese legend doesn't appear to have much left in the tank. He has made a combined 31 starts in the last two seasons in San Diego and has gone 12-8 with a 4.28 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 146:41 K:BB in 153 2/3 innings pitched. The odds are against Darvish being a reliable fantasy pitching option in 2027 if he doesn't retire.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
January 24, 2026
The New York Post's Joel Sherman writes that the New York Mets got indications that Detroit Tigers left-hander
Tarik Skubal might have cost them their "five best prospects" in a trade. New York's five best prospects were
Nolan McLean,
Carson Benge,
Jett Williams,
Jonah Tong, and
Brandon Sproat before they traded Williams and Sproat to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-hander
Freddy Peralta this week. The Tigers have a sky-high asking price for Skubal, who won his second straight American League Cy Young award in 2025 after setting career highs in ERA (2.21), WHIP (0.89), strikeouts (241), and innings pitched (195 1/3). The 29-year-old southpaw is the most dominant starting pitcher in the game right now, and although he'll be a free agent after the 2026 season, it appears Detroit will hang onto him for now.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Joel Sherman
January 24, 2026
New York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor (elbow) is coming off an excellent 2025 season in which he posted a .267/.346/.466 slash line with 31 home runs, 86 RBI, 117 runs scored, and 31 stolen bases across 732 plate appearances. The 32-year-old underwent offseason elbow surgery, but he's expected to be fully ready to go once 2026 Spring Training gets underway. Lindor should plug in as the everyday leadoff hitter at the top of a new-look Mets lineup. New York lost star first baseman
Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles in free agency, which could hurt the team's offense. However, the Mets pivoted by signing infielders
Bo Bichette and
Jorge Polanco, as well as trading for outfielder
Luis Robert Jr. Of course, New York also retains outfielder
Juan Soto, who drove in 105 RBI in his first season with the Mets in 2025. All in all, Lindor should be in a position to record his fourth consecutive season of at least 100 runs scored as long as he remains healthy. He remains an elite fantasy shortstop option heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
After struggling through much of his rookie season in 2024, Baltimore Orioles second baseman
Jackson Holliday provided much more stable production throughout 2025. Across 649 plate appearances, Holliday slashed .242/.314/.375 with 17 home runs, 55 RBI, 70 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. While those numbers don't exactly leap off the page, Holliday is still just 22 years old and showed real signs of improvement at the plate, cutting his strikeout rate from 33.2% in 2024 to 21.6% in 2025. Entering 2026, Holliday should see everyday playing time at second base and could be locked in at the top of a Baltimore lineup that looks much improved after adding superstar first baseman
Pete Alonso in free agency. With another offseason to get stronger and work on his game, Holliday profiles as a possible breakout candidate for fantasy managers in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
San Diego Padres outfielder
Jackson Merrill was one of the stars of the 2024 MLB season, winning a Silver Slugger award and finishing ninth in the National League MVP vote as a rookie. However, the 22-year-old battled through injuries and underperformance in a disappointing 2025 sophomore campaign. Across 483 plate appearances overall, Merrill posted a .264/.317/.457 with 16 home runs, 67 RBI, 59 runs scored, and one stolen base. His strikeout rate rose from 17% in 2024 to 22.5% in 2025, and his slugging percentage dipped from .500 to .457. Entering 2026, Merrill should be back to full strength and could be in line for a bounce-back campaign. In addition to a potential rebound at the plate, improved lower-body health could help Merrill push closer to the 16 stolen bases he logged as a rookie. RotoBaller currently ranks Merrill as the number 16 outfielder in traditional rotisserie scoring fantasy formats.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
After spending the first seven years of his career with the Toronto Blue Jays, infielder
Bo Bichette will suit up in 2026 for the New York Mets. The soon-to-be 28-year-old inked a three-year $126 million contract with New York that will see him move from shortstop to third base. Bichette had an excellent year with Toronto in 2025, posting a .311/.357/.483 slash line with 18 home runs, 94 RBI, 78 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 628 plate appearances. While Bichette had a strong lineup around him with the Blue Jays, there's an argument to be made that he's in a better position to rack up counting stats with the Mets. Bichette will likely hit at the top of the lineup alongside outfielder
Juan Soto and shortstop
Francisco Lindor, both of whom topped 200 combined runs and RBI in 2025. If there's a reason for concern with Bichette, it may be the adjustment period that could come with learning a new position. However, he will gain multi-position eligibility early in the season, which only boosts his 2026 fantasy value.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
Boston Red Sox second baseman
Kristian Campbell got off to a strong start to the 2025 season, earning a starting role in Spring Training and signing an eight-year extension in April. However, the 23-year-old faded over the course of the season and spent the last three-plus months of the year in Triple-A. Across 263 MLB plate appearances overall, Campbell posted a .223/.319/.345 slash line with six home runs, 21 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases. As things currently stand, the Red Sox project to enter 2026 Spring Training with opportunities for playing time at both second and third base. As such, Campbell could be competing for a job with infielders
Marcelo Mayer and
Romy Gonzalez, as well as utility men
Nate Eaton and
Nick Sogard. Boston may also be looking to move Campbell to the outfield, although the team's outfield depth chart is significantly more crowded. Campbell's progress in Spring Training will be a storyline for fantasy managers to monitor closely.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
January 24, 2026
Cleveland Guardians All-Star third baseman
Jose Ramirez signed a restructured seven-year, $175 million contract extension on Saturday that will carry him through the 2032 season, according to
Hector Gomez. In April of 2022, Ramirez and the Guardians agreed to a five-year, $124 million extension. Ramirez has been one of the best all-around players in baseball, dating back to the 2017 season. The 33-year-old Dominican switch-hitter can do it all, and he's hit .279/.353/.504 with an .857 OPS, 285 homers, 949 RBI, and 287 stolen bases in 13 big-league seasons. Not only does he contribute in all categories for fantasy managers, but he's been durable, playing in 150-plus games in each of the last five seasons. J-Ram has 30-plus homers and 100-plus RBI in three of the last five years despite playing in Cleveland. He's a top-five overall fantasy selection heading into spring drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
January 24, 2026
Houston Astros third baseman
Isaac Paredes may have to earn a starting role during spring training, given the current state of the team's infield. During his first stint with the Astros last season, Isaac Paredes logged 89 of his 102 games at the hot corner, with the other 13 coming as the designated hitter. However, after Paredes suffered a significant hamstring injury in July, the Astros opted to acquire
Carlos Correa ahead of the trade deadline to bolster their infield. With Correa slated to play third base, Paredes will have to compete for the first base job alongside
Christian Walker. He could also see time as a DH if
Yordan Alvarez is moved back to left field. Paredes has also been linked in several trade discussions, including the Boston Red Sox, which could open up a full-time role. However, in his current situation, managers should expect him to potentially see limited at-bats, which will hinder his early-season upside.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
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