Emmanuel Clase, Luis L. Ortiz Shifting to Unpaid Non-Disciplinary Leave
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Ortiz will shift to unpaid non-disciplinary leave, per an agreement between the league and the Players Association, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Clase and Ortiz were previously being paid as they await trial for a pitch-rigging scheme. The two pitchers were put on non-disciplinary paid leave last July amid allegations of sports gambling. They were indicted last November and remain away from the team. There is no timetable for a resolution in the cases, with both pitchers pleading not guilty. The 28-year-old Clase was one of the best closers in baseball before the allegations surfaced, and he had 40-plus saves in three straight seasons for Cleveland from 2022 to 2024. He was up to 24 saves in 48 relief appearances last year before he was put on non-disciplinary leave. There's a good chance we won't see either pitcher appear in the big leagues again.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Luke Riley Set For UFC London Co-Main Event
Luke Riley will look to remain undefeated when he takes on Michael Aswell Jr. in the co-main event of UFC London on Saturday. Riley signed with the promotion after winning the first 11 fights of his career, eight by knockout. The 26-year-old Riley made his UFC debut in his last fight in November at UFC Qatar, where he defeated Bogdan Grad via second-round knockout. DraftKings sees Riley as a big favorite with a salary of $9,100.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Chimere Dike Could See a Diminished Role in 2026
Across 17 games as a rookie in 2025, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike recorded 48 receptions for 423 yards and four touchdowns on 74 targets. While Dike's numbers may not jump off the page, he finished first among Titans wideouts in catches, an impressive feat for a fourth-rounder in his first NFL season. However, Dike's role in the Tennessee offense may be in question heading into 2026. The Titans signed former New York Giants wideout Wan'Dale Robinson to a lucrative four-year pact in free agency, pushing Dike down the depth chart in the slot. Tennessee also agreed to a contract restructure to retain veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who played in just seven games due to injury in 2025. Finally, the Titans will be employing a new offensive coaching staff in 2026 that carries no past loyalty to Dike. Dike's encouraging rookie campaign gives him some dynasty upside, but the 24-year-old's long-term outlook is a bit murkier after Tennessee's offseason moves.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Joe Ryan Named Opening Day Starter for Twins
The Minnesota Twins announced on Friday that right-hander Joe Ryan will be their Opening Day starter for next Thursday's game in Baltimore against the Orioles at Camden Yards. Ryan will get the nod after being named an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2025, when he went 13-10 for the Twins with a career-low 3.42 ERA (3.74 FIP) and 1.03 WHIP with 194 strikeouts and 39 walks in 31 appearances (30 starts) over 171 innings. He had a back injury flare up in February, but he's fine now and is ready for the start of his sixth year in the big leagues. Despite not throwing very hard compared to most other pitchers in the big leagues nowadays, Ryan gets plenty of swing and misses and has posted a 27.6% career strikeout rate in his 641 1/3 innings pitched. When healthy, he has a high fantasy floor in a pitcher-friendly ballpark in Minnesota. RotoBaller has Ryan ranked as the No. 21 fantasy starting pitcher in 2026.
Source: Minnesota Twins
Source: Minnesota Twins
Chase Brown Profiles as a High-End Dynasty Running Back Heading into 2026
After a slow start to the 2025 season, Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown heated up in the second half and posted another year of quality production. Across 17 games, the 25-year-old recorded 1,456 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns on 301 touches. Like the rest of the Bengals' offense, some of Brown's success is tied to the health of Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow. After Burrow's Week 13 return from the toe injury that cost him nine games, Brown hauled in 25 receptions on 26 targets, including three touchdown grabs. Heading into 2026, Brown appears poised to dominate backfield touches in Cincinnati again, and Burrow should be entering the year fully healthy. Brown's combination of age, role in an elite offense, and ability to rack up fantasy points as both a rusher and receiver makes him a high-end running back option in dynasty formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sam Patterson Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Sam Patterson will look to extend his win streak when he faces off against Michael Page on the main card of UFC London on Saturday. Patterson made his UFC debut back in March 2023 at UFC 286, where he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Yanal Ashmouz. Since his loss to Ashmouz, Patterson has been on a tear, going 4-0 in his last four fights, winning all four in the first round. Patterson was last seen in action in September at UFC Paris, where he defeated Trey Waters via first-round TKO. DraftKings sees Patterson as the underdog with a salary of $7,600.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Michael Page Set For Welterweight Bout
Michael "Venom" Page will look for his third consecutive win when he takes on Sam Patterson on the main card of UFC London on Saturday. After fighting at middleweight in his last two fights, Page is scheduled to move back to welterweight for his bout with Patterson. Page was last seen in action in August at UFC 319, where he dominated former title challenger Jared Cannonier en route to a unanimous decision win. DraftKings sees Page as the favorite with a salary of $8,600.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Twins Grant Liam Hendriks his Release
Minnesota Twins right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks triggered an opt-out in his minor-league contract and was granted his release by the team on Friday, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Hendriks will be looking to latch on with another team before the start of the 2026 regular season next week. The 37-year-old Australian veteran will probably have to settle for another minor-league deal, though, and will most likely have to start the year in the minors as he tries to work his way back to the big leagues. Hendriks is in his 15th MLB season. He only appeared in 14 games out of the bullpen for the Boston Red Sox in 2025 due to elbow and hip injuries, and he missed the entire 2024 season as well. When he did pitch last year, he wasn't very effective, posting a 6.59 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and seven walks in 13 2/3 innings. The three-time All-Star doesn't appear to have much left in the tank and hasn't been able to stay healthy in recent years.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
Austen Lane In Dire Need Of Victory
Austen Lane will look to bounce back in the win column when he faces off against undefeated UFC prospect Iwo Baraniewski on the main card of UFC London on Saturday. After a rough UFC run at heavyweight, where he lost four out of his last five fights, Lane decided to move down to light heavyweight. Lane was last seen in action in July 2025 at UFC Nashville, where he suffered a first-round submission loss to Vitor Petrino. DraftKings sees Lane as a massive underdog with a salary of $6,700.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Eric Lauer Expected to Win Rotation Spot
Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Eric Lauer "should once again move into the rotation" to begin the 2026 season now that right-hander Trey Yesavage (shoulder) will start the year on the injured list, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Manager John Schneider hasn't guaranteed Lauer a rotation spot, but Lauer appears to have "gone from eighth starter to the top five in a matter of weeks." The 30-year-old southpaw got up to 70 pitches in his most recent spring training outing. Lauer has allowed eight earned runs in 8 1/3 Grapefruit League innings this spring, but he has struck out seven and only walked two in his four starts, and he was tremendous for the Blue Jays' rotation a year ago, when he went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 102:26 K:BB in 104 2/3 innings over 28 appearances (15 starts). At least until Toronto's rotation arms get healthy, Lauer could be a nice matchup-based sleeper in deeper fantasy leagues. In addition to Yesavage, both righties Shane Bieber (forearm) and Jose Berrios (elbow) will start on the IL.
Source: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
Source: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
Iwo Baraniewski A Favorite At UFC London
Undefeated UFC prospect Iwo Baraniewski will look for his second UFC win when he takes on Austen Lane on the main card of UFC London on Saturday. Braniewski made his promotional debut in his last fight in December at UFC 323, where he defeated İbo Aslan by first-round knockout. His UFC debut against Aslan at UFC 323 lasted a minute and a half, earning a Fight of the Night bonus. DraftKings sees Baraniewski as a massive favorite with a salary of $9,500.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Carson Benge Emerging as a Favorite to Start the Year in the Majors
New York Mets outfield prospect Carson Benge appears poised to win a spot on the Opening Day roster after impressing the team in spring training, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. "Carson Benge has made this team. The Mets have not announced that officially," Sherman said. Sherman goes on to explain that the 23-year-old former 19th overall pick in 2024 out of Oklahoma State looks like he belongs with the major-league group. His spring numbers back it up, too, as he came into Friday hitting .406 (13-for-32) with no homers, a double, a triple, five RBI, five runs scored, a stolen base, three walks, and five strikeouts in 11 Grapefruit League games. If Benge does make the Opening Day roster, the left-handed-hitting outfielder would most likely be on the strong side of a platoon in right field. The former two-way player is extremely athletic and slashed .281/.385/.472 with an .857 OPS, 15 homers, 73 RBI, 87 runs, and 22 steals in 116 games over three minor-league levels in 2025. Benge's power/speed upside could make him a favorite to win National League Rookie of the Year honors if he's in the big leagues from Day 1 in 2026.
Source: New York Post - Joel Sherman
Source: New York Post - Joel Sherman
Brice Matthews to Earn a Starting Role in Houston's Outfield?
Houston Astros outfield prospect Brice Matthews will start in left field in the team's Grapefruit League matchup on Friday night against the Miami Marlins, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Matthews got off to a hot start at the plate this spring but comes into Friday hitting .226 (7-for-31) with a home run, nine RBI, six runs scored, six stolen bases, six walks, and 11 strikeouts in 37 plate appearances over 13 games played. The 24-year-old has primarily been an infielder in his time in the minors, but he has been working in the outfield this spring for the Astros and has been impressive. The former first-rounder (28th overall) in 2023 hit .260/.371/.458 with an .830 OPS, 17 homers, 64 RBI, 70 runs, and 41 steals in 112 games at Triple-A Sugar Land before going 7-for-42 (.167) with four homers and nine RBI in his first 13 big-league games. Although Matthews has been playing the outfield, he still could be the eventual replacement at second base down the road for Jose Altuve. Per MLB Pipeline, he's the team's No. 4 prospect. Because of his quick-twitch athleticism and impressive bat speed, Matthews has the potential to hit 30 home runs.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Will C.J. Stroud Ever Rediscover his Rookie-Season Magic?
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was taken second overall out of Ohio State in 2023 and immediately delivered for Houston, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in 15 games in his first year in the NFL to win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Stroud has regressed the last two seasons, though, and he had only 3,041 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 14 regular-season starts in 2025. The good news was that the 24-year-old took only 23 sacks after being sacked 52 times in 2024. Everything fell apart in two games in the playoffs for Stroud, as he turned the ball over seven times in games against the Steelers and Patriots. The Texans are adamant that Stroud is their QB despite trade rumors this offseason, and he'll be in his second season with offensive coordinator Nick Caley. Stroud has enough weapons around him to recover from the last two disappointing seasons, but fantasy managers will want to keep him in the QB2 tier with upside when drafting this fall.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Bryce Eldridge to Contribute Later in the Season
San Francisco Giants first base prospect Bryce Eldridge won't make the 2026 Opening Day roster, but the team expects him to contribute in the majors later this season, according to Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News. Eldridge got a small taste of big-league action last year, slashing .107/.297/.179 with an 18.9% walk rate and 35.1% strikeout rate. He has posted similarly high walk and strikeout rates this spring while slashing .225/.380/.450 with one home run, six RBI, and 118 wRC+. The Giants evidently have no interest in rushing Eldridge into a full-time role before he's ready, so he'll start the year at Triple-A and continue to develop there until the Giants are ready to call him up again. Upon returning to the majors, he'd presumably split time between first base and designated hitter.
Source: Justice delos Santos
Source: Justice delos Santos
Brayan Rocchio Expected to Start at Second Base
Cleveland Guardians infielder Brayan Rocchio is projected to open the 2026 regular season next week as the team's starter at second base, according to Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal. Rocchio, who was previously the team's regular shortstop, will form a double-play combination with shortstop Gabriel Arias. The 25-year-old switch-hitting Venezuelan has never hit much in the big leagues and doesn't really have notable speed, either, so it's unlikely he'll suddenly become a fantasy asset in mixed leagues in 2026 despite a strong finish to last year and a strong spring training. Rocchio came into Friday hitting .313 (10-for-32) with a homer, four RBI, three runs, and two steals in 12 Cactus League games. In his three big-league seasons, he's slashed just .222/.293/.327 with a .620 OPS, 13 homers, 88 RBI, 93 runs, and 18 stolen bases in 281 total games. If Rocchio falls into a deep slump at some point during the year, his job could be in danger at the keystone in Cleveland.
Source: Akron Beacon Journal - Ryan Lewis
Source: Akron Beacon Journal - Ryan Lewis
Nick Pivetta Roughed Up During Spring Training
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta had the best season of his career in 2025, but an ugly start to spring training has raised some questions about his reliability going forward. While it's dangerous to put too much stock into spring performances due to matchup and sample size factors, fantasy managers are starting to notice that Pivetta has surrendered seven runs, 11 hits, and five walks over eight innings (three starts) this spring. He has allowed two home runs along the way, and he has a modest six strikeouts to his name. Extrapolated over a regular season, these numbers would represent major regression from his 2025 stat line, which included a 3.49 FIP, 9.41 K/9, 2.48 BB/9, and 1.09 HR/9. We'd expect his 2026 stats to look more like the 2025 season than 2026 spring training, but managers should still temper expectations slightly, especially since the idea of Pivetta regressing was mentioned quite often throughout the offseason. As it stands, the veteran ranks #24 among starters in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Sonny Gray to Occupy No. 2 Starter Role in Boston
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray will open the 2026 season as the No. 2 option in the rotation, manager Alex Cora told Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. While it initially seemed like Boston would roll out Garrett Crochet and Ranger Suarez as its first two starters, Cora is inserting Gray between them to open the year with a staggered pattern of lefty, righty, lefty. While this decision is driven by handedness, that's not to say that Gray isn't deserving of a spot in the front half of the rotation. He posted an impressive 3.07 xFIP with 10.01 K/9 and 1.89 BB/9 in the Cardinals' rotation last year, and he now joins a revamped pitching staff in Boston. Cora's announcement puts Gray in line to make his Red Sox regular-season debut on Saturday, March 28, against one of his former teams, the Cincinnati Reds.
Source: Christopher Smith
Source: Christopher Smith
Austin Martin Resumes Baseball Activities
Minnesota Twins outfielder Austin Martin (concussion) "went through a workout and actually did some baseball activities" on Thursday, manager Derek Shelton told Matthew Leach of MLB.com. Martin suffered a concussion during the Twins' spring training game on Monday, so it's encouraging that he was able to resume some activities within just a few days. Presumably, this recovery timeline at least leaves the door open for Martin to play on Opening Day. The 26-year-old former top prospect is looking to build on a strong 2025 stat line that saw him slash .282/.374/.365 with 11 stolen bases, a 12.2% walk rate, a 17.1% strikeout rate, and 113 wRC+ across 50 games in the majors. This year, he projects to platoon with left-handed-hitting outfielder Trevor Larnach in left field.
Source: Matthew Leach
Source: Matthew Leach
Francisco Alvarez Feeling Better, Could Return on Saturday
New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (back) is feeling "better" after exiting Thursday's spring training contest with back tightness, manager Carlos Mendoza told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Alvarez is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday if he's still feeling good at that point. All in all, it appears the Mets avoided any serious injury news with their primary backstop. He dealt with four different injuries in 2025 alone, so New York's brass and fanbase will be glad to hear that this latest ailment isn't too concerning. Having Alvarez available is key for the Mets, both at the plate and in the field. He slashed .256/.339/.447 with 11 home runs and 124 wRC+ last year, and he has 9.0 career FRV despite finishing with -6.0 last year. He currently ranks as the #12 catcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
Source: Anthony DiComo
Source: Anthony DiComo
Bijan Robinson Finally Has the Falcons' Backfield All to Himself
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was already an undisputed high-end RB1, but his tremendous fantasy value is growing even larger following the team's offseason moves. The Falcons' new regime, led by head coach Kevin Stefanski and president of football Matt Ryan, allowed Tyler Allgeier to depart for Arizona in free agency, leaving Robinson as the only relevant name in Atlanta's backfield. That's an unfamiliar sight for Robinson, who had spent the first three years of his NFL career losing some touches to Allgeier. We can't rule out Atlanta bringing in another running back via free agency or the draft, but for now, Robinson has the backfield all to himself. That bodes well for the 24-year-old's chances to build upon an incredible 2025 in which he tallied 1,478 rushing yards, 820 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. If he can recoup even half of the eight touchdowns that Allgeier vultured from him, Robinson could be the favorite to finish 2026 as the overall RB1 in all fantasy formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Najee Harris Remains on the Open Market
Free agent running back Najee Harris (Achilles) remains unsigned as of March 20. The veteran running back spent most of his one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers on injured reserve, and it's possible that teams are being cautious with Harris' free agency due to the injury (or, at least, they don't feel any need to rush a signing). The former first-round pick had a spotless injury history through four years in Pittsburgh, but a fluke preseason fireworks incident involving his eye, followed by a Week 3 Achilles tear, really derailed his fantasy value in 2025. He finished the year with 61 rushing yards and 25 receiving yards across three games, snapping his four-year streak of 1,000-plus rushing yards. Given his age (27) and injury history, Harris is no longer in the mix for a starting running back job. Instead, he'll likely sign somewhere that offers him meaningful snaps in a No. 2 running back role. If he's available to pick up in dynasty leagues and you have a roster spot, it wouldn't hurt to take a chance on Harris. He could end up being a valuable handcuff in 2026, and there's even a slim chance that he could have standalone value as a low-end RB3/flex depending on his landing spot.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
George Kittle's Injury Complicates Price Tag
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) is working his way back from injury, and his medical status has started to impact his price tag in both dynasty and redraft leagues. Kittle isn't expected to miss too much time in 2026; he'll likely be sidelined for the first four weeks or so. Still, that short-term absence is already lowering his ADP in redraft leagues, and the overall recovery process is slightly reducing his price in dynasty leagues. Dynasty managers want to trade for Kittle knowing that they're getting a healthy top-tier TE1, and while Kittle fit that description before his injury, there's always a little risk and concern associated with a player coming back from an Achilles tear. Factors baked into a slightly reduced price tag include potential injury setbacks, Kittle being less than 100% when healthy, and the risk of re-injury. While Kittle is a borderline top-three tight end when healthy, his injury is already starting to influence his pricing this offseason. He's a typical "hold" in most dynasty leagues for now.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jameson Williams Flashes WR1 Upside Ahead of 2026
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams has finally started to deliver high-end results in fantasy football, and it's happening somewhat consistently. One of the biggest flaws with Williams early in his career (outside of a pair of suspensions) was that he had upside but couldn't be trusted on any given Sunday. In other words, he was a boom-or-bust receiver with no way to predict when he would break out. That started to change in 2024, as he flashed more reliability, and he truly took his consistency to the next level in 2025. In 10 games following the Lions' Week 8 bye, Williams scored 12+ fantasy points on eight occasions. He had just two games with fewer than four catches during that span, and he finished the season as the overall WR12 in PPR leagues. Ranking among the top 12 is impressive in itself, but it's even more fascinating when you consider that Williams had been a little streaky to start the year. If he can replicate the back half of his 2025 season over the entire 2026 season, we're looking at a potential top-five fantasy receiver. With that in mind, we wouldn't fault dynasty managers for sending out trade offers for Williams. His price is pretty high already, but there might still be an opportunity to get him for cheaper than what he'll be worth after the 2026 season. And for what it's worth, we're not concerned about his role alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown. The two have repeatedly shown that they can co-exist. They both played 17 games in 2025, and they still both managed to finish as top-12 fantasy receivers. There are more than enough targets to go around in Detroit to support big years from the Lions' two primary pass-catchers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Parker Washington a Solidified Fantasy Option Despite Crowded Offense?
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington finds himself in a very crowded position group. However, he has likely done enough to defray any concerns about his volume going forward. Washington opened 2025 as the clear-cut No. 3 receiver behind Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr., and he continued to face heavy competition when Hunter tore his ACL and the Jaguars brought in Jakobi Meyers. Still, Washington ended up breaking out with a career-high 58 catches, 847 yards, and five touchdowns. Not only did he lead the Jaguars in receiving yards and touchdowns, but at WR27 overall, he was also the team's highest-scoring fantasy receiver. Given his consistency over the back half of the season in a crowded position group, we can confidently say that Washington's third-year breakout was not a fluke. He should remain one of Lawrence's favorite targets even with Hunter, Meyers, and Thomas all present next year. That may result in an occasional dud game from Washington, but for the most part, we expect him to be a reliable fantasy contributor in a Jacksonville offense with plenty of targets to go around. We would advise against selling high on Washington in dynasty leagues, because his fantasy relevance is just getting started. He remains a high-end WR3/flex option for 2026 fantasy football.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nico Collins Has Yet to Reach His Full Potential
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins has emerged as a low-end WR1 in fantasy football, but he still continues to fall a little short of his true ceiling. Collins has played five NFL seasons so far, and he has yet to play all 17 games in a single campaign. Injuries limited him to 15 contests in 2025, resulting in a final stat line of 71 catches, 1,117 yards, and six touchdowns. These numbers were good enough to rank as the overall WR8, giving him a top-12 receiver finish for the second time in three years. Collins has missed an average of 3.8 games per season, which is valuable playing time that could have otherwise been used to accumulate fantasy points. His fantasy output itself is impressive given the inconsistency we saw from quarterback C.J. Stroud in 2025, but managers would now like to see Collins stay healthy for a full season so that he doesn't force them to find a replacement option at random points throughout the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Brady Singer Plans to Make Next Start
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer (finger) exited early during Wednesday's Cactus League outing versus the Colorado Rockies. Singer threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts before a blister forced him to exit the game. Afterwards, Singer said that he didn't want to make the issue worse, so he left out of precaution. He continued by saying, the blister is almost gone, and he'll be ready for his next start. The 29-year-old sounds confident that this blister won't force him to miss any action. His first start of the regular season won't come until March 29, so he should be ready by then. Last season, Singer posted a 4.03 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 163:60 K/BB ratio across 32 starts. He's pitching his home games in hitter-friendly Cincinnati, which won't help his fantasy value. Singer is more of a deep league option to start the season.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Trevor Larnach is Returning on Friday
Minnesota Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach (side) is back in the starting lineup for Friday's Spring Training contest against the Toronto Blue Jays. Larnach has been sidelined since being scratched on Sunday due to left side soreness. Barring any setbacks, Larnach should be ready to go for Opening Day. He should be a lock to make the roster after slashing .250/323/.404 with 17 home runs and 60 RBI across 142 games last season. He could help fantasy managers in deep leagues, but isn't someone that needs to be rostered in most formats right away.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Taylor Walls to Miss At Least 3-4 Weeks
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (oblique) will open the 2026 season on the Injured List. According to Marc Topkin, Walls is going to miss a minimum of 3-4 weeks due to this oblique issue. This would give Walls a timetable to return around late April or early May. His absence should mean that Carson Williams gets a chance to cement himself as the everyday shortstop. The 22-year-old got a taste of the MLB last season, playing 32 games with the Rays. He struggled with a .172/.219/.354 slash line, but the Rays are hopeful that the top prospect has made the correct adjustments. Walls could overtake the shortstop job once healthy due to his elite defensive skills, but his struggles at the plate make him difficult to roster in basically any fantasy format.
Source: Marc Topkin
Source: Marc Topkin
Rob Refsnyder Exits Early During Thursday's Game
Seattle Mariners outfielder Rob Refsnyder (elbow) was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's Cactus League matchup against the Athletics. Refsnyder was forced to exit in the sixth inning after getting hit by a pitch on the left elbow. The organization hasn't given an update on his status, so fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. The 34-year-old signed a one-year, $6.25 million deal with the Mariners over the offseason. He crushes left-handed pitching, so the expectation is that he'll be a platoon bat in the outfield and at designated hitter. His struggles against right-handed pitching make him difficult to trust as a long-term option and more of a streaming choice.
Source: Tim Booth
Source: Tim Booth
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