January 14, 2026

Former first-round pick Caden Bodine was included in the package to Tampa Bay that sent right-handed pitcher Shane Baz to the Baltimore Orioles earlier this offseason. The Orioles selected the young backstop with the 30th overall pick in last year's MLB Draft and will now join his second professional club. Following his selection out of Coastal Carolina, the backstop was set to Low-A Delmarva, where he appeared in his first 11 professional contests. In this brief stint, Bodine held a .326/.408/.349 line with a .757 OPS. The 22-year-old hit one double and had an 8:5 K:BB. The catcher is considered Tampa Bay's No. 13 overall prospect. Entering the draft, Bodine was credited with having some of the best contact skills in the class. Dynasty managers should expect the switch-hitting catcher to spend most of 2026 in the lower levels of the Tampa Bay system.--Andy Smith
Source: Jeff Passan

January 14, 2026

Right-handed pitching prospect Michael Forret was the top piece the Rays acquired in exchange for right-handed pitcher Shane Baz, who was shipped to the Orioles earlier in the offseason. Forret is now considered the No. 7-ranked prospect in the Tampa Bay system on MLB.com. Last summer, Forret enjoyed an impressive campaign with High-A and Double-A, logging 74 total innings to the tune of a 1.58 ERA and a .082 WHIP. With High-A, the right-hander held an elite 1.51 ERA with a 76:17 K:BB. Through his first 14 1/3 innings at Double-A, the former 14th-round selection posted a similar 1.88 ERA and 0.91 WHIP, with a 15:4 K:BB. Given his impressive control and high strikeout upside, Forret is worth closely monitoring in dynasty leagues. Given his dominant performance last summer, the budding 21-year-old could reach Triple-A much sooner than expected.--Andy Smith
Source: Jeff Passan

January 14, 2026

New York Yankees infield prospect Dylan Jasso was included in the package that sent left-handed starting pitcher Ryan Weathers to the New York Yankees on Tuesday evening. Additionally, Jasso was sent to the Malrins alongside fellow prospects Dillon Lewis, Brendan Jones, and Juan Matheus. Jasso, the No. 23-ranked prospect in the Yankee system ahead of the trade, spent his entire 2025 campaign with Double-A. During his first look with Double-A Somerset, Jasso held his own, posting a .257/.326/.400 line with a .726 OPS. Across 127 games, Jasso hit 13 round-trippers, added 17 doubles, but held a rough 130:42 K:BB. In 2024, Jasso posted a .728 OPS split between Low-A and High-A. Managers should expect Jasso to make a case to begin the 2026 campaign with Triple-A, which could open the door for a second-half MLB debut.--Andy Smith
Source: Jack Curry

January 14, 2026

The New York Yankees have traded outfield prospect Dillon Lewis to the Miami Marlins in the package that brought Ryan Weathers to the Bronx. Additionally, the Yankees sent fellow prospects Brendan Jones, Dylan Jasso, and Juan Matheus to Miami. Lewis was viewed as the No. 16-ranked prospect in the New York pipeline ahead of Tuesday's trade. Lewis joined the Yankees in the 2024 draft in the 13th round out of Queens University of Charlotte. After a small taste of Low-A following the draft in 2024, Lewis received his first full look at professional baseball last season with Low-A and High-A. Across 122 games split between the levels, Lewis held a .237/.321/.445 line with 21 doubles, 22 home runs, and 26 stolen bases. Given that he spent 76 of these games with High-A, Lewis should be in the mix to debut at Double-A early in the 2026 campaign.--Andy Smith
Source: Jack Curry

January 14, 2026

The New York Yankees have traded outfield prospect Brendan Jones to the Miami Marlins in return for left-handed pitcher Ryan Weathers. With Jones, the Yankees also sent prospects Dillon Lewis, Dylan Jasso, and Juan Matheus. Jones was considered the No. 15-ranked prospect in the Yankee system on MLB.com before the trade. The former 12th-round pick out of Kansas State spent the 2025 season with High-A and Double-A. He began the campaign with High-A Hudson Valley and held a .236/.349/.362 line with four home runs and 23 stolen bases. During his first look at Double-A, Jones posted a .250/.365/.415 line with seven home runs and an eye-catching 28 stolen bases. In total, Jones swiped 51 bags across 124 contests. Managers should expect Jones to begin the season at Double-A and push for his Triple-A debut in the second half.--Andy Smith
Source: Jack Curry

January 14, 2026

Free agent relief pitcher Seranthony Dominguez is viewed as a top option for the Diamondbacks' bullpen, according to Jack Sommers of Sports Illustrated. The Diamondbacks are in the market to add to their bullpen as both of their top options, A.J. Puk (elbow) and Justin Martinez (elbow), are expected to miss the first half as they recover from Tommy John surgery. While Kevin Ginkel could fill the closer role for the short term, they have begun exploring the free agent market to add some depth to their bullpen. Dominguez is viewed as one of those options. Last summer, the right-hander logged 62 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.16 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP. However, he generated an elite .198 xBA, suggesting he should see better results in 2026. Dominguez has also had experience in the closer role, totaling 11 saves in 2024 and 16 saves back in 2018. If he were to sign with the Diamondbacks, he would carry sleeper appeal as he would be in the mix to earn the primary ninth-inning job during the first half.--Andy Smith
Source: Jack Sommers

January 14, 2026

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Blaze Alexander could see extended time in the outfield during the upcoming season. On Tuesday, the Diamondbacks acquired third baseman Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals. Following the trade, GM Mike Hazen noted that he envisions Arenado playing on a daily basis at third base, which will limit Alexander's opportunities at the hot corner. However, Hazen said there are still "plenty of opportunities available." Alex D'Agostino of Sports Illustrated reported that since Alexander saw limited time in the outfield last season, the team could look to increase that, as it would be his primary path to playing time. In 2025, Alexander saw six games in the outfield compared to 68 in the infield. Through 74 MLB games last summer, Alexander held a .230/.323/.383 line with 12 doubles and seven home runs. If he can see ample time in the outfield during spring training, he could be worth monitoring in deeper NL-only formats.--Andy Smith
Source: Alex D'Agostino

January 14, 2026

The Arizona Diamondbacks are expected to rely on a "bridge "closer in the first half of the season while top relievers A.J. Puk (elbow) and Justin Martinez (elbow) recover from their respective injuries. Jack Sommers of Sports Illustrated reported that the team is looking for a "gem," similar to how Shelby Miller was for the Diamondbacks when injuries hit the bullpen last season. Puk underwent Tommy John surgery last June, but appears to be in serious contention to return in the second half of 2026. Martinez also underwent Tommy John surgery, but according to Sommers, appears to be in contention to contribute in the back half of the upcoming season. While the Diamondbacks could look to sign any of the top remaining relievers, managers should expect Kevin Ginkel and Andrew Saalfrank to potentially take on the "bridge" role in the opening months. If they were to share the save opportunities, both would have limited fantasy values and be reserved for those in deeper 15+ team formats.--Andy Smith
Source: Jack Sommers

January 14, 2026

According to Colin Beazley of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Pirates could look to pursue Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm in a trade. With the Phillies in serious pursuit of Bo Bichette, they could look to move Bohm in a trade, as Bichette would likely become their everyday third baseman. The Pirates have had a rather productive offseason, signing Ryan O'Hearn, who is expected to share time at first base and designated hitter, and trading for power-hitting second baseman Brandon Lowe. Currently, Jared Triolo is slated to serve as the everyday third baseman for the Pirates. Last summer, Bohm posted a .287/.331/.409 line with 11 home runs and two stolen bases. He would provide another solid bat to an improving Pittsburgh lineup, but would likely see his counting stats take a decline moving away from the Phillies.--Andy Smith
Source: Colin Beazley

January 14, 2026

The Los Angeles Dodgers have designated infielder Ryan Fitzgerald for assignment. This transaction opened a spot on the roster for Andy Ibanez. The Dodgers claimed Fitzgerald off waivers from the Minnesota Twins earlier this week. If Fitzgerald were to clear waivers, he would report to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Last season, Fitzgerald made his MLB debut with the Twins and posted a .196/.302/.457 line with four long balls across a brief 24-game stint. During this small sample, he showed a strong eye at the plate, drawing walks at a 13.2% rate and striking out at a 15.1% rate. Through 59 games with Triple-A St. Paul last summer, Fitzgerald held a .836 OPS with 16 doubles and served home runs. He is worth monitoring in deeper formats as he has shown potential during his small look in the big leagues.--Andy Smith
Source: Katie Woo

January 14, 2026

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) will not have an innings limit placed on him during the 2026 season. Padres manager Craig Stammen appeared on the Foul Territory podcast and explained that the right-hander is in a "great spot" following his recovery from Tommy John surgery and noted that the team is not planning to put an innings limit on him. The 33-year-old has not been on the bump since the 2024 campaign. During that season, he logged 99 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.88 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP. He struck out 101 hitters and showed above-average command, allowing walks at a 5.6% rate. However, he generated a rather high 4.31 xERA. Musgrove is worth closely monitoring in spring training. He has sleeper appeal in deeper formats, especially if he can return to his 2022 form when he held a strong 2.93 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP.--Andy Smith
Source: Craig Stammen

January 13, 2026

The Cincinnati Reds have signed free-agent catcher Will Banfield and right-hander Hagen Danner to minor-league deals, according to the Reds' X account. Banfield appeared in just seven games for Cincinnati last year, slashing .100/.100/.100 with one hit in 10 plate appearances. In the minors, the 26-year-old from Georgia has slashed .224/.276/.366 with 63 home runs across 2,428 plate appearances in seven seasons. The Reds already have three catchers on their major-league roster in Tyler Stephenson, Jose Trevino, and Ben Rortvedt, and none of them can be optioned to the minors. While Banfield is unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, he provides glove-first depth at catcher in the event of an injury. Danner, a 27-year-old right-hander, has faced only one hitter in the majors during a brief stint with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023. Across five minor-league seasons, he has posted a 3.86 ERA with 189 strikeouts in 170 1/3 innings. While it is unlikely that either player will make the major-league roster out of spring training, even if they did, neither would be relevant in fantasy for 2026.--Marty Tallman
Source: Reds X account

January 13, 2026

According to Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the Boston Red Sox are still rumored to have interest in veteran third baseman Eugenio Suarez following Alex Bregman's signing with the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Boston previously showed interest in Suarez earlier in the offseason but opted to wait in hopes of landing infielders Ketel Marte or Jorge Polanco. Throughout the winter, the Red Sox viewed Suarez largely as a fallback option and did not seriously engage with his camp until Bregman left. In 2025, Suarez crushed 49 home runs but hit only .228 with a lackluster .298 on-base percentage. While the 34-year-old continues to barrel the ball 14.3% of the time, he has become a below-average defender and still strikes out at a near 30% rate. From a fantasy standpoint, Boston would be an ideal landing spot, thanks to the Green Monster and the other hitter-friendly parks within the American League East. However, with Father Time undefeated, it may only be a matter of time before Suarez's elevated strikeout rate begins to overshadow his power production.--Marty Tallman
Source: Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo

January 13, 2026

The New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays are engaged in an active bidding war for free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker. According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the Mets have offered Tucker a short-term deal believed to be worth roughly $50 million per season. Meanwhile, sources told ESPN that the Blue Jays have countered with a long-term contract carrying a lower average annual value. Tucker is the most prominent free agent still on the market, and he is hoping to land a contract that will carry him through the remainder of his career. Last season with the Chicago Cubs, the 28-year-old slashed .266/.377/.464 with 22 home runs, 25 doubles, and 25 stolen bases while striking out only 14.7% of the time across 597 plate appearances. However, the primary concern surrounding Tucker is durability. He missed time last season with a fractured finger and finished the year while managing a calf injury. In 2024, he also fractured his shin after fouling a ball off his leg. While there is no doubt about his talent, evaluators have raised questions about how well he will age, citing slower bat speed, declining sprint speed, and diminishing outfield range. Even with those concerns, Tucker remains one of the most valuable players in baseball. From a fantasy perspective, he projects as a top-20 overall pick in most formats, with the upside of a first-round bat. Wherever he lands, Tucker should remain a cornerstone player for years to come.--Marty Tallman
Source: Jesse Rogers

January 13, 2026

The Kansas City Royals are moving in the outfield walls at Kauffman Stadium by approximately 10 feet in an effort to boost home run production, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. "We want a neutral ballpark where if you hit a ball well, it should be a home run," Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said in an interview with ESPN. Despite featuring a core of developing stars such as Bobby Witt Jr., Maikel Garcia, and Vinnie Pasquantino, along with veteran slugger Salvador Perez, the Royals finished with the fifth-lowest home run total in baseball last season. The organization believes the new dimensions will increase offense without the players having to drastically adjust their swing when they play at home. The changes should also benefit the club's next wave of talent, including top catching prospect Carter Jensen and 22-year-old outfielder Jac Caglianone, both of whom bring notable power potential. From a fantasy perspective, the adjusted dimensions make nearly every Royals hitter more appealing. Expect Kansas City bats to steadily rise up draft boards as Opening Day approaches.--Marty Tallman
Source: Jeff Passan