January 26, 2026

Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Ryan Helsley struggled in 2025, posting a 4.50 ERA and 1.54 WHIP with 79 strikeouts and 23 walks in 66 1/3 innings pitched. Helsley did save 21 games, the second-most in his seven-year career, but none of them came after being traded to the New York Mets, and he also had a 7.20 ERA in 22 outings for the Mets to close out the season. The 31-year-old joined the Orioles on a two-year, $28 million deal this offseason as he looks to bounce back in 2026. Helsley gave up 16 earned runs in his final 20 innings with New York, but he should be the O's primary closer entering the regular season, and he's just one year removed from career bests in ERA (2.96) and saves (49). His poor finish last year may have primarily been the result of him tipping his pitches, so if he can get that fixed, Helsley is a nice bounce-back candidate. RotoBaller has Helsley ranked as the No. 10 fantasy closer.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

January 26, 2026

The Minnesota Twins and right-hander Joe Ryan avoided salary arbitration on Monday by agreeing to a one-year, $6.1 million deal that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Ryan will earn $6.1 million in 2026. His 2027 option will be worth $13 million with a $100,000 buyout. Ryan had filed for $6.35 million in arbitration, with the Twins countering at $5.85 million. The 29-year-old is likely to open the 2026 regular season in Minnesota, but that doesn't mean the Twins won't consider dangling him during this summer's trade deadline. Ryan was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his fifth year in the big leagues with the Twins, going 13-10 with a career-best 3.42 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 194:39 K:BB in 171 innings over 30 starts. Despite below-average velocity, Ryan excels via deception and is fantasy relevant in all leagues with a strong strikeout rate and excellent control. His weakness is that he's a fly-ball pitcher, but that is mitigated at pitcher-friendly Target Field.--Keith Hernandez
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman

January 26, 2026

San Francisco Giants outfielder Luis Matos could be fighting for his job during spring training next month. The Giants have a crowded outfield after signing center fielder Harrison Bader, and Matos could be the odd man out. He contributed 91 wRC+ last year while slashing .221/.266/.424 with eight homers, a 6.0% walk rate, and a 14.7% strikeout rate. While his offensive output was subpar, his defense was even more concerning. He contributed -6 OAA and -7.0 fWAR on defense while making 51 appearances across all three outfield spots. The Giants' projected outfield currently consists of Bader, Jung Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos, and Drew Gilbert, so to make the Opening Day roster, Matos would presumably need to beat out Gilbert or capitalize on an unforeseen injury. Given that the 23-year-old is out of minor league options, a trade or DFA seems like the most probable outcome at this point.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

January 26, 2026

The Los Angeles Angels have signed right-handed reliever Nick Sandlin to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. Lat and elbow injuries limited him to just 16.1 innings last year, his only campaign with the Blue Jays. He posted an impressive 2.20 ERA, but he likely overperformed his expected metrics. The 29-year-old finished the year with a 4.90 xFIP, 8.82 K/9, and 4.41 BB/9. His FIP has been 4.60 or higher in each of the last three seasons, but perhaps Los Angeles can get him back on track. His repertoire is certainly encouraging, headlined by a slider that FanGraphs' Stuff+ model grades at 109.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Jeff Fletcher

January 26, 2026

Milwaukee Brewers prospect Jett Williams "indicated that shortstop will be his focus heading into spring training," according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Williams came up through the Mets' system as a talented defender capable of playing anywhere up the middle, and while he won't abandon second base or center field reps with his new team, it sounds like shortstop will be the emphasis. The 22-year-old was shipped from New York to Milwaukee in last week's Freddy Peralta trade, and he should make his MLB debut in 2026 after playing 34 games at Triple-A last year. In Syracuse, he slashed .209/.285/.433 with seven homers, a 9.3% walk rate, a 23.2% strikeout rate, and 81 wRC+. The underlying offensive metrics could have been better, but his rare blend of power and speed fit the Brewers' philosophy while offering fantasy appeal.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Todd Rosiak

January 26, 2026

The Atlanta Braves have claimed left-handed pitcher Jose Suarez off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher George Soriano was designated for assignment. Suarez joined the Braves via trade last March, was claimed off waivers by the Orioles less than two weeks ago, and is now back with Atlanta. The 28-year-old tossed 19.1 innings across seven games (one start) last year, pitching to a 1.86 ERA that masked his underlying 4.39 xFIP. He induced plenty of weak contact but had some issues with control, amassing 7.45 K/9 and 4.66 BB/9. He's not a lock to make the Braves' Opening Day roster, but his status as a left-hander with the ability to pitch multiple innings certainly helps his case.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Atlanta Braves

January 26, 2026

San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee is expected to slide over to right field for the 2026 season, according to Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News. Lee played center field during his second campaign stateside last year, but he struggled in the field with -5.7 fWAR on defense and -5 OAA. The Giants' signing of defensive standout Harrison Bader will allow the Giants to shift Lee to right field, where his fielding concerns won't be as prevalent, but keep him in the lineup on an everyday basis. Last season, he slashed .266/.327/.407 with a 7.6% strikeout rate, a 11.5% strikeout rate, and 107 wRC+. As it stands, the 27-year-old ranks as the #73 outfielder in the latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Justice delos Santos

January 26, 2026

Free agent starting pitcher Framber Valdez remains one of the top players on the market with spring training just a few weeks away. As Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports, Valdez isn't alone in that regard. Other top free agent arms include former Cy Young candidates Lucas Giolito and Zac Gallen, as well as future Hall of Fame inductees Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. Valdez is looking for a new home after excelling as Houston's ace. He posted double-digit wins and at least 22 starts in each of the last five seasons, and he posted an impressive 3.34 xFIP with 8.77 K/9 and 3.19 BB/9 in 2025. He continued to effectively limit weak contact with just 0.7 HR/9 and a 72.9% ground ball rate. It's still unclear which teams are pursuing Valdez the heaviest, but there's no denying that he would offer a major upgrade to most rotations throughout the league. Currently, he's the #28 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings, but he'll presumably move up or down a few spots once he signs with a team.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Jon Heyman

January 26, 2026

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve won't participate in the World Baseball Classic, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Altuve said on Saturday that he would like to play for Venezuela, but McTaggart reports that the Astros would prefer for him to remain with the club throughout spring training, and he plans to honor that request. The former MVP would have played second base and hit third in the lineup if he had participated in the WBC, according to Venezuela manager Omar Lopez, who is also Houston's bench coach. A team asking its player to skip the WBC is rare but not completely unheard of, and it's largely precautionary in an effort to avoid injury ahead of a long MLB regular season. During his last WBC appearance in 2023, Altuve suffered a fractured right thumb after being hit by a pitch. The injury required surgery, and he missed the first 43 games of the regular season. Obviously, Houston wants to avoid a repeat scenario of 2023. Altuve is one of the best hitters in baseball, and he's coming off a .265/.329/.442 campaign that would be classified as above-average for most players, but was a down year by his standards. He added 26 home runs, an 8.4% walk rate, a 16.7% strikeout rate, and 113 wRC+. He posted 2.1 fWAR, which was his lowest mark since 2020. Last season also required Altuve to adjust to a new defensive position; he made 47 appearances in left field, as well as 66 at second base and 49 as the Astros' designated hitter. As it stands, Altuve ranks as the #6 second baseman in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Brian McTaggart

January 26, 2026

Free-agent outfielder Harrison Bader agreed with the San Francisco Giants on Monday on a two-year, $20.5 million deal, a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. With Bader coming aboard to play center field for the Gigantes in 2026, the team will shift Jung Hoo Lee to right field after a subpar season in center field in the Bay Area. The 31-year-old hit a combined .277/.347/.449 with a .796 OPS, career-high 17 home runs, career-high 54 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 61 runs scored in a career-high 146 regular-season games between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies. Bader had a .644 OPS in his previous three seasons, though, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect another career year in 2026, especially with the move to the Giants' hitter-friendly home ballpark. Under the hood, Bader's 40.7% hard-hit rate, 87.2 mph average exit velocity, .223 xBA, and .364 xSLG suggest that he's due for regression.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal

January 26, 2026

The Los Angeles Angels have signed veteran first baseman Trey Mancini to a minor-league contract, according to Ken Rosenthal. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but it seems likely that Mancini will be headed to spring training as a non-roster invite. The former eight-round pick hasn't played in the majors since 2023, and he spent the first half of last season with the Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliate, slashing .308/.373/.522 with 110 wRC+ across 74 games before opting out of his contract. He's been a free agent ever since, and now, he'll presumably head to Angels camp in Arizona with a chance to compete for an Opening Day roster spot. Nolan Schanuel has first base locked down for the Halos, but he's the only first baseman on the 40-man roster. Assuming the Angels choose to carry two first basemen into the regular season, Mancini and Niko Kavadas should compete for the role.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Ken Rosenthal

January 26, 2026

Cincinnati Reds utilityman Tyler Callihan (left forearm) says that he is a "full-go" ahead of spring training next month. Callihan suffered a gruesome left forearm fracture while crashing into the left-field wall in Atlanta last May. He was just four games into his rookie campaign at the time of the injury, and he ended up missing the remainder of the season. After a lengthy recovery, he's looking to compete for a roster spot during camp. When talking about Callihan, president of baseball operations Nick Krall said, "He is going to come in and compete for a spot on the club. That's a testament to him and his rehab and our rehab staff and him just putting in the work." The 25-year-old made three appearances in left field and one at second base prior to his injury, but he also played some first base at Triple-A in 2025 and has experience at third base from early in his minor league career. Across 24 Triple-A games prior to his promotion, he slashed an impressive .303/.410/.528 with a 15.1% walk rate, a 27.4% strikeout rate, and 150 wRC+. He went 1-for-6 with an RBI single over his short sample size in the majors. While Callihan doesn't have any immediate fantasy appeal, there's a path to potential playing time if he makes the Opening Day roster. Dane Myers, Garrett Hampson, Rece Hinds, and Blake Dunn are also in the mix and will compete with Callihan for a roster spot.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Pat Brennan

January 26, 2026

Free agent starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano intends to stay in Major League Baseball and is "not considering" a return to Nippon Professional Baseball, according to a television interview translated to English by @gnomotoke on X. Sugano signed his first MLB contract with the Orioles a year ago, and he pitched to a 4.70 xFIP with 6.08 K/9 and 2.06 BB/9 in his debut season. While he remains a free agent, Sugano has reportedly connected with multiple teams and is waiting to receive an offer. 2025 wasn't a great season for Sugano by any means, but the expected metrics look upon him more favorably than the results, suggesting that he could be due for some improvement next season. The 36-year-old right-hander isn't a big swing-and-miss pitcher, so he typically needs to induce weak contact to generate favorable results. That didn't really happen in 2025, as he surrendered an 11.8% barrel rate with 1.89 HR/9. We don't know yet which teams are interested in Sugano, but he's likely looking for a major league deal if he feels compelled to stay stateside rather than return to NPB. He's not a viable fantasy baseball option for the 2026 campaign.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Yahoo News

January 26, 2026

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) is expected to be ready for the start of spring training in February, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Musgrove has been sidelined since October 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, but it sounds like he should be a full-go when the Padres report to Arizona next month. "I feel like I'm in a good position physically [and] mentally for the season," Musgrove said. Acee added that the veteran pitcher was preparing to be available for the NLCS if San Diego qualified, so the extra three months of recovery should only further verify that he's at full health. That's great news for the Padres and fantasy baseball managers. Musgrove projects to be the Padres' No. 3 starter, slotting in behind Michael King and Nick Pivetta. When he was last healthy in 2024, he pitched to a 3.74 xFIP with 9.12 K/9 and 2.08 BB/9 across 19 starts (99.2 innings). He hasn't pitched more than 100 innings since 2022, but the metrics from his last healthy campaign are very encouraging nonetheless. As it stands, Musgrove ranks as the #71 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Kevin Acee

January 26, 2026

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (shoulder, hernia) does not expect to have any limitations ahead of spring training next month, he said during an appearance on the SportsDay Rangers podcast. Eovaldi suffered a season-ending rotator cuff strain last August, followed by a sports hernia that required surgery in October. However, it sounds like he's nearing full health, and not only will he be a full-go for spring training, but he should be cleared to make the Opening Day rotation. "I've been throwing multiple bullpens, and my arm feels great, body feels great, and I'm ready for the season to get going," he said. That's great news for the Rangers and fantasy baseball managers. Eovaldi pitched to a stellar 1.73 ERA last year, and his 2.80 FIP was also quite impressive despite suggesting he experienced some good luck. He should return to his terrific form this year, looking to maintain his phenomenal 8.93 K/9, 1.45 BB/9, and 50.3% ground ball rate from 2025. He currently projects as the No. 2 starter in an exciting rotation that also features Jacob deGrom and MacKenzie Gore. As it stands, Eovaldi ranks as the #42 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: SportsDay Rangers