February 26, 2026
The Athletic's Dan Hayes reports that the Minnesota Twins were pleased to learn on Wednesday that right-hander
Pablo Lopez's (elbow) surgery to fix a "significant" tear in the UCL of his right elbow was "less invasive" than a standard Tommy John surgery. Dr. Keith Meister was able to use an elbow graft from Lopez's 2014 TJ surgery to add an internal brace. The Twins are now "optimistic" about Lopez's chances of returning closer to the start of the 2027 season. The 29-year-old will have an MRI exam in roughly five months, at which point we should have a better idea of when he might be able to return to pitching. Fantasy managers should have already taken Lopez off their draft boards for the 2026 season. All things considered, it's good news for Lopez, but a second major right-elbow surgery means that he'll be more of a gamble as the Twins' ace next year.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
February 26, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander
Roki Sasaki allowed three runs, three hits, and two walks in 1 1/3 innings in his Cactus League debut on Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It wasn't a good start to spring action for Sasaki, who is trying to win a starting rotation spot going into his second MLB season. The Japanese hurler had a 4.46 ERA (5.80 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP with 28 strikeouts and 22 walks in 36 1/3 innings over 10 appearances (eight starts) during the regular season last year before becoming a key piece at the back end of L.A.'s bullpen during their run to a second straight World Series championship. Sasaki struck out three on Wednesday, but he threw only 17 of his 36 pitches for strikes. His fastball topped out at 98.6 mph. Manager Dave Roberts thought Sasaki was overthrowing, but he's not too worried after just one spring outing. The 24-year-old's upside is intriguing, but until he figures out his control issues, he'll be a wild card in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Associated Press
February 26, 2026
Houston Astros designated hitter/outfielder
Yordan Alvarez will make his Grapefruit League debut next week, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Alvarez is fully healthy this spring, but the Astros are easing him into game action after he was limited to only 48 games in 2025 due to injuries. The three-time All-Star is also expected to primarily serve as the DH for the Astros in 2026 as a way for the team to try to keep him healthy all year. Before ankle and hand injuries slowed him down last year, Alvarez had four straight 30-homer seasons as one of the best all-around hitters in the game. The left-handed Cuban slugger finished 2025 with a .273/.367/.430 slash line, .797 OPS, six home runs, 27 RBI, and 17 runs scored in his 165 at-bats. Alvarez's injuries last year have dropped his ADP in fantasy drafts, potentially making him a discount, but durability concerns are more of a concern than ever.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart
February 26, 2026
Houston Astros relief pitcher
Josh Hader (biceps) is playing catch from the mound, but he has not had a bullpen session yet. Manager Joe Espada said there isn't a schedule yet for Hader to throw a bullpen, which keeps him without a timetable to return. It seems unlikely that Hader will be able to get back to full speed before Opening Day at this point, since Houston is sure to be cautious with the 31-year-old lefty. If Hader is not ready for Opening Day in late March, setup man
Bryan Abreu will most likely fill in as the Astros' closer to start the season. Both Abreu and Hader have been excellent when healthy, and Abreu will be a nice option while Hader is out. Hader can still be a dominant force when he returns, although his increased injury risk is causing him to slide in fantasy baseball drafts this preseason.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Matt Kawahara
February 26, 2026
New York Yankees designated hitter
Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) is working through significant injuries to both his elbows as he prepares for spring training. He said that even a full offseason of rest has not helped his tennis elbow issues that have plagued both arms since 2024. He said, "I can't open a bottle. I can't open a bag of chips ... a bag of anything. That's the way it is." He is planning to play through the issue, though, and his goal remains to play the full season. The Yankees have taken it slow with Stanton in spring training, but they are hoping that he is ready to go for Opening Day, even though he has not yet made his Grapefruit League debut. Last season, he didn't play his first game until June 16, but he hit 24 homers in 77 games with a .273 batting average, .321 ISO, and .395 wOBA. Even while dealing with the issues, he offers good power potential as long as he stays in the lineup.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Randy Miller
February 26, 2026
Miami Marlins relief pitcher
Pete Fairbanks can be a solid source of saves at his current ADP, which has him as about the 19th closer off of preseason draft boards. The 32-year-old righty posted a 2.83 ERA and 3.63 FIP in a career-high 60 1/3 innings last season with the Rays. He has at least 23 saves in each of the last three years in Tampa and has been a strong closer when healthy. He should have a firm grasp on the Marlins' closer job coming into the season, after signing a one-year, $13 million contract this offseason. Fairbanks has already appeared in a spring training game, throwing a hitless inning with two strikeouts against the Astros on Wednesday. He could get a slightly more stable role in Miami, so there's good upside available in snagging Fairbanks at his current price.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
February 26, 2026
The Detroit Tigers signed free-agent left-hander
Colin Poche to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Poche spent most of last year in the Mets' minor league system, going 0-1 with a 4.82 ERA and 6.12 FIP in 18 2/3 innings at Triple-A Syracuse. He started the season with the Nationals, posting an ugly 11.42 ERA and 6.48 FIP in 8 2/3 innings across 13 games in March and April. The 32-year-old veteran southpaw missed 2020 and 2021 due to Tommy John surgery, but he showed some promise as a lefty out of the bullpen after recovering from the injury, producing a 3.27 ERA (4.16 FIP), a 1.13 WHIP, 10 saves, 158 strikeouts, and 59 walks over 156 2/3 relief frames in three seasons with the Rays. He'll provide some left-handed depth in the bullpen for the Tigers coming into the season and will likely start the season in Triple-A. While he has bounce-back potential, he is not on the fantasy radar for now.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Chris McCosky
February 26, 2026
Boston Red Sox infielder
Brendan Rodgers (shoulder) will have an MRI exam on his shoulder on Thursday after he was forced to leave early from Wednesday's spring training game after attempting to make a diving catch. Manager Alex Cora said, "We don't know what's going on, so we'll have more in the upcoming days." Rodgers was in camp on a minor-league contract, but he seemed to have a good chance of making the Opening Day roster if
Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) is unable to recover from his injury in time. If Rodgers is also out or not at 100%, the Sox could turn to
Andruw Monasterio in a utility role off the bench. Monasterio was acquired in the trade that brought
Caleb Durbin to Boston from Milwaukee and has impressed in spring training so far.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Tim Healey
February 26, 2026
Free-agent right-hander
Max Scherzer agreed with the Toronto Blue Jays on a one-year, $3 million contract on Wednesday night, a source told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The deal includes $10 million in incentives that start at 65 innings pitched and full no-trade protection. Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young winner and eight-time All-Star, but Father Time is catching up with him at 41 years old (42 in July). In his 18th big-league season last year with Toronto, he battled injuries and went 5-5 with a career-worst 5.19 ERA (4.99 FIP) and 1.29 WHIP with 82 strikeouts, and 23 walks in 85 innings over 17 regular-season starts. Scherzer was better in the postseason, and he could wind up in the starting rotation to begin the 2026 campaign with
Shane Bieber (forearm) starting on the injured list. He's no longer Mr. Reliable, and his issues with the long ball will probably persist at Rogers Centre.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
February 26, 2026
Free-agent outfielder
Randal Grichuk is signing a minor-league deal that includes a non-roster invitation to major-league spring training on Wednesday night with the New York Yankees, according to Jack Curry of YES Network. Grichuk could see plenty of at-bats against left-handed hitters with a heavy left-handed-hitting outfield. Earning a spot on the Opening Day roster won't be guaranteed to the 34-year-old veteran, though, especially after a rough year in 2025. Grichuk played in 113 combined games with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals in 2025, slashing an ugly .228/.273/.401 with a .674 OPS, nine home runs, 27 RBI, and 35 runs scored in 293 plate appearances. The 12-year veteran and former first-rounder will merely be a cheap source of power as a part-time player in AL-only leagues if he ends up on the Yankees' bench.
--Keith HernandezSource: YES Network - Jack Curry
February 25, 2026
New York Yankees right-hander
Cam Schlittler (back, lat) faced hitters for the first time on Wednesday since being sidelined earlier in camp with left lat/mid-back discomfort, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Schlittler threw 25 pitches in his live batting practice session. Manager Aaron Boone said Schlittler "should be ready for the beginning of the season," but he probably won't be "fully built up in terms of stamina." "I'll take 70 pitches of Cam Schlittler," Boone said. "Especially with some of the off-days you have, even if you're in a piggyback situation for a time or two, sign me up for that." It sounds like the 25-year-old will open the year in the starting rotation, although he'll have a lower fantasy ceiling with an inning limit. The former seventh-rounder impressed in his first 14 MLB starts (73 innings) in his rookie year with an ERA under 3.00 and with 84 K's. Fantasy managers should expect at least a little bit of regression in 2026, but there's a lot to like long-term about Schlittler's profile.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
February 25, 2026
New York Yankees right-hander
Will Warren got his spring training off to a strong start in Tuesday's Grapefruit League victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Warren picked up the win by allowing an earned run on four hits while walking none and striking out four in 2 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old threw 36 of his 49 pitches for strikes in the outing. In his first full season in the big leagues in the Bronx last year, Warren went 9-8 with a 4.44 ERA (4.07 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with 171 strikeouts and 65 walks in 33 starts over 162 1/3 innings pitched. He should be a lock to start the year in the Yankees' starting rotation with
Gerrit Cole (elbow),
Carlos Rodon (elbow), and
Clarke Schmidt (elbow) all starting on the injured list. Warren led all MLB rookies in strikeouts. To take the next step, Warren will need to fool hitters more regularly with his secondary pitches and lower his walk rate. Going into his second full season, RotoBaller has him ranked just inside the top 100 overall players.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
February 25, 2026
Cincinnati Reds left-hander
Andrew Abbott made his Cactus League debut in spring training on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals and allowed two hits (one homer) and two earned runs while walking none and striking out two in his two innings of work. The 26-year-old southpaw was pleased with his outing, which was marred by a two-run homer allowed to infielder
Josh Rojas. Abbott was delayed a bit last spring while recovering from a left-shoulder injury that landed him on the injured list to begin the 2025 campaign. He looked amazing in his first nine starts last year, recording a 1.51 ERA and 1.03 WHIP while going 5-0, but he hit a rough patch down the stretch to finish with a 2.87 ERA, which was in the top 10 among qualified starters. Abbott's 22.2% strikeout rate in his three MLB seasons leaves plenty to be desired, but he appears headed in the right direction and makes for a decent depth option late in fantasy drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
February 25, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Konnor Griffin (foot) left Wednesday's Grapefruit League game in the sixth inning after he was hit in the foot with a pitch, according to DK Pittsburgh Sports. Griffin stayed in the game to run the bases, but he didn't come out to play the field in the seventh inning. It doesn't appear to be a very serious injury, though, as Griffin said, "I'm good." Pittsburgh might give the 19-year-old a day or two off in camp to rest his foot, but it doesn't sound like anything that will prohibit the young infielder from winning the Opening Day starting shortstop gig. Griffin has played in only 21 minor-league games beyond High-A, but his power/speed upside might be too much for the Pirates to pass up to begin the 2026 season, which is why they're considering signing him to a long-term extension before he has even set foot on a big-league diamond in a regular-season game. His draft stock will continue to improve in all fantasy formats if he continues to play well in spring training.
--Keith HernandezSource: DK Pittsburgh Sports
February 25, 2026
Top prospect
Konnor Griffin and the Pittsburgh Pirates are open to a long-term contract extension, according to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The 19-year-old is the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball going into the 2026 season, and he appears to be the favorite this spring to open the 2026 regular season as Pittsburgh's starting shortstop. He hit two homers in a Grapefruit League game against the Boston Red Sox already in spring training. Griffin has played in only 21 minor-league games above High-A, so fantasy managers in all formats would be wise to expect some growing pains if he breaks camp with the big-league roster. With positive reports coming out of camp, Griffin's ADP continues to rise. He should be rostered in all fantasy formats, and he's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 19 shortstop in fantasy because of his elite power/speed upside at a premium position.
--Keith HernandezSource: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Noah Hiles
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