February 17, 2026
New York Mets third baseman
Brett Baty (hamstring) tweaked his hamstring during offseason workouts "about two weeks ago" and will ease into spring training, manager
Carlos Mendoza told Mike Puma of the New York Post. Baty had the best season of his young career while taking on a full-time role in 2025. Across 130 games, he slashed .254/.313/.435 with 18 home runs, a 7.6% walk rate, a 25.0% strikeout rate, and 111 wRC+. He spent most of his defensive innings at third base (2 OAA and 1 FRV), but he carved out a significant chunk of time at second base (-1 OAA and -2 FRV), too. At this point, it's unclear whether Baty will be ready for Opening Day. Coming into spring camp behind schedule is far from ideal, but he does still have a full month to recover. Baty projects as the Mets' designated hitter in 2026, but he could start the year at third base if he's healthy, if
Francisco Lindor (hand) isn't ready, and if
Bo Bichette has to temporarily shift over to shortstop. That's a lot of hypotheticals, of course, and none of it will matter if Baty isn't ready to go.
--Andersen PickardSource: Mike Puma
February 17, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitchers
Gavin Stone (shoulder) and
River Ryan (elbow) each threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com. Stone is working his way back from a shoulder injury that he suffered in September 2024. He missed all of last season while recovering from surgery, and this latest update indicates that he's inching closer to making his return. Across 25 starts in 2024, Stone posted a 4.01 FIP with 7.44 K/9, 2.37 BB/9, and a 44.2% ground ball rate. Ryan has also been sidelined since the second half of the 2024 season when he underwent Tommy John surgery. During his first and only taste of big-league action in 2024, Ryan allowed just three earned runs over 20.1 innings (four starts), pitching to a 3.36 FIP with 7.97 K/9, 3.98 BB/9, and a 50% ground ball rate. The Dodgers can't have both Stone and Ryan in their Opening Day six-man rotation; at best, there will be room for one of them, and that's only if
Blake Snell (left shoulder) isn't ready for the start of the season.
--Andersen PickardSource: Sonja Chen
February 17, 2026
Los Angeles Angels relief pitchers
Ben Joyce (shoulder) and
Robert Stephenson (elbow) each threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Prior to Tuesday's session, neither pitcher had thrown off the mound this spring. Joyce is working his way back from a torn labrum, which required surgery in May 2025. During his last healthy season in 2024, he posted a 2.08 ERA with 8.57 K/9, 3.63 BB/9, and 0.26 HR/9. The right-hander is capable of hitting 102 mph with his fastball, offering the Angels an effective leverage arm out of the bullpen. Stephenson's injury luck has been even worse. He missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, and shortly after his return in May 2025, he was shut down again with a stretched nerve in his biceps. He returned for 10 outings in the fall before being placed back on the injured list with elbow inflammation. He logged just 10 innings last year, posting a 2.70 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. These numbers fall a bit lower than his career averages, and it remains to be seen how much his effectiveness has changed amid all of his injury problems.
--Andersen PickardSource: Rhett Bollinger
February 17, 2026
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher
Justin Steele (elbow) is targeting a May or June return to the majors, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. Steele has sidelined since undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery last April, but he resumed throwing less than one month ago. He's not ready to face live batters yet, but he has built up to throwing 30-pitch bullpens. He has thrown sliders in his last two bullpens and will begin throwing other secondary offerings soon, too. Steele was the ace of the Cubs' staff when he was fully healthy in 2024, putting together a 2.74 xERA with 9.02 K/9, 2.47 BB/9, and a 44.8% ground ball rate. It's unclear which rotation spot he'll slot into upon his return, as the Cubs' five current projected starters all had sub-3.75 ERAs last year. His track record should guarantee him an impact spot in the rotation, but the Cubs' depth will allow them to be patient so they won't have to rush him back.
--Andersen PickardSource: Maddie Lee
February 17, 2026
New York Yankees shortstop
Anthony Volpe (shoulder) said on Monday that an April return is "definitely" possible, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Volpe underwent surgery to fix a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder last October. Initially, he was expected to return in May, but he has already started his hitting progression with dry swings, and it now sounds like there's a chance that his return could be moved up a little bit. Before he's cleared to play, though, Volpe will need to hit a few benchmarks. First, he'll need to do tee work and soft toss. Then, he'll have to show that he can dive on his shoulder. That final task is likely still a few weeks out, but nevertheless, it's encouraging that he's making progress and could be ahead of schedule. Volpe had 19 homers and 18 steals last season, and he ranks as RotoBaller's #25 shortstop for fantasy baseball in 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: Gary Phillips
February 17, 2026
When asked if he expects two-way superstar
Shohei Ohtani to be in the team's Opening Day starting rotation as a pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said, "I do." Ohtani will not pitch at all for Team Japan during the upcoming World Baseball Classic, so he probably will be on a strict innings limit to begin the 2026 season, but he'll be in the Dodgers' rotation. The 31-year-old four-time MVP and five-time All-Star didn't make his season debut on the mound for L.A. until mid-June after recovering from Tommy John surgery he had in September of 2023, and he was slowly eased into the rotation. Ohtani made 14 starts (47 innings) during the regular season and had a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 62:9 K:BB. The leash was lengthened in the postseason, as he made four starts and threw 20 1/3 frames, striking out 28 and walking seven. Fantasy managers should anticipate a limited workload early on, but the expectation is that he'll be a full two-way player in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Orange County Register - Bill Plunkett
February 17, 2026
Updating a previous report, Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark resigned from his position on Tuesday after an internal investigation revealed he had an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, who had been hired by the union in 2023, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. The 53-year-old is stepping down just months before the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire. The union and MLB owners are expected to engage in a labor battle ahead of the new CBA, which many expect could lead to a lockout ahead of the 2027 MLB season. Owners are expected to push hard for a salary cap, which is something the players have opposed for years. Clark played a major role in helping negotiate previous CBAs for the players. Deputy executive director Bruce Meyer also played a big role in the 2022 CBA negotiations, and he is the most likely candidate to replace Clark.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
February 17, 2026
MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo writes that Boston Red Sox left-hander
Jake Bennett has been an early camp standout for the team. The Red Sox want to keep him stretched out this spring, so he won't be a candidate to be in the Opening Day bullpen. "I don't foresee us, outside of strict necessity, wanting to shorten him up anytime soon," pitching coach Andrew Bailey said. The 25-year-old 6-foot-6, 234-pounder is getting an opportunity in big-league camp despite having not pitched above Double-A. Baseball America ranks Bennett as the sixth-best prospect in Boston's system and the fifth-best pitcher. He had Tommy John surgery after the 2023 season and missed all of 2024, but he bounced back nicely last year with a 2.27 ERA, 64 K's, and 19 walks in 75 1/3 innings. For now, Bennett is a name to watch. If he pitches well at Triple-A this year, he could be an option for Boston's rotation or bullpen later in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
February 17, 2026
Former MLB player Tony Clark is expected to resign from his position as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, according to Evan Drellich, Ken Rosenthal, and Andy McCullough of The Athletic. The union will now be scrambling to find a leader heading into a lengthy labor dispute this winter. According to Los Angeles Angels pitcher
Brent Suter, a member of the union's eight-player executive subcommittee, the union hopes to "keep everything as stable as we can this year." The priority for the MLBPA will be the upcoming bargaining sessions, which are expected to start this summer. The most obvious candidate to become the interim director is deputy director Bruce Meyer. The 53-year-old Clark has headed the union since 2013, but he has been under federal investigation since last year regarding using licensing money or equity to enrich themselves.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Evan Drellich, Ken Rosenthal, and Andy McCullough
February 17, 2026
New York Yankees right-hander
Gerrit Cole (elbow) threw another bullpen session in camp on Tuesday, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Cole had Tommy John surgery with an internal brace last March and missed all of the 2025 season, but the 35-year-old former Cy Young winner has been throwing since August and is making good progress. He will not be ready for the start of the 2026 season, but if he avoids any setbacks in his rehab, Cole could be ready to make his season debut in late May or early June. He could even pitch in some Grapefruit League games before the end of spring training. The six-time All-Star shouldn't be expected to return to pre-injury form immediately, and the Yankees will most likely ease him back into the rotation. The former ace should be stashed in all fantasy leagues, but he'll be a wild card since he's thrown only 95 innings since the start of 2024.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
February 17, 2026
Minnesota Twins right-hander
Pablo Lopez (elbow) has been diagnosed with a torn UCL, and "surgery is very much on the table," according to general manager Jeremy Zoll. If surgery is needed, Lopez would miss the entire season, according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. Lopez is seeking a second opinion, but in all likelihood, he's going to need Tommy John surgery or an internal-brace procedure and miss all of 2026. It's a big blow to an already thin Twins starting rotation. Lopez also dealt with shoulder and forearm injuries last year and threw just 75 2/3 innings. The Venezuelan hurler was solid when he was on the mound for Minnesota, though, recording a career-best 2.74 ERA (3.19 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 20 walks in his 14 starts. Even though surgery isn't official yet, fantasy managers will want to avoid Lopez in drafts this week.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Aaron Gleeman
February 17, 2026
New York Mets infielder
Brett Baty could be in line to play a super-utility role for the team in 2026. Baty was working at second base in camp on Tuesday after spending time at first base on Monday, according to Metsmerized. He's expected to work all over the diamond in spring training this year, and he could even be a candidate to platoon in right field if outfield prospect
Carson Benge begins the season in the minors.
Bo Bichette is locked in at third base, and
Marcus Semien will start at second this year, so Baty must increase his versatility to see the field in 2026. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter was a disappointment with the bat in his first three seasons at the big-league level, but he showed more promise in 2025, slashing .254/.313/.435 with a .748 OPS, 18 homers, 50 RBI, 53 runs, and eight steals in 130 games. From Aug. 1 on, Baty hit over .300 with seven homers in 146 plate appearances. Unfortunately, he might not have enough volume to make him relevant in mixed fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Metsmerized
February 17, 2026
If Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect
Hurston Waldrep (elbow) needs surgery on his right elbow, the assumption is that he would need roughly three months to recover, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. If Waldrep avoids going under the knife, he might just need at least three weeks of rest. It all depends on what Dr. Keith Meister sees. A decision on the 23-year-old is expected to come this week. Either way, Waldrep is going to start the 2026 season on the injured list. The former 24th overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida made 10 appearances (nine starts) for the Braves last year and looked great, going 6-1 with a 2.88 ERA (3.21 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 22 walks in 56 1/3 innings pitched. Waldrep should eventually have a place in Atlanta's starting rotation, but 2026 could end up being a lost season for him if he needs surgery.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
February 17, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals right-handed reliever
Riley O'Brien (calf) is dealing with some calf soreness in camp, according to Jeff Jones of The Belleville News. The Cardinals are now discussing what it means for O'Brien's participation in this year's World Baseball Classic for Team South Korea. The 31-year-old will be in the mix for saves in St. Louis in 2026 with
JoJo Romero as long as he's healthy. In his second year in St. Louis in 2025, O'Brien was hard to hit, posting a 2.06 ERA (1.15 WHIP), his first six career saves, a career-high 45 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 48 innings over 42 appearances out of the bullpen. It was his first extended look in the big leagues, and he did not disappoint. O'Brien struck out only 22.6% of the batters he faced, though, and also had an elevated 11.1% walk rate for a high-leverage arm, so there will be plenty of volatility and risk for a pitcher who has never held down the closer's role for an entire season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Belleview News - Jeff Jones
February 17, 2026
Texas Rangers starting pitcher
Jack Leiter appears to have secured the fourth spot in the Rangers' rotation coming into the season, behind a strong trio of
Jacob deGrom,
Nathan Eovaldi, and recently-acquired
MacKenzie Gore. Leiter finished his first full season in the majors 10-10 in 29 starts for Texas last year, racking up 148 strikeouts in 151 2/3 innings. He finished the year with a 3.86 ERA and 4.15 FIP, but the 25-year-old righty looked better after the All-Star break with a 3.28 ERA, 3.72 FIP, and 79 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings. He also cut his walk rate to 3.66 walks per nine innings from 4.4 before the All-Star break. Leiter can be a great later-round sleeper with good upside, and he still has plenty of room to grow into his top-prospect status after the Rangers snagged him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Kennedi Landry
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