February 12, 2026
Texas Rangers right-handed reliever
Nabil Crismatt (elbow), who is in camp with the Rangers on a minor-league deal, will have right-elbow surgery and will not pitch for Team Colombia in this year's World Baseball Classic, according to Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports. It's unclear exactly what kind of surgery Crismatt will have, but at the very least, he'll probably miss several months. The 31-year-old veteran joined the Rangers in the offseason after going 3-0 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and nine walks in 34 innings over eight appearances (five starts) for the Arizona Diamondbacks last year. The six-year MLB veteran won't be guaranteed to resurface in the big leagues with the Rangers this year once he's recovered from his elbow surgery. In his six MLB seasons, Crismatt has a 3.71 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 187:63 K:BB in 211 innings pitched with four different clubs.
--Keith HernandezSource: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
February 12, 2026
Miami Marlins catcher
Agustin Ramirez, who is ranked at RotoBaller as the No. 4 fantasy backstop after a strong rookie campaign, is working to improve his defense behind the plate as he heads into his sophomore campaign in 2026, according to Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald. Offensively, Ramirez hit .231 with a .700 OPS, 21 home runs, 33 doubles, 67 RBI, 72 runs scored, and 16 steals over 136 games (71 at catcher). He was the first rookie catcher in MLB history to hit at least 20 homers and steal 15 bases, and just the sixth Marlins player to do it. However, his mark of minus-14 defensive runs saved ranked second-worst among 31 catchers with at least 600 innings caught. He had just an 8.8% caught-stealing rate and 19 passed balls. Ramirez spent time in the offseason working on his mobility, but if he cannot improve defensively, he could become more of a full-time DH with catching prospect
Joe Mack right behind him. For his bat alone, though, Ramirez is very attractive in fantasy in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Miami Herald - Jordan McPherson
February 12, 2026
The Athletic's Mitch Bannon writes that Toronto Blue Jays outfielders
Nathan Lukes and
Davis Schneider will likely form a platoon in left field in 2026. Lukes, who hits from the left side, will be on the strong side of the platoon. The 31-year-old veteran has handled right-handers pretty well since the start of the 2023 season, slashing .266/.330/.421 with all 13 of his home runs against them. Lukes was hard to strike out, but he also had a ground-ball rate of over 45%, so he probably won't provide a ton of pop, especially in a platoon. Schneider, 27, hits from the right side, but he was actually better against right-handed pitchers last year while slashing .234/.361/.436 overall with a .797 OPS, 11 home runs, and 31 RBI in 82 regular-season games played. He has a limited skill set and is mostly useful to the Blue Jays for his defensive versatility. Neither Lukes nor Schneider should be rostered in shallow mixed leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
February 12, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Addison Barger will play most of his games in right field in 2026, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Meanwhile,
Nathan Lukes and
Davis Schneider will likely form a platoon in left. Barger split his time almost evenly between the outfield and third base in his second year in the big leagues with Toronto in 2025, but the Jays have a bigger need in the outfield now that
Anthony Santander (shoulder) is injured again. How much he plays against lefties will be the big question after he slashed an unremarkable .217/.270/.337 against southpaws last year. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter limped to the finish line and finished with a .243/.301/.454 slash line with a .756 OPS, 21 home runs, 74 RBI, 61 runs scored, and four steals in 460 at-bats during the regular season. Barger was a postseason hero, finished third on the team in homers, and regularly hit the ball on the screws when he made contact. He has a solid floor in at least the strong side of a platoon, and there is breakout potential if he can improve against lefties.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
February 12, 2026
Miami Marlins left-hander
Braxton Garrett was reaching 95 mph during his live batting practice in spring training this week, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Garrett is coming along nicely early in camp after missing all of last year following an internal-brace procedure on his left elbow in December of 2024. The 28-year-old southpaw has no restrictions in spring training previously sat in the low-90s with his four-seam fastball, so he's apparently throwing hard post-surgery. Since the start of the 2022 season, Garrett posted a 3.86 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 280 strikeouts and 57 walks in 284 2/3 innings over 55 outings (54 starts), laying the foundation for an intriguing fantasy arm. He's going to have workload restrictions this year because of his long layoff, which means he won't have a ton of upside in mixed fantasy leagues, but managers in NL-only formats need to take notice.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
February 12, 2026
Former Atlanta Braves right-hander
Ian Anderson (shoulder) tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder on Christmas Eve and underwent season-ending surgery on Jan. 13. Anderson will remain on the free-agent market and will not pitch at all in 2026. He is scheduled to pick up a baseball in late summer or early fall, with the goal of signing with a team for the 2027 campaign. Anderson has fallen a long way since being taken third overall in the 2016 draft by the Braves. He made his return to a big-league mound last year with the Los Angeles Angels for the first time since 2022, but he wasn't good, allowing 13 runs (12 earned) on 17 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out eight in only 9 1/3 relief innings. With another serious injury setback, Anderson will merely be hoping to sign a minor-league deal with a team in 2027.
--Keith HernandezSource: Lindsay Crosby
February 12, 2026
Baltimore Orioles shortstop
Gunnar Henderson left Orioles camp on Thursday due to a personal matter and will return on Sunday, according to Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. Henderson should still be ready for the start of Grapefruit League action in spring training, and he'll be hoping to bounce back after regressing in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues. The 24-year-old All-Star admitted that he played through a nagging shoulder injury last year, which was likely responsible for his dip in power -- he dropped from 37 long balls in 2024 to just 17. Henderson slashed .274/.349/.438 with a career-low .787 OPS, but he still managed 68 RBI, 85 runs scored, and a career-best 30 stolen bases in 154 games played. An intercostal strain suffered in spring training last year also played a part in Henderson getting off to a slow start. Fantasy managers everywhere are expecting Henderson to bounce back in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
February 12, 2026
Cincinnati Reds infielder/outfielder
Noelvi Marte will get some work in center field in spring training, even though
TJ Friedl is expected to get most of the starts in center this year, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. Marte didn't make his pro debut in the outfield until last July, and he definitely experienced some growing pains. However, the 24-year-old Dominican made a quick transition and is expected to be the team's primary right fielder in 2026 after moving from third base last year. In his third year in the big leagues in 2025, Marte hit .263/.300/.448 with a .748 OPS, career-high 14 home runs, 51 RBI, 45 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases in 90 games over 360 plate appearances. It was a very nice bounce-back campaign after he struggled mightily in 2024 when he returned from a PED suspension. Marte has 20-20 potential with eligibility at third base and the outfield. Don't sleep on him in what could be a very potent Reds' batting order.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans
February 12, 2026
Cincinnati Reds first baseman
Sal Stewart won the "best shape of his life" contest for the team in December, as he had already dropped 26 pounds from his listed 6-foot-1, 224-pound frame, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Stewart is confident that he'll still have plenty of power despite playing at a lighter weight, and he has a clear path to regular playing time between first base and designated hitter with
Spencer Steer primarily playing left field. The 22-year-old looked much more athletic in the offseason after trimming down, and he'll be looking to build on his first 18 games in the big leagues last year, when he hit .255 (14-for-55) with five home runs, eight RBI, and 11 runs scored. Stewart is a particularly intriguing dynasty/keeper asset because of his ability to hit for power while also maintaining solid hard-hit and strikeout rates.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Sheldon
February 12, 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed first baseman
Keston Hiura to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. He spent 2025 with the Colorado Rockies, primarily playing at Triple-A. The former first-round pick debuted with a .938 OPS in 2019, but his offensive metrics in the majors have been severely underwhelming ever since then. He went 4-for-18 with zero walks and seven strikeouts in the majors last year, but he fared much better at the Triple-A level with a .272/.369/.507 slash line, 21 home runs, a 10.6% walk rate, a 26.7% strikeout rate, and 107 wRC+. Hiura has shifted to first base full-time at this point in his career. The Dodgers are seemingly taking a low-risk opportunity on Hiura because of his average defense and intriguing display of power in the minors last year.
Freddie Freeman is locked into a starting role, but there could be a 26-man roster spot for Hiura if the Dodgers want to carry a backup first baseman.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jon Heyman
February 12, 2026
Free agent outfielder
Nick Castellanos is drawing "a lot of interest" after being released by the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Castellanos was cut loose after Philadelphia failed to find a trade partner. While none of the other 29 teams were willing to trade for Castellanos, Heyman notes that many of those organizations were waiting for him to be released. That shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Trading for Castellanos could have cost teams a prospect, and they would have had to pay a portion of the remaining money on his contract. By letting him hit free agency, he'll simply cost the league minimum without requiring trade compensation. However, teams will now have to compete for his services; we won't see a bidding war, but Heyman's report indicates that the veteran outfielder will get to pick from multiple suitors. Across 147 games in 2025, Castellanos slashed .250/.294/.400 with 17 home runs, a 5.4% walk rate, a 22.6% strikeout rate, and 90 wRC+. He posted negative fWAR with his bat and glove, and he also finished the year with -12 OAA and -12 FRV in the outfield. At this point in his career, the 33-year-old projects best as a part-time designated hitter, and he'd benefit from playing in a hitter-friendly ballpark.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jon Heyman
February 12, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
Hunter Dobbins (knee) is not participating in fielding or running drills as spring training gets underway, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It was recently reported that Dobbins didn't have a timetable for his return to the mound, and the fact that he's being held out of key camp drills isn't a very encouraging sign. There's still more than a month until Opening Day, so Dobbins has time to recover and compete for a spot in the rotation. However, he's presumably on the outside looking in as pitchers and catchers ramp up. Dobbins, who was acquired from Boston in exchange for
Willson Contreras during the offseason, tore his knee ligament last year. He made 13 appearances (11 starts) prior to his injury, posting a 3.87 FIP, 6.64 K/9, and 2.51 BB/9.
Kyle Leahy projects as the Cardinals' No. 5 starter for the duration of Dobbins' absence.
--Andersen PickardSource: Derrick Goold
February 12, 2026
The Colorado Rockies have placed reliever
Jeff Criswell (elbow) on the 60-day injured list. Criswell underwent Tommy John surgery last year and hasn't pitched since his rookie season in 2024. Across 19.2 innings of relief work as a rookie, he posted 12.36 K/9, 4.12 BB/9, and 1.83 HR/9. He managed to escape with a 2.75 ERA, but his 5.06 xERA suggests he got quite lucky. The right-hander's timetable is a bit murky, and today's transaction confirms he'll miss at least the first few weeks of the regular season, if not more. Newcomers
RJ Petit and
Keegan Thompson could fill Criswell's void until he's able to return.
--Andersen PickardSource: Colorado Rockies
February 12, 2026
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher
Ryan Walker believes he found a mechanical fix during the offseason that should improve his command in 2026, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. The reliever struggled with slider command last year, forcing him to rely on his sinker. He locked down 17 saves, but he also had six blown saves with a 4.11 ERA, up from his 1.91 ERA in 2023. Now that he has more command of his breaking ball, he won't need to fill up the zone with as many sinkers. He believes the mechanical fix will help him compete for the closer role. "I'm coming in with the mentality of earning that spot," Walker told Pavlovic. "I'm not here to sit around and be like, 'Oh, I just want a job.' I'm coming in with the full mentality of I'm going to earn this role, and it's going to be good." RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings reflect Walker's bid to earn more save situations in Tony Vitello's bullpen, as he currently ranks #21 among relievers.
--Andersen PickardSource: Alex Pavlovic
February 12, 2026
New York Yankees starting pitcher
Carlos Rodon (elbow) has thrown five to six bullpens and expects to throw another one on Saturday, according to Meredith Marakovits of YES Network. Rodon has been sidelined since October after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies and to shave down a bone spur in his left elbow. He also had two rounds of platelet-rich plasma therapy to speed up his healing and recovery process. We originally heard that Rodon was on track to return in May, and this latest update suggests that he's either on schedule or ahead of schedule. That's great news for the Yankees, who are also without
Gerrit Cole (elbow) until the summer. Rodon was effective when healthy last year, posting a 3.78 FIP, 9.4 K/9, and 3.4 K/9 across 33 starts (195.1 innings). He ranks as the #59 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest 2026 fantasy baseball draft rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: Meredith Marakovits
RADIO
