February 7, 2026
Ex-major-league outfielder
Yasiel Puig was found guilty of obstruction of justice and lying to federal officials investigating an illegal sports betting operation, according to David Payne Purdum of ESPN. Puig now faces up to 20 years in federal prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26. The 35-year-old initially pled guilty to a felony charge of lying to federal agents. He acknowledged in an Aug. 2022 plea agreement that he racked up more than $280,000 in losses over a few months in 2019 while wagering on tennis, football, and basketball games through a third party who worked for an illegal gambling operation run by Wayne Nix, a former minor-league baseball player. Authorities said Puig placed at least 900 bets through Nix-controlled betting websites. Prosecutors said Puig denied knowing about the nature of his bests in a Jan. 2022 interview, but he changed his tune months later, announcing he was switching his plea to not guilty because of "significant new evidence." In seven major-league seasons (six with the Dodgers), Puig hit .277 with 132 home runs and 415 RBI.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - David Payne Purdum
February 7, 2026
Texas Rangers outfielder
Brandon Nimmo continues to have a high floor in category formats heading into the 2026 campaign. Nimmo was shipped to the Rangers in the early stages of the offseason in exchange for infielder
Marcus Semien. Over the past two seasons, Nimmo has hit at least 23 home runs while swiping double-digit bases. In 2025, Nimmo would launch a career-best 25 long balls with 13 stolen bases, a slight drop from the 15 he stole the year prior. He posted a .262/.324/.436 line with 81 runs and a solid 92 RBI, the highest of his career. His rise in power could continue in 2026, as he posted a career-best 50.2% hard-hit rate and a 112.3 max exit velocity. While the 32-year-old's counting stats could take a slight hit in the move to Texas, he holds 20/10 (HR/SB) upside while proving a solid batting average. He is a prime target as a No. 3 OF in NFBC drafts, at his current 142.2 ADP.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
February 7, 2026
Boston Red Sox shortstop
Trevor Story appeared in 157 games in 2025, which matched a previous career high he set in 2018. Since joining the Red Sox in 2022, Story never appeared in more than 94 games in a season and has only surpassed the 50-game mark once, until 2025. Last season, Story looked like his former self, posting a .263/.308/.433 line with 25 home runs and 31 stolen bases. He tallied 91 runs and 96 RBI as he held a consistent spot in the heart of the Boston lineup. However, under the hood, Story generated a modest .311 xwOBA, suggesting he may take a bit of a step back in 2026. Additionally, his 26.9% K% and low 5.0% BB% significantly lower his floor in points formats. Given his injury history, Story does hold some risks heading into the 2026 campaign. However, when on the field, he possesses legit power and speed upside while providing high-end counting stats. He is a solid option at his 104.9 (No. 13 SS) on NFBC drafts when looking for upside, albeit with some risk.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
February 7, 2026
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Spencer Strider had a slight delay to his 2025 campaign after recovering from an internal brace procedure he underwent in 2024. However, once he returned to the bump, the 27-year-old did not look like his usual dominant self. Across 125 1/3 innings, Strider stumbled and posted a 4.45 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP. He struck out hitters at a modest 24.3% rate while allowing walks at a high 9.5% rate, placing him in the 25th percentile among qualified pitchers. Under the hood, the hard-throwing right-hander placed in the 14th percentile in both xERA and barrel rate, which are not promising signs. Additionally, his changeup, which was his primary No. 3 pitch during his prime seasons, was ineffective in 2025, posting a low 29.4% whiff rate and a high .314 xwOBA, compared to the dominant 44.4% whiff rate and .196 xwOBA it generated in 2023. Given the struggles he endured, managers should draft Strider with caution at his near 100.0 ADP on NFBC drafts.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
February 7, 2026
Atlanta Braves catcher
Drake Baldwin looked quite comfortable in his debut campaign in the major leagues as he took home NL Rookie of the Year honors. In his first season in Atlanta, Baldwin would hold a strong .274/.341/.469 line with an .810 OPS. Baldwin would tally 18 doubles and 19 home runs, while scoring 56 runs with 80 RBI. He would not steal any bases but showed a solid eye at the plate, carrying a 68:38 K:BB. Under the hood, the young backstop generated a .353 xwOBA, .272 xBA, and .480 xSLG, which placed him in the 81st percentile or higher among qualified batters. He was also an elite defender, sitting in the 91st percentile in Blocks Above Average. With
Sean Murphy (hip) still facing an unknown timeline, Baldwin is penciled in as the team's primary coach heading into 2026. Baldwin holds top-12 upside at the position, entering spring training.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
February 7, 2026
New York Yankees first baseman/catcher
Ben Rice could shift to a larger role behind the dish following the signing of veteran first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt split time at first base with Rice last season and typically kept the young first baseman in a platoon role. However, earlier this offseason, Yankees manager Aaron Boone noted that Rice would play "a lot more" against left-handed pitchers. With Goldschmidt rejoining the Bronx Bombers, Rice now faces much more competition for a consistent role. Despite this, The Athletic's Chris Kirschner noted that Goldschmidt's return could move Rice firmly into the No. 2 catcher role, behind
Austin Wells. With another infielder on the team, the Yankees could look to keep Rice as the primary first baseman and backup catcher to save an outfield spot, which could allow
Jasson Dominguez to stay on the other MLB roster. Last summer, Rice flashed immense upside, posting a .255/.337/.499 line with 26 home runs. He carries top-5 upside at the catcher position and could become a top-3 option if he were to see a full-time role.
--Andy SmithSource: Chris Kirschner
February 7, 2026
According to Meredith Marakovits of the YES Network, New York Yankees right-handed starting pitcher
Clarke Schmidt (elbow) is still targeting a second-half return. Schmidt underwent an internal brace procedure last July and remains on track to return to the bump during the back half of the 2026 campaign. Before suffering the injury last summer, Schmidt was quite productive, logging 78 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.32 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP. During this stint, the right-hander struck out 73 batters while generating a strong 3.02 xERA and an elite .198 xBA. In 2024, Schmidt was productive as well, posting a 2.85 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 85 1/3 innings. Managers in deeper formats with IL spots should consider stashing Schmidt closer to his return, as he could provide solid SP3/SP4 upside down the stretch.
--Andy SmithSource: Meredith Marakovits
February 7, 2026
New York Yankees shortstop
Anthony Volpe (shoulder) will start the 2026 season on the injured list after recovering from left-labrum surgery last October, and he's unlikely to return until at least May, according to Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media. Volpe's fantasy value obviously will take a pretty big hit this year with the expectation that he'll miss at least the first month of the campaign. He initially injured his left shoulder while diving for a ball on May 3 and required several cortisone shots to get through the season. It most definitely hurt Volpe's offensive production in 2025, and he finished with a depressed .212/.272/.391 slash line with a .663 OPS, career-low 19 home runs, career-high 72 RBI, 65 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases in 153 regular-season games. It could take the 24-year-old some time to work his way back as well in 2026. Until Volpe is cleared to make his season debut, speedster
Jose Caballero is expected to handle most of the work at the 6 in the Bronx.
--Keith HernandezSource: NJ Advance Media - Randy Miller
February 6, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays infielder
Brett Wisely was designated for assignment by the organization on Friday. Wisely was the odd man out after the team acquired outfielder
Victor Mesa Jr. from the Miami Marlins earlier in the day. Wisely never got a chance to play for the Rays, as he was acquired by the organization in a trade with the Atlanta Braves last month. The 26-year-old is slashing .214/.265/.319 with seven home runs and 49 RBI in 168 games across parts of three big league seasons. It's possible another team claims him and gives Wisely a chance to earn a spot in Spring Training.
--Andy WebbSource: Rays PR
February 6, 2026
Chicago White Sox pitcher
Mike Vasil will get a chance to compete for a starting rotation spot in Spring Training. Vasil mostly pitched as a reliever last season, but recently said on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast that he'll get a chance to pitch as a starting pitcher. The 25-year-old registered a 2.50 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and an 82/52 K/BB ratio across 47 games (three starts) with the White Sox last season. He mostly worked as a multi-inning reliever and threw over 100 innings in 2025. The transition to a starting pitcher doesn't seem too difficult for Vasil, given he's already stretched out as a multiple-inning reliever. Before the 2025 campaign, Vasil was a full-time starting pitcher in the minor leagues with the New York Mets. The White Sox certainly need help in the starting rotation, so they might as well give Vasil a chance.
--Andy WebbSource: Baseball Isn't Boring
February 6, 2026
The San Diego Padres are reportedly not done making moves just yet. According to Dennis Lin, the Padres are still seeking another hitter and starting pitcher ahead of the 2026 season. They were finalist to land first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt before he signed with the New York Yankees on Friday. The Padres did bring in
Miguel Andujar, but would like to add another hitter to the mix. There are still some decent options available in free agency, including
Rhys Hoskins,
Marcell Ozuna, and
Nathaniel Lowe. Among the options, Hoskins makes the most sense because the Padres probably want to add a platoon bat to go alongside
Gavin Sheets at first base. They've lost out on Goldschmidt, so we'll see where they decide to pivot.
--Andy WebbSource: Dennis Lin
February 6, 2026
San Diego Padres right-handed pitching prospect
Miguel Mendez "could factor into San Diego's starting depth this season and push up his timeline with a strong spring," according to MLB.com. Mendez is still raw at 23 years old and made only six starts at Double-A San Antonio last year, but the Dominican hurler broke out in 2025. At three minor-league levels, he went 8-7 with a 3.22 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 118 strikeouts and 45 walks in 95 innings pitched over his 21 starts. General manager A.J. Preller is notoriously aggressive in promoting prospects if he feels they are deserving, so nobody should count out Mendez for his big-league debut in 2026, especially since the Padres' pitching depth is one of their glaring weaknesses. Mendez features plus pitches in his 95-98 mph fastball and mid-80s slider. Despite his slim build (6-foot-2, 165 pounds), Mendez can hit triple digits regularly and has one of the best sliders in the minors.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
February 6, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop
Konnor Griffin, the consensus top prospect in baseball entering the 2026 season, made it look way too easy in his first year of pro ball in 2025, reaching Double-A at just 19 years old. The former ninth overall pick by the Bucs in 2024 hit .333/.415/.527 with a .941 OPS, 21 home runs, 94 RBI, 117 runs scored, and 65 stolen bases in 122 games (563 plate appearances) with Single-A Bradenton, High-A Greensboro, and Double-A Altoona. The Pirates might want to practice some patience with Griffin since he has played in just 21 games above A ball, but MLB.com speculates that it might be hard for Pittsburgh to keep him off the Opening Day roster if he continues to do what he did last year in spring training. Griffin has plus-plus speed, amazing athleticism, and is physical at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. He has all the makings of a future superstar. Griffin should already be rostered in all keeper leagues, and his current 241 ADP should only continue to rise this spring in single-year leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
February 6, 2026
After being acquired from the New York Mets in the deal that involved right-hander
Freddy Peralta in the offseason, right-handed pitching prospect
Brandon Sproat "should be right in Milwaukee's rotation mix," according to MLB.com. The 25-year-old former third-rounder in 2022 out of Florida made his MLB debut in New York last year and was inconsistent, allowing 11 earned runs on 18 hits while walking seven and striking out 17 in 20 2/3 innings over four starts. Sproat features two high-velocity fastballs and an intriguing offspeed mix of a curveball, sweeper, slider, and changeup. The Brewers could decide that Sproat needs more seasoning at Triple-A, but his chances of winning an Opening Day rotation spot increased with the move to Milwaukee. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder will be a nice late-round flier in mixed fantasy leagues with a deep arsenal if he's on track to start the year in the majors in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
February 6, 2026
MLB.com lists New York Mets right-handed pitching prospect
Dylan Ross as a candidate to push for an Opening Day spot in the bullpen this spring. Ross, a 13th-round selection in 2022 out of Georgia, was called up by the Mets last September, but he didn't make an appearance out of the bullpen. The 25-year-old was extremely impressive at High-A Brooklyn, Double-A Binghamton, and Triple-A Syracuse, posting a 2.17 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, seven saves, 80 strikeouts, and 33 walks in 54 relief innings. At Syracuse, Ross held a 1.45 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 38:21 K:BB in 31 innings. His four-seam fastball can reach 102 mph, and his 89-91 mph, low-spin splitter is another nasty offering he features, in addition to a hard upper-80s slider. Ross is going to need to demonstrate better control if the Mets are going to give him a chance in the big-league bullpen in 2026, but he's a relief arm to keep an eye on in dynasty/keeper leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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