February 28, 2026
Entering his age-33 season, San Diego Padres shortstop
Xander Bogaerts is not the player he once was at his peak. However, the veteran was still a useful hitter when healthy in 2025, hitting .263/.328/.391 with 11 home runs, 53 RBI, 63 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases across 552 plate appearances. Bogaerts is also locked into everyday playing time at or near the top of the top-heavy Padres' lineup, which could help him rack up counting stats. However, Bogaerts has not posted a barrel rate north of 7.0% since 2021, so his ability to consistently hit for power and drive in runs is limited. Injuries are also starting to take their toll. Bogaerts has missed at least 25 games in each of the past two seasons while battling shoulder and foot ailments. The durability question marks are particularly damaging for a player of Bogaerts' profile, as his path to fantasy production relies on his ability to be a compiler across the counting categories. Bogaerts checks in as RotoBaller's 26th-ranked shortstop heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 28, 2026
Across 588 plate appearances in 2025, Colorado Rockies outfielder
Jordan Beck posted a .258/.317/.416 slash line with 16 home runs, 53 RBI, 62 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases. The 24-year-old recorded a concerningly high 29.2% strikeout rate, particularly considering that his 9.5% barrel rate and 38.4% hard-hit rate indicate that he carries middling power potential. However, playing his home games at Coors Field helped Beck to a .351 batting average on balls in play, which could keep him from being a drain on the batting average category for fantasy managers. As a right-handed hitter, Beck should also be a fixture in the middle of the Colorado lineup on an everyday basis as the team tries to figure out whether he should be one of the building blocks of the next competitive Rockies' team. With another year of MLB experience, Beck could work his way into being a 20-homer, 20-steal outfielder that fantasy managers can plug into their lineup and feel comfortable in, particularly when Colorado has a stretch of consecutive home games.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 28, 2026
Miami Marlins shortstop/second baseman
Otto Lopez emerged as a solid everyday regular in 2025, hitting .246/.305/.368 with 15 home runs, 77 RBI, 66 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases across 594 plate appearances. Lopez also posted excellent defensive metrics while playing both middle infield spots, which should keep his playing time in Miami secure even if he runs into some offensive struggles. With just a 6.2% career barrel rate and 38.5% career hard-hit rate, Lopez is unlikely to be a significant power source for fantasy managers. However, he struck out in just 13.8% of his plate appearances in 2025, and may have gotten a bit unlucky with a .264 batting average on balls in play. Lopez hit .270 with 20 stolen bases in 434 plate appearances in 2024, so he could carry some upside in both the batting average and speed categories. As a multi-position eligible player who should be a max-volume player in the Marlins' lineup, Lopez profiles as a useful depth piece for fantasy managers in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 28, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman/outfielder
Alec Burleson had a rock-solid season in 2025, hitting .290/.343/.459 with 18 home runs, 69 RBI, 54 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 546 plate appearances. The 27-year-old upped his barrel rate from 6.5% in 2024 to 9.8% in 2025 while still limiting his swing-and-miss and posting a 14.5% strikeout rate. The lefty-swinging Burleson has been limited to big-side platoon duties at certain points in his Cardinals' tenure, but that does not appear as though it will be an issue in 2026. St. Louis traded veteran first baseman
Willson Contreras to the Boston Red Sox over the offseason, opening the door for everyday first base duties to Burleson. Burleson's underlying power metrics are more good than great, so he may not provide fantasy managers with 30-home run power. However, he's a good bet to be one of the better batting average assets at his position and could be a player worth targeting in the middle rounds of drafts heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 28, 2026
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher
Luis Castillo has long been one of MLB's most durable and reliable right-handers. The 33-year-old started to show some signs of decline in 2025, but still posted solid numbers overall. Across 180 2/3 innings (32 starts), Castillo posted an 11-8 record with a 3.54 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 162 strikeouts. Castillo's 21.7% strikeout rate was by far the lowest of his career, and he also allowed the highest barrel (10.4%) and hard-hit (46.4%) of his nine-year MLB tenure. Castillo has the benefit of making his home starts in one of the game's most pitcher-friendly environments in Seattle. In 2025, he posted a 2.60 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 100 1/3 innings at home compared to a 4.71 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 80 1/3 innings on the road. Castillo's days of being a high-end fantasy starting pitcher are likely behind him, but he's still a savvy veteran who should be usable in all of his home starts. He checks in as RotoBaller's SP49 heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 28, 2026
Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith writes that a best-case scenario for Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Trey Yesavage is to "have him ready to pitch five-plus innings when the season begins," according to manager John Schneider. The Jays will ramp Yesavage up deliberately, which could mean that he's only going three to four innings to start the 2026 regular season. Nicholson-Smith reports that Yesavage will ramp up in Toronto's starting rotation and not at Triple-A Buffalo. The 22-year-old is one of the top arms in baseball and debuted to plenty of fanfare in 2025, posting a 3.21 ERA with 16 K's in 14 innings over his first three regular-season starts. In 27 2/3 postseason innings, he had a 3.58 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 11 walks, including a 12-K performance in the World Series against L.A. Yesavage threw 139 2/3 frames in 2025 after throwing 93 1/3 innings in college the year prior. The 22-year-old's control needs to improve, but he has as much upside as any young starter once he's fully stretched out.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet - Ben Nicholson-Smith
February 28, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Shane Bieber (forearm) is still throwing at 120 feet in camp, but he has yet to throw off a mound, manager John Schneider told MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. Everything appears to be going according to plan, but Matheson writes that it's hard to chart out any sort of timeline for Bieber's return until he throws a real bullpen session for the first time. The 30-year-old former American League Cy Young winner pitched through right-forearm fatigue during last year's run to the World Series, so the Blue Jays are slow-playing him this spring, and it's already been announced that he'll open the 2026 campaign on the injured list. We should have a better idea of his timetable once he starts throwing off the mound in the next two weeks. Bieber didn't debut in 2025 until August while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he pitched well when he returned and was an asset in the postseason. Fantasy managers should not be counting on him to return to ace form, but he's worth stashing in an IL spot in deep-mixed leagues for rotation depth.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
February 28, 2026
Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Josh Lowe (oblique) has been shut down for a few days because of his oblique, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. It's an injury that has bothered Lowe for the past two years. Manager Kurt Suzuki said the team is "going to give him a few more days to be cautious." The 28-year-old missed time with the Tampa Bay Rays each of the last two seasons due to oblique injuries, so it's not a great sign that he's still bothered by it this spring. The former 13th overall pick in 2016 has never been able to reach his full potential in the big leagues due to injuries, but if he can stay healthy, he's an outfielder sleeper in deeper fantasy leagues because of his power/speed upside. Lowe will need to stay healthy and figure out a way to improve against left-handers, though. He has yet to play in more than 135 games in a season, and he hit .220/.283/.366 with a .650 OPS, 11 home runs, 40 RBI, 56 runs, and 18 steals in 108 games in Tampa last year.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
February 28, 2026
The Kansas City Royals are talking to free-agent outfielder/designated hitter
Starling Marte about a possible deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. If Marte were to land in Kansas City, he'd be a right-handed option in the outfield to face left-handers and give either
Jac Caglianone or
Kyle Isbel a day off. The 37-year-old Dominican veteran is better suited to be a full-time designated hitter at this point in his career, though. Injuries have been an issue for Marte, who is nearing the end of what has been a very successful 14-year career in the big leagues. Marte hasn't played over 98 games in each of the last three seasons with the Mets, although he was an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2022. He has always made a lot of contact and has six seasons of 30-plus steals, but he can't be counted on for much power or speed at this point in his career with limited playing time.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
February 28, 2026
Boston Red Sox outfielders
Roman Anthony and
Ceddanne Rafaela had a scary moment on Friday when they collided in the outfield during the Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves, but the two outfielders both ended up staying in the game. They are back in action on Saturday versus the Minnesota Twins, an excellent sign for Boston. Anthony, who was the top prospect in baseball at this time last year, will join Team USA soon for the World Baseball Classic. The 21-year-old has gone 3-for-16 at the plate with a double and four strikeouts so far in Grapefruit League play. He is set to be Boston's leadoff hitter in his first full year in the big leagues. Anthony looked the part in 257 at-bats in 2025, hitting .292/.396/.463 with eight homers and 32 RBI. He can be a top-10 fantasy outfielder in 2026. Rafaela, 25, is another rising Red Sox outfielder who already has two homers this spring. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 37 fantasy outfielder.
--Keith HernandezSource: Boston Red Sox
February 28, 2026
Houston Astros infielder
Isaac Paredes (hamstring) is making his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, serving as the designated hitter and batting second, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Paredes has been a trade candidate going into the 2026 season, since the Astros have
Carlos Correa locked in as the starter at third and
Jose Altuve returning to second base on a more full-time basis. The 27-year-old remains in Houston, though, perhaps because teams are wary about his durability after he missed two months in 2025 with a hamstring tear. Paredes has recovered from the hamstring injury, but his fantasy value remains in limbo with questions about his playing time. Second base may ultimately be his best path to at-bats if he stays with the Astros, but even then, he wouldn't profile as an everyday player. A trade out of town before Opening Day is still Paredes' best path to fantasy value in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
February 28, 2026
Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said on Saturday that third baseman
Josh Jung (adductor) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 adductor strain, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Jung will be down for about 10 days in camp. Originally, the belief was that Jung would be able to return to Cactus League action this weekend after being scratched from the spring training lineup the other day. After imaging, the Rangers have opted to take the more cautious route and shut the oft-injured Jung down for at least 10 days. The former eighth overall pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech University has intriguing power and was an All-Star in 2023 (the year the Rangers won the World Series), but he just hasn't been able to stay on the field enough to be considered a legitimate starting third baseman in fantasy. Jung's availability for Opening Day is now up in the air, making him more of a risk as a corner-infield depth in upcoming fantasy drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry
February 28, 2026
Baltimore Orioles infielder
Jackson Holliday (hand) said he has started throwing a baseball again after having his broken hamate bone removed from his right hand, according to Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. Holliday is scheduled to begin swinging a bat on Thursday as part of a steady buildup. The 22-year-old had the stitches removed from his surgically repaired hand earlier this week and was also cleared for fielding and one-handed swings. The Orioles will continue to slowly build him back up this spring, but he will open the 2026 regular season on the injured list. Barring a setback, Holliday should be ready to go by mid-April. Holliday is an ascending young second baseman, but fantasy managers have to wonder if his hand injury will sap him of some power early this year. The former first overall pick in 2022 showed improvement in his first full big-league season in 2025, hitting .242/.314/.375 with a .690 OPS, 17 homers, 55 RBI, 70 runs, and 17 steals in 149 games played.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
February 28, 2026
Miami Marlins outfielder
Kyle Stowers (hamstring) has been scratched from the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Saturday due to hamstring tightness, and he will undergo imaging, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. Until we know more about the severity of Stowers' hamstring injury, he'll be considered day-to-day. If the 28-year-old suffered a strained hammy, his availability for Opening Day in late March could be in jeopardy. The left-handed-hitting outfielder broke out in 2025 and was an All-Star for the first time in his career in his fourth year in the league, slashing .288/.368/.544 with a .912 OPS, 25 home runs, 73 RBI, 61 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 457 plate appearances over 117 games played. Stowers has dealt with injuries in the past and has also struggled at times to make contact, but his batted-ball metrics show a hitter on the rise. As long as his injury doesn't cause him to miss significant time to begin the 2026 season, Stowers is a fine No. 3 outfield target in fantasy drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Christina De Nicola
February 27, 2026
Athletics first baseman/outfielder
Tyler Soderstrom went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's Cactus League win over the Texas Rangers, and he's gone 3-for-7 with two RBI, two runs, a walk, and a strikeout in his three spring games. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger is part of the A's exciting mix of young players. He signed a seven-year, $86 million contract extension in December after slashing .276/.346/.474 with a career-high .820 OPS, 25 home runs, 93 RBI, 75 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 624 plate appearances over 158 games played in his first full season in the big leagues in 2025. With
Nick Kurtz locked in at first base, Soderstrom will be the A's regular in left field going into the 2026 campaign. His batted-ball metrics indicate his breakout was for real, especially as he made more contact.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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