January 27, 2026

Houston Astros infielder Carlos Correa will not participate in the World Baseball Classic, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Puerto Rico native made the decision due to a lack of insurance coverage and a conversation with owner Jim Crane. Crane informed Correa of his uninsured status on Tuesday. "Jim called me and told me that he wants me to focus on the team and spring training," Correa said. "Obviously, he traded for me to win a championship here, and we had too many injuries as a team [in 2025]." Without insurance coverage on his contract, Correa would lose his $31 million salary if he were to suffer an injury during the WBC and miss the 2026 MLB season. The veteran infielder expressed frustration and noted that he had already begun facing live pitching in preparation to play for Team Puerto Rico. "I also understand the business side of things, and that's too big of a risk to take, to play with no insurance," Correa said. According to Rome, second baseman Jose Altuve also lacks insurance coverage on his contract, which is why he opted out of playing for Venezuela in the WBC earlier this week. Both Correa and Altuve, along with all WBC players on 40-man rosters, were evaluated by an independent insurer who was jointly appointed by MLB and the MLBPA. Correa is coming off a 2.6-WAR season split between the Twins and Astros. He slashed .276/.332/.402 with 13 home runs and 106 wRC+ across 144 games.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Chandler Rome

January 27, 2026

Philadelphia Phillies closer Jhoan Duran has already made 23 appearances with the organization, but now, he's getting ready for his first spring training as a Phillie. Duran was dealt from Minnesota to Philadelphia ahead of the 2025 trade deadline, and he instantly boosted his fantasy value by moving from a seller to a contender. With the Phillies, Duran immediately picked up more save opportunities. In fact, he had more save opportunities in 23 games with the Phillies than he did in 49 games with the Twins. He remained just as effective after the change of scenery, finishing the year with a 2.35 FIP, 10.29 K/9, 2.44 BB/9, a 65% ground ball rate, and a career-high 32 saves. He continued to effectively rack up strikeouts, limit walks, and minimize loud contact, which is a rare combination. The 28-year-old has cemented himself as one of the best closers in baseball, and in doing so, he has continuously elevated his fantasy stock. He ranks as the #3 relief pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

January 27, 2026

The Minnesota Twins have hinted that second baseman Luke Keaschall could make some appearances in the outfield during the 2026 season, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Keaschall was used solely at second base last season, largely because it was his first MLB campaign and he was coming back from Tommy John surgery. Now, though, he's 16 months removed from the operation and "feels much more confident in his arm strength and being smoother with his throwing actions than he was during the 2025 season," Hayes writes. A 2023 second-round pick out of Arizona State, Keaschall wasted no time making an impact at the plate during his debut season. He played in 49 games before injuring his thumb last year, slashing .302/.382/.445 with a 9.2% walk rate, a 14% strikeout rate, 134 wRC+, and 14 stolen bases. Given that he was one of the few bright spots of the Twins' 2025 season and is now fully healthy, he should work his way into the lineup on a near-everyday basis in 2026, even if he moves around defensively. He currently ranks as the #7 second baseman in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Dan Hayes

January 27, 2026

Minnesota Twins executive chair Tom Pohlad told fans at the team's TwinsFest event that he expects the organization to make at least one more bullpen move before the regular season begins. "We know that we have to continue to improve the bullpen," Pohlad said, noting that the Twins' front office has a history of making late roster moves in February. While it's unclear which free agent relievers the Twins will pursue, they did create some additional flexibility with the signing of lefty Taylor Rogers earlier this offseason. Having Rogers on the staff gives the Twins a premium southpaw, which means any subsequent moves probably won't be limited by player handedness. Furthermore, with Rogers in tow, the Twins might feel less compelled to spend big on a top-tier bullpen arm and instead settle for a more affordable depth piece. Excluding Rogers, who should be the Twins' closer, the average service time of each pitcher in Minnesota's projected bullpen (via FanGraphs) is just 1.56 years. It wouldn't hurt for the Twins to bring in another arm with more MLB experience before spring training gets underway.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Bobby Nightengale

January 27, 2026

The Los Angeles Angels announced on Tuesday that they claimed right-hander Osvaldo Bido off waivers from the Miami Marlins. Bido has been tossed around by five different teams so far this offseason after spending the last two seasons with the Athletics, where he posted a combined 4.78 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with one save, 131 strikeouts, and 61 walks in 143 innings over 42 appearances (19 starts). The 30-year-old had an ugly 5.87 ERA and 1.61 WHIP with a weak 18.7% strikeout rate last season. If Bido makes the Angels' roster out of spring training, he'll most likely be used in a low-leverage relief role while also being an option to make spot starts in the starting rotation. He has a career 5.07 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with a 20.9% strikeout rate. Fantasy managers can avoid Bido everywhere if he's on the Halos' Opening Day roster.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Angels PR

January 27, 2026

Free-agent starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Royals after an impressive showing in the Dominican Winter League. Sanchez compiled a 1.55 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 9 walks in 46 1/3 innings to earn the Pitcher of the Year award in that league. Sanchez hasn't pitched in the majors since 2022, but he was an All-Star in 2016, going 15-2 with a 3.00 ERA. In 2022 and 2023, he spent time with the Nationals, Twins, and Diamondbacks before returning to the Blue Jays to pitch in Triple-A in 2024. The former top-prospect struggled at Triple-A Buffalo, giving up a 7.92 ERA in 61 1/3 innings. After re-emerging with his dominant work this winter, he'll get a shot to earn a spot in the Royals rotation as he continues to author his comeback story. He has been plagued by health issues, but if he's 100% and ready to go, he could be a SP worth watching in AL-only leagues. His strikeout numbers are strong enough that he could be a good streaming or DFS option to monitor as well if he earns a spot going into the season.--Zach Thompson
Source: Robert Murray

January 27, 2026

Free-agent outfielder Nelson Velazquez has reached an agreement with the St. Louis Cardinals on a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training. Last year, Velázquez played 51 games in Triple-A for the Royals and Pirates, hitting .234 with 11 homers, 31 RBI, and a .334 wOBA. The 27-year-old righty showed some power potential while slashing .212/.286/.433 with 31 homers in 615 plate appearances for the Cubs and Royals from 2022-24. He played in the Dominican and Puerto Rican Winter Leagues and showed enough upside to earn his opportunity to earn a spot in St. Louis as a right-handed platoon option. He's an option to monitor in Spring Training, but he doesn't have to be on your fantasy radar yet in most formats.--Zach Thompson
Source: MLB.com

January 27, 2026

Free-agent infielder/outfielder Dylan Moore has had conversations with the Boston Red Sox, which makes sense since the team still has a ways to go before finalizing its infield setup for 2026. After Alex Bregman departed via free agency, the team has potential openings at 2B and 3B, with youngsters Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell potentially ready to step in, but both coming with serious question marks as well. While the team could still try to add a bigger, more established name at either spot, the 33-year-old Moore is a utilityman who brings good defense at multiple positions and a little speed and power with double-digit homers in each of the last two seasons. However, he hit only .201 in each of those two years and had a .280 wOBA in 106 games with the Mariners and Rangers last season.--Zach Thompson
Source: Chris Cotillo

January 27, 2026

Free agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt does not have a contract for 2026, but the 38-year-old is still planning to play in the upcoming season. After eight seasons in Arizona and six in St. Louis, he spent last year with the Yankees. His power production dropped, and he hit only 10 homers in 146 games, with 45 RBI, a .129 ISO, and a .316 wOBA. He did still hit for a good average at .274, but that was supported by a .325 BABIP that is like unsustainable. At this stage of his career, he could be a nice platoon option, and last year he hit .336 with seven homers and a .412 wOBA against lefties. He could also be a solid veteran presence for a young team, but there hasn't been much buzz about where he could land this offseason, with the Mets as the only team tied to him by earlier reporting this offseason.--Zach Thompson
Source: Jon Morosi

January 27, 2026

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller is looking for a bounce-back 2026 season, and he reported on X that he's added 12 pounds this offseason and gained a little velocity. Miller went a solid 12-8 in 31 starts in 2024, with a 2.49 ERA and 3.58 FIP. He battled multiple injuries in 2025, making 18 starts and pitching about half the innings of the previous season, while going a disappointing 4-6 with a 5.68 ERA and a 5.17 FIP. Miller is still expected to be a key part of the team's rotation in 2026, and potentially, the extra bulk will make him more durable and give him some extra velocity to be more effective this season. He'll definitely be a pitcher to watch early in spring training to see if he can get things going in the right direction.--Zach Thompson
Source: Bryce Miller

January 27, 2026

Seattle Mariners second base prospect Michael Arroyo is quickly ascending the system and nearing Triple-A. In 2025, Arroyo began the season at High-A but needed only 65 games to move up to Double-A Arkansas. With High-A, Arroyo posted a .269/.422/.512 line with 14 doubles, 15 home runs, and three stolen bases. Through his first 56 games at the Double-A level, the team's No. 5-ranked prospect continued to perform at a high level, posting a .255/.376/.341 line with two home runs and nine stolen bases. While his power production declined, he still showed an elite eye at the plate, holding a 39:30 K:BB. Additionally, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reported that Arroyo began seeing time in the outfield during winter league games, which could open even more opportunities for the young hitter. Managers should monitor his progress as he could earn an early-season promotion to Triple-A.--Andy Smith
Source: RotoBaller

January 27, 2026

San Francisco Giants right-handed pitching prospect Blade Tidwell is expected to be in contention for a starting role during spring training. Tidwell began his MLB career with the New York Mets but was shipped to San Francisco ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. He made a brief MLB debut with the Mets last summer and struggled, allowing 15 runs across a 15-inning stint. He struck out only 10 batters. However, at the Triple-A level, Tidwell has shown strong promise and could take the next step with his new club. Though 97 innings at Triple-A last season (split between Syracuse and Sacramento), Tidwell posted a 3.62 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP. He struck out 111 hitters while allowing 37 walks. With the Giants not adding many major pieces to their rotation in the winter, outside of Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser, Tidwell should be in consideration to compete for one of the final spots during spring training.--Andy Smith
Source: RotoBaller

January 27, 2026

St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews was expected to contend for his MLB debut early in the 2025 season, but was unable to earn the call. The southpaw struggled at Triple-A last season, finishing the campaign holding a 3.93 ERA with a 1.60 WHIP across 94 innings. He struck out 107 batters but served up a high 74 walks. However, during his final 57 1/3 innings, Mathews was able to lower his ERA to 3.30, suggesting he made some progress in the second half. During the 2024 season, Mathews progressed through the St. Louis system at a rapid rate. He began the season by making his professional debut with Low-A and would finish the season at Triple-A. Across 143 1/3 total innings, the Stanford product posted a 2.76 ERA with a 0.98 WHIP. Given that the Cardinals lack proven options at the back of their rotation, Mathews could contend for an early MLB debut if he can rekindle his 2024 form.--Andy Smith
Source: RotoBaller

January 27, 2026

Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton could take on a large role in his debut season with the Rays. Melton was shipped to Tampa Bay in a three-team trade this offseason from the Houston Astros. Melton made his MLB debut last season and appeared in only 32 contests with the Astros. During this brief taste, the outfielder posted a .157/.234/.186, with an impressive seven stolen bases. Through 82 career games at Triple-A, the former second-round selection has held a .271/.347/.468 line with an .815 OPS. During this stretch, Melton has hit 11 home runs and stolen 23 bases. With Josh Lowe being shipped to the Angels earlier in the offseason as well, Melton will face even less competition for a prominent role in Tampa Bay. Given his speed upside, he is worth monitoring in deeper five-outfielder leagues during spring training.--Andy Smith
Source: RotoBaller

January 27, 2026

Washington Nationals right-handed pitching prospect Travis Sykora (elbow) was invited to spring training. However, given that he underwent UCL reconstruction surgery last season, the right-hander is not expected to take the mound at all in 2026. Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reported that the budding ace will continue his rehab process with the major league roster during camp. Sykora made his professional debut with Low-A in 2024 and immediately flashed upside, striking out 129 hitters in just 85 innings. In 2025, Sykora continued to ascend in the Washington system, finishing the season in Double-A. Across 45 1/3 innings spent primarily with High-A, Sykora would post an outstanding 1.79 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and a 79:17 K:BB. While he is expected to be sidelined for the entirety of the 2026 season, he is a prime buy-low target in dynasty leagues, as he was on track to make his MLB debut this season.--Andy Smith
Source: Mark Zuckerman