February 15, 2026
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that infielder
Colt Keith will focus on third base and first base in spring training, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. Keith will only return to second base if there are injury issues this year. The 24-year-old former fifth-round pick in 2020 spent most of his time at the keystone in his rookie season in 2024, but he played 24 games at second, 33 at third base, and 52 as the designated hitter for Detroit in 2025. Despite moving around the diamond last year, Keith was productive at the plate, slashing .256/.333/.413 with a .746 OPS, 13 home runs, 45 RBI, and 65 runs scored in 414 at-bats over 137 games played. The former top prospect must improve against left-handed pitchers (he had reverse splits), but with regular playing time and multi-position eligibility, he's a decent corner infield target in the later rounds of drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit News - Chris McCosky
February 15, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays right-handed reliever
Edwin Uceta (shoulder) will skip pitching in this year's World Baseball Classic due to a "little cranky" right shoulder, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The good news is that the Rays are "very confident" that Uceta will be ready for Opening Day on March 26. The 28-year-old Dominican will play a key role at the back end of Tampa's bullpen this year and is expected to share high-leverage closing duties with
Griffin Jax and
Garrett Cleavinger now that
Pete Fairbanks is no longer in town. Manager Kevin Cash said the decision to keep Uceta out of the WBC was a precautionary move. In 76 innings last year, Uceta had a 3.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, one save, 21 holds, a career-high 103 strikeouts, and 27 walks in 70 appearances. His 38.7% whiff rate on his four-seam fastball ranked second overall in the big leagues, and he was just one of five relievers to reach 100 K's. While he may not rack up a ton of saves, Uceta will be useful for his ratios and holds.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
February 15, 2026
Houston Astros infielder
Isaac Paredes said he'll work at first base, second base, and third base in camp this year, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Paredes also said he'll be a 100% participant in activities this spring after tearing his hamstring last year. The 26-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason and could be a man without a position on Opening Day, with
Carlos Correa set to start at third base and
Jose Altuve moving back to second base full-time. Despite playing in only 102 games in 2025 in his first year in Houston due to his hamstring injury, Paredes hit .254/352/.458 with an .809 OPS, 20 home runs, 53 RBI, and 53 runs scored in 438 plate appearances. His hamstring recovery could still be an issue, but the biggest setback for his 2026 fantasy value is his uncertain playing time if he sticks with the Astros. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 14 fantasy third baseman.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
February 15, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas (knee) will do drills independently when the team holds its first full-squad spring training workout on Sunday, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Casas has some catching up to do after tearing his left patellar tendon on May 2 of last year. Offseason acquisition
Willson Contreras has taken his primary position (first base), but Casas thinks the BoSox will find a place for him when he's fully healthy. "When I'm healthy, I fit on any team," said Casas. Browne writes that designated hitter could be a "nice fallback" for Casas once he's 100% healthy. However, Boston could need the DH spot to deploy whichever player can't fit in the outfield on a given day. Casas said that medical professionals told him his injury typically takes a year of full recovery, which would put him on track to play again around May 1. The Red Sox's lineup lacks power, so they could use Casas' bat in their lineup, but the 26-year-old might not be ready for Opening Day, and he might not have a full-time role when he makes his season debut.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Ian Browne
February 15, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Brandon Woodruff (lat) said he finally feels fully healthy this spring after missing all or parts of the last three years due to a 2023 shoulder surgery and a lat strain that ended his 2025 campaign early, according to Michael Reynolds of MLB.com. Although the Brewers are being cautious with Woodruff in camp, manager Pat Murphy fully expects Woodruff to be ready for the start of the 2026 season. "It feels like I'm finally to the point where I can do stuff and I just don't have to think about my shoulder, which is a good thing," Woodruff said. The 33-year-old two-time All-Star showed diminished velocity upon his return last year, but other than that, he was excellent, going 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 83 K's in his 12 starts. He showed last year that he can still keep hitters off balance. He'll be a high-risk, high-reward No. 3 starting pitcher target in fantasy baseball drafts.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Michael Reynolds
February 15, 2026
Boston Red Sox catcher
Carlos Narvaez will be the team's starting catcher again in 2026, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Manager Alex Cora revealed on Saturday that Narvaez's knee started to bother him in just the third game of the season and his first start behind the plate on March 29 against the Texas Rangers. "He was banged up the whole season," Cora said. Narvaez had a left-knee meniscesctomy right after the 2025 season ended. He missed three straight games from Aug. 6-9 but avoided going on the injured list during his rookie campaign. The 27-year-old was still one of the best defensive catchers in the league, although his offensive numbers tailed off in the second half. The Venezuelan backstop finished with a .241/.306/.419 slash line .726 OPS, 15 homers, and 50 RBI in 118 regular-season games. Narvaez has decent offensive skills for a catcher, but his poor plate discipline should keep his ceiling on the lower side as a No. 2 catcher in fantasy.
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Christopher Smith
February 15, 2026
The Philadelphia Phillies were seeking lineup protection for first baseman
Bryce Harper and more right-handed pop this offseason, which is why they brought in outfielder
Adolis Garcia in free agency on a one-year deal. NBC Sports' Cole Weintraub writes that the Phillies are hoping Garcia can return to his 2022-23 form in Texas and slide into the team's cleanup spot. However, a cold spring from Garcia could push designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber to the four-hole after he had a .955 OPS in 2025. The 32-year-old Garcia will start in right field in his first year in Philly, but he's a gamble in fantasy baseball drafts after posting a sub-.700 OPS in back-to-back seasons. His .675 OPS last year ranked 117th out of 123 qualified hitters, and he also hit fewer than 20 homers for the first time in his career. Still, there are worse players to take a chance on in a favorable hitting environment with plenty of RBI opportunities. Remember, Garcia hit 39 homers and drove in 107 runs just two seasons ago.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Philadelphia - Cole Weintraub
February 15, 2026
Atlanta Braves outfielder
Jurickson Profar (abdomen) underwent sports hernia surgery in November, and the procedure required six weeks of recovery, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Profar doesn't have any restrictions in spring training, though. He felt discomfort in September and again when he began his offseason workouts, prompting him to have surgery. Profar tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in March of last year and was suspended for 80 games in his first year in Atlanta. But when he was on the field, he was solid, slashing .245/.353/.434 with 14 home runs and nine stolen bases over 371 plate appearances. The 32-year-old veteran switch-hitter is expected to be the Braves' primary designated hitter in 2026. Profar is in a favorable home park and still has elite plate discipline, but fantasy managers should not expect a return to his 2024 numbers with the Padres.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
February 15, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder
Daulton Varsho had a strong season at the plate in 2025, posting new career-highs in various categories. In his third season with the Jays, he slashed .238/.284/.548 with 20 home runs while maintaining a 6.3% walk rate and 28.4% strikeout rate. He also finished the year with a career-high 123 wRC+. Varsho's stats become even more impressive when you consider that he missed roughly half of the regular season due to separate shoulder and hamstring injuries. If he had stayed healthy, he could have pushed for 40 home runs. That didn't happen, but it's something to look forward to in 2026. Varsho projects to bat clean-up for the Jays this year, putting him in position to flash his power and drive in runs. As it stands, he ranks as the #54 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 15, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder
Bryan Reynolds had a subpar season in 2025, but the underlying metrics indicate that he could bounce back in 2026. The veteran outfielder slashed just .245/.318/.402 with 16 home runs, all of which represent his lowest markets since the COVID-impacted 2020 season. He also finished last year with a 8.7% walk rate and a career-worst 26.5% strikeout rate. Most of his swing decision metrics are on par with his career averages, but he did post a 44.2% O-contact rate that indicates he had trouble connecting with pitches out of the zone. Still, the 31-year-old is a prime candidate for positive regression (returning to his pre-2025 form), and his .338 xwOBA from last year suggests that he can take a leap forward in 2026. Beyond the upside, there's also name value here, as Reynolds is a two-time All-Star who previously showed that he can contribute at the plate and in the field. He currently ranks as the #51 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 15, 2026
San Diego Padres outfielder
Ramon Laureano found his groove at the plate last season, delivering the best offensive numbers of his eight-year career so far. Laureano was previously known for his terrific defense and had made a name for himself with numerous insane throws in Oakland. However, it was the bat that came to play in 2025 as he posted a career-worst fWAR on defense but a career-high fWAR on offense, as well as a career-high wRC+. Across 132 games split between the Orioles and Padres, Laureano slashed .281/.342/.512 with a career-high 24 home runs, a 7.2% walk rate, a 24.4% strikeout rate, and 138 wRC+. He fared slightly better in Baltimore than in San Diego, but he was still highly effective with both organizations. It was tough to watch his defense hit a low point (-9 OAA and -5 FRV), but managers should be encouraged by his ability to contribute at the plate. As it stands, he ranks as the #60 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 15, 2026
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher
Pablo Lopez has repeatedly showcased his dominance over many seasons in MLB, but he's now looking to shake off the injury bug and prove that he can be consistently effective over the course of a full campaign. Lopez made just 14 starts in 2025 -- his lowest mark since the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign -- pitching to a terrific 2.74 ERA with 8.68 K/9 and 2.38 BB/9. He limited pop with just 0.71 K/9, but he induced ground balls at a career-worst 38.5% clip. Staying healthy is Lopez's biggest key to success from both a Twins perspective and a fantasy baseball perspective. He tossed just 75.2 innings last year, essentially missing five months due to a hamstring issue. The good news is that he's now fully healthy and will slot into a Twins rotation looking for some support. He currently projects as the Twins' ace, with
Joe Ryan close behind him in the No. 2 spot. As it stands, he ranks as the #37 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 15, 2026
Houston Astros starting pitcher
Tatsuya Imai is gearing up for his first MLB season after eight years in the NPB. During his final international season, the right-hander posted a career-best 1.92 ERA and 2.01 FIP along with his 9.79 K/9 and 2.47 BB/9. He demonstrated an elite ability to limit hard contact with his 0.33 HR/9 and 48.3% ground ball rate. Moving stateside will definitely present some adversity for Imai, who likely won't repeat quite the same level of success he had in 2025. However, he clearly still has immense upside ahead of his debut season in the United States. Evidently, the Astros agree, as they were willing to pay him $54 million across three years. He'll be tasked with helping fill the void of ace
Framber Valdez, who departed for the Detroit Tigers.
Hunter Brown and
Cristian Javier will also slot into top-of-the-rotation roles. As it stands, Imai ranks as the #48 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 15, 2026
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Trevor Rogers drastically exceeded expectations during an injury-delayed 2025 season, and he'll look for repeat success in 2026. The southpaw missed the first month and a half due to a knee subluxation, and he also spent some time in the minors after being optioned to Triple-A. However, after he was recalled to Baltimore for a second time in June, he broke out and proved he was there to stay. He finished the year with a 1.81 ERA and 2.82 FIP across 18 starts, posting 8.45 K/9 and 2.38 BB/9. He also showed that he was able to limit hard contact with a 46% ground ball rate and 0.49 HR/9. Rogers doesn't have overpowering fastball velocity, but he used his above-average slider and ability to induce weak contact to carry him to such dominant 2025 results. Heading into 2026, fans and fantasy managers are eager to see if his success is sustainable. His 3.64 xFIP indicates that he's due for a little regression, but can still be a very effective starter in MLB. As it stands, he ranks as the #46 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 14, 2026
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher
Kris Bubic (shoulder) faced hitters during a live batting practice session on Saturday. According to Jaylon Thompson, Bubic looked strong and had good movement on his pitches. Those are encouraging words as Bubic looks to bounce back after missing the second half of last season due to a rotator cuff strain. During his breakout campaign last season, Bubic posted a 2.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 116/39 K/BB ratio across 20 starts. It was the first time that Bubic had started more than three games in a single season since the 2022 campaign. There are some durability and workload concerns, but the upside is too high to ignore. If healthy, Bubic should have no problem being in the top 40-50 range for starting pitchers in upcoming fantasy drafts.
--Andy WebbSource: Jaylon Thompson
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