January 30, 2026
According to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, the Texas Rangers have signed right-handed pitcher
Cal Quantrill to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training. The 30-year-old spent the 2025 season with the Marlins and Braves and finished the campaign in Triple-A Round Rock, in the Texas organization. Through his 117 2/3 innings in the majors last summer, Quantrill posted a 6.04 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP. He struck out only 85 hitters and generated a high 5.81 xERA. With Triple-A Round Rock, the veteran showed some improvement, posting a 1.64 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP across 11 innings. Managers should expect Quantrill to serve as a depth option in Texas and could win a role as a bulk reliever out of camp. However, given his low strikeout upside and struggles last season, Quantrill is not expected to carry much fantasy value in standard formats.
--Andy SmithSource: Evan Grant
January 29, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander
Blake Snell admitted that his arm was "tired" and "exhausted" after five playoff starts and a relief appearance in Game 7 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays last fall, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. The Dodgers have stressed the importance of managing their starting rotation's workload in 2026, which will include Snell. The 33-year-old southpaw has slow-played his winter throwing program. The plan is to be ready for Opening Day in late March, but Harris writes that it is "not seen as a certainty within the organization." Snell still has plenty of strikeout upside and pitches for the back-to-back World Series-champion Dodgers, but he missed four months in 2025 with shoulder inflammation. The two-time Cy Young winner has only reached the 30-start mark twice in his 10-year career. Snell is a risk/reward No. 2 fantasy starter going into his second year in L.A.
--Keith HernandezSource: The California Post - Jack Harris
January 29, 2026
The Kansas City Royals are signing free-agent reliever
Eli Morgan to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. Morgan is looking for a bounce-back season after missing most of the year due to elbow issues. He posted an ugly stat line in 12 appearances with the Chicago Cubs. In 2024, Morgan registered a 1.93 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 34/11 K/BB ratio in 32 appearances with the Cleveland Guardians. The 29-year-old has posted multiple successful seasons during his time in Cleveland. This is a low-risk move by the Royals, who could end up getting a steal if Morgan can get back to form.
--Andy WebbSource: Kansas City Royals
January 29, 2026
Houston Astros starting pitcher
J.P. France has been designated for assignment by the organization on Thursday. The team is acquiring pitcher
Kai-Wei Teng from the San Francisco Giants and must free up a 40-man roster spot. France is the odd man out after failing to make much of an impact over the last two seasons. Since 2024, France has only made five appearances in Houston with an ugly 6.75 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and 27/14 K/BB ratio. France has been unable to follow up on his successful rookie campaign, where he registered a 3.83 ERA in 24 games with Houston. The 30-year-old should draw some interest as a possible back-end of the rotation or depth option.
--Andy WebbSource: Chandler Rome
January 29, 2026
The San Francisco Giants are trading starting pitcher
Kai-Wei Teng to the Houston Astros. In exchange, the Giants will receive catching prospect Jancel Villareal. The assumption is that the Giants made this move to free up a 40-man roster spot for newly signed
Harrison Bader. Last season, Teng posted a 6.37 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and a 39/17 K/BB ratio in eight games (seven starts) with the Giants. He posted much better numbers in the minors and could operate in a swingman-type role for the Astros. As for Villareal, he's a 21-year-old catcher who will still need more seasoning in the minor leagues. In a corresponding move,
J.P. France has been designated for assignment by Houston to make room for Teng on the roster.
--Andy WebbSource: Chandler Rome
January 29, 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed relief pitcher
Ryder Ryan to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. Ryan will try to latch on with the team in camp and will earn $800K if he makes the 26-man roster. Last season, Ryan posted a 4.73 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and a 61/38 K/BB ratio across 42 games (three starts) in Triple-A Indianapolis in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Ryan did pitch 15 games with the big league club in 2024, but struggled to the tune of a 5.66 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. He'll most likely join his brother River in Triple-A to begin the season.
--Andy WebbSource: Fabian Ardaya
January 29, 2026
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher
Osvaldo Bido has been designated for assignment by the organization on Thursday. Bido was claimed off waivers by the Angels from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. The Halos have given Bido the boot after acquiring
Jayvien Sandridge from the New York Yankees on Thursday. The right-hander has been claimed off waivers four times since the end of the season. Bido posted an ugly 5.87 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and a 68/35 K/BB ratio across 26 games (10 starts) with the Athletics last season. The 30-year-old looked solid as a swingman with the A's in 2024. It wouldn't be shocking for another organization to claim Bido to use him in a possible swingman type of role.
--Andy WebbSource: Angels PR
January 29, 2026
Chicago White Sox third baseman
Bryan Ramos has been designated for assignment by the organization on Thursday. The team needed to clear a 40-man roster spot with the signing of reliever
Seranthony Dominguez becoming official. Ramos was the odd man out after struggling to swing the bat last season. The 23-year-old has seen limited time on the big league roster since making his debut in 2024. He spent most of his time in Triple-A Charlotte last season. Ramos slashed .216/.309/.396 with 16 home runs, 51 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 105 games in the minors. There seems to be enough upside here that a team could potentially place a waiver claim on him with hopes of a bounce-back campaign in 2026.
--Andy WebbSource: Francys Romero
January 29, 2026
The San Diego Padres have signed left-handed pitcher
Marco Gonzales to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. If he ends up in the majors, he'll have a $1.5 million salary with an additional $1 million available in the form of performance-based incentives. Gonzales, who turns 34 years old before Opening Day, hasn't pitched since a seven-game stint with the Pirates in 2024. During his brief tenure in Pittsburgh, he amassed a 4.71 FIP across seven starts. His appearances occurred somewhat sporadically, as he dealt with a nagging left forearm strain that ultimately shut him down in August. Gonzales didn't sign a contract in 2025, but it appears that he's fully healthy and ready to make a comeback of sorts. He'll offer the Padres experienced minor league pitching depth behind a veteran-heavy rotation of
Michael King,
Nick Pivetta,
Joe Musgrove,
Randy Vasquez, and
JP Sears.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jon Heyman
January 29, 2026
The Los Angeles Angels have acquired left-handed reliever
Jayvien Sandridge from the New York Yankees in exchange for cash considerations. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher
Osvaldo Bido was designated for assignment to make space on the Halos' 40-man roster. Sandridge, who was recently DFA'd by New York, made his MLB debut last season but finished his lone appearance with two earned runs over 0.2 innings of work. He fared much better at Triple-A, where he posted a 3.65 FIP, 13.36 K/9, and 4.83 BB/9 across 31.2 frames. Originally drafted by the Orioles in the 32nd round of the 2018 draft, the 26-year-old is now headed to his fifth organization. He has two options remaining, so even if he doesn't make the Angels' bullpen out of spring training, he can offer depth on the 40-man roster.
--Andersen PickardSource: Angels PR
January 29, 2026
Houston Astros outfielder
Zach Cole will have a chance to compete for a starting role in the team's Opening Day lineup, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros have reportedly made it clear they "want to see more" of him, and he "will arrive [at spring training] with every chance to crack the club." Cole slashed .255/.327/.553 across a small sample size (15 games) in the majors as a rookie last year. He struck out at a 38.5% clip, but that number should settle down as he accumulates at-bats. There's a lot to like about his four home runs, .303 xwOBA, and 142 wRC+ during that span. He also flashed upside defensively and is certainly capable of an everyday role in either corner outfield spot. Rome projects that Cole,
Jake Meyers, and
Cam Smith will occupy the Astros' Opening Day outfield from left to right.
--Andersen PickardSource: Chandler Rome
January 29, 2026
Houston Astros corner infielder
Isaac Paredes may not appear in the Opening Day lineup if he ends up in a platoon role with
Christian Walker. "Walker and Paredes seem primed to begin the season [at first base] as a $29 million timeshare," writes Chandler Rome of The Athletic. There has been plenty of buzz about a potential Paredes trade, but as spring training approaches, he remains on the Astros' roster. The vast majority of his MLB experience comes at the hot corner (including all 89 of his defensive appearances last year), but he's starting to be viewed as more of a first baseman or designated hitter after the Astros re-acquired
Carlos Correa last summer. While Paredes finished the 2025 campaign with -3 OAA and -2 FRV at third base, he was markedly better with the bat in his hands. He slashed .254/.352/.458 with 20 homers, 53 RBI, and 128 wRC+ to go along with his 11.4% walk rate and 17.4% strikeout rate. Paredes currently ranks 14th among third basemen in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings, but a trade or reshuffling of the Astros' lineup could drastically impact his stock.
--Andersen PickardSource: Chandler Rome
January 29, 2026
Baltimore Orioles corner infielder
Coby Mayo was optioned to Triple-A last season, and he publicly expressed his frustration by describing the demotion as a lose-lose situation. He's still not a lock to make the Opening Day roster in 2026, as Roch Kubatko of MASN writes that "optioning Mayo is one solution." He also notes that the Orioles could put Mayo on their 26-man roster if they don't carry a utility infielder. Additionally, while Kubatko didn't mention it, we can't rule out a potential Mayo trade, especially if he and the organization don't have the same vision for his role. For now, though, he's an Oriole and will use spring training as an opportunity to make the big-league club. He slashed .217/.299/.388 through 85 MLB games last season, contributing 95 wRC+ and 11 home runs with a 9.2% walk rate and 28.6% strikeout rate. Although he came up as a third baseman, he spent most of his innings last year at first base, where he tallied -2 OAA and -2 FRV.
--Andersen PickardSource: Roch Kubatko
January 29, 2026
MASN Sports' Roch Kubatko thinks that Baltimore Orioles catcher
Adley Rutschman could be used some at designated hitter while
Samuel Basallo catches. Basallo is one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball, so if he plays up to his potential, the O's will be forced to get creative to keep his bat in the lineup. Rutschman, a switch-hitting backstop, only played in 90 games in 2025 due to injuries to both of his obliques. The former first overall pick in 2019 out of Oregon State hit a disappointing .220/.307/.366 with nine home runs, 29 RBI, and 37 runs scored in his 322 at-bats. He also had a career-worst .673 OPS and 91 wRC+. When healthy, Rutschman will be an everyday player for Baltimore who has excellent plate discipline and rarely strikes out. However, his fantasy stock has plummeted going into 2026, especially with the team already heavily committed to Basallo after signing him to an extension last August. Rutschman is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 14 fantasy catcher.
--Keith HernandezSource: MASN Sports - Roch Kubatko
January 29, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll had the best season of his young career in 2025, posting a personal-best 139 wRC+ and 6.5 fWAR while enjoying his first-ever 30/30 campaign (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases). He accomplished all of this despite playing in just 143 games, the lowest mark since his rookie season in 2022. He also continued to flash the leather in the outfield, where he posted a career-high 10 OAA and 7 FRV. Carroll's dominance at the plate and in right field should continue in 2026. He projects as the Diamondbacks' No. 3 hitter and should be one of the first 10 players selected in fantasy baseball drafts. As it stands, he currently ranks as the eighth-best player and fourth-best outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
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