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
February 6, 2026
The New York Yankees are bringing veteran first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt back on a one-year deal, which could negatively affect the playing time for left-handed-hitting first baseman
Ben Rice in 2026. Manager Aaron Boone said last month that Rice would play a lot against left-handed pitchers this year, but that could change a bit now that Goldy is back in the fold. Although Goldschmidt isn't the hitter he once was, he did kill southpaws in 2025 to the tune of a .336/.411/.570 slash line and .981 OPS in 168 plate appearances. The 26-year-old Rice hit only .208 against lefties in 119 regular-season plate appearances, although he did slug .481 against them with seven home runs. Goldy's return isn't great news for Rice's overall fantasy upside, but he will still be on the strong side of a platoon and can also pick up playing time behind the plate. RotoBaller considers Rice a top-10 first base option in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
February 6, 2026
Free-agent first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt and the New York Yankees are finalizing an undisclosed one-year deal on Friday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 38-year-old veteran and former MVP will return to the Bronx after hitting .274/.328/.403 with a .731 OPS, 10 home runs, 45 RBI, 76 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 146 regular-season games and 534 plate appearances. The seven-time All-Star continued to decline offensively since winning the National League MVP award in 2022 with the St. Louis Cardinals, with his 10 homers being his fewest total since the shortened 2020 campaign. However, Goldy was money against left-handed pitchers last year, sporting a .336/.411/.570 slash line, .981 OPS, and seven of his 10 home runs against them in 168 plate appearances. He won't be a full-time player anymore, but Goldschmidt should be on the short side of a platoon at first base with the lefty-hitting
Ben Rice.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
February 6, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever
Nate Garkow has received an invitation to big-league spring training this year, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. The 28-year-old had a solid 2025 season at High-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire, going 4-0 with a 3.19 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 86 strikeouts, and 31 walks in 53 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. He also added three saves. Garkow went undrafted out of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, but he's impressed in his two minor-league seasons so far, going 8-0 with a 2.78 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 120:42 K:BB in 77 2/3 innings of relief. He will most likely be a long shot to win an Opening Day bullpen spot in Toronto, but if Garkow continues to get results on the farm, he could make his major-league debut for the Jays this year in a low-leverage bullpen role.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet - Shi Davidi
February 6, 2026
Texas Rangers right-handed pitching prospect
Emiliano Teodo is fully healthy entering the 2026 season and could be a "bullpen asset with three weapons," according to MLB.com. Teodo was limited to just 30 minor-league innings last year due to a shoulder impingement, posting a 7.20 ERA and 1.87 WHIP with 38 strikeouts and 29 walks at the Rookie level, Double-A Frisco, and Triple-A Round Rock. The 24-year-old was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2020 for just $10,000. Teodo features a 97-99 mph sinker that touches 102, a tight upper-80s slider that falls off the table, and an upper-80s changeup with fade and depth. The hard-throwing pitching prospect is a volatile stash in dynasty/keeper leagues because of his control issues, but his pure stuff could earn him a call-up to the big leagues for the first time in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
February 6, 2026
Athletics outfield prospect
Junior Perez could be in the "running for a backup outfielder gig" at spring training this year, according to MLB.com. The A's aren't shy about fast-tracking young players, and Perez has impressive tools. The 24-year-old Dominican slashed .231/.348/.473 with an .821 OPS, 26 home runs, 87 RBI, 87 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases in 137 games with Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas in 2025 over 587 plate appearances. Perez walked 14.8% of the time, but the drawback was his 28.1% strikeout rate, which led to his low average at the plate. He also had a career-best contact rate (73.5%) and career-best swinging-strike rate (10.3%). The hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League may have inflated his counting stats, but nobody will argue that Perez doesn't have intriguing tools. In addition to his offensive skills, Perez is a good defender with a plus arm. He figures to get his first taste of the big leagues in another hitter-friendly ballpark in Sacramento in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
February 6, 2026
Minnesota Twins left-handed pitching prospect
Connor Prielipp has the arsenal to start -- four-seam and two-seam fastballs, a slider, a changeup, and a curveball -- but he had thrown only 30 innings in the minors heading into last year since being drafted in 2022. Prielipp had Tommy John surgery back in 2021 and then needed an internal-brace procedure in July of 2023. The 25-year-old southpaw, who stands at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, recorded a 4.03 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with 98 strikeouts and 31 walks in 82 2/3 innings over 24 appearances (23 starts) in 2025 with Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul. It was encouraging that he got through a full season healthy, but his injury history could push the Twins to use him in shorter relief stints in 2026 if he's on the big-league roster. The former 48th overall pick struggled with control at Triple-A, but his 10.7 K/9 was encouraging. Prielipp is a pitching prospect to monitor in dynasty leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
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