Aug 27, 2026, 5:31 PM ET

MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports that he has been told that top Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins will join the big-league roster in time to be in Friday's lineup for the series opener against the division-rival Chicago White Sox. He will most likely be replacing All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton (hip), who aggravated a hip injury that has already landed him on the injured list twice in the second half of the season. Jenkins, the team's top overall prospect and the No. 15 overall prospect in all of baseball, should play regularly in Minnesota and could have an immediate impact in all fantasy baseball leagues down the stretch in 2026. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter stands at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds and is a plus hitter with raw power. The former fifth overall pick in 2023 will get his first call to the big leagues after hitting .308/.407/.532 with a .940 OPS, 12 home runs, 28 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and 51 runs scored in 69 games and 307 plate appearances this year at Triple-A St. Paul. Jenkins' power/speed upside makes him a priority waiver-wire addition immediately.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Jonathan Mayo

Aug 27, 2026, 4:48 PM ET

The Major League Baseball Players Association is not happy with the league's proposal on Thursday to overhaul the offseason calendar and shrink most of free agency to a short window in December, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. "The league, through their propaganda arm, is promoting their latest set of roster and transaction proposals as player-friendly," MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer said. "MLB expressly conditioned these proposals on the players' agreement to a salary cap system, which would drastically reduce overall player compensation, eliminate fully guaranteed contracts through escrow, and turn back the clock on fundamental player rights. Their latest proposals regarding free agency would eliminate player rights by establishing an artificial free agency window, subject to a salary cap, which would reduce player leverage and create a game of musical chairs pitting player vs. player. The suggestion that the only way to limit roster churn, or incentivize earlier free-agent signings, is with a salary cap is entirely unserious. Players have proposed changes that would address these priorities, but the league is not interested in any changes that don't directly reduce the rights of all players and shift leverage to the owners." We already knew that the potential for a lockout in 2027 was high, and the back and forth between MLB and the Players Association on Thursday over a new free agency system reinforces that notion. Things are about to get really messy in negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement this winter.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan

Aug 27, 2026, 4:40 PM ET

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (shin) will miss another game on Thursday in Queens against the New York Mets in the series finale, according to MLB.com. Catcher William Contreras will serve as the designated hitter and bat third, while Gary Sanchez will do the catching for right-hander Jacob Misiorowski and hit fifth against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea. Bauers, who is in the midst of a career year in 2026, has not played for Milwaukee since fouling a ball off his foot in the Williamsport game on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. He is now being diagnosed with shin splints, but the left-handed slugger could be back as early as Friday's series opener versus the Texas Rangers at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Fantasy managers will be hoping that the 30-year-old's shin splints will not interrupt what has been a great season. Bauers enters Thursday's contest with a .272/.382/.501 slash line, an .884 OPS, 23 homers, 75 RBI, 76 runs, and nine stolen bases in his 401 at-bats. He is also hitting .284 (19-for-67) with four homers, three doubles, 12 RBI, 11 runs, and a stolen base in 20 games in August.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Aug 27, 2026, 3:57 PM ET

New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette (foot) is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers, per MLB.com. Bichette is starting on the bench for this contest after he was pulled early on Wednesday after fouling a ball off his left foot. X-rays on his foot came back negative, so he will have a chance to be back as soon as Friday's series opener at home against the Houston Astros. Brett Baty will make the start at the hot corner on Thursday and will hit seventh for New York against Brewers flamethrowing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski. In his first year in Queens, Bichette got off to an ice-cold start at the plate before eventually rebounding. The two-time All-Star enters Thursday's action with a .264/.312/.393 slash line, a .704 OPS, 14 home runs, 66 RBI, 64 runs scored, and one stolen base in 132 games played across 568 plate appearances. Overall, it has still been a disappointment for the big free-agent signing, but Bichette has been much better in the second half, hitting .289 (41-for-142) with a .779 OPS, four homers, seven doubles, a triple, 15 RBI, and 16 runs in 36 games since the All-Star break. He's also hitting over .300 so far in 22 games in August.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com

Aug 27, 2026, 3:47 PM ET

Major League Baseball proposed drastic changes to its offseason calendar on Thursday, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan, including shortening free agency to a two- to three-week window every offseason. Additionally, a free-agent dead period until the first day of the winter meetings was proposed for early December, during which players and teams can negotiate, but no deals can be signed. Trades would be allowed during this period. Free agency would open the Monday that the winter meetings begin and would close on Dec. 21. From Dec. 21 through the first Monday in February, no free-agent signings or trades would be allowed. Free agents could sign, and trades would be allowed again from the first Monday in February onward. The biggest offseason issue this coming winter will obviously be the back and forth between owners and the Players Association as they try to agree on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Regarding potential free agency changes, the new proposals would effectively spur more action at an earlier point in the offseason.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan

Aug 27, 2026, 3:20 PM ET

Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Anthony Eyanson has pitched well for his new organization after coming over in the trade that sent catcher Adley Rutschman to Boston, now with a 2.60 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and an elite 28.4 percent K-BB% through three starts (17 1/3 innings pitched). It has been a continuation of the success he saw earlier in the year, and now for the season, the right-hander owns a pristine 1.58 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a 26.9 percent K-BB% in 19 appearances between High-A and Double-A. The Orioles' top pitching prospect should get a chance to test his mettle against Triple-A competition in 2027, with a chance to debut in the majors later in the year. As one of the top pitching prospects in baseball (No. 7 RHP per MLB.com), there's a lot to like, and the strikeout potential is real, so managers in redraft leagues will want to keep tabs on his progress in 2027.--Jarod Rupp
Source: MiLB.com

Aug 27, 2026, 3:15 PM ET

Washington Nationals infield prospect Devin Fitz-Gerald scuffled in his first taste of Double-A pitching, slashing .179/.248/.225 with one home run, a 27.3 percent strikeout rate, and a 5.5 percent walk rate over his first 38 games with Harrisburg. However, since then, the Nats' fifth-ranked prospect has slashed .364/.442/.591 with three home runs in his last 12 games, and lowered the strikeout rate to a more palatable 23.1 percent with a 9.6 percent walk rate. The 21-year-old still has time to develop and remains on track to see some time at Triple-A next year. If he can stay on course, a late-season debut in 2027 is possible; otherwise, look for the switch-hitter to have an impact in the big leagues in 2028. For now, he's simply a name to monitor in redraft leagues.--Jarod Rupp
Source: MiLB.com

Aug 27, 2026, 2:53 PM ET

Chicago White Sox infield prospect Caleb Bonemer is not only fitting in at Double-A Birmingham, he's excelling, too. Chicago's second-ranked prospect is hitting .268, which is 30 points higher than his average was at High-A, while reducing his strikeout rate by more than four percent and drawing a few more walks. It has resulted in a .962 OPS with 16 home runs in 55 games for the Barons, and combined with his 18 home runs from High-A, the former second-rounder has now blasted 34 home runs on the season, including four in his last six games. While he isn't known for his speed, the 6-foot-1 slugger has also tallied 16 steals between both levels, providing strong all-around production. The right-handed hitter should see time at Triple-A in 2027 and could be in the mix for a second-half call-up to the majors, so redraft managers should be familiar with the name.--Jarod Rupp
Source: MiLB.com

Aug 27, 2026, 2:45 PM ET

Despite allowing a run in two of his last three appearances, Cleveland Guardians right-handed closer Cade Smith has locked down five saves since his last blown save on Aug. 5 against the New York Mets. In 10 appearances (10 innings pitched) in August, Smith has allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with six walks, 14 strikeouts, five saves, and one blown save. The 27-year-old Canadian earned his first All-Star nod this year and has really stepped up at the back end of the Guards' bullpen in 2026, going 3-1 with a 2.40 ERA (2.52 FIP), 1.08 WHIP, a career-high 35 saves, 84 strikeouts, and 20 walks in 60 relief innings. His 35 saves trail only Tampa Bay Rays closer Bryan Baker for the lead in MLB, and his 84 strikeouts are tied with Brent Headrick and Grant Taylor for fifth in baseball among all relievers. The former 16th-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in 2017 has picked up a save in each of his last four appearances out of the bullpen, and he's not slowing down at all as we approach the final month of the regular season in September.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Baseball Reference

Aug 27, 2026, 2:39 PM ET

St. Louis Cardinals catcher prospect Rainiel Rodriguez took some time settling in at Double-A Springfield after his promotion in early May, hitting just .182 with two extra-base hits over his first 21 games there. However, since then, the Cardinals' top-ranked prospect has caught fire, hitting .368 with 20 doubles and 18 home runs in just 53 games, good for a 1.134 OPS during that time. That type of production is impressive on its own merit, but the right-handed hitter is doing all of this as one of the youngest players in Double-A at age 19. The youngster is in position to begin 2027 at Triple-A and has a shot to debut next year despite his age, though it is crowded at catcher in St. Louis with Ivan Herrera, Pedro Pages, and fellow catching prospect Leo Bernal, so it will be interesting to see how it shakes out. Rodriguez (and Bernal, for that matter) has played some first base this year, and with his power potential, designated hitter is always an option as well, which gives him multiple paths to the majors. The 5-foot-10 Dominican should be on redraft managers' radar in 2027, and his dynasty arrow is pointing way up.--Jarod Rupp
Source: MiLB.com

Aug 27, 2026, 2:34 PM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Mike Sirota has had a productive campaign between High-A and Double-A this year, which included an impressive 72-game streak in which he got on base at least once via hit, walk, or hit-by-pitch. Despite moving up a level, he's maintained similar statistics (i.e., strikeout, walk rate, OBP) even in the face of stiffer competition. At Double-A alone, the Dodgers' second-ranked prospect is slashing .299/.452/.502 with 10 home runs and five steals through 66 games at Tulsa. With Triple-A in sight, the former third-round draft pick will be knocking on the door to the majors next year, and with a solid all-around skill set in what will presumably be a formidable Dodger lineup, the 23-year-old has a chance to be a productive fantasy asset whenever he gets the call.--Jarod Rupp
Source: MiLB.com

Aug 27, 2026, 2:22 PM ET

Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Jesus Made has cooled off at Double-A over the past few weeks, now 12-for-69 (.174) over his last 18 games without a single multi-hit game or home run during that time. It shows how hot he was earlier this year; despite the slowdown, the switch-hitter is still batting .273 with a solid .348 on-base percentage, 13 home runs, and 33 steals through 110 games at Biloxi. MLB's No. 1 overall prospect is also striking out at just a 14.5 percent rate at Double-A, and he's doing all of this as one of only a handful of players still under the age of 20 at that level. A 2026 debut was a long shot anyway, but between the slowdown and having yet to play a single game at Triple-A, it's almost certain that it won't happen at this point. Look for the talented Dominican to make a run at a debut next year, and with a strong combination of hit, power, and run tools, expect him to be one of the top stashes in redraft fantasy leagues as his debut draws nearer.--Jarod Rupp
Source: MiLB.com

Aug 27, 2026, 2:20 PM ET

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez and outfielder TJ Friedl have both cleared waivers and will be with the team in Chicago on Friday for their series opener against the division-rival Cubs at Wrigley Field, team sources told C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. The Reds placed Suarez and Friedl on outright waivers on Wednesday night, but they have gone unclaimed and are likely to finish out the 2026 season with the Reds before moving on as free agents this winter. Suarez, 35, has 19 home runs in 361 at-bats in 2026, including a big grand slam in an improbable comeback win over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, but he's also hitting just .208/.295/.410 with a .705 OPS and a career-high 34.9% strikeout rate in his 13th year in the big leagues. The Reds were hoping another team might take Suarez and his $3 million salary the rest of the way off their hands as they look to save a little money going into the offseason. Suarez will remain with Cincy for just over a month left in the season, where he'll provide fantasy managers with some pop but little else.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Athletic - C. Trent Rosecrans

Aug 27, 2026, 2:12 PM ET

New York Yankees catcher/first baseman Ben Rice has had an incredible third season in the big leagues (second full season) in 2026, slashing .251/.350/.529 with an .878 OPS, a career-high 35 home runs, 83 RBI, 83 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 127 games played across 546 plate appearances. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger went 1-for-2 at the plate with his 35th homer of the year, three runs scored, and three RBI in Wednesday's 9-3 win over the Houston Astros in the Bronx, and he now has three home runs in his last nine games. Only Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez has more home runs than Rice in the American League. Although Rice has heated up of late, overall in August he has struggled, going 12-for-77 (.156) with a .633 OPS, four home runs, a double, 10 RBI, 13 runs scored, a stolen base, 15 walks, and 25 strikeouts. Since the All-Star break, he is slashing only .179/.295/.351 with a .646 OPS, six home runs, five doubles, 15 RBI, 19 runs scored, one steal, 20 walks, and 45 strikeouts in 36 games and 156 plate appearances. Fantasy managers who have reaped the benefits of Rice's 2026 breakout should not be selling now.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com