February 9, 2026

MLB.com's Jordan Bastian lists the Chicago Cubs' current starting rotation as Matthew Boyd, Edward Cabrera, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, and Cade Horton. That leaves Colin Rea, Javier Assad, Ben Brown, and Jordan Wicks as depth behind that group. Justin Steele (elbow) is expected to make his season debut in the first half of the season, so the 35-year-old Rea could spend most of the 2026 campaign in a relief role. Twenty-seven of his 32 appearances last year were in a starting role, and he finished the 2025 season with a career-best 3.95 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 127:44 K:BB in 159 1/3 innings pitched. Rea's career year in 2025 will unlikely be repeated this year, especially if he's relegated to mostly a long-relief role. Last year was the first time in Rea's seven-year major-league career that he had an ERA under 4.00.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Jordan Bastian

February 9, 2026

The Cincinnati Reds plan to slow-play right-handed reliever Emilio Pagan and Tony Santillan in spring training this year. Both relievers are healthy in 2026, but they won't pitch in spring training games right away after pitching in so many high-stress situations in 2025, according to Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer. The Reds don't plan to sue Pagan or Santillan as much as they did last year, which is why they added relievers Caleb Ferguson, Pierce Johnson, and Brock Burke in the offseason. Pagan appeared in a career-high 70 games (68 2/3 innings), recording a 2.88 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, career-high 32 saves, 81 strikeouts, and 22 walks. Santillan appeared in a career-high 80 games and threw 73 2/3 innings in the regular season. The 34-year-old Pagan will open the year as Cincy's primary closer, but he could be on a short leash in the role if he continues to struggle to keep the ball in the yard.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith

February 9, 2026

Colorado Rockies right-hander Chase Dollander made his MLB debut much earlier than expected in 2025 and struggled to a 2-12 record, 6.52 ERA, and 1.55 WHIP while striking out 82 and walking 49 in 98 innings over his 21 starts. He was better on the road away from hitter-friendly Coors Field, though, posting a 3.40 ERA in 10 away starts compared to a 9.98 ERA in 11 home starts. The 24-year-old heads into his second big-league season with a detailed plan to fix the direction of his motion. "I was a little bit more cross-body -- I was pulling off everything," Dollander said. After making tweaks this offseason, Dollander's fastball and slider are in the zone more, and he's getting more vertical break on his heater. The former Tennessee star could become more intriguing if his tweaks lead to results, but his 18.6% strikeout rate and 11.1% walk rate were not encouraging in 2025.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harding

February 9, 2026

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero "trimmed down and looks in great shape," according to an observation from sideline reporter Ryan Bass at spring training. Caminero, whose official bio lists him at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, occupied an everyday role at the hot corner last year. Across 154 games, he slashed .264/.311/.535 with 45 homers, 110 RBI, and 129 wRC+. He cut down his strikeout rate to a career-low 19.1%, which is certainly serviceable for someone with tremendous power. He finished the year with 22.5 fWAR at the plate and -0.4 fWAR in the field. His defense wasn't spectacular, but he played well enough that the Rays are able to justify playing him every day to get his terrific bat in the lineup. Plus, we wouldn't be surprised to see him develop into an above-average defender now that he's in better shape and has a full season at the hot corner ahead of him. Currently, Caminero ranks as the #2 third baseman in RotoBaller's fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Ryan Bass

February 9, 2026

Washington Nationals outfielder Daylen Lile had an impressive rookie year, and he's looking to build on his big campaign during the 2026 season. Across his first 91 games of big-league action last year, he slashed .299/.347/.498 with nine home runs, 41 RBI, eight stolen bases, a 6.0% walk rate, a 16.0% strikeout rate, and 132 wRC+. While not a major power or speed threat, he consistently put the ball in play while keeping his walk and strikeout rates at fairly respectable clips. His defense wasn't as encouraging, though. Lile appeared in both corner outfield spots, totaling -8 OAA and -10 FRV across 624.1 innings. Presumably, he'll spend most of 2026 in left field or at designated hitter, where the effects of his subpar defense won't be felt quite as much. On a more positive note, he should play almost every day and is the leading candidate to bat third in Washington's lineup, boosting his fantasy upside. As it currently stands, he ranks as the #53 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for the 2026 season.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

February 9, 2026

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara had a frustrating 2025 season, posting a 5.36 ERA across 31 starts. Miami's ace faced levels of adversity he hadn't seen throughout his entire major league career, and it ultimately led to him accruing a dozen losses for the second consecutive season. Alcantara is certainly looking to shake off last year's rough campaign, and there's reason for him (as well as fantasy managers) to be optimistic. Most notably, the underlying metrics show that the right-hander was unlucky. His 5.36 ERA exceeded his 4.63 xERA, and similarly, his 4.28 FIP was a tad higher than his 4.19 xFIP. Plus, while his strikeout rate dipped to 7.32 K/9, he had never been a major swing-and-miss guy anyway. He kept his walk rate in check at 2.94 BB/9, too. Perhaps Alcantara's biggest issue was that he started to allow more loud contact than usual, as evidenced by a 46.5% ground ball rate (lower than his career average) and a career-worst 1.13 HR/9 home run rate. Still, he kept his fastball velocity up around 98 mph, and for the first time since 2020, all five of his pitches graded out as above league-average (higher than 100) by FanGraphs' Stuff+ model. Time will tell how Alcantara fares in 2026, but the bottom line is that the underlying metrics indicate that fantasy managers shouldn't yet panic too much about his results from last year. He ranks #63 among pitchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings and could end up being a value pick at cost.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

February 9, 2026

Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery made his MLB debut last season. While he logged a modest 71 appearances before the year came to an end, he wasted no time showing the world just how much power he possesses in his swing. Montgomery launched 21 homers across 71 MLB games -- more home runs than he had ever hit in a full minor league season. The thump was legitimate, but concerns persisted about his strikeouts; he posted a 29.2% strikeout rate and 8.8% walk rate down the stretch. Still, he finished the year with 129 wRC+ and 9.3 fWAR at the plate, as well as 7.0 fWAR in the field. Most of his defensive reps came at shortstop (6 OAA and 6 FRV), although he did log a dozen appearances at the hot corner. Montgomery could legitimately slug 40-plus home runs this year, so while it remains to be seen whether he can cut down on strikeouts, he offers intriguing fantasy upside nonetheless. As it stands, he ranks as the #21 shortstop and #116 hitter in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

February 9, 2026

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez continues to display impressive power heading into his age-35 season. The veteran backstop slugged 30 home runs across 155 games last year; that home run total was higher than his total from each of the three previous seasons. Power is Perez's primary calling card at this point in his career, as he also posted a suboptimal 4.4% walk rate, 19.5% strikeout rate, and 95 wRC+ along with -8.2 fWAR at the plate and -8.7 fWAR in the field. He made 38 appearances as the Royals' designated hitter, 30 at first base, and 92 behind the dish. He played replacement-level defense at first, but he offered a worrisome -7.6 FRM at catcher. FanGraphs still projects Perez as the Royals' Opening Day catcher, but we wouldn't be surprised to see him spend more time at first base and designated hitter while a depth option -- presumably, rookie Carter Jensen -- straps on the gear. Regardless of where Perez plays defensively, we expect his power to carry over from last year, keeping him on the fantasy radar in most leagues. He currently ranks as the #9 catcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

February 9, 2026

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick remains in line to handle an everyday role during the 2026 season. Frelick has played at least 142 games in each of the last seasons, and he slugged a career-high 12 home runs last year. Along the way, he slashed .288/.351/.405 with 63 RBI, 19 stolen bases, a 7.9% walk rate, a 13.5% strikeout rate, and 114 wRC+. He's not a major power threat, but he puts the ball in play, keeps his strikeout rate in check, and offers some speed. Frelick also enjoyed a very strong 2025 season on defense, posting 6 OAA and 7 FRV at his primary position in right field. Assuming newcomer Jett Williams spends most of his time at shortstop, the Brewers didn't really bring in any outfield competition this offseason. Frelick could be headed for 142-plus games once again, so even though he doesn't hit a ton of home runs, he can still have low-end value in fantasy baseball. As it stands, he ranks as the #51 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy draft rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

February 9, 2026

The New York Yankees will manage designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton's (elbow) playing time this year after he missed a significant portion of the 2025 season with severe tennis elbow in both of his arms, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. It's an issue that has not healed, and it could lead to more rest days for the 36-year-old veteran right-handed slugger. The five-time All-Star and former MVP played in only 77 games last year, but he slashed a strong .273/.350/.594 with a .944 OPS, 24 home runs, 66 RBI, and 36 runs scored for the Yankees in 281 regular-season plate appearances when he was on the field. Fantasy managers will take on a lot of injury risk as well as contact issues when drafting Stanton, but his demise may have been a bit premature, and he also added outfield eligibility in some leagues going into 2026.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch

February 9, 2026

Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Jett Williams will get reps at third base in spring training, according to Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic. Williams, who came over to Milwaukee this offseason in the trade that sent right-hander Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets, will also see work at the 6 this spring. Third base will be his best shot to see playing time in 2026, though, especially after the Brewers traded infielders Caleb Durbin and Andruw Monasterio to the Boston Red Sox on Monday. The 22-year-old has a plus arm despite having never played the hot corner in his professional career. Williams, a former 14th overall pick in 2022, will likely be ticketed for Triple-A Nashville to begin the season after slashing .261/.363/.465 with an .828 OPS, 17 home runs, 52 RBI, 91 runs scored, and 34 steals in 130 games in 2025 with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse. In addition to shortstop and third base, Williams could be an option in the outfield in his new home. Williams is an under-the-radar prospect worth keeping an eye on.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Brewer Fanatic - Jack Stern

February 9, 2026

Free-agent Colombian infielder Gio Urshela agreed to a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins on Monday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, sources told Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extra Base. Urshela will try to win a big-league roster spot this spring after hitting .238/.287/.326 with a .613 OPS, no home runs, 20 RBI, 10 runs scored, 13 walks, and 40 strikeouts in just 59 games in 2025 with the Athletics. He was designated for assignment by the club in August and didn't latch on with another team before the end of the 2025 season. The 34-year-old will be nothing more than a bench player who can play the corner infield spots if he wins a roster spot with the Twins. Urshela has just one season with more than 20 home runs, and that came way back in 2019 with the New York Yankees. He holds a .270/.314/.407 career slash line with a .722 OPS and 73 home runs in 10 major-league seasons.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ElExtraBase - Daniel Alvarez-Montes

February 9, 2026

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Ben Casparius said over the weekend that he is preparing himself as a starting pitcher entering spring training this year, according to Steve Webb of DodgersBeat.com. Casparius had an up-and-down first full season in the big leagues with the Dodgers last year, appearing in 46 games (three starts) while throwing 77 2/3 innings in the regular season. The 26-year-old went 7-5 with a bloated 4.64 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 71 strikeouts and 21 free passes. Even though Casparius will get stretched out in spring training, he will most likely enter the 2026 campaign as a bulk-innings reliever for the defending World Series champions. Casparius won't be much of a fantasy asset as long as he remains in a relief role, although he could still be useful in deeper fantasy leagues for his swing-and-miss stuff.--Keith Hernandez
Source: DodgersBeat.com - Steve Webb

February 9, 2026

MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo suggests that Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran could be out of the left field and designated hitter mix this year against left-handed pitchers. Wilyer Abreu is expected to be in right field every day, and Ceddanne Rafaela is expected to patrol center field regularly, with Roman Anthony and Duran swapping between left field and DH against right-handed pitchers. That's if the 29-year-old Duran isn't traded before the start of the 2026 regular season. The former seventh-rounder in 2018 out of California State Long Beach hit just .211/.260/.340 with a .600 OPS and three of his 16 home runs against southpaws in 209 plate appearances, as opposed to hitting .277/.363/.488 with an .852 OPS versus righties. Fantasy managers might want to forget about Duran being a 20-20 candidate if he's not playing every day in Boston.--Keith Hernandez
Source: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo

February 9, 2026

The New York Mets extended a non-roster invitation to outfield prospect Carson Benge on Monday. Despite adding Luis Robert Jr. in a trade this offseason, Benge is expected to compete for a starting job in the Mets' outfield in spring training this year. His primary competition for the left-field job will be Tyrone Taylor, MJ Melendez, and Brett Baty. The 23-year-old hit .281/.385/.472 with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases in 116 games at three minor-league levels last year. Benge is a former two-way star who should already be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues. While his upside remains high long term, don't be surprised if the Mets use him in a platoon role at the big-league level against right-handed pitchers. He slugged only .326 in 123 plate appearances against lefties last year. MLB Pipeline has Benge ranked as the No. 16 overall prospect entering the 2026 season.--Keith Hernandez
Source: New York Mets