March 10, 2026
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Chris Sale is fully recovered from his rib injury last year and is ready to roll for another season with the Braves. He signed an extension before spring training that will keep him with the Braves for at least 2027 and includes a team option for 2028. The 36-year-old lefty has revitalized his career with the Braves after injuries marred the end of his time in Boston. In the last two seasons, Sale has gone 25-8 in 50 starts with a 2.46 ERA, 2.33 FIP, and 11.6 K/9. Sale has allowed four runs in 7 2/3 innings in spring training, but he is expected to be atop the Braves' rotation when the season opens. He's the No. 9 pitcher in RotoBaller's rankings, and he can be a solid anchor for your rotation after the elite options are off the board. In standard-sized mixed leagues, he's an outstanding second starting pitcher and a low-end first starting pitcher.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
March 10, 2026
Baltimore Orioles infielder
Jordan Westburg (elbow) is dealing with an injury that doesn't give him a clear timetable to return, and as a result, his draft stock has plummeted over the last few weeks. Westburg is the No. 22 second baseman and the No. 22 third baseman in RotoBaller's rankings, but the floor has dropped out of his ADP, so he could end up being a late-round value if he falls far enough. Last year, Westburg hit .265 in his 85 games with 17 homers and a .332 wOBA. His averages were on par with his breakout 2024 season, and his power ticked up while his stolen bases were slightly down as he battled injury. He'll need to prove he's healthy and earn playing time back, since prospect
Coby Mayo will likely fill in at the hot corner until he returns.
Blaze Alexander and
Jeremiah Jackson could also end up in the mix at third base, giving Westburg an uncertain path to playing time in addition to his injury risk. He's high-risk, but his ADP is dropping low enough that he could be worth a flier if you can get him late enough as a bench piece.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
March 10, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop
Geraldo Perdomo took a huge leap in 2025, and his offense caught up with his excellent defense during his age-25 season. Perdomo posted an impressive .290/.389/.462 slash line with 20 home runs, 27 stolen bases, more walks than strikeouts, and a 370 wOBA. He played 161 of Arizona's 162 games and posted career highs in every major category. He had never hit more than six homers in a season, but hit 20 in 2025, and he had never had more than 16 stolen bases before swiping 27 bags last year. He took a huge step forward and became a key part of the D-backs' lineup. He's currently the No. 10 shortstop in RotoBaller's rankings and can be a strong mixed-league option if he continues last year's success. Most projections are calling for a little regression after his massive breakout, but he still is a solid starter to snag after the elite producers at the position are off the board.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
March 10, 2026
New York Yankees outfielder
Jasson Dominguez has been sliding in fantasy baseball drafts with uncertainty about his position and playing time in the Yankees' lineup. Dominguez is ranked as the No. 76 outfielder in the RotoBaller rankings, and his ADP is getting close to lining up with that ranking after dropping throughout the spring. Dominguez has been doing his part on the field, with a big spring training so far. He is hitting .296 in his first nine Grapefruit League games with a home run, seven RBI, a stolen base, and improved outfield defense. He could end up being a great value if he claims an everyday role after his stock drops, but he's still going a little early compared to other options around his same ranking. The biggest concern with Dominguez is the squeeze for outfield playing time in the Bronx.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
March 10, 2026
Cincinnati Reds first baseman
Christian Encarnacion-Strand will start the season in Triple-A after being optioned on Monday. The Reds are crowded at the corner infield spots with
Ke'Bryan Hayes now serving as the team's starting third baseman, with
Eugenio Suarez,
Sal Stewart, and Spencer Stewart rotating between first base and designated hitter. Encarnacion-Strand was once a top prospect and still has excellent raw power, but has struggled to stay healthy and limit his chase rate over the last few years. He was the team's starting first baseman for the last two Opening Days, but he'll need to prove he's healthy and ready to produce before earning a call-up back to the Reds MLB roster. He had a disappointing .208/.234/.377 triple-slash with a .610 OPS in 36 big-league games in 2025 and finished the year in the minors.
--Zach ThompsonSource: MLB.com
March 9, 2026
The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Monday that they sent outfield prospect
Joshua Baez to minor-league camp. Baez homered in three straight Grapefruit League games, but he'll begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Memphis after hitting .287/.384/.500 with an .884 OPS, 20 home runs, 79 RBI, 78 runs scored, and 54 stolen bases in 495 plate appearances over 117 games at High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield. Sixteen of his 20 long balls came at Double-A in 79 games played. The power/speed is obvious here for Baez, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Cardinals' No. 4 prospect. He's the No. 87 overall prospect in MLB entering the 2026 season. If Baez performs well early on at Memphis, he'll most likely make his MLB debut at some point this year. There is 30-30 potential for the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder who was drafted in the second round in 2021. Baez's best path to playing time in St. Louis will be in right field. He's firmly back on the dynasty/keeper radar.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Cardinals
March 9, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that outfielders
Chandler Simpson (hamstring) and
Cedric Mullins (back) are feeling better and should play on Tuesday in Grapefruit League action, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Simpson, the more attractive fantasy outfielder of the two because of his high-end speed, has not played since last Tuesday after feeling soreness in his left hamstring. It's an injury the 25-year-old had battled through early in camp, so the Rays aren't taking any chances. Simpson doesn't offer much to fantasy managers outside of stolen bases, so he could be vulnerable to a loss of playing time if his glove doesn't improve in the outfield. Mullins, 31, also hasn't played since last Tuesday due to a sore back, but it's not viewed as a long-term issue. He still has power from the left side and could be on the strong side of a platoon in Tampa, but declining batted-ball metrics for Mullins make him merely a late-round dice roll in mixed fantasy leagues this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
March 9, 2026
Atlanta Braves left-hander
Joey Wentz (knee) suffered a torn right ACL in a Grapefruit League game against the Tampa Bay Rays during a collision near first base on Sunday, according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Wentz will be forced to miss the entire 2026 season as a result. Although the 28-year-old southpaw has started only 39 of the 117 games he's pitched in over the course of his four-year big-league career, he offered the Braves some rotation depth with injuries to right-handers
Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) and
Hurston Waldrep (elbow), who both had surgeries on their arms this spring. It's yet another blow to the Braves' pitching depth before the start of the new season. Wentz pitched for the Braves, Pirates, and Twins in 2025, posting an ugly 5.60 ERA (4.06 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with 92 K's and 43 walks in 98 innings in 39 appearances (13 starts).
--Keith HernandezSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Chad Bishop
March 9, 2026
The New York Yankees announced on Monday that they reassigned right-handed pitching prospect
Elmer Rodriguez and outfielder
Spencer Jones to minor-league camp. Rodriguez, who is the team's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he could be one of the top arms considered if the Yankees have any openings in their rotation down the road. The 22-year-old allowed two runs with five strikeouts and one walk in his two Grapefruit League starts over six innings. The former Boston Red Sox farmhand broke out in three minor-league stops in 2025, posting a 2.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a 176:57 K: BB in 150 innings over 27 outings (26 starts). Rodriguez features a sinker, sweeper, and curveball and is already one of the best young ground-ball pitchers with improving control. He's a name to monitor in deeper single-year formats in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Yankees
March 9, 2026
The New York Yankees announced on Monday that they sent outfield prospect
Spencer Jones and right-hander
Elmer Rodriguez to minor-league camp. Despite looking good at the plate in Grapefruit League games -- Jones went 6-for-18 with three home runs and three stolen bases in spring training -- the 24-year-old left-handed slugger will begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Even with
Jasson Dominguez potentially starting the year in the minors, too, there isn't room for Jones on the big-league roster just yet. Making contact more consistently continues to be the focus for Jones, who struck out 36.6% of the time at Triple-A in 2025. He hit .274/.362/.571 with a .932 OPS, 35 home runs, 80 RBI, 102 runs scored, and 29 steals in 116 games at Triple-A and Double-A Somerset last year. Jones' plus-plus power and plus speed will eventually play at the major-league level, but he could be a serious drain on your batting average if he doesn't clean up his plate discipline and make more contact.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Yankees
March 9, 2026
Left-hander
Jesus Luzardo and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a five-year, $135 million contract extension on Monday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 28-year-old southpaw was set to become a free agent after the 2026 season. His new deal will begin in 2027 and will help the Phillies lock up one of the best young arms in the game. The 28-year-old Luzardo also will have a $32.5 million option for the 2032 season. On one of the better teams in baseball, Luzardo ranks No. 17 on RotoBaller's fantasy starting pitcher rankings after he went 15-7 with a 3.92 ERA (2.90 FIP), 1.22 WHIP, and 216:57 K:BB in 183 2/3 innings over 32 starts. It was the second time he's reached the 200-strikeout mark in the last three years, and he finished seventh in the National League Cy Young voting. He's not quite ace material in fantasy, but he's not far behind because of his strikeout upside.
--Keith HernandezSource: NBC Sports Philadelphia - Jim Salisbury
March 9, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander
Logan Henderson (elbow) is dealing with mild elbow soreness in camp, but he reported feeling better on Monday, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. It's something to keep an eye on after Henderson missed time with right-elbow inflammation in the second half of last season. This doesn't help Henderson's cause this spring as he competes for a spot in Milwaukee's Opening Day starting rotation. The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2021 looked great in a small sample size in his MLB debut last year, going 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 33 strikeouts and eight walks in only 25 1/3 innings over five starts. If Henderson is unable to get back into a Cactus League soon in spring training, he'll be in danger of missing the start of the regular season. Durability could be the biggest obstacle to Henderson sticking in the Brewers' rotation long-term.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy
March 9, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder
Corbin Carroll (hand) could debut in a Cactus League game at some point this week, manager Torey Lovullo told Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Carroll had surgery to fix a broken hamate bone in his right hand last month, but the 25-year-old former National League Rookie of the Year is recovering very quickly. At this pace, Carroll should be ready for Opening Day in late March. Carroll has been an All-Star in two of his four MLB seasons, including last year, when he slashed .259/.343/.541 with a career-best .883 OPS, 31 home runs, 84 RBI, a league-leading 17 triples, 107 runs scored, and 32 stolen bases in 642 plate appearances and 143 games played. Despite Carroll's hand injury this spring, fantasy managers shouldn't hesitate to take him late in the first round of fantasy drafts as a five-category contributor in a hitter-friendly home ballpark.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Arizona Republic - Nick Piecoro
March 9, 2026
San Francisco Giants first base prospect
Bryce Eldridge has been in camp hoping to be a part of the team's Opening Day roster, but the Giants' top-ranked prospect could very well end up starting the year at Triple-A Sacramento. Giants manager Tony Vitello stated Monday that development is the most important thing for the 6-foot-7 slugger, and when asked if Eldridge would develop in San Francisco or Sacramento, the Giants' skipper said, "maybe see where it goes the last couple weeks of spring training." The former first-round draft pick made his big league debut in 2025, and while there is big-time power in his bat, there is a lot of swing-and-miss as well, registering a 30.8 percent K% in 66 games at Triple-A last year. So far this spring, the left-handed hitter has a 32.3 percent K% in 31 plate appearances, so perhaps the Giants want to see some improvement there before making him their designated hitter for the 2026 season. The 21-year-old is going undrafted in most fantasy leagues, but for power-needy managers, Eldridge is worth keeping an eye on as he could provide some pop despite the contact issues.
--Jarod RuppSource: Susan Slusser
March 9, 2026
Boston Red Sox first baseman
Triston Casas (knee) has stated that he will not participate in any Grapefruit League action. The 6-foot-4 slugger had previously indicated that he'd hoped to get some games in before the regular season begins, but this appears to push back his timeline somewhat. The former first-round draft pick is working his way back from patellar tendon surgery on his left knee, but has yet to work on baserunning and sliding as part of the rehab process. Once the left-handed hitter is ready to return to the Red Sox lineup, his powerful bat should have some fantasy appeal, having belted 24 home runs back in 2023 when he logged 132 games, so it's worth keeping an eye on his progress.
--Jarod RuppSource: Tim Healey
RADIO
