February 3, 2026
The Houston Astros and third baseman
Isaac Paredes avoided an arbitration hearing by settling on a one-year, $9.35 million deal on Tuesday, a source told Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Both sides met in the middle after exchanging figures last month. The 26-year-old's fantasy stock is down heading into the 2026 campaign, as he might not have a path to an everyday role in his second year in Houston. Paredes slashed .254/.352/.458 with 20 home runs, 53 RBI, and 53 runs scored in 438 plate appearances over 102 games played. A hamstring injury was the reason why he didn't play a full season, and he wasn't 100% percent when he returned in the final month. In addition to Paredes not having a clear path to a starting role in 2026, there's a chance he's not ready for Opening Day as the Astros bring him along slowly. A trade out of town would most likely be the best thing for Paredes' fantasy value.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
February 3, 2026
Athletics pitching prospect Jamie Arnold, the 11th overall pick in 2025, added a cutter and a kick changeup to his arsenal this offseason while working at Driveline in the offseason, according to Jesus Cano of Baseball America. The 21-year-old southpaw also features a mid-90s fastball, slider, and splitter. Arnold stands at 6-foot-1, 188 pounds and has a strong track record in college from his time at Florida State, where he was a top-two ACC pitcher in consecutive seasons. His fastball-slider combination was already pretty devastating, but now with a more diverse arsenal, he's a name to monitor in dynasty/keeper leagues entering the 2026 campaign. Arnold has drawn comparisons to
Chris Sale due to his lower arm slot from the left side. Depending on how he performs in the minors this year, Arnold could make his big-league debut this summer.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball American - Jesus Cano
February 3, 2026
Free-agent pitcher
Eduardo Salazar signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. The right-hander has a foreign team inquiry clause. The 27-year-old Venezuelan right-hander appeared in 30 games out of the bullpen for the Washington Nationals in 2025 and pitched to a rough 8.38 ERA, 2.17 WHIP, and 23:16 K:BB in 29 innings. Salazar made his debut in the big leagues back in 2023 with the Cincinnati Reds and had an 8.03 ERA (11 earned runs allowed in 12 1/3 innings). In his three seasons in the majors with the Nationals, Reds, and Los Angeles Dodgers, Salazar has a 5.99 ERA, 1.87 WHIP, and weak 16% strikeout rate in 70 2/3 relief innings. Salazar is unlikely to make Minnesota's Opening Day roster and should serve as organizational relief depth if he sticks around.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
February 3, 2026
Free-agent reliever
Daniel Robert re-signed a minor-league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday that includes an invite to major-league spring training camp, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Robert missed the final month of the 2025 season with a forearm strain, and it's uncertain if he'll be limited at all for the start of spring training in a couple of weeks. The 31-year-old veteran right-hander made only 15 appearances in relief for the Phillies last year and gave up seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits (two homers) while walking 10 and striking out 15 in 13 innings pitched. He debuted in the big leagues in 2024 with the Texas Rangers, but threw only 5 2/3 frames of relief. Robert was originally a 21st-round selection by the Rangers in 2017 out of Auburn. He won't carry any fantasy value into the 2026 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
February 3, 2026
Cleveland Guardians left-hander
Joey Cantillo has plenty of experience pitching in relief, but MLB.com's Tim Stebbins writes that Cantillo will compete for a rotation job in spring training. In 13 starts (67 innings) for the Guardians in the second half of last season, Cantillo had a solid 2.96 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 72 strikeouts, and 28 walks. The 26-year-old southpaw will primarily be competing with pitching prospect
Parker Messick for one of the final spots in the rotation in camp. If Messick impresses more, Cleveland can just slide Cantillo back into a relief role. He had a 3.81 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 21 outings out of the Guardians' bullpen in 2025. Although he may have had some luck as a starter to close out the year, Cantillo did have a 25.9% strikeout rate and 10.8% walk rate while holding hitters to a .214 average. As more of a swingman than a locked-in starter, Cantillo can be ignored in mixed fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
February 3, 2026
The New York Post's Jon Heyman said on MLB Network that the New York Yankees are looking to add another right-handed bat this offseason. Heyman mentions first basemen
Paul Goldschmidt and
Ty France, and outfielders
Austin Slater and
Randal Grichuk as players that are "on their list." The Yankees are heavily left-handed right now and only have three projected starters that hit right-handed --
Aaron Judge,
Giancarlo Stanton, and
Jose Caballero. Goldy might make the most sense for the Yanks since he played in the Bronx in 2025, but he'd have to take a salary cut and would become a part-time player. Goldschmidt has been declining the last several years offensively, but he still hit .274 last year and was particularly successful against left-handed pitchers. Heyman believes the Yankees will "definitely" sign one of Goldy, France, Slater, or Grichuk.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
February 3, 2026
The Tampa Bay Rays have joined the list of teams interested in signing free-agent outfielder/designated hitter
Marcell Ozuna, sources told MLB insider Mike Rodriguez. In addition to the Rays, the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates are looking at the three-time All-Star slugger. Ozuna was fourth in the MVP voting in 2024 but really struggled in 2025 in his sixth season with the Atlanta Braves, slashing .232/.355/.400 with a .756 OPS, 21 home runs, 68 RBI, and 61 runs scored in 145 games and 592 plate appearances. The 35-year-old veteran Dominican was bothered by a hip injury that he suffered in June, which may have been the big reason why he struggled. Ozuna did increase his walk rate to a career-high 15.9%, but at this point in his career, he's most likely a full-time DH. There's potential for a bounce-back 2026 campaign, but at his age, Ozuna is also a pretty big risk.
--Keith HernandezSource: Mike Rodriguez
February 3, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals infield prospect
JJ Wetherholt now has a clear path to playing time at second base in 2026 after the team traded
Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners on Monday night, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Before the Donovan trade, Wetherholt was expected to compete for the third base job after St. Louis traded
Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks this offseason. Nothing is guaranteed for Wetherholt, but all signs point to the No. 5 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, being on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster in 2026. Between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis last year, the 23-year-old hit .306/.421/.510 with 17 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 109 games played. The former seventh overall pick in 2024 has 20-homer power as he matures, and he could play regularly right from the start of the season in St. Louis in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
February 3, 2026
New York Mets right-handed reliever
Adbert Alzolay (elbow) is expected to be healthy as a full-go at the start of spring training, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. The Mets signed Alzolay to a two-year minor league deal in January of last year, and the 30-year-old Venezuelan hurler spent all of 2025 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old made his major-league debut with the Chicago Cubs back in 2019 and has gone 12-25 with a 4.04 ERA (4.30 FIP), 1.16 WHIP, 27 saves, a 25.7% strikeout rate, and a 7.4% walk rate in 254 innings pitched over 121 appearances (27 starts) in six years with the Cubbies. If Alzolay stays healthy throughout spring training, he'll have a real shot to earn a spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen as a middle-relief arm.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon
February 3, 2026
Detroit Tigers right-hander
Troy Melton is set to compete for a rotation spot in 2026 coming off his impressive stretch run last year, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. Melton was a valuable swing man for Detroit late last year, but the 25-year-old's workload will be monitored closely after he threw 129 1/3 innings in 2025 between the minor leagues, the Tigers, and the playoffs. As a rookie last year, the 25-year-old had a strong 2.76 ERAand 1.01 WHIP in 45 2/3 innings in the big leagues over 16 appearances (four starts). The top of Detroit's rotation is set with
Tarik Skubal,
Casey Mize,
Jack Flaherty, and
Reese Olson (shoulder), so Melton will be battling for the fifth and final spot to begin the season. Melton only had a 20% strikeout rate in his first taste of the big leagues, but he showed his upside down the stretch, and his fantasy arrow is pointing up now that he should be a full-time starter.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jason Beck
February 3, 2026
Detroit Tigers right-hander
Reese Olson (shoulder) is on track to be ready for spring training after suffering a season-ending right-shoulder strain last year, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. Olson was shut down in late July and didn't pitch again in 2025. The 26-year-old went 4-4 with a career-low 3.15 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 65 strikeouts and 25 walks in 68 2/3 innings over his 13 starts. He hasn't exceeded 112 innings in his three years in the big leagues with the Tigers, but he has a solid 3.60 ERA (3.55 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP with a 23% strikeout rate and 7.8% walk rate in 284 2/3 total innings. Olson should have a rotation spot locked up in 2026 and has proven he can be a pretty reliable starting option for fantasy managers. If Olson can stay healthy, a step forward in his fourth big-league season is possible. He's ranked as the No. 86 starting pitcher at RotoBaller.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Jason Beck
February 3, 2026
San Diego third baseman
Manny Machado continues to turn in consistent seasons for the Padres, and he may be a little under the radar based on his current average draft position. Machado didn't have an eye-catching season in 2025, but he did continue his run of reliable production. He finished with 27 homers in his 159 games and has 25+ homers in 10 straight seasons (not counting the shortened 2020 season). He hit .275 for the second straight year, and his wOBA ticked up from .340 to .341 while his wRC+ crept up from 122 to 123. He mixed in 14 stolen bases as well, his highest total since 2018. Even though he has been around the majors for 14 seasons, he'll still only be 33 at the start of this year, so he still should have several strong seasons left, barring any major injury. Machado has played at least 150 games in nine of the last 10 full seasons as well, and his consistency and reliability make him a solid piece to build around.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
February 3, 2026
Seattle Mariners catcher
Cal Raleigh had unprecedented success last year, breaking through for 60 home runs and 125 RBI. He's clearly the top bat available at a thin catcher position, and the fact that he's in the lineup almost every day, either behind the plate or at DH, makes him an even more valuable asset at one of the thinnest fantasy baseball positions. Raliegh played 159 games for the Mariners last year, hitting .247 with those 60 homers and a .392 wOBA while also adding in a sneaky 14 stolen bases. Big Dumper cut down on his strikeout rate and increased his barrel rate to a career-high 19.5%. He has at least 30 homers in three straight seasons and will be 29 when this season begins. There's likely to be some regression since no switch-hitting catcher has been so productive, but he was better than every other catcher by such a wide margin that he's still a great fantasy option for 2026. Barring injury, we should have a few more seasons of peak Raleigh, and he makes a lot of sense as an early target in most formats, where no other catcher comes close to matching his upside and production.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
February 3, 2026
Miami Marlins catcher
Agustin Ramirez had a strong offensive season overall in his first year in the majors, and he showed enough upside to be a starter at the position in almost all formats in 2026. The 23-year-old made his MLB debut in April and played 136 games for Miami, totaling 33 doubles, 21 homers, 67 RBI, and a .231 batting average. His 47% hard-hit rate and 11% barrel rate back up his .302 wOBA and show the potential for even more power production as he adjusts to the league. In September, he hit just two homers in 25 games and was held to a .267 wOBA. He has been working on adjustments and improving his defense behind the plate this offseason and will look to be a regular bat in the middle of the Marlins' young lineup. He is definitely a young player with a high ceiling in 2026, and his power from the catcher position deserves attention in all formats.
--Zach ThompsonSource: RotoBaller
February 3, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher
Ken Waldichuk was designated for assignment as a corresponding move to the Rays picking up
Ben Williamson in the three-way trade that sent
Brendan Donovan to Seattle. The Rays just acquired Waldichuk after the Braves designated him for assignment a few weeks ago. He actually started the offseason with the A's, who designated him for assignment when they acquired
Jeff McNeil, and then the Braves claimed him off waivers. After being designated for assignment for a third time this offseason, the 28-year-old lefty could either end up being claimed again, traded, or sent to Triple-A by the Rays. After showing some promise as a prospect early in his career, he hasn't pitched in the majors since 2023. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2024 and pitched in the minors after his recovery last year. He is an interesting enough project that brings enough upside for the Braves and Rays to be interested in him, and since those organizations have a good track record of turning pitchers back around, it'll be very interesting to see where Waldichuk is sitting when the music stops on his game of musical chairs this offseason.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Marc Topkin
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