February 17, 2026
Texas Rangers starting pitcher
Jack Leiter appears to have secured the fourth spot in the Rangers' rotation coming into the season, behind a strong trio of
Jacob deGrom,
Nathan Eovaldi, and recently-acquired
MacKenzie Gore. Leiter finished his first full season in the majors 10-10 in 29 starts for Texas last year, racking up 148 strikeouts in 151 2/3 innings. He finished the year with a 3.86 ERA and 4.15 FIP, but the 25-year-old righty looked better after the All-Star break with a 3.28 ERA, 3.72 FIP, and 79 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings. He also cut his walk rate to 3.66 walks per nine innings from 4.4 before the All-Star break. Leiter can be a great later-round sleeper with good upside, and he still has plenty of room to grow into his top-prospect status after the Rangers snagged him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Kennedi Landry
February 17, 2026
Cleveland Guardians first baseman
Kyle Manzardo is ready to build on last year's success and came into spring training with a new look and new approach. The 25-year-old lefty bulked up this offseason, adding about 15 pounds coming into spring training. In 2025, he hit .234 in his first full season in the majors, exactly matching his batting average from 53 games in 2024. He dramatically increased his power production, though, with a .221 ISO, .329 wOBA, and 27 homers in his 142 games. While a 30-homer season is definitely a real possibility, Manzardo said his focus is to be better situationally. He's projected to hit fourth in the batting order again this season, right behind the always-productive
Jose Ramirez. Manzardo's ADP is low enough that he can be a great option late in drafts if your team needs a little power and can take a hit in batting average.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Ryan Lewis
February 17, 2026
Washington Nationals outfield
Dylan Crews was one of the top prospects in baseball coming into last season, but he had underwhelming rookie numbers. He's ready to turn the page and have a much better sophomore campaign, saying, "I think all of us have to forget about everything that's happened in the past. It's a clean slate right now." The former No. 2-overall pick is still a huge part of the Nationals' future plans and should get a long leash as a primary outfielder in Washington this season. In his 85 games last year, he hit just .208 with 10 homers and 17 stolen bases. He has the potential for a much better average and more power if he can live up to his pedigree in the majors this season. He's slotted into a great lineup spot if he hits second between C.J. Abrams and
James Wood, so there's definitely still some upside with Crews, who is available at a low ADP and has some definite "post-hype sleeper" potential to emerge this season.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Mark Zuckerman
February 17, 2026
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher
Ryan Walker is likely to get the first shot at being the team's primary closer, even after a down year in 2025. Walker took over closing duties in 2024 and was excellent on his way to a 1.91 ERA and 2.52 FIP in 80 innings across 76 appearances. In 2025, though, his ERA climbed to 4.11 and fIP to 3.31. He had a career-high 17 saves but also had six blown saves and a 1.27 WHIP. Walker has made it clear coming into camp that he wants the ball in high-leverage situations, and he seems to have the inside track for the job. The rest of the bullpen doesn't have much combined experience closing games, so if Walker stumbles like he did last year, it will likely be
Joel Peguero,
Erik Miller, or
Jose Butto who have to step up.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Alex Pavlovic
February 17, 2026
Boston Red Sox infielder
Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) is still limited to just playing catch, according to manager Alex Cora, and is unable to do any other baseball activities while waiting for the PRP injection to work on his shoulder injury. The issue first cropped up towards the end of last season and has limited Gonzalez all offseason. It's starting to look unlikely that he'll be ready for Opening Day, but the 29-year-old will still likely fit into Boston's crowded infield mix at some point, He slashed .305/.343/.483 with an .826 OPS, nine home runs, 53 RBI, 47 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 96 regular-season games last year and had an impressive 99th-percentile hard-hit rate and 123 wRC+ in what a breakout campaign. He especially excelled against lefties and should at least get time in a platoon when he's healthy. Monitor his recovery and keep him as a late-round deep-league value addition, especially if you need some roster versatility.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Gabrielle Starr
February 16, 2026
The San Diego Padres signed free-agent right-hander
Walker Buehler to a minor-league deal on Monday, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. The Padres' first four starting rotation spots for 2026 appear to be set with
Nick Pivetta,
Michael King,
Joe Musgrove, and
Randy Vasquez. Buehler will come to spring training competing for the fifth and final rotation spot with
German Marquez,
Matt Waldron,
Triston McKenzie,
JP Sears, and
Marco Gonzales. The 31-year-old struggled in his final season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024 and also didn't look great in 126 innings with the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies last year, posting a 4.93 ERA (5.66 FIP) and 1.52 WHIP with 92 strikeouts and 61 walks in 26 outings (24 starts). Buehler has not been the same pitcher since having Tommy John surgery in 2022, and he'll need to limit the walks and keep the ball in the yard to win a rotation spot in San Diego.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
February 16, 2026
Cleveland Guardians manager
Stephen Vogt said that infield prospect
Juan Brito will see time at first base, second base, and third base this spring, according to Mason Horodyski of WEWS. Brito could also be an option in right field because the team doesn't have many right-handed options there. "If Juan Brito can play all of those roles... obviously it's beneficial for him and for us," Vogt said. Adding versatility will only increase Brito's chances of earning an Opening Day roster spot in 2026. The 24-year-old Dominican switch-hitter only played in 31 games in 2025 at the Rookie level and with Triple-A Columbus due to surgeries on his thumb and hamstring. He hit .243/.355/.437 with a .792 OPS, four homers, 17 RBI, 17 runs, and four steals in 125 plate appearances. Brito is unlikely to have a realistic shot at regular playing time in 2026, and he still has minor-league options remaining.
--Keith HernandezSource: WEWS - Mason Horodyski
February 16, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder
Richie Palacios will see reps at third base during spring training, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Palacios has mostly played the outfield in the major leagues, but he's also seen time at second base. The 28-year-old should be the backup option behind
Gavin Lux at the keystone in 2026, but he'll increase his versatility in camp this year by getting some experience at the hot corner. Palacios, a former third-rounder by the Cleveland Guardians in 2018 out of Towson University, missed most of the 2025 campaign (17 games played) due to a broken right ring finger and a sprained knee. The Rays are willing to give him more playing time to see what he can do after he hit .223/.346/.318 with a .664 OPS, five home runs, 21 RBI, 46 runs, and 19 steals in 92 games in 2024. Palacios has plenty of plate discipline and speed, so if he's playing regularly, he could be a nice late-round sleeper in deeper fantasy leagues in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
February 16, 2026
With some of the Boston Red Sox's depth options at first base banged up, including
Triston Casas (knee) and
Romy Gonzalez (shoulder), new infielder
Isiah Kiner-Falefa has taken reps at the position in spring training, according to Sean McAdam of MassLive.com. Kiner-Falefa's primary positions are second base, shortstop, and third base, but he's played literally every other position on the field in the majors, including catcher. He might not really be needed at first in 2026, depending on the health of Casas and Gonzalez, but getting the experience at first this spring doesn't hurt. The 30-year-old veteran has never hit more than eight home runs in a season in his eight years in the big leagues, and he's unlikely to have much fantasy appeal in 2026 with the BoSox in a utility role. Kiner-Falefa should only be rostered as a player with modest speed and positional versatility in AL-only leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Sean McAdam
February 16, 2026
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher
Tanner Houck (elbow) resumed throwing on Monday. He made about 25 throws from 45 feet out, marking the first time he had thrown a baseball since undergoing Tommy John surgery nearly six months ago. It's a major step in the right direction for Houck, whose long recovery gives him a timetable to return around September 2026. He hasn't pitched in the majors since last May, when he suffered a right flexor pronator strain and later experienced a setback while rehabbing in the minors. The right-hander didn't pitch very well even when healthy, allowing 39 earned runs over 43.2 innings (nine starts). His strikeout rate dropped to a career-low 6.60 K/9 while his home run rate ballooned to 2.06 HR/9. Therefore, in addition to getting healthy, Houck will look to make mechanical adjustments focused on helping him return to pre-2025 form. He was an All-Star in 2024, and he looked like a potential Cy Young candidate during the first half of that season before things fell apart in the second half.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Browne
February 16, 2026
Kansas City Royals catcher
Salvador Perez (thumb) took live batting practice on Monday during the team's full-squad workout in camp, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Perez appears to be fully healthy at spring training after injuring his thumb in the offseason while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League. Despite being long in the tooth, Perez managed to reach the 30-homer mark for just the second time in his career in 2025 in his 14th season in the big leagues. He reached the 100-RBI mark for just the third time in his career and for the second straight season. The 35-year-old nine-time All-Star hit a career-low .236, though. The Royals split Perez's playing time between catcher, first base, and designated hitter to try to keep him fresh, and the expectation is that this will continue in 2026, with
Carter Jensen ready to take on a bigger catching role. Perez can still be productive in fantasy, but he's more of a low-end starting catcher now than a high-end one.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers
February 16, 2026
The Chicago Cubs have not engaged in extension conversations with outfielder
Ian Happ, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. The everyday left fielder is scheduled to hit free agency next offseason at the expiration of his three-year, $61 million contract. Happ played 150 games last year, and he has played at least 148 games in each of the last five seasons. He slashed 243/.342/.420 with 23 home runs, 116 wRC+, a 13.1% walk rate, and a 22.8% strikeout rate in 2025. He also got his defense back up to league average, posting 0 OAA and 0 FRV in the outfield. In addition to Happ, Chicago also has an important decision to make regarding
Seiya Suzuki, who is slated for free agency next offseason. It seems unlikely that the Cubs would bring both back, especially since outfield prospect
Kevin Alcantara appears ready to take on an everyday role in the majors.
--Andersen PickardSource: Maddie Lee
February 16, 2026
Colorado Rockies infielder/outfielder
Tyler Freeman (back) is dealing with back soreness in spring training and is expected to return a "week or so into camp," according to MLB.com. Freeman began running on Feb. 12 and started taking grounders last Friday. He underwent an anti-inflammatory injection weeks before camp began. Barring a setback once Freeman returns to baseball activities, he should be ready in plenty of time for Opening Day in late March. The 26-year-old former second-round selection by the Cleveland Guardians in 2017 hit .281/.354/.361 with a career-best .715 OPS, two home runs, 31 RBI, 50 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases in 110 games in his first year with the Rockies in 2025. Freeman's defensive versatility -- he played mostly second base and left field, but also four other positions -- should make him a lock for a utility role. He has a contact-oriented approach at the plate and 80th percentile speed. The lack of power and consistent playing time limits his fantasy appeal to NL-only leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
February 16, 2026
The Chicago Cubs have not engaged in extension conversations with outfielder
Seiya Suzuki, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. Suzuki is nearing the end of a five-year, $85 million deal, which was the first contract that he signed stateside. He slashed .245/.326/.478 with a career-high 32 home runs at the age of 30 last year, adding 123 wRC+ with a 10.9% walk rate and a 25.2% strikeout rate. When asked about a potential extension with the Cubs, Suzuki said (via an interpreter), "I want to work hard and perform well, and hopefully they say yes." Chicago also has an important decision to make regarding
Ian Happ, who is slated for free agency next offseason. It seems unlikely that the Cubs would bring both back, especially since outfield prospect
Kevin Alcantara appears ready to take on an everyday role in the majors.
--Andersen PickardSource: Maddie Lee
February 16, 2026
New York Yankees third baseman/outfielder
Oswaldo Cabrera (ankle), who is coming off an ugly left-ankle fracture from last year, said that he expects to be a full-go this spring, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. However, manager Aaron Boone said he plans to slow-play getting Cabrera into Grapefruit League games. The 26-year-old had surgery on his ankle last May and was limited to a career-low 34 games. In his 122 plate appearances, he went 26-for-107 (.243) with a homer, 11 RBI, and 17 runs scored. Cabrera's ability to play both infield and outfield should assure him of an Opening Day roster spot as a utility man off the bench, barring a setback with his surgically repaired ankle. The Venezuelan switch-hitter is a career .234/.295/.346 hitter with a .641 OPS, 20 homers, 95 RBI, and 15 steals in 301 major-league games in his four seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
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