February 9, 2026
Free agent pitcher
Chris Paddack is expected to sign with the Miami Marlins. The two are in agreement on a one-year, $4 million contract that also has some performance-based incentives. The right-hander should begin the season as the team's fifth starter and will look to right the ship after a poor 2025 campaign. The 6-foot-5 hurler spent most of the year with Minnesota before being traded to the Tigers at the end of July. Overall, the former eighth-rounder recorded a 5.35 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and struck out just 112 batters in 158 innings pitched. Until he proves otherwise, the 30-year-old should be left off 2026 fantasy rosters.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jon Heyman
February 9, 2026
Free-agent pitcher
Erick Fedde and the Chicago White Sox agreed on a one-year deal, pending a physical. The veteran saw some success in his return from the KBO in 2024, pitching to a 3.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 14.0 percent K-BB%. However, he was unable to parlay that production into 2025. The 6-foot-4 hurler played for three different teams (Cardinals, Braves, Brewers) and registered an unsightly 5.49 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and just a 2.6 percent K-BB%. The former first-rounder tentatively slots in as the fifth starter, although he'll likely face competition for the job this spring from the team's top pitching prospects,
Noah Schultz and
Hagen Smith, as well as another offseason acquisition,
Sean Newcomb. Still just 32 years old, Fedde could have something left in the tank, but he's off the season-long fantasy radar for now.
--Jarod RuppSource: Joel Sherman
February 9, 2026
Free-agent pitcher
Nick Martinez and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a one-year deal on Monday, pending a physical. The contract is for $13 million and includes a mutual option for 2027. Martinez had an up-and-down season last year, going 11-14 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. However, he fared much better as a reliever. His final 11 appearances came in relief, and the right-hander posted a 2.61 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 20 2/3 innings pitched out of the bullpen. The Rays are expected to use the 35-year-old as a starter, but his experience as a reliever will give them some flexibility. Be that as it may, and although the veteran hurler had been effective in the three seasons before 2025, recording sub-3.50 ERAs in those campaigns, the 6-foot-1 pitcher doesn't move the needle in most standard-sized fantasy leagues right now.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jon Heyman
February 9, 2026
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Boston Red Sox have acquired infielder
Caleb Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers. In exchange, the Red Sox are sending left-handed pitcher
Kyle Harrison, infielder
David Hamilton, and left-handed pitcher
Shane Drohan. Additionally, the Red Sox are also acquiring infielder Andrew Monasterio, third baseman
Anthony Seigler, and a Comp B pick. Durbin put together a solid MLB debut with the Brewers last summer, holding a .256/.354/.387 line. He hit 11 home runs and showcased his high-end speed, swiping 18 bags. Additionally, he showed an elite eye at the plate, striking out at a low 9.9% rate. With Boston, managers should expect Durbin to compete for a starting role at the hot corner, alongside
Marcelo Mayer. He would have sleeper appeal in deeper category formats if he earns a full-time role.
--Andy SmithSource: Jeff Passan
February 9, 2026
The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed designated hitter
Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract. Ozuna was one of the top remaining bats on the open market and will look to provide a power spark to an improving Pittsburgh lineup. Last summer, Ozuna had a down year by his standards, hitting a low .232/.355/.400 line with a modest .755 OPS. He hit just 21 home runs. However, the year prior, Ozuna launched 39 long balls with a stellar .302/.378/.546 slash line. Despite the underwhelming 2025 season. Ozuna still generated a strong .354 xwOBA with an 11.4% barrel rate, suggesting he should see some positive regression in 2026. While his counting statistics may drop moving to this new lineup, he is a prime bounce-back candidate as he should return to the 30-HR mark in the Steel City.
--Andy SmithSource: Jon Heyman
February 9, 2026
Boston Red Sox infield prospect
Mikey Romero is in line to make his MLB debut sometime during the 2026 campaign. Romero joined the Red Sox in the opening round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Orange Lutheran HS. Romero opened the 2025 season with Double-A Portland, where he looked quite comfortable, holding a .254/.315/.440 line with eight home runs, four stolen bases, and a 74:23 K:BB. He was then moved up to the top club in the Boston system, Triple-A Worcester, for his 45 games of the campaign. During this stint, the infielder carried a lower .232/.276/.469 slash line. However, he did flash high power upside, launching nine long balls over this short taste. While Romero will likely be behind
Kristian Campbell and
Marcelo Mayer in projected playing time, he should be in the mix to debut in Boston later in the 2026 season.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
February 9, 2026
New York Mets first base/outfield prospect
Ryan Clifford is unlikely to break camp with the MLB roster, but should be in the mix to reach Queens early in the campaign. Per MLB.com, Clifford is the team's No. 6 prospect and is considered the sport's No. 5 overall first base prospect. Clifford was drafted in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros. Last summer, Clifford spent the majority of his campaign (105 games) at Double-A. During this stint, Clifford held a .243/.355/.494 line with a strong .848 OPS. He hit 24 home runs while swiping four bases. He was then bumped up to Triple-A, where he logged 34 games with a much lower .219/.359/.393 line with a .754 OPS. Clifford will likely need to find his footing at Triple-A during the opening months before making a strong push to join the major leagues.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
February 9, 2026
Detroit Tigers infield prospect
Max Anderson could compete for a role on the team's Opening Day roster during spring training. Anderson, the team's No. 9-ranked prospect, is often underrated in the system, given Detroit's elite prospects at the top, including outfielder
Max Clark and top infielder
Kevin McGonigle. However, Anderson tuned up solidly in 2025 and earned a non-roster invite to the team's MLB spring training. In 2025, Anderson began the campaign with Double-A Erie, where he posted a .306/.358/.499 line with 14 long balls. He was then bumped up to Triple-A Toledo, where he took a slight step back, carrying a .267/.327/.422 line with a .749 OPS. The 23-year-old Nebraska product is a name to monitor in deeper formats, as he could begin the season in the depth role in Detroit.
--Andy SmithSource: RotoBaller
February 9, 2026
New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Ben Hess earned an invite to MLB spring training. Hess is currently ranked as the team's No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline and could make a strong case in camp to begin the 2026 season with Triple-A. Hess joined the Yankees with the 26th overall selection in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Alabama. In 2025, the right-hander made his professional debut. He began his career with Low-A, where he logged 66 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.51 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He racked up an elite 94 punchouts over this stint. He was then bumped up to Double-A Somerset, where Hess was even more dominant, posting a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a 45:13 K:BB through 36 2/3 innings. Given his quick progression throughout the system, a 2026 MLB debut is in play.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
February 9, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Edward Florentino is a name to keep a close eye on in dynasty formats during the 2026 campaign. Florentino is currently ranked as MLB.com's No. 81 overall prospect and Pittsburgh's No. 5-ranked prospect. However, Florentino looked quite comfortable in his first full season as a professional and could find himself much higher on prospect boards by the end of the 2026 campaign. He made his professional debut in 2024 in the Dominican Summer League, where he posted a .260/.432/.459 lines across 49 games. While he began 2025 in the DSL as well, he was able to join Low-A after a short 29-game stint. With Low-A Bradenton, Florentino posted a strong .262/.380/.503 with 10 home runs and 29 stolen bases. Given his quick adjustments, the 19-year-old could spend most of 2026 with High-A.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
February 9, 2026
Los Angeles Angels right-handed starting pitcher
George Klassen will attend big-league spring training. The right-hander enters the 2026 campaign sitting as the team's No. 3-ranked prospect on MLB.com. Klassen was a sixth-round selection by the Phillies back in the 2023 MLB Draft and is now steps away from making the MLB Opening Day roster. In 2025, the Minnesota product spent most of his season at Double-A, where he logged 102 2/3 innings to the tune of a 5.33 ERA with a 1.48 WHIP. During this stint, he struck out 126 hitters while allowing 46 walks. However, over his last four outings at Double-A, he posted an elite 1.17 ERA, which earned him a one-game taste of Triple-A. If Klassen continues to perform well in camp, he could be in the mix to join the Angels early in the first half.
--Andy SmithSource: Los Angeles Angels
February 8, 2026
New York Mets third baseman
Brett Baty is expected to shift positions this season. According to Anthony DiComo, Baty spent the latter part of his offseason getting reps in left field. The Mets brought in
Bo Bichette to be the everyday third baseman, so Baty is without a full-time spot right now. He could very well get regular at-bats in the outfield, assuming he can prove himself to be a viable fielder in the corner outfield. According to Baseball Reference, Baty has played 1.0 inning in left field during his big league career. He has mostly been playing third base with some second base mixed in as well. Baty did a nice job with the bat last season, slashing .254/.313/.435 with 18 home runs and 50 RBI in 130 games. The 26-year-old figures to get a fair shot at the left field job during Spring Training.
--Andy WebbSource: Anthony DiComo
February 8, 2026
Miami Marlins starting pitcher
Sandy Alcantara is expected to be the Opening Day starter, according to Christina De Nicola. This isn't shocking news, given the Marlins traded
Edward Cabrera and
Ryan Weathers this offseason. The only competition for the Opening Day start would be
Eury Perez. The Marlins are expected to give the starting nod to the veteran Alcantara, who has certainly earned this honor. Alcantara mostly struggled last season, but showed signs of life down the stretch of the season. Over his final eight starts, Alcantara posted a 2.68 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and a 52/10 K/BB ratio across 53.2 innings. Fantasy managers will need to see a strong showing in Spring Training before jumping on the Alcantara hype train again.
--Andy WebbSource: Christina De Nicola
February 8, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher
Jose Berrios might not have a guaranteed spot in the starting rotation to begin the 2026 season. Berrios endured a tough campaign where he finished the regular season on the injured list and was left off the postseason roster. The right-hander finished with a 4.17 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 138/56 K/BB ratio across 31 games (30 starts) in 2025. His 166.0 innings were his lowest since the shortened 2020 season. The Jays have added
Dylan Cease and
Cody Ponce to the mix this offseason. They'll have
Kevin Gausman,
Shane Bieber, and
Trey Yesavage returning from last season. It's looking like Berrios could be the odd man out and headed to a swingman type of role in the bullpen. The Jays are still on the hook for $67 million over the next three years, so Berrios will have a role, but it might not be a full-time starter.
--Andy WebbSource: Keegan Matheson
February 8, 2026
The New York Mets have signed free-agent outfielder
MJ Melendez to an MLB deal on Sunday. They've agreed on a one-year, $1.5 million contract for the upcoming 2026 season. Hopefully, a change of scenery will help Melendez, who has struggled during his first four years with the Kansas City Royals. He only played 23 big league games last season and spent most of his time in Triple-A. Melendez slashed .261/.323/.490 with 20 home runs, 64 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in 107 games at Triple-A Omaha last season. The former second-round pick continues to post strong numbers in the minor leagues, but can't seem to translate them to the MLB level. Clearly, the Mets believe that they can tap into his potential, but he'll likely be a fourth outfielder.
--Andy WebbSource: Jon Heyman
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