February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays corner infielder
Kazuma Okamoto will see some time at first base, according to manager John Schneider. Okamoto is widely viewed as a third baseman, but he played both corner infield spots in Japan. In fact, he posted an impressive .996 fielding percentage across 130 games at first base in 2024. Presumably, he'll be the Jays' go-to first baseman when
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is designated hitting. Schneider's willingness to play Okamoto at first could also indicate that he wants to get Guerrero fewer games in the field. No matter how the lineup looks, it's encouraging to know that Schneider plans to get Okamoto's bat in the lineup consistently, whether that's at first base or third base. He slashed .327/.416/.598 with 15 homers and 210 wRC+ during his final season in Japan, and he walked as much as he struck out. He currently ranks as the #27 third baseman in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for the 2026 season.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
February 10, 2026
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher
Reese Olson (right shoulder) has been ruled out for the entire 2026 season after undergoing labral repair surgery, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. He was officially placed on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. Olson battled multiple injuries last year and ultimately made just 13 starts. He missed a month and a half during the early portion of the season due to ring finger inflammation, and then he was sidelined from late July through the end of the season due to his shoulder issue. Across 68.2 innings of work, he posted a 3.50 FIP with 8.52 K/9, 3.28 BB/9, and 0.66 HR/9. His long-term absence provides a better explanation for why Detroit signed veteran starter
Justin Verlander to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Verlander should replace Olson as the Tigers' No. 4 starter entering the 2026 season, barring any other unforeseen transactions or injuries.
--Andersen PickardSource: Jason Beck
February 10, 2026
When asked about right-handed reliever
Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said he's "100 percent confident if he's closing most games," according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. General manager Ross Atkins said in November that the Blue Jays weren't committed to using Hoffman as their primary closer in 2026 after he struggled in late-game situations in 2025. The 33-year-old veteran had a career-high 33 saves, but he also had a 4.37 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 68 innings during the regular season, and he famously blew Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hoffman should see most of the team's save chances to open the season, but both
Yimi Garcia (elbow) and
Louis Varland are options to save games if Hoffman struggles. He'll be on a much shorter leash in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca - Ben Nicholson-Smith
February 10, 2026
Texas Rangers left-hander
Cody Bradford (elbow) said he will throw his seventh bullpen session on Tuesday in his rehab from an internal-brace procedure last June, and he's still aiming for a return in May, according to Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports. Bradford's bullpen on Tuesday will be his first that isn't limited to fastballs. The 27-year-old will try eight to 10 changeups. The 27-year-old southpaw pitched well in 2024, going 6-3 with a 3.54 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 70 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 76 1/3 innings over his 14 appearances (13 starts). Bradford doesn't blow hitters away, but he has strong command and has shown a knack for keeping batters off balance. Because his command could struggle upon his return in 2026 after a long layoff, it's hard to get behind him in single-league formats this year. The Rangers will most definitely ease Bradford back in, too. At best, he's a bench stash in AL-only leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: DLLS Sports - Jeff Wilson
February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Shane Bieber (forearm) will open the 2026 season on the injured list, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Bieber is dealing with right-forearm fatigue and will have his ramp-up during spring training delayed past Opening Day. Manager John Schneider said Bieber is feeling good and is playing catch, but he's week-to-week and won't start the season on time. The 30-year-old still hasn't recovered from the extra workload he took on last fall during the team's run to the World Series. Bieber pitched well in the postseason, but he made five appearances after making seven starts for Toronto in the regular season in his return from Tommy John surgery. He pitched well in his return and showed an increase in his velocity, but this is a reminder that Bieber carries significant injury risk.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that right-hander
Bowden Francis (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing UCL reconstruction, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Francis also missed time last year with a right-shoulder impingement and was limited to 64 innings over 14 starts during the regular season. The 29-year-old posted a career-worst 6.05 ERA (6.85 FIP) and 1.53 WHIP while striking out 54 and walking 27 in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues with the Jays. His strong 2024 campaign was aided by a .211 BABIP and 78.3 left-on-base percentage, but his split-finger fastball did prove to be a pretty nasty pitch. Francis was much easier to hit last year and allowed 19 home runs in just 64 innings of work. The former seventh-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017 now faces a lengthy recovery.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Mitch Bannon
February 10, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said on Tuesday that outfielder/designated hitter
Anthony Santander (shoulder) will miss around five to six months after he has left-labral surgery on Wednesday, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. There goes Santander's chances of bouncing back in 2026 in his second year after signing a five-year, $92.5 million deal last offseason. The 31-year-old veteran only appeared in 54 games in 2025 in his first year in Toronto due to injuries and hit a disappointing .175/.271/.294 with a .565 OPS, six home runs, and 18 RBI. The lack of production from Santander made the Blue Jays' run to the World Series even more amazing. At best, fantasy managers won't have Santander until some point in the second half of this season, and when he returns, there's no guarantee he'll return to his level of play in his final year in Baltimore in 2024, when he hit 44 homers and drove in 102 runs.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Chris Kirschner
February 10, 2026
Los Angeles Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said that right-hander
Grayson Rodriguez (elbow) will have to prove he's healthy to earn an Opening Day starting rotation spot, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. The same is true for right-hander
Alek Manoah, while Suzuki named lefties
Yusei Kikuchi and
Reid Detmers, and right-hander
Jose Soriano as locks for the rotation. Rodriguez was acquired by the Angels from the Baltimore Orioles back in November, but after missing all of last year with elbow and lat injuries, the Halos want to make sure he's fully healthy before committing to him as a starter. The 26-year-old former first-rounder was one of the top prospects in baseball in the O's system before he made his big-league debut in 2023, though, so he could bounce back nicely if he can stay on the mound. Rodriguez showed high-end potential in 2024, when he had a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 26.5% strikeout rate.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Rhett Bollinger
February 10, 2026
Chicago White Sox left-handed pitching prospect
Noah Schultz (knee) believes that he will make his major-league debut in 2026 and also said his right knee "feels great." "Having no issues. It's been great. Did PT through the offseason and in a good spot, and it's not an issue," Schultz said about his knee. The 22-year-old southpaw, who is ranked as the No. 49 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, was shut down last September due to tendinitis in his knee, but he's expected to be a full-go for the start of this season. Schultz had a 3.34 ERA and 1.56 WHIP with 58 strikeouts and 36 walks in 12 starts (56 2/3 innings) at Double-A Birmingham before struggling to a 9.37 ERA in five starts at Triple-A Charlotte to end his 2025 campaign. The 6-foot-10 hulking lefty was the 26th overall pick in 2022. Schultz will go undrafted in single-year leagues, but he's a firm stash and hold in dynasty/keeper formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Scott Merkin
February 10, 2026
Free-agent outfielder
Austin Slater agreed to a minor-league deal on Tuesday with the Detroit Tigers that includes a non-roster invitation to major-league spring training, multiple people with knowledge of the agreement told Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Slater will make $2 million if he's on the MLB roster, plus an extra $500,000 in incentives. The 33-year-old veteran hit a combined .216/.270/.372 with a .642 OPS, five home runs, 13 RBI, and 22 runs scored in 148 at-bats in 2025 with the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. He'll bring a much-needed right-handed bat to Detroit's outfield group, but at best, Slater will most likely be on the short side of a platoon in the Tigers' outfield in 2026, limiting his fantasy appeal. Slater was slightly better against lefties in 2025, hitting .224/.290/.435 against them with a .726 OPS and all five of his home runs.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
February 10, 2026
Michael Baron of Just Mets lists
Carson Benge,
Brett Baty,
Tyrone Taylor, and
MJ Melendez as options for right field this year for the New York Mets, with
Juan Soto shifting to left field. Baron also adds that if he had to guess, the Mets are hoping that the left-handed-hitting Baty wins the job in spring training. If the 23-year-old Benge isn't quite ready to make the transition to the big leagues, the 26-year-old Baty might be the favorite to start in right field for New York to open the 2026 season, at least against right-handed pitching. The offseason acquisitions of
Marcus Semien,
Bo Bichette, and
Jorge Polanco leave no room on the infield for Baty. Although Baty had a mediocre .254 batting average in 130 games last year, he did have a career-best .748 OPS, 18 home runs, and hit over .300 after Aug. 1. The former first-rounder has a much higher fantasy ceiling than Taylor, can do a little bit of everything, and can play multiple positions.
--Keith HernandezSource: Just Mets - Michael Baron
February 10, 2026
New York Mets outfielder
Juan Soto will play left field for the team in 2026, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns. The 4x All-Star played 157 games in right field for the Mets last year, but will make the transition to left, which is the same position he played when he broke in with the Nationals and during his time with the Padres in 2023. The 27-year-old is coming off another fantastic season in which he amassed a .263-43-105-120-38 stat line with a .390 wOBA and 156 wRC+. The Dominican is one of the safest choices atop draft boards, currently going around pick No. 4 in most leagues.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jorge Castillo
February 10, 2026
Colorado Rockies outfielder/first baseman
Kris Bryant (back) was placed on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, meaning he's already set to miss a big chunk of the 2026 campaign. The move wasn't necessarily a surprise as the former first-round draft pick continues to rehab his ailing back, and the move also cleared up space for newly acquired RHP
Tomoyuki Sugano. Bryant's injury history since joining the Rockies is well known, having played in just 170 games combined during the first four years of his seven-year contract with Colorado. During the limited time he's been on the field over those four years, his production has dropped precipitously by multiple measures. The 34-year-old is off the fantasy radar until he returns and proves otherwise.
--Jarod RuppSource: Bob Nightengale
February 10, 2026
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Shane Baz, who was acquired this offseason via trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, is viewed very positively within his new organization. Baltimore's new manager, Craig Albernaz, recently commented that "Shane Baz's upside is a Cy Young award winner." The right-hander certainly has the pedigree, having been selected with the 12th-overall pick in the 2017 Draft, but injuries have kept him from living up to the potential thus far. The 6-foot-3 hurler debuted in 2021, but made just 23 starts through 2024 before finally staying on the mound for 31 starts in 2025. Last year, the former first-rounder pitched to a 4.87 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 15.8 percent K-BB% in 166 1/3 innings pitched. Despite those numbers, he did flash dominating stuff at times, including five games with nine or more strikeouts. The 26-year-old is going late in 2026 fantasy drafts, currently with an ADP of 205, so he could prove to be a value if he can live up to some of the Orioles' expectations.
--Jarod RuppSource: Andy Kostka
February 10, 2026
New York Mets shortstop
Francisco Lindor (hand) is set to be evaluated on Wednesday for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns. The 5x All-Star may need surgery, and if he does, it typically comes with a six-week recovery timeline. The Mets are still optimistic that, even if surgery is needed, the 32-year-old would be ready in time for Opening Day on March 26. Despite a prolonged two-month downturn in midseason of last year, the switch-hitter finished with a strong .267-31-86-117-31 stat line with a .350 wOBA and 129 wRC+. That type of multi-category production has made him expensive in early 2026 fantasy drafts, going around pick 16, but with no less than a 120 wRC+ and no less than 152 games played over the last four seasons, the price is justified so long as he's ready to go when the season begins.
--Jarod RuppSource: Jorge Castillo
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