February 9, 2026
Boston Red Sox right-hander
Johan Oviedo's career 4.24 ERA, 4.61 FIP, and 15-26 record don't jump off the page, but an improvement in his fastball last year intrigued the Red Sox enough to trade for him this offseason, according to Mike Petriello of MLB.com. Oviedo returned from Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2024 to record a 3.57 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 42 strikeouts and 23 walks in 40 1/3 innings over nine starts with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025. His fastball had a minus-12 run value, a bottom-20 mark, in 2023. Despite a hard fastball, Oviedo had among the worst vertical movement on the pitch. When Oviedo returned in August of last year, he added five inches of rise to his fastball and increased his whiff rate on the pitch from 19% in 2023 to 31%. The 27-year-old's 14% walk rate was still ugly, but if he can stay healthy, he could be a nice sleeper in deeper leagues in Boston's starting rotation.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mike Petriello
February 9, 2026
Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz said that both young catchers
Edgar Quero and
Kyle Teel will work exclusively as catchers in 2026, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Teel, a former 14th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2023 out of Virginia, has the higher fantasy baseball ceiling as a low-end starting catching option in single-catcher leagues. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter made his MLB debut in 2025 and hit .273/.375/.411 with a .786 OPS, eight home runs, 35 RBI, and 38 runs in 253 at-bats. Quero was in the big leagues in Chicago before Teel, but Teel saw most of the playing time behind the dish against righties. Quero, 22, hit .268/.333/.356 with a .689 OPS, five homers, 36 RBI, and 31 runs in 365 at-bats. Teel should be a solid source of on-base percentage at the catching position against lefties in what could be a platoon in the Windy City.
--Keith HernandezSource: 670 The Score - Bruce Levine
February 9, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander
Ryne Nelson was the team's most consistent starting pitcher last year, compiling a 3.39 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 132:41 K:BB, and 127 ERA+ in 154 innings over 33 appearances (23 starts). Nelson wasn't in the Opening Day rotation, but he quickly joined the rotation after
Corbin Burnes' season-ending Tommy John surgery in May. Arizona didn't let Nelson throw 100 pitches in a start until Aug. 5 last year as the team looked to keep him healthy. According to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert, Nelson made it a priority this offseason to get physically stronger so he can "handle the rigors of making 30 or more starts." He's added muscle and reduced some body fat while also working to develop his slider and curveball. The 28-year-old should be a rotation lock for at least the first half of 2026, and he could become more of a top-of-the-rotation arm for the D-backs if his secondary offerings take a step forward.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Steve Gilbert
February 9, 2026
The Boston Red Sox have reportedly tried to trade for Los Angeles Angels shortstop
Zach Neto, but the Angels have set a very high bar for him. The Red Sox were unable to re-sign third baseman
Alex Bregman in free agency, but they have traded for first baseman
Willson Contreras and third baseman
Caleb Durbin to boost their infield depth this offseason. Neto would be a clear upgrade over the injury-prone and aging
Trevor Story, but Boston would likely have to part with several high-end prospects to land him. As things currently stand, Durbin and
Marcelo Mayer figure to compete for playing time at third base, with Story at the 6 and
Kristian Campbell manning the keystone. Neto has emerged as one of the best young shortstops in the game after hitting a combined .253/.318/.458 with a .776 OPS, 49 home runs, 139 RBI, 152 runs scored, and 56 stolen bases in the last two seasons.
--Keith HernandezSource: Jamie Gatlin
February 9, 2026
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired left-hander
Kyle Harrison, infielder
David Hamilton, and pitcher
Shane Drohan from the Boston Red Sox on Monday in exchange for third baseman
Caleb Durbin, shortstop
Andruw Monasterio, third baseman
Anthony Seigler, and a Compensation B draft pick, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Harrison, 24, went from the San Francisco Giants to the Red Sox last year in the trade that involved infielder
Rafael Devers, and now he's on the move again. The former third-round pick only appeared in 11 games (six starts) for the Giants and BoSox in 2025, posting a 4.04 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 38 strikeouts and 14 walks in 35 2/3 frames. It wasn't a great sign that Harrison's walk rate sat at 11.8% at Triple-A Worcester last year, but the Brew Crew will try to get more out of him. Harrison will be in the mix for the competition for one of the final rotation spots in Milwaukee in spring training this year.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
February 9, 2026
Boston Red Sox infielder
Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) is dealing with shoulder inflammation that popped up during the end of the regular season and got worse in early offseason workouts, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Gonzalez said he received a platelet-rich plasma injection 2 1/2 weeks ago. He's currently behind schedule, but the goal remains to be ready for Opening Day. The 29-year-old former 18th-round pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2018 out of the University of Miami 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 in 2025 in his second year with Boston. Gonzalez had an impressive 99th-percentile hard-hit rate and 123 wRC+ in what was a breakout year, and he also dominated left-handed pitchers with a .331 average. Playing time will be the biggest issue for Gonzalez, who figures to open the season in a utility infield role if he's healthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: MassLive.com - Chris Cotillo
February 9, 2026
Houston Astros All-Star closer
Josh Hader (shoulder) has been throwing lightly and on flat ground as spring training begins for the Astros, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. Hader and the Astros hope to learn more about where he stands in his preparation for the 2026 season in the middle of this week. The 31-year-old southpaw missed the last seven-plus weeks of last season with a left-shoulder strain, but he said earlier in the offseason that he feels "back to normal," and he should be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback in spring training. Hader is a bit more of a risk for fantasy managers entering the 2026 campaign, but with his nasty fastball/slider mix, he showed last year before his shoulder injury that he's still one of the most dominant closers in the game. He held a 2.05 ER and 0.85 WHIP with a 29.1 K-BB percentage, which was fifth among qualified relievers. If Hader has a setback before or during the season,
Bryan Abreu would likely be the favorite to take over the closing job in Houston.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Buster Olney
February 9, 2026
Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed reliever
Andrew Saalfrank (shoulder) posted a photo of himself on Monday on his Instagram account and announced that he underwent shoulder surgery, according to Alex D'Agostino of Sports Illustrated. MLB.com's Steve Gilbert reports that Saalfrank will miss the entire 2026 season. The 28-year-old southpaw was a key bullpen piece during the team's 2023 run to the World Series. The former sixth-round pick made a career-high 28 relief appearances for the Snakes last year, posting a 1.24 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, his first three career saves, five holds, 19 strikeouts, and 10 walks in 29 innings pitched. Saalfrank's injury is another blow to a banged-up Diamondbacks bullpen that will also be without relievers
Justin Martinez (elbow) and
A.J. Puk (elbow) for a good chunk of the 2026 season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sports Illustrated - Alex D'Agostino
February 9, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day this year, but the team is hopeful he'll be back shortly after, according to manager Rob Thomson. Wheeler is recovering from venous thoracic outlet surgery, which is the less severe version of the surgery. Still, the 35-year-old most likely won't be a part of Philly's Opening Day rotation in 2026 even though he resumed throwing back in December. If Wheeler doesn't have any setbacks through spring training, fantasy managers should have the right-handed ace at some point in April. The three-time All-Star was limited to 24 starts with the Phillies in 2025 in his sixth year with the team, going 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 195 strikeouts and 33 walks in 149 2/3 innings pitched. Wheeler has been one of the most consistent high-end starting pitchers in baseball in recent years, but there's no guarantee he'll bounce back to that form after his surgery. Proceed with caution.
--Keith HernandezSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale
February 9, 2026
Athletics infielder
Max Schuemann was traded to the Yankees on Monday for pitching prospect Luis Burgos. The A's designated Schuemann for assignment this past Friday, but he'll now head to the Yankees and should compete for a backup role in the spring. The 28-year-old spent time at third base, shortstop, and second base last year, as well as every outfield spot, so he is versatile. However, over his two seasons in the majors, the right-handed hitter has registered a .212/.306/.297 slash line with a .275 wOBA and 78 wRC+, so there isn't much there in the way of offense or fantasy relevance. Burgos posted a 2.44 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 11.8 percent K-BB% last season in the Dominican Summer League, but the 20-year-old has yet to pitch stateside professionally. Recently acquired outfielder
Yanquiel Fernandez was DFA'd in order to make room for Schuemann.
--Jarod RuppSource: New York Yankees
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
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