February 28, 2026
The Kansas City Royals agreed to an undisclosed deal with free-agent outfielder
Starling Marte on Saturday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The deal is pending a physical. Marte is heading into his 15th season in the big leagues and shouldn't be expected to see regular playing time in Kansas City. At best, he'll serve as an outfield/designated-hitter option off the bench against left-handed pitchers. The 37-year-old two-time All-Star hit a solid .270/.335/.410 with a .745 OPS in 98 games with the New York Mets last year, but it came with only nine home runs, 34 RBI, 37 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 329 plate appearances. Volume definitely isn't going to be there for Marte, even if he stays healthy. Marte hasn't played in over 100 games since 2022, when he was an All-Star for the second time in his career. Speed has always been Marte's biggest tool for fantasy managers, but he hasn't stolen over 30 bags since 2021.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
February 28, 2026
San Francisco Giants first baseman
Rafael Devers (hamstring) is being withheld from all activity for the next two to four days due to left-hamstring tightness, according to Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News. The Giants scratched Devers from the Cactus League game on Friday, and now they will hold him out for a few more days as a precaution. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter should have time to get ready for Opening Day in late March, but only if he doesn't have any further setbacks once he returns to baseball activities. If he were to land on the injured list for the start of the 2026 regular season, first base prospect
Bryce Eldridge would likely start at first base. Devers will have a full season at a very pitcher-friendly ballpark in 2026 in San Fran, but he still has a pretty solid floor as a top-10 fantasy first baseman. The three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger managed 35 homers with Boston and the Giants in 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: The San Jose Mercury News - Justice delos Santos
February 28, 2026
Atlanta Braves superstar outfielder
Ronald Acuna Jr. looked to be in midseason form in Friday's Grapefruit League win over the Boston Red Sox, going 2-for-3 with a grand slam, three runs scored, two stolen bases, a walk, and a strikeout. The grand slam was Acuna's first spring homer, and it came in the third inning off minor-league pitcher
Steven Brooks. The 28-year-old has already torn the ACL in his knee twice, but he's still worth the risk in all fantasy baseball drafts in the first round as a top-10 overall player. The Venezuelan outfielder hit .290/.417/.518 with a .935 OPS, 21 home runs, 42 RBI, 74 runs, and nine stolen bases in 95 games played last year. The five-time All-Star and former MVP hit 40 home runs, drove in over 100 runs, and stole 73 bases in 2023, and if he starts to run more again in 2026, he'll be worth every penny if he stays healthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
February 28, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals infield prospect
JJ Wetherholt homered for his first spring training hit in Friday's Grapefruit League game versus the New York Mets. Per MLB Pipeline, Wetherhold is the No. 5 prospect going into the 2026 season. The home run he hit on Friday traveled 422 feet and had a 105.4 mph exit velocity. The bomb came off Mets closer
Devin Williams. The 23-year-old has only one hit in his four spring training games, but he's added four walks and a stolen base. Wetherholt came up through the minors as a shortstop, but he's expected to be St. Louis' starting second baseman on Opening Day this year. The former seventh overall pick in 2024 hit an impressive .306 with a .421 on-base percentage, 17 home runs, and 23 stolen bases in 109 games at Double-A and Triple-A last year. Wetherholt has nothing left to prove in the minors and should eventually be a middle infielder with 20-homer power.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB Pipeline
February 28, 2026
Seattle Mariners right-hander
Bryce Miller (side) has been battling soreness in his left side in camp, and an MRI exam showed inflammation, according to Shannon Drayer. Miller, who has dealt with this same issue in the past, had a platelet-rich plasma injection and is being shut down for five days. Drayer adds that it's "very precautionary." If it were the regular season, Miller "probably wouldn't have reported the soreness." The 27-year-old reported soreness after his Cactus League outing on Thursday against the Cleveland Guardians. As long as Miller doesn't have any further setbacks with his side, he still has a chance to be ready for Opening Day in late March. Miller went on the injured list two separate times in 2025 due to elbow issues and made a career-low 18 starts, posting a career-worst 5.68 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 74:34 K:BB in 90 1/3 innings. It's possible that he could eventually need surgery for the bone spur in his right elbow, making Miller a risk/reward late-round consideration in 2026 drafts for rotation depth.
--Keith HernandezSource: Shannon Drayer
February 28, 2026
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
Spencer Strider pitched two innings against the Baltimore Orioles in his 2026 Spring Training debut on Saturday, allowing two hits and an earned run while striking out two and walking none. The 27-year-old averaged just 92.7 mph on his fastball in the first inning, which could be viewed as a bit of a red flag. However, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that Strider is looking to "pace himself" this spring, and that he's more focused on regaining fastball shape than velocity at this point. Strider was one of the most dominant pitchers in MLB from 2022 to 2023, recording 485 strikeouts across 318 1/3 innings. However, elbow surgery knocked him out for almost all of 2024 and delayed his start to 2025. Upon his return last season, Strider struggled to regain his previous form and pitched to a 4.45 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 125 1/3 innings (23 starts). At his best, Strider relies heavily on a dominant fastball/slider combination, so his ability to regain velocity over the course of the spring will be something for fantasy managers to monitor closely.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com - Mark Bowman
February 28, 2026
Entering his age-33 season, San Diego Padres shortstop
Xander Bogaerts is not the player he once was at his peak. However, the veteran was still a useful hitter when healthy in 2025, hitting .263/.328/.391 with 11 home runs, 53 RBI, 63 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases across 552 plate appearances. Bogaerts is also locked into everyday playing time at or near the top of the top-heavy Padres' lineup, which could help him rack up counting stats. However, Bogaerts has not posted a barrel rate north of 7.0% since 2021, so his ability to consistently hit for power and drive in runs is limited. Injuries are also starting to take their toll. Bogaerts has missed at least 25 games in each of the past two seasons while battling shoulder and foot ailments. The durability question marks are particularly damaging for a player of Bogaerts' profile, as his path to fantasy production relies on his ability to be a compiler across the counting categories. Bogaerts checks in as RotoBaller's 26th-ranked shortstop heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 28, 2026
Across 588 plate appearances in 2025, Colorado Rockies outfielder
Jordan Beck posted a .258/.317/.416 slash line with 16 home runs, 53 RBI, 62 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases. The 24-year-old recorded a concerningly high 29.2% strikeout rate, particularly considering that his 9.5% barrel rate and 38.4% hard-hit rate indicate that he carries middling power potential. However, playing his home games at Coors Field helped Beck to a .351 batting average on balls in play, which could keep him from being a drain on the batting average category for fantasy managers. As a right-handed hitter, Beck should also be a fixture in the middle of the Colorado lineup on an everyday basis as the team tries to figure out whether he should be one of the building blocks of the next competitive Rockies' team. With another year of MLB experience, Beck could work his way into being a 20-homer, 20-steal outfielder that fantasy managers can plug into their lineup and feel comfortable in, particularly when Colorado has a stretch of consecutive home games.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 28, 2026
Miami Marlins shortstop/second baseman
Otto Lopez emerged as a solid everyday regular in 2025, hitting .246/.305/.368 with 15 home runs, 77 RBI, 66 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases across 594 plate appearances. Lopez also posted excellent defensive metrics while playing both middle infield spots, which should keep his playing time in Miami secure even if he runs into some offensive struggles. With just a 6.2% career barrel rate and 38.5% career hard-hit rate, Lopez is unlikely to be a significant power source for fantasy managers. However, he struck out in just 13.8% of his plate appearances in 2025, and may have gotten a bit unlucky with a .264 batting average on balls in play. Lopez hit .270 with 20 stolen bases in 434 plate appearances in 2024, so he could carry some upside in both the batting average and speed categories. As a multi-position eligible player who should be a max-volume player in the Marlins' lineup, Lopez profiles as a useful depth piece for fantasy managers in 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 28, 2026
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman/outfielder
Alec Burleson had a rock-solid season in 2025, hitting .290/.343/.459 with 18 home runs, 69 RBI, 54 runs scored, and five stolen bases across 546 plate appearances. The 27-year-old upped his barrel rate from 6.5% in 2024 to 9.8% in 2025 while still limiting his swing-and-miss and posting a 14.5% strikeout rate. The lefty-swinging Burleson has been limited to big-side platoon duties at certain points in his Cardinals' tenure, but that does not appear as though it will be an issue in 2026. St. Louis traded veteran first baseman
Willson Contreras to the Boston Red Sox over the offseason, opening the door for everyday first base duties to Burleson. Burleson's underlying power metrics are more good than great, so he may not provide fantasy managers with 30-home run power. However, he's a good bet to be one of the better batting average assets at his position and could be a player worth targeting in the middle rounds of drafts heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 28, 2026
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher
Luis Castillo has long been one of MLB's most durable and reliable right-handers. The 33-year-old started to show some signs of decline in 2025, but still posted solid numbers overall. Across 180 2/3 innings (32 starts), Castillo posted an 11-8 record with a 3.54 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 162 strikeouts. Castillo's 21.7% strikeout rate was by far the lowest of his career, and he also allowed the highest barrel (10.4%) and hard-hit (46.4%) of his nine-year MLB tenure. Castillo has the benefit of making his home starts in one of the game's most pitcher-friendly environments in Seattle. In 2025, he posted a 2.60 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 100 1/3 innings at home compared to a 4.71 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 80 1/3 innings on the road. Castillo's days of being a high-end fantasy starting pitcher are likely behind him, but he's still a savvy veteran who should be usable in all of his home starts. He checks in as RotoBaller's SP49 heading into 2026.
--Will BradySource: RotoBaller
February 28, 2026
Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith writes that a best-case scenario for Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Trey Yesavage is to "have him ready to pitch five-plus innings when the season begins," according to manager John Schneider. The Jays will ramp Yesavage up deliberately, which could mean that he's only going three to four innings to start the 2026 regular season. Nicholson-Smith reports that Yesavage will ramp up in Toronto's starting rotation and not at Triple-A Buffalo. The 22-year-old is one of the top arms in baseball and debuted to plenty of fanfare in 2025, posting a 3.21 ERA with 16 K's in 14 innings over his first three regular-season starts. In 27 2/3 postseason innings, he had a 3.58 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 11 walks, including a 12-K performance in the World Series against L.A. Yesavage threw 139 2/3 frames in 2025 after throwing 93 1/3 innings in college the year prior. The 22-year-old's control needs to improve, but he has as much upside as any young starter once he's fully stretched out.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet - Ben Nicholson-Smith
February 28, 2026
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Shane Bieber (forearm) is still throwing at 120 feet in camp, but he has yet to throw off a mound, manager John Schneider told MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. Everything appears to be going according to plan, but Matheson writes that it's hard to chart out any sort of timeline for Bieber's return until he throws a real bullpen session for the first time. The 30-year-old former American League Cy Young winner pitched through right-forearm fatigue during last year's run to the World Series, so the Blue Jays are slow-playing him this spring, and it's already been announced that he'll open the 2026 campaign on the injured list. We should have a better idea of his timetable once he starts throwing off the mound in the next two weeks. Bieber didn't debut in 2025 until August while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he pitched well when he returned and was an asset in the postseason. Fantasy managers should not be counting on him to return to ace form, but he's worth stashing in an IL spot in deep-mixed leagues for rotation depth.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson
February 28, 2026
Los Angeles Angels outfielder
Josh Lowe (oblique) has been shut down for a few days because of his oblique, according to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. It's an injury that has bothered Lowe for the past two years. Manager Kurt Suzuki said the team is "going to give him a few more days to be cautious." The 28-year-old missed time with the Tampa Bay Rays each of the last two seasons due to oblique injuries, so it's not a great sign that he's still bothered by it this spring. The former 13th overall pick in 2016 has never been able to reach his full potential in the big leagues due to injuries, but if he can stay healthy, he's an outfielder sleeper in deeper fantasy leagues because of his power/speed upside. Lowe will need to stay healthy and figure out a way to improve against left-handers, though. He has yet to play in more than 135 games in a season, and he hit .220/.283/.366 with a .650 OPS, 11 home runs, 40 RBI, 56 runs, and 18 steals in 108 games in Tampa last year.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Orange County Register - Jeff Fletcher
February 28, 2026
The Kansas City Royals are talking to free-agent outfielder/designated hitter
Starling Marte about a possible deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. If Marte were to land in Kansas City, he'd be a right-handed option in the outfield to face left-handers and give either
Jac Caglianone or
Kyle Isbel a day off. The 37-year-old Dominican veteran is better suited to be a full-time designated hitter at this point in his career, though. Injuries have been an issue for Marte, who is nearing the end of what has been a very successful 14-year career in the big leagues. Marte hasn't played over 98 games in each of the last three seasons with the Mets, although he was an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2022. He has always made a lot of contact and has six seasons of 30-plus steals, but he can't be counted on for much power or speed at this point in his career with limited playing time.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman
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