Free-agent infielder/outfielder Enrique Hernandez announced on his Instagram account on Thursday that he is re-signing an undisclosed one-year deal to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hernandez won't be ready for the start of the 2026 season after having left-elbow surgery this offseason. When the 34-year-old veteran returns, he'll resume his role in L.A. as a super-utility bat that mostly sees action against left-handed pitchers. Kike hit just .203/.255/.366 with a .621 OPS during 92 regular-season games for the Blue last season, adding 10 home runs, 35 RBI, and 30 runs scored in his 256 plate appearances. The Puerto Rican veteran has barely hit over the Mendoza Line the last two years in L.A., but he's been much more clutch during the postseason while helping the Dodgers win back-to-back World Series titles. Hernandez is a glue guy in L.A.'s locker room, but he won't be on the fantasy radar.

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New York Mets starting shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) underwent surgery to fix a broken hamate bone in his hand on Wednesday and might not be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season. With Lindor sidelined this spring, infielders Ronny Mauricio, Vidal Brujan, Grae Kessinger, and Jackson Cluff will take reps at shortstop. The Mets plan to leave Bo Bichette at third base for now. After missing all of 2024 due to a torn ACL in his knee, Mauricio struggled at the plate in 61 major-league games, hitting .226/.293/.369 with a .663 OPS, six home runs, 10 RBI, 15 walks, and 54 strikeouts in 184 plate appearances. The 24-year-old former top prospect is running out of time to make an impact in New York, and even if he does earn the starting nod at shortstop on Opening Day, Lindor isn't expected to miss extended time early on.

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The Denver Post's Kyle Newman writes that someone would probably have to get injured for Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen to break camp with the major-league team. The Rockies are pretty set in the outfield right now with Brenton Doyle, Mickey Moniak, Jordan Beck, and Jack McCarthy, which leaves Veen on the outside looking in as things currently stand. In a 12-game cup of coffee for his major-league debut last year, the 24-year-old former ninth overall pick struck out 37.8% of the time over just 37 plate appearances before being sent back to Triple-A Albuquerque. Veen also hasn't exactly stood out in the upper levels of the minor leagues with a 94 wRC+ last year and discouraging batted-ball metrics. Speed is probably his biggest asset right now, with the potential to steal 20-plus bags at the next level if he has a full-time role. If he's back in the big leagues at some point in 2026, it will likely be in a part-time role, and he probably won't be an impact bat in mixed fantasy leagues.

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Baltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish has looked sharp early in camp and was seen striking out first baseman Pete Alonso on Thursday during live batting practice, according to Jake Rill of MLB.com. Although it was a small sample size of only 32 innings over six starts, Bradish looked outstanding in 2025 in his return from Tommy John surgery, allowing only nine earned runs on 23 hits (three homers) while walking 10 and striking out 47. He struck out nine or more hitters in half of his starts for a 37.3% strikeout rate. The 29-year-old surely won't be that dominant over a full season in 2026, but his work last year was extremely encouraging. Since the beginning of 2023, Bradish has a 2.78 ERA (3.03 FIP) and 1.05 WHIP with 268 K's and 69 walks in 240 innings over 44 starts for the O's. He's a nice No. 2 starting pitcher target in fantasy drafts this spring.

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The New York Mets signed Bo Bichette this offseason to play third base, and The Athletic's Will Sammon writes that he "won't be taking reps at shortstop" following Francisco Lindor's surgery on the hamate bone in his hand. However, Sammon adds that it could change if Lindor's timetable changes. Early this spring with Lindor sidelined, infielders Vidal Brujan, Grae Kessinger, Jackson Cluff, and Ronny Mauricio will take spring training reps at the 6. The Mets are hoping that Lindor won't miss time, if any, to begin the 2026 regular season, so they'll keep Bichette locked in at the hot corner. The 27-year-old needs all the reps he can get at third, since he's never played the position professionally. Bichette rebounded nicely from an injury-plagued 2024 campaign to hit .311/.357/.483 with an .840 OPS, 18 homers, and 94 RBI in 139 regular-season games last year. He should have a high ceiling for run production while hitting for a high average and producing around 20 homers, and he'll have dual-position eligibility in 2026.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Thursday that they reached a contract extension with third baseman Max Muncy for one year and $10 million guaranteed, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. The deal also includes a $10 million club option for the 2028 season. Muncy will make $7 million in 2027. The 35-year-old veteran was already under contract for 2026 after the Dodgers picked up his $10 million option. Muncy, a two-time All-Star, has missed significant time with injuries the last two seasons. But when he's healthy, he continues to be a strong left-handed power bat with excellent plate discipline in the best lineup in baseball. In 100 regular-season games last year, he hit .243/.376/.470 with an .846 OPS, 19 home runs, 67 RBI, 48 runs, and four steals in 388 plate appearances. Muncy does struggle against lefties and will almost certainly miss time with injury, but he's still an acceptable third base target in fantasy in the mid to late rounds of drafts.

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Chicago White Sox right-hander Drew Thorpe (elbow) has hit what he described as "road bumps" in his recovery process, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Thorpe visited Dr. Keith Meister last week and was told that his ligament looks solid. Doctors believe his pain is coming from some tendinitis in his elbow. The 25-year-old was placed on the 60-day injured list last March and missed all of 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The former second-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2022 out of Cal Poly made his major-league debut with Chicago in 2024 and had a 5.48 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and 21 walks in 44 1/3 innings over his nine starts. Thorpe wasn't very sharp in his first taste of the majors, which wasn't exactly a surprise after he skipped Triple-A. While he could be ready for the start of the 2026 season, fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues shouldn't expect Thorpe to contribute until maybe the second half.

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Texas Rangers shortstop prospect Sebastian Walcott (elbow) will undergo elbow surgery and will likely miss most, if not all, of 2026, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. Walcott was expected to start the season back in the minors, but he almost certainly would have made his major-league debut this year had he been healthy. The 19-year-old is ranked as the No. 7 overall prospect at MLB Pipeline after hitting .255/.355/.386 with 13 home runs and 32 stolen bases in 124 games last year at Double-A Frisco. Despite being the youngest qualified hitter at Double-A in 2025, Walcott posted a 110 wRC+. He also showed improvement with his strikeout rate, walk rate, and swing rate. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder has plenty of maturing to do, but he has one of the highest fantasy ceilings of any young position-player prospect in the game. Unfortunately, his timeline has been extended by a year.

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Philadelphia Phillies top pitching prospect Andrew Painter has no restrictions in spring training, and the Phillies are hoping he wins a rotation spot in camp, according to John Clark of NBC Sports. It's been a long road for Painter to this point after a tear in his UCL was discovered three years ago, which led to Tommy John surgery. Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Aaron Nola are locked into the team's top-three rotation spots, but there's a clear opening for Painter now that we know Zack Wheeler (shoulder) won't be ready for Opening Day. In his first full season back from TJ surgery, Painter struggled, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 22 starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The good news is that his stuff looked fine, and he threw a combined 118 innings at two levels. If the 22-year-old is a little sharper than he was last year and he stays healthy, he will most definitely be in play in all fantasy formats as long as he is locked into a rotation spot in Philly.

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New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil will throw live batting practice as he looks to get ready for a full 2026 season. Gil will face Aaron Judge, Amed Rosario, and Paul Goldschmidt out of the gate. The 2024 American League Rookie of the Year got a late start to 2025, making his season debut in early August. He went 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA and 4.63 FIP with 41 strikeouts in 57 innings in the regular season. Gil is expected to compete with Clarke Schmidt for the fifth spot in the rotation for the Yankees this spring training, and the 27-year-old from the Dominican brings a high ceiling if he can return to his 2024 form. In 2024, he had 10.15 K/9, but that dropped all the way to 6.47 K/9 in his limited work last year, causing his FIP and xERA to climb even though his ERA remained low. His progress will be important to watch, and it's a great sign that he's ready to throw live BP this early in the spring.

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Baltimore Orioles first baseman/third baseman Coby Mayo was the subject of plenty of trade rumors this offseason after the O's signed Pete Alonso to play 1B on a five-year deal. Mayo has been an elite power prospect for the last few seasons, but he hasn't really established himself in the majors yet. He played 85 games for the O's last year, hitting .217 with 11 homers and a .303 wOBA. He and Ryan Mountcastle will both be looking for playing time after the Alonso addition, but space could be opening up with 2B Jackson Holliday (hand) needing surgery and Jordan Westburg (oblique) behind schedule in his ramp-up to Opening Day. Mayo could be part of the solution to fill in for Holliday, since he could play 3B, while Westburg slides to 2B. Mayo played 1B mostly last season but came through the minors at 3B, where he was working out on a backfield in Orioles spring training on Wednesday. If Mayo can build on his strong September and have a strong spring at the plate, he could earn an Opening Day roster spot, and his power potential is intriguing enough to make him worth watching as a late-round flier.

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes (elbow) was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL last season and shut down at the end of July. He opted not to undergo surgery, instead resting and rehabbing, and now he wonders if it was a pre-existing condition, based on his quick recovery so quickly. The 29-year-old righty has no restrictions coming into spring training and could end up in the starting rotation that has already lost Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) for an extended period of time to start the season. Holms will join Reynaldo Lpez, Spencer Strider, and Chris Sale as the established rotation pieces, with Bryce Elder, Hurston Waldrep, and Joey Wentz competing for the fifth spot. Holmes went 4-9 with a 3.99 ERA, 4.40 FIP, and 123 strikeouts in his 115 innings last season. How well his elbow responds to the spring workload will be critical to monitor to see if he breaks camp in the starting rotation for the Braves.

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Washington Nationals starting pitcher DJ Herz (elbow) will continue to rehab from his Tommy John surgery to start the season and won't be available until mid-season at the earliest. He underwent the procedure last April, so he could return at some point this season, depending on how the recovery goes. The young lefty showed some upside as a rookie in 2024, with 106 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings, going 4-9 in 19 starts. His main issue was control problems in his rise through the minors, and he'll need to regain his control after the procedure if he wants to make an impact this season. He's not someone you need to worry about in drafts in almost any format, but he could be a midseason pickup or streaming option late in the year as he looks to return to fantasy relevance for 2027.

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Free agent relief pitcher Liam Hendricks has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Minnesota Twins that includes an invite to major-league spring training. The 37-year-old former closer pitched in 14 games last season for the Red Sox after missing all of 2024. He had a 6.59 ERA and 5.04 FIP with 12 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings in 2025, and he underwent elbow surgery in September that could keep him sidelined into the season. He's already battled back from stage-four cancer and Tommy John surgery over the last few years, but he would be an interesting veteran option in a very thin Twins' bullpen if he's able to come back from this injury as well. Keep an eye on Hendriks' progress this spring to see if he's in the mix at all, especially if you're punting saves and looking to scrounge them up as the season plays out.

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Free agent relief pitcher Julian Merryweather is joining the Twins bullpen mix by signing a minor-league deal with an invite to camp. The 34-year-old righty has pitched for the Blue Jays and Cubs over the last six seasons, with his best year coming in 2023, when he went 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 3.52 FIP in 69 games out of the bullpen while racking up 98 strikeouts in 72 innings. He has battled injury since then, though, and only pitched in 33 2/3 innings over the last two seasons with reduced velocity resulting in a 6.15 ERA and 4.25 FIP. With the Twins bullpen still very uncertain, Merryweather i sanother name to track this spring training to see if he can earn a role in Minnesota.

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Free-agent right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Hendriks, a three-time All-Star, has only made 19 relief appearances since the start of the 2023 season due to injuries. The 37-year-old veteran Australian missed time last year with hip and elbow injuries and pitched in only 14 games for the Boston Red Sox, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out 12 in 13 2/3 innings. The Twins certainly could use the experience in their bullpen, but Hendriks is going to have to pitch well this spring and stay healthy to earn an Opening Day bullpen spot in Minnesota. Hendriks has 116 career saves in 14 major-league seasons, but fantasy managers should be looking to ignore him for now.

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Free-agent right-hander Chris Bassitt and the Baltimore Orioles agreed on a one-year, $18.5 million contract on Wednesday night, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 36-year-old now joins an overhauled Orioles rotation that also includes Shane Baz, Zach Eflin, Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, and Dean Kremer. Bassitt will stay in the American League East after going 11-9 with a 3.96 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 166:52 K:BB in 170 1/3 innings over 32 regular-season outings (31 starts) in 2025 with the Toronto Blue Jays. The veteran hurler isn't overpowering (career 22% strikeout rate), but he does an excellent job at avoiding hard contact. Bassitt was in the 85th percentile last year in average exit velocity and the 80th percentile in hard-hit rate, and he's made at least 30 starts each year since 2022. At his age, fantasy managers know what they are getting: a safe, dependable back-end starter with a limited ceiling.

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The Denver Post's Kyle Newman writes that new Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy "could very well end up starting in right field" to begin the 2026 season over Mickey Moniak. McCarthy can play all three outfield spots and will be the fastest Rockies player with a sprint speed in the 99th percentile. The 28-year-old finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting back in 2022 and played in a career-high 142 games in 2024, but he dealt with injuries and slumped to the tune of a .204/.247/.345 slash line with a career-worst .591 OPS in 67 games (222 plate appearances) last year. McCarthy faces significant competition in Colorado's outfield, but if he bounces back, he could make the left-handed-hitting Moniak expendable. Speed is McCarthy's greatest asset, and although he doesn't have much power, he's a more intriguing bench stash in deeper fantasy leagues now that he's in Colorado.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday to make room on the 40-man roster for recently signed right-hander Jose Urquidy, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Jones' placement on the 60-day IL was expected, as he's not projected to make his 2026 season debut until sometime in late May after he had surgery to fix a torn UCL in his right arm last May. We'll have a clearer timetable for the 24-year-old once he begins to ramp up his throwing program. Despite the surgery, Jones has lots of long-term potential in Pittsburgh after impressing in his rookie campaign in 2024. In his first 22 big-league starts, the former second-rounder went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 132:39 K:BB in 121 2/3 frames. At best, Jones will be a speculative late-round selection in fantasy drafts this year, with the Bucs most likely handling him with extreme caution when he's finally back.

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Left-hander Kris Bubic won his salary arbitration hearing against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Bubic will earn $6.15 million in 2026 after the team filed at $5.15 million. Bubic broke out in 2025 in his sixth year in the big leagues to earn his first All-Star nod, but his season was cut short due to a rotator-cuff strain. In his 20 starts, the 28-year-old southpaw went 8-7 with a career-low 2.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with a career-high 116 strikeouts and 39 walks in 116 1/3 innings pitched. The good news is that Bubic is already throwing bullpens in spring training, so he should be ready for the start of the 2026 season. The former first-rounder has looked pretty darn good the last two years with ERAs under 3.00, but his arm just couldn't hold up to the increase in workload in 2025. He has kept hitters off balance with a diverse arsenal. Don't forget about him as rotation depth late in fantasy drafts.

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