Milwaukee Brewers reliever Abner Uribe could be a candidate to earn save situations in 2026. The right-hander had a terrific season last year, posting a 1.67 ERA and 2.75 FIP across 75.1 innings of work. He racked up 10.75 K/9 and 3.23 BB/9, and he limited loud contact with 0.48 HR/9 and a 53.2% ground ball rate. Milwaukee's incumbent closer is Trevor Megill, who had 30 saves last year with a 2.49 ERA and 2.50 FIP. Megill was effective, but he also blew six saves and allowed hard contact at a greater rate than Uribe. Presumably, the Brewers want to at least open the season with a clearly defined closer, rather than operating out of a committee. Uribe has a chance to parlay a strong 2025 and a potentially strong spring training in 2026 into first dibs on save situations during the regular season. He currently ranks #20 among RotoBaller's relievers for the upcoming season, with additional upside.

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Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola is coming off the worst season of his big-league career. Injuries limited him to just 17 starts and fewer than 100 innings in 2025, and he ultimately finished the year with a staggering 6.01 ERA and 4.58 FIP. His 9.25 K/9 and 2.67 BB/9 rates were fine, but his home run rate ballooned to a whopping 1.72 HR/9, which is a career high. Meanwhile, his ground ball rate dipped to 42.5%, the second-lowest mark of his career. Understandably, managers are worried about the 11-year veteran's outlook going forward. However, some of the underlying metrics suggest he's due to bounce back. Most notably, Nola had a 3.71 xFIP last year, indicating that he was unlucky and vastly underperformed expectations. His 4.12 xERA suggests similar. Still armed with an elite knuckle curve and above-average fastball, Nola has the skill set to bounce back and meet or exceed his expected metrics in 2026. His rough 2025 is baked into his current ranking as the #59 starter in RotoBaller's draft rankings, and managers should consider drafting him as a low-risk, high-upside rotation piece.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called shortstop Mookie Betts' disappointing 2025 season an "outlier," according to Jack Harris of The California Post. "The way he played shortstop last year, and expecting him to be better offensively this year, he will be in the MVP conversation this year," Roberts said. The skipper is also leaning towards using Betts as his everyday No. 3 hitter in 2026, and it won't change, regardless of the opposing pitcher's handedness. The 33-year-old former MVP mostly hit in the two-hole for the Blue last year, when he had career lows in batting average .258 and ISO (.148). Betts dealt with a pretty bad illness just before the start of the regular season, which got him into bad habits at the plate, and he never really recovered. His eight stolen bases last year were also his fewest since his rookie campaign in 2014. Expecting MVP numbers like Roberts might be a reach, but if healthy, Betts should still have a solid floor for counting stats in the heart of the best lineup in baseball.

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Houston Astros left-handed closer Josh Hader (biceps) was seen playing catch in camp from around 90 feet on Wednesday, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Left-biceps inflammation was the reason Hader was shut down going into spring training, but the fact that he's already throwing means that he should be ready for Opening Day in late March, barring a setback. The 31-year-old veteran high-leverage reliever carries much more risk in fantasy baseball heading into the 2026 season, though, after also missing the final month and a half last year due to a left-shoulder strain. The six-time All-Star was one of the most dominant closers in the game when he was healthy in 2025, posting a 2.05 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 28 saves, 76 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 52 2/3 innings pitched. Because of his injuries, Hader has slipped to the No. 15 closer ranking at RotoBaller. Bryan Abreu would likely be first in line for saves if Hader were to miss time this year.

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Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow on Wednesday, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. The Braves are not providing a return timeline, but manager Walt Weiss said he hopes Schwellenbach will be able to pitch again this year. Atlanta already placed the 25-year-old on the 60-day injured list, so he will at least miss the first two months of the 2026 season, and possibly more. Pitching prospect Hurston Waldrep (elbow) is also undergoing surgery, so the Braves have even fewer starting pitching options available to them for the start of the 2026 campaign. Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez, and Grant Holmes will be the team's top four starters on Opening Day, with either Bryce Elder or veteran Martin Perez holding the No. 5 spot now that both Schwellenbach and Waldrep are sidelined.

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Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect Hurston Waldrep (elbow) will have surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow on Monday, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. The Braves have not provided a return timeline for Waldrep, but manager Walt Weiss said he hopes that the young hurler will be able to pitch again this year. The 23-year-old will go on the 60-day injured list and probably will miss at least three months. It's a huge blow for Waldrep, who was looking like a candidate to open the 2026 season in the Braves' starting rotation due to a similar elbow injury to Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow). In 10 outings (nine starts) last year, Waldrep looked the part with a 2.88 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 22 walks in 56 1/3 innings. The young right-hander's development will now be pushed back, and there's a chance we won't see him in the big leagues again until 2027.

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Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Painter's command is back in spring training, according to Devan Kaney of 94WIP.com. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that command was the main aspect of Painter's game that needed to improve after his season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2025. The 22-year-old has a legitimate shot to win an Opening Day rotation spot with the Phillies out of camp after going 5-6 with a 5.40 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and 111:46 K:BB in 106 2/3 innings over 22 starts for the Iron Pigs last year. Understandably, his command wasn't in top form since it was his first full year back from Tommy John surgery. Command issues aside last year, Painter's stuff was intact, making him an attractive buy-low candidate in redraft leagues. Painter is MLB Pipeline's No. 28 overall prospect going into 2026 and could be part of Philly's rotation for most, if not all, of the season.

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Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler (knee) is in the final stages of rehab from offseason knee surgery and will likely be held out of Cactus League games until mid-spring, according to MLB.com's Martin Gallegos. Butler, 25, had surgery last October to fix a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, and he also needed a platelet-rich plasma injection for tendinitis in his left knee. It's not exactly what you want to hear from a power/speed outfielder in his prime, but the good news is that Butler is expected to be ready for Opening Day in late March as an everyday player for the A's. The former sixth-rounder in 2018 saw his batting average drop significantly in his second full season in the big leagues, but he still hit 21 homers, drove in 63 runs, and stole 22 bases in 152 games while playing through knee issues. An elevated strikeout rate (28.4%) was to blame for his drop in average. There's lots of risk here, but a healthy Butler has 30-30 potential in one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in Sacramento.

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Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof will miss the start of the Cactus League schedule in spring training because he is still building up his swing progression, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Gelof is healthy heading into the 2026 campaign after missing significant time last year with hand, shoulder, and rib injuries, and with newcomer Jeff McNeil in line to see everyday playing time at second base, the 26-year-old is working in center field in camp to become more versatile and give him a better shot at making the Opening Day roster. In addition to working in the outfield, Gelof is ironing out his swing after playing in just 30 big-league games in 2025. He struggled at the plate in that small sample size, going 16-for-92 (.174) with two homers, seven RBI, and 46 strikeouts. Gelof led the majors with 188 strikeouts in 2024, and his batted-ball metrics don't paint a pretty picture. He has a lot of work to do to get back onto the fantasy radar in mixed leagues.

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Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis sought guidance from outside hitting coach Jeremy Isenhower, recommended to him by Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., in the offseason in search of a solid base and more consistent performance, according to MLB.com's Matthew Leach. The 26-year-old former first overall pick in 2017 played in a career-high 106 games last year but hit a disappointing .237/.283/.388 with a career-low .671 OPS, 13 home runs, 52 RBI, 36 runs, and a career-high 12 stolen bases in 403 plate appearances. Lewis' primary focus while working with Isenhower has been pre-swing preparation to get Lewis into the best possible position before he begins his swing. Isenhower is hoping a quieter stance will help Lewis, who already has elite bat speed, improve his pitch recognition, swing decisions, and quality of contact. If he can apply his mechanical fixes in 2026, Lewis could be a nice value pick in fantasy drafts at third base. Remember, he hit .303 with 27 homers in his first 94 big-league games.

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Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (triceps) will throw to live hitters in camp for the first time on Saturday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Pitching coach Kyle Snyder said earlier this month that McClanahan has looked "really, really good," and the expectation is that he'll be ready to be in the team's Opening Day starting rotation, barring a setback this spring. The 28-year-old southpaw was an All-Star in 2022 and 2023, but he's a massive in fantasy baseball in 2026 since he has not pitched in the big leagues since 2023. He made only two minor-league rehab starts last year before eventually undergoing surgery to fix a nerve issue in his triceps in August. McClanahan has shown ace potential before for the Rays, but he's RotoBaller's No. 69 fantasy starting pitcher because of the injury risk. Even if McClanahan bounces back nicely, workload restrictions will likely limit his upside.

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Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk had arguably his best MLB season in 2025, hitting .282/.348/.421 with 15 home runs, 76 RBI, 45 runs scored, and one stolen base across 506 plate appearances. Kirk posted an elite 11.7% strikeout rate, in line with his career mark of 11.6%. However, the 27-year-old made major strides in terms of contact quality, upping his barrel rate from 6.7% in 2024 to 10.1% in 2025 and posting the best hard-hit rate (50.8%) of his career. Speed will never be an asset for Kirk, as he's logged one career stolen base. His poor base-running ability also impacts him in terms of runs scored, as he's never recorded more than 59 runs in a season and has racked up 45 runs or fewer in three straight years. Still, Kirk's ability to make contact makes him one of the best options for batting average at the catcher position in all of fantasy. If he can hold the power gains he made in 2025, Kirk should be a solid power and RBI producer relative to his position as well. With a current average draft position of pick 150, Kirk profiles as a high-floor, low-end starting catcher for fantasy managers.

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Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson may not be a standout fantasy producer in any one area, but he's been a remarkably consistent player since signing with Chicago heading into the 2023 season. Across 645 plate appearances in 2025, Swanson hit .244/.300/.417 with 24 home runs, 77 RBI, 84 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases. Swanson carries a limited batting average ceiling. In 2025, he struck out in 26% of his plate appearances, in line with his career strikeout rate of 24.4%. However, he's hit at least 22 home runs in four out of his last five seasons and swiped at least 18 bases in three out of the last four years. Swanson is also locked in as the everyday shortstop in what profiles as an excellent Chicago lineup, so he should continue to rack up counting stats. He's topped 80 runs in all three of his seasons with the Cubs, and has collected at least 77 RBI in four out of his last five campaigns. Swanson is entering his age-32 season, which brings about some risk of age-related decline. Still, his steady track record and max-playing time profile should allow him to pay off his current average draft position of pick 142.

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In his first season with the team after signing a mega-contract in free agency, San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames posted a solid season in 2025. Across 686 plate appearances, the 30-year-old hit .225/.318/.421 with 30 home runs, 87 RBI, 94 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. While Adames' 2025 line is slightly worse than the career year he posted with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024, he's established a steady production floor over the past four seasons. With a career strikeout rate of 27% (26.1% in 2025), Adames is likely to be a drain on the batting average category for fantasy managers. However, he's posted barrel rates north of 12% for four consecutive seasons and has reached the 30-home run mark in three of those four years. He's also locked in as the everyday shortstop in San Francisco and should rack up counting stats as long as he can stay healthy. Adames is now on the wrong side of 30 years old, so he could be hitting the start of a gentle decline phase. Still, he's an above-average power source at the shortstop position for fantasy managers and comes with a reasonable average draft position of pick 117.

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene added a two-seam fastball and feels he improved his splitter over the offseason, per Charlie Clifford of NBC 5 Cincinnati. The 26-year-old reaffirmed his status as one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2025, posting a 7-4 record with a 2.76 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts across 107 2/3 innings (19 starts). Greene missed significant time due to right groin strains that required two separate stints on the Injured List, the second of which forced him to miss over two months. However, the right-hander finished the year on the mound for Cincinnati and appears to be fully healthy heading into 2026 Spring Training. In 2025, Greene lowered his walk rate to a career-best 6.2% while also upping his strikeout rate to a career-best 31.4%. If his new pitch mix helps him unlock even more answers, Greene could emerge as a truly elite fantasy SP1 in 2026.

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Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis adopted a new hitting program and worked with a personal hitting coach for the first time in his career this past offseason, per Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The 26-year-old has long tantalized fantasy managers with his obvious talent and production upside, but he's struggled with inconsistency and major injury issues to this point in his career. Across 403 plate appearances in 2025, Lewis hit .237/.283/.388 with 13 home runs, 52 RBI, 36 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. While his 403 plate appearances represented a career single-season high, Lewis' .671 OPS was by far the worst mark he's posted in the big leagues. His barrel rate dropped from 11.2% in 2024 to 8.7% in 2025, and his isolated slugging percentage dipped from .219 to .152. Heading into 2026, Lewis appears to be fully healthy and has made significant changes to his offseason preparation. Lewis could significantly outperform his current average draft position of pick 191, but his profile obviously comes with a sizable amount of risk for fantasy managers.

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Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Jett Williams is trending towards beginning the 2026 season at Triple-A. While Williams appeared in a good position to crack the Opening Day roster following the trade that sent Caleb Durbin to Boston, the Brewers quickly signed veteran infielder Luis Rengifo, who is now penciled in to be their primary third baseman. While Williams has taken reps at the hot corner alongside his typical position at shortstop in camp, he will likely begin the season with Triple-A, where he can earn everyday at-bats. Williams joined the Brewers earlier in the offseason in the trade that sent right-hander Freddy Peralta to the Mets. Last season, Williams made his Triple-A debut in the New York pipeline and held a .209/.285/.433 line with seven long balls and two swiped bags over a 34-game stint. While he could still carve out a role, managers should expect the top prospect to begin in the season in Nashville.

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Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Robby Snelling may not be a lock to make the Opening Day rotation. Earlier in camp, the Marlins announced that veteran Chris Paddack would be joining the rotation, which gives Snelling one fewer starting position. Additionally, Max Meyer and Braxton Garrett are both fully healthy in the early stages of spring training. Both would have the edge over Snelling, given their previous MLB experience. As a result, Snelling currently sits as the team's No. 6 starter, on the outside of the five-man rotation. Last summer, Snelling looked quite comfortable in his first taste of Triple-A, logging 63 2/3 innings to the tune of a 1.27 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and an 81:17 K:BB. Managers should continue to monitor his status, but it appears the 22-year-old might be ticketed for Triple-A to begin the season if the Marlins opt to deploy a five-man rotation.

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Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins is a name to closely monitor in spring training as he could compete for an early MLB debut. The 20-year-old is currently viewed as MLB.com's No. 10-ranked prospect and Minnesota's No. 1 prospect. Last summer, Jenkins began the campaign with Double-A but was able to reach Triple-A, where he spent most of the second half. With Double-A, Jenkins held a .309/.426/.487 line with a strong .913 OPS. During his first 23 games with Triple-A St. Paul, the budding star did not look overmatched as he held a .242/.324/.396 line with six doubles, two home runs, and four stolen bases. While Byron Buxton is locked in as the team's center field, Jenkins could carve out a role in right field, sharing time with Matt Wallner or taking the lead job in left field over Austin Martin and Alan Roden. For now, Jenkins is a top name to watch in five-outfielder formats.

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Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Painter is in serious consideration for one of the final spots in the Phillies starting rotation. With Zack Wheeler (elbow) on the shelf to open the season, the team's top pitching prospect appears to be in serious consideration for one of the final spots. However, given his struggles last season, the team could turn to a veteran option for the short term. Last summer, Painter made his return from Tommy John but stumbled in his first look at Triple-A. After not pitching since the 2022 season, the former first-round pick logged 106 2/3 innings to the tune of a 5.40 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. While he showed solid strikeout upside, tallying 111, he served up 46 free passes. Managers should continue to keep an eye on his development as he could hold some short-term upside in deeper formats if he were to earn a taste of the big leagues to begin the season. However, if these command issues linger in spring training, the Phillies may opt to keep him at Triple-A.

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