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San Francisco Giants right-hander Hayden Birdsong (elbow) told the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser that he saw Dr. Keith Meister for a second opinion on the UCL/flexor tendon/forearm strain in his right arm. Birdsong still hasn't decided whether he will try to rehab or undergo surgery. If he were to undergo surgery, he wouldn't be able to return until around midseason in 2027. The 24-year-old was diagnosed with a UCL sprain and Grade 2 forearm strain after having an MRI exam on Sunday. Either way, he is going to open the 2026 season on the injured list, and it might be a while before we see him back on a mound, even if he opts not to have surgery. Until we know more, fantasy managers in upcoming redraft leagues should avoid Birdsong. The former sixth-rounder in 2022 out of Eastern Illinois has appeared in 37 big-league games (26 starts) over the last two years and has a 4.77 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 25.4% strikeout rate, and 13.1% walk rate in 137 2/3 innings.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that left-hander Eric Lauer is "firmly in the mix to be in the rotation," according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. The team's management of young right-hander Trey Yesavage is the "big remaining variable," and Lauer is "right on that line" now that right-hander Jose Berrios (elbow) won't be ready for Opening Day. If Yesavage begins the year on the big-league roster, the Blue Jays could use a combination of Yesavage and Lauer for the final rotation spot early on. Lauer, 30, pitched very well in 2025 in his first year with the team, going 9-2 with a career-best 3.18 ERA (3.85 FIP), 1.11 WHIP, and 102:26 K:BB in 104 2/3 innings over his 28 appearances (15 starts) during the regular season. Shane Bieber (forearm) will also begin the year on the IL, so things are opening up for Lauer to have some deep-league appeal early on in 2026.

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Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor hit under .200 with a career-high 14 home runs, 47 RBI, and 46 runs scored in 123 games in his second full season in the big leagues in 2025. However, he went from a leg kick to a toe tap in August of last year, and in September, he was one of the team's top hitters. "I think Bo's just scratching the surface of the hitter he can be," manager Stephen Vogt said. "Everybody develops at a different clip. I think he's putting himself into a position to have a big breakout year." He hit .174/.278/.360 with a 12.4% walk rate and 24.8% strikeout rate in 91 games before he changed to a toe tap. In 19 games in September, Naylor hit .290/.324/.548 with a 5.8% walk rate, 18.8% strikeout rate, a 136 wRC+, and a 48.1% hard-hit rate. He also hit .353 (6-for-17) with a homer in four games for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. Naylor has hit just .205/.286/.384 with a .670 OPS in his 318 major-league games in Cleveland, but if his mechanical change continues to provide results early in 2026, fantasy managers will take notice and grab him off the waiver wire.

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Free-agent left-hander Logan Allen is joining the Los Angeles Dodgers on a minor-league deal on Wednesday, an industry source told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Fresh off pitching for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, Allen will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin the 2026 season. The 28-year-old southpaw previously agreed to a deal to pitch for the Tijuana Toros of the Mexican League, but now he'll head to the minors with the Dodgers after pitching well in the WBC. Allen spent the 2025 campaign in the Korean Baseball Organization with the NC Dinos, where he went 7-12 with a 4.53 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 149:67 K:BB in 173 innings pitched over 32 outings (31 starts). In his five years in the majors, the former eighth-round pick of the Boston Red Sox in 2015 posted a 5.79 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 15.7% strikeout rate, and 9.2% walk rate in 45 appearances (15 starts) with four different teams. It's going to be tough for him to reach the big leagues with the Dodgers.

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St. Louis Cardinals infielder Ramon Urias (elbow) is starting at third base and will hit third in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Houston Astros. It will be Urias' first game since March 9 due to elbow soreness. Barring a setback, Urias should be ready for Opening Day next Thursday. The 31-year-old veteran is heading into his first year in St. Louis after he spent the 2025 campaign with the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros. In 112 total games last year, he hit .241/.292/.384 with a career-worst .675 OPS, 11 home runs, 44 RBI, 33 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 391 plate appearances. Urias will open the year as a utility infielder for the Cards (mostly at third base) and probably will see most of his playing time when the team faces a left-handed pitcher. With limited playing time and limited power at the plate, Urias is off the fantasy radar in single-year mixed leagues.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios (elbow) has a stress fracture in his right elbow, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. However, manager John Schneider said that Berrios is pain-free and that the team hopes he will resume throwing soon and can continue pitching through it. Berrios will not be ready for Opening Day at the end of the month, though. The 31-year-old veteran's heavy workload over the course of his career is finally catching up with him. He has thrown more innings than any other pitcher since the start of the 2019 season. Last year, Berrios threw 166 innings and went 9-5 with a 4.17 ERA (4.65 FIP) and 1.30 WHIP with 138 strikeouts and 56 walks in 31 appearances (30 starts). While the Blue Jays hope he can continue pitching through his elbow injury, it wouldn't be wise to bank on it and trust him in fantasy baseball leagues. When Toronto's entire rotation is healthy, Berrios might be ticketed for a relief role in 2026.

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Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford (shoulder) received an injection in his shoulder on Wednesday and will be shut down for a few days, according to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times. Manager Dan Wilson is unsure if Crawford will be ready for Opening Day in late March. The 31-year-old has been dealing with a cranky shoulder for most of spring training, which is why he has only appeared in seven Cactus League games. Crawford's injury increases the likelihood that infield prospect Colt Emerson makes the team's Opening Day roster. Leo Rivas will be another option for Seattle at the 6 if Crawford is not ready for the start of the 2026 regular season. Crawford already wasn't much to look at in terms of fantasy baseball value with modest power and speed abilities, and now he's even less attractive with the possibility that he will open the year on the injured list. In his ninth MLB season in 2025, he hit .265/.352/.370/ with a .722 OPS, 12 homers, 58 RBI, 69 runs scored, and eight steals in 157 regular-season games.

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After 10 seasons as a member of the New York Mets, veteran outfielder Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Texas Rangers this past offseason. The soon-to-be 33-year-old Nimmo posted rock-solid numbers across 652 plate appearances with New York in 2025, hitting .262/.324/.436 with 25 home runs, 92 RBI, 81 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases. Nimmo has now recorded back-to-back seasons with at least 23 homers, 90 RBI, 80 runs scored, and double-digit steals. He also logged a career-best 50.2% hard-hit rate in 2025. Age-related decline may start to become an issue for Nimmo as he reaches his mid-30s, and this could be the biggest red flag in his fantasy outlook. Missed time would also impact Nimmo's profile as a compiler, as he's logged 650 plate appearances in four straight seasons. Still, Nimmo should be locked into a prime spot in the Rangers' everyday lineup when healthy, and his underlying metrics still support his strong top-line numbers. He profiles as a high-floor starting fantasy outfielder heading into 2026.

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Cincinnati Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson has been informed he will be on the team's Opening Day roster and will be part of a six-man starting rotation in Cincinnati, per Reds beat writer Charlie Goldsmith. A former top prospect, Williamson pitched just 14 1/3 big-league innings in 2024 due to a shoulder injury and then missed all of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. However, he impressed in his four appearances this spring, recording 13 strikeouts and just two walks across 11 innings pitched. In his last extended MLB run back in 2023, Williamson pitched to a 4.46 ERA and 1.28 WHIP with 98 strikeouts across 117 innings (23 starts). Given his injury track record, expectations for Williamson's 2026 workload should likely remain limited. Still, he's earned the chance to re-establish his big-league career in 2026 and could be worth taking a flier on in the very late rounds of fantasy drafts.

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The Chicago Cubs made one of the bigger splashes of the offseason by signing veteran third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million contract. The soon-to-be 32-year-old was limited to 495 plate appearances by a quad injury in 2025 while playing for the Boston Red Sox. Still, Bregman posted quality numbers when healthy, slashing .273/.360/.462 with 18 home runs, 62 RBI, 64 runs scored, and one stolen base. With a career 6.1% barrel rate, Bregman does not own high-end underlying power metrics. It's fair to wonder if he may struggle to hit for power while playing his home games at Wrigley Field, which does not offer the same hitter-friendly dimensions as his previous home parks in Boston and Houston. However, Bregman actually owns a better slugging percentage in his career on the road (.490) than at home (.470). He should also be a counting stats machine while hitting in the heart of the excellent Cubs lineup. Bregman remains a solid starting third base option for fantasy managers heading into 2026.

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Across 635 plate appearances in 2025, Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams hit .257/.315/.433 with 19 home runs, 60 RBI, 92 runs scored, and 31 stolen bases. Some of the shine has come off the 25-year-old's real-life profile, as he's struggled at shortstop defensively and saw his name come up in trade rumors throughout the offseason. However, Abrams has hit 57 home runs and stolen 109 bases over the past three seasons, making him a very attractive shortstop option for fantasy managers. With a career barrel rate of 6.4%, Abrams is unlikely to project much power upside beyond the career-best 20 home runs he posted in 2024. Still, he's a high-end speed threat with a projectable batting average floor, and he should remain locked into everyday playing time at the top of the Nationals' lineup. If Abrams does end up getting traded at some point in 2026, it would likely only stand to benefit his counting stats as he moves to a stronger team. Abrams may not carry first-round upside, but he remains a solid starting fantasy shortstop heading into 2026.

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Since signing with the Philadelphia Phillies ahead of the 2022 season, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber has established himself as one of baseball's premier power hitters. Over the last four years, Schwarber has belted 187 home runs while collecting 434 RBI and scoring 429 runs. 2025 was Schwarber's best season to date, as he slashed .240/.365/.563 with 56 home runs, 132 RBI, 111 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across 724 plate appearances. Batting average is the main risk in Schwarber's fantasy profile, as he is a career .231 hitter who has struck out in at least 27% of his plate appearances in six consecutive seasons. The 33-year-old is also limited to UT-only eligibility in most fantasy formats, as he made just eight appearances in the outfield in 2025. Still, Schwarber is as bankable a power and run production threat as there is in MLB. His status as a full-time designated hitter may also help him stay in the lineup every day, as he's logged at least 660 plate appearances in four consecutive campaigns. The first round of fantasy drafts may be a bit rich for Schwarber, but he remains one of the safest hitters in fantasy baseball heading into 2026.

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Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that shortstop Jeremy Pena (finger) will resume throwing and swinging this weekend and that an Opening Day return has "not been ruled out," per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Pena is recovering from a fracture in the tip of his right ring finger. The 28-year-old was excellent across 543 plate appearances in 2025, slashing .304/.363/.477 with 17 home runs, 62 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases. Even if Pena ends up missing Opening Day, it does not appear as though he will be facing an extended absence to open the season. Once healthy, he should be locked into everyday playing time at the top of the Astros lineup. Fantasy managers may be able to score some extra value in late-spring drafts if Pena's injury results in him slipping down draft boards.

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Seattle Mariners infielder Cole Young has begun to flash high-end power in spring training and appears to be the favorite to be the team's Opening Day second baseman. Across 15 spring games, Young has held a .273/.343/.614 slash line with four home runs and three stolen bases. Young is in competition with fellow young infielder Colt Emerson, who is considered the team's top-ranked prospect. While Young does have MLB experience, which gives him a slight edge, Emerson has also enjoyed a strong showing in camp. Last summer, Young made his MLB debut and held a .211/.302/.305 line with a low .607 OPS over a 77-game stint. While he only had four home runs and stole one base last season, Young appears to be taking the next step in his development in camp. If he earns the starting second base job, he is worth a late-round flyer in deeper formats as a middle infielder with upside.

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Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitching prospect Rhett Lowder has officially made the Opening Day roster. The young right-hander was on the brink of the roster bubble for most of camp but was able to claim a role on the MLB roster. However, it has yet to be determined if the former seventh overall pick will have a spot in the starting rotation. Alongside Lowder, young pitchers Chase Burns and Brandon Williamson also made the Opening Day roster. However, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer noted that only two of them will occupy a rotation spot while the other serves as a long relief option. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status over the next week. Even though his role is unknown, Lowder has solid sleeper appeal in deeper leagues, given that he has posted an impressive 1.17 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP over his first 30 2/3 innings in the majors.

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According to Sonja Chen of MLB.com, Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect River Ryan is trending towards opening the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City, not in the MLB rotation. Ryan is currently in consideration for one of the final spots in the starting rotation with Blake Snell (shoulder) and Gavin Stone (shoulder) both on the shelf. However, it appears Ryan is behind both Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski in the competition, given their prior major-league experience. Additionally, the Dodgers see Ryan as a full-time starter and want to ensure he remains in that role with either club and not demoted to a swingman role. This spring, Ryan has been one of the most impressive pitchers on the roster, logging 9 2/3 innings to the tune of a 1.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and a 12:4 K:BB. He would be viewed as a solid stash candidate once demoted to Triple-A.

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San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames is struggling at the plate in spring training, going 4-for-37 (.108) with a homer, five RBI, two runs scored, a stolen base, two walks, and 13 strikeouts in 40 plate appearances over 13 Cactus League games. Adames was looking like a major bust in his first year in San Fran in 2025 in the first half of the season before ultimately bouncing back in the second half. The 30-year-old Dominican infielder hit a career-low .225 (133-for-591), but he did reach the 30-homer mark for the third time in the last four years and the fourth time in his career, adding 87 RBI, 94 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 686 plate appearances over 160 games played. Adames had a 30-20 season in 2024 in his final year in Milwaukee, but his overall upside could be capped while playing at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park. Still, Adames should provide a solid counting-stat floor as a low-end starting fantasy shortstop in mixed leagues, at worst.

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Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss may have second baseman Ozzie Albies run more frequently in 2026, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. He adds that Albies "seems capable" of stealing 20 bases for the first time since the 2021 season. The three-time All-Star hit .240/.306/.365 with a career-low .671 OPS, 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 74 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 667 plate appearances and 157 games played for the Braves in 2025 in his ninth year in the big leagues. In general, the Braves are expected to be much more aggressive on the base paths in Weiss' first year as the skipper. Albies has two 30-homer campaigns on his ledger, but he's combined to hit just 26 long balls in the last two seasons. Despite the last two years of disappointing production, Albies profiles as a top-12 fantasy second baseman because he still has 20-20 potential at the keystone. In six Grapefruit League games this spring, Albies has gone 4-for-16 (.250) with no homers, four RBI, and three runs scored.

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New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is a solid source of power and speed as a middle infielder going into the 2026 season after he clubbed a career-high 31 home runs and also stole 31 bases to reach the 30-30 mark for the first time in his career in 2025. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter made the All-Star squad for the second time in his career while slashing .242/.332/.481 with an .813 OPS, 80 RBI, and 75 runs scored in 531 plate appearances over 130 regular-season games in his first full year in the Bronx. Chisholm has a lengthy injury history, but his power/speed upside is unmatched at the second base position, making him RotoBaller's top-ranked second baseman, who also still has eligibility at the hot corner in some leagues. The six-year veteran has swung the bat well in spring training, too, going 4-for-14 (.286) with a homer, three RBI, and a steal in a small sample size of seven Grapefruit League games. He's a great fit in a strong Yankees lineup with a short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.

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New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham had a career year in 2025 in the Bronx in his second year in pinstripes, slashing .235/.348/.464 with an .811 OPS, 34 home runs, 74 RBI, 87 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 581 plate appearances and 143 regular-season games played. Although it's a small sample size this spring, the 29-year-old left-handed hitter has gone 4-for-30 (.133) with no homers, three RBI, three runs scored, three walks, and nine strikeouts in 33 plate appearances in 12 Grapefruit League games. Grisham has earned some rope as a regular in the Yankees' everyday lineup in 2026, but he's going to have to continue to play well to hold off Jasson Dominguez, who has swung a hot bat this spring. The former 15th overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015 hit under .200 with nine homers in just 76 games in his first year in New York in 2024, so there is some volatility and skepticism that Grisham can repeat his strong season in 2026. For his power alone in a strong lineup, though, Grisham is worth a late-round pick as outfield depth in mixed fantasy leagues.

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