The Athletic's Spencer Nusbaum reports that Washington Nationals two-time All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams "remains uneasy" about the team's decision to move him from shortstop to second base, according to his agent, Mike Sanders. However, both Abrams and the Nationals' front office have a desire to find common ground despite "lingering disagreement about the timing and the necessity of the position change." "I think, first, CJ was not thrilled about the decision to move him off shortstop at this time," Sanders said. "But his priority is to win games for the Nationals and to be a team-first player, so that is what he's going to do." Abrams views himself as a shortstop long-term and plans to spend the winter focusing on improving his defense at his preferred position. The 25-year-old is in the middle of an offensive breakout in 2026 -- he ranks sixth in FanGraphs' offensive value -- but he also ranks last in baseball in several defensive metrics despite his athleticism. For fantasy purposes, if Abrams' move to second does not tank his offensive numbers, it will boost his fantasy appeal by giving him eligibility at both second and shortstop for the 2027 campaign.

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Miami Marlins pitching prospect Karson Milbrandt has been a bit better lately, but it's been a struggle for him since being promoted to Triple-A Jacksonville. In 10 starts for the Jumbo Shrimp, Milbrandt is 0-5 with a 7.65 ERA. The talented right-hander dominated at Double-A Pensacola for much of this season but the results haven't followed him to Triple-A. That leaves a promotion to the Marlins as a little bit of a concern as the organization would like to see better results in the high minors. Milbrandt is still the Marlins' No. 5 overall prospect and has a high-profile three-pitch mix with 55-grade pitches in his fastball curveball, and slider. But for the most part he's been hit hard at Jacksonville. At age 22, there is plenty of time for growth but that might not be at the big league level until at least next season.

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Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (knee) is returning to Arizona to undergo an MRI exam on his knee, a source told Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Marte did not show up to the team's series opener on Monday in Boston against the Red Sox and was placed on the restricted list due to a personal matter. In addition to a personal issue, the 32-year-old All-Star is not 100% healthy, even though it was reported on Monday that he was physically fine. The D-backs are considering him day-to-day for now, but it sure feels like Marte might be looking at an extended absence with everything that he is currently going through. In the meantime, Ildemaro Vargas, who made the start at the keystone in Monday's loss at Fenway Park, should see most of the playing time at second until Marte returns. Marte, a three-time All-Star, is currently hitting .249/.314/.446 with a .760 OPS, 21 home runs, 67 RBI, 65 runs scored, and four steals in 118 games this year. He is a must-start in fantasy lineups when he is active, and he needs to be stashed in all leagues while he is away from the team.

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Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins has pitched one-inning relief outings in his past two appearances at Triple-A Iowa. Both innings were scoreless for the talented right-hander and the relief pitching is a new trend for him at Triple-A, signifying he could have a role out of the bullpen with the Cubs at the big league level potentially. With Iowa this season, Wiggins is 0-3 in seven starts with a 9.00 ERA in 24 innings pitched. He has three combined strikeouts in his two innings of bullpen work. So Wiggins could be carving himself a role as a reliever for the Cubs. At age 24, that might be Wiggins' quickest path to the majors, but it wouldn't be the best role for fantasy. As a reliever he has high strikeout upside but wins and saves would be scarce making him better left on the waiver wire in most leagues.

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San Francisco Giants outfield prospect Bo Davidson was given a chance to play at Triple-A Sacramento on July 17 and he has made the most of his opportunity. In 27 games with the River Cats, the talented 24-year-old has four homers and 22 RBI with four stolen bases while hitting .287. The left-handed hitter is the No. 8 prospect in the Giants' system and has 55-grade power and speed to go with a 50-grade hit tool. Davidson has totaled 18 stolen bases between two minor league levels this season, showing off his speed on the base paths. He looks like a five-category contributor for future fantasy teams. At 24, it's up in the air whether the Giants give Davidson a shot at a debut before the end of this season. He looks to be major league ready but the team could wait until next season to give him his major league debut.

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Washington Nationals third base prospect Yohandy Morales has been having a solid season at Triple-A Rochester at age 24. In 359 at bats with Rochester, the right-handed hitter has 23 homers and 67 RBI with 73 runs scored while hitting .287. The talented infield prospect is pushing for a promotion to the major leagues and with his numbers at Triple-A, he has demonstrated that he might be ready for that call-up. Morales is not currently in the top 30 prospects for the Nationals according to MLB.com, but he has done a good job of showing that he can hit at the high levels of the minors. He has an .891 OPS for Rochester and has produced even with missing some time due to an IL stint in late July to early August. Morales could be a sneaky waiver wire addition this season in redraft leagues as he may not be on everyone's radar. But he could produce given a big-league chance.

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Across 502 plate appearances this season, Chicago White Sox infielder Chase Meidroth is hitting .275/.351/.411 with 12 home runs, 49 RBI, 71 runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 25-year-old's ability to get on base (9.8% walk rate) and his everyday role in the potent White Sox lineup provide him with a stable production floor. Meidroth has also been hot of late, hitting .300/.386/.560 with three home runs, nine RBI, and nine runs scored across 57 plate appearances in August. Meidroth's 4.5% barrel rate and 34.7% hard-hit rate do not point to significant power upside, so fantasy managers should temper expectations. Still, Meidroth controls the zone and should be an asset in terms of both batting average and run production. Particularly in deeper leagues, Meidroth is a worthy waiver wire target.

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Seattle Mariners prospect Michael Arroyo has adjusted well since being promoted to Triple-A Tacoma on July 7. In 32 games with Tacoma, Arroyo has hit .286 with six homers and 27 RBI to go with 26 runs scored. The 21-year-old, with the ability to play infield or outfield, is quickly rising up the prospect rankings for Seattle and is now the No. 3 prospect in the Mariners' system. He boasts a 55-grade hit tool and 50-grade power and speed. He's totaled 15 stolen bases between Double-A Arkansas and Tacoma and has proven he can be a threat on the base paths. With his position versatility, look for Arroyo to get an opportunity at some point this year with the big league club. When he does, he should be a good addition to fantasy squads because of his all-around game and his power-speed combination.

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Across 501 plate appearances in 2026, Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young is hitting .260/.318/.405 with 15 home runs, 56 RBI, 58 runs scored, and three stolen bases. The 23-year-old's underlying batted ball metrics are underwhelming, as he's posted a 4.7% barrel rate and a 39.1% hard-hit rate. However, Young has quietly made some power gains over the course of the season. After hitting just four homers through his first 237 trips to the plate, Young has gone deep 11 times in his last 264 plate appearances. Young has also logged a strong 16.4% strikeout rate, which keeps his batting average floor high. He may not offer tremendous fantasy upside, but Young is locked into everyday playing time in Seattle and brings a stable production floor. In deeper leagues, Young is worth targeting on the waiver wire.

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In 10 games with his new organization, Miami Marlins prospect Jonathon Long has fared well at Triple-A Jacksonville, hitting 9-for-28 (.321) with three RBI and 11 runs scored. Long came over to the Marlins organization after spending the beginning of the season in the Cubs system. He played all year prior at Triple-A Iowa and hit .283 in 99 games and hit 12 homers with 62 RBI and 67 runs scored. Now with Miami, Long, a right-handed hitting third or first base prospect, has a clearer path to big-league playing time. He is the No. 19 ranked prospect in the Marlins' system after the trade and at 24 years old, could get a look at an MLB debut especially with first baseman Kyle Stowers on the IL. Long has a 50-grade hit tool with 50-grade power and could be an impact bat for the Marlins and for fantasy teams down the stretch.

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Across 33 plate appearances since making his MLB debut on August 7, Minnesota Twins shortstop Kaelen Culpepper is hitting .250/.333/.393 with one home run, two RBI, and two runs scored. The 23-year-old is widely considered one of the top prospects in the Twins' farm system and was having a big year at Triple-A before his promotion, slashing .271/.367/.478 with 14 home runs, 46 RBI, 63 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. While Culpepper has logged an inflated 33.3% strikeout rate in his very limited sample size of big-league plate appearances, he posted a strong 18.7% strikeout rate in the minors this season. Culpepper has logged near-everyday playing time at shortstop for Minnesota since being called up. As long as he stays in the lineup, Culpepper profiles as an above-average power/speed threat with five-category upside for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder Zac Veen struggled after making his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .118 with a 37.8% strikeout rate across a small sample size of 37 plate appearances. However, Veen had a monster year after returning to Triple-A this season, hitting .327/.402/.635 with 24 home runs, 87 RBI, 82 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases across 445 plate appearances. The 24-year-old's minor league production led to a big-league promotion on August 12, and he's gotten off to a hot start with two home runs in his first 15 trips to the plate. The lefty-swinging Veen has been deployed in a big-side platoon role with Colorado so far, which limits his playing time and fantasy upside. Veen has also struggled with swing-and-miss at different points throughout his pro career, so he may log an elevated strikeout rate. Still, Veen offers an intriguing blend of power and speed for fantasy managers on the waiver wire, and his hitter-friendly home park at Coors Field should help cover some of his weaknesses at the plate.

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Across 42 plate appearances since making his MLB debut on August 4, New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. is hitting .270/.357/.459 with two home runs, three RBI, seven runs scored, and one stolen base. The 21-year-old is widely considered to be the top prospect in the Yankees' system and one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Since being promoted to the big leagues, Lombard Jr. has been handed the full-time role at shortstop for New York. He's shown off an impressive plate approach for a young player with an 11.9% walk rate and a 21.4% strikeout rate. His ability to get on base was one of his greatest assets in the minor leagues, as he posted a 17.2% walk rate across 262 plate appearances at Triple-A this season. Lombard Jr. may still need some time to adjust to the big leagues fully, but he carries significant upside and should be targeted on the waiver wire in leagues where he remains available.

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Across 38 plate appearances since making his MLB debut on August 5, Cleveland Guardians infielder Angel Genao is hitting .294/.368/.412 with one home run, three RBI, seven runs scored, and one stolen base. The 22-year-old has spent time at every infield position other than first base, which should allow him to stick in the everyday lineup. Genao also demonstrated intriguing five-category potential this year in the minor leagues, hitting .300 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, 65 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 419 plate appearances split between Double and Triple-A. Genao hits the ball on the ground a ton, which may ultimately limit his power upside in the big leagues. Still, his combination of speed and contact ability allows him to profile as a batting average asset. In leagues where he's available on the waiver wire, Genao should be a priority target for fantasy managers.

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Cubs' SP Shota Imanaga recorded 10 strikeouts in 6 innings in a 7-5 win over the White Sox on Monday, Aug. 17.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) said his left knee felt good after throwing a bullpen session last Friday and that he is scheduled to throw another one on Tuesday, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Ohtani is hopeful that his knee injury is behind him now and that there will not be any more setbacks as he ramps up as a pitcher. The four-time MVP continues to serve as L.A.'s primary designated hitter, but he has not made a start on the mound since July 3 against the division-rival San Diego Padres. While the 32-year-old is trending in the right direction as a starting pitcher, the Dodgers are in no rush to bring him back to their rotation, and fantasy managers should not be surprised if he does not make another start until the calendar flips to September. The five-time All-Star has been great on the mound when he has been available, going 8-2 in his 14 starts (85 2/3 innings) with a 1.79 ERA (2.59 FIP) and 0.95 WHIP with a 95:26 K:BB. The primary goal for the Dodgers is to have Ohtani at full health as a pitcher for the playoffs in October.

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Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers (hamstring) has begun a running progression, per Stephen Strom of Marlins Radio Network. Stowers has not played since August 9 due to a hamstring strain. However, the fact that Stowers has already begun running could be an indication that he will not miss significant time due to the injury. Across 399 plate appearances on the year, the 28-year-old is hitting .242/.327/.462 with 16 home runs, 52 RBI, 44 runs scored, and one stolen base. The lefty-swinging Stowers has struck out in 31.3% of his plate appearances and owns a .530 OPS against same-handed pitching, both of which limit his fantasy value. Still, Stowers has logged an elite 55.0% hard-hit rate, which helps mitigate his swing-and-miss issues and hints at his high-end power upside. Once healthy, Stowers profiles as a useful power bat for fantasy managers.

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Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) is set to "swing a bat/catch a ball" at the end of this week, per Alex Stumpf of DK Pittsburgh Sports. Griffin is working his way back from an injury to his left ring finger that has kept him out since early July. The 20-year-old has had an injury-marred first year in the big leagues, as he also missed time earlier in the year due to a flexor strain. Still, Griffin has been productive when healthy, hitting .276/.332/.404 with five home runs, 25 RBI, 36 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases across 247 plate appearances. While Griffin appears to be making progress towards a return, he could still be a week or two away from beginning a rehab assignment. The Pirates also have little incentive to rush the young phenom back to the big leagues, as they are actively fading from the National League playoff picture. Griffin profiles as a high-upside waiver wire target if he makes it back to the big leagues, but his redraft value for the remainder of 2026 is an open question.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said catcher Will Smith (neck) could begin a rehab assignment next week, per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports. Smith has not played since early June due to a neck injury, but he appears to be making steady progress towards a return. Across 201 plate appearances before the injury, the 31-year-old is hitting .248/.338/.382 with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored. While Smith's overall production at the plate was below his career norms, he posted a stellar 13.4% barrel rate while striking out in just 16.9% of his trips to the plate. The Dodgers are also currently without emerging young catcher Dalton Rushing (elbow) due to an elbow injury, so Smith should see as much playing time as he can handle once healthy. Upon his return, Smith profiles as a must-start fantasy catcher.

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Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (abdomen) said he could be active "as early as Friday," per Chris Cotillo of MassLive. Cotillo reports that the team's plan for Story is to have him rehab at Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday and Wednesday before being re-evaluated. Story has been on the injured list since mid-May after undergoing sports hernia surgery, but he appears to be on the doorstep of a return to Boston. The 33-year-old got off to a terrible start to the 2026 season before getting injured, hitting .206 with three home runs and a 32.4% strikeout rate across his first 176 plate appearances of the year. Still, Story hit 25 home runs and stole 31 bases across 654 plate appearances in 2025 and remains a very valuable fantasy player when healthy and going well. Once Story returns, he should be rostered across most fantasy formats.

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