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Free-agent outfielder Michael Conforto signed with the Chicago Cubs on a minor-league deal on Sunday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Conforto will have to prove himself in spring training to earn an Opening Day roster spot with Chicago, likely in a bench role. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed-hitting outfielder really struggled in 2025 with the World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers, slashing .199/.305/.333 with 12 home runs in 486 plate appearances during the regular season. Conforto struck out 121 times in 138 games played and drove in only 36 runs. If he makes the roster, Conforto will most likely be an option against right-handed pitchers in right field if the Cubs want to give Seiya Suzuki a day off in the field. His xBA of .237 in 2025 suggests that he could bounce back in 2026, but he probably isn't going to see enough volume to be relevant in shallow mixed fantasy leagues.

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Houston Astros left-hander closer Josh Hader (biceps) is playing light catch off flat ground in camp as he works his way through biceps inflammation, but "it's difficult to envision Houston rushing" Hader to be ready for Opening Day, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The 31-year-old six-time All-Star also missed time last season with a shoulder capsule strain, so the Astros are going to play it safe here. If Hader is not ready for Opening Day in late March, setup man Bryan Abreu figures to take over closing duties for the team to begin the 2026 campaign. When healthy, Hader was still one of the most dominant high-leverage relievers in baseball, posting a 6-2 record, 2.05 ERA (3.25 FIP), 0.85 WHIP, 28 saves, 76 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 52 2/3 innings. But because of his injuries going into this season, Hader carries more injury risk and has dropped to No. 15 in RotoBaller's fantasy closer rankings.

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Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Payton Tolle tossed two innings of one-run ball in his spring training debut on Saturday afternoon. The southpaw was given the starting nod. In the opening frame, he surrendered a solo shot to Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis. In the second inning, he would toss a perfect frame and tally his lone strikeout of the contest, against outfielder Matt Wallner. Tolle is currently in contention for one of the final spots in the starting rotation and will likely need a strong showing in spring training to claim it. Last summer, the left-hander struggled in his MLB debut, posting a 6.06 ERA across his first 16 1/3 innings. However, in the minor leagues, he logged 91 2/3 innings with a strong 3.04 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 133:23 K:BB. Given his high-end strikeout upside, he is a name to closely watch during spring training as he could be a worthy selection in the final rounds of your draft if he were to emerge as a viable starter.

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Philadelphia Phillies outfield prospect Justin Crawford went 2-for-3 with a strikeout in his spring training debut on Saturday afternoon. Crawford served as the leadoff hitter and knocked a double to center field to open the contest. Later in the game, Crawford would hit a single on a line drive. The team's top outfield prospect is currently the favorite to claim the starting center field role, and his hot start in camp further cements him as a starting option. Last season, the 22-year-old spent the entire 2025 season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and held a .334/.411/.452 slash line with 23 doubles, seven home runs, and an eye-catching 46 stolen bases. While his power upside may be limited, Crawford could produce a high batting average with an elite sotlen base total. He is a prime late-round option for those in standard leagues, as he should begin the season in an everyday role.

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Tampa Bay Rays outfield prospect Jacob Melton went 1-for-3 with a home run during their loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon. Melton would launch a solo shot (his first of spring training) in the sixth frame. The team's No. 4-ranked prospect on MLB.com is in competition for one of the final spots on the MLB roster and could make a strong case with a productive spring training. Last season, Melton made his MLB debut with the Astros and spent 32 games in Houston. During this stint, the former second-round pick posted a modest .157/.234/.186 slash line with no home runs and a 29:6 K:BB. Through 35 games at Triple-A, Melton was far more productive, posting a .286/.389/.556 line with six home runs and 12 stolen bases. He is a name to monitor in deeper five-outfielder formats as he could have some sleeper appeal if he cracks the Opening Day roster, given his speed upside.

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Chicago Cubs catching prospect Moises Ballesteros officially reported to camp on Sunday. The young backstop had his start to the 2026 campaign delayed by visa issues, but was finally able to join the Cubs. The 22-year-old is expected to immediately begin the season in a lead role on the offense, likely serving as the primary designated hitter. Last season, Ballesteros made his MLB debut and held a solid .298/.394/.474 slash line with two doubles, one triple, and two home runs across a 20-game stint. At Triple-A, Ballesteros was one of the most productive hitters in the minor leagues, posting a .316/.385/.473 line with 29 doubles, 13 home runs, and a strong .858 OPS. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in camp and should view him as a solid C2 in all formats with the solid power upside. If he is able to fully claim the DH role, he could carry starting-caliber upside in standard leagues.

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According to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com, Cleveland Guardians left-handed pitching prospect Parker Messick is one of the names in the running for one of the final spots in the starting rotation. Messick made his spring training debut on Sunday afternoon and tossed two innings of work with no runs, no hits, and a 1:3 K:BB. Joining him in the competition will be young left-hander Joey Cantillo, Logan Allen, and Sade Cecconi. Last summer, Messick made his MLB debut and held his own, logging 39 2/3 innings to the tune of a 2.72 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP. During this stint, the southpaw struck out 38 hitters while generating an eltie 5.8% barrel rate with a strong 3.6% walk rate. Messick is worth monitoring closely, as he could carry late-round sleeper appeal if he were to open the season as a starter.

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Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Robby Snelling tossed a perfect inning in his spring debut on Saturday afternoon. Facing the top of the New York lineup, Snelling would generate three straight outs against Marcus Semien, Juan Soto, and Bo Bichette. While he was unable to tally any strikeouts, he made quick work of them, throwing only 10 pitches. The 22-year-old appeared to be in the mix to earn the final spot in the Miami rotation but now projects to be the season as the team's No. 6 option, and likely at Triple-A. With veteran Chris Paddack being named as a starter and both Max Meyer and Braxton Garrett healthy, Snelling projects to be on the outside for the time being. However, he would likely be the first name called in the case of an injury. Last summer, the southpaw looked quite comfortable in his first taste of Triple-A, tossing 63 2/3 innings to the tune of a 1.27 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He remains a worthy early-season stash candidate for those in deeper 12-team leagues.

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Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was able to throw a live batting practice session without any issues on Sunday. Ohtani threw 33 pitches across two innings of work and touched 99 mph on his fastball. This is expected to be the last time that Ohtani will throw for the Dodgers in camp. He'll now leave to join Team Japan for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. It doesn't sound like Ohtani will pitch in the tourney, so he likely won't take the mound again until the start of the regular season. The Dodgers might ease Ohtani in, but he should be a solid No. 2 starter in fantasy once he's fully stretched out.

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The Cleveland Guardians have signed free-agent first baseman Rhys Hoskins to a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Hoskins is coming off a down year in 2025, which likely impacted his free agent value. Last season, Hoskins slashed .237/.332/.416 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI across 90 games with the Milwaukee Brewers. The 32-year-old does have legit power with five seasons of 25-plus home runs under his belt. This is a low-risk move for the Guardians, who might end up getting a solid power hitter out of Hoskins. He'll earn $1.5 million in 2026, assuming he makes the roster.

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Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jack Brannigan (head) was forced to exit early during Sunday's Spring Training game versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Brannigan was removed from the contest after getting hit in the face by a batted ball. He's currently being evaluated for further injury, so he should be considered day-to-day right now. Brannigan is competing for a bench role on the team, but will likely start the season in the minors. Last season, Brannigan slashed .225/.329/.358 with five home runs, 30 RBI, and nine steals in 59 games with Double-A Altoona. He'll likely need to prove himself a little more in the minors before he's ready for the big league level.

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Kansas City Royals outfielder Dairon Blanco (head) was removed early during Sunday's Spring Training contest versus the Milwaukee Brewers. Blanco is being evaluated for a head injury after being hit in the head by a 90 mph pitch in the seventh inning. Manager Matt Quatraro said Blanco was dizzy getting up, but was able to walk and knew where he was. There is no word on whether or not Blanco has suffered a concussion. The expectation is that the Royals will take the cautious approach and hold out Blanco for the next few days.

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Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Aidan Miller (back) is likely going to sit out for a few days. According to Todd Zolecki, Miller is dealing with back soreness, so the Phillies plan to be careful with him. The team will take it easy with Miller while he gets treatment this week. The 21-year-old is expected to begin the season in the minors, but it shouldn't be too long before he's in Philly. In 2025, Miller slashed .264/.392/.433 with 14 home runs, 42 RBI, and 59 stolen bases in 116 games between Double-A and Triple-A. The majority of his games were played in Double-A, so Miller will likely begin the 2026 campaign in Triple-A. He could be on the short list to Philly if he shows that he can handle Triple-A pitching.

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In one of their bigger moves this winter, the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired long-time Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe this offseason. Lowe has struggled to consistently stay healthy throughout his career, as he's reached 600 plate appearances just once in eight big league seasons. However, he was productive in 2025, hitting .256/.307/.477 with 31 home runs, 83 RBI, 79 runs scored, and three stolen bases. Another reason for the lefty-swinging Lowe's low plate appearance totals is his career splits against same-handed pitching, which has caused him to lose playing time in the past. Across 695 career plate appearances against lefties, Lowe owns a .695 OPS with a 32.4% strikeout rate. Now in Pittsburgh, Lowe may be given more of an opportunity to play against lefties, which could help his counting stats, but may cause his overall batting average to suffer. Still, with an average draft position of pick 172, Lowe could outperform his draft-day cost in a true everyday role with the Pirates.

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After an injury-marred 2024 campaign, Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl bounced back and re-established himself as his team's everyday leadoff hitter in 2025. Across 685 plate appearances, the 30-year-old hit .261/.364/.378 with 14 home runs, 53 RBI, 82 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. Friedl increased his walk rate to a career-best 11.8%, which helped him stay in the leadoff spot and allowed him to set his career-high in runs scored. However, Friedl's speed fell off considerably from his banner year in 2023, when he recorded 27 stolen bases in just 138 games. Friedl's underlying batted ball metrics also indicate that his power ceiling is minimal. He posted a single-season-worst 2.7% barrel rate in 2025, and his 3.3% career mark is not much better. As long as Friedl remains in the leadoff spot in Cincinnati, he offers a safe fantasy floor as a compiler. However, his lack of power means he will need to have a resurgent season in the speed department to provide much surplus value from his current average draft position of pick 257.

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Across 560 plate appearances in 2025, Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott hit .257/.328/.391 with 13 home runs, 66 RBI, 66 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases. Stott looked like a potential future star in 2023, when he hit .280 with 15 home runs and 31 stolen bases. However, the 28-year-old has settled in a level a notch below what he showed in that banner year, as he's hit .251 and averaged 12 home runs over the last two seasons. With a 9.6% walk rate and 16.3% strikeout rate in 2025, Stott has quality plate skills that provide him with a high floor. However, he owns just a 4.4% career barrel rate and made hard contact just 29.5% of the time in 2025, so his power upside is limited. Perhaps most worryingly for his fantasy profile, the lefty-swinging Stott owns a .666 OPS in 529 career plate appearances against left-handed pitching and has lost some playing time against same-handed starters over the past two years. The Phillies have a quality right-handed infielder in Edmundo Sosa on their bench, which could mean Stott functions as a platoon bat once again in 2026. The lost playing time hurts Stott's ability to compile counting stats, which is his main appeal to fantasy managers. His speed gives him a safe floor, but Stott's fantasy upside has a firm ceiling.

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Houston Astros manager Joe Espada has confirmed that shortstop Jeremy Pena will be the team's leadoff hitter in 2026, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Pena took over as the team's primary leadoff hitter in 2025 and delivered his best season since his breakout rookie year in 2022. Across 543 plate appearances, the 28-year-old slashed .304/.363/.477 with 17 home runs, 62 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases. Pena missed time due to injury in 2025, but he should be able to push 700 plate appearances in 2026 if he can remain healthy and produce well enough to remain in the leadoff spot in the Houston lineup. Pena may sacrifice some RBI opportunities while batting first, but he should score plenty of runs with Astros sluggers Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve behind him.

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Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said that outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. will move back into the team's leadoff spot in 2026, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com. Acuna Jr. batted third in 46 games in 2025, compared to 43 batting first. However, for his career, he's spent significantly more time leading off. Acuna Jr. has seen over 3,000 career plate appearances as a leadoff hitter, including all 735 of his plate appearances in his MVP season in 2023. From a fantasy perspective, Acuna Jr. may see fewer chances to rack up RBI from the number one slot in the batting order. However, he will be among the league leaders in plate appearances if he can stay healthy, and should have a chance to score a boatload of runs. In Acuna Jr.'s last full healthy season in 2023, he hit .337/.416/.596 with 41 home runs, 106 RBI, 149 runs scored, and 73 stolen bases.

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Miami Marlins infielder Christopher Morel is feeling more comfortable at first base, according to Christina De Nicola. Morel got his first taste at first base during Saturday's Grapefruit League contest against the New York Mets. He received praise from manager Clayton McCullough following Saturday's win. Morel signed a one-year deal with the Marlins during the offseason. In December, Morel began practicing at first base five times a week. This is the first time that Morel has played first base during his professional career, but he appears happy to make the switch in positions. He'll likely need to be more consistent with the bat if he wants to play every day in 2026. Last season, Morel slashed .219/.289/.396 with 11 home runs and 33 RBI in 105 games with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Marlins do have a handful of other options to play first base if Morel fizzles out, but he appears to be getting a fair shot at earning the job in camp.

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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls (hernia) is set to make his Spring Training debut versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. Walls underwent sports hernia surgery in September, but appears to be fully healthy now. The 29-year-old figures to begin the season as the starting shortstop with Carson Williams waiting in the wings. Last season, Walls slashed .220/.280/.319 with four home runs, 38 RBI, and 14 stolen bases in 101 games. Walls is a below-average hitter, but makes up for it with his elite fielding ability. The Rays will likely stick with Walls to begin the season due to his defensive ability, but his struggles as a hitter make him a shaky fantasy option.

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