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Miami Marlins corner outfielder Griffin Conine is learning first base this spring, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. It's the same position his father, Jeff, played for most of his 17-year MLB career. The Marlins could use some depth at the position since Graham Pauley and Liam Hicks have limited experience there. In addition to Conine, Christopher Morel and Connor Norby are working at first base to give the Fish more options. Miami's outfield is already heavy on left-handed bats with Kyle Stowers, Jakob Marsee, and prospect Owen Caissie. If the 28-year-old adapts well to the position in spring training, it's possible he could make plenty of starts there in 2026. Conine only played in 24 games in Miami last year due to a dislocated shoulder that required surgery, and he went 20-for-79 (.253) with two homers and eight RBI. He had a nice 48.1% hard-hit rate, 14.8% barrel rate, and 117.4 mph maximum exit velocity in a short sample size, so he could become interesting as a depth outfielder in deeper fantasy leagues this year if he can carve out enough playing time at first base.

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the plan is to get infielder Ryan McMahon some reps at shortstop this spring to see if that can be an option with Anthony Volpe (shoulder) expected to miss the first month of the season, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Phillips adds that this would purely be for emergency purposes, as Jose Caballero is expected to man the 6 regularly in the Bronx to begin the year with Volpe sidelined. The 31-year-old McMahon has only played three innings at shortstop back in 2020 with the Colorado Rockies in his pro career. He still has pop -- he's hit 20-plus homers in six straight seasons -- but the nine-year veteran hit an ugly .214/.312/.381 with a .693 OPS, 53 RBI, 62 runs scored, and three steals in 154 regular-season games last year in Colorado and New York. Because of his struggles against same-handed pitching, McMahon is set for a platoon at the hot corner for the Bombers, causing him to lose most of his mixed-league appeal.

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The Houston Astros "have expressed interest" in free-agent outfielder Michael Conforto, with their chances of trading infielder Isaac Paredes diminishing, a source told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. The 32-year-old veteran left-handed hitter really struggled with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, slashing .199/.305/.333 with a career-worst .637 OPS, 12 home runs, 36 RBI, 54 runs scored, and a 121:56 K:BB in 138 regular-season games (486 plate appearances). Conforto's xBA of .237 suggests he might have been a bit unlucky, but most of his advanced metrics at the plate were average, at best. In his two previous seasons with the San Francisco Giants, he slashed .238/.322/.418 with a .740 OPS with 35 homers and 124 RBI in 255 games. Conforto could bounce back in the average department, but he'll likely be limited to a platoon role wherever he lands in free agency.

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Minnesota Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews could be a candidate for the No. 5 starting rotation spot to begin the 2026 season now that right-hander Pablo Lopez (elbow) will likely miss the entire season, according to Matthew Leach of MLB.com. Taj Bradley and Simeon Woods Richardson were the favorites for the fourth and fifth spots in the Opening Day rotation, but a new spot has emerged in Minnesota due to Lopez's injury. In 16 starts for the Twins last year, Matthews struggled to a 5.56 ERA (3.79 FIP) and 1.49 WHIP with 88 strikeouts and 24 walks in 79 1/3 innings over his 16 starts. The former eighth-round pick in 2022 out of Western Carolina University also struggled to a 6.69 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in his first nine big-league starts in 2024. Under the hood, Matthews showed promise with plenty of velocity and above-average strikeout and walk rates. A high .357 BABIP and 3.79 FIP indicate bad luck. Given another opportunity in 2026, don't be surprised if Matthews turns things around.

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San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman is coming off the best season of his career in terms of plate discipline, but health and power are key storylines to monitor with the veteran infielder going forward. Chapman slashed .231/.340/.430 with 21 home runs, a 13.3% walk rate, a 23.6% strikeout rate, and 118 wRC+ last year. This was a new career-high walk rate, and also the second-best strikeout rate of his career. His power dipped slightly, but only from a 4.1% HR% in 2024 to a 3.9% HR% in 2025. Meanwhile, he continued to flash the leather at third base with 4 OAA and 4 FRV. Unfortunately, Chapman missed roughly five weeks due to right hand inflammation. He's fully healthy heading into 2026, but injury risk is always a factor to consider ahead of fantasy baseball drafts. It's a big ask, but we'd love to see Chapman continue to homer around 4% of the time, continue to showcase solid plate discipline, and stay healthy for most of the 2026 season. He currently ranks #10 among third basemen in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.

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Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson got back on track with 31 home runs and 118 wRC+ across 155 games in the majors last season. Torkelson's offensive contributions fell so much in 2024 that Detroit sent him to Triple-A to get right. However, he bounced back with a full season at the MLB level in 2025, delivering major contributions to the Tigers and his fantasy managers. In addition to the 31 homers and 118 wRC+, he produced a .240/.333/.456 slash line with an 11.1% walk rate and 26.0% strikeout rate. Striking out more than one quarter of the time isn't ideal, but it's a fair trade-off for a player who will hit 30-40 home runs and walk in more than 10% of their plate appearances. Torkelson finds himself at #19 among first basemen in RotoBaller's fantasy rankings for 2026, with an ADP of 186. The rankings place him just behind Willson Contreras, Alec Burleson, and Jonathan Aranda, and just ahead of Kazuma Okamoto, Christian Walker, and Sal Stewart.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter has showcased impressive power through his first three-plus MLB seasons, and he'll look to continue that trend in 2026. The biggest concern for Carpenter at this point in his career is the injury risk, as he played 130 games last year -- and even that mark was a career high. If he can stay healthy, though, he has 30-plus-homer potential with an everyday spot in the Tigers' lineup. Other factors to consider with Carpenter include handedness splits and his K/BB ratio. He had an OPS of .812 against righties last year, but just .638 against lefties. Additionally, only three of his 26 home runs came against southpaws. Furthermore, he shaved his strikeout rate down to a career-best 22.8%, but he also dropped his walk rate to a career-worst 3.9%. His 5.85 K/BB ratio was the worst mark of his career, and while a discipline drop-off is expected when a player improves their power numbers, fantasy managers would like to see him at least walk a little more. Carpenter isn't one of the flashiest names among power hitters, but he's still an impact power bat against right-handed pitching with tremendous upside if he can stay healthy. He's somewhat of a value pick at the moment, ranking #57 among RotoBaller's outfielders for 2026 with an ADP of 217.

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Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (hand) will get the stitches removed from his surgically-repaired right hand on Monday, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN. The former No. 1 pick tore up the minors and debuted in 2024, but struggled upon getting the call. He fared better over a full season in 2025, slashing .242/.314/.375, but he still mustered just 96 wRC+. He posted a 8.6% walk rate and 21.6% strikeout rate with 17 home runs and 17 stolen bases. Defensively, he contributed -8 OAA and -6 FRV at second base. Still, he was a source of consistency for the Orioles, playing 149 games in the majors. He didn't suffer his hand injury until arriving at spring training this February; during live at-bats nearly two weeks ago, he suffered a broken hamate bone that required surgical removal. He recently got his cast off, and the stitches will follow next week. At that point, he can begin sweating and gradually resume baseball activities. It's unlikely that he'll be ready for Opening Day, but he's making good progress and figures to return sometime in April. The injury concern dropped Holliday to #15 among second basemen in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

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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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