0:00:00

New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty is expected to shift positions this season. According to Anthony DiComo, Baty spent the latter part of his offseason getting reps in left field. The Mets brought in Bo Bichette to be the everyday third baseman, so Baty is without a full-time spot right now. He could very well get regular at-bats in the outfield, assuming he can prove himself to be a viable fielder in the corner outfield. According to Baseball Reference, Baty has played 1.0 inning in left field during his big league career. He has mostly been playing third base with some second base mixed in as well. Baty did a nice job with the bat last season, slashing .254/.313/.435 with 18 home runs and 50 RBI in 130 games. The 26-year-old figures to get a fair shot at the left field job during Spring Training.

From RotoBaller

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara is expected to be the Opening Day starter, according to Christina De Nicola. This isn't shocking news, given the Marlins traded Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers this offseason. The only competition for the Opening Day start would be Eury Perez. The Marlins are expected to give the starting nod to the veteran Alcantara, who has certainly earned this honor. Alcantara mostly struggled last season, but showed signs of life down the stretch of the season. Over his final eight starts, Alcantara posted a 2.68 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and a 52/10 K/BB ratio across 53.2 innings. Fantasy managers will need to see a strong showing in Spring Training before jumping on the Alcantara hype train again.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios might not have a guaranteed spot in the starting rotation to begin the 2026 season. Berrios endured a tough campaign where he finished the regular season on the injured list and was left off the postseason roster. The right-hander finished with a 4.17 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 138/56 K/BB ratio across 31 games (30 starts) in 2025. His 166.0 innings were his lowest since the shortened 2020 season. The Jays have added Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to the mix this offseason. They'll have Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, and Trey Yesavage returning from last season. It's looking like Berrios could be the odd man out and headed to a swingman type of role in the bullpen. The Jays are still on the hook for $67 million over the next three years, so Berrios will have a role, but it might not be a full-time starter.

From RotoBaller

The New York Mets have signed free-agent outfielder MJ Melendez to an MLB deal on Sunday. They've agreed on a one-year, $1.5 million contract for the upcoming 2026 season. Hopefully, a change of scenery will help Melendez, who has struggled during his first four years with the Kansas City Royals. He only played 23 big league games last season and spent most of his time in Triple-A. Melendez slashed .261/.323/.490 with 20 home runs, 64 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in 107 games at Triple-A Omaha last season. The former second-round pick continues to post strong numbers in the minor leagues, but can't seem to translate them to the MLB level. Clearly, the Mets believe that they can tap into his potential, but he'll likely be a fourth outfielder.

From RotoBaller

After he posted the best season of his career with the San Diego Padres in 2024, outfielder Jurickson Profar landed a three-year, $42 million contract from the Atlanta Braves heading into the 2025 season. Unfortunately for Atlanta, Profar was handed an 80-game PED suspension early in the year, immediately starting his Atlanta tenure on a sour note. Around the suspension, the 32-year-old quietly posted solid production. Across 371 plate appearances, Profar hit .245/.353/.434 with 14 home runs, 43 RBI, 56 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. Profar also held his barrel rate (7.3%) steady relative to his 2024 breakout, while improving his walk rate from 11.4% to 12.9%. Heading into 2026, the switch-hitting Profar should be locked into an everyday role at or near the top of the lineup in Atlanta. With a full season's worth of plate appearances, Profar could provide steady production across all five categories for fantasy managers in traditional rotisserie scoring formats.

From RotoBaller

After posting consecutive seasons with front-line numbers in 2023 and 2024, Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee's production fell back down to earth in 2025. Across 182 1/3 innings (31 starts), the 26-year-old posted a 12-11 record with a 4.24 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 162 strikeouts. Bibee's strikeout rate dropped from 26.3% in 2024 to 21.3% in 2025, while his walk rate jumped from 6.2% to 7.1%. Still, Bibee's 3.62 xERA in 2025 suggests he suffered from some poor luck. His 71.9% strand rate was well below his career average of 76%. Additionally, Bibee was much better down the stretch of the season, logging a 1.30 ERA with 26 strikeouts across 27 2/3 innings in September and October. Heading into 2026, Bibee remains locked into a starting rotation spot in Cleveland and looks like a quality bounce-back candidate. With a current average draft position of pick 185, Bibee could end up as a value selection for fantasy managers.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ has established himself as one of the most consistent players in MLB. Dating back to 2023, the 31-year-old has posted three consecutive seasons with at least 650 plate appearances, a .240 batting average, 85 runs scored, 20 home runs, and 75 RBI. Happ also owns an excellent 12.1% walk rate for his career, which makes him a consistent on-base presence at or near the top of a strong Cubs lineup. While Happ's steady and well-rounded production makes him an extremely valuable real-life player, his profile is a little less exciting for fantasy managers. In addition to his middling batting average, Happ's stolen base total dipped to six in 2025 after consecutive years with at least 13 in 2023 and 2024. Happ is still locked into everyday playing time in left field in Chicago, which should lead to quality counting stats in the run and RBI categories. He may be slightly undervalued as the 178th player off the board by average draft position, but Happ's profile is also one without high-end fantasy upside.

From RotoBaller

Across 167 2/3 innings (31 starts) in 2025, Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot posted an 11-12 record with a 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 167 strikeouts. Since being acquired by Tampa Bay from the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2024 season, Pepiot has emerged as a consistent source of quality strikeout rate (25.4%) and WHIP (1.16). However, he's allowed an average of 1.4 home runs per nine innings pitched, which has led to a relatively elevated ERA. Heading into 2026, Pepiot will have the advantage of returning to Tropicana Field for his home games after making his home starts in a Minor League park in 2025. That could help the 28-year-old put it all together and log his best MLB season to date. Even if Pepiot's underlying metrics hold steady, he's still proven himself a capable starting pitcher option for fantasy managers. With a current average draft position of pick 146, Pepiot profiles as a solid fantasy SP3.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki struggled in his first MLB season in 2025. Across 36 1/3 innings, the 24-year-old posted a 1-1 record with a 4.46 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 28 strikeouts. Sasaki ended up spending nearly as much time with Triple-A Oklahoma City as he did in the Majors. He didn't get much better results against Triple-A hitters either, pitching to a 6.10 ERA across 20 2/3 innings. Down the stretch of the season, Los Angeles featured Sasaki out of the bullpen. However, it appears as though the hard-throwing right-hander will get another chance to carve out a rotation role in 2026. Sasaki was widely considered to be a high-end pitching prospect when he was initially coming up in Japan, so he still carries upside despite his rookie-year struggles. Still, the Dodgers have a multitude of quality pitching options, which means Sasaki could get optioned or moved to the bullpen if his performance does not improve. With a current average draft position of pick 224, Sasaki profiles as a high-risk, high-reward starting pitcher option for fantasy managers in 2026.

From RotoBaller

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich put together a standout season in 2025. He slashed .264/.343/.452 with 29 home runs, 103 RBI, and 16 stolen bases across 150 games. The 29 long balls were the most for Yelich since the 2019 season, when he blasted 44 homers. The increased power also came with a much higher strikeout rate. Yelich recorded a 25.9% strikeout rate, which is his highest since the 2020 season. The other concern is his health, as Yelich only played 73 games in 2024 due to lingering back issues. Yelich played less than 20 games in the outfield in 2025 and is basically limited to designated hitter duties at this point in his career. The 34-year-old offers five-category upside, but the risk of injury and age-related decline are certainly a factor. The three-time All-Star should still be productive, but another 29-homer campaign seems unlikely.

From RotoBaller

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Emilio Pagan became the top option in the bullpen last season. Pagan took over as the primary closer and ran away with the job. He finished the season with a 2.88 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and an 81/22 K/BB ratio with 32 saves in 70 appearances. The biggest concern is the fly-ball rate in a hitter's park in Cincinnati. His 56.7% fly-ball rate is too high to continue having the type of success he experienced last season. Pagan gave up 10 long balls across 68.2 innings, which was his most since the 2022 campaign. His 29.1% ground-ball rate doesn't do him any favors. The 34-year-old will likely need to miss bats and record strikeouts at a higher rate to replicate the same success. Given the lack of competition, Pagan should be a safe bet for around 20 saves, but another 30-plus season seems unlikely.

From RotoBaller

The Colorado Rockies have signed outfielder Conner Capel to a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Capel spent all of the 2025 season with Triple-A with the Atlanta Braves organization. He slashed .234/.314/.360 with 10 home runs, 39 RBI, and 21 steals during his 119 games in Triple-A Gwinnett. Capel has only played 59 career big league games since making his debut in 2022. This is looking like a depth move for the Rockies. The 28-year-old will need to compete with Brenton Doyle, Jake McCarthy, Jordan Beck, Mickey Moniak, and Tyler Freeman for playing time in Colorado. The expectation is that Capel will begin the season in the minors.

From RotoBaller

The Philadelphia Phillies have re-signed relief pitcher Lou Trivino to a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Trivino made appearances with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers before finishing out the season in Philly. In total, Trivino registered a 3.97 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and a 37/18 K/BB ratio in 47 games between the three teams. The 34-year-old has a ton of late-inning experience with 116 games finished and 37 saves across his six big league seasons. The Phillies already have a closer, so Trivino would probably work mostly in middle relief, assuming he makes the team. Trivino is unlikely to offer fantasy value, but could be a sneaky solid pickup for the Phillies.

From RotoBaller

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Keegan Akin has lost his arbitration case with the organization. Akin filed at $3.37 million, which is more than double ($1.47 million) his salary from the 2024 campaign. Akin loses his case and will now make $2.97 million for the upcoming 2026 season. Last season, Akin registered a 3.41 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and a 59/33 K/BB ratio across 64 games with the Orioles. It was a solid season from the lefty reliever, but not quite as good as his 2024 season. That year, Akin posted a 3.32 ERA with a 97/19 K/BB ratio in 66 contests. The 30-year-old is still a trustworthy option, but doesn't offer much fantasy value in a setup or middle relief role.

From RotoBaller

Miami Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards isn't a major power threat, but he gets on base and runs well, giving him plenty of fantasy value. He has also ascended into an everyday role, jumping from 70 games in 2024 to 139 contests in 2025. While his on-base skills slipped slightly during that span, he still posted at least 2.2 fWAR for the second year in a row. All in all, Edwards' 2025 campaign consisted of a .283/.343/.353 slash line, three home runs, 27 stolen bases, 95 wRC+, a 7.9% walk rate, and a 14.2% strikeout rate. The most glaring hole in his offensive profile is the lack of power; he has just four career home runs, posting a 0.4% home run rate. Still, his ability to reach safely and steal bases makes him an appealing name in fantasy baseball leagues. Plus, we can expect him to remain in an everyday role -- primarily at second base with some occasional shortstop appearances -- after Miami didn't really shake up its infield during the offseason. As it stands, Edwards ranks as the #12 second baseman and #100 hitter in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages should remain in an everyday role despite the team's addition of Kyle Tucker during the offseason. Pages played 156 games last year; all of them were spent in the outfield, and he did a decent amount of moving around. He logged 121 appearances in center field, 51 in right, and 27 in left. Of course, those numbers sum to greater than 156, indicating that Pages frequently switched positions mid-game. Presumably, he'll be doing less of that in 2026. The Tucker signing moves Teoscar Hernandez to left field, giving the Dodgers two everyday contributors in the corner outfield spots. As a result, Pages should get more consistent playing time in center field. He has shown that he can handle the position, as he posted 5 OAA and 7 FRV there in 2025. In addition to terrific defense, Pages had a strong season at the plate, slashing .272/.313/.461 with career-highs in home runs (27), RBI (86), and stolen bases (14). However, he did post a 4.6% walk rate and 21.6% strikeout rate. Outside of the far-from-ideal K/BB ratio, Pages had an excellent 2025 season, both at the plate and in the field. If anything, playing center field more consistently should allow him to develop a routine and could lead to even better statistics in 2026. As it stands, he ranks as the #42 outfielder and #93 hitter in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.

From RotoBaller

Cincinnati Reds third baseman/outfielder Noelvi Marte had a solid season at the plate last year, and he should take on an even larger role during the 2026 season. Marte ultimately played 90 games last year, slashing .263/.300/.448 with 14 home runs and 10 stolen bases. He technically decreased his K/BB rate from 2024 to 2025, but he still struck out at a 23.6% clip while walking just 4.4% of the time. The 24-year-old was ultimately right near league-average at the plate, producing 101 wRC+. Defensively, he split time between third base and right field, performing markedly better at the latter. He finished the year with -2 OAA and -2 FRV at the hot corner, but just -1 OAA and 0 FRV in right field. FanGraphs' ZiPS projections estimate more playing time (115 games) for Marte in 2026, and specifically, we expect him to play more right field with Ke'Bryan Hayes slotted into third base. At the moment, Marte ranks #34 among outfielders and #78 among hitters in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman/outfielder Addison Barger endured a busy 2025 season in the majors, and he'll remain in a central role as the Jays take the field in 2026. Barger debuted midway through the 2024 campaign, so last year was his first full season in the majors. He played in a total of 135 games, slashing .243/.301/.454 with 21 homers, 74 RBI, 107 wRC+, a 7.2% walk rate, and a 24.1% strikeout rate. While he struck out more than the Jays and fantasy managers would prefer, he certainly made up for it with his power and above-average wRC+. Heading into 2026, we should expect similar offensive contributions from the 26-year-old. FanGraphs' latest ZiPS projections estimate that he'll slug 21 homers with a 109 wRC+, while bumping his walk rate up to 8.5% and his strikeout rate down to 23.2%. There's a lot of confidence in the bat, but a bit more uncertainty surrounding his defense -- specifically, where he'll play. Barger split last season between third base and right field, but the hot corner now belongs to free agent signing Kazuma Okamoto. Barger should get right field reps against left-handed pitching, but he could head to the bench in favor of Davis Schneider when there's a righty on the mound. These questions create a little bit of murkiness around an otherwise very encouraging profile for Barger, who ranks #105 among hitters and #48 among outfielders in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

From RotoBaller

The Houston Astros' trade talks surrounding corner infielder Isaac Paredes are "intensifying," according to Chandler Rome of Crush City Territory. "There appears to be some pretty direct motivation, and it appears that things are gaining some momentum," Rome said. He added that up to five teams (including the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates) have expressed interest in acquiring the 26-year-old. Paredes' name has been one of the most oft-mentioned in trade rumors this offseason, and for good reason. He's appealing to opposing teams because he's a power-hitting threat with solid walk and strikeout numbers, and he's a reasonable trade candidate for the Astros because he's not currently in an everyday role. Carlos Correa is expected to spend most of the season at third base, and Christian Walker should play somewhat consistently at first base. As a result, Paredes' path to consistent playing time would likely be a trade. He's a free agent after the 2027 season, and any trade won't necessarily come cheap. He's coming off a strong campaign in which he slashed .254/.352/.458 across 102 games with 20 home runs, 53 RBI, 128 wRC+, an 11.7% walk rate, and a 17.4% strikeout rate. Of the two prospective teams that Rome mentioned, Boston has a clear need at third base after losing Alex Bregman, and Pittsburgh has been looking for an upgrade at the hot corner ever since trading away Ke'Bryan Hayes. The latest Steamer projections estimate that Paredes will post 125 wRC+ in 2026 if he stays in Houston. He currently ranks as the #30 corner infielder and #106 hitter in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.

From RotoBaller

On a per-inning basis, Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen was one of the best hurlers in the big leagues in 2025. Across 150 innings (31 starts), the 30-year-old posted a 10-5 record with a 2.76 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts. However, volume remains a problem for Rasmussen's fantasy outlook, as he averaged fewer than five innings pitched per start. He also struck batters out at just a 21.7% clip, which means he will leave fantasy managers wanting in the strikeout category unless he can greatly increase his innings workload. On the bright side, 2025 was Rasmussen's first season after throwing just 73 1/3 combined innings across 2023 and 2024 due to injury. With a full season of health under his belt, Tampa Bay may look to push him closer to 175 innings in 2026. However, Rasmussen has already undergone three major elbow procedures in his career, so he carries significant injury risk. Fantasy managers can rely on Rasmussen for excellent ratios when healthy, but may be wise to temper expectations for his workload volume heading into 2026.

From RotoBaller