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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera (elbow) began throwing earlier this month, and manager Oliver Marmol said that he should start hitting and defensive drills this week. Marmol wasn't ready to commit to an exact role for Herrera, who could catch or play left field. The skipper noted that spring training games don't offer the best opportunity for the Cardinals to evaluate Herrera behind the dish, since opponents don't always start their best players, and they also don't steal as often. As a result, they might not have an exact vision for his role until after the regular season begins. The team does expect Herrera to demonstrate improved throwing after he underwent an offseason surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow. Meanwhile, Herrera has expressed his desire to be an everyday catcher in the future. However, as he continues to work his way back from injury, St. Louis is being non-committal about his role. We wouldn't be surprised to see him play some catcher and some left field during the first couple weeks of the regular season. Cardinals fans and fantasy managers will certainly be excited to see him back in action, as Herrera posted an impressive .284/.373/.464 slash line with 19 home runs and a 137 wRC+ through 107 games last year. He currently ranks as the #11 catcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.

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Free agent relief pitcher Taylor Rogers is coming back to Minnesota after agreeing on a one-year, $2 million contract with the Twins. Rogers spent the first six seasons of his MLB career with the Twins, posting a career-high 30 saves in 2019 and earning an All-Star selection in 2021. He spent tie with the Padres, Brewers, Giants, Reds, and Cubs in the four seasons since departing, and last year he had a 3.38 ERA and 4.38 FIP in 50 2/3 innings with the Reds and Cubs. The 35-year-old lefty could be a key part of the Twins' bullpen in 2026, and he could even be in the mix for saves since the rest of the bullpen is relatively inexperienced.

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Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (lat) is having a normal offseason, and his progress was a critical element to the team trading starting pitcher Freddy Peralta to the Mets, according to president of baseball operations Matt Arnold. Woodruff opted out of his deal but then accepted the qualifying offer from the Brewers this offseason, giving him a one-year deal worth $22.025 million. Woodruff returned from a nearly two-year absence due to shoulder surgery in 2025, posting a strong 3.20 ERA, with 83 strikeouts and just 14 walks in 64 2/3 innings. His season ended early due to a lat injury in mid-September, but he should be ready to go for Spring Training. He'll provide a proven veteran option at the top of the team's promising young rotation.

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New York Yankees outfielders Jasson Dominguez or Spencer Jones could be shopped in trade offers after the Yankees locked up Cody Bellinger for the next five seasons. The Yankees have Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham to fill their everyday outfield spots, while Giancarlo Stanton will likely be the everyday DH. Dominguez and Jones each have long-term offensive potential but could benefit from regular playing time, which will be hard to come by for the Yankees. Dominguez is the more likely of the two young bats to be moved since he isn't considered a long-term option in center field, while Jones could slide into that spot if Grisham leaves after this season as a free agent. Dominguez is a highly regarded offensive prospect who hit .257 with 10 homers and 23 stolen bases to go with a .316 wOBA in 123 games. The Yankees would likely be looking for starting pitching in return, and it seems likely that they make some moves to relieve the logjam before the start of the season.

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Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins looked quite impressive in the 2025 campaign and enters the 2026 campaign ranked as the team's No. 3 prospect on MLB Pipeline and the overall No. 67 in the sport. Wiggins opened the 2025 season with High-A but needed only 26 1/3 innings to prove he was ready to join the upper ranks. During this stint, the right-hander struck out 31 hitters and held a 1.71 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP. Through his first 42 innings at Double-A, Wiggins continued to find success, holding a 1.93 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and a 52:17 K:BB. He was then given a short nine 2/3 inning stint with Triple-A late in the season, where he allowed five runs, walked six hitters, but added 14 punchouts. Given his quick progression through the system, Wiggins appears ticketed to compete for a midseason MLB debut. Managers should expect him to begin the 2026 season sitting at the top of the Triple-A Iowa rotation.

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New York Yankees outfield prospect Spencer Jones was in contention to make his MLB debut last season and should be in serious contention to earn the call to the Bronx in the first half of 2026. In 2025, Jones flashed immense power upside across the upper levels of the minor leagues but carried a high strikeout rate. Through 116 total contests (split between Double-A and Triple-A), Jones launched 35 home runs with a .274/.362/.571 line adn a .933 OPS. However, Jones struck out at a hefty 35.4% clip. Across his 67 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Jones saw his strikeout rate increase slightly to 36.6% and his OPS fall to .897. With the Yankees re-signing Cody Bellinger, Jones will likely not break camp with the team and instead return to Triple-A. However, Jones would likely be the first name called as soon as they need additional outfield depth. He is worth closely monitoring in deeper fiver-outifelder leagues as he would be worth a waiver claim once promoted, given his immense power upside.

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Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect Dylan Beavers may not be given full-time at-bats to open the 2026 season. The team's No. 2-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com, made his MLB debut in mid-August after an impressive run at Triple-A. Across 94 games with the Norfolk Tides last summer, the young outfielder posted .304/.420/.515 line with 18 home runs and 23 stole nabses. During his first 35 contests with the Orioles, Beavers posted a lower .227 AVG but drew walks at an elite 19.0% rate and hit four home runs with two swiped bags. However, Beavers made only two starts against left-handed pitching during his first stint. Additionally, the Orioles bolstered their outfield this winter by adding veteran Taylor Ward, who figures to be the everyday left fielder. This will have Beavers compete for at-bats in right field with Tyler O'Neill, Leody Tavares, and Jeremiah Jackson. While Beavers has the talent to push for an everyday role, the Orioles may monitor his usage and keep him in a platoon. He is worth closely following in spring training. If he were to claim the lead role in right field, he would carry 20/20 upside and be a top late-round breakout target.

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Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Lazaro Montes will likely begin the 2026 season with Double-A Arkansas, but should be in the mix to push for a promotion to the top level given his previous experience at Double-A. In 2025, the budding power hitter began the campaign with High-A Everett, where he spent 51 games back in 2024. During his second stint with High-A last season, Montes held a .268/.387/.572 line with 12 doubles, 18 home runs, and three stolen bases. He struck out 83 times and drew 48 walks. This performance earned him a mid-season promotion to Double-A, where he saw his production take a slight step back. While he still launched 14 home runs over a 64-game stint, his average fell to .213, and his K:BB (86:35) declined as well. If the 6-foot-5 slugger can show progress early in the season at Double-A, Seattle could look to promote him after the opening months. If he can lower his strikeout rate and show stable power production, a late-season MLB debut would not be out of the question.

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Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Josue De Paula ended a very productive 2025 campaign and has seen his prospect stock soar over the last year. De Paula spent 98 of his 102 games with High-A Great Lakes, where he held a .264/.406/.421 lienr with an .827 OPS. He hit 16 doubles, 12 home runs, and swiped an impressive 32 bags. During this stretch, he posted a stellar 86:81 K:BB. This earned him a brief four-game stint in Double-A at the end of the campaign, where he went 0-for-18. Managers should expect De Paula to begin the 2026 campaign with Double-A Tulsa. If he can continue his current trajectory, a late-season MLB debut would not be out of the question. However, given Los Angeles' crowded infield following the signing of Kyle Tucker, De Paula may only earn the call due to a late-season injury. Even if he does not debut this season, he currently sits as MLB.com's 13th overall prospect and could enter the top 10 in the coming months. He is a high-end dynasty asset that is showing five-category potential.

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Toronto Blue Jays shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala will participate in major league spring training as a non-roster invite, according to an announcement from the team. Nimmala peaked at High-A in 2025, but he's regarded as one of the top young players in Toronto's farm system. In fact, he is listed as the Blue Jays' No. 2 prospect in the latest rankings from FanGraphs. The 2023 first-round pick posted an underwhelming .224/.313/.381 slash line with a 10.1% walk rate, 21.4% strikeout rate, and 92 wRC+ across 120 High-A games last year. He also slugged 13 home runs and stole 17 bases. FanGraphs lists power as Nimmala's best attribute, while assigning below-average grades to his speed and hit tools. They project that he'll make his MLB debut in 2028.

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The New York Mets have acquired right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers in a four-player trade, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Shortstop prospect Jett Williams and pitching prospect Brandon Sproat are headed to the Brewers, while Myers joins All-Star pitcher Freddy Peralta in the package headed back to New York. Myers is 27 years old and has bounced around several organizations, including the Orioles, Rays, White Sox, Guardians, and Giants, but his only major league action has come with the Brewers. He split last season between Triple-A and the majors, posting a 3.92 FIP, 6.8 K/9, and 2.7 BB/9 with the big-league club. He allowed just 0.9 HR/9 but had a concerning 36.2% ground ball rate. Myers was solely used as a starter in Triple-A, but most of his MLB appearances came out of the bullpen, and he'll likely remain in a relief role with the Mets if he makes the 26-man roster out of Spring Training.

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The New York Mets have designated right-handed pitcher Cooper Criswell for assignment, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Criswell spent all of 2025 in the Red Sox' organization, and while he mainly pitched at the Triple-A level, he did log 17.2 innings of work in the majors across seven appearances (one start). He posted a 3.57 ERA in the majors, but his FIP was staggeringly higher at 5.17. Across 65.2 innings at Triple-A, he racked up 9.3 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 while surrendering ground balls at a 49.4% clip. The Mets had claimed Criswell off waivers from the Red Sox in December after Boston designated him for assignment. He's out of options, and now, his latest DFA is the corresponding 40-man roster move after New York acquired Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers from the Milwaukee Brewers.

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The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired starting pitching prospect Brandon Sproat from the New York Mets in a four-player trade, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Starter Freddy Peralta and reliever Tobias Myers are headed to the Mets, while Sproat joins shortstop prospect Jett Williams in the package headed back to Milwaukee. Sproat is 25 years old and was the Mets' second-round pick in 2023. The University of Florida product spent most of last season at Triple-A, but he did make his MLB debut and found himself starting four games for the big-league club. Over those four starts, he posted a 2.80 FIP with 7.4 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. He enjoyed similar success over a larger sample size at Triple-A -- including 8.4 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, and an impressive 53.2% ground ball rate -- but his FIP was markedly higher (4.18). Sproat has always been a starter in pro baseball, and while the Mets reportedly floated the idea of using him as a multi-inning reliever in 2026, the Brewers' willingness to acquire him in this trade indicates that Milwaukee likely plans to insert him into its rotation. After all, they have a spot to fill after shipping Peralta away. Before Wednesday's trade, Sproat ranked as the #141 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

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The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired shortstop prospect Jett Williams from the New York Mets in a four-player trade, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Starter Freddy Peralta and reliever Tobias Myers are headed to the Mets, while Williams joins starting pitching prospect Brandon Sproat in the package headed back to Milwaukee. Williams is 22 years old and was the Mets' first-round pick in 2022. He spent last season in Double-A and Triple-A, and he struggled adjusting to Triple-A pitching. Through 34 games there, he slashed .209/.285/.433 with a 9.3% walk rate and 23.2% strikeout rate. Still, he finished the year with an overall 136 wRC+ thanks to the success he had at Double-A. The 5-foot-7 infielder finished the 2025 minor league season with 17 home runs and 34 stolen bases. FanGraphs grades Williams' future value at a 50, with speed and power being his best attributes. Although he primarily plays shortstop, he offers defensive versatility with significant experience at second base and in center field. Prior to the trade, FanGraphs projected that he would make his MLB debut in 2026.

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According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the New York Mets have acquired right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for top infield prospect Jett Williams and right-handed pitching prospect Brandon Sproat. Passan noted that another big-league pitcher is expected to head to New York in this return. Peralta is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, where he logged 176 2/3 innings to the tune of a 2.70 ERA with a stellar 1.08 WHIP. He struck out hitters at a 28.2% clip, placing him within the 84th percentile among qualified pitchers. While his walk rate (9.1%) was high, Peralta generated a stellar .206 xBA and a 34.5 hard-hit rate. Managers should expect Peralta to open the 2026 season at the top of the Mets' rotation and carry solid SP2 upside in all leagues. In Milwaukee, Sproat should have an opportunity to compete for a job in spring training, while Williams will likely report to Triple-A. However, this transaction should open a spot in the rotation for either Logan Henderson or Chad Patrick to begin the regular season.

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Updating a previous report, the New York Mets are in serious talks to acquire right-hander Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade, according to Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated. Infield prospect Jett Williams would be one of the pieces going to Milwaukee. A report earlier suggested that the Mets were hesitant to part with either pitching prospect Jonah Tong or Brandon Sproat, but the two sides appear to be working on it and could come to an agreement soon. The 29-year-old Peralta won a career-high 17 games in 2025 for the Brew Crew while holding a 2.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 204:66 K:BB in 176 2/3 innings over 33 regular-season starts. Peralta was a bit lucky with a .243 BABIP and 85.5% left-on-base percentage, and a move to Queens and to the tough NL East wouldn't be ideal for fantasy purposes, but he'd still be a top-20 starting pitcher.

From RotoBaller

So far, the New York Mets have been unwilling to meet the Milwaukee Brewers' asking price for right-hander Freddy Peralta, sources told Michael Marino. The Mets quickly ended a discussion with the Brewers about Peralta when right-hander Jonah Tong's name briefly came up. The Brewers also submitted an offer of right-hander Brandon Sproat and infielder Jett Williams, and the Mets are unwilling to pay that price. Williams is ranked as the team's No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, while Tong is No. 4, and Sproat is No. 5. It would be a lot for New York to give up for the 29-year-old Peralta, who could essentially be a one-year rental -- he will be a free agent after the 2026 season. Peralta is considered highly unlikely to reach a contract extension with the Brew Crew, making him one of the most attractive starting pitchers on the trade market this winter.

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One week after claiming him off waivers from the Atlanta Braves, the Minnesota Vikings designated infielder Vidal Brujan for assignment on Wednesday to make room on the 40-man roster for second baseman Tristan Gray, according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. Brujan was once a top-100 prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays' system, but he's now 27 years old and has hit only .199 in 261 major-league games with five different teams. The switch-hitting Dominican infielder played with the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Athletics in 2025, going 22-for-87 (.253) with no homers, eight RBI, two steals, and 14 runs scored in just 60 games. About the best thing going for Brujan is his defensive versatility, as he can play second base, shortstop, third base, and the outfield. He'll be in contention for a bench role if another team claims him off waivers

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The Los Angeles Angels re-signed third baseman Yoan Moncada to a one-year, $4 million deal on Wednesday, sources told Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Moncada, 30, will return to the Angels for a second season despite disappointing with a .234/.336/.448 slash line in 2025 with 12 home runs, 35 RBI, and 39 runs scored in 84 games and 289 plate appearances. As has been the story for most of Moncada's MLB career, he missed most of the year with ankle, knee, and hand injuries. In his 10 years in the big leagues, the Cuban switch-hitter has played in over 100 games only four times. Moncada has hit 20-plus long balls just once in his career, back in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox. His last full season was in 2021, so fantasy managers certainly need to bake in missed time for Moncada's 2026 profile. Moncada should be avoided in mixed fantasy leagues.

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The Philadelphia Phillies "hope" that top pitching prospect Andrew Painter will make the Opening Day rotation, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Painter was the Phillies' first-round pick in 2021, but he missed the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons due to Tommy John surgery, pushing back the ETA for his MLB debut. He tossed 118 innings in the minors last year, which was his highest innings total since being drafted. More than 106 of those innings came at Triple-A, where he posted a 4.34 xFIP, 9.4 K/9, and 3.9 BB/9. He allowed a significant amount of loud contact, but despite some of the concerning metrics, he looked healthy for the first time since 2022. His health will put him in the mix for the No. 5 starter role when the Phillies break camp in a couple of months. His chances to make the rotation are higher than ever with Ranger Suarez departing in free agency and Zack Wheeler (shoulder) still recovering. As it stands, Painter ranks as the #102 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

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