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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) continued his hitting progression in camp on Wednesday and took swings for the first time since his hamate bone surgery three weeks ago, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. There's still time for Lindor to be ready for Opening Day later this month, but nothing is guaranteed. The good news is that if Lindor isn't ready for the start of the 2026 regular season, he shouldn't be too far behind in making his season debut. If the 32-year-old five-time All-Star starts on the injured list, Vidal Brujan might be the favorite to make starts at the 6 in Queens in Lindor's absence for a bit. Lindor had his third straight season of 30-plus home runs in 2025 and also reached the 30-steal mark for the second time in the last three seasons. Despite potentially not being ready for Opening Day this year, fantasy managers should still treat him as a top-five shortstop.

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Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (hand) will visit with a hand specialist on Thursday to determine the extent of his finger injury, manager Joe Espada told Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. A ground ball hit Pena on the ring finger of his right hand and damaged the nail area while playing for Team Dominican Republic on Wednesday. It was also reported that the 28-year-old suffered a small fracture in his finger, but he was sent for X-rays for further information. Pena wanted to remain in the game after the injury. It doesn't appear to be a very serious injury, but we'll know more about his status after he visits with the hand specialist. At the very least, Pena might be shut down from some World Baseball Classic games while his finger heals, but it sounds like he could still be in play for Opening Day in late March. If Pena misses time to begin the 2026 regular season, Carlos Correa would most likely shift over to shortstop, opening up playing time at third for Isaac Paredes.

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Houston Astros left-handed closer Josh Hader (biceps) will throw off a mound early next week, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. It will be the first time that Hader has thrown off a mound in camp after reporting to spring training this year with left-biceps inflammation. The 31-year-old veteran has only been throwing off flat ground so far. Fantasy managers must remember that Hader also missed the last seven weeks of the 2025 season due to a left-shoulder strain, so the hard-throwing six-time All-Star is entering the 2026 season as a risk/reward fantasy closer. Even if he doesn't suffer any setbacks going forward, there's a good chance Hader won't be ready for Opening Day, which would open the door for Bryan Abreu to serve as Houston's closer early on. When healthy last year, Hader was still his dominant self, posting a 2.05 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with 76 strikeouts and 28 saves for the Astros.

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Colorado Rockies utility man Tyler Freeman (back), who had an injection in his back over the winter, is in the Cactus League lineup on Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers for the first time this spring, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding. Freeman was dealing with a lower-back strain when he reported to spring training last month, but he's healthy now and is in line to be ready for Opening Day later this month, barring a setback. The 26-year-old right-handed hitter hit an impressive .281/.354/.361 with a career-best .715 OPS, two home runs, 31 RBI, 50 runs scored, and a career-high 18 stolen bases in 428 plate appearances over 110 games last year in his first season with the Rockies. Freeman's ability to play multiple positions will help his cause, as will hitter-friendly Coors Field, but his lack of power upside keeps his ceiling and floor low in fantasy. Still, he can be useful with a big enough role for his contact/speed profile in deep-mixed and NL-only leagues.

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Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge (shoulder) said his right shoulder is "just a little cranky," and he doesn't expect it to be a serious issue, according to Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. Kittredge still expects to get back into Grapefruit League games before the end of camp. Manager Craig Albernaz said on Wednesday that the 35-year-old veteran probably wouldn't be ready for Opening Day in late March due to right-shoulder inflammation, so it's a bit contradictory. If anything, the O's will likely err on the side of caution with the veteran reliever to make sure he doesn't overdo it early on. When healthy, Kittredge is expected to be the eighth-inning setup man in front of new closer Ryan Helsley in Baltimore. Despite his age, he had a career-best 30.8% strikeout rate and career-best 5.3% walk rate in 2025. If Helsley were to falter like he did last year in New York, Kittredge would also be next in line for saves.

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Colorado Rockies center fielder Brenton Doyle (wrist), who is battling a left-wrist sprain in camp, hit in the batting cage on Wednesday and thinks he can play in a Cactus League game on Friday, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Doyle has not played in spring training since being scratched from the lineup last Wednesday with a wrist sprain. The Rockies will surely exercise caution in getting him back into a game this spring, but it sounds like he should be ready for Opening Day in late March, barring a setback. The 27-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2019 out of Shepherd University will be Colorado's starting center fielder in 2026 despite disappointing with a .233/.274/.376 slash line, .651 OPS, 15 homers, 57 RBI, 57 runs, and 18 steals in 138 games last year. Doyle broke out in 2024 with 23 homers, 72 RBI, and 30 stolen bases, and with his batted-ball metrics looking similar last year, he's a prime candidate to bounce back in hitter-friendly Coors Field.

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Free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen signed a one-year minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers on Thursday, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. The four-time MVP and former National League MVP with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013 is entering his 18th MLB season at age 39. McCutchen played in 135 games in 2025 with Pittsburgh, hitting .239/.333/.367 with a career-low .700 OPS, 13 home runs, 57 RBI, and 51 runs scored in 551 plate appearances. While there isn't a whole lot left from McCutchen, he did handle left-handed pitchers better in 2025 and figures to be on the short side of a platoon in Texas at either DH or in a corner-outfield spot. With limited playing time coming his way and a declining profile, fantasy managers can avoid McCutchen in mixed leagues in 2026.

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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider was a fantasy ace earlier in his career, but he has not been able to return to his dominant levels since missing almost all of the 2024 season with an elbow injury that required an internal brace procedure. He did make 23 starts last year but posted a 4.45 ERA and 4.53 FIP with a 9.4 K/9 rate that was a huge dropoff from his elite 13.8 K/9 in 2022 and 13.6 K/9 in 2023. He is "pacing himself" this spring, but his velocity was noticeably down in his two innings against the Baltimore Orioles. He's a high-risk pick in the middle rounds of your fantasy baseball drafts at this point, especially with renewed velocity concerns. He has a very high ceiling but a low floor as well. He's ranked as the No. 38 pitcher in the RotoBaller rankings, so avoid reaching for him as a top talent unless you've already built in depth or are confident you can get reliable, high-floor options later in your draft

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New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is coming off another massive season and is starring this spring training for both the Yankees and Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Last year, the Yankees slugger delivered an impressive .331/.357/.688 slash line with 53 home runs, 137 runs scored, 114 RBI, and 12 steals over 152 contests. He claimed his second straight AL MVP Award and continued to be one of the most reliable players for fantasy baseball at any position. Judge has been consistent and elite over the past few seasons, and playing at Yankee Stadium and hitting in the heart of a strong lineup should set him up for another huge season in 2026. Depending on how your league treats the dual-threat of Shohei Ohtani, Judge can definitely be worth the top pick overall. He is ranked No. 2 overall in the RotoBaller rankings behind Ohtani, but either option is a great way to start fantasy baseball drafts with a reliable anchor for your roster.

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Baltimore Orioles second baseman/third baseman Blaze Alexander continues to be in line for more playing time early in the season and is projected to slot in as the team's primary second baseman early in the season while Jackson Holliday (hand) recovers from hamate bone surgery. Alexander was acquired from Arizona this offseason after he hit .230/.323/.383 with seven home runs and four steals in 74 games last season. The 26-year-old righty has looked solid in spring training and could move to third base after Holliday returns to his everyday role. If you need some infield help early in the season for AL-only leagues, Alexander is an intriguing flier with upside. He has both power and speed potential and should settle into a utility role once everyone in Baltimore is healthy.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired utilityman Tyler Callihan (left forearm) from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Kyle Nicolas in a rare trade inside the division. Callihan was expected to compete for a roster spot in Cincinnati after suffering a grisly left forearm fracture while crashing into the left-field wall in Atlanta last May. He was unable to return after only four games in his rookie campaign. The 25-year-old played LF and 2B in his four MLB games and also played 1B at Triple-A and 3B earlier in his minor-league journey. In addition to his high level of versatility, he has a solid bat, as he showed in 24 Triple-A games last year, posting a solid .303/.410/.528 triple-slash with a 15.1% walk rate, a 27.4% strikeout rate, and 150 wRC+. Callihan will get a chance to compete for an Opening Day job in Pittsburgh, but even if he starts at Triple-A, he'll likely get a look at some spot in the Pirates lineup this season. He's an interesting bat to watch in Pittsburgh, but he isn't mixed-league material at this point.

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The Cincinnati Reds acquired relief pitcher Kyle Nicolas from the Pirates on Wednesday, sending left-handed utilityman Tyer Callihan to the Pirates. Nicolas is a 27-year-old righty who has pitched in 86 games out of the bullpen for the Buccos over the last three seasons, compiling a 4.68 ERA and 4.10 FIP with 96 strikeouts in 98 career innings. Nicholas will likely slot into a middle relief spot for the Reds and provide solid depth. He's consistently in the upper-90's with his fastball and has posted a solid strikeout rate, even though he does have some control questions. He joins a crowded middle relief mix for the Reds and could start the year in the minors since he has one more option remaining. He'll add organizational depth for Cincinnati and will likely get a chance to contribute at some point this season, although he doesn't need to be considered for fantasy baseball in standard-sized mixed leagues.

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Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect River Ryan is in consideration for a starting position in the rotation to begin the 2026 MLB season, according to Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com. With Blake Snell (elbow) expected to miss the start of the season and Gavin Stone (shoulder) sidelined, Ryan could carve out a role at the back of the rotation. The 27-year-old underwent Tommy John in August of 2024 but is fully healthy to begin 2026. In 2024, he made his MLB debut, logging 20 1/3 innings while looking quite comfortable, posting a 1.33 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Through the early part of spring, Ryan has logged three scoreless frames with a 4:2 K:BB. Ryan is a name to monitor closely in deeper 12+ team formats, as he could hold early-season streaming appeal if he earns a starting role.

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Detroit Tigers top prospect Kevin McGonigle has made a strong case through the opening weeks of spring training to begin the regular season on the MLB roster. The No. 2-ranked prospect in the sport (on MLB.com), trialing only Pittsburgh's Konnor Griffin, has posted an elite .400/.471/.667 slash line with two doubles, one triple, and one stolen base over just six games. Even though McGonigle has yet to play a game at Triple-A, the budding star is looking quite comfortable against MLB-caliber pitching. Last summer, McGonigle spent most of his time at High-A and Double-A, where he held a cumulative .309/.411/.596 line with a 1.007 OPS, 19 HRs, and 10 SBs over 82 games. If he continues this pace in spring training, he could win the starting shortstop job over Javier Baez and Zach McKinstry.

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Boston Red Sox left-handed pitching prospect Connelly Early will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Worcester. According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Johan Oviedo is the current favorite to claim the starting position, which will push Early and fellow prospect Payton Tolle to Triple-A. The 23-year-old looked quite comfortable in his first taste of MLB action, logging 19 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 29:4 K:BB. He struck out at least seven batters in all but one of his outings, and even hit the double-digit strikeout mark in his first career start against the Athletics. At Triple-A, the southpaw tossed 28 2/3 innings with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. Even if Early were to begin the season in the minors, he is a worthy stash target in deeper formats given the high strikeout upside he flashed in his first taste of MLB action.

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Cincinnati Reds infield prospect Sal Stewart has flashed high power upside over his first taste of spring training games. The team's No. 1 prospect has posted an elite .429/.529/.929 line with one double and two long balls over just six games. He trails only infielder Matt McLain for the team lead in spring training home runs. Stewart earned a taste of the majors later in the second half of last season and held his own, carrying a .255/.293/.545 line with one double and five home runs over a brief 18-game stint. Earlier in the campaign, Stewart launched 20 home runs over a 118-game stint between Double-A and Triple-A. Fantasy managers should expect Stewart to carve out an everyday role in the Cincinnati offense, seeing time at several infield positions. He is a prime breakout candidate in drafts as he possesses elite power upside with the potential to chip in double-digit stolen bases.

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New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange has looked very comfortable through the early part of spring training and could be in serious contention to begin the season on the MLB roster. The team's No. 2-ranked prospect on MLB.com has appeared in two games so far (one start) and logged 5 2/3 innings with one earned run (two total runs) and a stellar 1.06 WHIP. He has struck out six batters and allowed just two free passes. Last summer, Lagrange spent most of his time at Double-A Somerset, where he logged 78 1/3 innings with a strong 3.22 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 104:50 K:BB. While he possesses immense strikeout upside, his weaker command has limited his production. If Lagrange continues this early success in camp, he could earn a spot on the Opening Day roster with both Carlos Rodon (elbow) and Gerrit Cole (elbow) set to miss the start of the season.

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt has made a strong case for a starting job early in spring training and is quickly approaching sleeper territory in drafts. Through his first six contests, Waldschmidt has posted a .316/.350/.632 slash line with three doubles, one home run, and one stolen base. Even though Waldschmidt has yet to step foot on a Triple-A diamond, the team's top prospect is in serious contention to crack the Opening Day roster. Last season, he spent time at High- and Double-A and posted a cumulative .289/.419/.473 line with a .892 OPS, 18 home runs, and 29 stolen bases. With Corbin Carroll (hand) in question for Opening Day and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) set to miss the start of the season, Waldschmidt could hold high-end early-season value in all formats.

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Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (finger) suffered a small fracture in one of his fingers and will miss at least the first round of the World Baseball Classic, according to Dionisio Soldevila. It doesn't sound like it's too serious, but this will also put the 28-year-old's availability for the start of the 2026 regular season up in the air. If Pena opens the year on the injured list, Carlos Correa would likely move over to the 6, opening up starting duties at the hot corner for Isaac Paredes. Pena was a first-time All-Star last year, slashing .304/.363/.477 with a career-high .840 OPS, 17 home runs, 62 RBI, 68 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases in 125 games played over 543 plate appearances. He was pretty productive for the Astros and fantasy managers despite missing time with oblique and rib injuries. Pena is a more modest five-category contributor at a premium position, but he won't cost as much as the elite names on draft day. He could be even more of a value pick due to his finger injury.

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Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Drey Jameson could be a key piece of the team's bullpen in 2026 after injuries have left the staff thin, as A.J. Puk (elbow) is not expected to return until July and Justin Martinez (elbow) is targeting an August return. That leaves closing duties to the likes of Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald, who combined for five total saves last season, as Sewald dealt with a shoulder injury for most of the year and has been less effective since his 34-save campaign in 2023. Jameson may not get a crack at closing duties, but if he does, the right-hander has the stuff to be effective, including a fastball that can touch 99 mph. The former 34th-overall draft pick experienced elbow pain last year that caused him to be shut down in June, but he was able to strike out 19 batters in 12 2/3 innings pitched at Triple-A before that and was healthy enough to pitch again in the Arizona Fall League. The 28-year-old has looked good so far this spring, too, punching out three batters in two innings of work, with his four-seamer topping out at 98.7 mph. Jameson is not rosterable in most fantasy leagues at the moment, but he's a name to keep on the radar should Ginkel or Sewald falter early on.

From RotoBaller