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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios, who has been the team's Opening Day starter in three of the last four seasons, is "once again looking like the pitcher who built the reputation as one of the most reliable workhorses in the sport," according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. Despite Berrios' dip in velocity at the end of last year and a trip to the injured list, he's locked into Toronto's rotation. "Jos is fully healthy. He's looked sharp," manager John Schneider said. "His stuff is back to where it was probably two years ago in terms of velocity and his breaking ball. He changed his breaking ball a bit to make it a little bigger, so I love that guys are trying to evolve a bit, too." The 31-year-old Puerto Rican is looking to bounce back after throwing only 166 innings in 2025 -- his fewest since 2017 with the Twins. Berrios might not have the velocity to blow hitters away anymore, and the mileage on his arm is a concern, but if he can limit walks and keep the ball in the yard more, a bounce-back could be coming.

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MASN Sports' Brendan Mortensen writes that Baltimore Orioles infielder Blaze Alexander is likely to be the team's starter at second base on Opening Day, with Jackson Holliday (hand) starting the year on the injured list after having surgery to remove the hamate bone from his hand. Mortensen mentions Jeremiah Jackson and Weston Wilson as other options at the keystone until Holliday returns. Once Holliday comes off the injured list, Alexander will be an option for at-bats at third base, with Jordan Westburg (elbow) out through April due to a partially torn UCL in his right elbow. The O's acquired the 26-year-old from the Diamondbacks in a trade this offseason after he hit .230/.323/.383 with seven home runs and four steals in 74 games last season. Alexander will mostly be in a utility role in his new digs, but with more playing time coming early in the year, his fantasy stock in AL-only leagues is on the rise.

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Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Friday in camp and will face designated hitter Marcell Ozuna and outfielder Oneil Cruz, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. It's a significant development since it will be the first time that Jones will face hitters since having surgery on his right elbow last May. The 24-year-old won't be an option for the Pirates' starting rotation or for fantasy managers until at least late May, but he continues to make progress in his rehab. Among all of Pittsburgh's promising young arms, it might be easy for Jones to get lost in the shuffle after his elbow injury. In his MLB debut in 2024, Jones was impressive, going 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA (4.00 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 132 strikeouts and 39 walks in 121 2/3 innings over 22 starts. Because Jones won't have a full season in 2026 and he'll likely be on a strict workload, he'll only be a late-round flier to stash in fantasy drafts, at best.

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The Detroit Tigers have paused shortstop Trey Sweeney's (shoulder) throwing activities in camp due to a right-shoulder strain, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Sweeney's injury doesn't mean he won't be ready in time for Opening Day in late March, but it definitely hurts his chances of winning a big-league roster spot out of camp. The 25-year-old has struggled to hit at the big-league level since debuting with the Tigers in 2024, slashing .202/.261/.313 with a .573 OPS, 10 home runs, 49 RBI, and a 124:33 K:BB in 445 plate appearances. He's probably fourth in the pecking order at shortstop this spring, behind prospect Kevin McGonigle, Javier Baez, and Zach McKinstry. Sweeney doesn't have enough power at the plate to be a realistic fantasy option, and he looked overmatched offensively in 2025.

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St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that right-handed reliever Riley O'Brien (calf) will be shut down for the next few days, and it will take a couple of weeks for him to ramp up, according to Brian Murphy of MLB.com. O'Brien is expected to miss the upcoming World Baseball Classic for Team South Korea, but he can always be added back to the roster, depending on his recovery from what is being called a mild right-calf strain. The 31-year-old veteran still has plenty of time to get himself right before Opening Day in late March, but if he has any further setbacks, his availability could be in question. O'Brien is in the mix for saves in St. Louis in 2026 after he posted a sharp 2.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, his first six career saves, 45 K's, and 22 walks in a career-high 48 innings last year. He'll primarily be competing for save opps at the back end of the Cards' bullpen with JoJo Romero and Matt Svanson.

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Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson (hamstring) is dealing with a tight left hamstring and will not play in at least the first several Grapefruit League games in spring training, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Simpson continues to do on-field work, so it doesn't appear to be a very serious injury. Still, it's something to watch carefully for the 25-year-old, whose game is mostly based on speed. The 25-year-old former second-round pick in 2022 out of the Georgia Institute of Technology made his major-league debut last year and slashed .295/.326/.345 with a .671 OPS, zero home runs, 26 RBI, 53 runs scored, and 44 stolen bases in 441 plate appearances over 109 games. With no power and a below-average glove, there isn't a ton of room for error for the speedy Simpson. Because Simpson is mainly a stolen base contributor, he has a limited ceiling as a No. 4 fantasy outfielder.

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The Kansas City Royals announced on Friday that they agreed to a minor-league contract with free-agent catcher Elias Diaz. The Royals expect him to join their major-league camp next week. Diaz, a former All-Star game MVP, will provide the Royals with extra catching depth going into the 2026 season behind Salvador Perez and Carter Jensen. The 35-year-old Venezuelan veteran backstop will most likely begin the year at Triple-A Omaha if he's still with the team. Diaz slashed .204/.270/.337 with a .607 OPS, nine home runs, 29 RBI, and 34 runs scored in 106 games with the San Diego Padres in 2025 while splitting time behind the plate with Martin Maldonado for most of the year. His batting average and strikeout rate (26.1%) were the worst marks of his career, although he has an above-average glove on defense. Diaz is going to need some injuries to find playing time in KC.

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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told Arizona Sports on Thursday that top outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt is a "very talented player" and is going to determine his own timeline on when he'll help the big-league club. "He is coming. He's emerging ... he's got a lot going for him," Lovullo said. The 23-year-old, considered the No. 59 overall prospect in baseball, is in big-league camp and is competing for significant playing time in left field to begin the 2026 season with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last September. Waldschmidt has experience at all three outfield positions .289/.419/.473 with an .892 OPS, 18 home runs, 78 RBI, 114 runs, and 29 stolen bases in 134 games at High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo last year. Even when Gurriel is ready to return, Waldschmidt could take over everyday duties in center field in Arizona in 2026. His elite bat speed, plus wheels, and advanced plate discipline make him a name to watch in redraft fantasy leagues.

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Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (elbow) has a partially torn UCL but will not have Tommy John surgery, president of baseball operations Mike Elias told Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. The Orioles will opt for platelet-rich plasma injections. Westburg will at least be out through April, and his timeline after that is to be determined. Elias added that Westburg's partial UCL tear was deemed a chronic issue, meaning it broke down over time. Baltimore is hoping that the PRP injections will have more success for a position player than a pitcher, given that there is less stress put on the UCL. The injury obviously is a pretty big hit to Westburg's fantasy value going into the 2026 season, and there's certainly a chance he's out much longer than just one month. In the meantime, Coby Mayo is expected to slide over to third base full-time, with Blaze Alexander also being an option at the hot corner.

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Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora made it clear that it's not a guarantee that infielder Marcelo Mayer will be on the team's Opening Day roster, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Cora said Mayer "needs to earn" a job on the Opening Day roster and needs to "show some things this spring." Specifically, the skipper said Mayer "needs to be better offensively than he was in the majors last year." The 23-year-old former fourth overall pick in 2021 struggled in his first taste of the majors in 2025, hitting .228/.272/.402 with a .674 OPS, four homers, 10 RBI, and a 41:8 K:BB in 136 plate appearances. Mayer is still a good bet to be on the Opening Day roster at either second or third base, but the BoSox will make him work for it. There is a buy-low opportunity for fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues going into Mayer's first full season in the big leagues.

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New York Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon tweaked his batting stance in the offseason to "unlock" more power. McMahon had one of the widest batting stances last season compared to other major league hitters, which likely played a role in his disappointing season. After posting a .722 OPS with a .242 AVG back in 2024, McMahon's production took a dip in 2205, as he posted a much lower .693 OPS with a .214 AVG. Additionally, the 31-year-old saw his strikeout rate climb to 32.3%, a stark jump from the 28.7% he posted back in 2024. Despite his struggles, McMahon continued to hit the ball very hard, as evidenced by his 50.5% hard-hit rate and 12.1% barrel rate. The coaching staff hopes this slight tweak to his stance helps him return to his pre-2025 level of production. McMahon is a name to watch in camp as he figures to be the team's primary third baseman and could hold some sneaky power upside batting in a favorable park for left-handed hitters.

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According to Nick Piecoro of AZCentral.com, Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Jordan Lawlar has looked uqit pcmrorbale in his move to center field. Peicoro noted that the early impressions are quite positive and that the former top prospect is getting "quick jumps" and is "showcasing his strong arm" in his position. With the Diamondbacks having a crowded infield due to the emergence of Geraldo Perdomo and the trade for Nolan Arenado, Lawlar's best chance of seeing everyday at-bats is now in the outfield. Last summer, Lawlar appeared in just 28 games with the Diamondbacks and posted a .182/.257/.288 line. However, across 91 career games at Triple-A, Lawlar has looked quite productive, posting a .328/.414/.576 line with 18 home runs and 24 stolen bases. Managers in deeper leagues should continue to monitor his progression in camp, as he could become the team's center fielder over Alek Thomas.

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Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez could see time in left field, given Houston's current outfield situation. Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported that manager Joe Espada has noted that Alvarez will see time in left field this season, but it is still unclear how often. Alvarez has only eclipsed the 50-game mark in the outfield twice in his career and is coming off an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. While it is expected he sees most of the time at DH, given Houston's lack of answers in the outfield, the slugger could find himself on defense more than expected. Currently, Cam Smith, Joey Loperfido, and Zach Cole are expected to compete for the starting corner spots, but none have shown any sustained production in the big leagues. Alvarez played in only 48 games last summer but held an elite .988 OPS from 2022 through 2024. While the 28-year-old only has utility eligibility on most platforms, this recent update suggests he may gain outfield eligibility much sooner than expected, which would significantly boost his fantasy value.

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Colorado Rockies first base prospect T.J. Rumfield is in competition for the team's starting first base role, according to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. The Rockies enter spring training without a clear answer at first base and expect to have several players competing for the role. Rumfield was shipped to the Rockies earlier this winter by the New York Yankees in exchange for right-hander Angel Chivilli. Last summer, Rumfield spent his entire campaign with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and held his own, posting a .285/.378/.447 slash line with 31 doubles, 16 home runs, and a 108:75 K:BB. He is expected to be in the mix for the starting job alongside Edouard Julien, Blaine Crim, and fellow prospect Charlie Condon. If he were to carve out a role, Rumfield may have some sleeper appeal in deeper formats playing at Coors Field.

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According to Garry Phillips of The New York Daily News, Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (elbow) is set to face live hitters on Friday. Cole has been throwing bullpen sessions during the early stages of camp and is now set to take the next step in his recovery. The Yankee ace has been on the shelf since undergoing Tommy John surgery with an internal brace last March. However, seeing him already face live hitters suggests he may not miss much of the 2026 season. Earlier in camp, reports indicated that Cole could return as early as May, and given this update, he remains on track to do so. In 2024, Cole logged 99 innings with a 3.41 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. The previous season, Cole took home the AL Cy Young as he logged 209 innings to the tune of an elite 2.63 ERA with a 0.98 WHIP. While Cole remains sidelined early on, managers should expect prospects Elmer Rodriguez and Carlos Lagrange to compete for a role on the MLB roster.

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According to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez is set to start their spring training opener against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday afternoon. Rodriguez has had an impressive start to camp and could be making a strong case to begin the season in the major leagues, with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon both on the shelf. Last summer, the No. 97-ranked prospect on MLB.com began the season with High-A but was able to reach Triple-A later in the second half. At High-A, Rodriguez logged 83 2/3 innings with a 2.26 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. At Double-A, Rodriguez continued to find success, tossing 61 1/3 innings to the tune of a 2.64 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 74:20 K:BB. However, over his lone five innings at Triple-A, Rodriguez allowed four runs. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should keep a close eye on his status in camp, as he could carry some short-term value if he breaks camp with the MLB roster.

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Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed pitching prospect Hunter Barco appears to be on the outside of the team's initial five-man starting rotation. The southpaw is expected to be in the mix for the final rotation spot but appears to be trending toward opening the season as a reliever or back at Triple-A. With Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, Mitch Keller, and Braxton Ashcraft locked into the top-4 spots, Barco will have to compete for the No. 5 job alongside Jose Urquidy. While Urquidy spent all of the 2024 season and the majority of 2025 on the shelf working his way back from Tommy John, he has much more MLB experience than that young left-hander. From 2020 through 2022, Urquidy held a 3.71 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP across 301 innings. While Barco could make a strong case in camp, given his lack of experience, the Priates may turn to the veteran. However, if Urquidy stumbles out of the gate, Barco would emerge as a sneaky stash candidate in deeper formats. Last summer, Barco logged just three innings with the Pirates but did not allow a run while posting a 3:0 K:BB.

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Washington Nationals right-handed pitching prospect Jarlin Susana is a name to watch during spring training. Susana is currently viewed as the team's No. 4 prospect and the overall No. 87 prospect on MLB.com. Susana spent most of his 2025 season with Double-A before being shut down with a lat injury. He began the campaign with High-A and logged nine innings to the tune of a 3.00 ERA with a 16:2 K:BB before his promotion. At Double-A, Susana flashed immense strikeout upside, tallying 79 over a 47 1/3-inning stint. He posted a slightly higher 3.61 ERA with a modest 1.39 WHIP. Before the injury, Susana racked up at least nine punchouts in three of his last four outings and even hit the double-digit mark in two. While the Nationals will likely monitor his workload given his late-season injury, Susana figures to compete for an early promotion to Triple-A, which will open the door for a second-half MLB debut.

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Toronto Blue Jays infield prospect Arjun Nimmala added 15 pounds ahead of the start of camp, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. The young infielder reportedly lost significant weight over the 2025 MiLB season, which contributed to his power slump in the second half. Last summer, Nimmala held a promising .840 OPS in the first half with a .266/.356/.484 slash line. However, in the second half, the former 20th overall pick from the 2023 MLB Draft posted a much lower .179/.267/.271 line with a .538 OPS. Given that the 20-year-old spent the entire 2025 season with High-A, a strong showing in spring training could earn him a promotion to Double-A to begin the regular season. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his development as he remains on track for a 2027 MLB debut.

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New York Mets first base/outfield prospect Ryan Clifford has continued to improve as a defender in the outfield. Clifford has spent most of his time in the minor leagues as a first baseman but has been shifted to the outfield to provide more versatility ahead of his eventual MLB debut. Last summer, Clifford spent most of his time with Double-A before earning a look at Triple-A in the second half. Across 139 total games, the 22-year-old logged 70 of the starts at first base and 53 coming in the outfield. He held a cumulative .237/.356/.470 line with a .526 OPS, 23 doubles, and 29 round-trippers. While Clifford is nearing his MLB debut, managers should expect him to begin the season at Triple-A to further improve his skills in the outfield. However, given New York's current lack of outfield depth, especially in right field, Clifford could be in contention to join the MLB roster much sooner than expected.

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