Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitching prospect Rhett Lowder (forearm, oblique) missed the entire 2025 big-league season due to a right-forearm strain and a left-oblique strain, but he has been pitching for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League and has a 3.00 ERA with no walks and six strikeouts through six innings, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. The former first-round pick in 2023 gave up an earned run on two hits over two innings in his outing last Saturday. Lowder made his major-league debut at the end of the 2024 season and looked great, posting a tidy 1.17 ERA over his first six MLB starts. If he is fully healthy for spring training in 2026, the Reds will be hoping to put him in their Opening Day starting rotation. Lowder has four adequate pitches in his arsenal, but it wouldn't be a surprise if they take their time with him and start him in the minors to begin 2026, either.

From RotoBaller

The San Diego Padres interviewed future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols on Tuesday for a second time for their vacant managerial position, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Pujols, who was unable to agree on a deal to become the next manager of the Los Angeles Angels this offseason, is now one of the finalists for the Padres' job, along with pitching coach Ruben Niebla and bench coach Brian Esposito. The Padres are looking for new leadership after previous manager Mike Shildt stepped down following the team's loss to the Chicago Cubs in the National League wild-card series in early October. Pujols has no managerial experience, but he will serve as the manager for the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (side) is out of the starting lineup again on Wednesday night for Game 5 of the World Series against the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers and left-hander Blake Snell. Although Springer has reportedly made good progress since injuring his right side on a swing in the loss in Game 3 on Monday night in L.A., he will miss his second straight game. Infielder Bo Bichette is the DH and will bat third for Toronto, while Isiah Kiner-Falefa will start at the keystone and hit in the eight-hole against Snell as the Blue Jays look to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Springer will be available off the bench for the second straight game, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to play again in the World Series. Bichette has gone just 2-for-11 in his career against Snell, while Kiner-Falefa is 0-for-3 with a walk and two K's against the lefty.

From RotoBaller

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (heels) has been dealing with pain in both of his heels for the last two and a half years, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Nootbaar had surgery on both of his heels on Oct. 7 and hopes to put the issues in the past in 2026. The 28-year-old outfielder admitted that he was definitely affected by his foot problems again in 2025, in which he slashed .234/.325/.361 with a .686 OPS, 13 home runs, 48 RBI, 68 runs scored, and only four stolen bases in 509 at-bats over a career-high 135 games played. He may be able to rebound next year if the surgeries solve his problems, but fantasy managers won't be in a rush to find out, especially since he could be delayed beyond Opening Day. In his five MLB seasons, Nootbaar has been unable to clear the 14-homer mark and doesn't have more than 48 RBI in a single season.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers struggling outfielder Andy Pages will retreat to the bench in Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays and rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage. Enrique Hernandez will make the start in center field and will hit eighth, with Alex Call starting in left field and batting in the nine-hole. Catcher Will Smith will move up to No. 2 in the batting order. Pages may not start another game in the Fall Classic after going just 4-for-50 with 11 strikeouts and no walks in 14 games during this year's playoffs. Call has appeared in six games this October with L.A. and has gone 4-for-9 with two walks and a strikeout in his first 12 playoff plate appearances. Call will have very little DFS appeal at the bottom of the batting order against an up-and-coming young pitcher whom he has never faced.

From RotoBaller

New York Mets right-hander Christian Scott (elbow), who is over a year removed from Tommy John surgery and an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow, is nearing the end of his rehab process this year and is expected to be a full-go in spring training next year, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. The 26-year-old was scheduled to throw his final live bullpen session on Tuesday. He said the plan is to move to a "de-load" period before he ramps his throwing back up in January. Scott, who was the team's top pitching prospect in 2024, will be in the team's rotation picture next year if he's healthy, but he's unlikely to be in the Opening Day rotation. He had a 4.56 ERA in his first nine MLB starts in 2024 before having surgery, and he's been tinkering with his changeup while rehabbing. Don't forget about Scott as a potential post-hype prospect in fantasy baseball.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (side) is not in the starting lineup for Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday against the hosting Los Angeles Dodgers. Springer injured his right side on a swing in the top of the seventh inning in the Game 3 loss on Monday night. The Blue Jays have not replaced him on the World Series roster, though, so he will presumably be available off the bench on Tuesday. With Springer out, infielder Bo Bichette will serve as the DH for Toronto and bat third, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa playing second base and batting ninth against Dodgers right-hander Shohei Ohtani. Outfielder Nathan Lukes will also serve as the team's leadoff hitter following the 18-inning marathon on Monday night. For now, Springer, who hit over .300 with over 30 homers during the regular season, should be considered day-to-day.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (side) is "hour-to-hour" in terms of his availability for Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, according to manager John Schneider. The Blue Jays are still deciding on if Springer will start on Tuesday or be on the bench, but it doesn't sound like he'll be removed from the World Series roster on Tuesday. The 36-year-old veteran was pulled from the Game 3 loss on Monday night in the top of the seventh inning when he suffered a right-side injury on a swing. Springer underwent an MRI exam on Tuesday morning, but the results of the testing have not been made public. He was one of the team's biggest offensive contributors during the regular season, hitting .309 with 32 home runs, 84 RBI, and 18 stolen bases, so Toronto can ill-afford to lose their leadoff hitter for the remainder of the best-of-seven series.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage will start Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, according to manager John Schneider. It will be Yesavage's second start in the Fall Classic after he allowed two earned runs on four hits while walking three and striking out five in a no-decision in four innings in Game 1 last Friday. The 22-year-old former first-rounder from East Carolina was the second-youngest pitcher in MLB history to start Game 1 of the World Series, and he handled himself pretty nicely, all things considered. Wednesday's start will be just his eighth big-league start. In his four postseason starts this October, Yesavage has allowed nine earned runs on 14 hits (two homers) while walking 10 and striking out 27 in 19 frames. The pressure will be on the young, hard-throwing hurler this week on the road in a hostile environment.

From RotoBaller

Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler (knee) is moving around well following knee surgery and said he will be fully ready for the start of spring training in February, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Butler has dealt with knee issues in the past, and he had surgery early this month to fix a torn right patellar tendon. The 25-year-old also had scar tissue removed from the same knee and received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his left patellar tendon. Butler cleared the 20-homer mark for the second straight season and also had his first 20-20 campaign with the A's in 152 games played in 2025 in his second full season in the big leagues, but his knee issues could help explain why he hit only .234 (133-for-569) in 630 plate appearances. With better health in his knees, Butler's fantasy profile is still on the rise as a budding power-speed outfield threat.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (side) went for an MRI exam because of "right-side discomfort" that knocked him from Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to J.P. Hoornstra of Newsweek Sports. "We'll see how he is tomorrow," manager John Schneider said. Springer called for a trainer following a swing in the top of the seventh inning and left the contest shortly after to be evaluated. Ty France replaced him as a pinch-hitter, who was later replaced by Davis Schneider in the 18-inning marathon. It's unclear if Springer will be able to play in Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night in L.A., but if he's dealing with an oblique injury, there's a good chance he won't be able to play for the rest of the series. Springer has been a major contributor all year for Toronto, so losing their leadoff hitter for the rest of the series would be a big blow. He went 0-for-3 with two K's on Monday night before leaving, and he's gone 14-for-57 (.246) with four homers, six doubles, nine RBI, and 13 runs in 14 playoff games this October.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (side) was pulled from Game 3 of the World Series early on Monday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the seventh inning with what appeared to be a right-side injury, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Springer called out for a trainer to examine him before leaving the game, with Ty France replacing him as a pinch-hitter. The 36-year-old dealt with a knee scare this postseason as well, but didn't miss any time. However, if this ends up being an oblique injury, it could easily knock him out for the remainder of the World Series, which would be a big loss for Toronto. We won't know Springer's status for Game 4 of the best-of-seven series on Tuesday until he undergoes some tests. Before leaving in the seventh, Springer went 0-for-3 at the plate with two strikeouts.

From RotoBaller

Boston Red Sox second baseman Kristian Campbell will focus on adding weight and strength to his frame this offseason, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. Campbell won the second base job out of spring training, signed an eight-year, $60 million deal in April, and then won American League Rookie of the Month honors. However, he struggled over the next couple of months and was sent to Triple-A Worcester in June. The 23-year-old stayed there through the rest of the season. He hit .223 with a .664 OPS in 67 games with the BoSox, and while his numbers looked better on the farm, he still wasn't lifting the ball much. At 6-foot-3, 191 pounds, Campbell already has a wiry frame, but he lost weight during the season, which led to a noticeable dip in his exit velocity and hard-hit rates. Boston still believes in Campbell for the long term, but chief baseball officer Craig Breslow didn't commit to a role for Campbell on the big-league roster to start the 2026 season.

From RotoBaller

St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said that outfielder Lars Nootbaar (heels) isn't guaranteed to be ready for Opening Day in 2026 after having surgery on both of his heels. The Cardinals will not rush Nootbaar through the rehab process, but if he does miss time at the start of the season, it would be a "limited amount of time." The 28-year-old outfielder had surgery on both of his heels on Oct. 7 and could be delayed in the early going next season. Despite playing in a career-high 135 games for the Red Birds in 2025, Nootbaar wasn't able to improve on his counting stats as a hitter. The former eighth-round pick in 2018 out of USC slashed .234/.325/.361 with a .686 OPS, 13 home runs, 68 runs scored, 48 RBI, and four stolen bases in his 509 at-bats. At best, Nootbaar will be a late-round flier for outfield depth in fantasy drafts next spring.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper said he felt "uncomfortable" by recent comments made by president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, when Dombrowski wondered aloud about whether Harper could return to an elite level in 2026. "I have given my all to Philly from the start," Harper said. "Now there is trade talk? I made every effort to avoid this. It's all I heard in D.C. (with the Nationals). I hated it. It makes me feel uncomfortable." Harper added that he was "hurt" by Dombrowski's original comments. Dombrowski said it "couldn't be further from the truth" that the Phillies are considering trading Harper this offseason, and that "we love him." The 33-year-old former MVP is signed through the 2031 season, but he posted an .844 OPS in 2025, his lowest mark since 2016. Still, Harper was a productive hitter for the Phils, hitting 27 homers in 132 regular-season games. Harper has a full no-trade clause in his contract, but he didn't negotiate an opt-out clause into his 13-year, $330 million deal.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers utilityman Tommy Edman (ankle) has been a strong contributor once again for the Dodgers in October despite playing through a lingering right-ankle injury that he's dealt with for the last two seasons. It's an injury that has caused Edman to miss significant time this year, landing him on the injured list two separate times. The 30-year-old had another setback with his ankle while playing in the final week of the regular season, which hasn't made him an option to take over in center field for the struggling Andy Pages. Edman has been limited to second base in the postseason. Edman said his ankle is "healthy," but he could need surgery this offseason to clean it up. The switch-hitting utility man hit a disappointing .225 during the regular season with 13 homers and 49 RBI, but he's picked things up in the postseason, going 11-for-42 (.262) with two homers and six RBI in 11 games.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays infielder Bo Bichette will return to the starting lineup for Game 3 of the World Series on Monday against Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow, according to manager John Schneider. Bichette will be back at second base and will most likely hit cleanup again, like he did in the team's Game 1 win on Friday night. The All-Star shortstop missed over seven weeks with a knee sprain suffered in early September, but he was included on the World Series roster and made his return in Game 1, picking up a single and a walk in the 11-4 blowout win. He did not play in the Game 2 loss on Saturday, although he did have a plate appearance off the bench late in the game. Bichette will make his second start of the World Series against a pitcher he has struggled against, as he's gone 2-for-16 with an RBI, three walks, and four K's in his career against Glasnow.

From RotoBaller

The Chicago Cubs are expected to add reinforcements to their starting rotation this offseason. According to Bruce Levine, the Cubs are planning to pursue free-agent right-hander Dylan Cease. This doesn't come as a surprise considering Cease is going to be one of the top arms in free agency. The 29-year-old is coming off a down year where he posted a 4.55 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and a 215/71 K/BB ratio across 32 starts with the San Diego Padres this past season. Despite a down year, Cease figures to get a hefty payday this offseason. The Cubs originally drafted Cease in the sixth round of the 2014 draft, but eventually traded him and Eloy Jimenez for Jose Quintana in 2017. This would be a nice full circle story, but there figures to be plenty of suitors for Cease.

From RotoBaller

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer has been tasked with taking the ball for Game 3 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scherzer will look to keep the good times rolling after tossing 5.2 innings, allowing two runs, and striking out five batters during Game 4 of the ALDS. That was his only work of the postseason, but Scherzer has plenty of experience, including two World Series championships. He'll be looking to help give his team a 2-1 lead in this series. The organization also announced that Shane Bieber would take the ball for Game 4.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow will get the starting nod for Monday's Game 3 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Dodgers will look to even the series on Saturday after dropping the opener. Glasnow has been nearly impossible to touch during the postseason. He struck out eight batters across 5.2 innings of work during Game 3 of the NLCS. Overall, Glasnow has a 0.68 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts over 13.1 innings during the postseason. Following Game 3, Shohei Ohtani will get the ball for Game 4 of this series.

From RotoBaller