MLB News

Paul Sewald • RP • Diamondbacks |

Kevin Ginkel • RP • Diamondbacks

Paul Sewald, Kevin Ginkel, Ryan Thompson Could All See Save Chances

The Arizona Diamondbacks don't have a clear idea of who their closer will be in 2026, but manager Torey Lovullo mentioned relievers Paul Sewald, Kevin Ginkel, and Ryan Thompson as potential options in the ninth inning, according to Alex D'Agostino of Sports Illustrated. Sewald was the team's closer in 2023 as they made a run to the World Series, and Ginkel and Thompson were the only incumbent veterans heading into camp before Arizona brought Sewald back. Lovullo wants a defined closer, if possible, and he's stated his preference for having that arm repeatedly. The skipper also said he will consider "migrating" any young arm capable of doing so into a high-leverage role with both Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk starting the year on the injured list. None of Arizona's current options are great, so it seems more likely that the D-backs enter 2026 with a closer-by-committee situation. It's a situation that fantasy managers should avoid, if possible.

5 hours ago

Bryan Reynolds • RF • Pirates

Bryan Reynolds Will Return to Left Field in 2026

MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince reports that Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds will return to a full-time role in left field this year, with Ryan O'Hearn playing in right field. Reynolds didn't play left field at all last year, but he has twice as many innings there (3,062 1/3) in his career than he has in right (1,402). The 31-year-old veteran has four straight seasons in which his defensive run value was in the negative, and the worst of those (minus-12) was in 2024 in his last year in left field. Reynolds implemented a pre-pitch "tennis hop" that helped him with his reaction time in 2025, though, and he's hoping that will help him as he returns to left field. The Bucs are taking some defensive risks this year in order to try to score more runs. The two-time All-Star had his worst statistical season offensively in 2025, hitting .245/.318/.402 with a .720 OPS, 16 homers, 73 RBI, 68 runs, and three steals in 154 games. Reynolds struck out more and hit more ground balls, although a better lineup around him could lead to a rebound. Fantasy managers may not want to expect Reynolds to return to his peak production, but he should make for a nice fourth or fifth outfielder.

5 hours ago

Dominic Smith • 1B • Braves

Braves Add Dominic Smith on Minor-League Deal

The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent infielder Dominic Smith to a minor-league deal on Tuesday that includes a non-roster invitation to major-league spring training, according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The left-handed-hitting Smith has played with three different teams since the start of the 2024 season, spending last year with the San Francisco Giants. The 30-year-old former first-rounder by the New York Mets in 2013 hit .284/.333/417 with a .750 OPS, five home runs, 33 RBI, 26 runs scored, and two steals in 63 games (225 plate appearances). Smith has some experience in left field in his nine-year MLB career, but he hasn't played anywhere besides first base since 2021. He'll give the Braves some veteran depth behind Matt Olson, and Smith will likely begin the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett. Smith remains off the fantasy radar in all leagues.

5 hours ago

Colton Gordon • SP • Astros

Colton Gordon Not Expected to Make Opening Day Roster

Houston Astros left-hander Colton Gordon will make the start for the team in their Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the Washington Nationals, according to manager Joe Espada. However, Gordon is not expected to make the Opening Day roster, according to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. The 27-year-old southpaw made his major-league debut last year and went 6-4 with a 5.34 ERA (5.37 FIP) and 1.42 WHIP with 72 strikeouts and 19 walks in 20 outings (14 starts) over 86 innings. Gordon worked the second-most innings last season among pitchers the team returns this spring, and he should be an option for Houston's rotation later this year. The former eighth-rounder in 2021 out of the University of Central Florida had an excellent 5% walk rate, but he only struck out 19% of the hitters he faced and was mostly unremarkable. Gordon's fantasy value will be limited as a soft-tosser.

6 hours ago

Luis Robert Jr. • CF • Mets

Mets to Slow-Play Luis Robert Jr. Early in Grapefruit League Schedule

The New York Mets will not be playing outfielder Luis Robert Jr. in Grapefruit League games out of the gate in an effort to keep him healthy, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday. The Mets will work on strengthening Robert's lower body first, but the new outfielder is healthy in camp, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. The 28-year-old has a history of missing time in his career due to lower-body injuries, so the Mets are going to play it safe early on. The Cuban outfielder has hit the 100-game mark in each of the last three seasons, but he's played over 140 games in his career just once in his six MLB seasons. In 110 games in 2025 in his final season with the Chicago White Sox, Robert slashed .223/.297/.364 with a .661 OPS, 14 homers, 53 RBI, 52 runs, and a career-high 33 stolen bases. There is still power/speed upside with Robert if you're willing to take the injury risk. Playing in New York with a better team also makes his upside more enticing. He's RotoBaller's No. 27 fantasy outfielder as their everyday center fielder.

6 hours ago

Janson Junk • SP • Marlins

Janson Junk Wearing a Walking Boot After Rolling Ankle

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk (right ankle) was seen wearing a walking boot after rolling his right ankle on Tuesday, according to Christina De Nicola of MLB.com. The boot is reportedly just a precaution, but his injury is serious enough to keep him out of Wednesday's scheduled pitch design session. Junk sustained the injury during warmups, and while initial tests came back negative, he's scheduled to be examined by a doctor on Wednesday. An injury is a tough break for the 30-year-old as he competes for a spot in Miami's season-opening rotation. He made 21 appearances (16 starts) in the majors last year, posting an impressive 3.14 FIP with 6.30 K/9, 1.06 BB/9, and 0.65 HR/9. Evidently, he pitches to contact, which can have mixed results but seemed to work pretty well for him in 2025. It's too early to tell whether he'll end up in the rotation or bullpen, but either way, he can be avoided in fantasy baseball given his low strikeout rate and lack of save opportunities.

7 hours ago

Brett Baty • 3B • Mets

Brett Baty Will Ease Into Action After Tweaking Hamstring

New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (hamstring) tweaked his hamstring during offseason workouts "about two weeks ago" and will ease into spring training, manager Carlos Mendoza told Mike Puma of the New York Post. Baty had the best season of his young career while taking on a full-time role in 2025. Across 130 games, he slashed .254/.313/.435 with 18 home runs, a 7.6% walk rate, a 25.0% strikeout rate, and 111 wRC+. He spent most of his defensive innings at third base (2 OAA and 1 FRV), but he carved out a significant chunk of time at second base (-1 OAA and -2 FRV), too. At this point, it's unclear whether Baty will be ready for Opening Day. Coming into spring camp behind schedule is far from ideal, but he does still have a full month to recover. Baty projects as the Mets' designated hitter in 2026, but he could start the year at third base if he's healthy, if Francisco Lindor (hand) isn't ready, and if Bo Bichette has to temporarily shift over to shortstop. That's a lot of hypotheticals, of course, and none of it will matter if Baty isn't ready to go.

7 hours ago

Gavin Stone • SP • Dodgers |

River Ryan • SP • Dodgers

Gavin Stone and River Ryan Throw a Bullpen on Tuesday

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitchers Gavin Stone (shoulder) and River Ryan (elbow) each threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com. Stone is working his way back from a shoulder injury that he suffered in September 2024. He missed all of last season while recovering from surgery, and this latest update indicates that he's inching closer to making his return. Across 25 starts in 2024, Stone posted a 4.01 FIP with 7.44 K/9, 2.37 BB/9, and a 44.2% ground ball rate. Ryan has also been sidelined since the second half of the 2024 season when he underwent Tommy John surgery. During his first and only taste of big-league action in 2024, Ryan allowed just three earned runs over 20.1 innings (four starts), pitching to a 3.36 FIP with 7.97 K/9, 3.98 BB/9, and a 50% ground ball rate. The Dodgers can't have both Stone and Ryan in their Opening Day six-man rotation; at best, there will be room for one of them, and that's only if Blake Snell (left shoulder) isn't ready for the start of the season.

7 hours ago

Robert Stephenson • RP • Angels |

Ben Joyce • RP • Angels

Ben Joyce, Robert Stephenson Both Start Throwing Bullpens

Los Angeles Angels relief pitchers Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (elbow) each threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Prior to Tuesday's session, neither pitcher had thrown off the mound this spring. Joyce is working his way back from a torn labrum, which required surgery in May 2025. During his last healthy season in 2024, he posted a 2.08 ERA with 8.57 K/9, 3.63 BB/9, and 0.26 HR/9. The right-hander is capable of hitting 102 mph with his fastball, offering the Angels an effective leverage arm out of the bullpen. Stephenson's injury luck has been even worse. He missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, and shortly after his return in May 2025, he was shut down again with a stretched nerve in his biceps. He returned for 10 outings in the fall before being placed back on the injured list with elbow inflammation. He logged just 10 innings last year, posting a 2.70 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. These numbers fall a bit lower than his career averages, and it remains to be seen how much his effectiveness has changed amid all of his injury problems.

7 hours ago

Justin Steele • SP • Cubs

Justin Steele Targeting May or June Return

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) is targeting a May or June return to the majors, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times. Steele has sidelined since undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery last April, but he resumed throwing less than one month ago. He's not ready to face live batters yet, but he has built up to throwing 30-pitch bullpens. He has thrown sliders in his last two bullpens and will begin throwing other secondary offerings soon, too. Steele was the ace of the Cubs' staff when he was fully healthy in 2024, putting together a 2.74 xERA with 9.02 K/9, 2.47 BB/9, and a 44.8% ground ball rate. It's unclear which rotation spot he'll slot into upon his return, as the Cubs' five current projected starters all had sub-3.75 ERAs last year. His track record should guarantee him an impact spot in the rotation, but the Cubs' depth will allow them to be patient so they won't have to rush him back.

7 hours ago

Anthony Volpe • SS • Yankees

Anthony Volpe Could Return in April

New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (shoulder) said on Monday that an April return is "definitely" possible, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Volpe underwent surgery to fix a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder last October. Initially, he was expected to return in May, but he has already started his hitting progression with dry swings, and it now sounds like there's a chance that his return could be moved up a little bit. Before he's cleared to play, though, Volpe will need to hit a few benchmarks. First, he'll need to do tee work and soft toss. Then, he'll have to show that he can dive on his shoulder. That final task is likely still a few weeks out, but nevertheless, it's encouraging that he's making progress and could be ahead of schedule. Volpe had 19 homers and 18 steals last season, and he ranks as RotoBaller's #25 shortstop for fantasy baseball in 2026.

8 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani • DH • Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani Expected to be in Opening Day Starting Rotation

When asked if he expects two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani to be in the team's Opening Day starting rotation as a pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said, "I do." Ohtani will not pitch at all for Team Japan during the upcoming World Baseball Classic, so he probably will be on a strict innings limit to begin the 2026 season, but he'll be in the Dodgers' rotation. The 31-year-old four-time MVP and five-time All-Star didn't make his season debut on the mound for L.A. until mid-June after recovering from Tommy John surgery he had in September of 2023, and he was slowly eased into the rotation. Ohtani made 14 starts (47 innings) during the regular season and had a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 62:9 K:BB. The leash was lengthened in the postseason, as he made four starts and threw 20 1/3 frames, striking out 28 and walking seven. Fantasy managers should anticipate a limited workload early on, but the expectation is that he'll be a full two-way player in 2026.

9 hours ago

Jake Bennett • SP • Red Sox

Jake Bennett an Early Standout, Being Stretched Out as Starter

MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo writes that Boston Red Sox left-hander Jake Bennett has been an early camp standout for the team. The Red Sox want to keep him stretched out this spring, so he won't be a candidate to be in the Opening Day bullpen. "I don't foresee us, outside of strict necessity, wanting to shorten him up anytime soon," pitching coach Andrew Bailey said. The 25-year-old 6-foot-6, 234-pounder is getting an opportunity in big-league camp despite having not pitched above Double-A. Baseball America ranks Bennett as the sixth-best prospect in Boston's system and the fifth-best pitcher. He had Tommy John surgery after the 2023 season and missed all of 2024, but he bounced back nicely last year with a 2.27 ERA, 64 K's, and 19 walks in 75 1/3 innings. For now, Bennett is a name to watch. If he pitches well at Triple-A this year, he could be an option for Boston's rotation or bullpen later in 2026.

13 hours ago

Gerrit Cole • SP • Yankees

Gerrit Cole Throws Another Bullpen, Progressing Well in Recovery

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) threw another bullpen session in camp on Tuesday, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Cole had Tommy John surgery with an internal brace last March and missed all of the 2025 season, but the 35-year-old former Cy Young winner has been throwing since August and is making good progress. He will not be ready for the start of the 2026 season, but if he avoids any setbacks in his rehab, Cole could be ready to make his season debut in late May or early June. He could even pitch in some Grapefruit League games before the end of spring training. The six-time All-Star shouldn't be expected to return to pre-injury form immediately, and the Yankees will most likely ease him back into the rotation. The former ace should be stashed in all fantasy leagues, but he'll be a wild card since he's thrown only 95 innings since the start of 2024.

14 hours ago

Pablo López • SP • Twins

Pablo Lopez has Torn Elbow Ligament, "Surgery on the Table"

Minnesota Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez (elbow) has been diagnosed with a torn UCL, and "surgery is very much on the table," according to general manager Jeremy Zoll. If surgery is needed, Lopez would miss the entire season, according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. Lopez is seeking a second opinion, but in all likelihood, he's going to need Tommy John surgery or an internal-brace procedure and miss all of 2026. It's a big blow to an already thin Twins starting rotation. Lopez also dealt with shoulder and forearm injuries last year and threw just 75 2/3 innings. The Venezuelan hurler was solid when he was on the mound for Minnesota, though, recording a career-best 2.74 ERA (3.19 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 20 walks in his 14 starts. Even though surgery isn't official yet, fantasy managers will want to avoid Lopez in drafts this week.

14 hours ago

Brett Baty • 3B • Mets

Brett Baty to Work in Super-Utility Role This Year?

New York Mets infielder Brett Baty could be in line to play a super-utility role for the team in 2026. Baty was working at second base in camp on Tuesday after spending time at first base on Monday, according to Metsmerized. He's expected to work all over the diamond in spring training this year, and he could even be a candidate to platoon in right field if outfield prospect Carson Benge begins the season in the minors. Bo Bichette is locked in at third base, and Marcus Semien will start at second this year, so Baty must increase his versatility to see the field in 2026. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter was a disappointment with the bat in his first three seasons at the big-league level, but he showed more promise in 2025, slashing .254/.313/.435 with a .748 OPS, 18 homers, 50 RBI, 53 runs, and eight steals in 130 games. From Aug. 1 on, Baty hit over .300 with seven homers in 146 plate appearances. Unfortunately, he might not have enough volume to make him relevant in mixed fantasy leagues.

14 hours ago

Hurston Waldrep • SP • Braves

Hurston Waldrep May Need Surgery

If Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect Hurston Waldrep (elbow) needs surgery on his right elbow, the assumption is that he would need roughly three months to recover, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. If Waldrep avoids going under the knife, he might just need at least three weeks of rest. It all depends on what Dr. Keith Meister sees. A decision on the 23-year-old is expected to come this week. Either way, Waldrep is going to start the 2026 season on the injured list. The former 24th overall pick in 2023 out of the University of Florida made 10 appearances (nine starts) for the Braves last year and looked great, going 6-1 with a 2.88 ERA (3.21 FIP) and 1.19 WHIP with 55 strikeouts and 22 walks in 56 1/3 innings pitched. Waldrep should eventually have a place in Atlanta's starting rotation, but 2026 could end up being a lost season for him if he needs surgery.

14 hours ago

Riley O'Brien • RP • Cardinals

Riley O'Brien Dealing With Calf Soreness

St. Louis Cardinals right-handed reliever Riley O'Brien (calf) is dealing with some calf soreness in camp, according to Jeff Jones of The Belleville News. The Cardinals are now discussing what it means for O'Brien's participation in this year's World Baseball Classic for Team South Korea. The 31-year-old will be in the mix for saves in St. Louis in 2026 with JoJo Romero as long as he's healthy. In his second year in St. Louis in 2025, O'Brien was hard to hit, posting a 2.06 ERA (1.15 WHIP), his first six career saves, a career-high 45 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 48 innings over 42 appearances out of the bullpen. It was his first extended look in the big leagues, and he did not disappoint. O'Brien struck out only 22.6% of the batters he faced, though, and also had an elevated 11.1% walk rate for a high-leverage arm, so there will be plenty of volatility and risk for a pitcher who has never held down the closer's role for an entire season.

15 hours ago

Jack Leiter • SP • Rangers

Jack Leiter Looking to Build on Solid Second Half

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter appears to have secured the fourth spot in the Rangers' rotation coming into the season, behind a strong trio of Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and recently-acquired MacKenzie Gore. Leiter finished his first full season in the majors 10-10 in 29 starts for Texas last year, racking up 148 strikeouts in 151 2/3 innings. He finished the year with a 3.86 ERA and 4.15 FIP, but the 25-year-old righty looked better after the All-Star break with a 3.28 ERA, 3.72 FIP, and 79 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings. He also cut his walk rate to 3.66 walks per nine innings from 4.4 before the All-Star break. Leiter can be a great later-round sleeper with good upside, and he still has plenty of room to grow into his top-prospect status after the Rangers snagged him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.

15 hours ago

Kyle Manzardo • 1B • Guardians

Kyle Manzardo Can Be a Great Late-Round Power Source

Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo is ready to build on last year's success and came into spring training with a new look and new approach. The 25-year-old lefty bulked up this offseason, adding about 15 pounds coming into spring training. In 2025, he hit .234 in his first full season in the majors, exactly matching his batting average from 53 games in 2024. He dramatically increased his power production, though, with a .221 ISO, .329 wOBA, and 27 homers in his 142 games. While a 30-homer season is definitely a real possibility, Manzardo said his focus is to be better situationally. He's projected to hit fourth in the batting order again this season, right behind the always-productive Jose Ramirez. Manzardo's ADP is low enough that he can be a great option late in drafts if your team needs a little power and can take a hit in batting average.

16 hours ago

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