0:00:00

Detroit Tigers outfielder Javier Baez has been suspended from playing for Team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic after testing positive for marijuana during the 2023 tournament, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. It will prevent Baez from playing in the WBC for the third time. The good news for the 33-year-old veteran and the Tigers is that he will not face a suspension for the 2026 regular season. The three-time All-Star hit a combined .221/.262/.347 with a .610 OPS, 32 home runs, 163 RBI, and 29 stolen bases in his first full three seasons in Motown before bouncing back in 2025 to the tune of a .257/.282/.398 slash line, .680 OPS, 12 homers, 57 RBI, 55 runs scored, and five steals in 126 regular-season games. It wasn't a fantastic showing by any means, but it was much-needed. Baez adds positional versatility now after basically becoming a super-utility man last year, but there is still plenty of downside and swing and miss to his game.

From RotoBaller

The Boston Red Sox have signed infielder Brendan Rodgers to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Rodgers is a former first-round pick who was selected by the Rockies third overall in 2015. He debuted in 2019 and spent six seasons in Colorado before joining the Astros for the 2025 campaign. He struggled across 43 games in Houston, slashing .191/.266/.278 with an 8.6% walk rate and 35.9% strikeout rate. He posted just 55 wRC+ while playing replacement-level defense at second base. He'll need to really wow the front office and coaching staff this spring to make the Opening Day roster. At the moment, he's off the 40-man roster and is presumably competing for a roster spot with players like Nick Sogard, Nate Eaton, Kristian Campbell, and Mickey Gasper.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II posted mixed results at the plate in 2025, but there's no denying that he delivered impressive contributions in a variety of ways. Most notably, Harris joined the 20/20 club for the first time in his career, slugging exactly 20 homers and stealing exactly 20 bases. His overall slash line wasn't as flashy, though, as he slashed .249/.268/.409. All three of those marks were the worst of his career, and the same can be said about his 2.5% walk rate and 20.0% strikeout rate. He fared better in center field, where he posted 8 OAA and 7 FRV across 1,396 innings. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, Harris' bat will impact his fantasy value more than his glove. If it's any consolation, though, the home runs and stolen bases should help counteract the negative effect of the high K/BB rate. As it stands, he ranks as the #24 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

From RotoBaller

Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman broke out in 2025, slashing .278/.323/.520 with a whopping 31 home runs, 91 RBI, and 118 wRC+. His discipline numbers weren't great; he had a 5.7% walk rate and 26.3% strikeout rate. Still, the power arguably outweighs the whiffs, especially from a fantasy baseball perspective. He also took major strides behind the plate, posting 4.2 defensive fWAR, the first positive mark of his career. Furthermore, Goodman amassed 2 FRV. The 26-year-old is locked into the Rockies' starting catcher role for 2026. Between swinging the bat well, playing almost every day, and getting half of his games at Coors Field, Goodman is an intriguing fantasy backstop. He ranks #6 among catchers in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley saw his batting stats continue to decline in 2025. He finished the year with a .260/.309/.428 slash line and just 16 home runs, which was the second-lowest mark of his career. He also posted some of the worst plate discipline metrics since his rookie campaign, including a 6.0% walk rate and a 28.6% strikeout rate. This represented a massive step back for the 28-year-old, especially after he totaled 108 home runs from 2022 through 2024. Perhaps the biggest bright spot of Riley's 2025 season was that he posted 1.0 fWAR at the hot corner, although he produced negative OAA and FRV values. The Braves and fantasy managers will maintain optimism that Riley can rediscover his power stroke and return to All-Star form. The good news is that he's now healthy after missing the final two months of the regular season with a strained lower abdominal muscle. As it stands, he ranks as the #5 third baseman in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

From RotoBaller

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper had a great 2025 season, but it didn't quite live up to the standards he set in previous years. He finished his age-32 campaign with a .261/.357/.487 slash line, contributing his lowest slugging percentage and OPS marks since 2016. He slugged 27 home runs, walked 12.1% of the time, posted a 20.9% strikeout rate, and finished with 131 wRC+. Harper ultimately compiled 3.5 fWAR, which is half a win below his career average. He also played 132 games, and he has been held to fewer than 145 games in each of the last six seasons. In order to achieve top-tier fantasy status, he'll need to improve his OPS while staying healthy for the full year. As it stands, he ranks as the #4 first baseman and #31 hitter in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

From RotoBaller

The Minnesota Twins signed free-agent catcher David Banuelos to a minor-league deal on Thursday that includes an invitation to big-league camp, according to Darren Wolfson. Banuelos was in the Twins' system from 2018 to 2022. The 29-year-old backstop was originally a fifth-round selection in 2017 out of California State Long Beach by the Seattle Mariners. He made his major-league debut in 2024 with the Baltimore Orioles, but he has just three plate appearances at the big-league level over the last two years. At Triple-A Norfolk in 2025, Banuelos hit only .107 with a home run, two RBI, and four runs scored in 21 games played. Banuelos will almost certainly open the 2026 campaign at Triple-A St. Paul as catching depth behind Ryan Jeffers, Victor Caratini, and Alex Jackson.

From RotoBaller

The New York Yankees announced on Thursday that they extended a non-roster invitation to infield prospect George Lombard Jr. for major-league spring training. Lombard, who is MLB Pipeline's No. 32 overall prospect going into the 2026 season, played in 132 games at High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset last year and batted .235/.367/.381 with a .748 OPS, nine home runs, 49 RBI, 90 runs scored, and 35 stolen bases in 580 plate appearances. The 20-year-old hit just .215 (84-for-391) with eight homers, 36 RBI, 68 runs, and 24 steals in 108 games at Somerset, but he was the third-youngest qualified hitter at Double-A. Lombard has a fly-ball swing, but he has yet to develop much power and has struggled to get on base regularly against older competition. The former first-rounder still has some developing to do, but he makes for a nice dynasty stash as a future shortstop with above-average speed and potential plus power as well.

From RotoBaller

The Colorado Rockies announced on Thursday that outfield prospect Cole Carrigg has received a non-roster invitation to 2026 major-league spring training. The 23-year-old former second-round pick out of San Diego State University in 2023 will get an invite after slashing .237/.316/.394 with a .711 OPS, 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 81 runs scored, and 46 stolen bases in 123 games played last year with Double-A Hartford. Carrigg's speed and defense are his primary calling cards, but the Rockies are already set in center field with Brenton Doyle. He has stolen 99 bases in the last two seasons, but he also saw his strikeout rate jump from 19% at High-A Spokane to 27% last year at Hartford. Hitter-friendly Coors Field should help mask some of Carrigg's deficiencies as a hitter when he makes it to the big leagues, though, and his speed and defense will certainly play.

From RotoBaller

The Colorado Rockies announced on Thursday that they gave first base prospect Charlie Condon a non-roster invitation to 2026 major-league spring training. Condon, the No. 70 overall prospect at MLB Pipeline, will have a shot to win an Opening Day roster spot if he excels in spring training, especially since the Rockies no longer have either Michael Toglia or Warming Bernabel competing at first base. The former third overall pick out of Georgia hit .268/.376/.444 with 14 home runs, 58 RBI, and 59 runs scored in 99 games at the Rookie level, High-A Spokane, and Double-A Hartford last year. Condon played third base and outfield in college, but he is expected to move forward exclusively as a power-hitting first baseman, and he should make his MLB debut at some point in 2026. He may never live up to his draft pedigree, but at hitter-friendly Coors Field, Condon and his 6-foot-6 frame should project for plenty of power at the very least.

From RotoBaller

Indicted Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase is accused of throwing suspicious pitches to benefit bettors in at least 48 games over two years, according to a court document that was filed on Thursday. Federal prosecutors listed nine games in which Clase allegedly threw rigged pitches in the indictment unsealed in November. Major League Baseball said it is cooperating with federal prosecutors and declined further comment. Pitcher Luis L. Ortiz's attorney asked for his client's case to be severed from Clase's, arguing that Ortiz and Clase have "markedly different levels of culpability." Prosecutors accused Ortiz of rigging pitches in two games in June of last year. Clase appeared in 197 regular-season games from 2023 to July of 2025, when he was put on non-disciplinary leave by the league. It's still a bit hard to fathom for Clase, who was one of the best closers in the game. If found guilty, he will never pitch again.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen confirmed on Thursday that the majority of work for Jordan Lawlar will come in the outfield this spring, but the team isn't closing off infield work for him, according to Jody Jackson of The Arizona Republic. The D-backs previously stated that the 23-year-old former top prospect would see work in center field in spring training, but that was before they traded utility man Blaze Alexander to the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. Alexander's departure seemingly opens up playing time at third base going into the 2026 season, but Arizona has their sights set on Lawlar trying his hand in the outfield. There is also a need in the outfield, though, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) injured and Jake McCarthy no longer in town. Lawlar has only played in 42 big-league games for Arizona and hasn't lived up to his prospect hype, slashing .165/.241/.237 with no homers, five RBI, and 37 K's in 108 plate appearances. His bat showed promise in September, though, giving hope to fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper leagues that he can be a post-hype breakout type in 2026.

From RotoBaller

The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired pitchers Kade Strowd and Wellington Aracena, and infielder Jose Mejia from the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in exchange for infielder Blaze Alexander, a source told The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro. Strowd is the primary return for the D-backs in this swap. The 28-year-old right-hander was a former 12th-round selection by the O's in 2019 out of West Virginia. Strowd was impressive in his MLB debut last year, recording a 1.71 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 24 punchouts and 13 walks in 26 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He has a good chance to open the 2026 regular season in Arizona due to injuries to bullpen arms A.J. Puk (elbow) and Justin Martinez (elbow), and Strowd could be a sleeper for holds in deeper fantasy leagues in his sophomore campaign.

From RotoBaller

The Baltimore Orioles are acquiring infielder Blaze Alexander from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday in exchange for pitchers Kade Strowd and Wellington Aracena, and infielder Jose Mejia, a source told Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Alexander will head to the American League after slashing .237/.322/.366 with a .688 OPS, 10 home runs, 49 RBI, 50 runs scored, and seven stolen bases in 135 games in his first two major-league seasons in Arizona. The 26-year-old former 11th-round pick in 2018 will most likely serve in a bench role in his new home in Baltimore, which will be a downgrade in fantasy with a less clear path to playing time. The 26-year-old is under team control through the 2030 season. Alexander saw most of the playing time in the second half last year at third base after the D-backs traded Eugenio Suarez, but with Alexander now gone, it could be Jordan Lawlar's spot to lose.

From RotoBaller

The New York Yankees announced on Thursday that they claimed right-hander Osvaldo Bido off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels and designated infielder Braden Shewmake for assignment in a corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster. Bido has shockingly been passed around to six different teams already this offseason. The 30-year-old Dominican hurler made a career-high 26 appearances (10 starts) in 2025 with the Athletics and didn't pitch well, posting a career-worst 5.87 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 68 strikeouts, and 35 walks in 79 2/3 innings pitched. Bido has a 5.07 ERA (4.67 FIP) and 1.41 WHIP with a 20.9% strikeout rate and 9.6% walk rate in his three major-league seasons with the A's and Pittsburgh Pirates. He doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, so he could wind up back on the waiver wire if he doesn't make the Yankees' Opening Day roster out of spring training.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Tigers left-hander and two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal won his salary arbitration case on Thursday against the team and will make $32 million in 2026, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Skubal will make $13 million more than the Tigers argued for, and the most any player has ever taken home in arbitration. The 29-year-old dominant left-hander has been the most dominant pitcher in baseball the last two seasons, going 31-10 with a 2.30 ERA (2.47 FIP) and 0.91 WHIP with 469 strikeouts and only 68 walks in 387 1/3 innings pitched over his 62 regular-season starts. He was even better in 2025, posting a 2.21 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 241:33 K:BB over his 31 starts. Skubal will be the first pitcher off the board in the first round of 2026 fantasy baseball drafts, without a question.

From RotoBaller

The Washington Nationals claimed left-hander Ken Waldichuk off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday and designated right-hander George Soriano for assignment in a corresponding move, according to president of baseball operations Paul Toboni. Waldichuk, 28, has not pitched in the big leagues since 2023. The former fifth-round selection by the New York Yankees in 2019 out of Saint Mary's College went 6-11 with a 5.28 ERA (5.10 FIP) and 1.49 WHIP with 165 strikeouts and 81 walks in his two seasons with the Athletics in 2022 and 2023. Waldichuk made only seven starts in 2022 and then had a 5.36 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 35 outings (22 starts) over 141 frames in 2023. He has now been with four different teams this offseason. In his first year back from Tommy John surgery in 2025, Waldichuk struggled to an 8.65 ERA and 2.06 WHIP in 51 innings at Triple-A Las Vegas.

From RotoBaller

MLB.com's Daniel Kramer writes that Seattle Mariners infield prospect Colt Emerson, who is MLB Pipeline's No. 9 overall prospect, "could still need seasoning by Opening Day." Emerson, 20, will be competing with fellow infield prospect Cole Young at second base in spring training, but Young is seen as the favorite after getting his first taste of the majors in a 77-game stint in 2025. Kramer believes that Young has as much upside as any position-player prospect in Seattle since outfielder Julio Rodriguez, but the recent acquisition of utility man Brendan Donovan should give the Mariners more time to let Emerson develop. Even if Emerson ends up on the Opening Day roster, Seattle is expected to avoid using him against tough left-handed pitchers. The former first-rounder reached Triple-A last year and hit an impressive .285/.383/.458 with 16 homers and 14 steals in 130 games over three minor-league levels. Emerson's power/speed upside makes him stash-worthy in 2026 fantasy leagues, even if he starts at Tacoma.

From RotoBaller

MLB.com's Daniel Kramer writes that Seattle Mariners infield prospect Cole Young has the "leg up to make the team and would have to struggle mightily to lose his grip on the second-base job." The Mariners are "bullish" on the 22-year-old being their second baseman of the future now that Jorge Polanco is out of town. Young bats left-handed, and there's a likelihood that the Mariners avoid using him against the game's better left-handed pitchers. On those days, new utility man Brendan Donovan could shift to the keystone. Kramer has Young projected to hit eighth in Seattle's batting order against righties. The former 21st overall pick in 2022 struggled in his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .211/.302/.305 with a .607 OPS, four home runs, 24 RBI, and a 47:28 K:BB ratio in 77 games. There's not a ton of short-term upside for Young, and if he struggles, fellow infield prospect Colt Emerson could take playing time from him.

From RotoBaller

MLB.com's Daniel Kramer writes that Seattle Mariners utility man Brendan Donovan, who was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this week in a three-team trade, will play all over the field based on matchups, according to sources familiar with the club's thinking. The 2025 All-Star is expected to enter spring training as the primary third baseman, but it could change based on positional competitions, specifically among infielders Cole Young and Colt Emerson, Seattle's first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Donovan's presence as an option all around the infield could benefit both Young and Emerson long term and take pressure off them to perform right away in 2026. Donovan, who had an .853 OPS against righties and a .614 OPS against lefties last year, won't be in a platoon. In addition to playing every day, Donovan will be the M's leadoff hitter. The 29-year-old rarely strikes out (13% K rate in 2025), but his lack of power and speed severely limit his fantasy appeal in mixed leagues.

From RotoBaller