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Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews continued to show flashes of upside in the majors last year, but for the most part, struggled to produce at a very high level and looked like he could use some more time in Triple-A. The former top prospect played 85 of his 98 games in MLB last season, slashing a frustrating .208/.280/.352 with a 7.5% walk rate and 23.6% strikeout rate. He is starting to show signs of the plus power we've expected all along, and the baserunning has come along quite well, as he stole 17 bags. Still, a blend of experience and generally poor results makes him a riskier name entering the 2026 season. ZiPS projects him for 1.8 fWAR in 2026, and he currently ranks #43 in the latest RotoBaller fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene remains with the team ahead of spring training, despite countless trade rumors and speculation throughout the offseason. At times, it sounded like Greene might be a legitimate trade candidate, but in the end, he'll remain the ace in Cincinnati's rotation for at least one more year. He's coming off a solid season that was abbreviated due to injury. Across 19 starts (107.2 innings), he posted a 3.04 xERA, 11.03 K/9, and 2.17 BB/9. Loud contact was a slightly concerning subject as his home run rate jumped to 1.25 HR/9 and his ground ball rate dropped to 32.9%. Still, his impressive control and ability to blow his 100 mph fastball by batters make him one of the most exciting players to watch and roster in fantasy baseball. He remains atop the Reds' rotation and is on track for a 3.56 FIP with 3.2 fWAR in 2026, according to the ZiPS projections. As it stands, Greene ranks as the #9 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings.

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Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert is coming off a strong 2025 season, during which he posted a 2.95 xFIP with 11.89 K/9 and 2.13 BB/9. Along the way, he tied for second among Mariners pitchers in fWAR. The biggest blemish against Gilbert last year was his susceptibility to loud contact, as he surrendered home runs at a 1.37 HR/9 clip while his ground ball rate dropped to 38.9%. Outside of a few minor concerns, Gilbert has established himself as one of the best MLB arms in terms of control and results. He also has a fascinating pitch mix headlined by the splitter, which earned a 144 Stuff+ grade by FanGraphs' model. Meanwhile, he sat in the mid-to-upper-90s with his fastball. Gilbert currently projects as the Mariners' #2 starter behind Bryan Woo, and he ranks at #6 in the latest RotoBaller fantasy baseball draft rankings.

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Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez might have to move to second base or the outfield this season, according to Kevin Gorman of TribLIVE. Rodriguez was developed as a catcher and made his MLB debut in 2023, but injuries limited him to just 18 minor league games and 18 major league games across the last two years. At the big-league level in 2025, he slashed just .173/.246/.250 with an 8.8% walk rate, a 24.6% strikeout rate, and 38 wRC+. It's not like his glove was enough to justify putting his bat in the lineup, either. He threw out just two of 10 baserunners and finished the year with -2 FRV. As Gorman notes, Joey Bart and Henry Davis are Pittsburgh's primary catchers right now. The spoils of the starting role will belong to whichever backstop has a better spring, while the other catcher slots into a backup role. That doesn't leave much clarity for Rodriguez and fellow depth catcher Rafael Flores. Presumably, only one of Rodriguez or Flores can make the team. In the past, first base would have been a natural Plan B for either player. However, Pittsburgh is all set there with Spencer Horwitz and Ryan O'Hearn, forcing the club to get creative. As of now, Gorman projects that it'll be Rodriguez who makes the team. He has a little more defensive versatility and is expected to make appearances at second base and in the outfield. His disappointing results at the plate leave him off the fantasy radar in most leagues.

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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft is projected to earn a spot in the starting rotation, according to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. Injuries plagued Ashcraft for several consecutive seasons, but he got over the injury bug with a healthy season in 2025. He made 26 appearances (eight starts) in the majors last year, pitching to a 2.78 FIP with 9.17 K/9 and 3.10 BB/9. He also made 10 starts at the Triple-A level, where he logged an additional 48.1 innings of work. Ashcraft's ability to remain effective and stay healthy has put him in the mix for a 26-man roster spot, and Stumpf's article seems to confirm that the Pirates' fourth rotation spot is his to lose. He'll join Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, and Mitch Keller in this impressive Pittsburgh pitching staff. He currently ranks as the #96 starting pitcher in the latest RotoBaller fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

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Free-agent outfielder Miguel Andujar and the San Diego Padres agreed on a one-year, $4 million contract on Wednesday evening, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Andujar, 30, will join the Friars after a solid 2025 campaign with the Athletics and Cincinnati Reds. He hit .298/.329/.436 with six homers and 27 RBI in 60 games for the A's before being traded to Cincy at the deadline. Andujar was even better in 34 regular-season games with the Reds, slashing .359/.400/.544 with a .944 OPS, four homers, and 17 RBI. The move to San Diego will be a bit of a downgrade ballpark-wise, and the Dominican will probably be stuck on the short side of a platoon in the outfield against lefties, whom he posted a ridiculous .986 OPS against last year. Since 2003, Andujar has a .967 OPS versus southpaws. Heading into his age-31 season, is unlikely to be as good as he was in 2025, but he could make for a nice role player in San Diego.

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Houston Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and will be built up as a starter during spring training, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. McCullers, one of the most injury-prone pitchers in baseball, returned to the Astros in 2025 after missing two full seasons following surgery on his right forearm. The 32-year-old veteran went on the injured list three separate times last year and appeared in 16 games (13 starts), going 2-5 with a 6.51 ERA (5.77 FIP) and 1.81 WHIP with 61 strikeouts and 39 walks in 55 1/3 innings. Perhaps McCullers will be more effective another year removed from his flexor-tendon surgery, but at this point, it's hard to imagine him making it through a full season with a starter's workload. He does a good job of keeping the ball out of the air, but his serious durability concerns will keep most fantasy managers far away, even in the deepest of formats.

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Left-handed starting pitcher Framber Valdez has agreed to a three-year, $115 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Valdez was viewed as the top free agent starting pitcher on the market and will now join a rotation that features the two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal. Passan noted that this contract features an opt-out following the second season. The southpaw has spent his entire eight-year MLB career with the Houston Astros. Last summer, the 32-year-old logged 192 innings to the tune of a 3.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 187:68 K:BB. Since 2022, the left-hander has been one of the most consistent workhorses in the sport, logging at least 190 innings in three of the four seasons. During this four-year stretch, Valdez has posted an overall 3.21 ERA with a strong 1.16 WHIP. While his strikeout upside is limited, Valdez remains a high-end SP2 in all formats, given his ability to produce high-end ratios while taking on a large workload.

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Outfielder David Peralta announced on his Instagram account on Wednesday that he is retiring from professional baseball. Peralta last played in the major leagues in 2024 with the San Diego Padres, when he hit .267/.335/.415 with a .750 OPS, eight home runs, 28 RBI, and 35 runs scored in 91 games and 260 plate appearances. The 38-year-old Venezuelan didn't play with an affiliated MLB team in 2025 and probably wasn't generating any real interest on the open market this offseason. Peralta will wrap up an 11-year big-league career that saw him play for four different teams -- Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Rays. Nine of his 11 seasons were spent in Arizona. His best year came in 2018 with the Snakes, when he hit .293/.352/.516 with an .868 OPS, 30 homers, and 87 RBI. Peralta finishes his career with a .278/.335/.448 slash line, .782 OPS, 125 homers, and 569 RBI in 1,232 regular-season games.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Wednesday that they signed free-agent right-hander Mike Clevinger to a minor-league deal that includes a non-roster invitation to major-league spring training, according to Jason Mackey of PG Sports Now. Clevinger, a nine-year MLB veteran, appeared in only eight games in relief in 2025 for the Chicago White Sox and was not effective, allowing five earned runs on five hits while walking eight and striking out three. The 35-year-old veteran was then sent to Triple-A Charlotte, where he remained for the rest of the season. The strength of the Pirates' major-league roster is their starting rotation, so Clevinger is an extreme long shot to get an opportunity as a starter for the Bucs at any point this coming season. Expect him to start at Triple-A Indianapolis if he sticks with the team after spring training.

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Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said on the Tiger Territory podcast that he sees relievers Kenley Jansen, Will Vest, and Kyle Finnegan all getting save opportunities in 2026, but he named Jansen as the favorite for most of the closing work since he is 24 saves from reaching the 500-save mark for his career. The 38-year-old veteran was signed to a one-year, $9 million deal in free agency after posting a 2.59 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 29 saves for the Los Angeles Angels in 2025. Hinch said he's not afraid to use any of his three high-leverage relief arms earlier in the game, if necessary, and he's also not opposed to changing up the save hierarchy at any point if it makes sense. Jansen's strikeout rate dropped to a career-low 24.4% last year, and although he was still effective, he has less room for error going forward and will most likely be on a short leash in Detroit. Jansen is ranked as the No. 15 fantasy closer at RotoBaller.

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Free-agent infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa and the Boston Red Sox agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Kiner-Falefa will remain in the American League East after ending last season with the Toronto Blue Jays. The utility infielder started the 2025 campaign with the Pittsburgh Pirates before being waived in August after he hit .264/.300/.332 with a home run, 35 RBI, 40 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases in 119 games. He only played in 19 regular-season games in Toronto, going 7-for-30 (.233) with a homer and five RBI. The 30-year-old has never hit more than eight home runs in his eight big-league seasons and hasn't hit the 20-steal mark since 2022 with the New York Yankees. In Beantown, Kiner-Falefa will likely operate in a utility role, leaving him little fantasy appeal in deeper leagues outside of his positional versatility.

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The St. Louis Cardinals signed free-agent first baseman Bligh Madris to a minor-league deal on Wednesday, according to Chase Ford of MiLB Central. Madris has 247 extra-base hits and 403 RBI in his minor-league career. The 29-year-old was taken in the ninth round in 2017 out of Colorado Mesa University by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he made his big-league debut with the Bucs in 2022, going 20-for-113 (.177) at the plate with a homer, seven RBI, 10 runs, two steals, 10 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 39 games and 123 plate appearances. Madris played in 12 games with the Houston Astros in 2023 and hit a career-high .269 (18-for-67) with a homer and five RBI in 21 games with the Detroit Tigers in 2024. He hit .232/.320/.384 with five homers in 50 games with Triple-A Toledo in 2025. Expect Madris to open the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Memphis.

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The Boston Red Sox announced on Wednesday that they claimed catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper off waivers from the Washington Nationals. Gasper will return to the team with which he made his major-league debut in 2024, although he appeared in just 13 games and was hitless with eight strikeouts in 23 plate appearances. The 30-year-old appeared in 45 games last season with the Minnesota Twins and slashed just .158/.257/.232 with a .488 OPS, two home runs, 11 RBI, 15 runs scored, and two steals in 110 plate appearances. In addition to catcher, Gasper can play first base, second base, and the outfield. He has minor-league options remaining, so he will most likely open the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Worcester as catching depth behind Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong.

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The New York Yankees claimed outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez off waivers from the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, sources told Francys Romero. Fernandez was designated for assignment by the Rockies last week. The 23-year-old Cuban outfielder made his major-league debut with Colorado in 2025 and hit .225/.265/.348 with a .613 OPS, four home runs, 11 RBI, 13 runs scored, eight walks, and 44 strikeouts in 52 games and 147 plate appearances. While Fernandez will begin the 2026 campaign in the minors, he'll be an intriguing name to watch if he eventually makes his way to the Bronx because of his raw power from the left side of the plate. Fernandez has hit .279/.336/.478 with an .813 OPS, 77 home runs, and 338 RBI in 469 games over five minor-league seasons in the Rockies' system.

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The San Francisco Giants signed free-agent right-hander Michael Fulmer to a minor-league deal with a non-roster invitation to major-league spring training, according to the team. The 32-year-old veteran and former American League Rookie of the Year back in 2016 with the Detroit Tigers only appeared in three games (all in relief) in 2025 with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, throwing 5 2/3 innings. In 66 1/3 innings in the minors, he had a 3.39 ERA with 86 strikeouts and 29 walks. Fulmer has eight years of big-league experience with four different teams and has appeared in 265 games (90 starts), but he'll merely be competing for a spot in San Fran's Opening Day bullpen this spring. If Fulmer makes the major-league roster in 2026, he will most likely work in a long-relief/mop-up role for the Gigantes.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have emerged as one of the most aggressive teams to pursue free-agent left-hander Framber Valdez, people briefed on the matter told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The 32-year-old is the biggest name left on the open market this offseason, and adding him would enhance the Pirates' biggest strength -- their starting rotation, which is led by National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes. The Pirates' new pitching coach, Bill Murphy, worked with Valdez as both a minor-league and major-league coach with the Houston Astros. In addition to the Pirates, the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, and San Diego Padres have been linked to Valdez this offseason. The 32-year-old southpaw would give the Bucs not only another strong arm but plenty of experience and durability, as he's just one of five pitchers to throw at least 900 innings in the last four seasons.

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The Atlanta Braves announced on Wednesday that they signed free-agent right-hander Tayler Scott to a minor-league deal with a non-roster invitation to spring training, according to Grant McAuley of 929 The Game. Scott, 33, split the 2025 season with the Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks, posting a rough 7.90 ERA (6.32 FIP), 1.90 WHIP, 24 strikeouts, and 18 walks in 27 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. The South African native has a career 5.51 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and 21.2% strikeout rate in five major-league seasons with eight different teams. Scott will compete for an Opening Day bullpen spot for the Braves in spring training, but he's most likely going to begin at Triple-A Gwinnett. He was originally a fifth-round selection by the Chicago Cubs in 2011 out of high school.

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The Detroit Tigers have invited shortstop prospect Kevin McGonigle to big-league spring training this year, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Per MLB Pipeline, McGonigle is the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball entering the 2026 season, behind only the Pirates' Konnor Griffin. The 21-year-old is an advanced hitter for his age and slashed an impressive .305/.408/.583 with 19 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 88 games over three minor-league levels last season. In addition to being able to play the 6, he'll be an option at second and third base for the Tigers at the next level. However, McGonigle is expected to stick at short for now, which is the biggest need in Detroit. The left-handed hitter might need some time to mature and develop his power and speed, but there's no question he's already among the best pure hitting prospects in baseball.

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The Detroit Tigers invited outfield prospect Max Clark to major-league spring training this year, according to the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. Clark, who is considered the No. 10 overall prospect in baseball this year, hit a combined .271/.403/.432 with an .835 OPS, 14 home runs, 67 RBI, 85 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases in 111 games with High-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie last year. The left-handed-hitting former third overall pick in 2023 has plus tools with his bat, legs, arm, and glove. Power from the left side might be his biggest weakness, but he figures to develop more of it as his 6-foot, 205-pound frame matures. Clark had a 135 wRC+ AND 16.7% strikeout rate at Double-A, so he figures to open the 2026 season at Triple-A Toledo. If Clark picks up where he left off in the minors in 2026, it may not be long before he's starting in center field in Motown at the major-league level.

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