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The New York Mets extended a non-roster invitation to outfield prospect Carson Benge on Monday. Despite adding Luis Robert Jr. in a trade this offseason, Benge is expected to compete for a starting job in the Mets' outfield in spring training this year. His primary competition for the left-field job will be Tyrone Taylor, MJ Melendez, and Brett Baty. The 23-year-old hit .281/.385/.472 with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases in 116 games at three minor-league levels last year. Benge is a former two-way star who should already be stashed in dynasty/keeper leagues. While his upside remains high long term, don't be surprised if the Mets use him in a platoon role at the big-league level against right-handed pitchers. He slugged only .326 in 123 plate appearances against lefties last year. MLB Pipeline has Benge ranked as the No. 16 overall prospect entering the 2026 season.

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The Boston Red Sox acquired infielder Andruw Monasterio from the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Monasterio will give the Red Sox some more infield depth in 2026. The 28-year-old Venezuelan hit .270/.319/.437 with a .755 OPS, four home runs, 16 RBI, 19 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 68 games played (135 plate appearances) in 2025 in his third year in the big leagues with the Brew Crew. He has been a bench player in all three seasons with the Brewers, and his role likely won't change all that much in Beantown, limiting his fantasy appeal to the deepest of AL-only formats. Boston would have to be in dire straits health-wise on the infield for Monasterio to carve out an everyday role. In his three MLB seasons, he's slashed .250/.321/.351 with a .672 OPS, only eight home runs, 59 RBI, and 15 stolen bases in 219 regular-season games.

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Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash and president of baseball operations Erik Neander said that left-hander Shane McClanahan (triceps) will get a full build-up in spring training, and the expectation is that he'll be ready for Opening Day, according to Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Florida. "The last six or eight weeks have been really, really good," pitching coach Kyle Snyder said. "I think we'll consider the math in terms of the season and where he slots, but he's being totally built up to start, with the expectation that he'll be in our rotation." The 28-year-old southpaw is a dice roll going into 2026 since he hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2023. McClanahan made only two minor-league rehab starts last year before having season-ending surgery on his triceps in August. The two-time All-Star will be hoping to find his pre-injury form in 2026 while the Rays manage his workload.

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The Milwaukee Brewers acquired left-hander Shane Drohan from the Boston Red Sox on Monday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Drohan will head to the National League Central and will most likely open up the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Nashville. The 27-year-old appeared in only 15 games (14 starts) in the minors last year due to a left-forearm injury, but when he was healthy, he was solid on the mound. Drohan went 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 77:21 K:BB in 54 total innings at High-A Greenville and Triple-A Worcester. He will give the Brewers some extra rotation depth in 2026 after they traded right-hander Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets. Drohan has a career 4.29 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 472 strikeouts, and 205 walks in 104 outings (89 starts) in his five-year minor-league career.

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Boston Red Sox right-hander Johan Oviedo's career 4.24 ERA, 4.61 FIP, and 15-26 record don't jump off the page, but an improvement in his fastball last year intrigued the Red Sox enough to trade for him this offseason, according to Mike Petriello of MLB.com. Oviedo returned from Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2024 to record a 3.57 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 42 strikeouts and 23 walks in 40 1/3 innings over nine starts with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025. His fastball had a minus-12 run value, a bottom-20 mark, in 2023. Despite a hard fastball, Oviedo had among the worst vertical movement on the pitch. When Oviedo returned in August of last year, he added five inches of rise to his fastball and increased his whiff rate on the pitch from 19% in 2023 to 31%. The 27-year-old's 14% walk rate was still ugly, but if he can stay healthy, he could be a nice sleeper in deeper leagues in Boston's starting rotation.

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The Milwaukee Brewers acquired infielder David Hamilton from the Boston Red Sox on Monday, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. Hamilton will return to the Brewers' organization after they originally drafted him in the eighth round in 2019 out of the University of Texas. The 28-year-old mostly played second base and shortstop in Beantown, but he'll be given a chance to compete at third base in spring training this year after Caleb Durbin was sent from Milwaukee to Boston in the same trade. Hamilton hit just .198/.257/.333 with six home runs, 19 RBI, 27 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases in 91 regular-season games for Boston last year, and he holds a .222/.283/.359 slash line with a .642 OPS, 14 home runs, 47 RBI, 76 runs, and 57 steals in 204 games over his three MLB seasons. He is mostly useful for his glove on defense and his speed on the base paths, but he won't be a lock for a regular role with his new team in 2026.

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Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson was the team's most consistent starting pitcher last year, compiling a 3.39 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 132:41 K:BB, and 127 ERA+ in 154 innings over 33 appearances (23 starts). Nelson wasn't in the Opening Day rotation, but he quickly joined the rotation after Corbin Burnes' season-ending Tommy John surgery in May. Arizona didn't let Nelson throw 100 pitches in a start until Aug. 5 last year as the team looked to keep him healthy. According to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert, Nelson made it a priority this offseason to get physically stronger so he can "handle the rigors of making 30 or more starts." He's added muscle and reduced some body fat while also working to develop his slider and curveball. The 28-year-old should be a rotation lock for at least the first half of 2026, and he could become more of a top-of-the-rotation arm for the D-backs if his secondary offerings take a step forward.

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Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz said that both young catchers Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel will work exclusively as catchers in 2026, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Teel, a former 14th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2023 out of Virginia, has the higher fantasy baseball ceiling as a low-end starting catching option in single-catcher leagues. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter made his MLB debut in 2025 and hit .273/.375/.411 with a .786 OPS, eight home runs, 35 RBI, and 38 runs in 253 at-bats. Quero was in the big leagues in Chicago before Teel, but Teel saw most of the playing time behind the dish against righties. Quero, 22, hit .268/.333/.356 with a .689 OPS, five homers, 36 RBI, and 31 runs in 365 at-bats. Teel should be a solid source of on-base percentage at the catching position against lefties in what could be a platoon in the Windy City.

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The Boston Red Sox have reportedly tried to trade for Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, but the Angels have set a very high bar for him. The Red Sox were unable to re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency, but they have traded for first baseman Willson Contreras and third baseman Caleb Durbin to boost their infield depth this offseason. Neto would be a clear upgrade over the injury-prone and aging Trevor Story, but Boston would likely have to part with several high-end prospects to land him. As things currently stand, Durbin and Marcelo Mayer figure to compete for playing time at third base, with Story at the 6 and Kristian Campbell manning the keystone. Neto has emerged as one of the best young shortstops in the game after hitting a combined .253/.318/.458 with a .776 OPS, 49 home runs, 139 RBI, 152 runs scored, and 56 stolen bases in the last two seasons.

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The Milwaukee Brewers acquired left-hander Kyle Harrison, infielder David Hamilton, and pitcher Shane Drohan from the Boston Red Sox on Monday in exchange for third baseman Caleb Durbin, shortstop Andruw Monasterio, third baseman Anthony Seigler, and a Compensation B draft pick, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Harrison, 24, went from the San Francisco Giants to the Red Sox last year in the trade that involved infielder Rafael Devers, and now he's on the move again. The former third-round pick only appeared in 11 games (six starts) for the Giants and BoSox in 2025, posting a 4.04 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 38 strikeouts and 14 walks in 35 2/3 frames. It wasn't a great sign that Harrison's walk rate sat at 11.8% at Triple-A Worcester last year, but the Brew Crew will try to get more out of him. Harrison will be in the mix for the competition for one of the final rotation spots in Milwaukee in spring training this year.

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Boston Red Sox infielder Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) is dealing with shoulder inflammation that popped up during the end of the regular season and got worse in early offseason workouts, according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com. Gonzalez said he received a platelet-rich plasma injection 2 1/2 weeks ago. He's currently behind schedule, but the goal remains to be ready for Opening Day. The 29-year-old former 18th-round pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2018 out of the University of Miami slashed .305/.343/.483 with an .826 OPS, nine home runs, 53 RBI, 47 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 96 regular-season games in 2025 in his second year with Boston. Gonzalez had an impressive 99th-percentile hard-hit rate and 123 wRC+ in what was a breakout year, and he also dominated left-handed pitchers with a .331 average. Playing time will be the biggest issue for Gonzalez, who figures to open the season in a utility infield role if he's healthy.

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Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed reliever Andrew Saalfrank (shoulder) posted a photo of himself on Monday on his Instagram account and announced that he underwent shoulder surgery, according to Alex D'Agostino of Sports Illustrated. MLB.com's Steve Gilbert reports that Saalfrank will miss the entire 2026 season. The 28-year-old southpaw was a key bullpen piece during the team's 2023 run to the World Series. The former sixth-round pick made a career-high 28 relief appearances for the Snakes last year, posting a 1.24 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, his first three career saves, five holds, 19 strikeouts, and 10 walks in 29 innings pitched. Saalfrank's injury is another blow to a banged-up Diamondbacks bullpen that will also be without relievers Justin Martinez (elbow) and A.J. Puk (elbow) for a good chunk of the 2026 season.

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Houston Astros All-Star closer Josh Hader (shoulder) has been throwing lightly and on flat ground as spring training begins for the Astros, according to Buster Olney of ESPN. Hader and the Astros hope to learn more about where he stands in his preparation for the 2026 season in the middle of this week. The 31-year-old southpaw missed the last seven-plus weeks of last season with a left-shoulder strain, but he said earlier in the offseason that he feels "back to normal," and he should be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback in spring training. Hader is a bit more of a risk for fantasy managers entering the 2026 campaign, but with his nasty fastball/slider mix, he showed last year before his shoulder injury that he's still one of the most dominant closers in the game. He held a 2.05 ER and 0.85 WHIP with a 29.1 K-BB percentage, which was fifth among qualified relievers. If Hader has a setback before or during the season, Bryan Abreu would likely be the favorite to take over the closing job in Houston.

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Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler (shoulder) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day this year, but the team is hopeful he'll be back shortly after, according to manager Rob Thomson. Wheeler is recovering from venous thoracic outlet surgery, which is the less severe version of the surgery. Still, the 35-year-old most likely won't be a part of Philly's Opening Day rotation in 2026 even though he resumed throwing back in December. If Wheeler doesn't have any setbacks through spring training, fantasy managers should have the right-handed ace at some point in April. The three-time All-Star was limited to 24 starts with the Phillies in 2025 in his sixth year with the team, going 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 195 strikeouts and 33 walks in 149 2/3 innings pitched. Wheeler has been one of the most consistent high-end starting pitchers in baseball in recent years, but there's no guarantee he'll bounce back to that form after his surgery. Proceed with caution.

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Athletics infielder Max Schuemann was traded to the Yankees on Monday for pitching prospect Luis Burgos. The A's designated Schuemann for assignment this past Friday, but he'll now head to the Yankees and should compete for a backup role in the spring. The 28-year-old spent time at third base, shortstop, and second base last year, as well as every outfield spot, so he is versatile. However, over his two seasons in the majors, the right-handed hitter has registered a .212/.306/.297 slash line with a .275 wOBA and 78 wRC+, so there isn't much there in the way of offense or fantasy relevance. Burgos posted a 2.44 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 11.8 percent K-BB% last season in the Dominican Summer League, but the 20-year-old has yet to pitch stateside professionally. Recently acquired outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez was DFA'd in order to make room for Schuemann.

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Free agent pitcher Chris Paddack is expected to sign with the Miami Marlins. The two are in agreement on a one-year, $4 million contract that also has some performance-based incentives. The right-hander should begin the season as the team's fifth starter and will look to right the ship after a poor 2025 campaign. The 6-foot-5 hurler spent most of the year with Minnesota before being traded to the Tigers at the end of July. Overall, the former eighth-rounder recorded a 5.35 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and struck out just 112 batters in 158 innings pitched. Until he proves otherwise, the 30-year-old should be left off 2026 fantasy rosters.

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Free Agent pitcher Erick Fedde and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a one-year deal, pending a physical. The veteran saw some success in his return from the KBO in 2024, pitching to a 3.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 14.0 percent K-BB%, but was unable to parlay that production into 2025. The 6-foot-4 hurler played for three different teams (Cardinals, Braves, Brewers) and registered an unsightly 5.49 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, and just a 2.6 percent K-BB%. The former first-rounder tentatively slots in as the fifth starter, although he'll likely face competition for the job this spring from the team's top pitching prospects, Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith, as well as another offseason acquisition, Sean Newcomb. Still just 32 years old, Fedde could have something left in the tank, but he's off the season-long fantasy radar for now.

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Free agent pitcher Nick Martinez and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to a one-year deal on Monday, pending a physical. The contract is for $13 million and includes a mutual option for 2027. Martinez had an up-and-down season last year, going 11-14 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.21 WHIP, however, he fared much better as a reliever. His final 11 appearances came in relief, and the right-hander posted a 2.61 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 20 2/3 innings pitched out of the bullpen. The Rays are expected to use the 35-year-old as a starter, but his experience as a reliever will give them some flexibility. Be that as it may, and although the veteran hurler had been effective in the three seasons prior to 2025, recording sub-3.50 ERAs in those campaigns, the 6-foot-1 pitcher doesn't move the needle in most standard-sized fantasy leagues right now.

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According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Boston Red Sox have acquired infielder Caleb Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers. In exchange, the Red Sox are sending left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, infielder David Hamilton, and left-handed pitcher Shane Drohan. Additionally, the Red Sox are also acquiring infielder Andrew Monasterio, third baseman Anthony Seigler, and a Comp B pick. Durbin put together a solid MLB debut with the Brewers last summer, holding a .256/.354/.387 line. He hit 11 home runs and showcased his high-end speed, swiping 18 bags. Additionally, he showed an elite eye at the plate, striking out at a low 9.9% rate. With Boston, managers should expect Durbin to compete for a starting role at the hot corner, alongside Marcelo Mayer. He would have sleeper appeal in deeper category formats if he earns a full-time role.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed designated hitter Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract. Ozuna was one of the top remaining bats on the open market and will look to provide a power spark to an improving Pittsburgh lineup. Last summer, Ozuna had a down year by his standards, hitting a low .232/.355/.400 line with a modest .755 OPS. He hit just 21 home runs. However, the year prior, Ozuna launched 39 long balls with a stellar .302/.378/.546 slash line. Despite the underwhelming 2025 season. Ozuna still generated a strong .354 xwOBA with an 11.4% barrel rate, suggesting he should see some positive regression in 2026. While his counting statistics may drop moving to this new lineup, he is a prime bounce-back candidate as he should return to the 30-HR mark in the Steel City.

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