Philadelphia Phillies top pitching prospect Andrew Painter has no restrictions in spring training, and the Phillies are hoping he wins a rotation spot in camp, according to John Clark of NBC Sports. It's been a long road for Painter to this point after a tear in his UCL was discovered three years ago, which led to Tommy John surgery. Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, and Aaron Nola are locked into the team's top-three rotation spots, but there's a clear opening for Painter now that we know Zack Wheeler (shoulder) won't be ready for Opening Day. In his first full season back from TJ surgery, Painter struggled, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 22 starts at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The good news is that his stuff looked fine, and he threw a combined 118 innings at two levels. If the 22-year-old is a little sharper than he was last year and he stays healthy, he will most definitely be in play in all fantasy formats as long as he is locked into a rotation spot in Philly.

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New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil will throw live batting practice as he looks to get ready for a full 2026 season. Gil will face Aaron Judge, Amed Rosario, and Paul Goldschmidt out of the gate. The 2024 American League Rookie of the Year got a late start to 2025, making his season debut in early August. He went 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA and 4.63 FIP with 41 strikeouts in 57 innings in the regular season. Gil is expected to compete with Clarke Schmidt for the fifth spot in the rotation for the Yankees this spring training, and the 27-year-old from the Dominican brings a high ceiling if he can return to his 2024 form. In 2024, he had 10.15 K/9, but that dropped all the way to 6.47 K/9 in his limited work last year, causing his FIP and xERA to climb even though his ERA remained low. His progress will be important to watch, and it's a great sign that he's ready to throw live BP this early in the spring.

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Baltimore Orioles first baseman/third baseman Coby Mayo was the subject of plenty of trade rumors this offseason after the O's signed Pete Alonso to play 1B on a five-year deal. Mayo has been an elite power prospect for the last few seasons, but he hasn't really established himself in the majors yet. He played 85 games for the O's last year, hitting .217 with 11 homers and a .303 wOBA. He and Ryan Mountcastle will both be looking for playing time after the Alonso addition, but space could be opening up with 2B Jackson Holliday (hand) needing surgery and Jordan Westburg (oblique) behind schedule in his ramp-up to Opening Day. Mayo could be part of the solution to fill in for Holliday, since he could play 3B, while Westburg slides to 2B. Mayo played 1B mostly last season but came through the minors at 3B, where he was working out on a backfield in Orioles spring training on Wednesday. If Mayo can build on his strong September and have a strong spring at the plate, he could earn an Opening Day roster spot, and his power potential is intriguing enough to make him worth watching as a late-round flier.

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes (elbow) was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL last season and shut down at the end of July. He opted not to undergo surgery, instead resting and rehabbing, and now he wonders if it was a pre-existing condition, based on his quick recovery so quickly. The 29-year-old righty has no restrictions coming into spring training and could end up in the starting rotation that has already lost Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) for an extended period of time to start the season. Holms will join Reynaldo Lpez, Spencer Strider, and Chris Sale as the established rotation pieces, with Bryce Elder, Hurston Waldrep, and Joey Wentz competing for the fifth spot. Holmes went 4-9 with a 3.99 ERA, 4.40 FIP, and 123 strikeouts in his 115 innings last season. How well his elbow responds to the spring workload will be critical to monitor to see if he breaks camp in the starting rotation for the Braves.

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Washington Nationals starting pitcher DJ Herz (elbow) will continue to rehab from his Tommy John surgery to start the season and won't be available until mid-season at the earliest. He underwent the procedure last April, so he could return at some point this season, depending on how the recovery goes. The young lefty showed some upside as a rookie in 2024, with 106 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings, going 4-9 in 19 starts. His main issue was control problems in his rise through the minors, and he'll need to regain his control after the procedure if he wants to make an impact this season. He's not someone you need to worry about in drafts in almost any format, but he could be a midseason pickup or streaming option late in the year as he looks to return to fantasy relevance for 2027.

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Free agent relief pitcher Liam Hendricks has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Minnesota Twins that includes an invite to major-league spring training. The 37-year-old former closer pitched in 14 games last season for the Red Sox after missing all of 2024. He had a 6.59 ERA and 5.04 FIP with 12 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings in 2025, and he underwent elbow surgery in September that could keep him sidelined into the season. He's already battled back from stage-four cancer and Tommy John surgery over the last few years, but he would be an interesting veteran option in a very thin Twins' bullpen if he's able to come back from this injury as well. Keep an eye on Hendriks' progress this spring to see if he's in the mix at all, especially if you're punting saves and looking to scrounge them up as the season plays out.

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Free agent relief pitcher Julian Merryweather is joining the Twins bullpen mix by signing a minor-league deal with an invite to camp. The 34-year-old righty has pitched for the Blue Jays and Cubs over the last six seasons, with his best year coming in 2023, when he went 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 3.52 FIP in 69 games out of the bullpen while racking up 98 strikeouts in 72 innings. He has battled injury since then, though, and only pitched in 33 2/3 innings over the last two seasons with reduced velocity resulting in a 6.15 ERA and 4.25 FIP. With the Twins bullpen still very uncertain, Merryweather i sanother name to track this spring training to see if he can earn a role in Minnesota.

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Free-agent right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Hendriks, a three-time All-Star, has only made 19 relief appearances since the start of the 2023 season due to injuries. The 37-year-old veteran Australian missed time last year with hip and elbow injuries and pitched in only 14 games for the Boston Red Sox, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out 12 in 13 2/3 innings. The Twins certainly could use the experience in their bullpen, but Hendriks is going to have to pitch well this spring and stay healthy to earn an Opening Day bullpen spot in Minnesota. Hendriks has 116 career saves in 14 major-league seasons, but fantasy managers should be looking to ignore him for now.

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Free-agent right-hander Chris Bassitt and the Baltimore Orioles agreed on a one-year, $18.5 million contract on Wednesday night, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 36-year-old now joins an overhauled Orioles rotation that also includes Shane Baz, Zach Eflin, Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, and Dean Kremer. Bassitt will stay in the American League East after going 11-9 with a 3.96 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 166:52 K:BB in 170 1/3 innings over 32 regular-season outings (31 starts) in 2025 with the Toronto Blue Jays. The veteran hurler isn't overpowering (career 22% strikeout rate), but he does an excellent job at avoiding hard contact. Bassitt was in the 85th percentile last year in average exit velocity and the 80th percentile in hard-hit rate, and he's made at least 30 starts each year since 2022. At his age, fantasy managers know what they are getting: a safe, dependable back-end starter with a limited ceiling.

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The Denver Post's Kyle Newman writes that new Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy "could very well end up starting in right field" to begin the 2026 season over Mickey Moniak. McCarthy can play all three outfield spots and will be the fastest Rockies player with a sprint speed in the 99th percentile. The 28-year-old finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting back in 2022 and played in a career-high 142 games in 2024, but he dealt with injuries and slumped to the tune of a .204/.247/.345 slash line with a career-worst .591 OPS in 67 games (222 plate appearances) last year. McCarthy faces significant competition in Colorado's outfield, but if he bounces back, he could make the left-handed-hitting Moniak expendable. Speed is McCarthy's greatest asset, and although he doesn't have much power, he's a more intriguing bench stash in deeper fantasy leagues now that he's in Colorado.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday to make room on the 40-man roster for recently signed right-hander Jose Urquidy, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Jones' placement on the 60-day IL was expected, as he's not projected to make his 2026 season debut until sometime in late May after he had surgery to fix a torn UCL in his right arm last May. We'll have a clearer timetable for the 24-year-old once he begins to ramp up his throwing program. Despite the surgery, Jones has lots of long-term potential in Pittsburgh after impressing in his rookie campaign in 2024. In his first 22 big-league starts, the former second-rounder went 6-8 with a 4.14 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 132:39 K:BB in 121 2/3 frames. At best, Jones will be a speculative late-round selection in fantasy drafts this year, with the Bucs most likely handling him with extreme caution when he's finally back.

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Left-hander Kris Bubic won his salary arbitration hearing against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Bubic will earn $6.15 million in 2026 after the team filed at $5.15 million. Bubic broke out in 2025 in his sixth year in the big leagues to earn his first All-Star nod, but his season was cut short due to a rotator-cuff strain. In his 20 starts, the 28-year-old southpaw went 8-7 with a career-low 2.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with a career-high 116 strikeouts and 39 walks in 116 1/3 innings pitched. The good news is that Bubic is already throwing bullpens in spring training, so he should be ready for the start of the 2026 season. The former first-rounder has looked pretty darn good the last two years with ERAs under 3.00, but his arm just couldn't hold up to the increase in workload in 2025. He has kept hitters off balance with a diverse arsenal. Don't forget about him as rotation depth late in fantasy drafts.

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Left-hander Eric Lauer lost his salary arbitration hearing against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Lauer will earn $4.4 million in 2026 instead of the $5.75 million he filed for. The 30-year-old veteran southpaw stepped up for Toronto in a swing role in 2025 after pitching in Korea in 2024, as he posted a career-best 3.18 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 102 strikeouts and 26 walks in 104 2/3 innings over 28 appearances (15 starts). Lauer added some velocity last year and showed a little bit better control. The problem for his 2026 fantasy value is that he'll likely be relegated to a long-relief bullpen role after the offseason addition of starting pitcher Dylan Cease. In his seven-year big-league career, Lauer has a 4.13 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 22.3% strikeout rate for three different teams. Lauer is strictly an arm to roster in AL-only leagues.

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Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof (shoulder) told Foul Territory on Wednesday that he's "feeling healthy, feeling ready to go," according to Jason Burke of Sports Illustrated. Gelof is very excited for the upcoming season and will be reporting to spring training on Friday. The 26-year-old is expected to be a full-go in camp after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. He didn't make his season debut until early July after recovering from a fractured right wrist and a stress reaction in his ribs, and then he was shut down in the final month with a dislocated left shoulder. In between, Gelof hit an ugly .174/.230/.272 with two home runs, seven RBI, seven walks, and 46 K's in 30 games (101 plate appearances). Gelof looks to be healthy after having surgery on his shoulder, but he'll need to stay healthy and beat out Darrell Hernaiz for playing time at the keystone. Making contact has been an issue for the former second-rounder, as he led the league in strikeouts with 188 in 547 plate appearances in 2024.

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Kansas City Royals left-hander Bailey Falter (biceps) was able to throw a bullpen session at spring training on Wednesday, according to Anne Rogers of MLB.com. Falter missed the final five weeks of last season due to a left-biceps contusion, but he made a couple of minor-league rehab starts in late September and appears to be fully healthy as he heads into his first full season with the Royals. The 28-year-old southpaw opened the 2025 campaign with the Pittsburgh Pirates and had a 3.73 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with a 70:39 K:BB in 113 1/3 innings over 22 starts before joining the Royals in the second half. Falter only appeared in four games (two starts) with KC to close out the year, allowing 15 earned runs in just 12 innings. Depending on the health of the rest of the Royals' starting options, Falter appears ticketed for a long-relief role to open the 2026 campaign. Fantasy managers can ignore him in mixed formats.

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San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt (wrist) will continue his hitting progression for one more week before he'll be cleared for all baseball activities, according to MLB.com. Schmitt is a little behind in spring training after having surgery to remove the carpal boss in his left wrist with Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles on Dec. 2. The 26-year-old is primarily a middle infielder, but he filled in at the hot corner in San Fran for a bit last year when Matt Chapman was out due to injuries. Schmitt slashed a very modest .237/.305/.401 with a .706 OPS, a career-high 12 home runs, 40 RBI, and 34 runs scored in a career-high 95 games played (348 plate appearances). His batted-ball metrics are merely average, and Schmitt doesn't make enough consistent contact to carry a high average if he falls into more playing time around the infield. In a utility role, Schmitt can be ignored in mixed fantasy leagues in 2026.

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Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Hunter Strickland (shoulder) threw a bullpen session at spring training on Wednesday, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Strickland was shut down for the rest of the season in early July of last year due to a right-shoulder strain, but the veteran reliever appears to be healthy going into the 2026 campaign. Even though Kenley Jansen is no longer in town, the 37-year-old veteran is not a lock to win an Opening Day bullpen job with the Halos out of camp. Before his shoulder injury last year, Strickland held a 3.27 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, one save, 14 strikeouts, and 10 walks in 22 innings out of the bullpen. If Strickland pitches well this spring and begins the season with the Angels, he'll only be worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues that reward points for holds.

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Veteran catcher Jacob Stallings has retired from playing baseball and is joining the Pittsburgh Pirates' front office as a baseball operations specialist, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Stallings split the first half of the 2025 season with the Rockies and Orioles, but he elected free agency at the end of July in lieu of being sent outright to Triple-A. He slashed just .134/.195/.168 with a 31% strikeout rate and -7 wRC+ last year, and his defense also took a step backward as he posted -1.4 FRM and -5 FRV. Overall, he finishes his 577-game MLB career with 33 home runs, 77 wRC+, 0.5 FRM, and 9 FRV. The University of North Carolina product will now make the jump to a front office role with the Pirates, who drafted him in 2012 and rostered him through 2021.

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The Toronto Blue Jays will monitor starting pitcher Trey Yesavage's workload this season, according to general manager Ross Atkins. Yesavage made his MLB debut last season, ultimately accruing 139.2 innings between the minors and majors (including the postseason). This was a pretty hefty innings total for the young right-hander, especially since 2025 was his first season playing pro baseball. He didn't log any game action in the months after being drafted in 2024. While it may seem like Toronto rushed him to the majors, the results speak for themselves. The right-hander logged 11.9 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 between the regular season and postseason, accruing a 51.9% ground ball rate and 3.19 FIP. It's important to note that Atkins said Yesavage's workload will be "monitored," which means the Jays are keeping close tabs on his usage but might not necessarily restrict his innings.

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Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Orion Kerkering (hamstring) has a Grade 1 hamstring strain, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Kerkering is "a little behind" as spring training gets underway. While this is certainly a situation worth monitoring, it doesn't sound like Kerkering's injury is too serious, and he should be ready for Opening Day if he doesn't experience any setbacks. The 24-year-old fell out of the closer-by-committee group when Philadelphia acquired Jhoan Duran last year, but he still posted a solid 3.82 FIP with 9.75 K/9, 4.05 BB/9, and a 42% ground ball rate across 69 appearances (60.0 innings). However, without many save opportunities in his future, he's not a very appealing option in fantasy baseball drafts.

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