Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet replaced his changeup with a splitter during the offseason, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. Crochet reportedly used informative videos from pitching coach Andrew Bailey and coach Devin Rose to experiment and ultimately implement the new pitch while working out at Vanderbilt University during the offseason. Crochet only threw his changeup 4% of the time last year, but it produced an impressive .080 wOBA and 42.1% whiff rate. In comparison to the changeup, we'd expected his splitter to have an even lower spin rate, and perhaps additional drop (lower induced vertical break). Crochet posted a spectacular 2.64 xFIP during his first season in Boston last year, and he ranks as RotoBaller's #2 starter heading into 2026 fantasy baseball drafts.

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Toronto Blue Jays reliever Yimi Garcia (right elbow) has been "feeling good and throwing for numerous weeks now," manager John Schneider told Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Garcia underwent surgery to clean up scar tissue in his right elbow last September, and he also dealt with an ankle sprain last season. Schneider wouldn't officially commit to Garcia being on the Opening Day roster, but the pennant-winning skipper did express optimism that he might be ready for the season opener. The Jays, of course, will be cautious with Garcia's build-up and have no plans to rush him back. Injuries limited the veteran reliever to 21 innings last year, during which he amassed 10.71 K/9, 5.14 BB/9, and 0.86 HR/9 along with a 3.85 FIP. He has just 12 saves over his last four seasons but can still be trusted in leverage situations this year, assuming he's healthy and returns to his pre-injury form.

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Toronto Blue Jays left-handed pitcher Ricky Tiedemann (elbow) will be stretched out to multiple innings during spring training, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Tiedemann is coming off Tommy John surgery, and while the Jays will stretch him out during the coming weeks, he won't be in a bulk role for the entire season. The organization will evaluate his workload on a month-to-month basis, and he has a shot to make his MLB debut as a bullpen option late in the season. Tiedemann hasn't thrown in a live game since 2024, when he amassed just 17.1 innings before getting injured. He made four short Triple-A starts that year, posting 12 walks and 11 strikeouts over nine innings of work. That was a small sample size, though, and he had pitched to a much more encouraging 1.68 FIP, 16.77 K/9, and 4.70 BB/9 in the minors the year before. Toronto won't rush the former third-round pick into making his MLB debut, but the fact that he's already on the 40-man roster bodes well for his chances of making the big-league squad at some point in 2026.

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Toronto Blue Jays corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto will see some time at first base, according to manager John Schneider. Okamoto is widely viewed as a third baseman, but he played both corner infield spots in Japan. In fact, he posted an impressive .996 fielding percentage across 130 games at first base in 2024. Presumably, he'll be the Jays' go-to first baseman when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is designated hitting. Schneider's willingness to play Okamoto at first could also indicate that he wants to get Guerrero fewer games in the field. No matter how the lineup looks, it's encouraging to know that Schneider plans to get Okamoto's bat in the lineup consistently, whether that's at first base or third base. He slashed .327/.416/.598 with 15 homers and 210 wRC+ during his final season in Japan, and he walked as much as he struck out. He currently ranks as the #27 third baseman in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for the 2026 season.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer (knee, oblique, wrist) dealt with a variety of injuries during the 2025 season, according to John Schneider. In addition to the previously reported knee and oblique soreness, Schneider said Tuesday that Springer also experienced right wrist discomfort as the season went along. The injuries impacted Springer's ability to throw, but he recovered well during the offseason and is not expected to face any setbacks for the 2026 regular season. Schneider specifically noted that Springer "is going to be out (in the OF) whenever we need him." That's good news for the Jays and fantasy managers after the veteran outfielder slashed .309/.399/.560 with 32 home runs and 166 wRC+ across 140 games last year. He spent most of 2025 in the designated hitter slot but could be tasked with playing more outfield innings after Anthony Santander (shoulder) was ruled out for at least five months. Springer currently ranks as the #26 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings for 2026.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Reese Olson (right shoulder) has been ruled out for the entire 2026 season after undergoing labral repair surgery, according to Jason Beck of MLB.com. He was officially placed on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. Olson battled multiple injuries last year and ultimately made just 13 starts. He missed a month and a half during the early portion of the season due to ring finger inflammation, and then he was sidelined from late July through the end of the season due to his shoulder issue. Across 68.2 innings of work, he posted a 3.50 FIP with 8.52 K/9, 3.28 BB/9, and 0.66 HR/9. His long-term absence provides a better explanation for why Detroit signed veteran starter Justin Verlander to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Verlander should replace Olson as the Tigers' No. 4 starter entering the 2026 season, barring any other unforeseen transactions or injuries.

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Texas Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford (elbow) said he will throw his seventh bullpen session on Tuesday in his rehab from an internal-brace procedure last June, and he's still aiming for a return in May, according to Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports. Bradford's bullpen on Tuesday will be his first that isn't limited to fastballs. The 27-year-old will try eight to 10 changeups. The 27-year-old southpaw pitched well in 2024, going 6-3 with a 3.54 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 70 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 76 1/3 innings over his 14 appearances (13 starts). Bradford doesn't blow hitters away, but he has strong command and has shown a knack for keeping batters off balance. Because his command could struggle upon his return in 2026 after a long layoff, it's hard to get behind him in single-league formats this year. The Rangers will most definitely ease Bradford back in, too. At best, he's a bench stash in AL-only leagues.

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When asked about right-handed reliever Jeff Hoffman, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said he's "100 percent confident if he's closing most games," according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. General manager Ross Atkins said in November that the Blue Jays weren't committed to using Hoffman as their primary closer in 2026 after he struggled in late-game situations in 2025. The 33-year-old veteran had a career-high 33 saves, but he also had a 4.37 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 68 innings during the regular season, and he famously blew Game 7 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hoffman should see most of the team's save chances to open the season, but both Yimi Garcia (elbow) and Louis Varland are options to save games if Hoffman struggles. He'll be on a much shorter leash in 2026.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber (forearm) will open the 2026 season on the injured list, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Bieber is dealing with right-forearm fatigue and will have his ramp-up during spring training delayed past Opening Day. Manager John Schneider said Bieber is feeling good and is playing catch, but he's week-to-week and won't start the season on time. The 30-year-old still hasn't recovered from the extra workload he took on last fall during the team's run to the World Series. Bieber pitched well in the postseason, but he made five appearances after making seven starts for Toronto in the regular season in his return from Tommy John surgery. He pitched well in his return and showed an increase in his velocity, but this is a reminder that Bieber carries significant injury risk.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that right-hander Bowden Francis (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing UCL reconstruction, according to Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Francis also missed time last year with a right-shoulder impingement and was limited to 64 innings over 14 starts during the regular season. The 29-year-old posted a career-worst 6.05 ERA (6.85 FIP) and 1.53 WHIP while striking out 54 and walking 27 in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues with the Jays. His strong 2024 campaign was aided by a .211 BABIP and 78.3 left-on-base percentage, but his split-finger fastball did prove to be a pretty nasty pitch. Francis was much easier to hit last year and allowed 19 home runs in just 64 innings of work. The former seventh-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017 now faces a lengthy recovery.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said on Tuesday that outfielder/designated hitter Anthony Santander (shoulder) will miss around five to six months after he has left-labral surgery on Wednesday, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. There goes Santander's chances of bouncing back in 2026 in his second year after signing a five-year, $92.5 million deal last offseason. The 31-year-old veteran only appeared in 54 games in 2025 in his first year in Toronto due to injuries and hit a disappointing .175/.271/.294 with a .565 OPS, six home runs, and 18 RBI. The lack of production from Santander made the Blue Jays' run to the World Series even more amazing. At best, fantasy managers won't have Santander until some point in the second half of this season, and when he returns, there's no guarantee he'll return to his level of play in his final year in Baltimore in 2024, when he hit 44 homers and drove in 102 runs.

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Los Angeles Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said that right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (elbow) will have to prove he's healthy to earn an Opening Day starting rotation spot, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. The same is true for right-hander Alek Manoah, while Suzuki named lefties Yusei Kikuchi and Reid Detmers, and right-hander Jose Soriano as locks for the rotation. Rodriguez was acquired by the Angels from the Baltimore Orioles back in November, but after missing all of last year with elbow and lat injuries, the Halos want to make sure he's fully healthy before committing to him as a starter. The 26-year-old former first-rounder was one of the top prospects in baseball in the O's system before he made his big-league debut in 2023, though, so he could bounce back nicely if he can stay on the mound. Rodriguez showed high-end potential in 2024, when he had a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 26.5% strikeout rate.

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Michael Baron of Just Mets lists Carson Benge, Brett Baty, Tyrone Taylor, and MJ Melendez as options for right field this year for the New York Mets, with Juan Soto shifting to left field. Baron also adds that if he had to guess, the Mets are hoping that the left-handed-hitting Baty wins the job in spring training. If the 23-year-old Benge isn't quite ready to make the transition to the big leagues, the 26-year-old Baty might be the favorite to start in right field for New York to open the 2026 season, at least against right-handed pitching. The offseason acquisitions of Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette, and Jorge Polanco leave no room on the infield for Baty. Although Baty had a mediocre .254 batting average in 130 games last year, he did have a career-best .748 OPS, 18 home runs, and hit over .300 after Aug. 1. The former first-rounder has a much higher fantasy ceiling than Taylor, can do a little bit of everything, and can play multiple positions.

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Free-agent outfielder Austin Slater agreed to a minor-league deal on Tuesday with the Detroit Tigers that includes a non-roster invitation to major-league spring training, multiple people with knowledge of the agreement told Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Slater will make $2 million if he's on the MLB roster, plus an extra $500,000 in incentives. The 33-year-old veteran hit a combined .216/.270/.372 with a .642 OPS, five home runs, 13 RBI, and 22 runs scored in 148 at-bats in 2025 with the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. He'll bring a much-needed right-handed bat to Detroit's outfield group, but at best, Slater will most likely be on the short side of a platoon in the Tigers' outfield in 2026, limiting his fantasy appeal. Slater was slightly better against lefties in 2025, hitting .224/.290/.435 against them with a .726 OPS and all five of his home runs.

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Colorado Rockies outfielder/first baseman Kris Bryant (back) was placed on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, meaning he's already set to miss a big chunk of the 2026 campaign. The move wasn't necessarily a surprise as the former first-round draft pick continues to rehab his ailing back, and the move also cleared up space for newly acquired RHP Tomoyuki Sugano. Bryant's injury history since joining the Rockies is well known, having played in just 170 games combined during the first four years of his seven-year contract with Colorado. During the limited time he's been on the field over those four years, his production has dropped precipitously by multiple measures. The 34-year-old is off the fantasy radar until he returns and proves otherwise.

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New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto will play left field for the team in 2026, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns. The 4x All-Star played 157 games in right field for the Mets last year, but will make the transition to left, which is the same position he played when he broke in with the Nationals and during his time with the Padres in 2023. The 27-year-old is coming off another fantastic season in which he amassed a .263-43-105-120-38 stat line with a .390 wOBA and 156 wRC+. The Dominican is one of the safest choices atop draft boards, currently going around pick No. 4 in most leagues.

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Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Shane Baz, who was acquired this offseason via trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, is viewed very positively within his new organization. Baltimore's new manager, Craig Albernaz, recently commented that "Shane Baz's upside is a Cy Young award winner." The right-hander certainly has the pedigree, having been selected with the 12th-overall pick in the 2017 Draft, but injuries have kept him from living up to the potential thus far. The 6-foot-3 hurler debuted in 2021, but made just 23 starts through 2024 before finally staying on the mound for 31 starts in 2025. Last year, the former first-rounder pitched to a 4.87 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and a 15.8 percent K-BB% in 166 1/3 innings pitched. Despite those numbers, he did flash dominating stuff at times, including five games with nine or more strikeouts. The 26-year-old is going late in 2026 fantasy drafts, currently with an ADP of 205, so he could prove to be a value if he can live up to some of the Orioles' expectations.

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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) is set to be evaluated on Wednesday for a stress reaction in his left hamate bone, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns. The 5x All-Star may need surgery, and if he does, it typically comes with a six-week recovery timeline. The Mets are still optimistic that, even if surgery is needed, the 32-year-old would be ready in time for Opening Day on March 26. Despite a prolonged two-month downturn in midseason of last year, the switch-hitter finished with a strong .267-31-86-117-31 stat line with a .350 wOBA and 129 wRC+. That type of multi-category production has made him expensive in early 2026 fantasy drafts, going around pick 16, but with no less than a 120 wRC+ and no less than 152 games played over the last four seasons, the price is justified so long as he's ready to go when the season begins.

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Free Agent pitcher Justin Verlander agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, $11 million of which is deferred. The veteran pitcher spent 2025 with the Giants, going 4-11 with a 3.85 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and a 12.8 percent K-BB% in 152 innings pitched. Although it was an improvement on an injury-marred 2024, the three-time Cy Young award winner would be hard to trust for fantasy, with a high SIERA (4.44) and low strikeout rates (8.11 K/9) last season. The switch from pitcher-friendly Oracle Park to Comerica Park doesn't do him any favors either. The soon-to-be-43-year-old is going undrafted in most 2026 fantasy leagues, although there are probably riskier options at the end of deep-league drafts if managers want to roll the dice to see if a return to the place where he broke into the majors brings about some sort of revival.

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Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said that Coby Mayo's focus will be at first base in spring training, but that the coaching staff will also talk to him about the possibility of additional positional focus, such as the corner outfield, according to Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner. The 24-year-old could also see time at third base, a position he played coming up in the farm system. Most of Mayo's playing time in 2025 came at first base, but the Orioles signed Pete Alonso in the offseason, and Samuel Basallo and Ryan Mountcastle are also options there. Mayo became an everyday player in Baltimore in the final two months of last season and finished with a .217/.299/.388 slash line, .687 OPS, 11 home runs, 28 RBI, 30 runs, and three steals in 85 games. He hit the ball hard (34.5% hard-hit rate), but he also struck out over 30% of the time. Playing time could be an issue in Baltimore if Mayo struggles at the plate. He's ranked as RotoBaller's No. 46 fantasy first baseman.

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