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Miami Marlins catching prospect Joe Mack is a name to keep a close eye on during spring training. Mack is currently considered the No. 4-ranked prospect in the Miami system and No. 70 overall on MLB.com. The 23-year-old began the 2025 campaign with Double-A but needed only another 13 games there to prove he was ready to join Triple-A Jacksonville. During his first taste of action with the top club in the minor leagues, Mack held a .250/.320/.459 line with 18 doubles and 18 home runs. Through 99 games, Mack swiped eight bags but carried a 115:35 K:BB. He was used primarily behind the dish, as he logged 83 of his 112 total games behind the plate. Given that Agustin Ramirez struggled as a catcher during his first stint in the major leagues and was nearly deployed just as often as a DH, Mack could be a strong candidate to be the team's primary catcher early in 2026.

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Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect Chase DeLauter has flashed immense potential in the minors but has struggled to stay on the field, pushing back his MLB debut. Last summer, DeLauter actually joined the club for their postseason run and appeared in two games. Given that he is set to enter spring training with a clean bill of health, DeLauter seems positioned not only to make the MLB roster but also to claim the starting job in center field. Earlier in 2025, DeLauter held an impressive .278/.383/.476 line with eight doubles, five home runs, and a 23:22 K:BB across 34 games at Triple-A. While he has not reached the 50-game mark in each of his last two minor league seasons, when on the field, DeLauter has been very productive. Managers should monitor his status in spring training as he could become a top-sleeper pick in five-outfielder formats if he is penciled into their Opening Day lineup.

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Tampa Bay Rays top infield prospect Carson Williams made his MLB debut late in the season and appears to be the favorite to land the starting shortstop job out of spring training. During his first 32-game stint with Tampa Bay, the former 28th overall pick (from the 2021 MLB Draft) posted a .172/.219/.354 line but showed solid power upside, launching five home runs. However, his hefty 41.5% K% tainted his production. Earlier in the season, Williams spent the entire campaign with Triple-A Durham, where he posted a .213/.318/.447 line with a .765 OPS. He hit 23 home runs and swiped 22 bases. While his strikeout rate will hinder his upside in points leagues, Williams has shown a solid power and speed skill set that could translate to deeper category formats. He is worth monitoring in spring training as he could be a viable late-round depth middle infielder in 15+ team formats.

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The Washington Nationals acquired top catching prospect Harry Ford from the Seattle Mariners earlier in the offseason in exchange for reliever Jose Ferrer. Ford was considered one of the top catching prospects in the sport as he was progressing through the Seattle system. However, playing in a club with superstar Cal Raleigh was going to prevent Ford from seeing consistent at-bats. As a result, the Mariners opted to move him to Washington, where he could immediately take on a starting role in 2026. Outside of a small eight-game taste of the majors, Ford spent the majority of the 2025 campaign with Triple-A. Across 87 games, Ford posted a .283/.408/.460 line with 18 doubles, 16 home runs, seven stolen bases, and a strong 88:77 K:BB. Given Keibert Ruiz's immense struggles last season, Ford could claim the starting role in spring training. He is named to closely monitor in two-catcher leagues.

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Philadelphia Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller has seen his prospect stock rise in 2025 and could be ticketed for his MLB debut during the second half of the 2026 season. In 2025, Miller opened the season with Double-A and looked quite comfortable there, posting a solid .259/.382/.427 line with 25 doubles, 13 home runs, and 59 stolen bases. His stolen base total was a massive increase from the 23 he stole in the 2024 campaign across the lower levels of the system. This strong play earned him a brief eight-game stint with Triple-A. During this small taste, the former 27th overall pick held a .333/.514/.519 line with one home run and an eye-catching seven stolen bases. Given his elite play last summer, Miller appears ticketed to begin the season with Lehigh Valley. If he continues this trajectory, a second-half debut would be in play.

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New York Mets infield prospect Jett Williams is expected to be in the 2026 regular season with Triple-A Syracuse. Last season, the team's No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline took a step forward at Double-A, earning him a midseason promotion to Triple-A. With Double-A, the former 14th overall pick from the 2022 MLB Draft posted a strong .281/.390/.477 line with 29 doubles, 10 home runs, and 32 stolen bases. However, during his first look at the top level of the minor leagues, Williams took a step back, posting a much lower .209/.285/.433 line across a 34-game stint. He hit seven home runs but swiped only two bases. Additionally, given that the Mets brought in infielder Bo Bichette, Williams will face even more competition for a role early in the season. Managers should expect Williams to begin the season with Syracuse and push for a midseason debut if he can enjoy a productive start.

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Free-agent outfielder Austin Hays has several suitors in the open market, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman noted that the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals have also expressed interest in the veteran outfielder. However, with the Mets trading for outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on Tuesday evening, they may not continue their pursuit of Hays. The Yankees have been linked to star outfielder Cody Bellinger throughout the winter but have yet to come to an agreement. Hays spent the 2025 season with the Reds and held a .255/.325/.453 line with 15 home runs and seven stolen bases. Under the hood, he generated a below-average .300 xwOBA with a modest 38.4% hard-hit rate, suggesting he could face some regression in 2026. Hays projects to hold a platoon role in 2026, making him best left for deeper fantasy formats.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers have continued to show serious interest in acquiring right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers. The Dodgers have had a productive offseason, bringing in top closer Edwin Diaz and star outfielder Kyle Tucker. However, they are still looking to improve their roster, especially their rotation. According to Kate Woo of The Athletic, the Dodgers are targeting Peralta to further protect their rotation, given the extensive injury history many of their pitchers have had. This past season, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, and Tyler Glasnow all spent ample time on the injured list. Peralta enjoyed a strong showing in 2025, logging 176 2/3 innings with a 2.70 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 104:66 K:BB. If Peralta were to join Los Angeles, he could push either Emmet Sheehan or Sasaki to a long relief role to open the season.

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According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, the Boston Red Sox made "very little traction" with top free agent third baseman Eugenio Suarez over the past week. The Red Sox heavily pursued third baseman Alex Bregman before he signed a contract with the Cubs. With Bregman and infielder Bo Bichette off the board, the Red Sox were expected to turn their attention to Suarez. However, it appears that both sides have made little progress toward a potential contract. Suarez turned in a massive bounce-back season in 2025, launching 49 home runs with a .228/.298/.526 line. This was a significant jump from the 30 home runs he hit the year prior. Currently, the Red Sox are expected to rely on young infielder Marcelo Mayer at the hot corner if they are unable to agree to terms with Suarez.

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According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the Philadelphia Phillies are still looking to trade outfielder Nick Castellanos before spring training. Zolecki noted that they are looking for a suitor to pay at least part of his hefty $20 milion salary for the upcoming season. Castellanos has been on the trade block throughout the winter, and following the signing of Adolis Garcia, he appears to be headed for a bench role to begin the 2026 season, if he were to stay in Philadelphia. Last season, Castellanos had a down season in Philadelphia, hitting for a .250/.294/.400 line with a .694 OPS. He hit just 17 home runs, his lowest total since the 2022 campaign. The 33-year-old is a name to monitor as he would likely compete for a starting role on another club during spring training if he is traded or released.

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The Chicago White Sox acquired second baseman Luisangel Acuna from the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on Tuesday evening. Additionally, the White Sox acquired right-handed pitcher Truman Pauley. The 23-year-old second baseman received his first full stint in the big leagues last season, following a brief 14-game stint back in 2024. Through 98 games with the Mets last summer, Acuna posted a .234/.293/.274 slash line with seven doubles and 16 stolen bases. While he generated a low .271 xwOBA, he flashed immense speed upside, sitting in the 99th percentile, suggesting he could increase in that department if given a full-time role. Through 159 games with Triple-A split over the last two campaigns, Acuna has carried a .265/.307/.360 line seven home runs and 48 stolen bases. Managers should expect Acuna to compete for a starting role in the Chicago infield during spring training. If he earns a consistent role, he would have appeal in deeper category formats given his speed production.

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The New York Mets have acquired outfielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for infielder Luisangel Acuna and right-handed pitcher Truman Pauley. Robert has been linked to trade rumors for over a year and has finally found a suitor. The 28-year-old has taken a bit of a step back in terms of offensive production over the past two seasons, but a change of scenery could provide him with a much-needed spark. In 2025, Robert held a .223/.297/.344 line with 14 home runs and 33 stolen bases. In 2024, he also hit 14 home runs but stole only 23 bases. However, from 2021 through 2023, the outfielder looked like a budding star, as he held an overall .287/.331/.511 line with 21 home runs per season (and a high of 36 back in 2023). Despite modest production in 2025, Robert generated a 99th percentile bat speed with an above-average barrel rate, suggesting he still carries power upside. Managers should expect Robert to take over center field duties in Queens and see his counting stats increase, batting alongside Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Bo Bichette.

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The Texas Rangers announced today that they have signed free-agent right-hander Josh Sborz to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major league spring training. Sborz returns to the organization he has spent the past five seasons with. The 32-year-old relief pitcher missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from shoulder surgery. Over his six-year major league career, Sborz has posted a 4.96 ERA (3.94 FIP), a 1.33 WHIP, and 193 strikeouts across 163 1/3 innings. From a fantasy perspective, it's unlikely Sborz breaks camp with the big league club, and even if he does, he is not expected to be fantasy relevant. Although the Rangers' bullpen roles aren't crystal clear, most drafters expect Robert Garcia to open the 2026 season as the primary closer, with Chris Martin and Cole Winn also in the mix.

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Left-handed free-agent starting pitcher Rich Hill is leaning toward retirement, he said on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast. When asked by host Rob Bradford whether he was retiring, Hill responded, "I don't have any plans on playing next year." Hill's best season came in 2016, when he posted a 2.12 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 129 strikeouts over 110 1/3 innings. Now 45 years old, Hill spent 21 seasons in the major leagues, pitching for 14 different teams. Over his career, he recorded a 4.02 ERA (4.10 FIP), a 1.26 WHIP, and 1,432 strikeouts across 1,418 innings. If this truly marks the end of his playing career, Hill leaves the game after an impressive and remarkably long run.

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Longtime MLB outfielders Carlos Beltran and AnDruw Jones were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Beltran spent four years on the ballot, and he fell only a few percentage points shy of election last year. He spent 20 years in the majors, making nine All-Star appearances and winning Rookie of the Year. Through 2,586 career games, he slashed .279/.350/.486 with 435 home runs and 312 stolen bases. In addition to being a standout player on the field, the former World Series champion was regarded for his leadership among teammates in the clubhouse. Joining Beltran in the 2026 class is Jones, who won 10 consecutive Gold Glove awards during the peak of his 17-year career. He made five All-Star Games and led all of MLB with 51 home runs in 2005. Over 2,196 big-league games, he slashed .254/.337/.486 with 434 home runs and 67.0 fWAR. Both players will be inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame, alongside Era Committee electee Jeff Kent, on July 26.

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The Washington Nationals have claimed catcher Mickey Gasper off waivers from the Minnesota Twins, according to an announcement from the organization. In a corresponding move, the Nationals designated right-handed pitcher Andry Lara for assignment. Gasper was the Yankees' 27th-round pick in 2018, but he made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in 2024 by way of the Rule 5 draft. He spent last season with the Twins, splitting time between the majors and Triple-A. At the big-league level, he posted a disappointing .158/.257/.232 slash line with a 9.1% walk rate, 18.2% strikeout rate, and a 42 wRC+. He produced -3.4 fWAR on defense, making appearances at catcher, first base, second base, and left field. Gasper primarily played behind the dish with Minnesota, but we could see him move around more with the Nats, who already have catchers Keibert Ruiz and Riley Adams in the majors. With that being said, Gasper has two option years remaining, so Washington can shuttle him freely between the majors and minors this season. It's not guaranteed that he'll remain on the 40-man roster by Opening Day, but his connection to the Nats' front office is noteworthy. Several members of the Nationals' brain trust, including president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, worked for the Red Sox' front office when Boston acquired Gasper two years ago.

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The Seattle Mariners announced they have signed starting pitcher Bryce Miller to a one-year deal, avoiding arbitration. According to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, Miller had asked for $2.625 million and the Mariners filed at $2.25 million. They ultimately met right in the middle, as his new deal will pay him $2,437,500 in 2026. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the deal also includes a club option for 2027. The option is worth $6.075 million and comes with a $15,000 buyout, bringing the guaranteed amount of his new deal to $2,452,500. The 27-year-old is coming off a career-worst season, during which he amassed a 5.17 FIP and exactly 0.0 fWAR, despite making 18 starts. He tossed a career-low 90.1 big-league innings while allowing 7.37 K/9, 3.39 BB/9, and an alarming 1.69 HR/9. Miller enters 2026 as the No. 5 arm in a strong, young pitching rotation that also includes Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, and George Kirby. He ranks as the #68 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest draft rankings for fantasy baseball.

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During an appearance on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast, free agent starting pitcher Rich Hill said that he doesn't plan to play during the 2026 season. Hill stopped short of declaring his retirement, but his comments seem to indicate that he has thrown his final professional pitch. The 21-year MLB veteran said that he is "looking for open possibilities to stay in the game of baseball and be a contributory factor," which seems to indicate that he could be interested in joining a coaching staff or front office. If his playing time has indeed come to an end, Hill finishes with a storybook career that included 388 big-league appearances across 21 seasons with 14 organizations. He never made an All-Star Game, but he maintained a respectable 4.02 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9. The 45-year-old most recently played for the Kansas City Royals, who tossed him for nine innings across two starts during the 2025 campaign.

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Athletics infielder Max Muncy is expected to be the team's primary third baseman during the 2026 season, barring an unforeseen signing or trade, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The A's reportedly tried to acquire Nolan Arenado, but after falling short in their pursuit of the veteran third baseman, they'll pivot to an internal option in Muncy. The 23-year-old made his MLB debut last season, but his offensive output fell short of expectations. He slashed just .214/.259/.379 with a 72 wRC+, a 4.5% walk rate, and a 30.9% strikeout rate through 63 games. He also slugged nine home runs and produced -3.8 fWAR on defense. Despite the frustrating rookie campaign, Muncy could bounce back with a full spring training ahead of him. After all, it's not uncommon for mid-season call-ups to struggle at first, but produce much better once they've had a normal camp and make the Opening Day roster. Plus, it doesn't sound like Muncy will be playing every day -- or at least, not at the hot corner. Rosenthal reports that Brett Harris and Darell Hernaiz are also in the mix for corner infield reps.

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The Miami Marlins acquired right-hander Bradley Blalock from the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday in exchange for a minor-league pitcher, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The Rockies had designated Blalock for assignment last week, and now he'll head to Miami to give the Fish additional pitching depth after they traded both Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers. Blalock, a former 32nd-round pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2019, has only two years of major-league experience and didn't perform well. In 89 1/3 innings over 21 appearances (18 starts) with the Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers, Blalock has an 8.16 ERA (6.73 FIP) and 1.82 WHIP with 47 strikeouts and 43 walks. He started 12 games for Colorado in 2025 and allowed 61 earned runs in only 58 2/3 innings pitched. The 25-year-old will be off the fantasy radar going into the 2026 season.

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