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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Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder) is playing catch at spring training, but manager Kurt Suzuki said it's too early to tell if Joyce will be ready for Opening Day, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. The Angels are taking it day by day with Joyce for now. The hard-throwing 25-year-old missed most of last season after having surgery to fix the labrum in his right shoulder. He appeared in only five games, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out one in 4 1/3 innings. There are plenty of question marks for the back end of the Angels' bullpen going into the 2026 season with Kenley Jansen no longer around. Right now, Robert Stephenson, Drew Pomeranz, and Kirby Yates are set to work in a closer committee, but Joyce will be involved as well, depending on his health.

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Boston Red Sox infielder Kristian Campbell will primarily work in the outfield during spring training, according to manager Alex Cora. In addition to outfield work, Campbell will work one-on-one with infield coach Jose Flores at both second and third base. The addition of work at third is new, but Campbell played there minimally in the minors. The vast majority of Campbell's playing time in his first year in the majors in 2025 came at second base, but he also saw a handful of starts in left and center field. A move to the outfield is now possible after the acquisition of infielder Caleb Durbin. Some combination of Durbin and Marcelo Mayer should handle third and second base regularly in 2026, pushing Campbell to the outfield. The problem with that is Boston already has a crowded outfield picture with Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu. A trade could be coming for the BoSox this spring.

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Free-agent talks for right-handed starter Zac Gallen are starting to heat up with spring training workouts underway across the league, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Gallen is the best remaining free agent on the market, and the San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, and Arizona Diamondbacks are the teams showing the most interest in the 30-year-old veteran. He picked a bad time to post a career-worst 4.83 ERA (4.50 FIP) in his walk year in 2025 with Arizona, going 13-15 with a 1.26 WHIP, 175 strikeouts, and 66 walks in 192 frames over his 33 starts. Gallen's career-high ERA was fueled by a career-worst 1.5 HR/9 mark. His strikeout rate also dropped to a career-worst 21.5% in 2025. His fantasy stock is obviously down (No. 65 starting pitcher at RotoBaller), but a rebound could come if he were to go to a place like San Diego.

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The Colorado Rockies reached an undisclosed one-year deal with veteran free-agent right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano on Tuesday, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. After 12 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, Sugano went 10-10 with a 4.64 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 106 strikeouts and 36 walks in 157 innings over 30 starts with the Baltimore Orioles in 2025 in his first year in the United States. The 36-year-old hurler led the league with 33 home runs allowed, and that's likely going to continue to be an issue with his move to hitter-friendly Coors Field. In addition to allowing way too many home runs, Sugano also had a weak 15.7% strikeout rate. He doesn't miss many bats, which is going to cause problems for him in Denver. The one thing that Sugano does very well is control the baseball, but that probably won't be enough to make him fantasy relevent in Colorado.

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Free-agent right-hander Aaron Civale and the Athletics agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal on Tuesday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 30-year-old will add a veteran arm to an A's team with postseason aspirations in 2026. He can make an additional $1.5 million this year through incentives. Civale spent the 2025 campaign pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Cubs, going 4-9 with a 4.85 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 88:33 K:BB in 102 innings over 23 appearances (18 starts). With the move to Sacramento, he should be a lock to open the season in the starting rotation for the A's. Civale struggled with home runs as a starter with both the Brewers and White Sox last year, and things won't be any easier in his new home ballpark, which was one of the most hitter-friendly environments in baseball.

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San Francisco Giants first base prospect Bryce Eldridge (wrist) said he's a full-go for spring training after having left-wrist surgery in October of last year to remove a bone spur, according to Justice delos Santos of MLB.com. Eldridge initially injured his wrist in spring training last year and played through the injury for several months before eventually being shut down. The 21-year-old former 16th overall pick in 2023 hit a combined .260/.333/.510 with an .843 OPS, 25 home runs, and 84 RBI in 102 games at three-minor league levels last year despite playing through his wrist injury. During a brief MLB debut, the left-handed hitter went just 3-for-28 (.107) with no homers, seven walks, and 13 strikeouts. Between first base and designated hitter, Eldridge should be a regular for the Giants in 2026, and his plus raw power makes him attractive in all fantasy leagues. Eldridge is RotoBaller's No. 37 first baseman.

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