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According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman/outfielder Tommy Edman (ankle) will have a delayed start to spring training and is in danger of missing Opening Day. Edman is currently recovering from a right ankle operation. According to Woo, there is a "growing likelihood" that Edman will not be ready for Opening Day. The 30-year-old appeared in 97 regular-season games for the Dodgers and held a .225/.274/.382 line. He hit 13 home runs and swiped three bags. He logged 66 starts at the keystone, one as a DH, and spent his other 25 appearances in center field. With Edman likely missing the start of the season, it appears Andy Pages will face minimal competition for the starting job in center field, while Teoscar Hernandez and newly-acquired Kyle Tucker cover the corners.

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Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson prioritized increasing his strength during the offseason. Wilson noted that it was the "main focus" and spent the entire offseason in the Athletics facility, adding strength. The 23-year-old shortstop enjoyed an impressive rookie season in the majors, posting a .311/.355/.444 line with 13 home runs and five stolen bases. He generated an elite 90th percentile xBA with a 100th percentile strikeout rate. However, he rarely made hard contact, as evidenced in his low 2.2% barrel rate abnd 24.7% hard-hit rate, both of which placed him in the second percentile among qualified hitters. However, with Wilson prioritizing improving this aspect of his game, he could take a step forward in the power department in 2026. Managers should continue to view Wilson as an elite batting-average contributor with the upside to push for double-digit home runs in the upcoming season.

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Colorado Rockies infielder/outfielder Tyler Freeman is being viewed primarily as an "outfielder" ahead of spring training. In 2025, Freeman saw time at several positions, logging 17 stats at second base, 66 in the outfield, 28 as a DH, and even one as a third baseman. Through 110 games, Freeman showed strong contact skills, posting a .281 AVG with an elite 11.9% K%. However, he hit only two home runs and posted a modest .715 OPS. He did show upside on the basepaths, stealing a career-high 18 bags while placing in the 80th percentile in sprint speed. Freeman was typically deployed as the team's leadoff hitter and scored 50 runs, despite batting in one of the worst lineups in the sport. However, with Freeman ticketed for a primary outfield role in 2026, he could be in danger of losing at-bats as the Rockies brought in Jake McCarthy this offseason. Managers in deep five-outfielder leagues should monitor his usage in camp. If Freeman can earn a prominent role, he would be a solid late-round target when looking to improve your steals total and batting average.

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According to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, the Texas Rangers have signed right-handed pitcher Cal Quantrill to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training. The 30-year-old spent the 2025 season with the Marlins and Braves and finished the campaign in Triple-A Round Rock, in the Texas organization. Through his 117 2/3 innings in the majors last summer, Quantrill posted a 6.04 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP. He struck out only 85 hitters and generated a high 5.81 xERA. With Triple-A Round Rock, the veteran showed some improvement, posting a 1.64 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP across 11 innings. Managers should expect Quantrill to serve as a depth option in Texas and could win a role as a bulk reliever out of camp. However, given his low strikeout upside and struggles last season, Quantrill is not expected to carry much fantasy value in standard formats.

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Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell admitted that his arm was "tired" and "exhausted" after five playoff starts and a relief appearance in Game 7 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays last fall, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. The Dodgers have stressed the importance of managing their starting rotation's workload in 2026, which will include Snell. The 33-year-old southpaw has slow-played his winter throwing program. The plan is to be ready for Opening Day in late March, but Harris writes that it is "not seen as a certainty within the organization." Snell still has plenty of strikeout upside and pitches for the back-to-back World Series-champion Dodgers, but he missed four months in 2025 with shoulder inflammation. The two-time Cy Young winner has only reached the 30-start mark twice in his 10-year career. Snell is a risk/reward No. 2 fantasy starter going into his second year in L.A.

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Houston Astros starting pitcher J.P. France has been designated for assignment by the organization on Thursday. The team is acquiring pitcher Kai-Wei Teng from the San Francisco Giants and must free up a 40-man roster spot. France is the odd man out after failing to make much of an impact over the last two seasons. Since 2024, France has only made five appearances in Houston with an ugly 6.75 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and 27/14 K/BB ratio. France has been unable to follow up on his successful rookie campaign, where he registered a 3.83 ERA in 24 games with Houston. The 30-year-old should draw some interest as a possible back-end of the rotation or depth option.

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The Kansas City Royals are signing free-agent reliever Eli Morgan to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. Morgan is looking for a bounce-back season after missing most of the year due to elbow issues. He posted an ugly stat line in 12 appearances with the Chicago Cubs. In 2024, Morgan registered a 1.93 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 34/11 K/BB ratio in 32 appearances with the Cleveland Guardians. The 29-year-old has posted multiple successful seasons during his time in Cleveland. This is a low-risk move by the Royals, who could end up getting a steal if Morgan can get back to form.

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The San Francisco Giants are trading starting pitcher Kai-Wei Teng to the Houston Astros. In exchange, the Giants will receive catching prospect Jancel Villareal. The assumption is that the Giants made this move to free up a 40-man roster spot for newly signed Harrison Bader. Last season, Teng posted a 6.37 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, and a 39/17 K/BB ratio in eight games (seven starts) with the Giants. He posted much better numbers in the minors and could operate in a swingman-type role for the Astros. As for Villareal, he's a 21-year-old catcher who will still need more seasoning in the minor leagues. In a corresponding move, J.P. France has been designated for assignment by Houston to make room for Teng on the roster.

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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Osvaldo Bido has been designated for assignment by the organization on Thursday. Bido was claimed off waivers by the Angels from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. The Halos have given Bido the boot after acquiring Jayvien Sandridge from the New York Yankees on Thursday. The right-hander has been claimed off waivers four times since the end of the season. Bido posted an ugly 5.87 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and a 68/35 K/BB ratio across 26 games (10 starts) with the Athletics last season. The 30-year-old looked solid as a swingman with the A's in 2024. It wouldn't be shocking for another organization to claim Bido to use him in a possible swingman type of role.

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Chicago White Sox third baseman Bryan Ramos has been designated for assignment by the organization on Thursday. The team needed to clear a 40-man roster spot with the signing of reliever Seranthony Dominguez becoming official. Ramos was the odd man out after struggling to swing the bat last season. The 23-year-old has seen limited time on the big league roster since making his debut in 2024. He spent most of his time in Triple-A Charlotte last season. Ramos slashed .216/.309/.396 with 16 home runs, 51 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 105 games in the minors. There seems to be enough upside here that a team could potentially place a waiver claim on him with hopes of a bounce-back campaign in 2026.

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The Los Angeles Angels have acquired left-handed reliever Jayvien Sandridge from the New York Yankees in exchange for cash considerations. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Osvaldo Bido was designated for assignment to make space on the Halos' 40-man roster. Sandridge, who was recently DFA'd by New York, made his MLB debut last season but finished his lone appearance with two earned runs over 0.2 innings of work. He fared much better at Triple-A, where he posted a 3.65 FIP, 13.36 K/9, and 4.83 BB/9 across 31.2 frames. Originally drafted by the Orioles in the 32nd round of the 2018 draft, the 26-year-old is now headed to his fifth organization. He has two options remaining, so even if he doesn't make the Angels' bullpen out of spring training, he can offer depth on the 40-man roster.

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The San Diego Padres have signed left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. If he ends up in the majors, he'll have a $1.5 million salary with an additional $1 million available in the form of performance-based incentives. Gonzales, who turns 34 years old before Opening Day, hasn't pitched since a seven-game stint with the Pirates in 2024. During his brief tenure in Pittsburgh, he amassed a 4.71 FIP across seven starts. His appearances occurred somewhat sporadically, as he dealt with a nagging left forearm strain that ultimately shut him down in August. Gonzales didn't sign a contract in 2025, but it appears that he's fully healthy and ready to make a comeback of sorts. He'll offer the Padres experienced minor league pitching depth behind a veteran-heavy rotation of Michael King, Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove, Randy Vasquez, and JP Sears.

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Houston Astros outfielder Zach Cole will have a chance to compete for a starting role in the team's Opening Day lineup, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros have reportedly made it clear they "want to see more" of him, and he "will arrive [at spring training] with every chance to crack the club." Cole slashed .255/.327/.553 across a small sample size (15 games) in the majors as a rookie last year. He struck out at a 38.5% clip, but that number should settle down as he accumulates at-bats. There's a lot to like about his four home runs, .303 xwOBA, and 142 wRC+ during that span. He also flashed upside defensively and is certainly capable of an everyday role in either corner outfield spot. Rome projects that Cole, Jake Meyers, and Cam Smith will occupy the Astros' Opening Day outfield from left to right.

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Houston Astros corner infielder Isaac Paredes may not appear in the Opening Day lineup if he ends up in a platoon role with Christian Walker. "Walker and Paredes seem primed to begin the season [at first base] as a $29 million timeshare," writes Chandler Rome of The Athletic. There has been plenty of buzz about a potential Paredes trade, but as spring training approaches, he remains on the Astros' roster. The vast majority of his MLB experience comes at the hot corner (including all 89 of his defensive appearances last year), but he's starting to be viewed as more of a first baseman or designated hitter after the Astros re-acquired Carlos Correa last summer. While Paredes finished the 2025 campaign with -3 OAA and -2 FRV at third base, he was markedly better with the bat in his hands. He slashed .254/.352/.458 with 20 homers, 53 RBI, and 128 wRC+ to go along with his 11.4% walk rate and 17.4% strikeout rate. Paredes currently ranks 14th among third basemen in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings, but a trade or reshuffling of the Astros' lineup could drastically impact his stock.

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Baltimore Orioles corner infielder Coby Mayo was optioned to Triple-A last season, and he publicly expressed his frustration by describing the demotion as a lose-lose situation. He's still not a lock to make the Opening Day roster in 2026, as Roch Kubatko of MASN writes that "optioning Mayo is one solution." He also notes that the Orioles could put Mayo on their 26-man roster if they don't carry a utility infielder. Additionally, while Kubatko didn't mention it, we can't rule out a potential Mayo trade, especially if he and the organization don't have the same vision for his role. For now, though, he's an Oriole and will use spring training as an opportunity to make the big-league club. He slashed .217/.299/.388 through 85 MLB games last season, contributing 95 wRC+ and 11 home runs with a 9.2% walk rate and 28.6% strikeout rate. Although he came up as a third baseman, he spent most of his innings last year at first base, where he tallied -2 OAA and -2 FRV.

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MASN Sports' Roch Kubatko thinks that Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman could be used some at designated hitter while Samuel Basallo catches. Basallo is one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball, so if he plays up to his potential, the O's will be forced to get creative to keep his bat in the lineup. Rutschman, a switch-hitting backstop, only played in 90 games in 2025 due to injuries to both of his obliques. The former first overall pick in 2019 out of Oregon State hit a disappointing .220/.307/.366 with nine home runs, 29 RBI, and 37 runs scored in his 322 at-bats. He also had a career-worst .673 OPS and 91 wRC+. When healthy, Rutschman will be an everyday player for Baltimore who has excellent plate discipline and rarely strikes out. However, his fantasy stock has plummeted going into 2026, especially with the team already heavily committed to Basallo after signing him to an extension last August. Rutschman is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 14 fantasy catcher.

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New York Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong has decided that he will not play for Canada in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. While Tong expressed a desire to participate, he's ultimately opting out in order to get ready for the 2026 MLB season. The 22-year-old faced some adversity upon making his big-league debut last year, pitching to a 7.71 ERA and 4.31 FIP across five starts in Queens. His strikeout rate of 10.61 K/9 indicates impressive stuff, but there's still some concern about his control (4.34 BB/9) and ability to limit damage (1.45 HR/9). As a result, it was recently reported that Tong isn't a lock to make the Mets' Opening Day roster, with the idea that he could use a little more time in Triple-A. Before any transactional decisions are made, though, he'll have ample chances to compete for a roster spot by pitching in spring training, which begins in February. Tong currently ranks as the #88 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's 2026 fantasy baseball draft rankings.

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll had the best season of his young career in 2025, posting a personal-best 139 wRC+ and 6.5 fWAR while enjoying his first-ever 30/30 campaign (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases). He accomplished all of this despite playing in just 143 games, the lowest mark since his rookie season in 2022. He also continued to flash the leather in the outfield, where he posted a career-high 10 OAA and 7 FRV. Carroll's dominance at the plate and in right field should continue in 2026. He projects as the Diamondbacks' No. 3 hitter and should be one of the first 10 players selected in fantasy baseball drafts. As it stands, he currently ranks as the eighth-best player and fourth-best outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy rankings.

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins (knee) does not have a clear timetable for his return. President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom recently declined to comment on whether the right-hander will be ready to throw during spring training. He is certainly not a lock to be healthy in time for Opening Day, and as a result, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat projected Dobbins to open the season on the injured list. That would leave Kyle Leahy in line to land the fifth rotation spot. Dobbins, who was acquired from Boston in exchange for Willson Contreras during the offseason, tore his knee ligament last year. He made 13 appearances (11 starts) prior to his injury, posting a 3.87 FIP, 6.64 K/9, and 2.51 BB/9. He doesn't attack hitters with high velocity or generate exuberant amounts of whiff, but he does a good job limiting loud contact and inducing ground balls. Once healthy, he should be in the mix for an MLB rotation spot long-term.

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The Houston Astros are interested in free agent catcher Christian Vazquez, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Vazquez caught for Houston during the second half of the 2022 season after a trade from Boston, and he ultimately won a World Series ring with the club. He just finished a three-year deal with the Twins, during which he posted the worst offensive numbers of his career. Though 65 games in 2025, he slashed .189/.271/.274 with 55 wRC+ and -12.7 fWAR at the plate. However, he did bring his walk rate up to 8.4% (highest mark since 2020) while cutting his strikeout rate down to 16.4% (lowest mark since 2022). Defensively, his framing contributed three runs below average, but he was above average in blocking and throwing. He finished with a FRV of zero runs above average and a defensive fWAR of 7.9 wins. Vazquez is certainly past his prime, but he can still be a solid, defense-first contributor on a contender while offering a steady veteran presence. If he were to sign with the Astros, he'd compete for the No. 2 catcher role behind Yainer Diaz after Victor Caratini departed for the Twins.

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