Philadelphia Phillies infield prospect Aidan Miller will take most of his spring training reps at shortstop and third base, according to manager Rob Thomson. He may also play some second base. However, the skipper shut down any chance of him playing left field. Miller was a first-round pick out of high school in 2023, and a meteoric rise through the minors resulted in him playing eight games at Triple-A last year. Between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025, he slashed .264/.392/.433 with 14 home runs, 59 stolen bases, a 15.6% walk rate, a 23.4% strikeout rate, and 137 wRC+. It seems like he'll probably open 2026 at Triple-A, but his minor league statistics and his impending spring training workload both indicate that he should make his MLB debut in the very near future. He's already generating buzz in fantasy baseball circles, ranking as the #40 shortstop in RotoBaller's latest draft rankings for 2026.

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Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell expects a bigger workload for right-hander Cade Horton in 2026 after a successful rookie campaign in which he went 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 97:33 K:BB in 118 innings over 23 appearances (22 starts) during the regular season. "He dominated the league last year. Now it's do it again and do it over a full season, workload increased," Counsell said. The 24-year-old left his final regular-season start with a right-rib fracture and wasn't available for the Wild-Card round or Division Series in the playoffs, but all indications are that he had a normal offseason and is ready to roll this spring. Horton finished second in voting for National League Rookie of the Year in 2025. He'll have a secure spot in Chicago's rotation, but regression could be coming after he disappointed with a 20.4% strikeout rate. Horton is RotoBaller's No. 57 fantasy starting pitcher in 2026.

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone expects designated hitter/outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and his elbows to be "good to go" when he arrives at spring training, according to the New York Daily News' Gary Phillips. Boone typically slow-plays getting the oft-injured Stanton into games in camp, which should especially be the case this spring after the 36-year-old veteran had his 2025 season debut delayed until mid-June due to serious tennis elbow in both of his arms. Reports surfaced last week that Stanton's elbows will need to be managed again this year, but as of right now, everything looks good. He only played in 77 regular-season games last year, but he had a strong .273/.350/.594 slash line, .944 OPS, 24 home runs, and 66 RBI. Injuries seem inevitable with the right-handed slugger, as are plenty of strikeouts, but the power remains.

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Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. said on Wednesday after launching a ball just shy of the scoreboard in batting practice at spring training that he's "healthy now." Acuna recovered from a second torn ACL in his knee last year but was limited to 412 plate appearances and 95 games played in his eighth year in the big leagues. The five-time All-Star and former MVP hit .290/.417/.518 with a .935 OPS, 21 home runs, 42 RBI, 74 runs scored, and nine stolen bases, signaling that a huge 2026 could be in store if he is indeed fully healthy. Perhaps the 28-year-old will run more this year as well. Acuna's talent is hard to match around the league, but fantasy managers must remember that he has only played 100 games in a season twice in the last five years due to injuries. His elite contributions across all categories make him a top-10 overall fantasy asset, though.

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) could start throwing live batting practice in a couple of weeks and might graduate to Grapefruit League action by the end of spring training, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Cole had Tommy John surgery with an internal brace last March and didn't pitch at all in 2025. The 35-year-old veteran and former American League Cy Young winner has been throwing since last August, though, and he could be ready to make his 2026 debut in late May or early June, barring setbacks along the way. Cole, a six-time All-Star, will obviously be a pretty big injury risk for fantasy managers this year, especially since his stuff was down in 2024 before he was sidelined. It's a pretty big stretch to expect Cole to immediately recapture his 2023 form when he returns from a long layoff this year.

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Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia is his closer, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. Palencia said he learned to be more calm and confident after some failures last year, but overall, he was great at the back end of Chicago's bullpen. The 26-year-old Venezuelan had a career-best 2.91 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 22 saves, 61 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 52 2/3 innings out of the bullpen in the regular season. Palencia lost the closing role to Brad Keller late last year after dealing with a shoulder injury, but Keller is now gone, and Palencia has a chance to take a step forward in 2026. He was able to break out last year by dropping his walk rate from 13.8% his first two MLB seasons to 7.4% last year. Palencia is one of the hardest-throwing relievers in the game with nasty stuff, but he'll need to throw strikes to stave off regression.

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Baltimore Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin (back) is a full-go in spring training and will have a normal camp, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports. Eflin missed the final two months of last season after having a lumbar microdiscectomy on Aug. 18. After re-signing on a one-year, $10 million deal last October, the 31-year-old veteran hurler should have a spot in the back of Baltimore's starting rotation. Eflin's greatest strength is his ability to pepper the strike zone, as his 4.2% walk rate last year was in the 98th percentile. The former first-rounder doesn't do anything that well outside of throwing strikes, though, and he had a rough 5.93 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 14 starts in 2025 while striking out only 50 and walking 13 in 71 1/3 innings pitched. With durability concerns to boot, Eflin has very limited fantasy upside.

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Despite the return of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year deal, New York Yankees first baseman/catcher Ben Rice should see the majority of playing time at first base in 2026, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. "I think Benny's going to definitely be planning to get the bulk of the playing time over there. And I'm definitely fine with whatever role they need me to [do]," Goldschmidt said. The Yankees said early in the offseason that Rice would play "a lot" against left-handed pitchers, but the return of Goldy complicates things at first base. Goldschmidt had a .981 OPS against southpaws in 2025, so he should play often at first in those situations. Rice, meanwhile, could give Austin Wells a break behind the dish against lefties. As long as Rice swings the bat like he did last year (26 home runs in 138 regular-season games), fantasy managers shouldn't have to worry about his playing time. Rice is a top-10 fantasy first baseman at RotoBaller.

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There's a chance that Houston Astros left-handed closer Josh Hader (biceps) will be forced to open the 2026 regular season on the injured list, which would open the door for right-handed reliever Bryan Abreu to begin the campaign as the team's primary closer. Hader experienced "arm soreness" before his fourth bullpen session of the winter, and imaging showed "bicep inflammation." The veteran closer will resume his throwing program on Wednesday, but Hader's status for Opening Day is now in question. The 28-year-old Abreu was one of just five relievers to record 100 strikeouts in 2025, and he did it for the third straight year. The 28-year-old Dominican added a 2.28 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a career-best seven saves in 70 relief appearances in 2025. If Hader should miss any time at all, Abreu's stock would increase dramatically.

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Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (oblique) is dealing with a strained oblique and will be slow-played to start spring training, according to Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun. President of baseball operations Mike Elias said he doesn't expect Westburg to play in Grapefruit League games right away, but he's not currently in jeopardy of missing Opening Day in late March. It's something to watch for the 26-year-old this spring. Baltimore's starting infield is a bit banged up early on, with starting second baseman Jackson Holliday (hand) set to open the regular season on the injured list with a broken hamate bone. Westburg missed extended stretches in 2025 due to injury as well, first with a hamstring injury, and then due to a right-ankle sprain. When healthy, he makes enough contact and has enough power to be a worthy corner-infield bat. Westburg should be a lock for 20 homers if he can stay healthy.

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Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (foot) sprained his left foot while playing winter ball in December, manager Joe Espada told Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Diaz is still participating in baseball activities, but his running progression will be behind some of the other players. The 27-year-old backstop is hitting and will catch a bullpen session at camp on Wednesday. The Astros don't seem to have any concerns that Diaz might not be ready for Opening Day in late March. The Dominican catcher reached 20 home runs in 2025 for the second time in his career while slashing .256/.284/.417 with a .701 OPS, 70 RBI, and 56 runs scored in 143 games played. Diaz's drop in batting average from .299 to .256 was likely due to his regression in BABIP from .338 to .277. He doesn't have ideal plate discipline, but he makes enough contact to hold a decent average while supplying enough power to make him a low-end starting catcher in fantasy.

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Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown has been named the team's Opening Day starter, manager Joe Espada told The Athletic's Chandler Rome. After a breakout 2025 campaign, Brown will be a must-start for fantasy managers in his Opening Day nod in a plus matchup against the Los Angeles Angels at home. The 27-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2019 out of Wayne State finished third in the American League Cy Young voting last year after going 12-9 with a career-best 2.43 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 206:57 K:BB in 185 1/3 innings pitched over 31 starts for the Astros. Brown was able to hold opponents to a .201 batting average with a six-pitch mix. He has a high floor because of his ability to neutralize both righties and lefties. Brown might struggle to improve on his 2025 numbers, but going into 2026 fantasy drafts, he should be considered a top-12 starting pitcher.

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Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (elbow) will be eased into spring training after undergoing a scope on his throwing elbow, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. Dingler had a similar arthroscopic surgery on his right arm two years ago, and he doesn't expect to miss much of camp. The 27-year-old is expected to be the Tigers' primary catcher in 2026 after winning a Gold Glove behind the plate in 2025. If he has a setback once he returns to baseball activities, Jake Rogers would be in line to take over starting duties to begin the season. Dingler hit .278/.327/.425 with a .752 OPS, 13 home runs, 57 RBI, and 54 runs scored in 126 regular-season games in his first full season in the big leagues last year. He cut his strikeout rate drastically from his rookie season, but a .345 BABIP buoyed his batting average. Dingler will be in play as a No. 2 catcher in two-catcher fantasy leagues.

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Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) said he may need to undergo arthroscopic surgery to have bone spurs removed from his right elbow, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com. When asked if he fears he could miss the entire 2026 season, Schwellenbach said he doesn't know what the recovery time would be. The 25-year-old was placed on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, so he will at least miss the first two months of the regular season, if not more. It's a tough break for the Braves and for Schwellenbach, who also missed the last three months of last season due to a small fracture in his right elbow. Schwellenbach was coming off a breakout rookie campaign in 2024, and he was showing modest improvements in 2025 before his unfortunate elbow injury. With Schewellenbach out for the foreseeable future and possibly most of the season, Hurston Waldrep should benefit the most in Atlanta's rotation.

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The Texas Rangers signed free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery (elbow) to a one-year, $1.25 million deal on Wednesday, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. Montgomery will make his return to Texas after helping the team win its first World Series championship back in 2023. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw won't make his 2026 debut until around the All-Star break, though, after having a hybrid UCL reconstruction last March. In his last season in 2024 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Montgomery really struggled, going 8-7 with a 6.23 ERA and 1.65 WHIP with 83 strikeouts and 44 walks in 117 innings over 25 appearances (21 starts). He has now had two left-elbow reconstructions, making it unlikely he'll be able to recapture any of his 2023 magic, especially once he returns in the second half this season.

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According to Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Houston Astros relief pitcher Josh Hader (biceps) underwent imaging that revealed inflammation in his biceps. Earlier in the offseason, Hader dealt with "arm soreness" as well. While the veteran is expected to resume a throwing program later on Wednesday, his status for Opening Day is "in flux." Managers should continue to closely monitor his status throughout the spring, as he may have a delayed start to the campaign. Last summer, Hader logged only 52 2/3 innings due to a late-season shoulder strain, which cut his campaign short. However, he remained one of the sport's top closers, posting a 2.05 ERA with a 0.86 WHIP and earning 28 saves. If Hader were to miss Opening Day, Bryan Abreu would hold high-end short-term value in all formats.

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Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (hand) will begin the 2026 campaign on the injured list due to a broken hamate bone in his right hand. Jake Rill of MLB.com reported that Holliday will undergo a procedure on Thursday, and his timeline will be measured in "weeks" after Opening Day. The former first overall was poised to have a lead role for the second-straight season, but is now in danger of missing significant time in the opening portion of the campaign. Last summer, Holliday appeared in 149 games and held a .242/.314/.375 slash line with 21 doubles, 17 home runs, and 17 stolen bases. Under the hood, Holliday generated a mdoest .314 xwOBA with a 40.8% hard-hit rate. With Holliday on the shelf to open the season, managers should expect Blaze Alexander to carve out a starting role and will carry early-season streaming upside.

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (hand) suffered a broken hamate bone during live batting practice on Tuesday and is set to miss significant time this spring. Given this injury, Carroll's status for Opening Day is now in serious question. The star outfielder is a consensus first-round selection in all fantasy formats. Last summer, the former top prospect enjoyed a massive power surge, hitting a career-high 31 long balls with a .259/.343/.541 line. The 25-year-old also swiped 32 bags while generating an elite .372 xwOBA, .529 xSLG, and a 49.9% hard-hit rate, all of which are well above the average marks. Additionally, Carroll drew walks at a stong 10.4% rate, boosting his value in points leagues. With Carroll potentially at danger of missing Opening Day, Jordan Lawlar could carve out a prominent role early in the campaign in the outfield.

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According to Scott Lauber of The Inquirer.com, the Philadelphia Phillies continue to shop outfielder Nick Castellanos on the trade market. Throughout the offseason, the Phillies have made it clear they were looking to move off the veteran outfielder. However, they have yet to find a suitor and now may enter spring training with him still on the roster. In the winter, the Phillies brought in former Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia to take his starting role in right field. During the 2025 campaign, Castellanos held a modest .250/.294/.400 slash line with only 17 home runs. He generated a weak .302 xwOBA with a low .242 xBA and a .408 xSLG, all of which were well below the average marks. If they cannot find a trade partner, the Phillies may look to release the 33-year-old.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu is viewed as an "everyday" player in the Boston lineup, according to manager Alex Cora. Last summer, Abreu was typically held on the bench when facing southpaws, but he is now expected to earn the starting nod against both right-handed and left-handed pitching. Through 115 games last season, Abreu turned in a strong campaign, posting a .247/.317/.469 slash line with 22 long balls and six stolen bases. Under the hood, the 26-year-old generated an above-average .335 xwOBA with a 12.3% barrel rate, suggesting that his power production could significantly improve if given a full-time role. Additionally, Abreu is an elite defender who will likely provide him a longer leash against southpaws if he struggles. With Abreu projected to see a full-time role in right field, this could limit Kristian Campbell's opportunities in the outfield and will likely shift Roman Anthony to a primary DH role.

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