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Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel hasn't previously been a full-time closer, but he could be the early favorite to earn save opportunities during the 2026 season. His primary competition at this point is veteran reliever Paul Sewald, who was the Snakes' closer in 2023 and 2024 but then struggled while splitting time with the Guardians and Tigers last year. Sewald finished 2025 with a 5.00 xFIP, two saves, and two blown saves, leading him back to Arizona this offseason. Now that Sewald has shown he no longer has high-leverage save appeal, the closer job may be Ginkel's to lose. Ginkel tossed 25.2 innings in the majors last year, posting 10.17 K/9, 4.56 BB/9, and 0.70 K/9. He had an atrocious 7.36 ERA, but his 3.64 FIP suggests he was extremely unlucky and should bounce back this year. The walk rate isn't ideal, either, but we're encouraged by his high strikeout rate and low home run rate. In all likelihood, the D-backs will operate in a "closer by committee" situation, giving saves to whichever leverage arm has been most successful lately. There's a good chance the first dibs go to Ginkel, though.

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Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez is fully healthy ahead of the 2026 season, and he's likely ready to put last year's two injuries behind him. Alvarez missed more than 100 games in 2025 due to a fractured left hand and right ankle sprain. As a result, he produced just six home runs and 118 wRC+ with a 14.1% walk rate and a 16.6% strikeout rate. The discipline numbers are impressive, and we expect that he can return to his 30-plus-homer form if he stays healthy for most of the 2026 season. He has appeared in just six games this spring; he went 1-for-13 with five strikeouts over the first five contests, but then delivered an impressive 3-for-3 showing with a double on Thursday. We're not going to put much stock in spring statsgood or badand the main takeaway should be that Alvarez is healthy and ready to contribute. He offers significant power upside with both outfield and designated hitter eligibility.

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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager is fully healthy ahead of the 2026 season, making him a very intriguing option in fantasy baseball leagues. Seager was held to just over 100 games last year due to a hamstring injury and appendectomy. He still had a solid campaign, slashing .271/.373/.487 with 21 home runs, 138 wRC+, a 13.0% walk rate, and a 19.6% strikeout rate. However, it's evident that he could have been far more impactful for the Rangers and fantasy managers if he had played a full season. Seager hasn't eclipsed 123 games since 2022, so it's not a given that he'll be fully healthy this year. With that said, the fact that he has a clean bill of health is a step in the right direction. With 30-homer potential and solid discipline numbers, Seager is an appealing option in fantasy baseball leagues and currently ranks as RotoBaller's #12 overall shortstop.

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San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (elbow) is currently working his way back from Tommy John surgery he underwent in October of 2024. He didn't pitch at all in 2025, and his last time on the mound was against Team Great Britain in an exhibition game. Ahead of Thursday's game, Padres manager Craig Stammen said Musgrove is nearing a return, but is in "a bit of a holding pattern" right now. It sounds like the organization is waiting for Musgrove to get over the hump before they ramp up his activities. Stammen didn't hint at Musgrove not being ready for Opening Day, but given his recent activities, it's hard to imagine he'll be ready by then. Fantasy managers should still consider Musgrove a late-round option despite a possible delayed start to the season.

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Tampa Bay Rays infielder Richie Palacios (back) is returning to the lineup ahead of Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Boston Red Sox. Palacios appears ready to play after missing over a week of action due to back tightness. He has been off to an ugly 2-for-15 start at the plate during Spring Training. He's hopeful to turn that around and earn a utility/bench role on the Rays' 26-man roster to begin the season. The 28-year-old posted solid numbers during a 13-game sample size with the Rays last season. He slashed .223/.346/.318 with five home runs, 21 RBI, and 19 steals in 92 games with Tampa Bay in 2024. He could offer some deep league value if he's able to make the big league team.

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Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz (hand) is back in the lineup ahead of Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Boston Red Sox. Diaz is back in the mix after missing more than a week of action due to left-hand soreness. He has been increasing his workouts in recent days and is feeling good enough to play now. Diaz looks to continue his reliable ways after slashing .300/.366/.482 with 25 home runs and 83 RBI in 150 games last season. His power numbers could see a regression with the move back to Tropicana Field in 2026. The 34-year-old still hits well enough to be a useful corner infield bat for fantasy managers heading into the 2026 campaign.

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Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (hand) appears to have avoided a major injury after being hit by a pitch earlier in the week. Mountcastle told reporters that he's fine after taking a pitch off the right hand on Wednesday. The X-rays came back negative, which is good news for the right-handed slugger. According to Roch Kubatko, Mountcastle should be back in the lineup on Saturday. The 29-year-old is looking to rebound after a tough season in 2025. Last season, Mountcastle slashed .250/.285/.367 with seven home runs and 35 RBI in 89 games with the O's. The addition of Pete Alonso isn't going to do Mountcastle any favors. The expectation is that Mountcastle will primarily serve as the designated hitter, and he could become a part-time player if his struggles continue.

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San Diego Padres relief pitcher Bryan Hoeing is expected to undergo surgery and miss the entire 2026 season. Hoeing has elected to undergo flexor tendon surgery, which will end his 2026 campaign before it begins. The right-hander was working through right elbow discomfort that began to bother him early in camp. After seeking multiple opinions, Hoeing has decided surgery is the best long-term option for his health. The 29-year-old will hopefully be ready to go for the beginning of the 2027 season. At best, Hoeing was going to be a middle reliever in San Diego, so his absence won't make a huge impact in the bullpen.

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Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Mike Sirota is worth closely monitoring in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Sirota has only appeared in two spring training games but has gone 1-for-2 with a home run. He joined the Dodgers in the trade that sent infielder Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds. He initially joined the Reds in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Northeastern. Last summer, Sirota made his professional debut and played time in the lower levels. At Low-A, he posted an elite .354/.443/.687 line with seven long balls over just 24 games. He then moved up to High-A, where he launched six home runs over a 35-game stint while carrying a .316/.458/.556 line. Given the production he showed last season, he could make a case for an early promotion to Double-A.

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Seattle Mariners outfield prospect Brennen Davis has been one of the top hitters in all of spring training and is making a strong case to spend most of the upcoming season in the major leagues. Davis, a former top prospect, saw most of his early minor-league career limited due to injuries. Through 13 spring games, Davis has launched four home runs while carrying a .344/.447/.884 slash line. In 2025, he spent his campaign in the Yankee system with Double-A and Triple-A. He would appear in 36 games at the top level of the minor leagues and hold his own, posting a .248/.324/.576 liner with a .900 OPS. During this stint, Davis launched 12 long balls. While he is unlikely to break camp with the MLB roster, he could contend for a promotion much sooner than expected. Given the power he has shown, he is worth following in deeper 12+ team five-outfielder formats.

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St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews was reassigned to minor league camp earlier this week. The left-handed prospect was in consideration to break camp with the MLB roster, but given the time he missed last season due to a shoulder injury and inconsistent production, he was likely ticketed for Triple-A. At camp, Mathews struck out 12 hitters over seven innings but carried a 5.14 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP. Fantasy managers should monitor his progress at Triple-A early in the season as he could make a case for a first-half promotion. Before his struggles in 2025, Mathews was looking like a budding ace in 2024, when he logged 143 1/3 innings across the entire system with a 2.76 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and a 202:49 K:BB. Given his strikeout upside, he could have sleeper appeal when he earns the call in deeper leagues.

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New York Yankees right-handed prospect pitcher Carlos Lagrange has been one of the most dominant pitchers in all of spring training and has made a strong case to earn a spot on the MLB roster. Through 9 2/3 innings, Lagrange has posted a near-perfect 0.93 ERA with a 0.72 WHIP. During this stint, Lagrange has totaled nine punchouts while serving up only three free passes. Given that the Yankees will be without Carlos Rodon (elbow) and Gerrit Cole (elbow) to begin the season, Lagrange could either find a role at the back of the rotation or in a long relief role in the bullpen. In 2025, the No. 79-ranked prospect on MLB.com began his season at Double-A, but would finish at Triple-A, where he logged 31 2/3 innings with a 3.22 ERA and 104 punchouts. He is a name to closely monitor over the final weeks of spring training, as he could have sneaky early-season upside.

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Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Jett Williams (quadriceps) went 1-for-1 with a double and a walk in his return on Thursday afternoon. Williams has been held out of action for just over two weeks due to this quadriceps injury. However, the young infielder wasted little time making an impact, knocking a double in his first game back. While the missed time will likely prevent him from cracking the Opening Day roster, he should remain in the mix for an early-season promotion. The 22-year-old was the top prospect included in the deal that sent right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta to the Mets earlier in the winter. Last season, Williams spent most of his time at Double-A, where he held a .281/.390/.477 line with 10 HRs and 32 SBs. He then moved up to Triple-A, where he took a step back, posting a modest .209 AVG. Fantasy managers should expect the young Infielder to begin the regular season at Triple-A and push for a first-half MLB promotion.

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Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will remain with Team Japan as long as they are still alive in the World Baseball Classic, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Yoshinobu is not scheduled to pitch again in the WBC after the quarterfinals this Saturday versus Venezuela. In his first outing for Japan, last year's World Series MVP threw 2 2/3 shutout innings to earn the win in the group stage against Chinese Taipei. Before leaving spring training for the WBC, he had allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (one homer) while walking none and fanning seven in 4 2/3 innings in two Cactus League starts. Yamamoto was a first-time All-Star in 2025, going 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 201 strikeouts, and 59 walks in 173 2/3 innings over 30 regular-season starts. He kept it going in the postseason and was downright dominant to win a second World Series ring in as many years with L.A. The Japanese hurler is ranked as the No. 5 fantasy starting pitcher at RotoBaller.

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Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani threw a four-inning live batting practice session on Thursday against Samurai Japan hitters during a workout ahead of the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal against Venezuela on Saturday, according to David Adler of MLB.com. Ohtani threw 59 pitches during the workout and had seven strikeouts while facing 18 batters. It's part of the 31-year-old four-time MVP's process to be ready to pitch for the Dodgers when the regular season starts on March 26. He is only serving as a hitter in the WBC for Japan, though, and will not pitch in the tourney. The Dodgers are being cautious with Ohtani after he returned in 2025 from right-elbow surgery and then pitched through a long postseason in the fall. Ohtani is expected to be a full-time starter for L.A. for all of 2026, but he could have limited pitch counts early on. Despite a potential overall innings limit, Ohtani offers elite starting pitching upside in fantasy.

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Chicago Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera has been throwing his four-seam fastball around 30% of the time in spring training as he heads into his first season with the Cubs, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Cabrera used the fastball oly 13% of the time in 2025 with the Miami Marlins, reducing its usage from 27.7% in 2024. "I want to see how they play off each other. If there are opportunities for us to help him play up the fastball by using it in certain situations or following certain sequences, then I want to try to help him find that," pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. Cabrera has a signature changeup that he throws often, but the Cubs want him to use his heater more to make both offerings more effective. The 27-year-old's fantasy stock is on the rise in 2026 with a better team after he had a 3.53 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 137 2/3 innings for the Fish in 2025. Cabrera offers plenty of upside as a No. 3 or No. 4 fantasy starting pitcher.

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The Boston Red Sox announced on Thursday that infielder/outfielder Romy Gonzalez (shoulder) had a successful left-shoulder arthroscopic debridement on Thursday. The procedure was performed by Dr. Jeffrey R. Dugas in Alabama. The Red Sox also placed Gonzalez on the 60-day injured list on Thursday, which means he will miss at least the first two months of the 2026 season. The 29-year-old had yet to make an appearance in spring training due to shoulder inflammation. In his second year in Boston in 2025, Gonzalez only had 341 plate appearances, but he was effective, slashing .305/.343/.483 with an .826 OPS, career-high nine home runs, 53 RBI, and six stolen bases in 96 games played. Gonzalez's batted-ball metrics backed up the strong season. His 2026 fantasy value obviously takes a hit because of his shoulder injury, but when back to full health, Gonzalez figures to compete for a platoon role in Beantown, primarily as a lefty killer.

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New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea doesn't have an explanation for his lower velocity in spring training -- it was in the 89-90 mph range on Thursday -- but he's not concerned about it at this point, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Manaea said he will ideally get up to 92-93 mph once the adrenaline of the regular season hits. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw allowed three runs on six hits while walking one and striking out four in 2 2/3 innings in his Grapefruit League start on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Manaea isn't the only pitcher dealing with lower velocity in spring training, and it's not always something to be concerned with. To bounce back in 2026 for the Mets, Manaea needs to stay healthy. He battled elbow and oblique injuries last year and struggled to a 5.64 ERA after having a late-career breakout in 2024. Manaea is a risk/reward late-round target for fantasy managers.

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Houston Astros right-hander Mike Burrows has been nearly unhittable in Grapefruit League action in spring training, throwing 12 2/3 scoreless innings in four outings. Burrows has struck out 15 batters, walked six, and given up only six hits after throwing 77 pitches over four innings of work on Thursday night. The Astros acquired the 26-year-old in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates in December, and so far, it's looking like it could be a steal for the Astros. Burrows made one relief appearance for Pittsburgh in 2024 but saw his first extended run in the majors last year, posting a 3.94 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 97 strikeouts and 31 walks in 96 innings over 23 outings (19 starts). He has added a two-seam fastball to help neutralize right-handed hitters and has breakout potential as a high-strikeout arm. Particularly in dynasty/keeper formats, Burrows is becoming more attractive as a late-round dart throw by the day.

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Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers took his game to new heights in 2025, hitting .277/.325/.536 with 31 home runs, 72 RBI, 73 runs scored, and seven stolen bases across 523 plate appearances. The 28-year-old had already established himself as one of the better power-hitting catchers in the two years prior, hitting 51 combined home runs between 2023 and 2024. He emerged as a more complete hitter last season by dropping his strikeout rate to 19.7%, a significant improvement from his career average of 26.1%. Langeliers sacrificed a bit of hard contact for the improvement, as his barrel rate dropped from 12.8% to 11%. However, the Athletics' move to Sacramento and the extremely hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park helped offset any negatives for Langeliers. He also should be locked into a prime position in the heart of an improving Athletics lineup, helping him rack up counting stats. Even if Langeliers' batting average regresses a bit towards his career norm in 2026, he should still profile as one of the best hitters at his position for fantasy managers.

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