Adam Jude of the Seattle Times reports that "there is expected to be runway" for top Mariners infield prospect Colt Emerson to "win an opening-day job going into 2026." In 2025, Emerson played 90 games with High-A Everett, 34 games with Double-A Arkansas, and six games with Triple-A Tacoma. He slashed .285/.383/.458 with 16 home runs, 78 RBI, 82 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 600 plate appearances spread across the three levels. Emerson will not turn 21 years old until July 2026. He's a natural shortstop, but Jude speculates that Emerson's best path to a starting job in Seattle may be at third base. Eugenio Suarez served as Seattle's third baseman down the stretch of 2025, but he is now a free agent. Despite his limited experience at the highest levels of the Minors, it appears Emerson could crack the Mariners 2026 opening day roster if he performs in Spring Training.

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Evan Drellich of The Athletic reports that the Cleveland Guardians will not allow closer Emmanuel Clase to pitch in the Venezuelan winter league. Clase is one of the subjects of an ongoing gambling investigation by Major League Baseball. He was placed on paid leave by the Guardians in July, and there's been speculation that he may never pitch in the big leagues again once the investigation concludes. Clase appeared in 48 games during the 2025 season, pitching to a 3.23 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 47 strikeouts and 24 saves. From 2022-2024, Clase recorded 133 saves and made three consecutive All-Star teams. If Clase is not a member of the Guardians in 2026, right-hander Cade Smith could open the season as the team's closer.

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New York Mets All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor (elbow) recently had a right-elbow debridement surgery, but he's expected to be ready for spring training in February, according to the team. Lindor also had a cleanup procedure on his throwing elbow after the 2023 campaign to remove bone spurs. He should be completely fine for the start of the 2026 regular season and will enter the year as one of the premier fantasy options at the shortstop position. The Puerto Rican infielder hit only .267 (172-for-644) in a league-high 732 plate appearances during the regular season, but he still managed to reach the 30-homer mark for the third straight season in New York and the sixth time in his career. Lindor added 86 RBI, 117 runs scored, and a career-high 31 stolen bases. Fantasy managers definitely can't complain about a 31-31 season.

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Veteran free-agent catcher Austin Nola signed a minor-league deal with the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday that includes a major-league invitation to spring training camp, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Nola broke into the big leagues in 2019 with the Seattle Mariners before joining the San Diego Padres in 2020. He hit a career-best 10 homers as a rookie in Seattle and also batted a combined .258 with six home runs and 69 RBI in two seasons for the Padres in 2021 and 2022 before slashing a putrid .146/.260/.192 in just 52 games in 2023. He did not play at all in the big leagues in 2024 and managed to surface for only 14 games for the Colorado Rockies this past season, going 7-for-38 (.184) with one RBI. The 35-year-old veteran will most likely open the 2026 campaign at Triple-A Gwinnett, where he'll offer the Braves depth at the position.

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Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (knee) continues to make steady progress as he recovers from a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee that ended his season early. The 25-year-old remains on schedule in his rehab and expects to be ready for spring training. There had been speculation about whether Casas would be available for Opening Day, but recent updates suggest optimism from both the player and the team. Before the injury, Casas slashed .182/.277/.303 in 29 games. The Red Sox hope to have their promising young first baseman healthy to anchor the lineup in 2026.

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Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Ty France (oblique) participated in the team's intrasquad game on Thursday as he works back from left oblique inflammation. The 31-year-old was acquired from the Minnesota Twins midway through the 2025 regular season but has yet to make an impact during Toronto's deep postseason run. France has been sidelined since September 22 but is considered day-to-day and could return for the upcoming World Series matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before the injury, France slashed .277/.320/.372 over 37 games with the Blue Jays and will look to contribute in any way possible if he is cleared.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joey Loperfido replaced Anthony Santander (back) ahead of Game 4 of the ALCS and will look to make an impact in the upcoming World Series. The young outfielder has primarily been used as a pinch-runner and late-game substitute, recording just one at-bat this postseason. After joining Toronto from the Houston Astros in 2024, Loperfido impressed in limited regular-season action this year, slashing .333/.379/.500 over 41 games. With his raw talent and versatility, Loperfido will look to make the most of his opportunities as the Blue Jays pursue their first World Series title in over three decades.

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Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement is quickly becoming one of the most underrated contributors in the team's historic postseason run. The 29-year-old has carried over his strong regular season, hitting an astounding .429 with a 1.063 OPS through 42 at-bats. Clement has recorded 18 hits and delivered six multi-hit performances across 11 games, establishing himself as the team's everyday third baseman. His elite contact skills and Gold Glove-caliber defense have made him a steady force on both sides of the ball. During the regular season, Clement slashed .277/.313/.711, marking the most productive full season of his career.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt made his second appearance of the 2025 postseason in Monday's winner-take-all Game 7 victory at home. Bassitt worked a clean eighth inning to set up closer Jeff Hoffman for the ninth, striking out one batter along the way. The veteran did not earn a rotation spot this postseason but has now provided eight strong outs for a Blue Jays team making its first World Series appearance in over three decades. Bassitt has yet to allow a run in the playoffs and has likely secured more meaningful innings in the upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He owns a career 3.57 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP in the postseason.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that left-hander Blake Snell and right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start the first two games of the World Series, respectively, on Friday and Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Both Snell and Yamamoto have been lights-out on the mound for the Dodgers in the postseason as the Dodgers head into their second straight Fall Classic appearance. Snell has given up just two earned runs with five walks and 28 strikeouts in three wins over the Reds, Phillies, and Brewers in 21 innings. He also tossed five shutout innings with 10 K's in a win over Toronto on Aug. 9 during the regular season. Yamamoto has given up six runs (four earned) with four walks and 18 K's in 19 2/3 frames over his three postseason starts this October. The Japanese hurler did not face the Blue Jays during regular-season action in 2025.

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Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (knee) said, "I'll be ready," when asked about his availability for the upcoming World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Rob Longley of The Toronto Star. The Blue Jays were victorious over the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night, advancing to the World Series (which starts on Friday) and giving the 27-year-old All-Star a chance to make his return for the first time since suffering a PCL sprain in his left knee in early September. He will need to be able to run full speed this week at some point to be cleared to be on the World Series roster. Bichette was one of the best hitters in baseball during the regular season, with a .311 average and 94 RBI, but the rust factor must be considered, since he hasn't faced live pitching in a game in over six weeks.

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Albert Pujols is no longer considered a candidate to become the Los Angeles Angels' next manager, a team source told The Athletic's Sam Blum on Monday. There was mutual interest between Pujols and the Angels, but the two sides couldn't get close on dollars or years. It's believed to be very unlikely that the two sides would find common ground. Another former Angels player, Torii Hunter, is still in consideration for the role, but he's not considered a slam-dunk candidate. The Halos are also eyeing ex-managers Brandon Hyde and Rocco Baldelli, and another former Angels player, Kurt Suzuki, is in the mix. Both Hunter and Suzuki currently work as special assistants to Angels general manager Perry Minasian. The Angels remain on the hook to pay Pujols' $7 million over the next seven years as part of the personal services contract he signed with the organization.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff (lat) missed the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs and the NL Championship Series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, and would not have pitched in the World Series had the team advanced due to a right-lat strain. However, Woodruff should be ready well ahead of spring training in February and expects to be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season. The veteran right-hander was shut down with his lat strain late in September. The good news is that his injury isn't related to his right-shoulder injury that required surgery and caused him to get a late start to the 2025 season. When healthy this year, Woodruff looked good, posting a 3.20 ERA and 0.91 WHIP with 83 strikeouts and 14 walks in 12 starts over 64 2/3 innings. He's a top-end starting pitcher in fantasy when healthy, but he has more health concerns than ever before. The Brewers and Woodruff hold a $20 million mutual option for 2026 season that comes with a $10 million buyout.

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Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios (elbow) has resumed throwing, but he will not return for the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers if the team can beat the Seattle Mariners on Monday night in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, according to manager John Schneider. Berrios ended the regular season in September on the shelf with inflammation in his right elbow, and he hasn't been able to help the team during their postseason run. The 31-year-old veteran was moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen late in the year, too, with his last appearance out of the bullpen coming on Sept. 24. His last start for the Jays was back on Sept. 16, so if he was available to return for the World Series, it likely would have been in a relief role. Berrios should be ready for spring training next February, barring a setback with his elbow, but it's unclear what his role will be.

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Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (knee) has been making "significant progress" behind the scenes lately, according to manager John Schneider. Bichette has been unable to play in the postseason due to a PCL sprain in his left knee that he suffered in early September. The 27-year-old is making progress, but it remains to be seen if he'll be available to play in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers if the Blue Jays can beat the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Monday. Game 1 of this year's World Series doesn't begin until Friday, so if Toronto advances, Bichette will have another couple of days to try and gain clearance from his knee injury. The Blue Jays could really use the former second-rounder if they advance to try and knock off the Dodgers, as Bichette was one of the best hitters in all of baseball during the regular season, with a .311 average and 181 hits in 139 games played.

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Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Shelby Miller (elbow) recently underwent surgery to repair the UCL and flexor tendon in his right elbow. Miller was hopeful to avoid surgery, but sadly he wasn't able to do that. This means Miller will likely miss most of the 2026 campaign. He posted a 2.74 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 54/15 K/BB ratio across 48 appearances between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Brewers this season. The 35-year-old is set to hit free agency this winter. We'll see what kind of interest he draws considering he might miss all of 2026.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) resumed throwing the baseball on Monday. It's nice to see Steele throwing again after he underwent UCL surgery in April. He was only able to make four starts during the 2025 season before needing his ligament repaired. It's unlikely that Steele is ready for Opening Day, but it'll likely depend on his level of progress over the winter. If not, Steele should be ready in the early part of the 2026 season.

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Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor will move into the three-hole in the lineup ahead of Monday's Game 7 of the ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays. Naylor has mainly been batting cleanup or fifth during this series. However, he'll move into the third spot with Jorge Polanco sliding into the cleanup spot during this elimination contest. Naylor has been on fire at the plate with a .341 batting average and three home runs during the postseason. The Mariners want to keep their hot hitting left-handed slugger near the top of the order for this one. We'll see if he's able to do any damage against right-hander Shane Bieber and help send his team to their first ever World Series.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer (knee) will remain in the leadoff spot ahead of Monday's Game 7 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners. Springer made an early exit during Game 5 of this series on Friday night. Luckily, he was able to return in Game 6, but went 0-for-4 at the plate. Despite his struggles on Sunday, Springer will remain in the leadoff spot for this elimination contest. He'll serve as the designated hitter and get the first crack at right-hander George Kirby on Monday night.

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Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone is absent from the starting lineup ahead of Monday's ALCS Game 7 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Canzone has been in the lineup almost exclusively against right-handed pitching this postseason. However, he has struggled with only three hits during those nine games. That being said, Victor Robles will take over in right field and bat ninth against right-hander Shane Bieber on Monday. Robles has actually been worse as he's 1-for-12 during this series, so it's possible we see both players during this elimination contest.

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