Houston Astros left-handed closer Josh Hader (biceps) threw around 15 pitches in his first bullpen session of the spring on Tuesday, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. "Speed is there, fastball is there, action is there, synched up. All positives," Hader said. However, when asked about whether he'll be ready for Opening Day later this month, he said, "We'll see." The 31-year-old hard-throwing southpaw entered spring training last month with left-biceps inflammation and also ended the year on the injured list in 2025 with a left-shoulder strain. It makes Hader a lot more risky as a top-shelf closer in fantasy baseball entering the 2026 season, and it also makes late-inning setup man Bryan Abreu worthy of a late-round flier for saves speculators in case Hader isn't ready for the start of the season. When healthy last year, Hader was still dominant, posting a 2.05 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 76 strikeouts, and 28 saves in 52 2/3 innings pitched.

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene (elbow) is expected to be sidelined for the next 14 to 16 weeks to remove bone chips and loose bodies in his right elbow. This will keep the team's ace sidelined through at least July. The hard-throwing right-hander underwent an MRI due to an elbow issue last week and will now face an extended absence. While he avoided a season-ending injury, he may only pitch in the second half. Last season, Greene logged only 107 2/3 innings due to groin issues, but was highly effective when on the bump. During this stint, the former top prospect held a 2.76 ERA with a stellar 0.94 WHIP. He struck out hitters at a 31.4% rate, placing him in the 93rd percentile among qualified pitchers. He also generated a strong 3.05 xERA with a .202 xBA. Given his current timeline, Greene's ADP is sure to continue to drop, as he was viewed as a borderline top-12 SP for most of the offseason. Greene now projects to carry high-end stash upside for most of the first half of the 2026 season.

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The New York Mets announced on Tuesday that they optioned right-hander Jonah Tong to Triple-A Syracuse. Tong will most likely be back in the big leagues with the Mets at some point in 2026, but for now, he'll get some more seasoning in the minors to begin the year. The 22-year-old gave up three runs in 2 2/3 innings in his lone Grapefruit League start this spring. The Canadian hurler and former seventh-round pick in 2022 also struggled in his major-league debut last season, posting a 7.71 ERA and 1.77 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and nine walks in 18 2/3 innings over his first five starts for the Mets. It shouldn't take away from how great he was in the minors in 2025, as he posted a 1.43 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 179 strikeouts, and a 52.9% ground-ball rate in 22 starts at Double-A and Triple-A. Tong will eventually be locked into a starting rotation spot for the Mets down the road, but there are durability questions because of his small stature of 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds.

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Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (elbow) is dealing with an injury that doesn't give him a clear timetable to return, and as a result, his draft stock has plummeted over the last few weeks. Westburg is the No. 22 second baseman and the No. 22 third baseman in RotoBaller's rankings, but the floor has dropped out of his ADP, so he could end up being a late-round value if he falls far enough. Last year, Westburg hit .265 in his 85 games with 17 homers and a .332 wOBA. His averages were on par with his breakout 2024 season, and his power ticked up while his stolen bases were slightly down as he battled injury. He'll need to prove he's healthy and earn playing time back, since prospect Coby Mayo will likely fill in at the hot corner until he returns. Blaze Alexander and Jeremiah Jackson could also end up in the mix at third base, giving Westburg an uncertain path to playing time in addition to his injury risk. He's high-risk, but his ADP is dropping low enough that he could be worth a flier if you can get him late enough as a bench piece.

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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale is fully recovered from his rib injury last year and is ready to roll for another season with the Braves. He signed an extension before spring training that will keep him with the Braves for at least 2027 and includes a team option for 2028. The 36-year-old lefty has revitalized his career with the Braves after injuries marred the end of his time in Boston. In the last two seasons, Sale has gone 25-8 in 50 starts with a 2.46 ERA, 2.33 FIP, and 11.6 K/9. Sale has allowed four runs in 7 2/3 innings in spring training, but he is expected to be atop the Braves' rotation when the season opens. He's the No. 9 pitcher in RotoBaller's rankings, and he can be a solid anchor for your rotation after the elite options are off the board. In standard-sized mixed leagues, he's an outstanding second starting pitcher and a low-end first starting pitcher.

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Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo took a huge leap in 2025, and his offense caught up with his excellent defense during his age-25 season. Perdomo posted an impressive .290/.389/.462 slash line with 20 home runs, 27 stolen bases, more walks than strikeouts, and a 370 wOBA. He played 161 of Arizona's 162 games and posted career highs in every major category. He had never hit more than six homers in a season, but hit 20 in 2025, and he had never had more than 16 stolen bases before swiping 27 bags last year. He took a huge step forward and became a key part of the D-backs' lineup. He's currently the No. 10 shortstop in RotoBaller's rankings and can be a strong mixed-league option if he continues last year's success. Most projections are calling for a little regression after his massive breakout, but he still is a solid starter to snag after the elite producers at the position are off the board.

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New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez has been sliding in fantasy baseball drafts with uncertainty about his position and playing time in the Yankees' lineup. Dominguez is ranked as the No. 76 outfielder in the RotoBaller rankings, and his ADP is getting close to lining up with that ranking after dropping throughout the spring. Dominguez has been doing his part on the field, with a big spring training so far. He is hitting .296 in his first nine Grapefruit League games with a home run, seven RBI, a stolen base, and improved outfield defense. He could end up being a great value if he claims an everyday role after his stock drops, but he's still going a little early compared to other options around his same ranking. The biggest concern with Dominguez is the squeeze for outfield playing time in the Bronx.

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Cincinnati Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand will start the season in Triple-A after being optioned on Monday. The Reds are crowded at the corner infield spots with Ke'Bryan Hayes now serving as the team's starting third baseman, with Eugenio Suarez, Sal Stewart, and Spencer Stewart rotating between first base and designated hitter. Encarnacion-Strand was once a top prospect and still has excellent raw power, but has struggled to stay healthy and limit his chase rate over the last few years. He was the team's starting first baseman for the last two Opening Days, but he'll need to prove he's healthy and ready to produce before earning a call-up back to the Reds MLB roster. He had a disappointing .208/.234/.377 triple-slash with a .610 OPS in 36 big-league games in 2025 and finished the year in the minors.

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The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Monday that they sent outfield prospect Joshua Baez to minor-league camp. Baez homered in three straight Grapefruit League games, but he'll begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Memphis after hitting .287/.384/.500 with an .884 OPS, 20 home runs, 79 RBI, 78 runs scored, and 54 stolen bases in 495 plate appearances over 117 games at High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield. Sixteen of his 20 long balls came at Double-A in 79 games played. The power/speed is obvious here for Baez, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Cardinals' No. 4 prospect. He's the No. 87 overall prospect in MLB entering the 2026 season. If Baez performs well early on at Memphis, he'll most likely make his MLB debut at some point this year. There is 30-30 potential for the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder who was drafted in the second round in 2021. Baez's best path to playing time in St. Louis will be in right field. He's firmly back on the dynasty/keeper radar.

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Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that outfielders Chandler Simpson (hamstring) and Cedric Mullins (back) are feeling better and should play on Tuesday in Grapefruit League action, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Simpson, the more attractive fantasy outfielder of the two because of his high-end speed, has not played since last Tuesday after feeling soreness in his left hamstring. It's an injury the 25-year-old had battled through early in camp, so the Rays aren't taking any chances. Simpson doesn't offer much to fantasy managers outside of stolen bases, so he could be vulnerable to a loss of playing time if his glove doesn't improve in the outfield. Mullins, 31, also hasn't played since last Tuesday due to a sore back, but it's not viewed as a long-term issue. He still has power from the left side and could be on the strong side of a platoon in Tampa, but declining batted-ball metrics for Mullins make him merely a late-round dice roll in mixed fantasy leagues this year.

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Atlanta Braves left-hander Joey Wentz (knee) suffered a torn right ACL in a Grapefruit League game against the Tampa Bay Rays during a collision near first base on Sunday, according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Wentz will be forced to miss the entire 2026 season as a result. Although the 28-year-old southpaw has started only 39 of the 117 games he's pitched in over the course of his four-year big-league career, he offered the Braves some rotation depth with injuries to right-handers Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) and Hurston Waldrep (elbow), who both had surgeries on their arms this spring. It's yet another blow to the Braves' pitching depth before the start of the new season. Wentz pitched for the Braves, Pirates, and Twins in 2025, posting an ugly 5.60 ERA (4.06 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with 92 K's and 43 walks in 98 innings in 39 appearances (13 starts).

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The New York Yankees announced on Monday that they reassigned right-handed pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez and outfielder Spencer Jones to minor-league camp. Rodriguez, who is the team's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he could be one of the top arms considered if the Yankees have any openings in their rotation down the road. The 22-year-old allowed two runs with five strikeouts and one walk in his two Grapefruit League starts over six innings. The former Boston Red Sox farmhand broke out in three minor-league stops in 2025, posting a 2.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a 176:57 K: BB in 150 innings over 27 outings (26 starts). Rodriguez features a sinker, sweeper, and curveball and is already one of the best young ground-ball pitchers with improving control. He's a name to monitor in deeper single-year formats in 2026.

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The New York Yankees announced on Monday that they sent outfield prospect Spencer Jones and right-hander Elmer Rodriguez to minor-league camp. Despite looking good at the plate in Grapefruit League games -- Jones went 6-for-18 with three home runs and three stolen bases in spring training -- the 24-year-old left-handed slugger will begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Even with Jasson Dominguez potentially starting the year in the minors, too, there isn't room for Jones on the big-league roster just yet. Making contact more consistently continues to be the focus for Jones, who struck out 36.6% of the time at Triple-A in 2025. He hit .274/.362/.571 with a .932 OPS, 35 home runs, 80 RBI, 102 runs scored, and 29 steals in 116 games at Triple-A and Double-A Somerset last year. Jones' plus-plus power and plus speed will eventually play at the major-league level, but he could be a serious drain on your batting average if he doesn't clean up his plate discipline and make more contact.

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Left-hander Jesus Luzardo and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a five-year, $135 million contract extension on Monday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 28-year-old southpaw was set to become a free agent after the 2026 season. His new deal will begin in 2027 and will help the Phillies lock up one of the best young arms in the game. The 28-year-old Luzardo also will have a $32.5 million option for the 2032 season. On one of the better teams in baseball, Luzardo ranks No. 17 on RotoBaller's fantasy starting pitcher rankings after he went 15-7 with a 3.92 ERA (2.90 FIP), 1.22 WHIP, and 216:57 K:BB in 183 2/3 innings over 32 starts. It was the second time he's reached the 200-strikeout mark in the last three years, and he finished seventh in the National League Cy Young voting. He's not quite ace material in fantasy, but he's not far behind because of his strikeout upside.

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (hand) could debut in a Cactus League game at some point this week, manager Torey Lovullo told Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. Carroll had surgery to fix a broken hamate bone in his right hand last month, but the 25-year-old former National League Rookie of the Year is recovering very quickly. At this pace, Carroll should be ready for Opening Day in late March. Carroll has been an All-Star in two of his four MLB seasons, including last year, when he slashed .259/.343/.541 with a career-best .883 OPS, 31 home runs, 84 RBI, a league-leading 17 triples, 107 runs scored, and 32 stolen bases in 642 plate appearances and 143 games played. Despite Carroll's hand injury this spring, fantasy managers shouldn't hesitate to take him late in the first round of fantasy drafts as a five-category contributor in a hitter-friendly home ballpark.

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Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson (elbow) is dealing with mild elbow soreness in camp, but he reported feeling better on Monday, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. It's something to keep an eye on after Henderson missed time with right-elbow inflammation in the second half of last season. This doesn't help Henderson's cause this spring as he competes for a spot in Milwaukee's Opening Day starting rotation. The 24-year-old former fourth-round pick in 2021 looked great in a small sample size in his MLB debut last year, going 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 33 strikeouts and eight walks in only 25 1/3 innings over five starts. If Henderson is unable to get back into a Cactus League soon in spring training, he'll be in danger of missing the start of the regular season. Durability could be the biggest obstacle to Henderson sticking in the Brewers' rotation long-term.

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San Francisco Giants first base prospect Bryce Eldridge has been in camp hoping to be a part of the team's Opening Day roster, but the Giants' top-ranked prospect could very well end up starting the year at Triple-A Sacramento. Giants manager Tony Vitello stated Monday that development is the most important thing for the 6-foot-7 slugger, and when asked if Eldridge would develop in San Francisco or Sacramento, the Giants' skipper said, "maybe see where it goes the last couple weeks of spring training." The former first-round draft pick made his big league debut in 2025, and while there is big-time power in his bat, there is a lot of swing-and-miss as well, registering a 30.8 percent K% in 66 games at Triple-A last year. So far this spring, the left-handed hitter has a 32.3 percent K% in 31 plate appearances, so perhaps the Giants want to see some improvement there before making him their designated hitter for the 2026 season. The 21-year-old is going undrafted in most fantasy leagues, but for power-needy managers, Eldridge is worth keeping an eye on as he could provide some pop despite the contact issues.

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Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (knee) has stated that he will not participate in any Grapefruit League action. The 6-foot-4 slugger had previously indicated that he'd hoped to get some games in before the regular season begins, but this appears to push back his timeline somewhat. The former first-round draft pick is working his way back from patellar tendon surgery on his left knee, but has yet to work on baserunning and sliding as part of the rehab process. Once the left-handed hitter is ready to return to the Red Sox lineup, his powerful bat should have some fantasy appeal, having belted 24 home runs back in 2023 when he logged 132 games, so it's worth keeping an eye on his progress.

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Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter is looking competent enough against left-handed pitching so far in spring training that he could earn at-bats against southpaws early in the season, according to manager Skip Schumaker. The left-handed hitter is 5-for-60 (.083) against LHP so far in the big leagues, so we'll see if Schumaker stays true to his word. The former second-round draft pick is looking to log a full season after tallying just 63 games last year and 45 games in 2024 due to various injuries. The 23-year-old has a ton of speed that should give him some fantasy intrigue even in a platoon situation, as he stole 14 bags in his limited action last year and has already proclaimed a personal goal of 30 steals in 2026. The 6-foot-2 slugger has a pair of home runs and one steal so far in eight Cactus League games. If he can stay healthy while gaining some additional at-bats versus LHP, Carter could be a value pick at the end of drafts, currently with an ADP of 318, while RotoBaller ranks him at 303 overall.

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Detroit Tigers infield prospect Kevin McGonigle survived the latest rounds of big-league roster cuts on Monday, meaning he's still in contention to break camp with the Tigers with the regular season just a little over two weeks away. The Tigers' top-ranked prospect has shown well in spring training, going 6-for-17 (.353), including two doubles and a triple in nine Grapefruit League contests. He even went 3-for-3 with a walk and a home run off veteran pitcher Luis Severino in a WBC exhibition game against the Dominican Republic. MLB's No. 2 prospect overall seems to be ready for big league competition, however, he's yet to play a single game at Triple-A, so there is still a chance the Tigers could send him there to begin the year in order to make sure he's fully prepared to make the jump to the major leagues. Either way, expect the left-handed slugger to be fantasy relevant in 2026, whether it is on Opening Day or later in the year. Fantasy managers who have yet to draft should keep an eye on the remaining roster cuts, as he could be a value pick around his ADP of 311 if he begins the year in Detroit.

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