Fantasy Baseball
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BaseballTop 25 position battles for Fantasy
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BaseballBiggest questions for AL teams
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BaseballOutfield strategies for 2026
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BaseballBiggest questions for NL teams
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Baseball2026 Third Base Preview
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BaseballSpring Training: 5 things to know
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BaseballShortstop strategies for 2026
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Baseball2026 Second Base Preview
Player News
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Lenyn Sosa CHW 2B
White Sox's Lenyn Sosa: Could be on roster bubble
1h agoSosa does not have a set defensive home entering the 2026 season and is on the White Sox's roster bubble, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Sosa started 99 games at second base and 42 at first base for the White Sox in 2025, and he was an exactly league-average hitter with a 100 wRC+ across 544 plate appearances. However, the emergence of Chase Meidroth and the signing of Murataka Murakami will push Sosa out of those roles entering 2026. Also hurting Sosa is his lack of defensive value at any position, as he registered minus-10 defensive runs saved at second last season. While he doesn't necessarily have a clear path to playing time, the team's decision about Sosa's roster spot will likely be influenced by the fact that he's out of minor-league options.
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Dean Kremer BAL SP
Orioles' Dean Kremer: Shaky in first spring outing
1h agoKremer (0-1) took the loss during Friday's 8-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates, allowing two runs on three walks in two innings. He struck out one.
Following a clean first inning, Kremer gave up two runs in the second frame after walking the bases loaded with no outs. The 30-year-old right-hander is in the mix to be Baltimore's No. 5 starter to open the season, but he has plenty of competition this spring in Tyler Wells, Cade Povich and Brandon Young, Kremer is set to exit Orioles camp soon to pitch for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.
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Charlie Condon COL RF
Rockies' Charlie Condon: Starts in right field
2h agoCondon started in right field and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks.
Condon has worked primarily at first base throughout the spring, but the Rockies have several different options at the position. That has caused the team to try to give him multiple different paths to the majors, though he has yet to play in right field in a regular-season game as a pro. Condon also got off to a strong start to the exhibition season with his bat, but he looks likely to return to the minors to begin the 2026 campaign.
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Jose Miranda MIN 3B
Padres' Jose Miranda: Making strong first impression
3h agoThrough two spring games, Miranda has gone 5-for-6 with a home run, two doubles, a walk, two runs and six RBI.
Miranda joined San Diego on a minor-league deal in December. While he's still probably a long shot to break camp on the big-league roster, the former Minnesota Twin has likely helped his chances with his torrid hitting to begin the spring slate. In Miranda's favor in his bid to make the roster is the fact that he can play first base, which is the most unsettled position for the Padres at the moment. Miranda has also shown flashes of strong hitting in previous major-league stints, including as recently as 2024, when he slashed .284/.322/.441 with nine homers, 49 RBI, 44 runs and two stolen bases across 121 games while with Minnesota.
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Jose Soriano LAA RP
Angels' Jose Soriano: Shaky in spring debut
3h agoSoriano allowed four runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two batters over two-thirds of an inning in a Cactus League contest against the Dodgers on Saturday.
Soriano was tabbed to start the Angels' first game of the spring slate after ending last season on the injured list due to a right forearm contusion. The 27-year-old struggled against a Dodgers lineup that featured just a few of its anticipated starters, though all three of the hits he allowed were singles. Soriano is penciled into the Angels' rotation, so he'll look to shake off this outing and prepare for the regular season during the remainder of his spring appearances.
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John Klein MIN SP
Twins' John Klein: Working as starter
3h agoKlein will be built up as a starter this spring, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
Klein was used as a starter and reliever in the minors last season with a strong 10.8 K/9 which could make him a candidate for the major league bullpen at some point. He had a good season at Double-A Wichita with a 3.12 ERA and 95:24 K:BB ratio in 80.2 innings, but struggled when called up to Triple-A with a 6.66 ERA and 33:13 K:BB in 25.2 innings.
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Moises Ballesteros CHC C
Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Expected to report Saturday
1d agoBallesteros (personal) is expected to report to spring camp Saturday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
After working through visa issues that have delayed his entry into the United States, Ballesteros will finally be able to begin preparing for the regular season. The 22-year-old's poor defense will likely keep him from starting behind the plate with the Cubs, but after slashing .298/.394/.474 across 66 regular-season plate appearances last year, he could earn a job as Chicago's primary DH.
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Elias Diaz SD C
Royals' Elias Diaz: Catches on with Royals as NRI
2d agoThe Royals signed Diaz to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Diaz is expected to report to Royals camp next week. The 35-year-old appeared in 106 regular-season contests for the Padres last season, slashing .204/.270/.337 with nine long balls. Unless the Royals carry three catchers on their Opening Day roster, Diaz is likely ticketed for Triple-A Omaha.
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Mitch Garver SEA C
Mariners' Mitch Garver: Inks minor-league deal with Seattle
3d agoThe Mariners signed Garver to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Garver spent the last two seasons with the Mariners serving as the team's backup catcher to Cal Raleigh. Garver will get a chance to reprise that role for the 2026 campaign, and he'll face competition from Jhonny Pereda and Andrew Knizner in spring training. Garver appeared in 87 regular-season games for Seattle in 2025 and slashed .209/.297/.343 with three steals, nine home runs and 30 RBI across 290 plate appearances.
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Francisco Alvarez NYM C
Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Will get eased into spring action
4d agoAlvarez isn't expected to see game action this spring until the second week of the Grapefruit League schedule, Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic report.
The Mets are bringing a number of key position players along slowly this spring, including Luis Robert, Jorge Polanco and Brett Baty (hamstring). Alvarez underwent thumb surgery right after the end of last season, which explains the team's caution with its starting catcher, but the 24-year-old appeared to be fully healthy when he reported to camp. The Mets are hoping that good health extends into the regular season -- Alvarez played only 76 games in 2025, his lowest total in three years since becoming a big-league regular.
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Ivan Herrera STL C
Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Works with outfielders Tuesday
5d agoHerrera (elbow) did outfield drills in Cardinals camp Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The catchers were working on pop time drills and throws to second base, something Herrera is not yet cleared for as he returns from surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow. The plan is for Herrera to return to catcher in 2026 after the elbow issue limited him to designated hitter for the final few months of last season. He did play four games in left field in 2025, and if catching doesn't work out, Herrera could give the outfield a try again or possibly first base.
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Connor Wong BOS C
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Set for backup catcher role in 2026
5d agoWong (hand) took part in live batting practice Monday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Wong reported to camp last week and appears to be fully healthy after he underwent a carpal boss excision procedure on his right hand back on Oct. 9. The hand issue perhaps played a factor in Wong's dramatic drop in production in 2025, when his OPS fell to .500 over his 188 plate appearances after he had posted a .758 OPS the season prior. Carlos Narvaez ended up overtaking Wong on the depth chart, and manager Alex Cora relayed Saturday that Narvaez "earned the right" to be the team's starter heading into 2026, per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. Cora added that Wong's solid defense behind the plate should allow him to play more frequently than the typical backup catcher, and the 29-year-old could also be an option to make starts first base when Willson Contreras needs a day off.
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Pete Alonso BAL 1B
Orioles' Pete Alonso: Goes yard in spring debut
1d agoAlonso went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's 2-0 Grapefruit League win over the Yankees.
Alonso made his presence felt in his spring debut and first game for the Orioles, crushing a two-run shot in the sixth inning. The All-Star first baseman inked a five-year, $155 million contract with Baltimore this winter, and Alonso already appears to be in midseason form after smashing at least 34 homers in each of his past five seasons for the Mets.
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Eduardo Valencia DET 1B
Tigers' Eduardo Valencia: Cleared for all baseball activities
2d agoValencia (quadriceps) has been cleared for all baseball activities Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Valencia has been dealing with a strained left quad but appears ready to play in Grapefruit League games. The 26-year-old backstop split the 2025 campaign between Double-A and Triple-A and slashed .311/.382/.559 with 24 home runs, 95 RBI and 64 runs scored across 433 plate appearances.
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Justin Foscue TEX 1B
Rangers' Justin Foscue: Trying to increase versatility
3d agoRangers manager Skip Schumaker said Thursday that Foscue will be given some reps in the outfield during spring training, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Foscue has played only in the infield both in college at Mississippi State and since entering pro ball, but increasing his versatility gives him a better chance to make the team in a reserve role. The 26-year-old has struggled mightily during his brief time in the majors, going 3-for-51 with a 2:21 BB:K.
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Christian Encarnacion-Strand CIN 1B
Reds' Christian Encarnacion-Strand: Could get into games next week
3d agoReds manager Terry Francona said Thursday that Encarnacion-Strand (hamstring) could play in Cactus League games next week, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Encarnacion-Strand has been slowed early on in camp by a hamstring injury he suffered in January, but he's been working out and it seems he'll miss only the first few spring training games. Given the number of bodies ahead of him at the infield corners and designated hitter, the 26-year-old is facing long odds to make the Opening Day roster.
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Nolan Schanuel LAA 1B
Angels' Nolan Schanuel: Looking to add more bat speed
4d agoSchanuel said Wednesday that he spent considerable time in the offseason taking part in drills to improve his bat speed and barrel control, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
The drills represented a continuation of the work he put in the previous offseason, which he credits for helping him increase his bat speed by 2.3 miles per hour during the 2025 campaign -- the sixth-biggest jump of all major-league hitters. While Schanuel continued to make contact at a steady clip (12.6 percent strikeout rate) and finished with a .264 average last season, he still offered subpar power production (.389 slugging percentage, .125 ISO) for a first baseman. Schanuel is hoping that another uptick in bat speed heading into 2026 will translate to more power, but manager Kurt Suzuki emphasized that he doesn't want the 24-year-old to dramatically alter his swing in pursuit of more pop. Fantasy managers should still be viewing Schanuel as a low-end option at first base who will hold greater value in leagues that count on-base percentage as a category.
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Dominic Smith SF 1B
Braves' Dominic Smith: Links up with Atlanta as NRI
5d agoAtlanta signed Smith to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Smith played well in 63 games with the Giants last season, slashing .284/.333/.417 with five home runs. The 30-year-old has not started a game at a position other than first base since 2021, when he was the Mets' regular left fielder. Matt Olson has played all 162 games in each of his four seasons in Atlanta, which means Smith is almost certainly ticketed for Triple-A Gwinnett.
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Lenyn Sosa CHW 2B
White Sox's Lenyn Sosa: Could be on roster bubble
1h agoSosa does not have a set defensive home entering the 2026 season and is on the White Sox's roster bubble, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Sosa started 99 games at second base and 42 at first base for the White Sox in 2025, and he was an exactly league-average hitter with a 100 wRC+ across 544 plate appearances. However, the emergence of Chase Meidroth and the signing of Murataka Murakami will push Sosa out of those roles entering 2026. Also hurting Sosa is his lack of defensive value at any position, as he registered minus-10 defensive runs saved at second last season. While he doesn't necessarily have a clear path to playing time, the team's decision about Sosa's roster spot will likely be influenced by the fact that he's out of minor-league options.
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Andres Gimenez TOR 2B
Blue Jays' Andres Gimenez: Played through ankle injury in 2025
14h agoGimenez admitted he was still playing through pain at the end of last season after returning from a high-ankle sprain in August, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports. "Anyone who's had a high ankle sprain," Gimenez said in camp this week, "they know."
The 27-year-old infielder was an overall disappointment in his first season with Toronto, slashing a career-worst .210/.285/.313 and swiping just 12 bases after back-to-back 30-steal campaigns for Cleveland. Gimenez will shift to shortstop on a full-time basis in 2026, and while his defense should still be an asset, his ability to stay healthy and provide some value with his bat and legs would be a welcome sight in a Jays offense that will be adjusting to the offseason departure of Bo Bichette.
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Luis Garcia WAS 2B
Nationals' Luis Garcia: Nursing tight hamstring
15h agoGarcia is out of the lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Houston due to left hamstring tightness, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
The Nationals are viewing Garcia as day-to-day, so it doesn't seem like he's dealing with anything too serious. The 25-year-old figures to open the season as Washington's primary second baseman, though he's also been taking reps at first base this spring.
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Michael Helman TEX 2B
Rangers' Michael Helman: Scratched with minor injury
15h agoHelman was scratched from Saturday's Cactus League game due to a groin/hip injury, Matthew Postins of SI.com reports.
Helman's injury isn't considered serious, as his removal from the starting lineup was precautionary. Specifics regarding the injury are uncertain, but it's an issue in his groin or hip area. The 29-year-old appeared in 38 games last season with the Rangers, slashing .232/.290/.455 with five home runs and four stolen bases across 110 plate appearances.
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Jose Fermin STL 2B
Cardinals' Jose Fermin: Will get look in outfield
15h agoCardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Saturday that the signing of Ramon Urias could lead to more playing time in the outfield for Fermin, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.
Fermin is an infielder by trade, but he's seen a bit of action in the outfield in the majors and at the Triple-A level. The 26-year-old slashed .283/.377/.417 in 70 appearances with the big club and .300/.428/.485 with a 45:25 BB:K at Triple-A Memphis in 2025. Fermin could see more of an opportunity at the big-league level in 2026 as the Cardinals go through a rebuild.
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Luke Keaschall MIN 2B
Twins' Luke Keaschall: Starting Saturday's exhibition
17h agoKeaschall (thumb) will start at second base and bat second in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.
A left thumb injury ended Keaschall's 2025 season and required surgery in October, but he is ready to roll this spring. While he didn't flash a ton of over-the-fence pop as a rookie with four homers in 49 games, Keaschall displayed an intriguing combination of contact, gap power and speed. The 23-year-old projects as Minnesota's starting second baseman to begin 2026.
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Jose Miranda MIN 3B
Padres' Jose Miranda: Making strong first impression
3h agoThrough two spring games, Miranda has gone 5-for-6 with a home run, two doubles, a walk, two runs and six RBI.
Miranda joined San Diego on a minor-league deal in December. While he's still probably a long shot to break camp on the big-league roster, the former Minnesota Twin has likely helped his chances with his torrid hitting to begin the spring slate. In Miranda's favor in his bid to make the roster is the fact that he can play first base, which is the most unsettled position for the Padres at the moment. Miranda has also shown flashes of strong hitting in previous major-league stints, including as recently as 2024, when he slashed .284/.322/.441 with nine homers, 49 RBI, 44 runs and two stolen bases across 121 games while with Minnesota.
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Jonathon Long CHC 3B
Cubs' Jonathon Long: Diagnosed with elbow sprain
8h agoLong exited Saturday's Cactus League game against Texas with a sprained left elbow, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The 24-year-old prospect suffered the injury while attempting to catch a wide throw to first base that put his arm in the path of Mark Canha, leading to a collision. Long will likely miss some time while he recovers, though it's still unknown whether his injury will impact his availability for the start of the regular season.
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Jonathon Long CHC 3B
Cubs' Jonathon Long: Injures wrist Saturday
10h agoLong was removed from Saturday's Cactus League game against the Rangers with an apparent left wrist injury, Matthew Postins of SI.com reports.
Mark Canha ran into Long's arm while the latter was attempting to catch a wide throw to first base in the fourth inning. The severity of Long's injury isn't immediately clear, but the Cubs should provide more information on his status in the near future.
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John Gil ATL 3B
Braves' John Gil: Making good impression in camp
14h agoGil has drawn comparisons to former Atlanta shortstop Rafael Furcal with his energy and speed early in camp, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Furcal was the 2000 NL Rookie of the Year and a three-time All-Star over a 14-year big-league career, but while he was generously listed at 5-foot-8 during his playing days, Gil stands 6-foot-1 and is still growing into his athletic frame. The 19-year-old began to tap into his upside at the plate last year at Single-A Augusta, slashing .258/.352/.378 with seven homers and 50 steals in 64 attempts over 100 games. Another step forward in 2026 could see Gil soar up the ladder and have him knocking on the door of a big-league debut.
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Otto Kemp PHI 3B
Phillies' Otto Kemp: Ready for spring opener
18h agoKemp (kneecap, shoulder) will start in left field and bat cleanup in Saturday's Grapefruit League opener against the Blue Jays, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Kemp underwent a pair of surgeries in the offseason -- one to repair a fracture in his left kneecap and another to clean out damage to his left shoulder. He seems to be a full-go this spring regardless, and the 26-year-old Kemp appears slated to fill a super-utility role for Philadelphia after appearing at four different positions as a rookie (third base, first base, second base and left field).
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Nolan Arenado ARI 3B
Diamondbacks' Nolan Arenado: Homers in preseason opener
1d agoArenado went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Friday's Cactus League opener against the Rockies.
It might seem odd that a starting position player would play in the first spring game, but Arenado needs to get the work in before suiting up for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Arenado is looking for a bounce-back season in the desert after two consecutive seasons of diminished power.
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Enrique Hernandez LAD SS
Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez: Placed on 60-day IL
10h agoThe Dodgers placed Hernandez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Saturday, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.
The move creates space on the Dodgers' 40-man roster for Jack Suwinski, who was claimed off waivers from the Pirates on Saturday. Hernandez is expected to miss the first several months of the regular season while he recovers from offseason elbow surgery, though the team is hopeful that he'll resume a hitting program soon.
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Cody Freeman TEX SS
Rangers' Cody Freeman: Suffers back fracture
15h agoFreeman was diagnosed with a lower-back fracture Saturday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Freeman will remain sidelined for 4-6 weeks before the Rangers reevaluate him, which will almost certainly cause him to miss the entire Cactus League schedule and could force him to begin the regular season on the injured list. The 25-year-old infielder had been in the running to land a spot on the Rangers' bench, but his injury will open the door for other players like Ezequiel Duran, Sam Haggerty and Justin Foscue to pick up reps during spring training games.
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Thomas Saggese STL SS
Cardinals' Thomas Saggese: More time in outfield likely
16h agoCardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Saturday that the signing of Ramon Urias could lead to more playing time in the outfield for Saggese, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.
Saggese has never played the outfield in pro ball, but he's been working out there during spring training and could see starts in the outfield, especially against lefties. The 23-year-old also figures to see some starts at designated hitter, or in the field while others are getting a DH day. Saggese has hit only .250/.292/.336 with a 28 percent strikeout rate in his first 100 games in the majors.
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Casey Schmitt SF SS
Giants' Casey Schmitt: Starting spring opener
16h agoSchmitt (wrist) will start at third base and bat sixth during Saturday's Cactus League game against Seattle, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
After undergoing offseason surgery to remove the carpal boss in his left wrist, Schmitt has officially been cleared for game action ahead of San Francisco's first spring exhibition game. The 26-year-old slashed .237/.305/.401 with 40 RBI and 34 runs scored across 348 plate appearances last season and is expected to begin 2026 as infield depth on the Giants' bench.
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Jordan Lawlar ARI SS
Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Will start opener in CF
17h agoLawlar will start in center field in Arizona's Cactus League opener Saturday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
This will be Lawlar's first start in center field in a Diamondbacks' uniform. He was given reps in center during winter ball and has been working with outfielders during spring drills. As part of the team's adjustment to being without injured outfielders Corbin Carroll (hand) and Lourdes Gurriel (knee) for rest of spring training, Lawlar is expected to see time in the outfield in camp and into the regular season.
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Josh H. Smith TEX SS
Rangers' Josh Smith: Starts at 2B in opener
18h agoSmith started at second base and went 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored in Friday's spring opener against the Royals.
After the Rangers traded second baseman Marcus Semien during the offseason, Smith's name was part of the group in line to compete for second base. The super-utility player recently confirmed he's been preparing to play the keystone since Semien's departure. Whether or not he becomes the primary second baseman, at the very least, Smith should be a regular presence in the lineup against right-handers at some position.
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Charlie Condon COL RF
Rockies' Charlie Condon: Starts in right field
2h agoCondon started in right field and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks.
Condon has worked primarily at first base throughout the spring, but the Rockies have several different options at the position. That has caused the team to try to give him multiple different paths to the majors, though he has yet to play in right field in a regular-season game as a pro. Condon also got off to a strong start to the exhibition season with his bat, but he looks likely to return to the minors to begin the 2026 campaign.
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Denzel Clarke ATH CF
Athletics' Denzel Clarke: Hitless in spring debut
5h agoClarke (hip) started at designated hitter and went 0-for-3 with a run scored and a run scored in Saturday's Cactus League loss to the White Sox.
Clarke made his spring debut Saturday in an uneventful outing, serving as the designated hitter and going hitless. The superb defender was limited to 47 regular-season games as a rookie in 2025 due to a nagging right adductor strain that sidelined him from MLB action beyond July 20. In 159 big-league plate appearances, he slashed .230/.274/.372 with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs, eight RBI and six stolen bases. While the offensive production was modest, Clarke's elite defense should position him as the Athletics' regular center fielder in 2026, health permitting.
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Aaron Judge NYY RF
Yankees' Aaron Judge: Goes deep twice in spring debut
8h agoJudge went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs and four RBI in Saturdays' 20-3 Grapefruit League rout of Detroit.
Judge didn't play Friday in New York's spring opener, but he started in right field and batted second Saturday. The reigning AL MVP wasted little time reminding everyone of his prodigious power, crushing a pair of two-run homers that traveled a combined 815 feet. Judge had a quiet spring last season, and he didn't go deep until late in the exhibition slate, but he nonetheless managed to post a 1.145 OPS with 53 home runs and 114 RBI over 679 plate appearances during the regular season.
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Jack Suwinski PIT CF
Dodgers' Jack Suwinski: Claimed by Dodgers
12h agoThe Dodgers claimed Suwinski off waivers from the Pirates on Saturday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Suwinski will claim a spot on Los Angeles' 40-man roster after being DFA'd by the Pirates on Monday. The 27-year-old is out of minor-league options, however, so he will have to make the Dodgers' Opening Day roster to keep his spot, which seems unlikely considering he's slashed just .169/.271/.297 in the majors over the past two seasons.
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Steward Berroa MIL OF
Brewers' Steward Berroa: Tending to sore shoulder
13h agoBrewers manager Pat Murphy said Saturday that Berroa is dealing with a sore shoulder, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Berroa is battling a sore shoulder to start spring training. The 26-year-old appeared in just two big-league games last season and faces an uphill battle to see MLB action in 2026. Given the time of season, expect the Brewers to be cautious with Berroa.
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Jacob Young WAS CF
Nationals' Jacob Young: Managing wrist soreness
15h agoYoung is out of the lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Houston due to right wrist soreness, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.
Young took a pitch off his wrist Wednesday, so he'll wait another day or two before making his spring debut. The 26-year-old posted just a .583 OPS across 364 plate appearances last season, but his elite speed and defense make him the early favorite to open the season as Washington's primary center fielder.
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Dean Kremer BAL SP
Orioles' Dean Kremer: Shaky in first spring outing
1h agoKremer (0-1) took the loss during Friday's 8-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates, allowing two runs on three walks in two innings. He struck out one.
Following a clean first inning, Kremer gave up two runs in the second frame after walking the bases loaded with no outs. The 30-year-old right-hander is in the mix to be Baltimore's No. 5 starter to open the season, but he has plenty of competition this spring in Tyler Wells, Cade Povich and Brandon Young, Kremer is set to exit Orioles camp soon to pitch for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.
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John Klein MIN SP
Twins' John Klein: Working as starter
3h agoKlein will be built up as a starter this spring, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
Klein was used as a starter and reliever in the minors last season with a strong 10.8 K/9 which could make him a candidate for the major league bullpen at some point. He had a good season at Double-A Wichita with a 3.12 ERA and 95:24 K:BB ratio in 80.2 innings, but struggled when called up to Triple-A with a 6.66 ERA and 33:13 K:BB in 25.2 innings.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto LAD SP
Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Tosses 1.2 frames in spring debut
5h agoYamamoto completed 1.2 innings against the Angels in a Cactus League contest Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and no walks while striking out three batters.
Fresh off a memorable World Series against Toronto during which Yamamoto picked up three wins and was named the series MVP, the right-handed hurler kicked off the Dodgers' spring slate as the team's starting pitcher. He breezed through a 1-2-3 first inning but gave up a couple runs in the second, due in part to a fielding error in the outfield. Nonetheless, Yamamoto didn't look rusty in the outing, throwing 22 of 30 pitches for strikes. Yamamoto will pitch for Japan in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, but he may first draw another Cactus League start Friday against the Giants, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
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Joe Ryan MIN SP
Twins' Joe Ryan: Slated for MRI
10h agoRyan will undergo an MRI on his lower back Saturday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Ryan was originally scheduled to start the Twins' Grapefruit League opener against Boston on Saturday, but lower-back tightness caused him to be scratched shortly before the game. The Twins will now bring him in for imaging to confirm whether he's dealing with any structural damage, and more information on his condition will likely come Sunday.
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Merrill Kelly ARI SP
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Live BP cancelled due to back issue
12h agoKelly will no longer throw live BP Saturday because of mid-back tightness, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Kelly is battling back tightness and won't throw his previously scheduled live BP session. The veteran right-hander will undergo further testing in the next 24 hours, at which point a status update will likely be provided. Kelly has already been named the Diamondbacks' Opening Day starter.
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Zak Kent STL SP
Cardinals' Zak Kent: Designated for assignment
13h agoThe Cardinals designated Kent for assignment Saturday.
Kent returned to St. Louis from Texas on Monday via waivers, but he will once again lose his 40-man roster spot -- this time to make room for Ramon Urias. Kent broke into the majors for the first time last season and turned in a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP over 17.2 innings with the Guardians.
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Jose Soriano LAA RP
Angels' Jose Soriano: Shaky in spring debut
3h agoSoriano allowed four runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two batters over two-thirds of an inning in a Cactus League contest against the Dodgers on Saturday.
Soriano was tabbed to start the Angels' first game of the spring slate after ending last season on the injured list due to a right forearm contusion. The 27-year-old struggled against a Dodgers lineup that featured just a few of its anticipated starters, though all three of the hits he allowed were singles. Soriano is penciled into the Angels' rotation, so he'll look to shake off this outing and prepare for the regular season during the remainder of his spring appearances.
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Tyler Samaniego BOS RP
Red Sox's Tyler Samaniego: Battling back tightness
10h agoSamaniego didn't pitch as scheduled in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins due to back tightness, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Manager Alex Cora said after the game that Samaniego's injury isn't too serious, and he should be able to get into a game within the next few days. The 27-year-old lefty posted a 3.08 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 26.1 innings with the Pirates' Double-A affiliate last year before being shipped to Boston in the offseason. He will most likely report to Triple-A Worcester to begin the regular season and could be a candidate to debut in the big leagues at some point this year.
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Janson Junk MIA RP
Marlins' Janson Junk: Sheds walking boot
17h agoJunk (ankle) played catch Saturday without a boot, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Junk began wearing a boot as a precaution after suffering a mild right ankle sprain during a drill Tuesday. Now that he's resumed throwing, he could also soon be cleared to appear in Grapefruit League games, though the Marlins have yet to confirm when that will happen.
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Edwin Uceta TB RP
Rays' Edwin Uceta: MRI shows inflammation, impingement
17h agoAn MRI on Uceta's shoulder revealed inflammation and what looks like a slight impingement, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
All things considered, this is good news for one of the Rays' top bullpen arms. Uceta will receive a cortisone shot, and the hope is that he can resume throwing in a week or so. He will be cutting it close for Opening Day, and Griffin Jax's draft price figures to climb as a result, though it does not sound like Uceta is currently in danger of missing extended regular-season action.
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Brock Stewart LAD RP
Dodgers' Brock Stewart: Targeting March for full bullpens
1d agoStewart (shoulder) recently began throwing off a mound to a standing catcher, and the Dodgers are aiming for him to progress to full bullpen sessions in early March, per MLB.com.
Stewart continues to rehab from the right shoulder debridement procedure he underwent last September. The veteran reliever isn't expected to be ready for Opening Day, but if he doesn't encounter any setbacks, he could be part of Los Angeles' bullpen sometime during the first half of the campaign. When healthy, Stewart should have a chance to work his way up to high-leverage opportunities.
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Yimi Garcia TOR RP
Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia: Won't be ready for Opening Day
1d agoGarcia will "100 percent" not be ready for Opening Day as he continues to recover from surgery on his right elbow from last September, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports.
Garcia underwent surgery to clean up scar tissue around his right elbow, which caused him to miss the Blue Jays' postseason run. The 35-year-old reliever has yet to throw off a mound but hopes to do so over the next week or two. Garcia's absence opens the door for other relievers such as Spencer Miles, Mason Fluharty and Chase Lee to potentially earn larger roles for themselves to begin the 2026 season.
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Shohei Ohtani LAD DH
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: May be limited as pitcher early on
1d agoOhtani may not be fully stretched out as a pitcher by Opening Day, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.
Ohtani is fully expected to be part of Los Angeles' pitching rotation while fulfilling his usual DH duties from the get-go, but it's unclear how stretched out he'll be as a pitcher due to his participation with Samurai Japan during the World Baseball Classic, as he's slated to work exclusively as a hitter during that tournament. Should the two-way star not be ready to handle a full pitching workload right away, it's very possible that he'll have his pitch count capped until he's fully ramped up. In that scenario, Chen suggests that Justin Wrobleski or another long reliever could work in a piggyback role with Ohtani during the early part of the campaign.
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Shohei Ohtani LAD DH
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Staying in leadoff spot
4d agoDodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Wednesday that Ohtani will remain the team's leadoff hitter during the 2026 season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
For the first time since his final season with the Angels in 2023, Ohtani is preparing for a full season of pitching, but that won't affect the Dodgers' approach with him as their everyday designated hitter. After slugging a career-high 55 home runs while making 148 of his 158 starts out of the leadoff spot during the 2025 regular season, the four-time MVP will continue to set the table for Los Angeles once again in 2026. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Ohtani is expected to start at DH in the Dodgers' first two Cactus League games this weekend to get some competitive at-bats under his belt before he joins Team Japan in advance of the World Baseball Classic. Roberts has already said that Ohtani won't pitch for Japan in the WBC, but the two-way phenom will likely continue to build up through bullpen and live batting practice sessions throughout the spring to ensure that he'll be part of the Dodgers' Opening Day rotation.
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Yordan Alvarez HOU DH
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Clear of ankle pain
6d agoAlvarez (ankle) reported to spring training Sunday and announced that his is pain-free, Houston Chronicle reports.
The 28-year-old dealt with a left ankle sprain late last year and dealt with some inflammation early in the offseason, but it appears he's entering spring training at 100 percent. Alvarez was limited to 48 games due to the ankle issue and a hand fracture, with his .273/.367/.430 slash line representing career lows in average and slugging percentage. The injury-plagued season ended a run of four straight 30-homer campaigns for the slugger, who is a popular rebound candidate in 2026. Alvarez is expected to see most of his action at designated hitter this season after making just 15 appearances in left field in 2025.
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Giancarlo Stanton NYY DH
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: No restrictions in spring training
11d agoYankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Stanton (elbows) has had a great offseason and will not have any restrictions at the start of spring training, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.
Stanton's 2025 season debut was delayed until mid-June by tennis elbow in both arms. Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reported last week that the injuries haven't healed and Stanton will need to be monitored closely again in 2026. However, at least at the beginning of camp, Stanton appears to be good to go. The 36-year-old was superb when on the field last season, slashing .273/.350/.594 with 24 home runs across 77 regular-season contests.
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Giancarlo Stanton NYY DH
Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Tennis elbow will be monitored
13d agoStanton's tennis elbow in both arms has not healed and will be managed again during the upcoming season, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Stanton didn't make his season debut until mid-June last year because of the elbow issues, but he was very good when on the field, slashing .273/.350/.594 with 24 home runs across 77 regular-season contests. He does not seem to be in any danger of a late start to the season again, but the Yankees will keep close tabs on Stanton in camp and during the regular season. The 36-year-old will be the Yanks' primary designated hitter again in 2026.
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Marcell Ozuna ATL DH
Pirates' Marcell Ozuna: Lands $12 million deal with Pirates
13d agoThe Pirates signed Ozuna to a one-year, $10.5 million contract Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. The deal includes a $16 million mutual option or $1.5 million buyout for 2027.
Ozuna produced a disappointing .232/.355/.400 batting line with 21 home runs over 145 games for Atlanta in 2025. However, a nagging hip injury was likely at least partly to blame, and he is just a year removed from a 39-homer season. Ozuna will slide into the designated hitter role in Pittsburgh, likely pushing Ryan O'Hearn to left field and Jake Mangum to a fourth outfielder role.