Jackson Chourio (hand) has been placed on the 10-day injured list by the Milwaukee Brewers the club announced. (Source: Milwaukee Brewers on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: Chourio suffered the hand injury while competing in the World Baseball Classic, with an estimate of being sidelined for at least 2-to-4 weeks for the Brewers. In a corresponding move, Blake Perkins was recalled from Triple-A Nashville.
Carson Benge has made the Mets' Opening Day roster and is expected to start in right field. (Source: Mike Puma on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: Benge, the Mets' No. 2 prospect per MLB.com, has had a terrific spring, posting an .874 OPS across 46 plate appearances. The first-round pick from 2024 hit .281 with 15 homers and 22 steals over 116 games between three different minor-league levels last year. He will likely start off near the bottom of the Mets' batting order, but he could move up quick if he hits the ground running.
Spencer Strider will reportedly start the season on the injured list with an oblique strain. (Source: Mark Bowman on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Strider is not opening the season on the IL with an arm injury. It is unclear what his timetable will be, but he'll likely be sidelined into the end of April. Didier Fuentes could join the Braves rotation as a result.
Merrill Kelly (back) will begin the regular season on the IL. (Source: Alex Weiner on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: Kelly has been limited to only two appearances this spring due to back pain, with the first of those not coming until March 13. The plan is for the veteran righty to continue working up to full strength in the early portion of the season. After being traded to Texas at last year's July deadline, Kelly returned to the Diamondbacks on a free-agent deal this past December. Brandon Pfaadt and Michael Soroka will begin the season in the Arizona rotation.
Righthander Walker Buehler has made the Padres' Opening Day roster according to multiple reports. Buehler was signed to a minor league deal by San Diego in February and was a non-roster invitee to spring training. (Source: FOX Sports: MLB on X)
Fantasy Impact: Buehler started three games for the Padres this spring and went 2-0 with a 3.09 ERA in 11.2 innings. He allowed four runs on ten his, walked four, and struck out 13. The 31-year-old has not been the same his second Tommy John surgery back in August of 2022, which forced him to miss all of 2023. In his last two seasons, Buehler has gone 11-13 with a 5.10 ERA in 42 appearances (40 starts). In his first six seasons, the righthander went 46-16 with a 3.02 ERA in 115 games (106 starts). Buehler should be penciled in as the fifth starter to open the season and, while it's a great chapter to Buehler's comeback, there's no need to run to the wire just yet.
Sun, Mar 15th 9:17pm EDT
By David Leisering
Jose Ramirez (shoulder) left in the fourth inning of Cleveland's spring training game against the Athletics with left shoulder inflammation according to Guardians' manager, Stephen Vogt. Ramirez is considered day-to-day for now. (Source: MLB Trade Rumors on X)
Fantasy Impact: Ramirez apparently suffered the ailment sliding into third base during the second inning of Sunday's game. He remained in the game before he was pinch hit for by Carter Kieboom in the fourth. Ramirez has played 13 seasons, all with Cleveland, and could be destined for Cooperstown when all is said and done. He's a seven-time All-Star and has finished in the top five in AL MVP voting six times. It's entirely possible that this is a minor hiccup and he'll return in a couple of days. However, given what Ramirez means to the Guardians, the organization will use extreme caution before returning him to game action. Expect an update on Ramirez in the next day or two.
Sat, Mar 14th 11:09pm EDT
By David Leisering
Seiya Suzuki (knee) exited early from Saturday night's World Baseball Classic quarterfinal against Venezuela with right knee discomfort. He came up limping after being thrown out attempting to steal second base in the first inning. (Source: Bob Nightengale on X)
Fantasy Impact: Suzuki was able to walk off the field under his own power, but he had a noticeable limp and struggled getting down the stairs of the dugout. This would obviously be a big blow for both Team Japan and the Chicago Cubs if the injury proves to be serious. He was 3-for-9 with two home runs and six walks in five games for Japan during the World Baseball Classic. The winner of the Japan-Venezuela game would play Italy on Monday in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Suzuki hit .245 with 32 home runs for the Cubs as their primary designated hitter last season. The regular season opens in less than two weeks, so stay tuned for the forthcoming medical update.
Josh Hader (biceps) will begin the regular season on the IL. (Source: Matt Kawahara on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Hader has been progressing from bicep inflammation in his pitching arm, and his most recent bullpen session reportedly went well. Still, the six-time All-Star will simply need time beyond Opening Day to fully build up his arm before being ready to take the mound for the Astros. Bryan Abreu will likely take on closing duties until Hader returns.
Max Scherzer returns to Blue Jays on a one-year deal. (Source: Shi Davidi on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: Scherzer was expected to ultimately return to Toronto, but recent speculation suggested that the 41-year-old might not sign until after Opening Day. Scherzer's new deal includes incentives that pickup at the 65-inning mark. The future Hall of Famer made 20 starts between the regular season and playoffs last year, working 99 1/3 innings in total.
Pablo Lopez (elbow) will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery for the Minnesota Twins according to Aaron Gleeman. (Source: Aaron Gleeman on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: Lopez entered the spring looking to lead a Minnesota pitching staff counting on the right-hander to be one of the few stable options for new manager Derek Shelton. Joe Ryan likely moves up to the No. 1 spot in an underwhelming Twins rotation entering the regular season.
Jordan Westburg has a partially torn UCL and is scheduled for a PRP injection on Friday. He will not undergo surgery and will be sidelined through April. (Source: Andy Kostka on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Baltimore Orioles president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Elias said Westburg’s partial UCL tear was deemed a chronic issue. Westburg has reportedly dealt with the elbow injury over the past year but will opt for a PRP injection rather than surgery, which makes sense for a position player given the lower stress on his arm. While his exact timeline for return is unclear, he could eventually return in a DH role while progressing through a throwing program. With Westburg sidelined, Blaze Alexander, Jeremiah Jackson and Coby Mayo are candidates to start at third base for the Orioles to begin the season.
Nick Castellanos was not on the market long as he inks a deal with the San Diego Padres. Castellanos will make $780K from the Padres while the Phillies, who released him earlier this week, are on the hook for the remainder of his $20 million salary in 2026. (Source: Bob Nightengale on X)
Fantasy Impact: Castellanos had a down year in Philadelphia last season, batting .250 with 17 home runs in 147 games. His defense is also a liability, but that shouldn't be an issue for him as he will more than likely serve as the Padres' primary designated hitter. Castellanos is a lifetime .272 hitter with 250 career home runs in 6,950 plate appearances and is just two years removed from a 29-HR, 106-RBI campaign. This is a low-risk, high-reward flier for the Padres as they are paying Castellanos minimum to see if there is anything left in the tank.
Jackson Holliday will begin the season on the IL due to a broken right hamate bone and will have surgery tomorrow. (Source: Roch Kubatko)
Fantasy Impact: Holliday was expected to be Baltimore's Opening Day second baseman, but he will now have to wait to join an already-crowded Orioles infield. Hamate bone injuries can have a lingering effect on a hitter's power, so fantasy managers need to bake in some risk with the 22-year-old phenom.
Corbin Carroll suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand and will undergo surgery on Wednesday. (Source: Jeff Passan)
Fantasy Impact: The injury will keep the star outfielder out of the World Baseball Classic and puts his ability to play on Opening Day at risk. Carroll is currently a first-round fantasy pick, but hamate bone injuries can significantly affect a player's power. Fantasy managers will need to stay updated on his status and ADP throughout draft season to avoid overpaying, as he could fall in drafts.
Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) will begin the season on the 60-day IL. (Source: Mark Bowman on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: After an injury cut a fantastic season short in late June of last year, Schwellenbach was aiming to get back on track this year. That will now be delayed at least a couple of months. The issue is being labeled as elbow inflammation for now, and the team is hoping that Schwellenbach is dealing with bone spurs rather than something more complicated. The Braves will likely look to add a starting pitcher via free agency or trade very soon. Fantasy managers should not expect to get much from Schwellenbach until June at minimum.
Veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna is signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates on a one-year deal worth $12 million. The contract will become official pending his physical. (Source: Jon Heyman on X)
Fantasy Impact: After losing out on several big name free agents this offseason, the Pirates "settle" on Ozuna, who will still provide a significant upgrade to Pittsburgh's lineup. Ozuna had a down year last year, batting just .232 with 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 145 games. However, Ozuna's 21 home runs would have led Pittsburgh a season ago. The slugger is four home runs shy of 300 for his career and is just two years removed from a fourth-place finish in the MVP voting when he batted .302 with 39 home runs and 104 RBI with the Braves. Ozuna, strictly a designated hitter at this point, will be immediately slotted into the middle of the Pirates' lineup and could very easily return to his career averages of a .270 average, 30 home runs, and 95 RBI.
Framber Valdez has agreed to a three-year, $115 million contract with the Detroit Tigers according to Jeff Passan. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Valdez will join a loaded Detroit rotation led by back-to-back AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal after entertaining plenty of suitors this offseason. The left-hander posted a 1.24 WHIP and 3.66 ERA to go along with 187 strikeouts in 31 starts (13-11) on the mound for the Astros in 2025 and should benefit from the spacious dimensions at Comerica Park starting this season for manager AJ Hinch.
The Mariners have reportedly agreed to a trade that will send them Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals. (Source: Katie Woo on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: It appears to be a three-team trade with the Rays that will send them Ben Williamson from the Mariners. Seattle had been linked to Donovan for weeks as they had been seeking another veteran infielder. The deal appears to be done pending medicals.
Fri, Jan 30th 2:54pm EST
By Nicholas Rodriguez
Jacob Wilson and the Athletics have agreed to a seven-year, $70 million contract extension that includes an eighth-year club option. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Wilson, 23, is coming off an excellent rookie campaign in which he finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting and tied for second in MLB with a .311 AVG. He also posted a .355 OBP and a .444 SLG, adding 13 home runs while striking out just 39 times across 523 plate appearances.
Wed, Jan 21st 1:28pm EST
By Vince DiSilvio
Cody Bellinger has agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million deal with the New York Yankees. (Source: Jeff Passan on X)
Fantasy Impact: The deal includes opt-outs after the 2027 and 2028 seasons, a $20 million signing bonus, and a full no-trade clause. He'll look to have another productive season in New York in 2026 after hitting 29 home runs with an .814 OPS in 2025. He'll be a fixture in the heart of the Yankees' order, likely spending time in both the outfield and first base.
