Fantasy Baseball News

Rangers outfielder Michael Helman will see time at shortstop in camp, according to manager Skip Schumaker. (Source: Shawn McFarland on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Helman, an outfielder by trade, has logged just one of his 281 2/3 defensive innings at shortstop, but will see time at shortstop in camp as the club evaluates its utility options. The 29-year-old has hit .239 with five homers and four stolen bases across 120 career big-league trips to the plate.

Rangers infielder Justin Foscue will see time in the outfield in spring training, according to manager Skip Schumaker. (Source: Shawn McFarland on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Foscue has seen his limited big-time time at first and second base, but will get a look in the outfield this spring as the club evaluates its utility options. The 26-year-old has it just .059 across his first 53 MLB trips to the plate.

The Astros have “expressed interest” in free agent OF Michael Conforto. (Source: Brian McTaggart on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Conforto's market has been quiet after he struggled with the Dodgers last season. He would compete for a spot in the outfield if he signs with Houston.

Pirates manager Don Kelly said Konnor Griffin making the team's Opening Day roster would be tough. (Source: Andrew Fillipponi on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: "It would be a tough ask," Kelly said. "Keep in mind he's only had a handful of at-bats at Double-A." It does not appear that Griffin will be on the team to open the season.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Alec Bohm is the likeliest candidate to open up as his team’s cleanup hitter.

Fantasy Impact: Thomson didn't say in what order, but Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are all expected to be bat in the top-three in the Phillies lineup. Adolis García could also be a candidate to hit in the 4-5 spot of the Phillies lineup.

Isaac Paredes told reporters he plans to be a 100 percent participant in camp with the Astros. (Source: Chandler Rome on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Paredes is expected to see work at first base, second base and third base in camp. He added that the trade rumors and speculation things are “out of my control." He remains with Houston for now as the trade rumors continue.

Shota Imanaga worked with Chicago Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy on refining his mechanics during the offseason and will focus on adjusting his pitch mix throughout spring training. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Imanaga posted a 2.65 ERA in the first half of the 2025 season but struggled mightily after the break, logging a 4.70 ERA in the second half. During offseason work with Hottovy, Imanaga focused on cleaning up his mechanics and strengthening his lower half. This spring, he is working on refining a sweeper from his “natural arm slot” while reintroducing his cutter and experimenting with a sinker grip that allows him to maintain velocity. Imanaga also elected not to pitch for Team Japan national baseball team in the World Baseball Classic, opting instead to dedicate camp to those adjustments and rebound from a difficult second half in 2025.

Jace Jung has been getting reps at first base in camp. (Source: Chris McCosky on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Jung has appeared in just 55 major league games, splitting time between second and third base. He’s struggled in that limited sample, posting a .190/.315/.230 slash line, but has found far more success in the minors, where he owns a .257/.375/.461 line across 363 games. With reps at first base this spring, the Detroit Tigers may be searching for additional ways to get his bat into the lineup. With Spencer Torkelson at first base, Jung, a left-handed hitter, could serve as an option to give Torkelson a breather, particularly against right-handed pitching.

Joey Gallo, who has been working to transition to pitching since 2025, has begun throwing for interested teams. (Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Gallo was in spring training with the Chicago White Sox in 2025 before being released. He later announced on social media that he planned to attempt a comeback as a pitcher. Long regarded as one of the strongest throwing outfielders in the game, it’s no surprise clubs have shown interest in giving him a look on the mound.

Merrill Kelly has been named the opening day starter for the Arizona Diamondbacks. (Source: Alex D’Agostino on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Kelly will receive his first opening day nod after posting a 3.52 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 167 strikeouts across 184 innings between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers last season. Arizona opens the season on March 26 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable confirmed that Seranthony Dominguez will serve as the club’s closer for the 2026 season. (Source: Sox Machine)

Fantasy Impact: Dominguez signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Chicago White Sox during the offseason, and his role as closer has now been officially confirmed. He posted a 3.16 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 79 strikeouts across 62.2 innings between the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays last season. Dominguez owns 40 career saves and will look to surpass his single-season high of 16, which he recorded during his rookie campaign.

Parks Harber played the outfield in the Fall League and the plan is for him to ge lots of corner outfield reps this spring. (Source: NBC Sports Bay Area)

Fantasy Impact: San Francisco Giants general manager Zack Minasian said vice president of player development Randy Winn, a former big-league outfielder, liked what he saw from Harber in the outfield during Fall League play. With Rafael Devers at first base and Matt Chapman at third, the Giants plan to use the 24-year-old prospect in a corner outfield role to create a clearer path to the majors. Harber posted a 1.097 OPS with seven home runs in 25 games at High-A Eugene last season, and Minasian said it’s likely he will open the 2026 campaign at Double-A.

Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said on Friday that he likes the flexibility the designated hitter spot provides, but expects Jurickson Profar to occupy that role often early in the season. (Source: Chad Bishop on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Profar is expected to be used primarily as a designated hitter to start the season, though he is still likely to see time in the outfield. He is entering his second season with the Braves after slashing .245/.333/.398 with 14 home runs in 80 games last year.

Caleb Durbin fielded grounders at third base on Friday. (Source: Rob Bradford on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Durbin was acquired by the Boston Red Sox last week in a six-player deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. While an everyday role was expected, his position was uncertain. After taking grounders at third base on Friday and with Marcelo Mayer at second, it appears those will be their positions during the regular season. Durbin posted a .256/.334/.387 slash line with 18 stolen bases across 136 games last season.

Marcelo Mayer fielded grounders at second base on Friday. (Source: Rob Bradford on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Mayer entered the season expected to be the Boston Red Sox’s starting third baseman following Alex Bregman’s departure. However, the team acquired Caleb Durbin last week, who took grounders at third base Friday and is projected to be Boston’s opening day third baseman, with Mayer shifting to second base. Mayer slashed .228/.272/.402 in 136 plate appearances as a rookie last year.

Carmen Mlodzinski has been working as a starting pitcher in Pittsburgh Pirates camp. (Source: Jason Mackey on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Mlodzinski made 34 appearances, including 12 starts, for the Pirates in 2025, posting a 3.55 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 89 strikeouts across 99 innings. As a starter, he struggled, recording a 4.99 ERA and allowing a .293 batting average against. He enters camp stretching out as a starter and will look to compete for a spot in the rotation.

Samy Natera has arrived at Los Angeles Angels camp after resolving visa issues. (Source: Rhett Bollinger on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Natera spent 2025 between Double-A and Triple-A, posting a 2.84 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with 85 strikeouts across 57 innings. He will compete for a spot in the Los Angeles Angels bullpen during spring training.

Roman Anthony is set to replace Corbin Carroll on USA's roster for the World Baseball Classic, pending a physical. (Source: Tim Healey on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Corbin Carroll was ruled out of the World Baseball Classic after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone, clearing the way for Roman Anthony to take his spot. In his first season in the majors, the 21-year-old impressed with a .292/.396/.463 slash line and eight home runs across 303 plate appearances.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team will likely start the season with a six-man rotation, with Roki Sasaki expected to pitch once a week in 2026. (Source: Bill Plunkett on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Sasaki pitched out of the bullpen during the 2025 postseason and was dominant, recording three saves with a 0.84 ERA across four appearances. Roberts said in the offseason that Sasaki would have every opportunity to rejoin the rotation in spring training, and recent comments indicate that remains the plan, with Sasaki expected to pitch once a week as a starter in 2026. He is also working on adding a cutter and a two-seamer to his arsenal to keep hitters off balance the second and third time through the order.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team will likely start the season with a six-man rotation, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto expected to pitch once a week in 2026. (Source: Bill Plunkett on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The Dodgers took a cautious approach with Yamamoto in 2025, limiting his workload to keep him fresh for the postseason, and plan to do the same in 2026. He pitched 173.2 innings last season, posting a 2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 201 strikeouts. While he’s one of the top pitchers in the league, fantasy managers should note he’ll likely be limited to roughly one start per week throughout the season.