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.
Fri, Feb 13th 8:48pm EST
By Nicholas Rodriguez
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.
Fri, Feb 13th 4:26pm EST
By Nicholas Rodriguez
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.
Fri, Feb 13th 2:54pm EST
By Nicholas Rodriguez
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.
Fri, Feb 13th 4:52am EST
By Nicholas Rodriguez
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.
Ryan Walker believes a mechanical adjustment he made over the winter will help improve his slider command this season. (Source: NBC Sports Bay Area)
Fantasy Impact: While Walker’s fastball velocity reached the highest mark of his career last season, he struggled with consistency, often getting hit hard. On nights when his slider was off, he had little choice but to rely heavily on his sinker, leaving him vulnerable. This offseason, he focused on refining his mechanics, emphasizing staying more square and directing his upper body toward the mound to avoid counter-rotation. With his improved mechanics and renewed command, Walker will enter spring training vying for the San Francisco Giants' closer role.
Nick Gonzales took grounders at third base in camp on Thursday. (Source: Colin Beazley on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Gonzales started 85 games at second base and 13 at shortstop in 2025, but was seen taking grounders at third base Thursday. With Brandon Lowe now on the team, he could open the season at third. Getting reps there during camp increases Gonzales’ playing opportunities and could see him take the field at three different positions this year. He posted a .260/.299/.362 slash line last season.
The Tampa Bay Rays plan to use Nick Martinez exclusively as a starter this season. (Source: Bob Nightengale on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Martinez split time between the rotation and bullpen with the Cincinnati Reds last season, posting a 4.45 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. He has moved between starting and relieving throughout his career, but the plan for the Tampa Bay Rays is to use him exclusively as a starter. In that role, he owns a career 4.59 ERA with 470 strikeouts across 702 innings pitched.
The Diamondbacks are reportedly still exploring creative ways to re-sign free agent right-hander Zac Gallen. (Source: John Gambadoro on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Gallen has also been linked to the Cubs, but his overall market has remained quiet. He remains the top available starter left with free agency around the corner.
Cade Winquest added a sinker to his arsenal and is happy with the pitch's development thus far. (Source: Gary Phillips on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Winquest was selected by the New York Yankees in the MLB Rule 5 Draft in December after posting a 3.99 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 106 innings between High-A and Double-A in the St. Louis Cardinals’ system. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Thursday that Winquest will get “a real opportunity this spring to kind of showcase and let us see him.” He’s likely to begin the season in the minors, but a strong impression this spring could put him on the radar for a call-up later in the year.
Thu, Feb 12th 3:14pm EST
By Nicholas Rodriguez
Kyle Bradish threw a live batting practice on Thursday. (Source: Jake Rill on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Bradish threw live batting practice and recorded a swing-and-miss strikeout against Baltimore Orioles slugger Pete Alonso. After missing most of last season recovering from UCL surgery, he returned for six late-season starts, posting a 2.53 ERA across 32 innings with a 37.3% strikeout rate and a 7.9% walk rate. He appears fully healthy in camp and looks ready for the start of the season.
Willson Contreras says he is still not sure he will be able to play in the World Baseball Classic. (Source: Rob Bradford on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Contreras added that he hasn't gotten word about insurance yet. There should be an update on his status after he takes his physical.
Bradley Blalock said on Wednesday that he worked on his mechanics and added a sinker and a sweeper to his arsenal during the offseason. (Source: Kevin Barral on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Blalock was part of an offseason trade that sent him from the Colorado Rockies to the Miami Marlins. He struggled last season, posting a 9.36 ERA and 1.84 WHIP across 14 appearances with Colorado, but now moves to a more pitcher-friendly environment in Miami. He’ll compete for a spot on the Marlins’ 26-man roster during spring training.
