Fantasy Baseball News

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said on Tuesday that Kristian Campbell will primarily play in the outfield this season. (Source: Gabrielle Starr on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Campbell was the Boston Red Sox’s Opening Day second baseman in 2025 but is expected to primarily play the outfield in 2026. Manager Alex Cora noted that the infield shouldn’t be completely ruled out, saying “you never know what can happen,” but added that all of Campbell’s work during spring training will be in the outfield. Regular playing time or a spot on the Opening Day roster is not guaranteed, as the team also has Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Masataka Yoshida. Campbell finished last season with a .223/.319/.345 slash line across 67 games.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa said on Tuesday that he will serve in a super-utility role for the Boston Red Sox this season. (Source: Gabrielle Starr on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Kiner-Falefa, a 2020 Gold Glove winner, has played every position in his career except first base. He gives the Red Sox significant defensive versatility and said he’s excited to join an organization where utility players like Brock Holt and Rob Refsnyder have found success. Kiner-Falefa hit .262/.297/.334 with 15 stolen bases across 431 at-bats in 2025.

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said on Tuesday that Juan Soto will play left field this season. (Source: Abbey Mastracco on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Soto played 157 games in right field and served as the designated hitter three times in 2025, but is expected to shift to left field in 2026. He began his career in left and logged 154 games there with the San Diego Padres in 2023, so the transition should be fairly seamless for the 27-year-old. Stearns mentioned Carson Benge, Brett Baty, Tyrone Taylor and MJ Melendez as potential candidates to open the season in right field for the Mets in 2026.

Graham Pauley could start the season platooning at third base with Connor Norby. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Pauley stepped in for Connor Norby at third base in 2025 while Norby dealt with multiple injuries. Pauley ended up playing 62 games, finishing with a .224/.311/.366 slash line and excelling defensively, recording six outs above average, tied for fifth-most among MLB third basemen. The right-handed-hitting Norby and left-handed-hitting Pauley could form a platoon if neither distinguishes himself during spring training or early in the season.

Connor Norby could start the season platooning at third base with Graham Pauley. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Norby is coming off a frustrating 2025 season, limited to 88 games due to injuries and finishing with a .251/.300/.389 slash line. The right-handed-hitting Norby and left-handed-hitting Pauley could form a platoon if neither stands out during spring training or early in the season. Norby is also expected to get some outfield reps this spring, which could boost his playing time if injuries start to mount.

Indicted Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has now been accused of throwing suspicious pitches to benefit bettors in 48 games over the span of two years. The 48 games is far more staggering than the nine games listed in the initial indictment back in November. (Source: David Purdum on X)

Fantasy Impact: With the number of games increasing more than five times the initial indictment, it is becoming more and more likely that Clase has thrown his last pitch. Not only that, but Clase - and fellow co-conspirator Luis Ortiz - could face as much as 20 years in federal prison if convicted of the top charges. Clase has now been accused of manipulating "at least 250 pitches" in the last court proceedings. Clase appeared in 197 games between 2023 and 2025 before he was placed on non-disciplinary leave by MLB. If the allegations are true, he would have doctored his performance in roughly a quarter of his outings. The former three-time All-Star and two-time American League Reliever of the Year was on the fourth year of his five-year contract with Cleveland. The trial is set for May 4.

Blake Snell could open the season on the injured list due to a lingering shoulder issue. (Source: Jack Harris)

Fantasy Impact: Snell pitched well to end last season into the Dodgers World Series run. He is continuing to battle a shoulder injury into the offseason. It does not sound like he is expected to much too much time if he does open the season on the IL.

The latest Framber Valdez news has the Pittsburgh Pirates in hot pursuit of the free agent lefthander according to multiple sources. (Source: Ken Rosenthal on X)

Fantasy Impact: The Pirates have been linked to a number of big free agent names this offseason but, more often than not, have fallen short in their pursuits. Add Valdez, who has spent his entire eight-year career with Houston, to the list. Valdez has gone 81-52 with a 3.36 ERA in 188 career outings with the Astros and would form an outstanding 1-2 punch with reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, Paul Skenes if the Pirates are successful in landing the southpaw. With rumors surrounding Valdez picking up, it appears that the top free-agent pitcher left on the market may finding a landing spot soon.

The Pirates have expressed interest in free agent Marcell Ozuna. (Source: Katie Woo)

Fantasy Impact: The market has remained fairly quiet for Ozuna. He should sign with a team soon with spring training around the corner.

Gavin Lux will serve as the Tampa Bay Rays’ starting second baseman this season. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: The Rays plan to give Lux regular playing time as the team’s everyday second baseman, believing consistency will bring out the best in his game. Last season with the Cincinnati Reds, Lux appeared in 140 games, splitting time between left field, third base, second base and designated hitter, primarily playing left field and designated hitter. He comes off a solid 2025 campaign, posting a .269/.350/.374 slash line, and the Rays are hoping he can build on that in 2026.

Taylor Walls is expected to begin the season as the Tampa Bay Rays’ starting shortstop. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Walls, known for his defensive skills, has struggled at the plate in his career, posting a .195/.286/.319 slash line. However, he hit a career-high .220 last season in 101 games, still well below average. He is expected to be the Rays’ starting shortstop to begin the season, though No. 63 prospect Carson Williams (MLB Pipeline Top 100) could take over if Walls struggles early.

Harry Ford will compete with Keibert Ruiz for the Washington Nationals' starting catcher spot during spring training (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Ford enters spring training as a legitimate contender for the Nationals’ starting catcher role. The organization’s No. 2 prospect, he slashed .293/.408/.460 with Triple-A Tacoma last season and brings upside on both sides of the ball. Ruiz has been Washington’s primary catcher since being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Max Scherzer–Trea Turner trade in 2021, posting a .249/.294/.370 slash line across 466 games. However, he was limited to 68 games last season after sustaining a concussion in June and struggled to stay on the field as he worked his way back.

Keibert Ruiz will compete with Harry Ford for the Washington Nationals' starting catcher spot during spring training (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Ruiz has served as the Nationals’ starting catcher since being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Max Scherzer–Trea Turner trade in 2021. Over that span, he has posted a .249/.294/.370 slash line across 466 games. However, he was limited to 68 games last season after sustaining a concussion in June and struggled to remain on the field as he worked his way back. He will now compete with Ford, the Nationals’ No. 2 prospect, who slashed .293/.408/.460 with Triple-A Tacoma last season.

Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said on a Monday conference call that newly acquired infielder Ben Williamson could see time at second base, third base and shortstop. He was on the team’s shortlist as a right-handed, versatile utility option. (Source: Ryan Bass on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Williamson was acquired by the Rays in a three-team trade that sent Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners. He appeared in 85 games with the Mariners in 2025, all at third base, and slashed .253/.294/.310 with one home run in 295 plate appearances. If he makes the 26-man roster, Williamson is expected to serve as a utility player, providing the Rays with valuable infield depth.

Sal Stewart is expected to open the season as the Cincinnati Reds’ designated hitter and corner infielder, serving in a role similar to recently signed Eugenio Suarez. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Stewart and Suarez will split time between first base and designated hitter, occasionally starting at third base when Ke’Bryan Hayes needs a breather. Stewart posted a .255/.293/.545 slash line with five home runs in 55 at-bats and will look to build on his first season in the big leagues.

Ke’Bryan Hayes is expected to open the season as the Cincinnati Reds’ starting third baseman despite the team signing Eugenio Suarez on Sunday. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Hayes, a two-time National League Gold Glove Award winner, is expected to remain at third base, with Suarez primarily serving as the designated hitter while also seeing time at first and third. Hayes appeared in 52 games with the Reds last season and posted a .234/.315/.306 slash line.

Trey Yesavage said he plans to add a curveball to his pitch mix this season. (Source: Toronto Star)

Fantasy Impact: Yesavage currently features a fastball, splitter and slider, but noted that his unique over-the-top arm angle makes a glove-side breaking ball an ideal addition. Adding a curveball would allow him to better leverage his high release point and tunnel the pitch with his fastball, forcing hitters to cover the entire vertical plane. Hitters would need to account for the fastball’s ride, the splitter falling off the table and a looping curveball that could be effective against both righties and lefties. Yesavage impressed during the postseason, finishing with a 3.58 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 27.2 innings, and will look to build on that performance in his first full season in the big leagues.

The Red Sox are “among the many teams that have checked in” on Matt Shaw. (Source: Alex Speier)

Fantasy Impact: Shaw and Nico Hoerner have both been checked in on by Boston. They continue to have their names come up in the middle of trade talks with spring training around the corner.

The Red Sox are “among the many teams that have checked in” on Nico Hoerner. (Source: Alex Speier)

Fantasy Impact: Hoerner has had his name in the middle of trade talks for the majority of the offseason, but they have been a bit quieter recently. If he is traded, it would likely happen in the next couple of weeks with spring training around the corner.

The Yankees have reportedly expressed interest in free agent Ty France. (Source: Chris Cotillo)

Fantasy Impact: France hit .257 with 52 RBI across 444 plate appearances with the Twins and Blue Jays last season. He'll likely hold a bench role where ever he lands.