Spencer Strider Carries High Risk Entering 2026: Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider had a slight delay to his 2025 campaign after recovering from an internal brace procedure he underwent in 2024. However, once he returned to the bump, the 27-year-old did not look like his usual dominant self. Across 125 1/3 innings, Strider stumbled and posted a 4.45 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP. He struck out hitters at a modest 24.3% rate while allowing walks at a high 9.5% rate, placing him in the 25th percentile among qualified pitchers. Under the hood, the hard-throwing right-hander placed in the 14th percentile in both xERA and barrel rate, which are not promising signs. Additionally, his changeup, which was his primary No. 3 pitch during his prime seasons, was ineffective in 2025, posting a low 29.4% whiff rate and a high .314 xwOBA, compared to the dominant 44.4% whiff rate and .196 xwOBA it generated in 2023. Given the struggles he endured, managers should draft Stider with caution at his near 100.0 ADP on NFBC drafts. - as of Sat, 07 Feb 2026 07:49:40
Drake Baldwin Poised for More Productive Year 2?: Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin looked quite comfortable in his debut campaign in the major leagues as he took home NL Rookie of the Year honors. In his first season in Atlanta, Baldwin would hold a strong .274/.341/.469 line with an .810 OPS. Baldwin would tally 18 doubles and 19 home runs, while scoring 56 runs with 80 RBI. He would not steal any bases but showed a solid eye at the plate, carrying a 68:38 K:BB. Under the hood, the young backstop generated a .353 xwOBA, .272 xBA, and .480 xSLG, which placed him in the 81st percentile or higher among qualified batters. He was also an elite defender, sitting in the 91st percentile in Blocks Above Average. With Sean Murphy (hip) still facing an unknown timeline, Baldwin is penciled in as the team's primary coach heading into 2026. Baldwin holds top-12 upside at the position, entering spring training. - as of Sat, 07 Feb 2026 07:42:44
Ben Rice Could See More Time as Catcher Following Free Agent Addition: New York Yankees first baseman/catcher Ben Rice could shift to a larger role behind the dish following the signing of veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt split time at first base with Rice last season and typically kept the young first baseman in a platoon role. However, earlier this offseason, Yankees manager Aaron Boone noted that Rice would play "a lot more" against left-handed pitchers. With Goldschmidt rejoining the Bronx Bombers, Rice now faces much more competition for a consistent role. Despite this, The Athletic's Chris Kirschner noted that Goldschmidt's return could move Rice firmly into the No. 2 catcher role, behind Austin Wells. With another infielder on the team, the Yankees could look to keep Rice as the primary first baseman and backup catcher to save an outfield spot, which could allow Jasson Dominguez to stay on the other MLB roster. Last summer, Rice flashed immense upside, posting a .255/.337/.499 line with 26 home runs. He carries top-5 upside at the catcher position and could become a top-3 option if he were to see a full-time role. - as of Sat, 07 Feb 2026 07:30:30
Can Konnor Griffin Win Shortstop Job in Pittsburgh?: Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, the consensus top prospect in baseball entering the 2026 season, made it look way too easy in his first year of pro ball in 2025, reaching Double-A at just 19 years old. The former ninth overall pick by the Bucs in 2024 hit .333/.415/.527 with a .941 OPS, 21 home runs, 94 RBI, 117 runs scored, and 65 stolen bases in 122 games (563 plate appearances) with Single-A Bradenton, High-A Greensboro, and Double-A Altoona. The Pirates might want to practice some patience with Griffin since he has played in just 21 games above A ball, but MLB.com speculates that it might be hard for Pittsburgh to keep him off the Opening Day roster if he continues to do what he did last year in spring training. Griffin has plus-plus speed, amazing athleticism, and is physical at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. He has all the makings of a future superstar. Griffin should already be rostered in all keeper leagues, and his current 241 ADP should only continue to rise this spring in single-year leagues. - as of Fri, 06 Feb 2026 21:03:29
Dylan Ross Pushing for Bullpen Role at MLB Level: MLB.com lists New York Mets right-handed pitching prospect Dylan Ross as a candidate to push for an Opening Day spot in the bullpen this spring. Ross, a 13th-round selection in 2022 out of Georgia, was called up by the Mets last September, but he didn't make an appearance out of the bullpen. The 25-year-old was extremely impressive at High-A Brooklyn, Double-A Binghamton, and Triple-A Syracuse, posting a 2.17 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, seven saves, 80 strikeouts, and 33 walks in 54 relief innings. At Syracuse, Ross held a 1.45 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 38:21 K:BB in 31 innings. His four-seam fastball can reach 102 mph, and his 89-91 mph, low-spin splitter is another nasty offering he features, in addition to a hard upper-80s slider. Ross is going to need to demonstrate better control if the Mets are going to give him a chance in the big-league bullpen in 2026, but he's a relief arm to keep an eye on in dynasty/keeper leagues. - as of Fri, 06 Feb 2026 20:29:35
Paul Goldschmidt Returning to Yankees on One-Year Deal: Free-agent first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and the New York Yankees are finalizing an undisclosed one-year deal on Friday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The 38-year-old veteran and former MVP will return to the Bronx after hitting .274/.328/.403 with a .731 OPS, 10 home runs, 45 RBI, 76 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 146 regular-season games and 534 plate appearances. The seven-time All-Star continued to decline offensively since winning the National League MVP award in 2022 with the St. Louis Cardinals, with his 10 homers being his fewest total since the shortened 2020 campaign. However, Goldy was money against left-handed pitchers last year, sporting a .336/.411/.570 slash line, .981 OPS, and seven of his 10 home runs against them in 168 plate appearances. He won't be a full-time player anymore, but Goldschmidt should be on the short side of a platoon at first base with the lefty-hitting Ben Rice. - as of Fri, 06 Feb 2026 19:32:38
Nate Garkow Receives Invitation to Spring Training: Toronto Blue Jays right-handed reliever Nate Garkow has received an invitation to big-league spring training this year, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. The 28-year-old had a solid 2025 season at High-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire, going 4-0 with a 3.19 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 86 strikeouts, and 31 walks in 53 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. He also added three saves. Garkow went undrafted out of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, but he's impressed in his two minor-league seasons so far, going 8-0 with a 2.78 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 120:42 K:BB in 77 2/3 innings of relief. He will most likely be a long shot to win an Opening Day bullpen spot in Toronto, but if Garkow continues to get results on the farm, he could make his major-league debut for the Jays this year in a low-leverage bullpen role. - as of Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:49:39
Junior Perez in the Running for Backup Outfield Spot: Athletics outfield prospect Junior Perez could be in the "running for a backup outfielder gig" at spring training this year, according to MLB.com. The A's aren't shy about fast-tracking young players, and Perez has impressive tools. The 24-year-old Dominican slashed .231/.348/.473 with an .821 OPS, 26 home runs, 87 RBI, 87 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases in 137 games with Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas in 2025 over 587 plate appearances. Perez walked 14.8% of the time, but the drawback was his 28.1% strikeout rate, which led to his low average at the plate. He also had a career-best contact rate (73.5%) and career-best swinging-strike rate (10.3%). The hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League may have inflated his counting stats, but nobody will argue that Perez doesn't have intriguing tools. In addition to his offensive skills, Perez is a good defender with a plus arm. He figures to get his first taste of the big leagues in another hitter-friendly ballpark in Sacramento in 2026. - as of Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:25:34