Zac Gallen Targeted by the Orioles?: Free-agent starting pitcher Zac Gallen is one of the few impact starting pitchers left on the market after Framber Valdez signed with the Tigers on Wednesday, and that fact could lead to more focus on Gallen from the Orioles, who were considered one of the main teams in the mix for Valdez. Like Valdez, Gallen rejected a qualifying offer, which could be complicating his market, but now that Framber is no longer an option, the O's could turn to Gallen. They need an arm for the top of their rotation that seems stuffed with middle-of-the-rotation arms like Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, and Cade Povich. Gallen struggled early in 2025 but looked better in the second half, finishing with a 4.83 ERA, 4.50 FIP, and 175 strikeouts in 192 innings. The 30-year-old has won at least 12 games in each of the last four seasons, and he'll look to return to his ace form wherever he ends up landing. - as of Thu, 05 Feb 2026 09:56:36
Brice Turang Brings Big Upside at a Thin Position: Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang is a perfect example of a post-hype breakthrough. He was considered a top prospect early in his career but took longer than some other players to develop. He had a breakthrough last season, though, hitting .288 with 18 homers, 24 stolen bases, and a .346 wOBA. His blend of power and speed from the top of the lineup made the former first-round pick one of the best second basemen on the board last season, and he's still undervalued in many formats, according to his ADP. Even if his batting average and power regress a little bit, the lefty should remain in a key spot in Milwaukee's lineup, and his speed gives him even more ways to help your fantasy team. The 26-year-old is definitely worth a look as you look for solutions at 2B, which doesn't have many elite options on the board. - as of Thu, 05 Feb 2026 09:45:39
Zac Gallen Open to Returning to the Diamondbacks?: Free-agent starting pitcher Zac Gallen has drawn interest this offseason from the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles, but the veteran righty remains open to a return to the Arizona Diamondbacks as well. He said in an interview on Fox10 Phoenix, "I think people understand what Phoenix means to me...For us to be here would be awesome." The 30-year-old remains one of the top available starting pitchers, especially now that Framber Valdez landed with the Tigers. Last year, Gallen's numbers dropped off, even though he still logged 192 innings with a 4.83 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and just 175 strikeouts. He looked better late in the season, and he could try to return to Arizona to re-establish his value on a short-term deal. He would provide nice depth for the D-backs' rotation that currently has the re-signed Merrill Kelly, Ryne Nelson, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt, and free agent signee Michael Soroka slotted into the rotation. Managers should expect Gallen to hold mid-end SP4/SP5 upside in 2026, given his inconsistencies last season, but keep an eye on where he lands since his environment will play a big factor in his production. - as of Thu, 05 Feb 2026 09:16:32
Josue Briceno Invited to Big-League Camp: Detroit Tigers top catching prospect Josue Briceno was invited to MLB spring training. Briceno will join the team's other two top hitting prospects, Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark. Per MLB.com, Briceno is ranked as the sport's No. 33 prospect while he sits as Detroit's No. 3, sitting behind the two previously noted hitters. Briceno opened the 2025 campaign with High-A but needed only 55 games to prove he was ready to make the jump to Double-A. At High-A West Michigan, Briceno posted a .296/.422/.602 slash line with 13 doubles and 15 long balls. Through his first 45 games at Double-A, the young backstop took a slight step back, posting a lower .232/.335/.381 line with a modest .716 OPS. Given his growing pains, managers should expect Briceno to begin 2026 with Double-A Erie. However, if he enjoys a dominant start, he should be in the mix to join Triple-A before the All-Star break. - as of Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:06:00
Joshua Baez in Contention for Early MLB Promotion?: St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez is a name to monitor during spring training as he could push for an early MLB promotion. Baez is currently ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the St. Louis system on MLB.com. Baez began the 2205 season in High-A, where he held a .317/.404/.483 slash line with eight doubles, four home runs, and an impressive 20 stolen bases, across a 38-game stint. He was then bumped up to Double-A Springfield, where he spent the majority of the campaign. Over his last 79 games, the outfielder held a .271/.374/.509 line an .883 OPS. During this stint, the former second-round pick hit 16 home runs while swiping 34 bags. While the Cardinals will likely look to give him a taste of Triple-A early in 2026, given St. Louis' current outfield situation, Baez could be in the mix for a first-half MLB debut. Given his five-category potential, he is a top name to monitor in deeper five-outfielder leagues. - as of Thu, 05 Feb 2026 07:51:39
Hunter Greene Stays in Cincinnati, Remains a Top Fantasy Arm: Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene remains with the team ahead of spring training, despite countless trade rumors and speculation throughout the offseason. At times, it sounded like Greene might be a legitimate trade candidate, but in the end, he'll remain the ace in Cincinnati's rotation for at least one more year. He's coming off a solid season that was abbreviated due to injury. Across 19 starts (107.2 innings), he posted a 3.04 xERA, 11.03 K/9, and 2.17 BB/9. Loud contact was a slightly concerning subject as his home run rate jumped to 1.25 HR/9 and his ground ball rate dropped to 32.9%. Still, his impressive control and ability to blow his 100 mph fastball by batters make him one of the most exciting players to watch and roster in fantasy baseball. He remains atop the Reds' rotation and is on track for a 3.56 FIP with 3.2 fWAR in 2026, according to the ZiPS projections. As it stands, Greene ranks as the #9 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings. - as of Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:11:38
Endy Rodriguez Might Have to Play Second Base or Outfield: Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez (elbow) might have to move to second base or the outfield this season, according to Kevin Gorman of TribLIVE. Rodriguez was developed as a catcher and made his MLB debut in 2023, but injuries limited him to just 18 minor league games and 18 major league games across the last two years. At the big-league level in 2025, he slashed just .173/.246/.250 with an 8.8% walk rate, a 24.6% strikeout rate, and 38 wRC+. It's not like his glove was enough to justify putting his bat in the lineup, either. He threw out just two of 10 baserunners and finished the year with -2 FRV. As Gorman notes, Joey Bart and Henry Davis are Pittsburgh's primary catchers right now. The spoils of the starting role will belong to whichever backstop has a better spring, while the other catcher slots into a backup role. That doesn't leave much clarity for Rodriguez and fellow depth catcher Rafael Flores. Presumably, only one of Rodriguez or Flores can make the team. In the past, first base would have been a natural Plan B for either player. However, Pittsburgh is all set there with Spencer Horwitz and Ryan O'Hearn, forcing the club to get creative. As of now, Gorman projects that it'll be Rodriguez who makes the team. He has a little more defensive versatility and is expected to make appearances at second base and in the outfield. His disappointing results at the plate leave him off the fantasy radar in most leagues. - as of Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:00:39
Miguel Andujar, Padres Agree on One-Year Contract: Free-agent outfielder Miguel Andujar and the San Diego Padres agreed on a one-year, $4 million contract on Wednesday evening, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Andujar, 30, will join the Friars after a solid 2025 campaign with the Athletics and Cincinnati Reds. He hit .298/.329/.436 with six homers and 27 RBI in 60 games for the A's before being traded to Cincy at the deadline. Andujar was even better in 34 regular-season games with the Reds, slashing .359/.400/.544 with a .944 OPS, four homers, and 17 RBI. The move to San Diego will be a bit of a downgrade ballpark-wise, and the Dominican will probably be stuck on the short side of a platoon in the outfield against lefties, whom he posted a ridiculous .986 OPS against last year. Since 2003, Andujar has a .967 OPS versus southpaws. Heading into his age-31 season, is unlikely to be as good as he was in 2025, but he could make for a nice role player in San Diego. - as of Wed, 04 Feb 2026 22:30:37
Framber Valdez Signs Three-Year, $115 Million Contract With Tigers: Left-handed starting pitcher Framber Valdez has agreed to a three-year, $115 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Valdez was viewed as the top free agent starting pitcher on the market and will now join a rotation that features the two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal. Passan noted that this contract features an opt-out following the second season. The southpaw has spent his entire eight-year MLB career with the Houston Astros. Last summer, the 32-year-old logged 192 innings to the tune of a 3.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 187:68 K:BB. Since 2022, the left-hander has been one of the most consistent workhorses in the sport, logging at least 190 innings in three of the four seasons. During this four-year stretch, Valdez has posted an overall 3.21 ERA with a strong 1.16 WHIP. While his strikeout upside is limited, Valdez remains a high-end SP2 in all formats, given his ability to produce high-end ratios while taking on a large workload. - as of Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:22:35