Eric Karabell
Multiple Authors
It’s January and the fantasy baseball offseason is, pardon the pun, in full swing. Right now, most sports fans are devoting the majority of their attention to the NFL, NBA and NHL, where the games (both real and fantasy) take center stage — and understandably so.
Perhaps you’re hearing about the latest baseball buzz only in passing, if at all. That’s perfectly fine. We’re paying attention to what’s going on and are here to let you know about the top stories that might have gone under your radar. Are they something you need to file away for draft day or are they likely to have little impact when all is said and done?
Read on and find out whether these breaking developments are truly news or if they’re just noise.
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Feb. 11: Baltimore Orioles 2B Jackson Holliday (hand) to have surgery
Holliday, coming off a breakout season in which he was the No. 17 second baseman in ESPN points formats, has a fractured right hamate bone and he will likely miss the start of the season. Hamate bone injuries are not unusual, and players tend to return to active duty in roughly six weeks, but some see a loss of power. Holliday, 22, hit 17 home runs in 2025. The recently acquired Blaze Alexander may replace Holliday at second base, while Coby Mayo and Jeremiah Jackson may benefit as well.
Fantasy impact: News. This should impact his preseason draft ranking, but not greatly. Holliday should play in April.
Feb. 11: Atlanta Braves RHP Spencer Schwellenbach already on 60-day IL
Schwellenbach, initially ranked as a top-30 starting pitcher and top-75 player for ESPN drafts, came to spring camp with a sore elbow, and the Braves quickly announced he will be shelved for at least the first two months of the season. Schwellenbach, who featured a 3.09 ERA through his 17 starts last season before a small elbow fracture ended his season, may need surgery for this issue, making this quite a blow to fantasy managers that have already invested. Schwellenbach boasts a 3.23 career ERA and 1.01 WHIP (with a strikeout per inning) over 38 starts. The Braves will be cautious and likely turn to RHP Hurston Waldrep, who posted a 2.88 ERA over nine starts his rookie season.
Fantasy impact: Big news for both Schwellenbach and Waldrep.
Feb. 11: Houston Astros LHP Josh Hader resumes throwing program
Hader, one of the top closers in the sport, missed the final seven weeks of last season dealing with a strained shoulder, and now he is suffering from biceps inflammation. The Astros are acting cautiously, and it is possible Hader, currently the No. 5 relief pitcher in the ESPN points format rankings, misses the start of the season. The Astros can turn to RHP Bryan Abreu. Fantasy managers shouldn’t overreact yet, but if Hader is still dealing with pain in a few weeks, it may be wise to fade him as a top-100 selection.
Fantasy impact: News, though it is early in spring training.
Feb. 11: Detroit Tigers RHP Reese Olson (shoulder) out for the season
Olson, a popular fantasy sleeper due to his solid, but truncated work over the past three seasons (3.60 ERA, 1.17 WHIP over 53 starts), missed the final two months of last season but was expected to be ready for spring training. That is no longer an option, as Olson necessitated surgery to repair a labral tear. This news likely played a role in the Tigers signing former franchise stalwart Justin Verlander to a one-year contract, where the future Hall of Famer will take his rotation spot. Verlander, 43, made 29 reasonable starts for last season’s Giants, and he was a top-75 points league scorer among starting pitchers.
Fantasy impact: Big news for both Olson and Verlander.
Feb. 11: Toronto Blue Jays OF Anthony Santander (shoulder) needs surgery
Santander, Toronto’s primary free agent signing last offseason who hit just .175 over 54 games and plummeted from 44 home runs in 2024 to only six, may miss half of the upcoming season due to left labral surgery. Santander was among the top 50 outfielders in the initial ESPN points league rankings, but that has changed. It is now fair to ignore Santander in ESPN’s shallow standard formats or perhaps stash him away in an IL spot until July. Then again, after his disappointing performance last season, there may be little reason to invest at all in 2026. The Blue Jays may turn to some combination of Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Davis Schneider, Joey Loperfido and Jonatan Clase to fill in.
Fantasy impact: Big news for Santander, though expectations were not high.
Jan. 29: Texas Rangers OF Evan Carter hopeful of stealing 30 bases
Fantasy managers must sift through the myriad spring individual player goals, as most of them amount to little. However, this one is intriguing, because the speedy Carter, 23, has been an effective base stealer during his three abbreviated MLB seasons, stealing 19 bases in 21 chances. The problem is that Carter has appeared in only 131 big league games, batting 457 times, as injuries continue to hold him back.
Attempting to steal more bases may seem counterintuitive to a player’s need to stay healthy, but Carter should be the starting center fielder for the Rangers, and those in roto/categories formats covet five-tool options with power and speed. Carter showed better plate discipline in 2025, too. A healthy, determined Carter may be a sleeper 30/30 threat.
Fantasy impact: Some news, as Carter must prove he can stay on the field. We admire the positivity and motivation to run more, though.
Jan. 29: Seattle Mariners RHP Bryce Miller adds weight this offseason
Fantasy managers enjoyed Miller’s work in 2024, when he won 12 out of 31 starts with a 2.94 ERA, an 0.98 WHIP and fanned nearly a batter per inning. It made Miller popular in 2025 drafts. He will not be as popular in 2026 drafts, after he posted a 5.68 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP in 18 ragged starts, as he battled elbow issues.
Miller claims his elbow is sound, and he reached 98 mph during offseason workouts. Plus, the fact he gained 12 pounds during the winter months is a positive sign. Seattle lists Miller at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, so perhaps both team and player agreed that more weight would only aid the hurler as he aims to bounce back this season.
Fantasy impact: Mostly noise, as myriad players will add weight and only some will share this — and Miller’s problem was his elbow. Still, this is an obvious sleeper who has proved himself when healthy.
Jan. 29: Colorado Rockies acquire Edouard Julien from Minnesota Twins
Julien, 26, impressed as a rookie in 2023 when he hit .263 with 16 home runs and a 15.7% walk rate for the Twins, but he has struggled the past two seasons. A lefty hitter who struggles to hit left-handed pitching, the Rockies take a chance on a player who has shown upside for both power and plate discipline. Colorado’s lineup doesn’t feature players who thrive in both of those areas.
Julien is out of minor league options, so he will likely make the Rockies and potentially earn a spot near the top of the lineup versus right-handed pitching. Julien plays both first and second base, and those positions appear to be open for those who perform well in spring training.
Fantasy impact: Some news. Any hitter who gets to play 50% of their games in the altitude of Coors Field piques our interest, especially one willing to draw walks.
Jan. 29: St. Louis Cardinals OF Lars Nootbaar likely to start season on IL
Nootbaar, 28, has been a steady, if unspectacular fantasy option for four seasons, hitting double-digit home runs with solid walk rates over inconsistent playing time. Last season, Nootbaar, a left-handed hitter, batted leadoff in 75% of his plate appearances, though his overall .686 OPS was the lowest of his career. His 2026 season appears likely to be delayed as he recovers from offseason surgeries on his heels.
The Cardinals could turn to any number of young options to replace Nootbaar, including Thomas Saggese, Nathan Church, Jose Fermin and perhaps even enticing power prospect Joshua Baez. While Opening Day still remains a possibility for Nootbaar, never underestimate the chances of a longer-term absence, too.
Fantasy impact: News for deeper formats, as Nootbaar is an established option — but he’s not a coveted one if we know he is missing time.
Jan. 22: Atlanta Braves SS Ha-Seong Kim undergoes finger surgery
Kim, 30, slipped on ice in South Korea and tore a tendon in his right middle finger, necessitating a procedure that could keep him sidelined for at least the next four months. Kim was not a fantasy factor in 2025, hitting .234 with only six stolen bases in 48 games for the Braves and Tampa Bay Rays, missing considerable time with shoulder and back injuries. However, we recall he hit 17 home runs and stole 38 bases for the 2023 San Diego Padres. The skills remain, but fantasy managers who invest might have to wait until June for him to play.
The Braves can turn to some combination of Mauricio Dubon and Jorge Mateo to fill in. Though Dubon is more likely to see opportunity, Mateo boasts value in roto formats as a base stealer. He stole 67 bases across the 2022-23 seasons, and 15 bases last season in only 43 games and 83 plate appearances for the Baltimore Orioles. He is a career .221 hitter, though.
Fantasy impact: News for deeper formats, but Kim was not worth drafting in ESPN standard leagues. If he produces, he might become a midseason streamer.
Jan. 22: Texas Rangers 1B/3B Jake Burger is fully recovered from wrist surgery
Burger, 29, hit .236 with 16 home runs in 103 games during his first season with the Rangers. Fantasy managers likely moved on when he hit only .186 in April with 3 home runs, 3 walks and 32 strikeouts. Yikes! Still, Burger was drafted in most leagues for a reason — and that reason is power. He hit 63 home runs during the 2023-24 seasons with the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins. A healthy Burger will hit baseballs hard and far and is a good bet to bounce back in the power department.
Fantasy impact: News. We know what Burger is, and it was relevant prior to last season.
Jan. 15: Arizona Diamondbacks with new plan for Jordan Lawlar
Arizona’s acquisition of future Hall of Fame 3B Nolan Arenado might seem to bury longtime infield prospect Lawlar, but fantasy managers should not run away. It might feel like a year ago, when the Diamondbacks signed SS Geraldo Perdomo to a long-term contract, despite Perdomo’s middling production, pushing Lawlar off shortstop. Then Perdomo delivered a monster season, and he was arguably a fantasy MVP, considering draft-day investment. Perhaps Arenado bounces back, too.
The Diamondbacks intend to use Lawlar, 23, in the outfield, where there is opportunity alongside star Corbin Carroll. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. underachieved in his 546 plate appearances as the regular left fielder. He might miss at least the first half of the season recovering from an ACL tear in his knee. Jake McCarthy was traded to the Colorado Rockies. Alek Thomas produced a .659 OPS. Lawlar hit .313/.403/.564 at Triple-A Reno. Ignore his big-league numbers in brief playing time. Lawlar will have an opportunity to star.
Fantasy impact: News. Lawlar is going to break out.
Jan. 15: San Diego Padres announce no innings cap for RHP Joe Musgrove
Musgrove has certainly been a relevant fantasy option for much of his career, especially over four seasons with the Padres (3.20 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 9.4 K/9). He missed the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery late in 2024, but the good news is that the organization expects him to be fully ready for spring training — and there will be no limitations on his volume this season. Musgrove has reached 181 innings twice with the Padres, though that last happened in 2022. Perhaps we cannot rely on him for 30 starts, but there is definite sleeper potential here.
Fantasy impact: Potential news, if he can stay healthy.
Jan. 13: Kansas City Royals move their outfield fences in!
Kauffman Stadium has always been known as a pitcher’s ballpark, but perhaps things will change in 2026. The Royals announced they will move the majority of their outfield fence in by 10 feet, which Jeff Passan wrote would “drastically [change] the offensive environment of a notoriously bad stadium for home run hitting into one the team hopes will play as major-league average.” Well, good for them and, obviously, to some degree this move will have relevance for hitting numbers and fantasy managers.
Of course, for every Jonathan India investor hoping he hits 20 home runs, a Cole Ragans investor might not be pleased. No American League team hit fewer home runs than the 2025 Royals, though, to be fair, this isn’t a lineup loaded with Aaron Judge types. Three Royals hit double-digit home runs at home in 2025 (Vinnie Pasquantino, Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez). For comparison, eight Yankees did this in 2025. The Yankees hit 140 home runs in home games. The Royals hit 70.
In theory, the Royals should hit a few more in 2026, but it is hard to say this greatly adjusts their fantasy value or preseason rankings. Jac Caglianone, like Pasquantino, Witt and Perez, boasts huge power. Moving in the fences doesn’t aid his contact rate. No, India isn’t likely to double his home run rate.
Fantasy impact: Consider this information for drafting and keeper purposes, but do not overrate it.
Jan. 8: David Fry can throw again!
Some might remember Fry hitting .263 with 14 home runs over 122 games for the Cleveland Guardians in 2024. Those numbers might not seem like much, but since Fry was catcher-eligible at the time, he finished just outside the top 10 at the position in fantasy scoring. Fry played 20 games that season at catcher, first base and in the outfield, though most would agree his best position is “hitter.” Fantasy managers like hitters, and Fry posted a .996 OPS that season against left-handed pitching. He was valuable as a second catcher in deeper leagues and certainly in daily formats.
Fry would probably agree that it’s best to forget about his 2025 season. Don’t even look. It didn’t start until June, as he recovered from offseason elbow surgery, and he played nary a game in the field because he could not throw. The Guardians say that Fry, now recovered from nasal surgeries after a ball hit his face during an errant bunt attempt in September, will play the field in 2026. Fry starts the year eligible solely at DH, but once he adds catcher eligibility again, think about him. We know he can hit lefties, and the Guardians figure to utilize him quite a bit — and at numerous positions.
Fantasy impact: In-season news for deeper formats
Jan. 8: Brice Matthews to extend his versatility to outfield
Matthews, an intriguing athlete who has proved himself steady at second base, shortstop and third base, made his MLB debut for the Houston Astros last July. He batted 47 times overall in the majors, hitting four home runs, but also striking out 20 times. OK, so his profile isn’t a guarantee for future success, but Matthews — a first-round pick in the 2023 amateur draft — hit 17 home runs and stole 41 bases at Triple-A Sugar Land last season. Astros GM Dana Brown said Matthews will also play some outfield in 2026. If he can make more contact and secure a regular role, he can make fantasy managers happy.
The Astros seem set in the infield with veterans Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena and Carlos Correa at second base, shortstop and third base, and we saw how poorly Altuve’s attempt to play left field went. The outfield is far from settled, unless the Astros aren’t done adding this offseason. Matthews played some center field for the Space Cowboys at Triple-A and, with his raw power and electric speed, he would become an instant deep-league fantasy sleeper if the Astros could use him there this season. Watch this story in spring training. Matthews might not be recognized as one of baseball’s top prospects, but opportunity is everything. He might well earn his.
Fantasy impact: Potentially relevant news, if he gets the chance
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