Fantasy baseball season is again, maybe with many lapsed followers and keen managers questioning what they missed over these lengthy, chilly winter months.
Nicely, a lot has occurred for the reason that last regular-season video games of 2025 had been performed! Spring coaching has arrived, so now looks as if a nice time to recap the large baseball tales since your final fantasy championships had been determined. Let’s catch up!
The Dodgers didn’t win probably the most regular-season video games in 2025 (the Milwaukee Brewers did!), however they had been the crew that gained the ultimate sport of baseball’s playoffs. The formidable Toronto Blue Jays entered Recreation 6 of the World Collection with an opportunity to dethrone the defending champs they usually had a number of possibilities to win a rare Recreation 7, however finally, the Dodgers turned the primary repeat champions for the reason that 2000 New York Yankees.
Baseball followers might have been shocked by the way it occurred — many nonetheless cannot consider it — however they might not have been shocked about which crew lastly earned the trophy, with the Dodgers boasting NL MVP Shohei Ohtani amongst a number of future Corridor of Famers, out of the blue wholesome beginning pitchers thriving in reduction, and a ridiculously fats payroll that towered over the remainder of the jealous sport.
RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto earned World Collection MVP honors for successful three video games, which included six strong innings as a starter in Recreation 6 and an inspiring eight-out efficiency to shut out the Recreation 7 finale. He threw 34 pitches the day after tossing 96. The Dodgers overcame a 3-0 deficit in Recreation 7, scoring single runs within the eighth and ninth innings whereas exhibiting prime protection, taking the lead on a Will Smith residence run off Shane Bieber within the eleventh inning. Yamamoto escaped a late jam when Blue Jays C Alejandro Kirk ended the collection by hitting right into a double play.
… after which they dominated free company once more
The Dodgers hit a collective .203/.294/.364 through the World Collection — to them, a transparent sign the franchise wanted much more offensive punch. Few anticipated the highest free agent OF Kyle Tucker to finish up with the champs, as he was wooed/coveted by myriad franchises, together with the Blue Jays, however Tucker finally selected a shorter-term contract with opt-outs so he may put on Dodgers blue. Baseball bristled at this end result, with the wealthy solely getting richer. Tucker is without doubt one of the prime choices in fantasy baseball, too, and he ought to thrive in a top-heavy lineup that includes Ohtani, SS Mookie Betts, 1B Freddie Freeman and Smith.
The Dodgers’ bullpen wanted an improve as effectively, so in got here former New York Mets RHP Edwin Diaz, whose 253 profession saves are tied for fourth amongst lively hurlers. A wholesome Diaz ought to turn into the primary Dodger to eclipse 25 saves since Kenley Jansen saved 38 video games through the 2021 season. LHP Tanner Scott, a serious signing final offseason who struggled, figures to be one of many prime setup choices.
Nevertheless, different groups additionally made free agent noise
The Dodgers didn’t get everybody! The Mets, after dropping Diaz and buoyed by ample monetary assets themselves, fortified their bullpen with former Yankees veterans Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. In addition they bolstered their lineup with former Blue Jays SS Bo Bichette (who figures to play 3B), Texas Rangers 2B Marcus Semien, Chicago White Sox OF Luis Robert Jr. and Seattle Mariners IF Jorge Polanco (to switch 1B Pete Alonso, who went to the Baltimore Orioles). In addition they traded a number of prospects to the Brewers for ace RHP Freddy Peralta.
As for different massive names to change groups, the Chicago Cubs added former Boston Purple Sox 3B Alex Bregman, former Houston Astros ace LHP Framber Valdez went to the Detroit Tigers, the Purple Sox dedicated massive cash to former Philadelphia Phillies LHP Ranger Suarez, and the Blue Jays welcomed RHP Dylan Stop to their rotation. Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber and Yankees OF Cody Bellinger stayed with their respective golf equipment.
Free company wasn’t only for the established MLB choices. Japanese sluggers Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto joined the White Sox and Blue Jays, respectively, whereas RHP Tatsuya Imai replaces Valdez within the Astros’ rotation. Former Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Cody Ponce, after thriving for a number of seasons in Korea, signed a three-year contract with the Blue Jays, and the Tigers signed journeyman Drew Anderson, additionally again from Korea.
It’s all the time buying and selling season
Along with the Mets buying Semien (for OF Brandon Nimmo) and Peralta (for a number of prospects) by way of the commerce route, there have been different notable swaps, a number of that includes the busy, retooling St. Louis Cardinals. The Purple Sox added 1B Willson Contreras and RHP Sonny Grey from the Cardinals in a pair of separate trades, whereas the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired future Corridor of Fame 3B Nolan Arenado and the Mariners picked up 2B Brendan Donovan. The Rangers dealt prospects to the Washington Nationals for LHP MacKenzie Gore. The Tampa Bay Rays cleansed their roster of a pair of unrelated hitters with the surname Lowe, with IF Brandon Lowe heading to the Pirates, and OF Josh Lowe now a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
Ballpark changes and motion
The Rays, after one sometimes awkward season of taking part in their residence video games at Yankees minor league stadium Steinbrenner Subject, are again residence on the domed Tropicana Subject, mounted up after a hurricane broken its roof. Returning to their stadium ought to normalize hitting and pitching statistics and alleviate issues over extreme warmth and rain.
In the meantime, a yr after the Orioles adjusted the fences at Camden Yards to assist hitters, the Kansas Metropolis Royals are doing the adjusting at spacious Kauffman Stadium. The outfield partitions are as much as 10 toes nearer to residence plate, and they’re at the very least a foot shorter. This could add some offense and make issues simpler for SS Bobby Witt Jr., 1B Vinnie Pasquantino and C/1B Salvador Perez, amongst others. (The Athletics, nonetheless, stay of their minor league park in Sacramento.)
Younger shortstop prospects are all the trend
Baseball followers and fantasy managers alike are likely to get further hopeful in regards to the new, younger gamers getting into the league. This season, the cool place to look at is shortstop, with Konnor Griffin (Pirates), Kevin McGonigle (Tigers) and JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals) amongst these with an opportunity to debut and begin for his or her massive league groups on Opening Day. In the meantime, Colt Emerson (Mariners), Sebastian Walcott (Rangers) and Leo De Vries (Athletics) should not too far behind.
Griffin, coming off a 2025 during which he hit .333 with 21 residence runs and 65 stolen bases in his age-19 season, has been in comparison with a younger Alex Rodriguez. The Pirates made quite a lot of veteran additions this offseason, however their greatest one could also be giving Griffin an opportunity to shine popping out of spring coaching.
Remember in regards to the younger pitchers, as they’re among the many betting favorites for the Rookie of the Yr awards, too. Mets RHP Nolan McLean posted a 2.08 ERA over eight begins for the large membership final season, and he retains rookie eligibility. Blue Jays RHP Trey Yesavage starred for the AL champs in October, and he has earned a rotation spot this season. Different pitchers to look at embody Bubba Chandler (Pirates), Andrew Painter (Phillies) and Purple Sox LHPs Connelly Early and Payton Tolle.
It is so onerous to say goodbye
Clayton Kershaw gained 223 video games for the Dodgers over 18 seasons, together with an MVP award, three NL Cy Younger awards and two World Collection titles, though he was not a very helpful fantasy choice in latest seasons. The Corridor of Fame awaits his eligibility in 5 years. Different gamers who was once fantasy favorites to retire from lively MLB obligation after the 2025 season embody former Rays 3B Evan Longoria, Yankees/Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo and Yankees/Phillies RP David Robertson.
On the comeback path
Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler and Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole are among the many many hurlers on the mend from damage, with neither anticipated to open the season on the lively roster. Wheeler, who was an NL Cy Younger Award contender earlier than being sidelined in August, is recovering from venous thoracic outlet surgical procedure involving his pitching shoulder. Cole underwent the extra conventional Tommy John surgical procedure, albeit with an inside brace, final March. He didn’t pitch in 2025. Yankees LHP Carlos Rodon (elbow), Dodgers LHP Blake Snell (shoulder) and Cubs LHP Justin Steele (elbow) also needs to begin their respective seasons in delay.
Like Cole, quite a few fantasy-relevant pitchers didn’t accrue any statistics in 2025, however they need to this season. That checklist contains Angels RHP Grayson Rodriguez (elbow; acquired from Baltimore), Dodgers RHP Gavin Stone (shoulder), Pirates RHP Jared Jones (elbow) and San Diego Padres RHP Joe Musgrove (elbow).
On the hitting facet, Yankees SS Anthony Volpe (shoulder) is predicted to start out the season on the injured checklist, whereas Purple Sox 1B Triston Casas is on the mend from a severe knee damage. Diamondbacks OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (knee) might miss at the very least half the season recovering from ACL surgical procedure, whereas Atlanta Braves SS Ha-Seong Kim (finger) wanted surgical procedure in January to restore a torn tendon (whereas slipping on ice). He may miss a number of months of the season.
Moreover, Diamondbacks OF Corbin Carroll, Mets SS Francisco Lindor and Orioles 2B Jackson Holliday are every present process hamate bone surgical procedure in February, placing Opening Day into jeopardy for all three stars. These are vital fantasy choices, with Carroll entering into Spherical 1 of early ESPN ADP, Lindor in Spherical 2 and Holliday in Spherical 13. For now, drop these gamers down a bit in your rankings, however not excessively so.
Already gone
For these in redraft codecs, keep away from Orioles RHP Felix Bautista (shoulder), as he might miss most, if not all, of the upcoming season recovering from surgical procedure. The Orioles signed RHP Ryan Helsley to possible deal with closing duties. Padres RHP Yu Darvish (elbow), Mariners RHP Logan Evans (elbow) and Miami Marlins RHP Ronny Henriquez (elbow) are all out for the season. And, in an replace for this annual story, we will ignore former Angels/Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon (hip), who didn’t play in 2025 and final batted 250 instances in a season in 2019. He hasn’t formally retired, however he’s unlikely to go well with up once more.
New managers
Former massive leaguers Skip Schumaker (Rangers), Kurt Suzuki (Angels), Craig Stammen (Padres) and Walt Weiss (Braves) could be the headliners among the many 9 new managers in baseball. They be a part of Craig Albernaz (Orioles), Derek Shelton (Twins), Blake Butera (Nationals), Warren Schaeffer (Rockies) and Tony Vitello (Giants) in dugouts throughout the league. The Vitello rent in San Francisco could be the most fascinating, since he comes from a protracted stint managing on the College of Tennessee. There may be little priority for managers coming immediately from the faculty ranks into main an MLB membership.
Baseball in early … and late March!
We final noticed the World Baseball Traditional in 2023, as the good Ohtani struck out the good Mike Trout (nonetheless his Angels teammate on the time) within the ninth inning to safe the title for Japan. Japan has gained three WBC championships, whereas the US and Dominican Republic every boast one crown. Yankees OF Aaron Decide, Royals SS Bobby Witt Jr. and Mariners C Cal Raleigh are among the many hitting stars on the USA roster this time, and Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal and Pirates RHP Paul Skenes headline the pitching workers. The event begins on Tuesday, March 3, throughout early spring coaching, so don’t count on pitchers to log heavy workloads.
Baseball’s common season begins on Wednesday, March 25, with the Giants internet hosting the Yankees within the lone sport of the day. That one may be watched on Netflix. The champion Dodgers are amongst 22 groups opening their schedule the next day, as they host the Diamondbacks, and the remainder of the groups start play on Friday, March 27. Play ball!