Kansas City Royals right-hander Luinder Avila made his major-league debut last year for 13 relief appearances and thrived, posting a 1.29 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 16 strikeouts in 14 innings. The Royals see Avila as a potential starter down the road, but the team's rotation is too crowded going into the 2026 season. The 24-year-old could force the Royals' hand for another bullpen spot on Opening Day, though, if he continues to impress during spring training. The Venezuelan hurler primarily features an 82-85 mph curveball that generated whiffs on 50% of swings last year. He also has mid-90s fastballs (four-seamer and sinker), and an occasional 86-88 mph changeup. Before getting his first big-league call-up last year, Avila had a 5.01 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 71 strikeouts and 26 walks in 59 1/3 innings over 17 outings (12 starts) for High-A Quad Cities and Triple-A Omaha. He's an intriguing pitching prospect to watch in dynasty/keeper leagues.

New York Yankees right-hander Cade Winquest, the team's Rule 5 pick from the St. Louis Cardinals, is trying to become the first Rule 5 pick to stick with the Yankees since Billy Parker in 1973. The 25-year-old former eighth-round pick in 2022 from the University of Texas at Arlington went 5-7 with a 3.99 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 110 strikeouts and 39 walks in 106 innings over 25 appearances (23 starts) with High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield last year in the Cardinals organization. Winquest relies mostly on a mid-90s fastball and a big-breaking upper-70s curveball. He has a 4.19 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 219:92 K:BB in 212 2/3 frames in his three seasons in the minor leagues. MLB.com lists Winquest as a candidate to make a push for an Opening Day roster spot this year, but fantasy managers in single-year leagues can ignore him for now.

Despite having only 14 2/3 innings of minor-league experience on his resume due to elbow and back injuries, Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Spencer Miles could be a candidate to win an Opening Day bullpen spot if he impresses the coaching staff at spring training. The former fourth-rounder by the San Francisco Giants in 2022 out of Missouri went to Toronto in the Rule 5 draft primarily because of a mid-90s fastball, a high-spin curveball, a solid low-90s cutter, and an upper-80s changeup that he showed in the Arizona Fall League, according to MLB.com. Miles struck out 12 and only walked one in 8 2/3 frames in the AFL and has the stuff to make an impact at the big-league level. The lack of a track record probably makes him a long shot to be on the Opening Day roster, but the 25-year-old is a relief arm to keep an eye on in the Blue Jays' system in 2026.

The Los Angeles Dodgers designated left-hander Anthony Banda for assignment on Friday after claiming catcher Ben Rortvedt off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds, according to MLB.com. Banda, 32, pitched for seven different organizations before latching on with the Dodgers in May of 2024. In his two seasons in L.A., he was very solid, going 8-3 with a 3.14 ERA (4.15 FIP), 1.23 WHIP, two saves, 111 strikeouts, and 52 walks in 114 2/3 innings over 119 appearances (three starts) during the regular season. He gave up just one run in eight innings during the team's championship run in 2024, although he struggled in the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. In his nine major-league seasons, Banda has a career 4.44 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, three saves, a 21.5% strikeout rate, and a 9.9% walk rate. He will most likely be claimed off waivers.