Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (shoulder) continues to recover from thoracic outlet syndrome, and manager Rob Thomson indicated that the veteran right-hander could be ahead of schedule. It was previously reported that Wheeler's estimated return was sometime in May, but now, Thomson has told the media that the 35-year-old has been handling "a very heavy workload for him." Additionally, Matt Gelb of The Athletic writes that Wheeler "will be behind the other pitchers in camp, but by every indication, he will not be too far behind." This phrasing suggests that Wheeler still has a chance to be ready for Opening Day. If so, he could fill a key role in a Phillies rotation that saw Ranger Suarez depart during free agency. Wheeler, who had a 2.73 xFIP, 11.73 K/9, and 1.98 B/9 through 24 starts last year, ranks as the #51 starting pitcher in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.

The New York Mets have signed free agent relief pitcher Luis Garcia to a one-year, $1.75 million contract, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. The deal includes an additional $1.25 million in potential incentives. The veteran right-hander turns 39 years old next week and split last season with the Dodgers, Nationals, and Angels. He made 58 relief appearances in 2025, amassing a 3.28 FIP with 7.8 K/9, 4.2 BB/9, and 0.3 HR/9. He had some issues with control but consistently forced weak contact, as evidenced by his respectable 49.7% ground ball rate. New York might not deploy him in a high-leverage role, but he's capable of eating relief innings and lighting up the radar gun with a fastball that averages 97 mph.

The Minnesota Twins have acquired infielder Tristan Gray from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for catcher Nate Baez, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. Gray, 29, was the Pirates' 13th-round pick out of Rice University in 2018. He was later traded to the Rays and made his MLB debut with Tampa Bay in 2023. He split 2024 with the Marlins and Athletics before returning to the Rays for the 2025 campaign. This offseason, Tampa Bay traded him to the Red Sox in exchange for reliever Luis Guerrero. Now, he's on the move once again, despite never playing in a game for Boston. In 30 big-league games last year, he slashed .231/.282/.410 with a 7.0% walk rate, 22.1% walk rate, and an 89 wRC+. He produced 0.1 fWAR and played all four infield positions, but most of his reps came up the middle. The catching prospect headed back to Boston is Baez, who was drafted by the Twins out of Arizona State in 2022. He slashed .278/.371/.423 with eight home runs between High-A and Double-A, amassing a wRC+ of 124. He'll offer minor league depth for a Red Sox organization that could be looking to replace backup catcher Connor Wong in the future.

Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Kyle Tucker is expected to bat second or third during the 2026 season, according to manager Dave Roberts. Tucker inked a massive four-year, $240 million contract last week, penciling him into an everyday role with the reigning World Series champions. The 29-year-old is coming off a slightly down year by his standards, but he still put together a .266/.377/.464 slash line with 22 home runs, 25 stolen bases, a 14.6% walk rate, a 14.7% strikeout rate, and a 136 wRC+ in his lone season as a Cub. He has produced at least 4.2 fWAR in each of his last five seasons and will now have an opportunity to extend that streak in a star-studded Dodgers lineup. Shohei Ohtani projects as Los Angeles' leadoff hitter, leaving Tucker and Mookie Betts in the second or third spots. Tucker ranks as the #9 hitter and #5 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball draft rankings for 2026.