{"id":582347,"date":"2026-02-20T05:49:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T05:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/582347\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T05:49:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T05:49:37","slug":"fantasy-baseball-watch-list-injury-updates-outlook-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/582347\/","title":{"rendered":"Fantasy Baseball Watch List: Injury Updates & Outlook (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every week of spring training, we\u2019ve got a lot of important news filtering in. This can inform our fantasy baseball draft decisions and impact average draft position<\/a> (ADP), so we always want to monitor market changes to see if we can find value.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re focusing on four players to watch based on the information we\u2019ve gathered over the last few days.<\/p>\n

\"fantasy<\/a><\/p>\n

Fantasy Baseball Watch List<\/p>\n

This week, we\u2019re focusing on injury updates once again, determining whether or not you should buy the dip. We\u2019re going to discuss market value, looking at average draft position from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC) Draft Champions Leagues since February 7th. This format is preferred because it\u2019s the most active draft platform right now.<\/p>\n

Corbin Carroll (OF \u2013 ARI)<\/a><\/p>\n

NFBC ADP: 17.50 (Min: 15, Max: 20)<\/p>\n

Corbin Carroll underwent surgery on a broken hamate bone on February 12th, per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. But he returned to camp the next day, working on throwing drills. Carroll may be ready for Opening Day. The question is whether or not this injury will affect his power, at least in the early part of the season.<\/p>\n

Personally, I\u2019m buying the dip. I had Carroll as my 5th overall player before the injury, so I\u2019m happy to pounce in the early to mid-second round. Even if there\u2019s a dip in power, Carroll can steal 50+ bases. That\u2019s the kind of upside that I want to bet on at a reduced cost.<\/p>\n

Francisco Lindor (SS \u2013 NYM)<\/a><\/p>\n

NFBC ADP: 25.50 (Min: 24, Max: 27)<\/p>\n

Francisco Lindor had surgery on his right hamate bone on February 12th, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. Recovery time can take up to six weeks. The Mets are optimistic that Lindor will be able to return for Opening Day. If he misses time, it may only be a week or two.<\/p>\n

With that said, unlike Carroll, I\u2019m not buying Lindor at a discount. Not only is there this hamate bone surgery, but Lindor also had elbow surgery in the offseason. Now entering his age-32 season, I\u2019m not willing to pay a late second-rounder or early third-rounder on Lindor.<\/p>\n

Jordan Westburg (3B \u2013 BAL)<\/a><\/p>\n

NFBC ADP: 161.00 (Min: 136, Max: 186)<\/p>\n

Jordan Westburg is dealing with an oblique injury, which will keep him out of spring training. There\u2019s currently no timetable for his return, but the Orioles don\u2019t seem too worried about this. This is already an injury-prone player, though, so the market has reacted to this latest ailment.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m willing to buy the dip on Westburg because you have to love his per-plate-appearance numbers, but you also have to acknowledge that there\u2019s added injury risk here. If you draft Westburg at this new discount, make sure that you have a competent backup ready to roll, especially if it\u2019s a draft-and-hold league.<\/p>\n

Jackson Holliday (2B \u2013 BAL)<\/a><\/p>\n

NFBC ADP: 203.50 (Min: 196, Max: 211)<\/p>\n

Jackson Holliday had surgery on a broken hamate bone on February 12th. Unlike Carroll and Lindor, who still have a chance at Opening Day, Holliday is expected to start the year on the injured list, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.<\/p>\n

Another key difference here is that Holliday has been disappointing so far. There wasn\u2019t already much more than 15-20 home runs in this bat, so if the hamate injury affects his power, that\u2019s bad news. I was in on Holliday earlier in the offseason, but he has to fall quite a bit for me to take the plunge now.<\/p>\n

\"Fantasy<\/a><\/p>\n

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