MLB Injury News: Fantasy Baseball Implications Heading Into the Season

With the World Baseball Classic over now, it's time to focus all our attention on the start of the MLB season.

Here, let's go over some injury news, focusing on notable fantasy baseball players and the real-world and fantasy implications of each injury.

Fantasy baseball injury news can be found all season on FantasySP.

Suzuki Could Miss Time

Chicago Cubs' outfielder Seiya Suzuki has a minor PCL sprain in his right knee. He picked up that injury in the World Baseball Classic.

Suzuki will be re-assessed to see if an injured list trip is necessary. It's not a big deal right now, but for an oft-injured player, it's definitely concerning.

The 31-year-old is coming off his healthiest season yet, playing in 151 games. Suzuki had a .245 average and .326 on-base percentage. He posted 140 hits, including 31 doubles and 32 doubles, plus had 103 RBIs, 75 RBIs, five stolen bases, 71 walks and 164 strikeouts.

While his numbers went down across the board, he was able to post some of his best cumulative stats because he played in at least 13 more games than in any previous season. Another injury concern to start this season isn't what fantasy owners wanted to see.

Suzuki is projected to be the team's everyday starter in right field, and hitting in the cleanup spot. If he's out, there will be a massive gap in the middle of the Cubs' lineup.

Dylan Carlson and Michael Conforto are a couple big league options who can play the outfield and are projected to be bench bats right now. If Suzuki misses time, it could be one of those two guys filling the void.

Until we know more though, the only thing this piece of injury news does is drop the stock of Suzuki. He's going around pick 94 on average right now, and that should drop back a bit with this injury news. I'd be skeptical about taking Suzuki if I was drafting soon, and I think that ADP is actually a bit too early anyways. Maybe this injury will help him fall closer to an ADP that opens a chance for him to provide good draft value from.

Berrios to Miss Start of Year

Toronto's Jose Berrios has a stress fracture in his right elbow and it will cause him to miss opening day. The team says Berrios is pain free and that they expect him to pitch through the injury, so it could just delay the start to his season.

The 31-year-old righty made 31 appearances (30 starts) in 2025, going 9-5 with a 4.17 earned run average. Berrios struck out 138 batters over 166 innings.

He has a career 4.08 ERA and was at 3.60 and 3.65 the previous two years, so there's a chance he bounces back in 2026. On the wrong side of 30 now, there's also a chance he keeps regressing, and now with this injury news, Berrios' fantasy stock takes another hit.

Berrios is going around pick 282 on average, so he's just a deep-league asset for now. This injury concern won't help his cause, and it should keep him out of standard leagues.

He's even a risky player to roster in deeper leagues, but the gamble isn't quite as high there. If you can stash him on an IR spot, then that makes the injury concern less of an issue as well.

Toronto is loaded with pitchers, so while Berrios is out, the starting rotation still has plenty of options. Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Max Scherzer and Trey Yesavage are the projected starting rotation, with Eric Lauer also an option - Lauer is projected to serve as the long reliever instead.

Shane Bieber is another rotation member who will miss some time to open the season. Bowden Francis is out for the season, otherwise he would have been an option too.

Other rotation injuries could thrust pitchers like Jake Bloss, Ricky Tiedemann or others into the mix, so that's something to keep in mind. The Blue Jays should be OK without Berrios though.

Keep tabs on Berrios, but know you are taking on a risk if you roster him in any fantasy leagues after this injury news.

Gonzalez to IL

Boston's Romy Gonzalez was placed on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder injury. That will obviously keep him out at least two months, so that's a blow to him and the Red Sox.

The 29-year-old played primarily at first and second base last season, but also appeared twice at third base. Gonzalez was used as a designated hitter five times and came on as a pinch hitter 16 times.

He appeared in 96 games overall, posting a .305 average and .343 OBP. Gonzalez had 96 total hits, including 23 doubles, nine homers and three triples, plus added 53 RBIs, 47 runs scored, six stolen bases, 18 walks and 81 strikeouts.

Gonzalez is a nice asset for an MLB team to have, so his absence will hurt the Red Sox a bit. Willson Contreras is the team's projected first baseman, while Marcelo Mayer and Andruw Monasterio are in a projected platoon at second. Caleb Durbin is slotted in at third base, but could also play shortstop or second.

Gonzalez was likely going to be a depth option, so him being out takes away an option at a few spots. The Red Sox' lineup isn't anything special, but it's got enough pieces to be competitive and have Boston in the running for a playoff spot.

An injury or two more (on top of Gonzalez and Triston Casas) could really hurt, so that's why the Gonzalez injury is a bit concerning now, especially because he'll be out at least two months.

He could work back into deeper leagues when healthy, but that also depends on his role, then his production when on the field. We'll see if the injury ends up hurting Boston.

Others who could play more in the meantime are Mayer, Monasterio, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Masataka Yoshida. 

Vasil Out for Year

Chicago White Sox' Mike Vasil is out for the season because of Tommy John surgery.

The nearly 26-year-old isn't a massive fantasy asset, but he was a useful asset for the White Sox in 2025. He made three starts over 47 appearances and covered 101 innings. Vasil went 5-3 with a 2.50 ERA, while striking out 82 batters. He was a bright spot in another tough year for Chicago.

He was in the running for a rotation spot, or a long reliever role in the pen, so now that takes an option away for the White Sox. Shane Smith, Sean Burke, Anthony Kay, Davis Martin and Erick Fedde are slated to start the team's first five games now.

Jedixson Paez is the projected long reliever, and Jordan Hicks could now have a chance to fill the role Vasil held last year.

Again, with Vasil not being a big fantasy asset, this isn't a huge deal for fantasy. It does open pitching opportunities for others, as 101 innings is a lot to cover. Some White Sox' hurlers could be streamed or added if they are pitching well, so keep an eye on them as the 2026 season ramps up.

Others to Keep Tabs On

There's a couple other injuries to monitor. Let's run through them quickly here.

Cleveland's Jose Ramirez hurt his left shoulder a couple days ago. It's not expected to take him out at all this season, but it is a bit concerning at the very least. Hopefully the injury is nothing and doesn't affect him, but with him being a high-end draft pick, I'd be a bit more skeptical of taking him now.

Seattle's J.P. Crawford has right shoulder soreness and visited a doctor yesterday to try to get on top of the issue. He's projected to be the team's everyday shortstop, so even a short IL stint to open the season would open the door for someone else, while hurting Crawford's fantasy outlook.

Arizona's Gabriel Moreno has forearm tightness. There's no structural damage, but for an oft-injured player, this is a concerning ailment. Take that into account, even if he's just a backup catcher option in fantasy for you.