2 weeks agoBoston Red Sox left-hander James Paxton (hamstring) played catch on Wednesday in camp and is hoping to get back on a mound by the end of this week. In his Grapefruit League debut last Friday, Paxton suffered a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, which is expected to cause him to miss Opening Day. The 34-year-old starting pitcher missed all of the 2022 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he's only made six starts (21 2/3 innings) over the last three seasons with the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners due to injuries. This guy just can't stay healthy, so it makes him extremely hard to trust in fantasy.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NESN - Mike Monaco

2 weeks agoBoston Red Sox pitchers Brayan Bello (forearm) and Garrett Whitlock (hip) will throw live batting practice sessions in spring training on Saturday, according to manager Alex Cora. The Red Sox are taking it slow with Bello after he started having soreness in his right forearm in mid-February. The 23-year-old has a bright future in Boston, but he could be slightly delayed for the start of the 2023 regular season. Meanwhile, Whitlock's Opening Day status is in doubt, but like Bello, he might not need to miss much time to open the regular season, barring any further setbacks with hip. The 26-year-old has been more dominant for the BoSox out of the bullpen, but he could have a higher fantasy ceiling if used in Boston's rotation this year.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NESN - Mike Monaco

2 weeks agoBoston Red Sox third baseman/designated hitter Justin Turner (face) will get the stitches out of his face in around two weeks, so it's too early to say if he'll be ready for Opening Day. Turner was hit by a pitch in Grapefruit League play earlier this week, but even if he's not ready for the start of the regular season, the 38-year-old veteran probably won't miss too much time. Turner is expected to serve as Boston's primary designated hitter in his first year with the team after spending the last nine years of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's nearing the end of his career and his power took a big dip in 2022, but Turner still has excellent plate discipline and can provide decent counting stats if he can stay healthy.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NESN - Mike Monaco

2 weeks agoNew York Yankees left-hander Nestor Cortes (hamstring) threw a three-inning simulated game at spring training on Wednesday. Cortes has been behind the other pitchers in camp due to a mild right hamstring strain, but he's getting closer to making his Grapefruit League debut, which could come early next week. The 28-year-old southpaw could be ready to take his first turn in the starting rotation in the regular season if he can avoid any setbacks from here on out in camp. He was an excellent value pick in fantasy last year and could once again be a solid contributor in 2023 after he made the All-Star team for the first time in 2022. Cortes uses deception instead of velocity to induce weak contact.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Bergen Record - Pete Caldera

2 weeks agoSan Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (toe) threw off flat ground in camp on Wednesday for the first time since breaking his left big toe in the weight room recently. He's not landing on his left foot yet and is keeping both feet on the ground when he throws, but he's still putting weight on his left big toe and said everything has felt normal. The 30-year-old right-hander is doing everything he can to speed his recovery, including using a hyperbaric chamber, but the expectation is that he's going to miss a start or two to open the 2023 regular season. Even with the toe injury, Musgrove should still be considered by fantasy managers to be a top-30 fantasy starter for the Padres.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell

2 weeks agoSan Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (calf) is scheduled to appear in a B game on Thursday, according to manager Bob Melvin. If all goes well, Soto could join Team Dominican Republic for the 2023 World Baseball Classic ahead of their first game against Team Venezuela on Saturday. The 24-year-old left-handed slugger is 100 percent healthy after dealing with left calf tightness last week in camp. Barring setbacks at the WBC, Soto should be ready to rock for Opening Day later this month. More was expected of him at the plate in 2022, but he looked more like his normal self in the postseason and should be able to bounce back in his first full season in San Diego.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell

2 weeks agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas is scheduled to start against Team Colombia in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday for Team USA. Mikolas was an All-Star for the second time in 2022, and he's allowed two hits and no runs while striking out five in five Grapefruit League innings so far in spring training. The 34-year-old is guaranteed a rotation spot with St. Louis Heading into the 2023 season after posting a 3.29 ERA (3.87 FIP), 1.03 WHIP and career-high 19 percent strikeout rate in 33 outings (32 starts) covering 202 1/3 innings. Mikolas doesn't walk many, but he also doesn't strike out a ton and isn't an overpowering pitcher, making him more of a fantasy streamer.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - John Denton

2 weeks agoThe Pittsburgh Pirates acquired infielder/outfielder Mark Mathias from the Texas Rangers on Wednesday in exchange for a player to be named later. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Pirates moved right-hander Max Kranick to the 60-day injured list. Mathias, 28, played 30 games in the big leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers and Rangers last year, hitting .247/.319/.506 with an .825 OPS, six home runs, 20 RBI and 13 runs scored in 91 plate appearances. The utility man has only played in 46 major-league games in two seasons and doesn't have a huge track record of offensive success in the minor leagues, but he will have more of an opportunity to play at the big-league level for the rebuilding Bucs.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pirates Twitter

2 weeks agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (side) will throw a "light bullpen" session at camp on Wednesday. It's the first time that Eovaldi will get back on a mound in spring training since he experienced left-side tightness in camp last week. The 33-year-old right-hander still has some time to build his arm back up in time for Opening Day, but any further setbacks would be costly. Eovaldi is joining the Rangers in 2023 after going 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA (4.30 FIP), 1.23 WHIP and 22.4 percent strikeout rate in 109 1/3 innings over only 20 starts. Injuries in Beantown cost Eovaldi some time, velocity and K's for fantasy managers. Home runs were also an issue. Like the Rangers' ace Jacob deGrom, durability makes Eovaldi more of a risk.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Levi Weaver

2 weeks agoTexas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (side) will throw to live hitters in spring training on Wednesday. deGrom is expected to throw around 30 pitches on Wednesday, and barring any kind of setback, he should be ready for Opening Day at the end of March after initially feeling left side tightness early in camp. The 34-year-old right-hander still has ace potential, but he's become much riskier in fantasy drafts given his recent injury history. If he gets through the rest of spring training unfazed while looking strong, fantasy managers will feel a little bit more comfortable taking him as a fantasy ace in his first year with the Rangers.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Levi Weaver

2 weeks agoWashington Nationals outfielder Victor Robles (undisclosed) made a great play in the outfield in Grapefruit League action on Wednesday in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers but fell down after colliding with the wall and was in a lot of pain. Robles tried to walk it off but then fell down again and eventually had to be carted off the field. This could be a serious injury for the 25-year-old outfielder, but we'll away more information on the specific nature of his injury. Robles has mostly been a disappointment for the Nats but still plays great defense, which has kept him in the starting lineup. There's little to like about his bat, especially for a rebuilding Washington club.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Washington Post - Andrew Golden

2 weeks agoToronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (knee) hit in the cages on Wednesday and did some light running and fielding work at spring training. There's no timeline on his return to Grapefruit League games, but it's possible that he'll play again next Wednesday. Guerrero is dealing with some right knee inflammation that isn't considered very serious, but the Blue Jays are being cautious with one of the best hitters in baseball. If he can avoid a setback, he should be ready for Opening Day at the end of March. The 23-year-old is RotoBaller's top-ranked fantasy first baseman heading into the 2023 campaign.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Toronto Sun - Rob Longley

2 weeks agoFree-agent outfielder Lorenzo Cain will officially retire this summer as a member of the Kansas City Royals, the team he spent seven years with from 2011-17. The two-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner finished his career with the Milwaukee Brewers, a team that he spent six of his seasons with. He hit just .179/.231/.234 with a career-low .465 OPS, one home run, nine RBI and 17 runs scored in 43 games for the Brewers in his final season in 2022. Over his 13 years in the big leagues, Cain had a .283/.343/.407 slash line with a .749 OPS, 87 home runs, 454 RBI, 626 runs scored and 190 stolen bases in 1,171 games played. Cain was never really known for his power, but he made plenty of contact, could run well on the bases and was excellent on defense in center field.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Andy McCullough

2 weeks agoSt. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright will start Game 1 of the World Baseball Classic for Team USA on Saturday night against Team Great Britain. Wainwright hasn't looked good in his first two Grapefruit League starts in spring training, topping out in the upper-80s with his fastball, allowing eight hits and four earned runs while walking one and striking out four in five innings of work. The 41-year-old was apparently dealing with some muscle issues in his back and legs, so it will be interesting to see if he looks any better this weekend against a team that Team USA should be able to beat easily. With his velocity dipping with age in recent seasons, Wainwright isn't very attractive to fantasy managers in what is expected to be the final season of his excellent career.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi

2 weeks agoColorado Rockies left-hander Lucas Gilbreath (elbow) will have Tommy John surgery next week, which will knock him out for the entire 2023 season. Depending on how his recovery goes, he could also miss the start of the 2024 campaign. The 27-year-old southpaw reliever appeared in 47 games out of the bullpen for Colorado in his second season with the team in 2022 and posted a 4.19 ERA (3.53 FIP), 1.46 WHIP, 26 walks and 49 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched. He had a 3.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, one save and 44 strikeouts in 47 outings (one start) over 42 2/3 innings in his rookie season with the Rockies in 2021. Gilbreath can obviously be avoided in all fantasy drafts.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Denver Gazette - Danielle Allentuck