8 hours agoLos Angeles Angels first baseman Jared Walsh (head) and catcher Max Stassi (hip) will open the 2023 regular season on the injured list. Walsh is dealing with headaches and there is no timetable for him to make his season debut for the Halos. With Walsh on the shelf to begin the year, Brandon Drury is likely to see most of the playing time at the cold corner in his first year in Anaheim. With Stassi starting on the injured list, it paves the way for prospect Logan O'Hoppe to make the team's Opening Day roster. Stassi injured his hip during a minor-league game on Sunday, and he also doesn't have a specific timetable for a return to the Angels lineup. Matt Thaiss is the team's other backstop on the roster.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Times - Sarah Valenzuela

8 hours agoOakland Athletics relief pitchers Trevor May, Jeurys Familia and Dany Jimenez could all be used in save situations this year, according to manager Mark Kotsay. "I think we'll start out with the mindset that they're all options," Kotsay said. Fantasy managers shouldn't be too interested in the A's closing picture unless you're scrounging for save opportunities in AL-only leagues. May has 12 career saves in eight big-league seasons, Familia has 125 career saves in 11 major-league campaigns and Jimenez picked up his first 11 saves for the A's in 2022 in his second MLB season. This could be a straight committee approach, which makes speculating on any of these relievers dicey in fantasy. Jimenez has the most upside.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: San Francisco Chronicle - Matt Kawahara

8 hours agoCleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie (triceps, shoulder) said he felt normal tightness in his tricep/back shoulder while he was warming up on Sunday in spring training. McKenzie was pulled early from his Cactus League outing as a result and underwent an MRI exam on Monday. The team is awaiting the results, so we should know more about McKenzie's injury on Tuesday. Even if the 25-year-old's injury isn't that serious, he'll almost certainly begin the regular season on the injured list. McKenzie's offspeed stuff has proved nearly unhittable, which has made him attractive going into this season as a No.2/3 fantasy starter.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mandy Bell

8 hours agoThe Atlanta Braves placed right-hander Kyle Wright (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list on Monday with right shoulder inflammation and recalled right-hander Nick Anderson from the minors in a corresponding move. Wright entered spring training with shoulder issues after getting a cortisone shot back in January. The 27-year-old is only expected to miss a couple turns through the starting rotation to open the 2023 regular season, though, so fantasy managers shouldn't have to wait long to use him. However, Wright will be extra risky as he continues to get ramped up and probably won't be an option for quality starts in the early going. One of Jared Shuster or Dylan Dodd will be sent back to the minors when Wright is ready to make his 2023 debut.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Braves Twitter

8 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers shortstop Brice Turang, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has made the team's Opening Day roster. Turang convinced the club he's ready for the big leagues by hitting .282 (11-for-39) with a double, home run, four RBI, five runs scored and three stolen bases in 15 Cactus League games in camp. The 23-year-old shortstop is expected to see most of his playing time at the keystone in Milwaukee against right-handed pitchers. In 131 games for Triple-A Nashville in 2022, Turang hit .286/.360/.412 with a .772 OPS, 13 home runs, 78 RBI, 89 runs scored and 34 stolen bases in 603 plate appearances. While he could struggle offensively in his first taste of big-league pitching, he should be useful in deep-mixed leagues for his speed.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Brewers Twitter

8 hours agoFree-agent utilityman Chad Pinder signed a minor-league deal with the Washington Nationals on Monday, according to a source. Pinder was recently released by the Cincinnati Reds and quickly finds a new landing spot. He really struggled in Cactus League action with the Reds, going 4-for-39 (.103) with two doubles, one RBI, four runs scored and nine strikeouts in 15 games played. The 30-year-old could have a decent shot to make the big-league roster at some point in 2023 with the rebuilding Nats, but he should be expected to open the season in the minors. In 111 games with the Oakland Athletics last year, Pinder hit .235/.263/.385 with a .648 OPS, 12 home runs, 42 RBI and 38 runs scored in 379 plate appearances. Ignore him in fantasy.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray

8 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers infielder Keston Hiura was designated for assignment on Monday, while outfield prospect Sal Frelick was reassigned to minor-league camp. The Brewers also optioned infielder Abraham Toro to Triple-A Nashville. Hiura was informed last Friday that he wouldn't be making the Opening Day roster after going just 5-for-32 (.156) with two doubles, no homers, three RBI and 15 strikeouts in 12 spring games. Once a top prospect for the organization, Hiura has decent pop, but it hasn't translated at the highest level due to too many strikeouts. Frelick is the team's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he impressed this spring by hitting .385 with a double and three stolen bases in 10 Cactus League contests. He'll likely make his major-league debut in 2023.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy

9 hours agoThe Milwaukee Brewers signed first baseman Luke Voit to a new one year-deal on Monday that includes a team option for the 2024 season. Voit will now return to Milwaukee after opting out of his minor-league deal with the club over the weekend. The 32-year-old power hitter will at least see regular action for the Brew Crew at first base when the team faces left-handed pitching. After leading all of baseball in home runs in the shortened 2020 season with the New York Yankees, Voit continued to disappoint last year with a .226/.308/.402 slash line with 22 home runs, 69 RBI and 55 runs scored in 135 games with the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals. He struck out over 30% of the time in 2022, and it's hard to make a case for rostering him in mixed leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Adam McCalvy

9 hours agoBoston Red Sox first baseman Bobby Dalbec was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Monday. The Red Sox also sent catcher Jorge Alfaro to minor-league camp. With Dalbec starting the 2023 season in the minors, it means that infielder Yu Chang will be on the Opening Day roster as a utility infielder. Dalbec hit two home runs in spring training, but he also hit only .235 (12-for-51) with five walks and 21 strikeouts in 56 plate appearances. He has some big-time power, but he needs to start making more contact if he wants to come back up to the big leagues and stick around. The Red Sox are rolling with Triston Casas as their regular first baseman to open the 2023 campaign. Boston is going with catchers Reese McGuire and Connor Wong at the position to kick off the season.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Boston Globe - Pete Abraham

9 hours agoThe New York Mets designated outfielder Darin Ruf for assignment on Monday. The Mets currently owe Ruf $3.25 million -- $3 million for 2023 and $250,000 as a buyout on a $3.5 million option for 2024. They could try to trade him onread more...

9 hours agoNew York Mets left-hander David Peterson has earned the final starting rotation spot for the Mets to open the 2023 regular season, according to sources. Peterson beat out Tylor Megill for the final rotation spot after it was announced that lefty Jose Quintana will be out until at least July with a rib-cage stress fracture. Peterson didn't allow a single run in 12 Grapefruit League innings and struck out 13, but he also walked eight hitters. The 27-year-old southpaw will be a target in the later rounds of deep-mixed leagues if you have yet to draft, and he'll also make for a cheap DFS streamer in the right matchups. Peterson posted a 3.83 ERA (3.64 FIP), 1.33 WHIP and career-high 27.8 percent strikeout rate in 105 2/3 innings over 28 outings (19 starts) for the Mets in 2022.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman

9 hours agoMiami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera will start Game 3 of the season for the team on Saturday night at home against the division-rival New York Mets, according to sources. Cabrera will open the year as the team's No. 3 starter in the rotation. With the 24-year-old winning a rotation job to open the 2023 regular season, it means that Braxton Garrett will start out in the bullpen. Cabrera's fastball is one of the hardest in the game, which gives him plenty of strikeout upside for fantasy managers in a pitcher-friendly home park in Miami. If he can limit the walks and homers allowed, Cabrera could have a breakout season in 2023. He's a fine target in the middle rounds of drafts if you have not drafted yet.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Miami Herald - Craig Mish

9 hours agoTampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (quadriceps) said his right quad issue was more tightness than a strain, and it has responded well to treatment. "I feel good, thank God, and I'm ready to start on Thursday," Franco said. He was able to take swings in the batting cages on Monday after his MRI exam on Sunday didn't show anything serious. Barring a setback, the 22-year-old should be starting at shortstop on Opening Day on Thursday against the Detroit Tigers. When healthy, he should be in starting lineups in season-long fantasy leagues every day. Franco played in only 83 games in his second MLB season in 2022, slashing .277/.328/.417 with a .746 OPS, six home runs, 33 RBI, 46 runs and eight stolen bases in 344 plate appearances.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin

9 hours agoNew York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon (forearm) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Monday and was very encouraged by how he felt afterward. Rodon will remain in Tampa, Fla., as the team goes north for Opening Day this Thursday. The 30-year-old southpaw is slowly building his arm back up after being shut down for two weeks in camp with a left forearm strain, and he's expected to throw one or two more bullpen sessions before he advances to facing live hitters in Florida. Rodon has been a fantasy ace the last several seasons while avoiding the injury bug, so he's worth stashing in all formats, and hopefully he'll be able to make his Yankees debut in 2023 in late April or early May.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch

10 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher JT Brubaker (elbow, forearm) is expected to undergo further testing to determine the severity of his injury. Manager Derek Shelton mentioned that Brubaker is likely to begin the season on the injured list. It's a shame after Brubaker posted a strong 26/3 K/BB ratio across 17 1/3 innings (five starts) this spring. Hopefully it won't be anything significant and Brubaker can get back on the field soon. The 29-year-old is more of a deep league or NL-only format option, but could still contribute to a fantasy roster.--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Jason Mackey