2 days agoNew York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that catcher Ben Rortvedt and outfielder Jahmai Jones remain in the mix for Opening Day roster spots. Austin Wells has already made the team, but the Yankees could carry Rortvedt as their third catcher to begin the season. Jose Trevino is the club's other backstop. The 26-year-old Rortvedt is out of minor-league options, so the Yankees may not want to risk losing him to another club. He hit just .118/.241/.221 with two homers in 32 games for the Yanks in 2023 and is unlikely to see much playing time in 2024 for the Bombers. Jones, 26, has looked overmatched in 36 big-league games over three seasons after he was a second-round pick by the Angels in 2015. However, he's intrigued the Yankees as a bench option this spring by hitting .286 with a home run, four RBI and a steal in 14 Grapefruit League games.Source: MLB.com - Bryan Hoch
2 days agoLos Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington confirmed on Tuesday that first baseman Miguel Sano has made the team's Opening Day roster. "He's very deserving," Washington said. Sano is looking to bounce back in the big leagues with the Angels in 2024 after not playing at all in 2023. The former All-Star with the Minnesota Twins in 2017 reportedly lost 58 pounds in the offseason after playing just 20 games in his final year in Minnesota in 2022 due to a knee injury. The 30-year-old right-handed slugger has reached the 30-homer mark twice in his career, including his last full season in 2021, but he's never hit for average and is a pretty big injury risk as he looks to help fill some of the Halos' designated hitter at-bats this year. At best, he's an AL-only flier for some power to begin the year.Source: The Associated Press - Greg Beacham
2 days agoOakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told right-hander Joe Boyle that he will be the team's fifth starter to open the season behind Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, JP Sears and Paul Blackburn. Boyle will throw in Arizona against Double-A hitters on Wednesday as his final tune-up before making just his fourth major-league start. In his first three MLB starts with Oakland last year, Boyle allowed just four runs (three earned) on eight hits (one homer) while walking five and striking out 15 in 16 innings pitched. The 24-year-old has a history of wildness, though, as evidenced by his 15 walks in 18 1/3 Cactus League innings this spring. The 6-foot-7 hurler throws gas but will need to command it in order to have success and remain in Oakland's rotation for the long haul. At best, he's a waiver-wire pickup in AL-only leagues.Source: San Francisco Chronicle - John Shea
2 days agoThe Oakland Athletics acquired minor-league left-hander T.J. McFarland from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations and selected his contract from Triple-A Las Vegas to their 40-man roster. The 34-year-old southpaw was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the fourth round in 2007 and he has 11 years of major-league experience with five different teams, including the A's back in 2020. McFarland made three appearances out of the New York Mets' bullpen in 2023 and has a career 4.14 ERA (4.20 FIP), a 1.47 WHIP, one save, 154 walks and 279 strikeouts in 474 innings in his 11 major-league seasons. Now with the rebuilding A's, McFarland certainly has a much better chance at contributing at the big-league level again in 2024 now that he's out of LA.Source: Oakland A's Communications
2 days agoThe New York Mets released right-handed reliever Phil Bickford on Tuesday. The move comes after the Mets designated Bickford for assignment last weekend. The 28-year-old former Dodgers reliever will now be on the open market with Opening Day coming on Thursday. Bickford spent the 2023 season with both the Dodgers and Mets, pitching to a 5-5 record with a 4.95 ERA (4.46 FIP), a 1.45 WHIP, one save, 39 walks and a career-high 76 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He was originally drafted 18th overall in 2015 by the San Francisco Giants out of Southern Nevada. Bickford has a career 4.43 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with two saves and 204 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings with the Dodgers, Mets and Brewers in four MLB seasons.Source: Metsmerized - Mike Mayer
2 days agoThe San Diego Padres have optioned right-hander Randy Vasquez to Triple-A El Paso to begin the 2024 regular season. Vasquez was acquired from the New York Yankees over the winter in the blockbuster trade involving outfielder Juan Soto, and he came to San Diego in competition for the final starting rotation spot. However, a poor spring showing (6.23 ERA with five walks and nine strikeouts in 8 2/3 Cactus League innings) sealed his fate. The 25-year-old will begin the year down on the farm, but the Friars will surely need him to make starts at some point at the big-league level this year given SD's questionable rotation depth. Vasquez could become an option for fantasy managers in NL-only leagues this year, but he has a low ceiling in mixed leagues as a streamer.Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Jeff Sanders
2 days agoThe Baltimore Orioles signed infielder/outfielder Tony Kemp to an undisclosed major-league contract on Tuesday and designated third baseman Nick Maton for assignment in a corresponding move. Kemp was in spring training with the Cincinnati Reds but opted out of his minor-league deal and is now headed back to the American League after slashing just .209/.303/.304 with five home runs, 27 RBI and a career-high 15 stolen bases in 124 games with the Oakland Athletics in 2023. In addition to being able to play the outfield, the 32-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran can also fill in at second base for the Orioles. At best, Kemp is going to fill a reserve role for the O's in 2024 and isn't much of a fantasy asset. The former fifth-round pick of the Houston Astros in 2013 out of Vanderbilt is a career .238/.325/.352 hitter with only 35 homers in eight big-league seasons.Source: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka
2 days agoColorado Rockies manager Bud Black announced on Tuesday that first baseman/outfielder Michael Toglia and non-roster infielder Alan Trejo have made the Opening Day roster. In addition, right-hander Victor Vodnik made the bullpen, while outfielder Sean Bouchard has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. Toglia is a switch-hitting 24-year-old who was taken 23rd overall in 2019 out of UCLA. He showed plenty of power in the minors but hit just .163 (23-for-141) with four homers and nine RBI in 45 games for the Rockies in 2023. Toglia will have a low fantasy ceiling as a platoon option against righties in the outfield while also being a backup at first. Trejo, 27, mostly offers the Rockies defensive versatility on the infield as a bench player. He has just nine homers in 76 career games and hit .224/.284/.507 in a career-high 45 contests in Colorado in 2023.Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harding
2 days agoTexas Rangers right-hander Jon Gray (neck) was scheduled to pitch on Tuesday but was scratched due to a stiff neck. He will instead throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, and it shouldn't impact his first scheduled start of the regular season, although that date has yet to be announced. Gray was able to throw eight scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and two walks in two Cactus League contests this spring, but fantasy managers have wonder if his neck injury will have an effect on how he pitches early on in the 2024 regular season. The 32-year-old veteran got off to an excellent start last year before crumbling down the stretch to eventually finish 9-8 with a 4.12 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 54 walks and 142 strikeouts in 29 regular-season starts in his second season in Texas. It's hard to expect that much from an injury-prone pitcher in Texas who has gone over 170 innings just once in his nine seasons.Source: Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant
2 days agoTampa Bay Rays right-hander Jake Odorizzi (shoulder) was scheduled to pitch in Tuesday's exhibition game at Tropicana Field against the Detroit Tigers rather than in a minor-league game on Wednesday. Odorizzi sees it as a truer test of his progress in what will be his first game pitched since Oct. of 2022 due to arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. The 33-year-old veteran signed with the Rays late in spring training this year and will begin the 2024 campaign in the minor leagues as a result. If Odorizzi doesn't have any setbacks with his shoulder, he should have a spot open for him in the rotation with both Shane Baz (elbow) and Taj Bradley (pectoral) recovering from injuries. Even in deeper fantasy leagues, managers will probably want to wait and see before trusting Odorizzi in starting lineups whenever he makes his 2024 debut.Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
2 days agoThe Tampa Bay Rays officially placed right-handers Shane Baz (elbow) and Taj Bradley (pectoral) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, retroactive to March 25. Baz, 24, also dealt with an oblique injury in spring training as he attempts to return from Tommy John surgery in September of 2022. After not pitching at all in 2023, Baz is certainly going to be limited in what he can do for both the Rays and fantasy managers this year, and there's no specific timetable for when he might make his 2024 debut. A return at some point this summer is most likely. Bradley, 23, was diagnosed with a pectoral strain on March 13. He also doesn't have a specific timetable for a return, but he should be back before Baz. There's a lot to like about his strikeout upside, but he gave up too many homers and struggled with his command in his rookie season in 2023.Source: Bally Sports Florida - Ryan Bass
2 days agoMinnesota Twins outfielder Manuel Margot (hand) was hit by a pitch during an exhibition game on Tuesday versus the Atlanta Braves and departed early with a left-hand contusion. However, the Twins expect him to be fine for Opening Day on Thursday. The 29-year-old was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Twins this spring and is projected to open the 2024 regular season as a fourth outfielder in Minnesota, which leaves him very little fantasy value in AL-only leagues. The Dominican outfielder spent the last four seasons playing for the Tampa Bay Rays and slashed .264/.317/.375 with 19 home runs, 153 RBI, 41 stolen bases and 149 runs scored in 360 total regular-season games. You can avoid Margot in mixed fantasy leagues in 2024.Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale
2 days agoHouston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) threw two simulated innings (32 pitches) during his live batting practice session on Tuesday and sat at 92-94 mph and touched 95 mph on the stadium radar gun in his first inning at Minute Maid Park. Manager Joe Espada said on Monday that if all goes well with Verlander's session on Tuesday, his next step will be starting a minor-league rehab assignment. The 41-year-old veteran said he felt good on Tuesday and wants to build up his pitch count to 85 before making his 2024 debut for the Astros. Houston isn't going to rush the process, so fantasy managers that have Verlander stashed for rotation depth this year shouldn't be surprised if he doesn't make his season debut until May.Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara
2 days agoThe Washington Nationals announced on Tuesday that they placed right-hander Cade Cavalli (elbow) on the 60-day injured list while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. In corresponding moves, the team selected the contract of right-hander Derek Law and moved infielder Trey Lipscomb to minor-league camp. Cavalli had elbow reconstruction in March of last year and is hoping to rejoin Washington's starting rotation in June of this year. The 25-year-old former first-rounder is the club's No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline and possesses an electric upper-90s fastball, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues will want to temper expectations for him when he returns from Tommy John this summer. For a pitcher that has displayed only average command so far, that could be an issue for him in the second half in 2024.Source: The Washington Post - Andrew Golden
2 days agoWashington Nationals outfielders Robert Hassell III (groin) and Daylen Lile (back) have both been cleared to play in Tuesday's exhibition contest. Hassell suffered a groin strain on March 8 but will bat leadoff and play left field for the prospects team. Lile is recovering from an injury to his back when he flipped over the outfield wall on March 2. Hassell, the team's No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline, didn't play at all in spring training and has so far been a bust after the San Diego Padres took him eight overall in 2020. The 22-year-old will start 2024 at Double-A Harrisburg. Lile, the team's No. 7 prospect, is expected to open the season at High-A Wilmington.Source: MASN Sports - Bobby Blanco