5 hours agoPittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton confirmed on Tuesday that right-hander Johan Oviedo will open the 2023 regular season in the team's starting rotation. The 25-year-old earned the opportunity with a strong spring that included a five-inning outing on Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins in which he struck out seven batters. There is an extra spot in the rotation due to the injury of JT Brubaker (forearm), but Oviedo could stick around if he pitches well. The Cuban hurler had a 3.21 ERA (3.74 FIP), 1.29 WHIP and 22.3 percent strikeout rate in 56 innings over 21 outings (eight starts) for the Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals in 2022. Oviedo might profile better in a relief role in the long run, but the rebuilding Bucs will give him a chance to start. He's only worth streaming in NL-only leagues and he'll need to display better control to have any kind of consistent success.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pittsburgh PG - Jason Mackey

5 hours agoThe Pittsburgh Pirates reassigned catcher Tyler Heineman to Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned right-hander Yerry De Los Santos to Indianapolis on Tuesday. The team also released catcher Kevin Plawecki from his minor-league contract. Heineman, 31, will open the year in the minors as catching depth for the organization behind Austin Hedges and Jason Delay. He's hit just .214 with one home run and 12 RBI in 82 career games with the Pirates, Giants, Marlins and Blue Jays. De Los Santos, 25, had a 4.91 ERA (4.01 FIP), 1.29 WHIP, three saves and 26 strikeouts in 25 2/3 relief innings in his major-league debut for Pittsburgh in 2022. He should get another shot in the Bucs' bullpen at some point in 2023.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Pirates Twitter

5 hours agoFree-agent catcher Sandy Leon re-signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, according to sources. Leon was just released by the team on Monday, but he'll quickly make his return. The 34-year-old backstop will begin the season in the minor leagues and will provide the club with some veteran catching depth behind Jonah Heim. He has spent 11 years in the big leagues with five different organizations, but he has done very little with the bat. In 533 career games, Leon has hit just .210/.278/.314 with a .592 OPS, 31 home runs, 145 RBI and 154 runs scored with the Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: FanSided - Robert Murray

5 hours agoColorado Rockies outfielder Jurickson Profar has had his visa issues resolved and is on his way to join the team in Arizona. The Rockies also optioned Michael Toglia to Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday. Profar didn't actually play in any spring training games for Colorado after just signing a one-year deal with the team last weekend. The 30-year-old did play in the World Baseball Classic for Team Netherlands, though, and he could be in the Opening Day lineup for his new team on Thursday against his previous club, the San Diego Padres. Profar doesn't have any one skill that stands out for fantasy managers, but moving to hitter-friendly Coors Field was probably the best possible outcome for his fantasy value in deeper mixed leagues.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Denver Gazette - Danielle Allentuck

6 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers infielder Keston Hiura cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday. Hiura will remain in the Brewers organization after he was designated for assignment, but he'll begin the 2023 season in the minor leagues. The 26-year-old right-handed slugger was once one of the team's top prospects, but he hasn't been very successful in the big leagues thanks to high strikeout totals at the plate. In 80 games for the Brew Crew in 2022, Hiura slashed .226/.316/.449 with a .765 OPS, 14 home runs, 32 RBI, 34 runs scored and five stolen bases in 266 plate appearances. He could eventually returned to the big-league roster this year, but it would only be in a part-time role at first base.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt Hogg

6 hours agoThe Cleveland Guardians and second baseman Andres Gimenez are finalizing a long-term contract extension on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the deal. The 24-year-old infielder was a first-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2022 and had 7.4 Wins Above Replacement for the Guardians. He also finished his third MLB campaign with a .297/.371/.466 slash line with a career-high .837 OPS, 17 long balls, 69 RBI, 66 runs scored and 20 stolen bases in 557 plate appearances over 146 games played. His big season in 2022 put Gimenez firmly as a top-five fantasy asset at the keystone. However, a high BABIP last year points to potential regression across the board for the young infielder in 2023. UPDATE: the two sides agreed on a seven-year, $106.5 million extension with a $23 million club option for 2031.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan

7 hours agoWashington Nationals right-handed reliever Hobie Harris, 29, was informed that he has made the team's Opening Day roster after spending eight years in the minor leagues with four different organizations. It's a cool moment for Harris, who had a strong 2.04 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, eight saves and 56 strikeouts in 53 relief innings at Triple-A Nashville in the Milwaukee Brewers organization last year. In his time in the minors, he has a 3.12 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 25 saves and 370 walks in 322 2/3 relief innings. Harris gave up one earned run on three hits while walking two and striking out seven in 10 relief innings this spring in Grapefruit League action. He will not be fantasy relevant in D.C.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: USA TODAY Sports - Bob Nightengale

7 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers outfielder Tyrone Taylor (elbow) will open the regular season on the injured list after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection at the end of February. He is expected to miss at least the first month of the season after dealing with this right elbow injury since last year. Taylor has resumed a throwing program, though and is hopeful of making his 2023 debut by the middle of May. When healthy, the 29-year-old is expected to be Milwaukee's regular right fielder. With Taylor sidelined, Brian Anderson is expected to see some more playing time in the outfield in the first month of the season. Fantasy managers would like Taylor to get on base more, but he'll be attractive for his power in deep mixed leagues with regular playing time when he returns.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

7 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers right-hander Adrian Houser (groin) felt a grabbing sensation in his right groin during a March 25 Cactus League outing against the Oakland Athletics, and the Brewers removed him from the game. He visited with head physician Dr. William Raasch on Sunday and is likely to open the season on the injured list. Houser went on the IL last September with a right groin strain and has battled irritation in the same area this spring. "I could see it going that way, just with how close [Opening Day] is," Houser said, "and with the recent injury two weeks ago. We just want to be safe and miss 10-15 days instead of missing two months or something like that. Playing it safe may be the smart thing."--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com

7 hours agoThe Minnesota Twins granted right-hander Jeff Hoffman his release on Tuesday, per an out in his contract. Hoffman throws hard from the right side and was decent in four Grapefruit League relief appearances for the Twins this spring, but he'll be looking for a new opportunity with Opening Day quickly approaching this Thursday. In his last three spring outings, he didn't allow a hit or a run while striking out six in four innings. The 30-year-old will have to settle for a minor-league deal with another club after not making Minnesota's Opening Day roster. He had a 3.83 ERA (4.30 FIP), 1.41 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings pitched over 35 outings (one start) for the Cincinnati Reds last year.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: New York Post - Jon Heyman

7 hours agoKansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic will be the team's No. 5 starter to open the 2023 regular season, according to manager Matt Quatraro. Bubic gets the chance with Daniel Lynch (shoulder) getting injured. The 25-year-old southpaw looked very good this spring, posting a 1.74 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, seven walks and 15 strikeouts in five Cactus League outings (three starts) over 10 1/3 innings of work. In his three seasons with the Royals, Bubic hasn't really moved the fantasy needle with a 4.89 ERA (4.93 FIP), 1.53 WHIP and 20 percent strikeout rate in 309 innings pitched over 67 appearances (57 starts) for KC. Bubic should only be considered for fantasy staffs in AL-only leagues now that he actually has a rotation spot.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Anne Rogers

7 hours agoWashington Nationals relief pitchers Sean Doolittle (elbow) and Tanner Rainey (elbow) will return to Florida to continue their respective elbow rehabs after the 2023 regular season begins. Doolittle is a little further along than Rainey, who is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. "He's building up strength, he's throwing," manager Dave Martinez said of Doolittle. "Actually he's throwing the ball really well. So hopefully we get him back soon. He's gonna go back and I think pretty soon he'll be throwing off the mound. But he's throwing the ball well. So I wanted him here. He's been through this before. He's gonna go to the (Homecoming) Gala with us. And I told him to stick around for Opening Day him and Rainey both. So they're going to be around for Opening Day and then they're going to take off and go back to Florida."--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MASN Sports - Bobby Blanco

8 hours agoWith Cleveland Guardians starter Triston McKenzie (shoulder, triceps) starting the year on the injured list, Hunter Gaddis, who is currently stretched out to 70 pitches, is the most likely candidate to take McKenzie's spot in the starting rotation. The Guardians could also choose to start Zach Plesac through the first turn, as he's currently scheduled to pitch in a minor-league game on Wednesday. Relievers Xzavion Curry and Michael Kelly are options to be added to the bullpen if Gaddis joins the rotation in Cleveland. Gaddis, 24, looked good this spring, but he probably won't go very deep into his starts early in the season and will be a pretty shaky streaming option in deep leagues and DFS. In his first 7 1/3 major-league innings in 2022, Gaddis allowed 15 hits and 15 earned runs.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Mandy Bell and Jesus Cano

8 hours agoWashington Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray will start the second game of the season on Saturday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves. Gray will look to continue pitching well after allowing only three runs (one earned) on 13 hits while walking two and striking out 14 in five starts over 16 1/3 innings in Grapefruit League play this spring. Fantasy managers in DFS will probably be looking to avoid Gray in a tough matchup against the Braves, but he's worth rostering in all fantasy leagues. The 25-year-old won't see many wins with the rebuilding Nats, but he could take a significant step forward in his second full season as a starter in the big leagues after having a 5.02 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 154 strikeouts in 148 2/3 innings in 2022.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Washington Post - Andrew Golden

9 hours agoThe Detroit Tigers granted second baseman Cesar Hernandez his release on Tuesday. Hernandez wasn't going to make the team's Opening Day roster, so he asked for and was granted his release after hitting .234 (11-for-47) with seven doubles, four RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base in 19 Grapefruit League games with the team this spring. The 32-year-old veteran will most likely have to settle for a minor-league deal with another team to open the 2023 campaign. He spent the 2022 campaign with the Washington Nationals and hit .248/.311/.318 with a .629 OPS, one home run, 34 RBI, 64 runs scored and 10 stolen bases in 617 plate appearances and 147 games.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tigers PR