Sun Mar 24 | 10:00 | Taijuan Walker Dealing With Shoulder Soreness, Sent For MRI | Taijuan Walker | SP | Mariners | Free Agent |
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Taijuan Walker was getting loose for a bullpen session on Saturday and stated that his shoulder "didn't feel right." The Phillies sent him for an MRI, the results of which should be known Sunday. Walker had already battled some right knee soreness this spring and had only made two spring appearances thus far. Last time out, the veteran was tagged for seven earned runs on five hits (three home runs) and three walks while striking out just one batter over two and two-thirds IP. The injury doesn't sound promising for his already bleak outlook. Right-handed 31-year-old Spencer Turnbull would take his spot in the rotation were he placed on the IL. |
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber | RotoBaller.com |
Sun Mar 24 | 00:32 | Kevin Kiermaier Suffers Knee Contusion, Expected Back Soon | Kevin Kiermaier | CF | Rays | Free Agent |
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (knee) exited Saturday's spring game against the Detroit Tigers after fouling a ball off his right knee. Kiermaier went 0-for-1 with a strikeout before exiting. The 33-year-old is expected to be fine and would have stayed in the game if it were the regular season. He is considered day-to-day, with Sunday being the earliest he could return to the lineup. Kiermaier slashed .265/.322/.419 with eight home runs, 36 RBI, 58 runs, and 14 stolen bases over 408 plate appearances in 2023. He signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Jays during the offseason to be the team's starting center fielder. Kiermaier has an ADP of 685 and is mainly a fantasy option in AL-Only or deep league formats. |
Source: Arden Zwelling | RotoBaller.com |
Sun Mar 24 | 00:11 | Jose Iglesias, Luke Voit Won't Make Mets Opening Day Roster | José Iglesias | SS | Tigers | Free Agent |
| | | Luke Voit | | | Free Agent |
The New York Mets have informed Jose Iglesias, Tomas Nido, and Luke Voit that they did not make the team's Opening Day roster. Voit signed a minor-league contract with the Mets in February but failed to latch onto the team's main roster after hitting .097 with a home run and four RBI over 31 spring at-bats. Iglesias had a solid spring, but it wasn't enough to make the team's Opening Day roster. This spring, he hit .278 with a home run and three RBI over 36 at-bats. Both Voit and Iglesias will look to latch onto another team. Neither Iglesias nor Voit will provide much fantasy value even if they sign with another club ahead of 2024 fantasy drafts. |
Source: Anthony Dicomo | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Mar 23 | 12:09 | Mets Will Option J.D. Martinez To Begin The Year | J.D. Martinez | LF | Tigers | Free Agent |
The New York Mets will officially option designated hitter J.D. Martinez to the minor leagues to begin the 2024 regular season so that he can build up at-bats, meaning he won't be with the team to start the year for at least the first 10 days of the season. Martinez just signed with the Mets the other day and will need to see some live pitching in the minors first before the Mets are comfortable throwing him into the fire in the big leagues in 2024. When the Mets deem him ready, the 36-year-old is expected to be the team's primary designated hitter to help give All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso more protection in the lineup. Martinez had yet another 30-homer season in 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and can provide plenty of power when he's healthy, but his lack of positional eligibility in fantasy makes him less attractive. |
Source: New York Post - Mike Puma | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Mar 23 | 10:59 | Eduardo Escobar Released By The Blue Jays | Eduardo Escobar | SS | Twins | Free Agent |
Veteran third baseman Eduardo Escobar was granted his release by the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. The 35-year-old was a non-roster invitee and was a long shot to make the roster, but was hitting just .122 (5-for-41) with 17 strikeouts in 15 spring appearances. Escobar was an All-Star as recently as 2021 but has seen his Contact% fall for three consecutive seasons while his K% has increased three consecutive seasons. He may not have much left in the tank, but he does have the ability to play multiple positions and can bat from both sides of the plate, so perhaps he could latch on somewhere. |
Source: Toronto Blue Jays | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Mar 23 | 09:57 | Jose Ramirez Having A Slow Spring | José Ramírez | 2B | Indians | Free Agent |
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez had his third straight game with a hit on Friday in a 10-0 Cactus League win over the Rangers. He's also had a hit in five out of the last six games, but he's yet to have a multi-hit performance this spring and is hitting just .200 (9-for-45) through 15 Cactus League games. On the bright side, he's hitting for power with three doubles and four home runs compared to just two singles. The 5x All-Star typically goes off the board as the first third baseman overall, due in part to his stolen base prowess at a position that is usually devoid of base stealers that can also produce in other categories like Ramirez can, but the 31-year-old has yet to swipe a bag in 46 spring PA, although he has been caught once. Regardless, the 4x Silver Slugger Award winner has been one of the most consistent and durable hitters for eight years now and shows no signs of slowing down, so look for another All-Star caliber campaign again in 2024. |
Source: ESPN | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Mar 22 | 20:53 | White Sox Release Mike Moustakas, Kevin Pillar | Mike Moustakas | 3B | Royals | Free Agent |
| | | Kevin Pillar | CF | Blue Jays | Free Agent |
The Chicago White Sox released infielder Mike Moustakas and outfielder Kevin Pillar on Friday. Moustakas was released after slashing a weak .195/.283/.317 with a home run and two RBI in 41 Cactus League at-bats for Chicago after signing a minor-league deal with the team on Feb. 14. The 35-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran is nearing the end of his career. The three-time All-Star hit .247/.293/.392 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI in 112 games with the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels in his 13th big-league campaign. Pillar, who is also 35, went 11-for-44 in the Cactus League with five RBI. He hit .228/.248/.416 with nine home runs, 32 RBI and four steals in 81 games with the Atlanta Braves in 2023. Moustakas and Pillar will be looking to latch on with another team in reserve roles with the season starting next week. |
Source: Chicago Sun-Times - Daryl Van Schouwen | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Mar 22 | 19:32 | White Sox Agree With Robbie Grossman On Minor-League Deal | Robbie Grossman | LF | Astros | Free Agent |
The Chicago White Sox agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Robbie Grossman on a minor-league deal on Friday that includes an invite to major-league spring training. Grossman doesn't have much time in camp to impress the White Sox in order to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster as outfield depth to begin the 2024 season. Because of the timing of his signing, the 34-year-old veteran left-handed hitter will most likely open the year at Triple-A Charlotte. The 11-year MLB veteran won't be on the fantasy radar in mixed leagues if he's on Chicago's active roster in 2024. Grossman has one year of hitting 20-plus homers (in 2021) and batted .238/.340/.394 with 10 home runs and 49 RBI in 115 regular-season games in 2023 for the Texas Rangers. |
Source: Chicago Sun-Times - Daryl Van Schouwen | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Mar 22 | 16:57 | Sonny Gray To Open Season On Injured List | Sonny Gray | SP | Athletics | Free Agent |
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray (hamstring) won't be ready in time for Opening Day. Cards manager Oliver Marmol confirmed on Friday that Gray will open the season on the injured list. The plan is for Gray to take the mound on Saturday in a spring contest. After that, Gray will make a pair of rehab starts before hopefully returning in mid-April. His stint on the injured list shouldn't be too long, so fantasy managers might just want to hold him here. |
Source: John Denton | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Mar 22 | 12:39 | J.D. Martinez Could Begin In The Minors | J.D. Martinez | LF | Tigers | Free Agent |
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez has minor-league options remaining but has way more than five years of service time, so he can consent to being sent to the minor leagues. Given the fact that Martinez probably isn't going to be ready by Opening Day next Thursday after just signing with the team on Thursday, Newsday's Tim Healey writes that it looks like the Mets will ask the veteran slugger to start the year in the minors with Triple-A Syracuse. The 36-year-old six-time All-Star bounced back in 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .271 (117-for-432) with 33 hoe runs and 103 RBI in 113 games played, but fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for Martinez, at least early on, as he ramps back into form after not playing at all in spring training. Mark Vientos could operate as New York's primary DH until Martinez is ready to go. |
Source: Newsday - Tim Healey | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Mar 22 | 12:18 | Diamondbacks Release Elvis Andrus | Elvis Andrus | SS | Rangers | Free Agent |
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Friday that they released infielder Elvis Andrus. The team also optioned left-hander Andrew Saalfran and outfielder Pavin Smith to Triple-A Reno and reassigned left-hander Jose Castillo to minor-league camp. Andrus was in camp with the Diamondbacks as infield depth, mainly behind Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop, but the 35-year-old veteran will now be back on the open market with Opening Day next Thursday, March 28. Now that Andrus is gone, Jace Peterson and Emmanuel Rivera are the best bets to back up Perdomo at the 6 in 2024. Waiting in the wings in the minors at the position are Jordan Lawlar and Blaze Alexander. In 112 games with the Chicago White Sox last year, Andrus hit .251/.304/.358 with six homers, 44 RBI and 12 stolen bases. |
Source: Arizona Diamondbacks | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Mar 22 | 12:04 | Sonny Gray Won't Pitch Friday | Sonny Gray | SP | Athletics | Free Agent |
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) won't pitch in a minor-league game as scheduled on Friday due to heavy rain in the forecast. The Cardinals aren't going to take any chances with their free-agent acquisition as he returns from a strained hamstring on a wet field. The 34-year-old will likely pitch two innings in a minor-league game on Saturday instead. Because of his hamstring injury, Gray won't start on Opening Day for the Red Birds in his first year with the club, but manager Oliver Marmol hasn't ruled out Gray starting at some point on the team's opening day road trip that starts on March 28 and ends on April 3. The runner up in the American League Cy Young voting in 2023 comes to the Cardinals as a solid veteran rotation option and should also be a solid No. 3 starter for fantasy managers in his first year in St. Louis. |
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold | RotoBaller.com |
Thu Mar 21 | 21:07 | J.D. Martinez Signing One-Year Deal With Mets | J.D. Martinez | LF | Tigers | Free Agent |
The New York Mets and free-agent designated hitter J.D. Martinez agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract on Thursday. After a long stay in free agency, Martinez lands in Queens one week before Opening Day to offer the Mets a formidable protection bat in their lineup behind slugging superstar Pete Alonso. The 36-year-old Martinez is a six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger and slashed a robust .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs, 27 doubles, and 103 RBI over 432 at-bats (113 games) for the Los Angeles Dodgers a year ago. He figures to immediately slot into the heart of New York's order as their everyday DH, likely taking some shine away from the fantasy appeal and RBI upside of former top prospect Francisco Alvarez in the process. Martinez's 221 NFBC ADP will rise with the move, and managers who have already drafted should make sure the veteran slugger isn't floating around waiver wires in shallow mixed leagues. |
Source: Jon Heyman | RotoBaller.com |
Thu Mar 21 | 15:02 | Jose Altuve Reaches Base Twice Thursday | Jose Altuve | 2B | Astros | Free Agent |
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve reached base twice during his team's Grapefruit League contest versus the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. The veteran, fresh off a five-year contract extension, doubled to lead off the game before coming around to score on a Kyle Tucker single. He would also draw a fourth-inning walk and also struck out before departing the contest. It's been a solid, yet unspectacular spring for Altuve to this point as he's hitting .263 (10-for-38) with one homer, three doubles, and a .754 OPS across 42 trips to the plate with four walks and 10 strikeouts in that time. However, he has also stolen three bases. Altuve continues to rank as one of the best fantasy second basemen after hitting .311 with 17 homers and 14 stolen bases across just 90 games in the 2023 season. He missed significant time to begin the season after suffering a broken thumb in the World Baseball Classic in March. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Thu Mar 21 | 12:53 | Justin Verlander Won't Pitch In Grapefruit League Game | Justin Verlander | SP | Tigers | Free Agent |
Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) faced hitters in camp on Wednesday in a live batting practice session. Verlander looked good while throwing 20 pitches, according to manager Joe Espada. However, Verlander will not pitch in a Grapefruit League game or in the two exhibition contests at Minute Maid Park next week before Opening Day next week, which means he will need a full minor-league rehab assignment. The Astros aren't going to push the 41-year-old veteran as he continues to progress from a right-shoulder issue this spring. The nine-time All-Star appears to be making good progress, but he's going to start the season on the injured list, and it won't be a surprise if he doesn't make his 2024 debut until May. |
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome | RotoBaller.com |
Thu Mar 21 | 12:45 | Kevin Gausman May Avoid Injured List Stint | Kevin Gausman | RP | Orioles | Free Agent |
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) threw a two-inning simulated game in camp on Wednesday as he tries to recover from right-shoulder fatigue that has sidelined him from Grapefruit League action. He reported feeling good afterward and is scheduled to make his spring debut on Monday. If he continues to progress, there's a chance that Gausman won't need to open the season on the injured list. Gausman has been one of the best pitchers in baseball the last three seasons, averaging a 3.10 ERA and 29.6% strikeout rate. The 33-year-old veteran finished third in the American League Cy Young voting in 2023. If Gausman is in the Opening Day rotation, he'll most likely be on a strict pitch limit, which will make him a pretty big fantasy risk early on. |
Source: The Athletic - Kaitlyn McGrath | RotoBaller.com |
Thu Mar 21 | 12:33 | Sonny Gray Could Start On First Road Trip | Sonny Gray | SP | Athletics | Free Agent |
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) will pitch two innings against minor-league hitters on Friday on a back field at the team's spring training complex. If Gray passes that test, he could be slotted in for his first regular-season start on the team's West coast road trip from March 28-April 3. The 34-year-old won't be able to start on Opening Day on March 28 due to the hamstring he strained in camp, but it sounds like he may not need to open the year on the injured list. Gray was the runner-up behind Gerrit Cole in the American League Cy Young voting in 2023, and while he doesn't throw that hard, he has great control and knows how to limit hard contact. In his first year with the Cardinals, Gray should be a high-floor No. 3 fantasy starter. |
Source: MLB.com - John Denton | RotoBaller.com |
Thu Mar 21 | 10:07 | Christian Walker Hits First Home Run Of Spring | Christian Walker | DH | Orioles | Free Agent |
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a Cactus League matchup versus the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. His homer would be the first this spring for the slugger. He now has four RBI this spring with a .290 batting average over 31 at-bats. Walker year in and year out has been a steady source of power for managers and will look to have his third straight season of 30-plus homers in 2024. One of the more underrated first baseman, Walker's power makes him a nice selection for managers after the big names are off the board. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Thu Mar 21 | 09:56 | Manny Machado Goes Yard In Victory | Manny Machado | 3B | Orioles | Free Agent |
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado went 1-for-4 with two runs, two walks and a three-run homer in Thursday's victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was the second straight game that the veteran has been the designated hitter with Tyler Wade drawing the start at third base. Machado hit .370 in the Cactus League this spring, but didn't have a homer. Not much for managers to worry as just two games and he's shown why he is one of the best in the business. The 31-year-old's .258 batting average in 2023 was his lowest since hitting .256 in 2019, but he stayed the course in the power department with 30 homers and 91 RBI. Machado is hitting cleanup in a strong Padres lineup this season and should continue to provide plenty of value out of the hot corner for managers in 2024, especially with an ADP of 42. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Thu Mar 21 | 09:53 | Mookie Betts Drives In Six | Mookie Betts | CF | Red Sox | Free Agent |
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop/outfielder Mookie Betts had a huge game on Thursday versus the San Diego Padres. Betts went 4-for-5 with two runs, six RBI and one walk. He also belted his first homer, a two-run rocket off Michael King in the fifth inning. Betts is always one of the strongest performers in the league and now is leading off with Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman behind him. In addition to his outfield and second base eligibility, Betts will soon pick up shortstop eligibility and that will only increase his already high value. Betts continues to put up top tier numbers on a yearly basis and there is no reason to believe that he will cool down this season at age 31. At the top of arguably the best lineup in the game, Betts remains entrenched as a first-round pick with sneaky position eligibility. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |