The Miami Marlins acquired right-hander Burch Smith from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations. Smith had an assignment clause in his minor-league contract, and the Rays didn't have a spot for him on their major-league roster out of spring training. The Marlins selected Smith's contract from Triple-A Jacksonville after the trade. The 33-year-old last pitched in the majors in 2021 with the Oakland Athletics, posting a 5.40 ERA (4.21 FIP) and 1.38 WHIP with 11 walks and 28 strikeouts in 43 1/3 relief innings. He'll be completely off the fantasy radar in what's expected to be a long-relief role for the Fish. In five big-league seasons, Smith has a poor 6.03 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP, one save, 87 walks and 184 strikeouts in 191 innings pitched.

San Francisco Giants corner infielder Pablo Sandoval said after Tuesday's 3-1 exhibition loss to the Athletics that he is not retiring and will report to Triple-A Sacramento if he gets the chance, per the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser. The 37-year-old veteran went 1-for-2 with a single and a strikeout, with his broken-bat hit coming in his final at-bat in the ninth inning. Sandoval batted .250 with no home runs in 28 spring at-bats and hasn't played in a big-league organization since 2021. However, he had a storied career during his time with the Giants, earning three World Series Championships, two All-Star appearances, and one World Series Most Value Player Award. Regardless of the outcome, the Panda made a lasting mark in the Giants' organization.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski is likely to go on paternity leave for the first Friday through Sunday of the 2024 regular season, per the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser. The 33-year-old and his family are expecting their second child, so he may miss some of the team's first few games. Yastrzemski has cooled off in his career after a few solid fantasy seasons and slashed .233/.330/.445with 15 home runs, 54 runs scored, 43 RBI, and two stolen bases in 381 plate appearances in 2023 while dealing with a left hamstring strain.

Los 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.

The 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.

The 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.

Tampa 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.

Minnesota 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.

Houston 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.

Veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco has made the Cleveland Guardians' Opening Day starting rotation and is slated to make his 2024 debut on Sunday against the Oakland Athletics and right-hander Paul Blackburn. Although the 37-year-old Carrasco doesn't have much fantasy appeal these days, he could be a sneaky streamer this weekend against the A's. We'll see how Carrasco fares to open the season, but when Gavin Williams (elbow) is healthy, there's a good chance Carrasco will be bumped from the rotation. In 20 starts (90 innings) for the New York Mets in 2023, he wasn't good, going 3-8 with a 6.80 ERA (5.86 FIP) and 1.70 WHIP while walking 38 and striking out 66. Carrasco will most likely serve as a multi-inning reliever for Cleveland for most of the year.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (shoulder) had an encouraging start in Monday's 4-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates. Gausman pitched three innings, allowing one run on three hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. The 33-year-old experienced shoulder soreness earlier in spring training, but now should avoid a stint on the injured list. His delay won't allow him to start on Opening Day, but he is lined up to start the series opener against the Houston Astros. This is great news for fantasy managers who drafted Gausman early in drafts.

San Francisco Giants left-hander Blake Snell will pitch either in Arizona or "something somewhere else" on Friday, according to manager Bob Melvin. Snell pitched three innings on Sunday and could get up to five innings later this week. Due to the late nature of his signing with the Giants during spring training, last year's National League Cy Young winner won't be ready to be in the team's Opening Day rotation. We should have a better idea of when the 31-year-old southpaw will be able to make his Giants debut once he gets stretched out a bit more. While Snell has lots of strikeout upside for fantasy managers, he led the league with 99 walks last year with the San Diego Padres and was fortunate to have a league-low 2.25 ERA, as evidenced by his 3.44 FIP. He's moving to a great pitcher's park, but fantasy managers should expect some regression.

The Chicago White Sox placed catcher Max Stassi (hip) on the 10-day injured list on Monday with left-hip inflammation and recalled catcher Korey Lee from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. The 33-year-old Stassi will be eligible to be reinstated from the injured list on April 4, so he may not end up missing much time at all. However, it's not good news for Stassi after he missed all of 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels due to a hip injury and a family matter. When healthy, Stassi will be working as the primary backup catcher in Chicago to Martin Maldonado, leaving him very little fantasy appeal in the deepest of two-catcher leagues. Stassi also doesn't have much power in his lumber at the catching position.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale finished out his spring on a high note during Monday's game against the Minnesota Twins. The left-hander struggled during his last two outings but bounced back nicely here. Sale struck out six batters over three innings of work during the shutout victory. He'll end the spring with a 3.07 ERA and a 23/5 K/BB in 14 2/3 innings. Sale is set to make his Braves debut against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. That isn't an ideal opponent for Sale but he has done enough for fantasy managers to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) will throw a two-inning live batting practice session on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park in Houston. If that session goes well, Verlander could start a rehab assignment after that, according to manager Joe Espada. The 41-year-old three-time Cy Young winner wasn't able to pitch at all in spring training due to shoulder issues that lingered this offseason. Verlander is going to begin the regular season on the injured list, and the Astros aren't going to rush the future Hall of Famer back, so we should expect him to make at least several rehab starts in the minor leagues. There's a good chance that Verlander won't make his 2024 debut until May. Verlander can still be effective when healthy, but he's no longer a fantasy ace.

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Wade Miley (groin, shoulder) will throw a simulated game on Wednesday in New York with three up-downs. If all goes well with that session, he will most likely move his rehab to Triple-A Nashville for a couple of minor-league rehab starts. Groin and shoulder injuries have limited the 37-year-old veteran southpaw during spring training, which will force him to open the year on the injured list. Miley might not be sidelined for long if he looks good in his minor-league rehab starts, but fantasy managers in mixed leagues should be looking for better upside arms for rotation depth. He has found a way to induce soft contact in his career, but with a career 7.0 K/9 mark in 13 big-league seasons, he's just not going to miss enough bats.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) is planning to start Monday's Grapefruit League finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, which would set him up to avoid the injured list and take his first turn in the starting rotation to open the regular season. Gausman threw an encouraging side session in camp on Saturday and will throw "three innings, 55 pitches and go from there" on Monday. Had he not experienced shoulder soreness earlier in spring training, he would have been the team's Opening Day starter. Barring a setback on Monday, Gausman is lined up to start the series opener against the Houston Astros. The 33-year-old is a fantasy ace when he's healthy, but the fact that he probably won't be properly stretched out early on makes him avoidable in DFS contests to begin the season.

The Atlanta Braves have signed pitcher Jesse Chavez to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. The 40-year-old journeyman spent last season in Atlanta, but was recently cut by the Chicago White Sox after a tough time in the Cactus League this spring. Despite his rough numbers with the White Sox this spring, he had a great season in 2023 with a 1.56 ERA and should have an opportunity to earn a bullpen spot with the Braves. Even with his impressive numbers in 2023, he doesn't provide much in the fantasy world and can be left on the waiver wire for now.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman tossed six innings of scoreless ball in Sunday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. He also allowed four hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Stroman finishes the spring on a high note and overall had a nice Grapefruit League for his new team with a 2.61 ERA over five starts. Stroman was an All-Star for the Chicago Cubs in 2023, but struggled in the second half both on the mound and with injuries. Despite that, Stroman appears to be healthy and should have plenty of run support with his new club in 2024. He makes for a solid middle of the rotation arm for managers in upcoming drafts.

New York Mets starting pitcher Luis Severino tossed five innings of one run ball versus the Washington Nationals in Grapefruit League action on Sunday. He also allowed four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. The 30-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Mets this offseason after being a New York Yankee for the entirety of his career. Severino had a rough go of it in 2023 with injuries and an ugly 6.65 ERA, but he has shown top tier stuff previously and owns a career 3.79 ERA. Severino has struggled with injuries as he hasn't made over 19 starts since 2018, but he has been mostly productive when on the mound. With an ADP of 298, Severino makes for an intriguing late-round target in deeper leagues. He is now 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in four starts this spring with 12 strikeouts in 14 innings.