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.

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.

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.

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.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer against the Chicago Cubs in Thursday's Cactus League matchup. The veteran is entering his 14th season, all with Colorado and has looked good this spring with a .333 batting, two homers and six RBI in 39 at-bats. At age 37, Blackmon may have to succumb some playing time to younger players on a rebuilding Rockies team, but he can still be useful during long stretches at Coors Field. Even with a nice spring, there should be players with bigger upsides towards the end of deep league drafts.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich has been having a nice spring with two homers, five RBI and a .333 batting average in 24 Cactus League at-bats. Yelich, 32, bounced back in 2023 after some rough campaigns in 2022 and 2023 and finished with a .278 batting average that was accompanied by 19 homers, 76 RBI and 28 stolen bases. Yelich looked to be on the decline, but last year proved he still has enough juice in his bat to be productive. Despite not being the MVP-caliber player that he was in years past, Yelich should still be a useful piece for managers filling out their outfields ahead of Opening Day.

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.

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.

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.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday. After that, Gray is expected to progress to facing live hitters on Friday. The 34-year-old has already been ruled out for Opening Day. Although, Gray may be able to avoid a trip to the injured list. The Cardinals are likely going to wait and see how he feels after Friday before making any more decisions.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (shoulder) appears to be making progress in his recovery process. The right-hander was able to throw a two-inning simulated game on Wednesday without any issues. Gausman won't be ready for Opening Day as he still needs to build up his stamina and pitch count. That being said, Gausman is likely to be skipped the first and possibly the second time through the rotation. He should be ready to go by mid-April, but that all depends on his recovery.

Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said that he's experimenting with leadoff hitters, which is why third baseman Anthony Rendon was hitting first in the order in the Cactus League game on Wednesday versus the San Francisco Giants. Washington said that the team doesn't have an ideal leadoff hitter, but Rendon does have a knack for getting on base with a career on-base percentage of .367 and 11 percent walk rate in 11 big-league seasons. The 33-year-old has mostly hit third or fourth in his four years with the Angles, which have been marred by injuries. Rendon hasn't played more than 58 games in any of his four years in Anaheim, which has basically made him avoidable in all mixed fantasy leagues going into 2024.

Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Wacha has enjoyed a nice spring through his first four outings of Cactus League action. The veteran has pitched to a 3.86 ERA to this point with two of his four outings coming as the scoreless variety. He has struck out 10 against four walks in his 9 1/3 innings of work. It appears the next step for the 32-year-old will be to build up his innings after maxing out at 3 2/3 frames his last time out. Wacha joined the Royals on a two-year, $32 million deal this winter on the heels of a 2023 campaign that saw him pitch to a healthy 3.22 ERA across 24 starts with the Padres, going 14-4 in the process. However, he also posted a 4.43 SIERA, suggesting some regression for 2024 as ATC projects a 4.45 ERA across another 24 starts for him this upcoming season.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot), who is dealing with a significant bone bruise in his right foot in camp, isn't ruling out being in the starting lineup for Opening Day on March 28 against the Houston Astros. "I've had a good spring training. I've had plenty of at-bats. I'm pretty much ready," LeMahieu said. If the 35-year-old veteran isn't able to get into another Grapefruit League game before the spring schedule ends next week, there's a pretty good chance LeMahieu won't be in the Yankees' Opening Day lineup. When healthy, he's expected to be the team's leadoff hitter and everyday third baseman in 2024. If he's not ready to go for the start of the regular season late next week, Oswaldo Cabrera figures to fill in at the hot corner in the Bronx.

San Francisco Giants infielder Wilmer Flores (knee) was scratched from the team's Cactus League lineup on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels due to a little knee soreness. Flores said "it's nothing." Flores should be considered day-to-day for now and should be ready for Opening Day next Thursday versus the division-rival San Diego Padres. Despite the 32-year-old Venezuelan putting up the best offensive numbers of his career last year for the Giants -- .284 average, 23 home runs and 60 RBI in 126 games -- playing time is going to be an issue for him in 2024. Flores was a bit fortunate to put up the numbers that he did, but that doesn't take away from the fact that he hits lefties well. At worst, he should be in some sort of short-sided platoon role in San Francisco's infield.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) finished a two-inning simulated game in camp on Wednesday, throwing 36 pitches (28 strikes) to seven batters. He allowed two hits and struck out two during the session and said everything felt sound physically with his shoulder. Gausman's next step is to target 60-65 pitches over three innings in a simulated game, which will likely take place on Monday. The Blue Jays will make a call on Gausman's availability for the start of the season after his next simulated game. The 33-year-old veteran and ace of Toronto's staff has been working through right-shoulder fatigue in camp and won't start on Opening Day next week, but he may not be far behind. He should still be considered a top-10 fantasy starter.

The Texas Rangers announced on Tuesday that right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will start the team's Opening Day game on March 28 at home versus the visiting Chicago Cubs. The injury-prone Eovaldi will kick off the year as the Rangers look to defend their World Series title from last fall. The 34-year-old veteran has made the All-Star team twice in the last three years and went 12-5 with a 3.63 ERA (3.88 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP while walking 47 and striking out 132 hitters in 144 innings over his 25 starts in 2023 during the regular season. During the team's run to the World Series in the playoffs, he went 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA and 41 K's in 36 2/3 frames. Eovaldi can be a solid fantasy asset when healthy, but he's gone over 150 innings just once since the 2016 campaign.

The Oakland Athletics have named veteran left-hander Alex Wood as their Opening Day starter for March 28 versus the Cleveland Guardians. Wood doesn't have a ton of fantasy upside these days, especially while pitching for the lowly A's, but he'll make for a decent sleeper option in DFS right off the bat against Cleveland. The 33-year-old southpaw worked in a swing role for the San Francisco Giants in 2023 and went 5-5 with a 4.33 ERA (4.47 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP while walking 42 and striking out 74 in 97 2/3 innings over 29 appearances (12 starts). Durability and a lack of strikeouts make Wood one to avoid in mixed fantasy leagues, but the fact that he'll be a full-time start in Oakland this year will make him valuable in AL-only setups in 2024.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) will throw a two-inning simulated game in camp on Wednesday, according to manager John Schneider. Because of right-shoulder fatigue that he developed in spring training, Gausman will not be the team's Opening Day starter on March 28 against the Tampa Bay Rays, although he should be able to make his 2024 debut for the Jays in the middle of April, barring a setback with his arm. When healthy, the 33-year-old veteran is the ace of Toronto's pitching staff and should still be considered a top-10 fantasy arm. The former first-rounder in 2012 out of LSU by the Orioles has been an All-Star in two of the last three years and went 12-9 in 2023 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 55 walks and a league-leading 237 K's in 31 starts.

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) will be one of several of the team's pitching staff to start the 2024 season on the injured list, per the Athletic's Aaron Gleeman. Thielbar suffered a strained left hamstring early in camp and, while he progressed to throwing live batting practice last week, it was determined that the 37-year-old won't be ready in time to start the season. Thielbar had a successful 2023 season, earning 14 holds with a 3.23 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 30.0% strikeout rate in 30 2/3 innings pitched. Fantasy managers in saves-plus-holds leagues should look for additional information on a timetable for his return.