Tue Mar 19 | 00:27 | Caleb Thielbar To Start Season On Injured List | Caleb Thielbar | SP | Twins | Free Agent |
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. |
Source: Aaron Gleeman - The Athletic | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Mar 18 | 19:11 | Martin Perez Strikes Out Eight Batters | Martín Pérez | SP | Rangers | Free Agent |
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Martin Perez continued his impressive spring during Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The left-hander struck out eight batters over five innings of work during Monday's victory. It's worth noting that Perez never struck out eight hitters during a single start last season. His velocity was down during this game and he was still extremely effective. Perez has allowed one earned run in 12 innings this season. Perez probably won't be a reliable 12-team fantasy option, but could still be worth a look in deep leagues. |
Source: MLB.com | RotoBaller.com |
Mon Mar 18 | 16:36 | Justin Verlander Expected To Face Hitters "In The Next Day Or Two" | Justin Verlander | SP | Tigers | Free Agent |
Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) should face hitters "in the next day or two" in camp. Verlander came into spring training with right-shoulder issues, but he threw another bullpen session on Sunday and is ramping up with the start of the 2024 regular season right around the corner. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner is going to start the year on the injured list and might not make his 2024 debut until late April or early May. He became the first pitcher age 40 or older to win 12 games and post an ERA below 3.25 since 2013, so Verlander can clearly still be effective despite his age. However, injuries are a big concern, and his fantasy value has obviously dropped considerably in 2024 now that he could miss the first month of the season. |
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome | RotoBaller.com |
Sun Mar 17 | 12:07 | Sonny Gray Won't Be Cleared For Opening Day | Sonny Gray | RP | Athletics | Free Agent |
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) will not be cleared for Opening Day on March 28, according to manager Oliver Marmol. However, there is a possibility that Gray won't open the year on the injured list and could potentially pitch later in the first road trip of the season. With Gray out for Opening Day, right-hander Miles Mikolas will be the team's Opening Day starter on the road in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. The 34-year-old is set to throw a simulated game on Sunday after straining his right hamstring on March 4. It's a bummer that Gray won't be making the team's Opening Day start in his first season in St. Louis, but his injury might not require him to miss a start at all to open the year. After finishing second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2023, Gray makes for a high-floor No. 3 fantasy starter in 2024. |
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Mar 16 | 15:09 | Kole Calhoun Hangs Up His Cleats | Kole Calhoun | RF | Angels | Free Agent |
Free-agent outfielder Kole Calhoun has decided to retire from professional baseball. The veteran announced his retirement in a lengthy statement online after a solid 12-year run in the majors. Calhoun began to cement himself in the 2013 season when he hit .282 with eight homers in just 58 games. He went on to become the everyday right fielder for the Angels the following season when he hit .272 with 17 home runs and a .775 OPS across 127 games in the 2013 campaign. He would be an integral part of the Angels' offense for the next five seasons, launching a career-high 33 home runs in the 2019 campaign. All told, the 36-year-old posted a .242 average with 179 long balls and 34 stolen bases across 1,239 appearances in the big leagues. |
Source: Jeff Fletcher | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Mar 16 | 12:08 | Sonny Gray To Throw In Sim Game On Sunday | Sonny Gray | RP | Athletics | Free Agent |
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring), who strained his right hamstring on March 4, will pitch in a simulated pre-game situation at Roger Dean Stadium on Sunday. Hitters will stand in, but not swing. It's the next step in Gray's rehab, with the team still holding out hope that he can pitch in the season-opening series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In a worst-case scenario, the 34-year-old veteran would end up on the injured list to begin the year but would have a minimum stay and make his season debut early on in April. If he's ready to go for the first series versus the Dodgers, he'd be a fade in DFS coming off his injury. But overall, last year's runner-up to Gerrit Cole for the American League Cy Young award is a high-floor No. 3/4 fantasy starter in his first year in St. Louis. |
Source: MLB.com - John Denton | RotoBaller.com |
Sat Mar 16 | 12:03 | Max Scherzer Cleared For Baseball Activities | Max Scherzer | SP | Tigers | Free Agent |
Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer (back), who had surgery on Dec. 15 on his back for a herniated disc that shut him down late last season, has been cleared for baseball activities around the 13-week mark since surgery. June remains the target date for the Rangers, although Scherzer doesn't fully see it that way. In eight starts for Texas in 2023 after being traded from the Mets, he went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA, but he missed the final six weeks of the regular season due to a muscle strain in his right shoulder. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer isn't targeting any specific date to make his 2024 debut, and the reality is he could miss all of the first half of the season. Scherzer can still contribute in fantasy when he's healthy, but the fact that he could miss the first half drastically reduces his fantasy value in upcoming drafts. |
Source: MLB.com - Kennedi Landry | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Mar 15 | 20:42 | Jose Abreu Could Play Sunday | José Abreu | 1B | White Sox | Free Agent |
Houston Astros first baseman Jose Abreu (knee) is scheduled to do a full workout in camp on Friday and Saturday, with the goal of serving as the designated hitter in a Grapefruit League game on Sunday versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Abreu has been dealing with some minor knee soreness in camp in the last week, but the 37-year-old is fine and should return to game action soon. Given his age, Abreu is expected to see more of his at-bats at DH for the Astros in 2024 in order to keep him off his feet as much as possible. After a dreadful start to the season for Houston in the first half of last season, the Cuban slugger rebounded to hit .237/.296/.383 with 18 home runs and 90 RBI in 540 regular-season at-bats. Abreu isn't the hitter he once was with the Chicago White Sox, but he can deliver moderate power as a corner infield option in mixed fantasy leagues with plenty of RBI chances. |
Source: MLB.com - Brian McTaggart | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Mar 15 | 17:24 | Kevin Gausman Throws Without Issues | Kevin Gausman | SP | Orioles | Free Agent |
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (shoulder) was able to throw one inning of live batting practice on Friday. The right-hander threw 23 pitches during this session without any issues. Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters that Gausman looked great during the outing. The organization has not given a timetable for his return to the mound. At this point, Gausman is unlikely going to be ready for the beginning of the season. However, this issue doesn't seem to be too serious, so he should be ready relatively early in the regular season. |
Source: Hazel Mae | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Mar 15 | 13:02 | Kevin Gausman Looking Unlikely For Opening Day | Kevin Gausman | SP | Orioles | Free Agent |
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) will throw one inning of live batting practice in camp on Friday and build back up from there. It's now looking unlikely that he'll be able to start on Opening Day for the team on March 28. "We just want him to be good, and if that means 30 starts as opposed to 32, we'll be pretty happy with that," manager John Schneider said. The Blue Jays aren't going to push their 33-year-old ace back too soon just so that he can start on Opening Day. Gausman has been dealing with right-shoulder fatigue in spring training, but he's making progress now and should make his 2024 debut in mid-April, barring any setbacks as he builds back up. Both his injury and Alek Manoah's (shoulder) means that both Bowden Francis and Mitch White are likely to open the year in Toronto's rotation. |
Source: MLB.com - Keegan Matheson | RotoBaller.com |
Fri Mar 15 | 08:41 | Jake Odorizzi Returns To Rays On Minor League Deal | Jake Odorizzi | SP | Rays | Free Agent |
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times is reporting that starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi (shoulder) has returned to the Rays on a minor-league deal. Odorizzi spent 2023 recovering from shoulder surgery and last suited up in 2022 for the Atlanta Braves. The right-hander will return to familiar grounds with the club that he spent five of 11 seasons with. He does own a career 3.99 ERA, but this is merely a depth piece and he can be avoided in all fantasy formats for now. |
Source: Marc Topkin | RotoBaller.com |
Thu Mar 14 | 12:06 | Sonny Gray Could Pitch In Opening Series | Sonny Gray | RP | Athletics | Free Agent |
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) threw a full side session in camp on Thursday after straining his right hamstring on March 4. If Gray is able to clear this hurdle, it could put him on a path to pitch in the opening series of the regular season in Los Angeles against the Dodgers at the end of March. The 34-year-old's next step could either be live batting practice or to pitch in a Grapefruit League game. It's great news for those that were worried the veteran hurler might have to open his first season with the Red Birds on the injured list. The three-time All-Star was great with the Minnesota Twins last year and finished second in the American League Cy Young voting. Even though he's leaving the weak AL Central, Gray is a strong No. 2 fantasy starter in St. Louis in 2024. |
Source: MLB.com - John Denton | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Mar 13 | 17:37 | Jurickson Profar Exits Early During Wednesday's Game | Jurickson Profar | 2B/SS | Rangers | Free Agent |
San Diego Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar (leg) was forced to exit early during Wednesday's Cactus League matchup against the Oakland Athletics. The veteran slugger came up limping after rounding first base in the fourth inning. He was able to walk off the field under his own power. The expectation is that Profar will undergo further testing and an update will be given following the contest. The 31-year-old was 3-for-3 with a one home run and 4 RBI before exiting the game. The expectation is that Profar is going to be the Opening Day left fielder in San Diego. |
Source: Sammy Levitt | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Mar 13 | 17:20 | Justin Verlander Close To Facing Hitters | Justin Verlander | SP | Tigers | Free Agent |
Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (shoulder) is close to progressing to facing hitters again. Astros manager Joe Espada recently said that Verlander is slated to throw another bullpen session on Thursday. The team will wait and see how Verlander feels after that before deciding on when he'll face hitters again. The 41-year-old will open the season on the injured list, but it doesn't sound like Verlander is going to miss an extended period of time. |
Source: Matt Kawahara | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Mar 13 | 15:25 | Jose Quintana To Start Opening Day For Mets | José Quintana | SP | White Sox | Free Agent |
New York Mets left-hander Jose Quintana will officially be the team's Opening Day starter on March 28 against the Milwaukee Brewers on the road. Quintana is getting the nod to kick things off for the Metropolitans in 2024 because right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) is being forced to start the year on the injured list due to a right-shoulder injury. The 35-year-old veteran Quintana had a decent 3.57 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 60 strikeouts and 24 walks in 75 2/3 innings over his 13 starts in New York last year after getting a late start to the year due to a fractured rib. The Colombian southpaw can be a reliable innings-eater in NL-only leagues at the back of your fantasy rotation, but there's very little upside left at this stage of Quintana's career for those in mixed leagues. |
Source: New York Post - Mike Puma | RotoBaller.com |
Wed Mar 13 | 14:39 | Aaron Hicks Participates In Minor-League Game Wednesday | Aaron Hicks | LF | Twins | Free Agent |
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Aaron Hicks took part in an intrasquad game on Wednesday after he was scratched on Monday due to general soreness. Hicks landed with the Angels on a league-minimum deal this winter after he enjoyed a big season following a move to the Orioles last season. After struggling to a .188 average and .524 OPS across 28 games with the Yankees, the veteran hit .275 with seven home runs and an .806 OPS across 65 games with Baltimore a season ago. Hicks said he expects to see time at all three outfield spots this season and the plan is for him to play every day. However, the 34-year-old has a lengthy injury history on his resume as his fantasy value remains questionable given his largely subpar performance over the last few seasons. |
Source: Jeff Fletcher | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 12 | 16:37 | Mutual Interest Between Mets, J.D. Martinez | J.D. Martinez | LF | Astros | Free Agent |
The New York Mets are among the teams talking to free-agent designated hitter J.D. Martinez, and the interest is mutual, according to sources. Owner Steve Cohen has apparently given the go-ahead to seriously discuss signing Martinez, even though the team is over the so-called "Steve Cohen tax," and they'd have to pay a 110 percent tax on any new deals. Martinez would solve the team's long-running issue of not having much protection for cleanup hitter Pete Alonso. The Los Angeles Angels remain involved with the veteran slugger, too, and he's said to like the idea of going to Anaheim to join Mike Trout. Martinez is now 36, but he still managed to hit .271 with 30-plus homers in 2023, but he also struck out over 30% of the time with the Dodgers. |
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 12 | 12:52 | Jose Abreu Could Return To Game Action Soon | José Abreu | 1B | White Sox | Free Agent |
Houston Astros first baseman Jose Abreu (knee) is scheduled to hit and take groundballs in camp on Tuesday and could return to Grapefruit League games by Wednesday or Thursday, according to manager Joe Espada. The Astros have held Abreu out of games the last couple of days while he deals with right-knee soreness. It's nothing serious, though, and the 37-year-old right-handed slugger should be just fine for Opening Day on March 28. So far in spring training games, he's gone 4-for-14 in six contests for the Astros. Abreu came on strong in the second half last year after a really bad start in his first year in Houston. He's no longer in his prime, though, so fantasy managers might not be able to expect much from Abreu other than solid RBI numbers while hitting in the heart of a strong Astros lineup. |
Source: Houston Chronicle - Matt Kawahara | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 12 | 12:24 | Kevin Gausman To Throw Side Session Tuesday | Kevin Gausman | SP | Orioles | Free Agent |
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) will throw a side session in camp on Tuesday, and the team will determine his next steps afterwards. Gausman's options include a live batting practice session or straight into a Grapefruit League game. The 33-year-old has been dealing with right-shoulder fatigue in spring training but is making nice progress and could still be ready for Opening Day if he resumes facing hitters in spring games soon. When healthy, Gausman is the ace of Toronto's pitching staff and is a top-10 fantasy starting pitcher, despite residing in a hitter-friendly home ballpark and the tough American League East division. Gausman has made the All-Star squad twice in the last three years and had a league-high 237 strikeouts in 31 starts in 2023. |
Source: Sportsnet.ca - Arden Zwelling | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 12 | 00:40 | Yu Darvish To Start First Game In Seoul Series | Yu Darvish | SP | Rangers | Free Agent |
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (elbow) has been named the Opening Day starter in Seoul, Korea, against the Dodgers. Right-hander Tyler Glasnow will oppose him. The 37-year-old's 2023 season was cut short when he underwent surgery to address elbow inflammation. However, he has looked good this spring, pitching 9 1/3 innings with a 2.89 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and 10 strikeouts. Darvish's fantasy value has fluctuated over the past several seasons. Fantasy managers will be hoping he can both stay healthy and find his strikeout stuff for 2024. For DFS purposes to kick off the year, Darvish will be one to avoid. |
Source: San Diego Padres - Twitter.com | RotoBaller.com |