Tue Mar 26 | 19:44 | Miguel Sano Makes Opening Day Roster | Miguel Sanó | 1B | Twins | Free Agent |
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. |
Source: The Associated Press - Greg Beacham | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 19:30 | A's Acquire T.J. McFarland From Dodgers | T.J. McFarland | RP | Cardinals | Free Agent |
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. |
Source: Oakland A's Communications | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 19:25 | Mets Release Reliever Phil Bickford | Phil Bickford | RP | Dodgers | Free Agent |
The New York Mets released right-handed reliever Phil Bickford on Tuesday. The move comes after the Mets designated Bickford for assignment last weekend. The 28-year-old former Dodgers reliever will now be on the open market with Opening Day coming on Thursday. Bickford spent the 2023 season with both the Dodgers and Mets, pitching to a 5-5 record with a 4.95 ERA (4.46 FIP), a 1.45 WHIP, one save, 39 walks and a career-high 76 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He was originally drafted 18th overall in 2015 by the San Francisco Giants out of Southern Nevada. Bickford has a career 4.43 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with two saves and 204 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings with the Dodgers, Mets and Brewers in four MLB seasons. |
Source: Metsmerized - Mike Mayer | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 19:16 | Orioles Sign Tony Kemp | Tony Kemp | 2B | Athletics | Free Agent |
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. |
Source: The Baltimore Banner - Andy Kostka | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 19:10 | Michael Toglia, Alan Trejo Make Opening Day Roster | Alan Trejo | SS | Rockies | Free Agent |
| | | Michael Toglia | | | Free Agent |
Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black announced on Tuesday that first baseman/outfielder Michael Toglia and non-roster infielder Alan Trejo have made the Opening Day roster. In addition, right-hander Victor Vodnik made the bullpen, while outfielder Sean Bouchard has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. Toglia is a switch-hitting 24-year-old who was taken 23rd overall in 2019 out of UCLA. He showed plenty of power in the minors but hit just .163 (23-for-141) with four homers and nine RBI in 45 games for the Rockies in 2023. Toglia will have a low fantasy ceiling as a platoon option against righties in the outfield while also being a backup at first. Trejo, 27, mostly offers the Rockies defensive versatility on the infield as a bench player. He has just nine homers in 76 career games and hit .224/.284/.507 in a career-high 45 contests in Colorado in 2023. |
Source: MLB.com - Thomas Harding | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 18:59 | Jon Gray Dealing With Stiff Neck | Jon Gray | SP | Rockies | Free Agent |
Texas Rangers right-hander Jon Gray (neck) was scheduled to pitch on Tuesday but was scratched due to a stiff neck. He will instead throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, and it shouldn't impact his first scheduled start of the regular season, although that date has yet to be announced. Gray was able to throw eight scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and two walks in two Cactus League contests this spring, but fantasy managers have wonder if his neck injury will have an effect on how he pitches early on in the 2024 regular season. The 32-year-old veteran got off to an excellent start last year before crumbling down the stretch to eventually finish 9-8 with a 4.12 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 54 walks and 142 strikeouts in 29 regular-season starts in his second season in Texas. It's hard to expect that much from an injury-prone pitcher in Texas who has gone over 170 innings just once in his nine seasons. |
Source: Dallas Morning News - Evan Grant | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 17:41 | Jake Odorizzi Pitching On Tuesday | Jake Odorizzi | SP | Astros | Free Agent |
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. |
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 17:26 | Shane Baz, Taj Bradley Officially Placed On Injured List | Shane Baz | SP | Rays | Free Agent |
| | | Taj Bradley | | | Free Agent |
The Tampa Bay Rays officially placed right-handers Shane Baz (elbow) and Taj Bradley (pectoral) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, retroactive to March 25. Baz, 24, also dealt with an oblique injury in spring training as he attempts to return from Tommy John surgery in September of 2022. After not pitching at all in 2023, Baz is certainly going to be limited in what he can do for both the Rays and fantasy managers this year, and there's no specific timetable for when he might make his 2024 debut. A return at some point this summer is most likely. Bradley, 23, was diagnosed with a pectoral strain on March 13. He also doesn't have a specific timetable for a return, but he should be back before Baz. There's a lot to like about his strikeout upside, but he gave up too many homers and struggled with his command in his rookie season in 2023. |
Source: Bally Sports Florida - Ryan Bass | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 17:18 | Manuel Margot Suffers Hand Contusion Tuesday | Manuel Margot | RF | Rays | Free Agent |
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. |
Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune - Bobby Nightengale | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 16:09 | Blue Jays Leaning Toward Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Hitting Second | Vladimir Guerrero | 1B | Blue Jays | Free Agent |
Outfielder George Springer will retain his leadoff spot in the Toronto Blue Jays' batting order to open the 2024 regular season, but the team is leaning toward having first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit second, followed by shortstop Bo Bichette. "I really like the way (Guerrero) is swinging the bat," manager John Schneider said. "I think having him in between George and Bo is a good thing." Guerrero often hit third in 2023, a spot that will now be occupied by mostly Justin Turner. The 25-year-old slugger hit in the three-hole for 110 games in 2023, while batting second only twice. It's a move that probably won't have a drastic affect on Vlad Jr.'s overall numbers, although it could allow him to get more at-bats in the long run. |
Source: Toronto Sun - Rob Longley | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 16:00 | Dylan Carlson To Start On Injured List | Dylan Carlson | RF | Cardinals | Free Agent |
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) has been diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder and will start the season on the injured list after colliding with teammate Jordan Walker in Monday's contest. A Cardinals official said that Carlson's absence will be weeks, "not a matter of months." St. Louis' outfield is a mess to begin the year, with Carlson joining Tommy Edman (wrist) and Lars Nootbaar (ribs) on the IL. It means that one of the team's top prospects, Victor Scott II, will now make the Opening Day roster and start in center field on Thursday versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Michael Siani has also made the Opening Day roster and could see playing time in the outfield early on with Carlson, Edman and Nootbaar sidelined. |
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 14:54 | Jose Urena Cracks Rangers Opening Day Roster | José Ureña | SP | Tigers | Free Agent |
Texas Rangers right-hander Jose Urena has made the team's Opening Day roster after inking a minor-league pact with the club this winter. The veteran has struggled mightily in recent seasons, working to a 6.45 ERA across 10 outings between the Rockies and White Sox in the 2023 season, although his 4.10 ERA in five outings with the White Sox was far superior to his 9.82 ERA in five appearances with the Rockies to begin the season. Urena's inability to miss bats has long plagued him as he sports a minuscule 15.5% K% in is career. He generates ground balls at a hearty 48.2% clip but has still surrendered a 1.24 HR/9 clip in his 199 career outings. He remains well off the fantasy radar moving forward. |
Source: Jon Heyman | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 12:37 | Carlos Carrasco Makes Cleveland's Rotation | Carlos Carrasco | SP | Mets | Free Agent |
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. |
Source: MLB.com - Zack Meisel | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 12:32 | Dylan Carlson Not Playing Tuesday | Dylan Carlson | RF | Cardinals | Free Agent |
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's exhibition game in Arizona against the Chicago Cubs, but shortstop Brandon Crawford (wrist) has returned after being hit by a pitch recently. Crawford is starting at shortstop and batting eighth. Carlson injured his left shoulder in Monday's Cactus League game when he collided with teammate Jordan Walker in the outfielder, and we still don't know the severity of the injury. With Opening Day right around the corner on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Carlson may not be ready. Tommy Edman (wrist) and Lars Nootbaar (ribs) are on the injured list, so Michael Siani could be St. Louis' starting center fielder on Opening Day. |
Source: MLB.com - John Denton | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 12:19 | Walker Buehler Throws Four Simulated Innings | Walker Buehler | SP | Dodgers | Free Agent |
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow) threw four simulated innings to Dodgers hitters before the team's exhibition game at Dodger Stadium on Monday. A rehab assignment is "close" for Buehler, but up next will be a bullpen session in two to three days. "He's been through the rehab process, facing his own hitters, the simulated games quite a bit over the last year. I think he's sort of over it," Roberts said. The 29-year-old missed all of last year while recovering from Tommy John surgery and will begin the 2024 campaign on the injured list. While the Dodgers are going to bring Buehler along slowly in the first half so they won't have to limit his innings down the stretch, he deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues and could be a difference-maker for managers once he's fully healthy. |
Source: SB Nation - Eric Stephen | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 12:01 | Mets Release Luke Voit | Luke Voit | 1B | Yankees | Free Agent |
The New York Mets released first baseman Luke Voit on Tuesday after he had just a .455 OPS in 14 Grapefruit League games this spring. It was announced on Monday that Voit wouldn't make the Mets' Opening Day roster, and now he'll be looking for a new organization to play for in 2024. The 33-year-old right-handed slugger led all of baseball in home runs in the shortened 2020 season with 22. He hit 22 home runs in 135 games in 2022 with the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals but then played in only 22 games in 2023 with the Milwaukee Brewers and hit .221 (15-for-68) with no homers and four RBI. Voit should be able to latch on with another team, but it will likely be on a minor-league contract. |
Source: Metsmerized - Mike Mayer | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 11:30 | J.T. Realmuto Hits Second Home Run Of Spring | J.T. Realmuto | C | Phillies | Free Agent |
Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto hit his second home of the spring on Monday in a 6-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Rays. It was a long time coming, as his first homer came in his first spring game back in February. The 33-year-old is now 10-for-40 (.250) in the spring, with a double, two home runs, four RBI, six runs scored, and a stolen base. He's getting his hacks in this spring, as the 3x All-Star hasn't drawn a single walk, while he's struck out 11 times. Managers who drafted him as the second backstop off the board are counting on the power and stolen base numbers to be there this season, but with a price tag of 72 overall, it's best to grab a catcher further down the board. |
Source: ESPN | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 11:16 | Trevor Story With A Home Run, Three RBI On Monday | Trevor Story | SS | Rockies | Free Agent |
Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and a run scored in Monday's 9-2 Grapefruit League win over the Rangers. Story's bat has caught fire of late, as he's collected at least one hit in six straight games while going 9-for-18 (.500) over that span. The two-time All-Star is now 18-for-48 (.375) in Grapefruit League action with four doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI, six runs scored, and even three stolen bases. It appears the 31-year-old is fully recovered from last season's elbow surgery as well as the neck stiffness that he experienced earlier this spring. He's not a top-12 option at SS, but with his power and ability to steal bases, he's got the upside (and momentum) to easily outperform his NFBC ADP of 173 overall. |
Source: ESPN | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 10:59 | Tyler O'Neill Hits Second Spring Home Run Monday | Tyler O'Neill | LF | Cardinals | Free Agent |
Boston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill went yard for the second time this spring on Monday in a 9-2 Grapefruit League win over the Rangers. It was a solo shot and his only hit of the day, although he also drew a walk. O'Neill has been battling a calf injury all spring, but has played in games for three consecutive days now, so he looks like he'll be ready to go for Opening Day. The calf injury aside, the 28-year-old has had a productive spring with his new team, going 10-for-34 (.294) with two doubles, two home runs, four RBI, nine runs scored, and two stolen bases in 13 games. He's also got an encouraging 7:8 BB:K. If the former third-round draft pick can stay healthy this season, he could be a solid power-speed value pick at his NFBC ADP of 225. RotoBaller ranks him much higher, at 182 overall. |
Source: ESPN | RotoBaller.com |
Tue Mar 26 | 10:44 | Marcell Ozuna Goes Deep Monday, Collects Three RBI | Marcell Ozuna | LF | Braves | Free Agent |
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna hit his second home run of the spring on Monday in a 4-0 Grapefruit League win over the Twins. Ozuna had started off the spring hot but his bat had gone cold as of late, going 2-for-17 over his last six games. The 33-year-old is still hitting .306 in the spring, going 15-for-49 with two doubles, two home runs, four RBI (three of which came on Monday's HR), and four runs scored. He's got just two walks compared to 16 strikeouts which is a bit concerning, but as long as he keeps hitting home runs that can be tolerated. The Braves have their Grapefruit finale on Tuesday before opening the season Thursday against the Phillies in Philadelphia. |
Source: ESPN | RotoBaller.com |