Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that right-hander Nick Martinez (ribs) is locked into a starting rotation spot to begin the year, along with Frankie Montas, Hunter Greene and Graham Ashcraft. The fifth spot is down to Andrew Abbott and Brandon Williamson (shoulder). Martinez has been dealing with a rib issue in camp, but he was able to throw a simulated game over the weekend and should be ready for Opening Day on March 28. The 33-year-old has started 87 of the 198 games that he's appeared in in the big leagues in six seasons, and he's been more effective in his career in a relief role. Moving back to the bullpen is still an option once lefty Nick Lodolo (leg) makes his 2024 debut, which makes Martinez more of an NL-only asset in his first year with the Reds.

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Martinez (ribs) threw a live batting practice session on Saturday. The right-hander threw three innings of a simulated game as he works his way back to full health. The plan is for Martinez to build his way back up into being a starting pitcher. The 33-year-old could end up turning into a swingman type of role depending on how the rest of the rotation shakes out in Cincinnati. At the moment, Martinez isn't a very appealing option heading into fantasy drafts. However, it sounds like the right-hander is making good progress in his recovery.

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Jose Leclerc has a strong possibility of opening the regular season as the team's closer, according to manager Bruce Bochy. The 30-year-old ended last season as the closer and appears in a good spot to keep that role. Last season, Leclerc finished with a 2.68 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, and 67 strikeouts in 57 games with the Rangers. It's worth noting that veteran right-hander David Robertson could be in the mix as well. However, Leclerc looks locked in for a majority of the save chances in Texas right now. He should be at least a top-20 closing option heading into the regular season.

St. Louis Cardinals right-handed reliever Keynan Middleton (forearm) has a forearm strain and will be shut down from throwing for at least 10 days. It means that he'll start the 2024 regular season on the injured list. The Cardinals are planning to be without him for at least a couple of weeks into the season in April. The 30-year-old signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the team last month after he pitched for both the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees in 2023, posting a decent 3.38 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, two saves and 64 strikeouts in 50 2/3 relief innings. When healthy, Middleton can be valuable in deep holds leagues as a late-inning setup man for the Cardinals alongside Andrew Kittredge and Giovanny Gallegos in front of closer Ryan Helsley.

The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed with free-agent right-hander Domingo German on a $1.5 million minor-league deal on Friday. The 31-year-old Dominican hurler tossed a no-hitter against the lowly Oakland Athletics last year while with the New York Yankees, but that was easily the highlight of his season, as he finished with a 5-7 record, 4.56 ERA (4.65 FIP) and 1.08 WHIP with 34 walks and 114 strikeouts in 108 2/3 innings pitched over his 20 appearances (19 starts) in his sixth year in pinstripes. He'll have a better opportunity with the rebuilding Pirates, but German is unlikely to be much of a fantasy asset outside of NL-only leagues if he's with the big-league roster in 2024. In his six-year career, German holds a 4.41 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 2.8 walks per nine innings and 9.4 K's per nine innings in 522 1/3 frames.

Washington Nationals first baseman/outfielder Joey Gallo will serve as the everyday first baseman for the club in the 2024 campaign. The veteran inked a one-year, $5 million deal with the Nats this offseason after spending the 2023 season with the Minnesota Twins. He hit just .177 but slugged 21 home runs in just 111 games, typical production from the 30-year-old. His 21 homers outweighed his 19 singles a season ago, and he has 198 career home runs versus 215 singles. He also sports a healthy 14.8% BB% for his career but his well-known strikeout issues have resulted in an eye-popping 37.9% career strikeout rate. If you can stomach the tiny batting average and a boatload of strikeouts, Gallo's power is worth noting in an everyday role for fantasy managers in 2024.

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Max Muncy (illness) will be on the team's charter flight to South Korea for the two-game, season-opening series against the San Diego Padres on March 20-21. Muncy said he lost 10 pounds while fighting a non-COVID virus in the last week, but he's apparently feeling better now and will be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season. In the long run, Muncy's illness will be quickly forgotten, but DFS gamers may want to avoid Muncy in their lineups to open the season if he's still recovering. The 33-year-old left-handed-slugging corner infielder should continue to provide plenty of home runs and RBI for fantasy managers, but he's become more of an injury risk in recent seasons and also will drain your team batting average.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder (toe) suffered a fractured left pinkie toe when he was hit by a pitch in a Grapefruit League game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. The Red Sox haven't put a timetable on Refsnyder's recovery from his fractured toe, but with Opening Day just several weeks away, the 32-year-old veteran outfielder is almost certain to begin the 2024 regular season on the 10-day injured list, at the very least. When healthy, Refsnyder will serve as outfield depth in Beantown, making him only useful for bench depth in AL-only fantasy leagues. Refsnyder's injury to begin the season should open the door for young center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela to make the team's Opening Day roster, and he could be a lineup regular.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (elbow) had successful right-elbow UCL repair with internal brace on Tuesday. The procedure was performed by Dr. Jeffrey Dugas at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Giolito will miss all of the 2024 season as a result, but it's still considered good news overall, as he was able to avoid having the second Tommy John surgery of his career. If everything goes well with his recovery this year and into next offseason, the 29-year-old could have a shot to be ready for Opening Day in 2025 for the BoSox. Giolito was hoping to rebound from a rocky 2023 campaign that saw him pitch for three different teams (White Sox, Angels, Reds), but that will now have to wait until 2025.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's Cactus League victory against the rival San Francisco Giants. Hernandez has been off to a hot start this spring with his third club in three seasons. The 31-year-old is now hitting .414 with one homer and four RBI over 29 at-bats. Apart from a shortened 2020 season, Hernandez hasn't hit less than 22 homeruns since 2018. With the Dodgers huge offseason, his signing may have flown under the radar, but managers should not forget to consider the outfielder as a solid OF2/3 option in mixed leagues.

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Max Muncy and shortstop Gavin Lux are both out of camp on Tuesday due to illnesses. Muncy has been out of Cactus League action for a few days and could miss another day or two while resting up. Both infielders should be feeling just fine for their two-game series in Korea against the division-rival San Diego Padres on March 20-21, though. The 33-year-old Muncy has become injury-prone in recent seasons and won't help fantasy managers with his average, but he can still produce plenty of home runs and RBI in a stacked Dodgers lineup. Lux suffered a season-ending knee injury last spring and missed all of 2023. But he's healthy now and will serve as LA's starting shortstop to open the year. The 26-year-old former first-rounder hasn't seen much success at the big-league level, but he has an opportunity to break out in 2024 if he can stay healthy.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder (toe) was hit by a pitch on his left foot in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the St. Louis Cardinals, and he said he has a crack in his small toe. It sounds like Refsnyder is dealing with a fracture in his toe, which isn't serious, but there's a good chance he won't be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season now. The 32-year-old veteran is merely a depth outfielder in Boston that will mostly be inserted into the starting lineup on occasion when the team is facing a left-handed pitcher. The former fifth-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2012 out of Arizona played in 89 games last year for the BoSox and hit .248/.365/.317 with a homer, 28 RBI and seven stolen bases. Refsnyder can be ignored in mixed fantasy leagues.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (elbow) will have surgery on his right elbow Tuesday afternoon. The extent of the ligament damage isn't known. It's possible Giolito needs Tommy John surgery but he could also require just a brace procedure. Either way, he is most assuredly out for 2024. If he requires Tommy John, it could push his start to the 2025 season back, but if it's the brace procedure, he could be ready by the time the offseason comes around. Last week it was reported the 29-year-old had a partial tear in his UCL and a flexor strain, so the news has been bleak recently. He should now be avoided by all redraft leagues. Even in dynasty leagues, it could be time to move on, as Giolito hasn't posted a respectable ERA, FIP or WHIP since 2021. His strikeout potential is what he has to hang his hat on.

The Seattle Mariners have signed free-agent relief pitcher Ryne Stanek on Sunday. The right-hander will receive a one-year $4 million deal. Stanek has bounced around a bit during his career but has been solid wherever he goes. Most notably, Stanek posted a 2.90 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 196/89 K/BB ratio over 173 2/3 innings since 2021 with the Houston Astros. The right-hander had a below-average season in 2023, but he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Stanek should immediately slide into a high-leverage role in Seattle.

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez pitched a gem before rain forced the cancellation of the Reds-Dodgers Cactus League matchup on Friday. Martinez tossed four perfect innings, allowing no hits and no walks while striking out six batters. It was a very bright spot for the Reds on a day that started very cloudy with the suspension of Noelvi Marte. Going into Friday's game, the 33-year-old had thrown five spring innings, allowing just two hits, one run (zero earned), and one walk while striking out seven. Right now Martinez is projected as the fifth starter in the Cincinnati rotation and he's stated he wants to be a starter. It appears he's making a strong case, but until that's a certainty it'd be tough to recommend him for fantasy.

Texas Rangers reliever Jose Leclerc tossed his second straight solid outing Friday versus the Kansas City Royals. The right-hander tossed a scoreless, hitless inning with two strikeouts, tossing his second straight scoreless frame in the process. Leclerc allowed two earned runs on three hits, including a homer, in just 1/3 of an inning in his spring debut on Feb. 29 but has bounced back nicely since. The 30-year-old was excellent for the second straight season in 2023, tossing a 2.68 ERA in 57 outings but he also walked 12% of the hitters he faced. He is the projected Rangers closer to open the season following the offseason departure of Will Smith. However, he won't have a long leash as the club added David Robertson this offseason while Josh Sborz and Kirby Yates could also be in the mix if Leclerc struggles out of the gate. He is a worthwhile investment with a 195.3 ADP but he is far from a sure thing.

The Seattle Mariners have signed reliever Ryne Stanek to a contract, although the financial terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed. The 32-year-old has spent the previous three seasons with the Houston Astros but will now look to lock down a bullpen spot in Seattle. The right-hander posted a 4.09 ERA across 55 appearances in Houston last season but also worked to an eye-popping 1.15 ERA across 59 outings in the 2022 season, albeit alongside peripherals that suggested the regression that took place in 2023. Nonetheless, Stanek is the owner of a career 3.45 ERA across 338 outings between the Rays, Marlins, and Astros and should be able to secure a spot with the Mariners in 2024.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi struck out five batters over three innings of work during his outing against the Milwaukee Brewers last week. He allowed just one run on two hits along the way, showing off impressive control and efficiency. The right-hander remains effective heading into his age-34 season and will look to build on a strong 2023 campaign that saw him post a 3.88 FIP, 51.0 GB%, 8.25 K/9, and 2.94 BB/9. The latest RotoBaller fantasy baseball draft rankings have Eovaldi listed 198th overall and 54th among starters.

New York Yankees right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) felt no pain in his right shoulder during a bullpen session in camp on Wednesday, but he acknowledged he's behind the other relievers and isn't likely to be included on the Opening Day roster. Kahnle's shoulder inflammation took longer to clear up in the offseason, so he started his throwing program around two weeks late. The 34-year-old also ended the 2023 campaign on the injured list due to right-shoulder inflammation. When healthy, Kahnle was a key part of New York's bullpen, recording a 2.66 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, two saves, 19 walks and 48 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings of relief. He also started last season on the 60-day IL due to biceps tendinitis, so staying healthy has been a problem for him in the last year.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (elbow) will have a second opinion on Monday from Dr. Dugas in Alabama. Manager Alex Cora said that surgery is a possibility, but the team will know more next week. Dugas is the same doctor that did Garrett Whitlock's Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old is dealing with a partially torn UCL and flexor strain in his right elbow and is probably going to be forced to miss all of the 2024 season, especially if he undergoes Tommy John surgery. It's a big blow to Boston's starting rotation before the start of the year. To say the least, fantasy managers should be avoiding Giolito in upcoming fantasy drafts. His 2023 season was a disaster, pitching for three different teams and posting a 4.88 ERA.