New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that catcher Ben Rortvedt and outfielder Jahmai Jones remain in the mix for Opening Day roster spots. Austin Wells has already made the team, but the Yankees could carry Rortvedt as their third catcher to begin the season. Jose Trevino is the club's other backstop. The 26-year-old Rortvedt is out of minor-league options, so the Yankees may not want to risk losing him to another club. He hit just .118/.241/.221 with two homers in 32 games for the Yanks in 2023 and is unlikely to see much playing time in 2024 for the Bombers. Jones, 26, has looked overmatched in 36 big-league games over three seasons after he was a second-round pick by the Angels in 2015. However, he's intrigued the Yankees as a bench option this spring by hitting .286 with a home run, four RBI and a steal in 14 Grapefruit League games.

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.

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.

New York Yankees outfielder Oscar Gonzalez (face) suffered a right orbital fracture during Monday's 8-5 exhibition game loss to the Diablos Rojos, per the Athletic's Brendan Kuty. The 26-year-old was taken to the hospital after fouling a ball off his face. While manager Aaron Boone announced earlier in the day that Gonzalez had been re-assigned to minor-league camp, he had put together a strong spring, batting .326 in 46 plate appearances.

Seattle Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock will now open the 2024 season in the team's starting rotation as the fifth starter with Bryan Woo (elbow) starting the year on the injured list due to elbow inflammation. The 24-year-old Hancock, the former sixth overall pick in 2020 out of Georgia, is lined up to make his first start of 2024 next Monday in a strong matchup against the Cleveland Guardians. He made his MLB debut in 2023 and went 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA (4.09 FIP) and a 1.33 WHIP with three walks and six strikeouts in 12 innings over three starts before being shut down with a shoulder ailment. Until Hancock shows more consistency, fantasy managers in mixed leagues can probably ignore him, especially since he could only make a few starts for Seattle before being sent back to the farm.

The Athletic's Jayson Stark writes that left-hander Tyler Alexander will start either the fourth game of the regular season for the Tampa Bay Rays or serve as the bulk reliever versus the Toronto Blue Jays in a shy-away matchup. It's a sign that right-hander Jake Odorizzi (shoulder). It's his call whether he'll stay in extended spring training for the start of the regular season after missing all of 2023 while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. The 33-year-old Odorizzi didn't sign with Tampa until March 15. The 29-year-old Alexander is likely to move to Tampa's bullpen once Shane Baz (elbow) or Taj Bradley (pectoral) are able to rejoin the team's rotation. At best, Alexander will be a low-upside, matchup-based streamer in AL-only leagues to open the year.

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.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt was impressive during his outing against the New York Mets on Monday. Coming into camp there were some concerns if Schmidt would be able to keep up the high level of pitching that he showed last season. The right-hander has proven himself in camp and earned himself the fourth spot in the rotation. On Monday, Schmidt allowed one hit with six strikeouts over six innings of work. He'll be worth a look as a streaming option in mixed leagues.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz has been informed that he's made the team's Opening Day roster out of spring training. It's the first time that Ortiz has made an Opening Day roster in the big leagues. The 25-year-old will most likely operate as a utility infielder for the Brew Crew early on, with most of his playing time coming at third and second base. The former fourth-round selection by the Baltimore Orioles in 2019 out of New Mexico State made his big-league debut in 2023 and played in only 15 games, going 7-for-33 (.212) with no home runs and four RBI. Ortiz's glove is more impressive than his bat, but he will have more opportunities for plate appearances in Milwaukee's infield than he did in Baltimore.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones (knee) returned to the team's Cactus League lineup on Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers, starting in left field and batting second in the order. Jones had an injury score in spring training on Saturday when he was removed from the contest after fouling a pitch off his right knee, but he was diagnosed with only a contusion and only needed one day off. Now that the 25-year-old slugger is back on the field, he should be good to go for Opening Day this Thursday. Jones has the potential to finish his second year in Colorado as a No. 1 outfielder for fantasy managers after he slashed .297/.389/.542 with a .931 OPS, 20 home runs, 62 RBI and 20 stolen bases in just 106 games in 2023. He'll be the club's everyday left fielder and resides in one of the best hitting environments in baseball.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that it's "reasonable to say" that both closer Jordan Romano (elbow) and late-inning reliever Erik Swanson (forearm) will start the season on the injured list. The Blue Jays haven't made any official moves yet, though, because starter Kevin Gausman's (shoulder) status will play into the pitching puzzle. Ideally, Romano and Swanson are on a mound building up their arms next week. This was the way things had been trending for a while, but the good news is that both relievers could be ready to go when they are eligible to come off the IL in April. The injury to the 30-year-old Romano definitely puts a chip in his fantasy value as one of the top closers in baseball. Yimi Garcia should be considered the favorite for save chances early on in Toronto, but Chad Green could also be involved in the ninth inning.

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 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.

Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman went 1-for-2 with a three-run homer in Grapefruit League action against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. The star catcher now has three homers and eight RBI to go along with a .257 batting average this spring. Rutschman has improved in each year of his young big-league career and is coming off a 20 homer, 80 RBI campaign. In addition to his healthy power numbers, he hit a respectable .277. The 26-year-old is entrenched in the No. 1 spot behind the dish in all formats and the combination of a rare position and top tier lineup work to his advantage when considering him in upcoming drafts.

Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Davis Schneider, utility bat Daniel Vogelbach, and infielder Ernie Clement have all made the opening day roster. Schneider should see a decent amount of playing time at second base, either as a platoon with Cavan Biggio or as the outright second baseman with Biggio shifting around the diamond. Vogelbach will likely be a bench bat and could fill in at DH when Justin Turner is playing in the field or taking a day off. Clement will be a bench infielder for the club. Schneider has the most appeal in fantasy and could be worth a speculative add in deeper leagues.

The Minnesota Twins were reportedly in agreement with relief pitcher Jesse Chavez earlier on Sunday. However, the two sides have not officially agreed on a deal. It sounds like the Twins and Chavez are discussing a one-year contract, but haven't made it official. The 40-year-old is looking to pitch at least one more season in the big leagues. Whether it's the Twins or elsewhere, Chavez will likely be a middle reliever. That means, Chavez probably won't carry much fantasy value on any organization.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Bradley Zimmer has been released by the organization on Sunday. This move is unsurprising after the Rockies acquired outfielder Jake Cave this weekend. There was no more room for Zimmer on the roster despite his solid play this spring. Zimmer was hitting .378 with one home run, four RBI, and four stolen bases in 49 plate appearances in camp. The former top prospect is hopeful to bounce back elsewhere with another organization. His play this spring should earn him another chance somewhere else.

The Minnesota Twins have signed veteran reliever Jesse Chavez to a one-year big league deal and he will serve in a middle relief role or pitch in matchup-specific opportunities. It will be the 40-year-old's tenth different major league club and 17th season, which is an enviable feat in and of itself. The Twins have lost some bullpen arms recently and needed to sure it up before the season began. While Chavez has found a niche for himself over his many MLB seasons, he's not going to log many innings and isn't a power strikeout pitcher, so his usefulness for fantasy purposes is pretty much limited to leagues where Holds are counted as a category.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil has earned himself a spot in the starting rotation. The right-hander has been named the team's fifth starter on Sunday. This spring, Gil has posted a 2.87 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 23/6 K/BB ratio across 15 2/3 innings (three starts). The loss of Gerrit Cole (elbow) gave Gil a good chance at securing a spot for Opening Day. Although, Gil has earned the chance to start the year in the rotation. He's projected to pitch the fifth game of the season versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gil is looking like a solid late-round option in fantasy drafts.