The Guardians and relief pitcher Trevor Stephan agreed to a four-year extension on Wednesday. The financial details aren't public, although the deal includes two club options. The 27-year-old played in 66 games in 2022, amassing a 6-5 record with a 2.69 ERA, 82 strikeouts, and three saves (63 2/3 innings). Stephan has improved since entering the league, establishing himself as a quality reliever for the Guardians. However, the righty has a way to go before becoming a reliable fantasy option.

Chicago White Sox second baseman Romy Gonzalez could get the starting nod in right field on Opening Day on Thursday against the Houston Astros and left-hander Framber Valdez with Eloy Jimenez serving as the designated hitter. Oscar Colas is another option to get the nod with a left-hander on the hill. The 26-year-old Gonzalez hit just .222 (10-for-45) in 20 Cactus League games this spring, but he also had five home runs and 10 RBI and performed well against left-handed pitching in just 32 games played for the White Sox in 2022 in his second major-league season. Colas will be the Pale Hose's regular right fielder against right-handed pitchers to open the 2023 season.

Minnesota Twins shortstop Royce Lewis (knee) is taking live at-bats in Florida and will soon progress to baserunning. The Twins are potentially looking at getting him into game activity in mid-April. The team's second-ranked prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was put on the 60-day injured list in February while he continues to rehab from surgery to fix a torn right ACL. Although the 23-year-old could start playing in games in mid-April, he'll still need to be built up and will require a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment before the Twins even consider adding him to their major-league roster. Barring setbacks, Lewis probably won't make his 2023 big-league debut until sometime in June. The biggest question now is whether his elite speed will remain intact after his serious knee injury.

The Los Angeles Angels selected the contract of corner infielder Jake Lamb on Wednesday, so he will be on the Opening Day roster. In other moves, the Angels placed right-handers Griffin Canning (groin) and Chris Rodriguez (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to March 27. Lamb dealt with a minor left gluteus injury at the end of spring training, but he's fine now and will give the Angels an experienced left-handed bat off the bench early in 2023. The 32-year-old can fill in at both third and first base. The 26-year-old Canning is expected to miss at least the first couple weeks of the season. With him out, Tucker Davidson is expected to operate as the team's sixth starter, but he won't be needed until mid-April.

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Taylor Hearn is expected to make the team's Opening Day roster out of the bullpen after the Rangers sent John King to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday. The projected bullpen to enter the year consists of Jonathan Hernandez, closer Jose Leclerc, Will Smith, Brock Burke, Cole Ragans, Dane Dunning, Ian Kennedy and Hearn. The 28-year-old left-hander struggled this spring and had a 5.13 ERA (3.98 FIP), 1.50 WHIP, one save and a career-high 97 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched over 31 appearances (13 starts) for Texas in his fourth year in the big leagues in 2022. Hearn is expected to be a middle reliever for the Rangers this year, and he won't have much fantasy appeal whatsoever.

Tampa Bay Rays right-handers Tyler Glasnow (oblique), Shane Baz (elbow) and Shawn Armstrong (neck) are all being placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday to begin the 2023 regular season. Glasnow is dealing with a Grade 2 strain of his left oblique and is expected to miss at least the first month of the season. However, the 29-year-old starter has resumed throwing on flat ground and needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues. Health has been an issue for him, but when healthy, he has the upside of a fantasy ace. Baz had Tommy John surgery last September and won't pitch for the Rays in 2023. Armstrong doesn't have a timetable to return to the Rays bullpen after missing all of spring training due to a neck issue.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd is lined up to start the team's fourth game of the season on Monday on the road against the Houston Astros. Eduardo Rodriguez, Spencer Turnbull and Joey Wentz will start the first three games of the season in the opening series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Matt Manning will go on Tuesday against Houston. Boyd, a 32-year-old southpaw, made his return late last season after having flexor-tendon surgery on his left arm and was pretty impressive with the Seattle Mariners in a relief role. He'll be used as a starter in 2023, though, and likely workload restrictions are what will mostly keep his fantasy appeal limited.

The Philadelphia Phillies acquired outfielder Cristian Pache from the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday in exchange for right-hander Billy Sullivan. Pache, once a top prospect of the Atlanta Braves, was dealt to Philly after it was announced that he wouldn't make Oakland's Opening Day roster. The 24-year-old's glove is still way ahead of his bat, although he did hit .302 (13-for-43) with a double, two triples, eight RBI, three runs scored and a steal in 21 Cactus League games this spring. In his three major-league seasons, Pache has hit just .156 with a .439 OPS, four home runs, 22 RBI and 24 runs scored in 115 games. For now, he'll bring the Phillies some outfield depth. Pache can be ignored in single-year mixed leagues.

Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said that third baseman Yoan Moncada is good to go to play on Opening Day on Thursday against the Houston Astros and left-hander Framber Valdez. Moncada has been dealing with lower-back stiffness, but he got through a workout on Wednesday with no issues and will be in the lineup on Thursday to kick off the 2023 regular season. Like most of Chicago's players in 2022, the 27-year-old switch-hitting third baseman just wasn't able to get into any kind of a groove due to injuries. He finished with a .212/.273/.353 slash line, 12 home runs, 51 RBI and 41 runs scored in 104 games. It's hard to know what to expect from Moncada in 2023, but he should be much more productive with better health.

Miami Marlins relief pitchers Tanner Scott, Dylan Floro and A.J. Puk are "in the mix" for closing situations this year, according to manager Skip Schumaker. Floro is expected to be the favorite for saves in Miami after picking up 25 saves for the team over the last two seasons. Scott and Puk are left-handers, and Scott had a career-high 20 saves for the Fish in 2022. Both southpaws have intriguing strikeout upside and are worth speculating on for saves/holds in the back of Miami's bullpen in deeper fantasy leagues. This will probably be a frustrating situation to follow in fantasy, especially with Schumaker being a first-time manager at the big-league level in 2023. Puk was dominant in spring training but has the least closing experience of the trio.

Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks is making progress and will not be put on the 60-day injured list to open the 2023 regular season, according to general manager Rick Hahn. Hendriks is responding well to treatment while battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and has been throwing bullpen sessions at camp. Despite the positive update, there remains no timetable for the 34-year-old right-handed reliever to make his 2023 debut for the White Sox. But the fact that he won't go on the 60-day IL to begin the year means there's a chance he could return sometime in May. When healthy, Hendriks should be Chicago's primary closer, so he should be stashed in fantasy leagues. Until then, the Pale Hose could go with a committee situation that involves Kendall Graveman, Aaron Bummer, Joe Kelly, Reynaldo Lopez and Jake Diekman.

Detroit Tigers right-hander Garrett Hill has made the team's Opening Day roster, according to sources. Meanwhile, Beau Brieske (undisclosed) will likely start the 2023 regular season on the injured list. Hill didn't look very good in spring training, posting a bloated 7.11 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 12 2/3 frames, but he'll make the big-league team to begin the season anyway. The 27-year-old will likely open up the year as a long reliever out of the bullpen for Detroit, and he won't have any fantasy value to speak of. In his rookie season in 2022, Hill had a 4.03 ERA (5.15 FIP), 1.36 WHIP, 29 walks and 40 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings over 17 appearances (eight starts).

It's looking like Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Rob Zastryzny will make the team's Opening Day roster in a bullpen that also will include closer David Bednar, Wil Crowe, Colin Holderman, Duane Underwood Jr., Chase De Jong, Dauri Moreta and Jose Hernandez. Zastryzny, a 31-year-old left-hander, made the club by not allowing a run over 7 1/3 Grapefruit League innings while walking one and striking out 10 batters in six appearances. He doesn't have much major-league experience, with just 38 2/3 innings pitched over 24 outings (one start) in four seasons, but he'll be a key left-hander out of Pittsburgh's 'pen to start the 2023 campaign.

The Texas Rangers optioned left-hander John King to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday. The team also re-signed right-hander Dominic Leone to a minor-league deal and assigned him to Round Rock. Outfielder Dustin Harris' option was transferred from Round Rock to Double-A Frisco. The Rangers would like to see King work in the minors to begin the 2023 season after he posted a 5.06 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, four walks and 12 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings during the Cactus League this spring. The 28-year-old southpaw reliever has a 4.01 ERA (3.91 FIP), 1.35 WHIP and weak 17 percent strikeout rate in his three seasons with the Rangers. King is well off the fantasy radar.

Boston Red Sox left-hander James Paxton (hamstring) threw two smooth simulated innings on Wednesday with his fastball sitting at 94-96 mph, and he will either pitch in Buffalo, N.Y., or Fort Myers, Fla., on Monday as he begins a minor-league rehab assignment. Paxton strained his right hamstring in his Grapefruit League debut at spring training and will be forced to open the 2023 season on the injured list. The good news is that Paxton's arm looks fully healthy after coming off Tommy John surgery and a lat strain late last year. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw will be in Boston's rotation this year when he's healthy, and his strikeout upside makes him worth a flier. But with just six starts made since 2020 due to injuries, fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting much.

Free-agent outfielder Franchy Cordero and the New York Yankees agreed on a split major-league deal on Wednesday, according to sources. The deal will pay him $1 million in the big leagues and $180,000 in the minors in 2023. Barring another move, Cordero would be on the team's Opening Day roster. Cordero hit over .400 in Grapefruit League action for the Baltimore Orioles, but he was released on Monday and now latches on with the Yankees. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting Dominican spent last year with the Boston Red Sox, slashing .219/.300/.397 with a career-high eight home runs, 29 RBI, 36 runs scored and four steals in 84 games played. He has a career .221/.290/.386 slash line in six big-league seasons and will represent outfield depth for the Yanks this year. Cordero is probably only worth grabbing in AL-only affairs.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. got the start at first base in the Cactus League finale against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday and went 0-for-1 with a walk and a strikeout in the 3-1 win. Between the outfield and designated hitter, Gurriel should find himself in Arizona's lineup on a regular basis, and he'll also be the backup at first base behind Christian Walker. The 29-year-old lost some fantasy appeal with the move from Toronto to Arizona in an offseason trade after he hit .291/.343/.400 with a .743 OPS, five home runs, 52 RBI and 52 runs in 121 games for the Blue Jays in 2022. Wrist issues likely contributed to his big drop in power a year ago, so if he shows better health, he could rebound in a nice way as a fantasy value selection.

Texas Rangers third baseman Ezequiel Duran made the start in left field against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday in the team's Cactus League finale. Duran finished the contest 1-for-2 with a double, run scored and a walk in the 5-3 victory. The 23-year-old had a fine spring training for the Rangers, hitting .357/.390/.714 in 26 Cactus League games. He's expected to make the Opening Day roster as a utilityman off the bench for manager Bruce Bochy's squad. He has the ability to play shortstop, third base, second base and the outfield, so he gives Texas plenty of defensive versatility on top of his offensive abilities. And with Leody Taveras (oblique) starting the season on the injured list, Duran could force his way into early playing time in the outfield.

Texas Rangers left-hander Martin Perez allowed one earned run on two hits (one home run) while walking one and striking out five in five innings in his final Cactus League start on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals. Perez wraps up his spring training with a tidy 2.45 ERA, and he's scheduled to make his first start of the 2023 regular season this Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies. The 31-year-old southpaw was an All-Star for the first time in his career in his return to Texas in 2022 and had a career-best 2.89 ERA (3.26 FIP), 1.26 WHP and career-high 20.6 percent strikeout rate. Limiting home runs was the biggest factor in his surprising season, but fantasy managers would be wise to expect some regression as he heads into his 12th big-league season.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jon Gray threw four innings against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday in his final spring training outing, and he gave up two earned runs on three hits (one home run) while walking one and striking out seven in the 5-3 win. Gray wraps up his Cactus League season with a strong 1.02 ERA and will make his first start of the 2023 regular season on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles at home. The 31-year-old could never stay healthy in 2022 in his first year in Texas, but when he was actually on the mound, he was quite good. If he can stay healthier this year, he could be a nice value pick for fantasy managers.