San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said that pitchers Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez will come to spring training as starters behind Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish and Michael King, with Pedro Avila and Matt Waldron competing for the final spot in the starting rotation. Others to watch include Jairo Iriarte, Jay Groome and Glen Otto. Both Brito and Vasquez were acquired in the blockbuster trade this offseason that sent Juan Soto to the New York Yankees. Brito, 25, looked better in relief in the Bronx in his first MLB season in 2023 and finished with a 4.28 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 90 1/3 innings. Vasquez, 25, had a strong 2.87 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over just 37 2/3 innings in 11 games (five starts) last year but will be on the fantasy radar in deep NL-only leagues now that it looks like he'll open the season in a starting role in his new digs.

The New York Yankees gave TBD listed as their probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Seattle Mariners, but rookie right-hander Jhony Brito is with the team on Tuesday and appears lined up to get the nod for that contest. The 25-year-old Dominican hurler has made his first 10 big-league appearances (nine starts) for the Yankees this year and has allowed 28 runs (25 earned) on 42 hits (seven homers surrendered) while walking 18 and striking out 30 in 40 1/3 innings. The Mariners have been a pretty good matchup for opposing pitchers so far in 2023, but the game is in the Bronx and Brito hasn't really inspired any fantasy managers as a streamer yet in his rookie campaign.

The New York Yankees optioned right-hander Jhony Brito to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. Brito drew the start against the Reds and was sent down to the minors following Saturday's 7-4 win over Cincinnati. He struggled on Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks while striking out six over four innings. The 25-year-old didn't factor into the decision. He owned a 5.58 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and a 30:18 K: BB across 40 1/3 innings with the Yankees in 2023. Brito will look to bounce back in the minors and could get the call to the big leagues later this season, but fantasy managers can move on from the right-hander in most league formats.

New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Jhony Brito had a terrific MLB debut on Sunday, leading the Yanks to a 6-0 win over the San Francisco Giants. Brito went 5 innings in this one, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out six. The rookie averaged 95.3 on his fastball and mixed in a changeup, sinker, curveball, and slider, all of which generated at least one swinging strike. Especially impressive was his changeup, which he threw 37%, managing 11 whiffs on 28 pitches. It was about as good a debut as you can have, and although he'll need to pitch well just to stay in the rotation, he is worth a flier just in case he can keep this up.

With New York Yankees right-hander Luis Severino (lat) likely to begin the 2023 season on the injured list with a low-grade lat strain, manager Aaron Boone said that Jhony Brito could end up being the team's fifth starter. The 25-year-old Dominican right-hander has yet to pitch in a regular season big-league game. He had a strong 2.96 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 91 strikeouts in 112 2/3 innings over 26 appearances (23 starts) in 2022 with Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The team's No. 27 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has shown a modest strikeout rate in the minors and probably won't draw much interest in the short term in mixed leagues if he does indeed open the year in the rotation. Brito throws hard, but his offspeed pitches could use more seasoning.