The Chicago Cubs designated outfielder Garrett Cooper for assignment on Tuesday, according to a source. Cooper wasn't exactly slumping at the plate, but the Cubs think he's expendable in order to bring up first base prospect Matt Mervis as another right-handed bat. The 33-year-old Cooper was hitting .270/.341/.432 with a home run, double, triple, six RBI and three runs scored in 41 trips to the plate and 12 games for the Cubs before getting DFA'd. He had walked four times and struck out 13 times. For now, Mervis is likely to see most of his time as the team's designated hitter, at least until outfielder Seiya Suzuki (oblique) is able to return from the injured list. Mervis is worth a pickup in NL-only leagues for now.

Outfielder Estevan Florial is in the starting lineup and batting seventh as the designated hitter for the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday. Florian last played on April 19 and went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run. The left-handed hitter will be facing right-handed pitcher Tanner Houck, who is starting for Boston. This season, Florial is slashing .235/.316/.500 with two home runs and four RBI in 13 games for the Guardians.

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez has been doing it all this season for Double-A Wichita. The 21-year-old outfielder has dealt with injuries the last two seasons, but looks fully recovered in his first 14 games of the season. Over that span, Rodriguez is hitting a healthy .289 with four homers, 10 RBI and eight stolen bases. He also has a shiny 1.219 OPS. Rodriguez has risen a level in each year of professional career with the Twins and held his own at each stop. The left-handed hitter has very good bat speed and strong plate discipline at such a young age and his power game is just developing as he fills out his body. The biggest flaw for the youngster has been his ability to stay healthy, but he has the future makings of a five-tool star, if everything clicks. He is a couple years away, but he should be looked at by dynasty managers and a name for redraft managers to file away for as early as next season.

The Kansas City Royals placed right-hander Jordan Lyles (personal) on the inactive list on Saturday, and the team is not disclosing the reason for his absence other than describing it as a "personal matter." There's no timeline for his return, but because of the type of inactive list Lyles was placed on, it opened a 40-man roster spot for the Royals to call up veteran right-handed reliever Tyler Duffey. Lyles has thrown five scoreless innings with three strikeouts in five appearances out of KC's bullpen during the 2024 regular season, but he hasn't pitched since April 12. With no defined role and most of his work coming in mop-up duty this year, however, the 33-year-old journeyman belongs on fantasy waiver wires while he's unavailable. There's no clear-cut fantasy beneficiary of his absence, either.

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Joey Votto (ankle) has started running more, but he's not hitting live pitching yet. There's no immediate plan for him to get into minor-league games, so until Votto resumes hitting, there's also no reason for fantasy managers to consider stashing the veteran on-base machine. After slashing .202/.314/.433 with 14 home runs and 38 RBI over 242 plate appearances (65 games) with the Cincinnati Reds a year ago, the 40-year-old former All-Star will be an option to serve as Toronto's designated hitter versus right-handed pitching when he's ultimately able to return from an ankle sprain and make his 2024 regular-season debut. Righty-mashing veteran Daniel Vogelbach will draw the occasional start as the DH, but he's only appeared in eight games for the Jays so far and isn't receiving enough at-bats to garner any fantasy interest right now.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls (hip) is taking 10 to 14 days off from baseball activities due to hip inflammation. The Rays moved Walls to the 60-day injured list over the weekend while he recovers from surgery on his right hip. There's no clear timetable for his return, with manager Kevin Cash saying on April 13 that Walls is "just not going as quick as maybe we had originally anticipated." Given the amount of time he has missed, it seems likely Walls will have to essentially recreate a progression similar to spring training whenever he gets back to game action. The 27-year-old had surgery on Oct. 27 to fix a labral tear in his right hip. He said he had been dealing with a "noticeable hip impingement" for more than a year. It would probably be a surprise if we saw Walls in the big leagues before June.

The Minnesota Twins optioned right-hander Louie Varland and catcher Jair Camargo to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday. Manager Rocco Baldelli didn't commit to Varland taking his next turn through the team's starting rotation after another subpar performance on Sunday, when he allowed four runs in just 2 2/3 innings in a loss to the Detroit Tigers. The 26-year-old former 15th-round pick in 2019 out of Concordia University has lost all four of his starts so far in 2024 and is sporting an ugly 9.18 ERA and 2.16 WHIP with nine walks and 18 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings pitched. He's already allowed six home runs in four starts after allowing 16 all of last year in a career-high 68 innings pitched. Prospect Simeon Woods Richardson is most likely to take Varland's spot in Minnesota's rotation moving forward.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Louie Varland is a candidate to be removed from the team's starting rotation after going just 2 2/3 innings while giving up four runs in a loss to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. The loss dropped Varland to 0-4 on the year with a 9.18 ERA. He was pushed into the team's rotation to begin the year due to Anthony DeSclafani's (elbow) injury, but he may not be around much longer. He's allowed six homers in just 16 2/3 innings. Manager Rocco Baldelli declined to commit to Varland taking his next scheduled turn through the rotation after Sunday's game. If the Twins do move Varland out of the rotation, Simeon Woods Richardson, who pitched well in a spot start against Detroit on April 13, is the most logical choice to take Varland's spot next weekend against the Los Angeles Angels.

Texas Rangers first baseman Jared Walsh was designated for assignment on Saturday. The move was correlated with activating Nathaniel Lowe off of the injured list. Walsh hit below league average in his early season stint, slashing .226/.317/.321 in 60 PA and has been a subpar hitter since his breakout years in 2020 and 2021. With the lefty off of the Rangers active roster, Lowe will take on the starting role at first base. Utility player Ezequiel Duran will see decreased playing time as well. Fantasy managers should only have interest in Lowe at this time.

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Daniel Duarte (elbow) has elbow surgery scheduled for May 8 with Dr. Keith Meister and will miss the rest of the 2024 season. It's an elbow issue for Duarte after he originally landed on the injured list with a triceps strain. The 27-year-old had only pitched four innings in two appearances out of Minnesota's bullpen before suffering the injury. He had allowed one earned on two hits (one homer) while walking one and striking out three in his four innings of work. Even if he avoids Tommy John surgery, there's a chance Duarte won't be ready for the start of the 2025 season. In 38 1/3 relief innings in the big leagues since making his MLB debut in 2022, Duarte has a 3.99 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, one save, 24 walks and 28 strikeouts.

The Tampa Bay Rays selected the contract of right-hander Erasmo Ramirez from Triple-A Durham on Saturday and optioned left-hander Jacob Lopez to Durham in a corresponding move. The Rays also moved infielder Taylor Walls (hip) to the 60-day injured list. Ramirez will join Tampa's bullpen for the first time in 2024 after giving up two earned runs while striking out 13 in 8 1/3 innings pitched for the Bulls on the farm. The 33-year-old is unlikely to be a fantasy asset after posting a 6.41 ERA (5.05 FIP) and 1.57 WHIP with 13 walks and 43 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings over 38 appearances (two starts) for the Rays and Washington Nationals. Ramirez has only struck out 6.8 batters per nine innings in his 12-year MLB career.

The Detroit Tigers placed infielder Gio Urshela (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a right-hamstring strain and recalled infielder Buddy Kennedy from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move. Urshela was removed from Friday night's win over the Minnesota Twins with right-hamstring tightness after running to first base and will now miss at least the next 10 days. Kennedy will provide infield depth for the Tigers in the meantime, but Matt Vierling is the most likely candidate to see most of the playing time at the hot corner in Detroit until Urshela is able to return. Vierling is at third and batting fifth on Saturday against Twins right-hander Bailey Ober. Although Urshela doesn't have a homer this year, he was hitting .298 (17-for-57) with six RBI at the time of his injury on Friday night.

New York Yankees relief pitcher Nick Burdi (elbow) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday. This is a tough blow to the Yankees bullpen that is already dealing with injuries. Burdi was pitching well as he hasn't allowed a run through 6 1/3 innings this season. The Yankees are hopeful that it'll be a minimal stint on the injured list for Burdi. In a corresponding move, right-hander Cody Morris has been recalled from Triple-A to take the spot on the active roster.

The Boston Red Sox announced on Thursday that they acquired right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations and optioned him to Triple-A Worcester. In a corresponding move, the team moved shortstop Trevor Story (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list. Gutierrez started the year with the Miami Marlins but was claimed off waivers earlier this month by Milwaukee. The 28-year-old Cuban hurler gave up three earned runs on three hits (one home run) while walking two and striking out four in his only major-league outing this year in a four-inning relief appearance in Milwaukee. Gutierrez has experience out of the bullpen and as a starter in his two previous major-league seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and will provide pitching depth in Boston now.

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Tyler Alexander will make the start on Friday for the series opener in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. Alexander has appeared in three games so far this year for the Rays, with one of those three outings coming as a traditional start on April 6 against the Colorado Rockies, when he allowed four earned runs on eight hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out four in 4 1/3 innings for a no-decision. The 29-year-old southpaw has fanned 12 and walked five in 15 1/3 total innings, but the most concerning issue is that Alexander has already allowed five home runs and 11 earned runs on 20 hits for a 6.46 ERA and 1.63 WHIP. Fantasy managers should absolutely ignore Alexander as a spot starter on Friday in the Bronx.

It was announced on Wednesday night that Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson (elbow) would miss the rest of the 2024 season, and now we know why. The Angels revealed on Thursday that Stephenson will undergo elbow surgery, although the exact nature of the elbow surgery isn't known. If it's Tommy John surgery, the 31-year-old probably won't be able to return until next summer at some point. The Halos signed Stephenson in the offseason hoping that he could be a strong late-inning bridge to closer Carlos Estevez, but instead, Stephenson wasn't able to appear in a single big-league game in 2024. The former 27th overall pick in 2011 by the Cincinnati Reds had one of the best cut fastballs in baseball in 2023.

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Colin Poche picked up his second save of the year in Thursday's 2-1 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Angels by tossing a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout. It wasn't perfect, though, as he did allow two hits. The 30-year-old got the save opportunity in the series finale after regular closer Pete Fairbanks tossed 28 pitches in a save attempt on Wednesday. The left-handed Pache gave up four runs in his first three outings of the 2024 campaign, but since then he hasn't given up a run in five straight appearances out of Tampa's bullpen. As long as Fairbanks and Jason Adam remain healthy, Poche isn't going to see very many save chances for the Rays.

The New York Yankees claimed outfielder Taylor Trammell off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. To make room on their 40-man roster, the Yankees designated infielder Kevin Smith for assignment. The Dodgers dumped Trammell off their 40-man roster earlier this week after going hitless with three strikeouts in six plate appearances with them over five games. The former 35th overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2016 out of high school just has not been able to figure out major-league pitching in 121 games, batting .165 (51-for-310) with 15 home runs, 39 RBI and four stolen bases. For now, he'll ride the pine in the Bronx while providing outfield depth behind Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton, Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham.

Boston Red Sox infielder Romy Gonzalez's (wrist) MRI exam came back clean, according to manager Alex Cora. The Red Sox sent Gonzalez for testing after he felt pain in his left wrist when swinging the bat on Wednesday, but the 27-year-old has dodged a bullet in terms of structural damage in his wrist. He's still on the 10-day injured list, though, and probably isn't going to be ready to return to the big-league club when he's eligible to return. Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout in his two games played with the BoSox this year before getting hurt. When healthy, he'll serve as middle-infield depth (mainly at second base) and isn't much of a fantasy asset.

Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe and outfielder Aaron Hicks will both start on the bench for Thursday's series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays. It's not surprise that O'Hoppe is out for the day game following a night game. Matt Thaiss is doing the catching and batting fifth, while Mickey Moniak is in right field and batting sixth against Rays right-hander Ryan Pepiot. Neither Thaiss nor Moniak have faced Pepiot in their careers. O'Hoppe has been very hot to start the year, going 18-for-53 (.340) with two home runs and seven RBI in his first 16 games, while Hicks has been the opposite, going 7-for-44 (.159) with a homer and four RBI in his first 13 games with the Halos. Hicks has started just one of the team's last four games and is losing fantasy value quickly in AL-only leagues.