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.

The New York Mets have informed Jose Iglesias, Tomas Nido, and Luke Voit that they did not make the team's Opening Day roster. Voit signed a minor-league contract with the Mets in February but failed to latch onto the team's main roster after hitting .097 with a home run and four RBI over 31 spring at-bats. Iglesias had a solid spring, but it wasn't enough to make the team's Opening Day roster. This spring, he hit .278 with a home run and three RBI over 36 at-bats. Both Voit and Iglesias will look to latch onto another team. Neither Iglesias nor Voit will provide much fantasy value even if they sign with another club ahead of 2024 fantasy drafts.

The New York Mets will officially option designated hitter J.D. Martinez to the minor leagues to begin the 2024 regular season so that he can build up at-bats, meaning he won't be with the team to start the year for at least the first 10 days of the season. Martinez just signed with the Mets the other day and will need to see some live pitching in the minors first before the Mets are comfortable throwing him into the fire in the big leagues in 2024. When the Mets deem him ready, the 36-year-old is expected to be the team's primary designated hitter to help give All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso more protection in the lineup. Martinez had yet another 30-homer season in 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and can provide plenty of power when he's healthy, but his lack of positional eligibility in fantasy makes him less attractive.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (back) is back in the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Saturday against the New York Yankees, playing first base and batting third in the lineup. After getting seven at-bats on the back fields in camp on Friday, Harper is ready to return to spring action this weekend after dealing with a minor back injury. The 31-year-old former MVP has gone only 5-for-22 with three runs scored in Grapefruit League games this spring, but the only thing that really matters is that he'll be ready for Opening Day next Thursday. Moving to first base full time in 2024, Harper is ranked at RotoBaller as the No. 1 fantasy first baseman, behind only the Dodgers' Freddie Freeman.

Veteran third baseman Eduardo Escobar was granted his release by the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. The 35-year-old was a non-roster invitee and was a long shot to make the roster, but was hitting just .122 (5-for-41) with 17 strikeouts in 15 spring appearances. Escobar was an All-Star as recently as 2021 but has seen his Contact% fall for three consecutive seasons while his K% has increased three consecutive seasons. He may not have much left in the tank, but he does have the ability to play multiple positions and can bat from both sides of the plate, so perhaps he could latch on somewhere.

The Chicago White Sox released infielder Mike Moustakas and outfielder Kevin Pillar on Friday. Moustakas was released after slashing a weak .195/.283/.317 with a home run and two RBI in 41 Cactus League at-bats for Chicago after signing a minor-league deal with the team on Feb. 14. The 35-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran is nearing the end of his career. The three-time All-Star hit .247/.293/.392 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI in 112 games with the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Angels in his 13th big-league campaign. Pillar, who is also 35, went 11-for-44 in the Cactus League with five RBI. He hit .228/.248/.416 with nine home runs, 32 RBI and four steals in 81 games with the Atlanta Braves in 2023. Moustakas and Pillar will be looking to latch on with another team in reserve roles with the season starting next week.

After New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (lat) was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League game due to lat tightness, he said he's "fully confident I'll be in there Opening Day" and added that the decision to scratch him on Friday was a precaution. "He didn't seem too concerned with it. He said it's something he has every now and then during the season, but just wanted to be certain," manager Aaron Boone said. Fantasy managers that took the 34-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran as a power-hitting corner-infield option in mixed leagues will be hoping that Rizzo can carry over his strong spring training performance into the regular season. If Rizzo can stay healthy in 2024 after missing the last two months of 2023 with a concussion, he could be an excellent value play in fantasy.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (back) got seven at-bats on a back field in camp on Friday, hitting an opposite-field home run while also beating out an infield single. Harper was happy to see some velocity and is hoping to play first base on Saturday in a Grapefruit League game versus the New York Yankees. The 31-year-old former MVP has been out of action for the last week in spring training due to some back stiffness, but he looks to be healthy now and should be ready to go for Opening Day on March 28. Now a full-time first baseman for the Phillies, Harper is ranked as the No. 2 fantasy first baseman at RotoBaller after slashing .293/.401/.499 with a .900 OPS, 21 home runs, 72 RBI and 11 stolen bases in just 126 games in 2023 in his fifth season with the Phillies.

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (lat) was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League contest against the New York Mets due to lat tightness. Manager Aaron Boone said during the game that Rizzo came to him 20 minutes before the game and said he wanted to come out and be cautious as it's something he deals with in the regular season. The 34-year-old has been enjoying a big spring, hitting .412 with two home runs and seven walks against five strikeouts across 41 trips to the plate, good for a 1.188 OPS. The veteran endured a down 2023 season, hitting .244 with 12 home runs in an injury-shortened 99 games after suffering a concussion in a May collision with Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr.

New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez has minor-league options remaining but has way more than five years of service time, so he can consent to being sent to the minor leagues. Given the fact that Martinez probably isn't going to be ready by Opening Day next Thursday after just signing with the team on Thursday, Newsday's Tim Healey writes that it looks like the Mets will ask the veteran slugger to start the year in the minors with Triple-A Syracuse. The 36-year-old six-time All-Star bounced back in 2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .271 (117-for-432) with 33 hoe runs and 103 RBI in 113 games played, but fantasy managers may want to temper expectations for Martinez, at least early on, as he ramps back into form after not playing at all in spring training. Mark Vientos could operate as New York's primary DH until Martinez is ready to go.

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced on Friday that they released infielder Elvis Andrus. The team also optioned left-hander Andrew Saalfran and outfielder Pavin Smith to Triple-A Reno and reassigned left-hander Jose Castillo to minor-league camp. Andrus was in camp with the Diamondbacks as infield depth, mainly behind Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop, but the 35-year-old veteran will now be back on the open market with Opening Day next Thursday, March 28. Now that Andrus is gone, Jace Peterson and Emmanuel Rivera are the best bets to back up Perdomo at the 6 in 2024. Waiting in the wings in the minors at the position are Jordan Lawlar and Blaze Alexander. In 112 games with the Chicago White Sox last year, Andrus hit .251/.304/.358 with six homers, 44 RBI and 12 stolen bases.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer against the Chicago Cubs in Thursday's Cactus League matchup. The veteran is entering his 14th season, all with Colorado and has looked good this spring with a .333 batting, two homers and six RBI in 39 at-bats. At age 37, Blackmon may have to succumb some playing time to younger players on a rebuilding Rockies team, but he can still be useful during long stretches at Coors Field. Even with a nice spring, there should be players with bigger upsides towards the end of deep league drafts.

Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen (back) said he felt good in his return to Grapefruit League action on Thursday night against the Baltimore Orioles and expects to be ready for Opening Day on March 28 next Thursday. Jansen said he didn't feel good until Thursday and that he's been battling lat, shoulder and back issues throughout spring training. The 36-year-old veteran right-hander looked like his dominant self in a perfect inning of work against Baltimore, which is great news for fantasy managers that already have Jansen rostered. It was just his second appearance of the spring, though, and MLB's active leader in saves should be considered a pretty big injury risk as a No. 2 fantasy closer as he heads into his 15th big-league season (second with the Red Sox).

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (back) was hitting and fielding again on Thursday. While Harper has not played in a Grapefruit League game since March 14 because of soreness in his lower back, Thursday represented his third consecutive day of baseball activities. The 31-year-old slugger is scheduled to get at-bats at Carpenter Complex on Friday and Saturday, so he appears to be on track for Philly's Opening Day matchup versus the Atlanta Braves on March 28. There's been concern about Harper because he's had back issues in the past, although he's never been placed on the injured list because of them. This situation remains worth monitoring, but fantasy managers don't need to adjust Harper's 17 NFBC ADP at this juncture. Through 26 plate appearances this spring, the two-time National League MVP is slashing only .227/.346/.273 with one double and three runs scored but has stolen two bases in just nine games.

The New York Mets and free-agent designated hitter J.D. Martinez agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract on Thursday. After a long stay in free agency, Martinez lands in Queens one week before Opening Day to offer the Mets a formidable protection bat in their lineup behind slugging superstar Pete Alonso. The 36-year-old Martinez is a six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger and slashed a robust .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs, 27 doubles, and 103 RBI over 432 at-bats (113 games) for the Los Angeles Dodgers a year ago. He figures to immediately slot into the heart of New York's order as their everyday DH, likely taking some shine away from the fantasy appeal and RBI upside of former top prospect Francisco Alvarez in the process. Martinez's 221 NFBC ADP will rise with the move, and managers who have already drafted should make sure the veteran slugger isn't floating around waiver wires in shallow mixed leagues.

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Wade Miley (groin) was scratched from Thursday night's Cactus League appearance versus the San Francisco Giants due to groin tightness. Miley will throw a bullpen session on Thursday without the up and downs instead and might try to pitch in a spring game this weekend. He said he was going to start the 2024 season on the injured list anyway because of shoulder issues, so he figured he wouldn't push it. With Miley sidelined to begin the season, either Joe Ross or Robert Gasser will likely fill in for the Brewers' starting rotation. Even when healthy, Miley should be avoided in mixed fantasy leagues. The soft-tossing 37-year-old southpaw just doesn't offer any upside in the strikeout department, and durability is also an issue.

Boston Red Sox relievers Kenley Jansen (back) and Chris Martin (groin) are both scheduled to pitch in Thursday night's Grapefruit League game against the Baltimore Orioles. Jansen didn't make his Grapefruit League debut until last Friday due to lat tightness this spring and then was scratched from a spring appearance earlier this week due to lower-back stiffness. While Jansen is running out of time to be ready for Opening Day on March 28 next Thursday, if he can avoid anymore setbacks with his back, he could still be ready. Martin, who is probably next in line for saves in Boston if Jansen ever misses time, will be making his Grapefruit League debut on Thursday after injuring his groin in early March. Jansen is the active MLB leader in saves, but he's become extremely injury-prone.

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve reached base twice during his team's Grapefruit League contest versus the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. The veteran, fresh off a five-year contract extension, doubled to lead off the game before coming around to score on a Kyle Tucker single. He would also draw a fourth-inning walk and also struck out before departing the contest. It's been a solid, yet unspectacular spring for Altuve to this point as he's hitting .263 (10-for-38) with one homer, three doubles, and a .754 OPS across 42 trips to the plate with four walks and 10 strikeouts in that time. However, he has also stolen three bases. Altuve continues to rank as one of the best fantasy second basemen after hitting .311 with 17 homers and 14 stolen bases across just 90 games in the 2023 season. He missed significant time to begin the season after suffering a broken thumb in the World Baseball Classic in March.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) faced hitters in camp on Wednesday in a live batting practice session. Verlander looked good while throwing 20 pitches, according to manager Joe Espada. However, Verlander will not pitch in a Grapefruit League game or in the two exhibition contests at Minute Maid Park next week before Opening Day next week, which means he will need a full minor-league rehab assignment. The Astros aren't going to push the 41-year-old veteran as he continues to progress from a right-shoulder issue this spring. The nine-time All-Star appears to be making good progress, but he's going to start the season on the injured list, and it won't be a surprise if he doesn't make his 2024 debut until May.

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado went 1-for-4 with two runs, two walks and a three-run homer in Thursday's victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was the second straight game that the veteran has been the designated hitter with Tyler Wade drawing the start at third base. Machado hit .370 in the Cactus League this spring, but didn't have a homer. Not much for managers to worry as just two games and he's shown why he is one of the best in the business. The 31-year-old's .258 batting average in 2023 was his lowest since hitting .256 in 2019, but he stayed the course in the power department with 30 homers and 91 RBI. Machado is hitting cleanup in a strong Padres lineup this season and should continue to provide plenty of value out of the hot corner for managers in 2024, especially with an ADP of 42.