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.

Texas Rangers right-hander Jon Gray (neck) was scheduled to pitch on Tuesday but was scratched due to a stiff neck. He will instead throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, and it shouldn't impact his first scheduled start of the regular season, although that date has yet to be announced. Gray was able to throw eight scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and two walks in two Cactus League contests this spring, but fantasy managers have wonder if his neck injury will have an effect on how he pitches early on in the 2024 regular season. The 32-year-old veteran got off to an excellent start last year before crumbling down the stretch to eventually finish 9-8 with a 4.12 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 54 walks and 142 strikeouts in 29 regular-season starts in his second season in Texas. It's hard to expect that much from an injury-prone pitcher in Texas who has gone over 170 innings just once in his nine seasons.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Jake Odorizzi (shoulder) was scheduled to pitch in Tuesday's exhibition game at Tropicana Field against the Detroit Tigers rather than in a minor-league game on Wednesday. Odorizzi sees it as a truer test of his progress in what will be his first game pitched since Oct. of 2022 due to arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. The 33-year-old veteran signed with the Rays late in spring training this year and will begin the 2024 campaign in the minor leagues as a result. If Odorizzi doesn't have any setbacks with his shoulder, he should have a spot open for him in the rotation with both Shane Baz (elbow) and Taj Bradley (pectoral) recovering from injuries. Even in deeper fantasy leagues, managers will probably want to wait and see before trusting Odorizzi in starting lineups whenever he makes his 2024 debut.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Manuel Margot (hand) was hit by a pitch during an exhibition game on Tuesday versus the Atlanta Braves and departed early with a left-hand contusion. However, the Twins expect him to be fine for Opening Day on Thursday. The 29-year-old was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Twins this spring and is projected to open the 2024 regular season as a fourth outfielder in Minnesota, which leaves him very little fantasy value in AL-only leagues. The Dominican outfielder spent the last four seasons playing for the Tampa Bay Rays and slashed .264/.317/.375 with 19 home runs, 153 RBI, 41 stolen bases and 149 runs scored in 360 total regular-season games. You can avoid Margot in mixed fantasy leagues in 2024.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) threw two simulated innings (32 pitches) during his live batting practice session on Tuesday and sat at 92-94 mph and touched 95 mph on the stadium radar gun in his first inning at Minute Maid Park. Manager Joe Espada said on Monday that if all goes well with Verlander's session on Tuesday, his next step will be starting a minor-league rehab assignment. The 41-year-old veteran said he felt good on Tuesday and wants to build up his pitch count to 85 before making his 2024 debut for the Astros. Houston isn't going to rush the process, so fantasy managers that have Verlander stashed for rotation depth this year shouldn't be surprised if he doesn't make his season debut until May.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) has been diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder and will start the season on the injured list after colliding with teammate Jordan Walker in Monday's contest. A Cardinals official said that Carlson's absence will be weeks, "not a matter of months." St. Louis' outfield is a mess to begin the year, with Carlson joining Tommy Edman (wrist) and Lars Nootbaar (ribs) on the IL. It means that one of the team's top prospects, Victor Scott II, will now make the Opening Day roster and start in center field on Thursday versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Michael Siani has also made the Opening Day roster and could see playing time in the outfield early on with Carlson, Edman and Nootbaar sidelined.

Texas Rangers right-hander Jose Urena has made the team's Opening Day roster after inking a minor-league pact with the club this winter. The veteran has struggled mightily in recent seasons, working to a 6.45 ERA across 10 outings between the Rockies and White Sox in the 2023 season, although his 4.10 ERA in five outings with the White Sox was far superior to his 9.82 ERA in five appearances with the Rockies to begin the season. Urena's inability to miss bats has long plagued him as he sports a minuscule 15.5% K% in is career. He generates ground balls at a hearty 48.2% clip but has still surrendered a 1.24 HR/9 clip in his 199 career outings. He remains well off the fantasy radar moving forward.

Veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco has made the Cleveland Guardians' Opening Day starting rotation and is slated to make his 2024 debut on Sunday against the Oakland Athletics and right-hander Paul Blackburn. Although the 37-year-old Carrasco doesn't have much fantasy appeal these days, he could be a sneaky streamer this weekend against the A's. We'll see how Carrasco fares to open the season, but when Gavin Williams (elbow) is healthy, there's a good chance Carrasco will be bumped from the rotation. In 20 starts (90 innings) for the New York Mets in 2023, he wasn't good, going 3-8 with a 6.80 ERA (5.86 FIP) and 1.70 WHIP while walking 38 and striking out 66. Carrasco will most likely serve as a multi-inning reliever for Cleveland for most of the year.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's exhibition game in Arizona against the Chicago Cubs, but shortstop Brandon Crawford (wrist) has returned after being hit by a pitch recently. Crawford is starting at shortstop and batting eighth. Carlson injured his left shoulder in Monday's Cactus League game when he collided with teammate Jordan Walker in the outfielder, and we still don't know the severity of the injury. With Opening Day right around the corner on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Carlson may not be ready. Tommy Edman (wrist) and Lars Nootbaar (ribs) are on the injured list, so Michael Siani could be St. Louis' starting center fielder on Opening Day.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow) threw four simulated innings to Dodgers hitters before the team's exhibition game at Dodger Stadium on Monday. A rehab assignment is "close" for Buehler, but up next will be a bullpen session in two to three days. "He's been through the rehab process, facing his own hitters, the simulated games quite a bit over the last year. I think he's sort of over it," Roberts said. The 29-year-old missed all of last year while recovering from Tommy John surgery and will begin the 2024 campaign on the injured list. While the Dodgers are going to bring Buehler along slowly in the first half so they won't have to limit his innings down the stretch, he deserves to be stashed in all fantasy leagues and could be a difference-maker for managers once he's fully healthy.

The New York Mets released first baseman Luke Voit on Tuesday after he had just a .455 OPS in 14 Grapefruit League games this spring. It was announced on Monday that Voit wouldn't make the Mets' Opening Day roster, and now he'll be looking for a new organization to play for in 2024. The 33-year-old right-handed slugger led all of baseball in home runs in the shortened 2020 season with 22. He hit 22 home runs in 135 games in 2022 with the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals but then played in only 22 games in 2023 with the Milwaukee Brewers and hit .221 (15-for-68) with no homers and four RBI. Voit should be able to latch on with another team, but it will likely be on a minor-league contract.

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto hit his second home of the spring on Monday in a 6-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Rays. It was a long time coming, as his first homer came in his first spring game back in February. The 33-year-old is now 10-for-40 (.250) in the spring, with a double, two home runs, four RBI, six runs scored, and a stolen base. He's getting his hacks in this spring, as the 3x All-Star hasn't drawn a single walk, while he's struck out 11 times. Managers who drafted him as the second backstop off the board are counting on the power and stolen base numbers to be there this season, but with a price tag of 72 overall, it's best to grab a catcher further down the board.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and a run scored in Monday's 9-2 Grapefruit League win over the Rangers. Story's bat has caught fire of late, as he's collected at least one hit in six straight games while going 9-for-18 (.500) over that span. The two-time All-Star is now 18-for-48 (.375) in Grapefruit League action with four doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI, six runs scored, and even three stolen bases. It appears the 31-year-old is fully recovered from last season's elbow surgery as well as the neck stiffness that he experienced earlier this spring. He's not a top-12 option at SS, but with his power and ability to steal bases, he's got the upside (and momentum) to easily outperform his NFBC ADP of 173 overall.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill went yard for the second time this spring on Monday in a 9-2 Grapefruit League win over the Rangers. It was a solo shot and his only hit of the day, although he also drew a walk. O'Neill has been battling a calf injury all spring, but has played in games for three consecutive days now, so he looks like he'll be ready to go for Opening Day. The calf injury aside, the 28-year-old has had a productive spring with his new team, going 10-for-34 (.294) with two doubles, two home runs, four RBI, nine runs scored, and two stolen bases in 13 games. He's also got an encouraging 7:8 BB:K. If the former third-round draft pick can stay healthy this season, he could be a solid power-speed value pick at his NFBC ADP of 225. RotoBaller ranks him much higher, at 182 overall.

Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna hit his second home run of the spring on Monday in a 4-0 Grapefruit League win over the Twins. Ozuna had started off the spring hot but his bat had gone cold as of late, going 2-for-17 over his last six games. The 33-year-old is still hitting .306 in the spring, going 15-for-49 with two doubles, two home runs, four RBI (three of which came on Monday's HR), and four runs scored. He's got just two walks compared to 16 strikeouts which is a bit concerning, but as long as he keeps hitting home runs that can be tolerated. The Braves have their Grapefruit finale on Tuesday before opening the season Thursday against the Phillies in Philadelphia.

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected veteran catcher Tucker Barnhart's contract Monday and designated pitcher Peter Strzelecki for assignment in a corresponding move. This means that Barnhart will serve as backup to Gabriel Moreno to start the season. The 33-year-old is a two-time Gold Glove winner and can provide experience and leadership off the bench. However, he has hit just .217 this spring and has never been much of an offensive fantasy option.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (shoulder) had an encouraging start in Monday's 4-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates. Gausman pitched three innings, allowing one run on three hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. The 33-year-old experienced shoulder soreness earlier in spring training, but now should avoid a stint on the injured list. His delay won't allow him to start on Opening Day, but he is lined up to start the series opener against the Houston Astros. This is great news for fantasy managers who drafted Gausman early in drafts.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani (elbow) played catch Monday after addressing the media. It was the first reported time of him throwing a baseball since his second elbow surgery. Manager Dave Roberts said that he doesn't expect Ohtani to pitch until 2025 but said he may be able to play the field in 2024 if he can recover quickly enough. The 29-year-old should provide plenty of fantasy value with his bat only, as he is hitting .423 this spring with his new team.

San Francisco Giants left-hander Blake Snell will pitch either in Arizona or "something somewhere else" on Friday, according to manager Bob Melvin. Snell pitched three innings on Sunday and could get up to five innings later this week. Due to the late nature of his signing with the Giants during spring training, last year's National League Cy Young winner won't be ready to be in the team's Opening Day rotation. We should have a better idea of when the 31-year-old southpaw will be able to make his Giants debut once he gets stretched out a bit more. While Snell has lots of strikeout upside for fantasy managers, he led the league with 99 walks last year with the San Diego Padres and was fortunate to have a league-low 2.25 ERA, as evidenced by his 3.44 FIP. He's moving to a great pitcher's park, but fantasy managers should expect some regression.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani faced the media on Monday and said he's never bet on sports or knowingly paid any gambling debts accumulated by his long-time interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, who was fired by the Dodgers five days ago in the wake of media inquiries surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from Ohtani's bank account to a Southern Californian bookmaking operation that is under federal investigation. "Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has been telling lies," Ohtani said. "I never bet on sports or have willfully sent money to the bookmaker." Federal prosecutors and Major League Baseball are conducting investigations into the matter, but Ohtani is expected to continue to play while it all unfolds.