News for Free Agent Players - 2012 5x5 NL League - $260 Cap

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Fri Mar 2909:28Kenley Jansen Records First SaveKenley JansenRPDodgersFree Agent
Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen recorded his first save of the season in Thursday's victory against the Seattle Mariners. The veteran allowed a walk, but also recorded a pair of strikeouts. Despite dealing with back issues this spring, Jansen was ready and looked good to go on Opening Day. Even at age 36, Jansen remains a solid option for managers out of the bullpen. The veteran was rumored to be on the trade block this offseason, so it would not be the worst idea for Jansen managers to consider rostering Chris Martin if the Red Sox get off to a slow start and the rumors pick back up.
Source: MLB.comRotoBaller.com
Fri Mar 2908:59Yasmani Grandal Placed On Injured ListYasmani GrandalCPadresFree Agent
The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal (foot) on the 15-day injured list with plantar fasciitis. The veteran came over from the White Sox this offseason to mentor fellow backstop Henry Davis. At age 35, Grandal is no longer the defensive specialist he once was and his offense has also started to decline. There is no timetable for his return, but he only played in two Grapefruit League games this spring and will need to shake off the rust before returning to the big leagues. Even when healthy, Grandal can be left on the wire in almost all formats. Catcher Jason Delay will take over the backup duties to Henry Davis with Grandal sidelined.
Source: Pittsburgh PiratesRotoBaller.com
Thu Mar 2816:22Clayton Kershaw "Ahead Of Things" Timetable-WiseClayton KershawSPDodgersFree Agent
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) said he is feeling good about his recovery and is out to 120 feet in long toss. Manager Dave Roberts thinks that Kershaw is also "ahead of things" timetable-wise. His next step will be throwing bullpen sessions, but it's to be determined when that will take place. The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer had left-shoulder surgery in the offseason and is starting the year on the 60-day injured list. As he nears the end of his illustrious career with the Dodgers, injuries are beginning to take their toll on Kershaw. However, the three-time Cy Young winner was effective in his 24 starts in 2023, posting a 2.46 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 40 walks and 137 strikeouts. Kershaw isn't going to be ready until sometime this summer, but if he's right, he can still be valuable in fantasy.
Source: The Los Angeles Times - Jack HarrisRotoBaller.com
Wed Mar 2709:56Freddie Freeman Finishes Spring With Fourth HomerFreddie Freeman1BBravesFree Agent
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman finished Spring Training with a 1-for-4 performance against the Los Angeles Angels. Freeman's lone hit was a solo home run. For the spring, the veteran finishes with four homers, 16 RBI and a .282 average. Although he is another year older, Freeman remains as consistent as they come. One of the safest picks this season, Freeman should once again put-up big power numbers with a healthy batting average. He remains as safe of a pick as there is entering 2024 and should have even more RBI opportunities with Shohei Ohtani joining Mookie Betts as the two batters in front of Freeman this season.
Source: MLB.comRotoBaller.com
Wed Mar 2700:36Pablo Sandoval States He Is Not RetiringPablo Sandoval3BGiantsFree Agent
San Francisco Giants corner infielder Pablo Sandoval said after Tuesday's 3-1 exhibition loss to the Athletics that he is not retiring and will report to Triple-A Sacramento if he gets the chance, per the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser. The 37-year-old veteran went 1-for-2 with a single and a strikeout, with his broken-bat hit coming in his final at-bat in the ninth inning. Sandoval batted .250 with no home runs in 28 spring at-bats and hasn't played in a big-league organization since 2021. However, he had a storied career during his time with the Giants, earning three World Series Championships, two All-Star appearances, and one World Series Most Value Player Award. Regardless of the outcome, the Panda made a lasting mark in the Giants' organization.
Source: Susan Slusser - Twitter.comRotoBaller.com
Mon Mar 2518:39Joey Votto Likely To Stay In Extended Spring TrainingJoey Votto1BRedsFree Agent
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Joey Votto (ankle) is feeling better but has still yet to resume full baseball activities in camp. He will likely stay in extended spring training when the Blue Jays open the 2024 season later this week against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 40-year-old rolled his right ankle recently in a Grapefruit League game and will not be ready for the start of the regular season, although the injury isn't considered serious. It gives Votto a chance to stay in spring training to work on his swing after signing with the club late in spring training. Once he's healthy, he'll most likely head to Triple-A Buffalo while hoping to eventually join the Blue Jays in the big leagues as a veteran bat off the bench at both first base and designated hitter.
Source: Sportsnet.ca - Arden ZwellingRotoBaller.com
Mon Mar 2518:02Wade Miley To Throw Simulated Game WednesdayWade MileySPDiamondbacksFree Agent
Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Wade Miley (groin, shoulder) will throw a simulated game on Wednesday in New York with three up-downs. If all goes well with that session, he will most likely move his rehab to Triple-A Nashville for a couple of minor-league rehab starts. Groin and shoulder injuries have limited the 37-year-old veteran southpaw during spring training, which will force him to open the year on the injured list. Miley might not be sidelined for long if he looks good in his minor-league rehab starts, but fantasy managers in mixed leagues should be looking for better upside arms for rotation depth. He has found a way to induce soft contact in his career, but with a career 7.0 K/9 mark in 13 big-league seasons, he's just not going to miss enough bats.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Curt HoggRotoBaller.com
Mon Mar 2512:51DJ LeMahieu Starting The Year On Injured ListDJ LeMahieu2BRockiesFree Agent
New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot) will start the 2024 season on the injured list, according to general manager Brian Cashman. "(It's been) a slow go on the recovery side" due to bone bruise, right foot," Cashman said. LeMahieu is dealing with inflammation and a deep bone bruise in his right foot and will have another MRI exam later this week to give the club an idea of how much progress he's made. The 35-year-old veteran might not have to miss much time, but there's also a chance his 2024 debut won't come until later in April. LeMahieu suffered the injury while fouling a ball off his foot in a spring game last week. With LeMahieu on the shelf to begin the season, Oswaldo Cabrera should operate as the Yankees' primary third baseman.
Source: The Bergen Record - Pete CalderaRotoBaller.com
Mon Mar 2512:08Anthony Rizzo Back In Action MondayAnthony Rizzo1BCubsFree Agent
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (lat) is back in the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Monday against the New York Mets, serving as the designated hitter and batting cleanup. Lat tightness caused the Yankees to scratch Rizzo as a precaution from Friday's spring training game, but he's back in there on Monday after taking the weekend off. Barring a setback, the 34-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran should be New York's starting first baseman on Opening Day on Thursday, March 28, on the road versus the Houston Astros. Fantasy managers that took Rizzo as a corner infielder in mixed leagues are hoping he can stay healthy in 2024 and carry his strong spring results into the regular season. Rizzo currently has a 1.189 OPS and two home runs in the Grapefruit League.
Source: Yes Network - Meredith MarakovitsRotoBaller.com
Mon Mar 2512:05Yasmani Grandal To Open The Year On The Injured ListYasmani GrandalCPadresFree Agent
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal (foot) and outfielder Ji Hwan Bae (hip) will open the 2024 regular season on the 10-day injured list. Grandal is dealing with plantar fasciitis and has yet to resume running in spring training, so he won't be ready for Opening Day. The good news is that the 35-year-old veteran backstop hasn't been completely shut down from baseball activities, so he could be ready to make his 2024 debut when he's eligible to return next month. With Grandal sidelined, it opens the door for Henry Davis to see full-time duties as Pittsburgh's starting catcher to begin the year. When Grandal is healthy, the Bucs plan to rotate the two behind the dish in 2024. While Grandal still has some pop from the left side, he's not much of an option in single-catcher fantasy leagues.
Source: MLB.com - Alex StumpfRotoBaller.com
Sun Mar 2417:15DJ LeMahieu A Longshot For Opening DayDJ LeMahieu2BRockiesFree Agent
New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot) is reportedly a longshot to be ready in time for Opening Day, according to manager Aaron Boone. It sounds like the veteran infielder has not progressed as quickly as the organization hoped. The 35-year-old continues to deal with a bone bruise in his right foot that could linger into Opening Day. The good news is that LeMahieu has been able to participate in baseball activities. Although, LeMahieu isn't quite ready for game action, so he could begin the season on the injured list. Oswaldo Cabrera figures to see an expanded role if LeMahieu does miss time.
Source: Bryan HochRotoBaller.com
Sat Mar 2312:09Mets Will Option J.D. Martinez To Begin The YearJ.D. MartinezLFAstrosFree Agent
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.
Source: New York Post - Mike PumaRotoBaller.com
Sat Mar 2312:05Bryce Harper Back In The Lineup SaturdayBryce HarperCF/RFNationalsFree Agent
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.
Source: Philadelphia PhilliesRotoBaller.com
Fri Mar 2218:16Anthony Rizzo "Fully Confident" He'll Be Ready For Opening DayAnthony Rizzo1BCubsFree Agent
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.
Source: Yes Network - Meredith MarakovitsRotoBaller.com
Fri Mar 2215:28Bryce Harper Hopes To Play In Grapefruit League Game SaturdayBryce HarperCF/RFNationalsFree Agent
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.
Source: The Athletic - Matt GelbRotoBaller.com
Fri Mar 2214:44Anthony Rizzo Scratched With Lat Tightness FridayAnthony Rizzo1BCubsFree Agent
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.
Source: Bryan HochRotoBaller.com
Fri Mar 2212:39J.D. Martinez Could Begin In The MinorsJ.D. MartinezLFAstrosFree Agent
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.
Source: Newsday - Tim HealeyRotoBaller.com
Fri Mar 2210:05Charlie Blackmon Having A Nice SpringCharlie BlackmonRFRockiesFree Agent
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.
Source: MLB.comRotoBaller.com
Thu Mar 2123:48Kenley Jansen Expects To Be Ready For Opening DayKenley JansenRPDodgersFree Agent
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).
Source: Boston Herald - Mac CerulloRotoBaller.com
Thu Mar 2121:37Bryce Harper Could Return FridayBryce HarperCF/RFNationalsFree Agent
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.
Source: Todd Zolecki - MLB.comRotoBaller.com
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