Fantasy Baseball Spring Training Roundup (3/21)

Spring training is a wild time for fantasy baseball players, as we see considerable overreactions to tiny sample sizes, changes in player value due to velocity jumps or drops and other big swings.

So as we head toward the start of the 2024 MLB season, we’re going to go around all the news from baseball to analyze what matters for fantasy. We aim to cover notable news, value changes or other valuable nuggets. We’ve got you covered.

2024 Fantasy Baseball Spring Training Roundup (3/21)

AL East

Tampa Bay Rays: Tyler Alexander (SP)

It’s an uphill battle for Tyler Alexander to win a rotation spot, as the Rays have been anything but conventional in their use of a traditional five-man rotation, but Alexander performed well against the Red Sox in what was more or less an audition for the rotation spot, and should provide to be a useful arm one way or another. He’s more or less free in drafts.

New York Yankees: DJ LeMahieu (2B/3B)

An injury to the already oft-injured DJ LeMahieu would be a troubling start for the Yankees overall, but might provide an opportunity for Anthony Volpe. Volpe has displayed much more acceptable contact skills this spring in comparison to his 2023 MLB debut, sacrificing some power (only a .119 ISO) for a reduced K% (down to only 20%). If LeMahieu isn’t ready to go on Opening Day (it sounds like that could legitimately be in jeopardy), it would be a huge opportunity for a new and improved Volpe to hit in front of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. If LeMahieu recovers quickly, he’d be the one with the opportunity. 

Toronto Blue Jays: Jordan Romano (RP), Erik Swanson (RP), Santiago Espinal (2B)

Not a great day to be a lockdown arm in the Blue Jays bullpen. It’s not certain if either of Jordan Romano or Erik Swanson will be able to make it back for Opening Day, and while the bright side is that they obviously don’t need to be built up to a starter’s workload, the lack of certainty about their health at this point in the spring is troubling. Yimi García would likely be next in line for Saves, with LHP Tim Mayza potentially in line for some opportunities splitting with Yimi. 

Santiago Espinal was traded to the Reds, who seem to be losing a minimum of one infielder a day to injury. Espinal was likely not going to be a factor for the Jays, but it does allow for some additional playing time for brand favorite Ernie Clement and eventually also Orelvis Martinez.

Boston Red Sox: Justin Hagenman (RP)

Justin Hagenman has been elite in a relief role this spring, striking out 8 of the 29 batters he faced and allowing only 2 hits and 1 walk in that time. He’s been reassigned to minor league camp for now, but we could eventually see him in 2024 either as a spot starter or high-leverage reliever based on how the Red Sox choose to develop him. A name for the memory bank.

AL Central

Kansas City Royals: Asa Lacy (SP)

Asa Lacy is proving to be the Shane Baz of Danie Espinos. Unlucky.

Cleveland Guardians: Chase DeLauter (OF)

The rumor is that Chase DeLauter will start the season in AA, and it isn’t without a basis in rationality. He was hurt after being drafted and has barely played professional ball, so it would make sense to give him time to continue to adjust to high-level competition. Then again, he’s faced fairly high-level competition in the spring thus far and is hitting over .500 with power. While initially not expected until late 2025, it is starting to look more realistic than not that we see him impact a playoff race in 2024. 

Detroit Tigers: Javier Báez (SS)

No link or anything, you need to go to his FanGraphs page for yourself to experience the level of dismal Javier Báez’ spring has been. Some highlights – he’s hitting under .100 with a 34% K rate. It’s pretty tough for anyone to hit this poorly through 38 PAs of spring training, let alone a seasoned veteran like Baez. The Tigers may need to look elsewhere for production this season, despite the $25 million they’ll be paying him. 

Chicago White Sox: Garrett Crochet (SP)

The transition from high-leverage reliever to maybe closer to now not just being a front-line starter but getting the Opening Day nod is quite something for Garrett Crochet. For what it’s worth, there have been stretches where Crochet has been very difficult to hit, but never built up as a starter and never multiple times through a lineup. He’s been excellent this spring, and if those results carry over even a little bit, he would become an excellent value at his mid-300s ADP.

Minnesota Twins: Jhoan Duran (RP), Byron Buxton (OF/DH), Griffin Jax (RP), Louie Varland (SP), Anthony DeSclafani (SP)

So, a lot to unpack here. Jhoan Duran is hurt, and it seems like it will be a while before he is not hurt. Don’t know exactly how long yet. Byron Buxton is hurt and it seems less severe, but this is Buxton and it is almost always more serious than you’d think with him. Anthony DeSclafani will join Duran on the IL to start the season, and the long-term prognosis is unclear as of yet for him as well. Louie Varland has had an outstanding spring up until Wednesday when he got mollywhomped by the Tigers. 

If you’re looking for good news, it is in short supply for the Twins at the moment, but one silver lining is for Griffin Jax, who ought to pick up some save opportunities with Duran on the shelf. 

AL West

Texas Rangers: Wyatt Langford (Superman)

Yeah, he homered again.

Oakland A’s: Ross Stripling

Ross Stripling looks like he we will be the A’s No. 2 starter this season and has been working on a “deathball” this spring. Could see Stripling having a good season in pitcher friendly Oakland, and if the deathball is successful could provide some ratio help even if contributing sparsely in the win category.

Houston Astros: José Urquidy (SP)

We knew José Urquidy was hurt so this isn’t breaking news or anything, but a good reminder to temper our expectations with regard to his recovery. We’ll need to follow this one a while longer. 

Los Angeles Angels: Nolan Schanuel (1B), Luis Rengifo (2B/3B/SS)

More Angels are hurt, and while these don’t look like long-term injuries, we’ll have even more to keep in mind with this dumpster fire of an Angels lineup. Yay.

NL East

New York Mets: Tylor Megill (SP)

Tylor Megill has won the fifth rotation spot, and he will break your heart.

Miami Marlins: A.J. Puk (SP)

Has anyone converted from reliever to front-line starter more at the same pace as A.J. Puk? Well, yes Garrett Crochet has, but I’m much more interested in Puk who was initially a starter and returning to his roots fairly successfully thus far in spring training. I’m excited to see what this version of Puk looks like.

Philadelphia Phillies: Orion Kerkering (RP)

Orion Kerkering has been sick all spring, and while it isn’t as big of a deal for relievers to build up their arms since the fatigue factor is so different, it also isn’t ideal. Don’t be surprised if Kerkering isn’t available for his typical high-leverage role until later in April than the rest of the bullpen. 

NL Central

Chicago Cubs: J.D. Martinez (UT)

It’s not as newsworthy as actual pieces of news, but there are rumblings that the Cubs are in pursuit of J.D. Martinez, who would be a terrific fit for a lineup that could really use some additional thump. I spoke it into existence with Blake Snell last week, and perhaps we’ll do so again here. 

Milwaukee Brewers: Jackson Chourio (Brewers)

Jackson Chourio has made the team. Rejoice, Chourio enthusiasts!

Pittsburgh Pirates: David Bednar (RP)

We are a week away from Opening Day for the Pirates and no one knows what is going on with David Bednar. Of course, this may have been part of why the Pirates decided to shell out for Aroldis Chapman, with the knowledge that Bednar might not be ready for opening day, but we don’t know this for certain just yet, and neither does the Closer Monkey. Someone, anyone, tell us what is happening!

Cincinnati Reds: Matt McLain (2B), Jake Fraley (OF)

Brutal, brutal news for Matt McLain, who is seemingly always at least a little bitten by the injury bug. This time it’s his shoulder, and something (we don’t know what) yet was found on an MRI that might require surgery. Not great! You’ll want to start making your McLain contingency plans ASAP, as usually when surgery is an option, it will at minimum mean a significant downgrade in performance if the player attempts to play through injury.

Rarely is it better news when somebody takes a foul ball to the nether regions, but that seems to be the case here for Jake Fraley. He should be alright going forward, if a little sore. 

NL West

San Diego Padres: Jackson Merrill (OF)

Not technically spring training news I guess since it occurred in a regular season game that was played in Korea and began at 3 a.m. San Diego time (good work, MLB!). However, Jackson Merrill started the game Wednesday, hitting ninth and playing CF. He didn’t get a hit, but his batted ball events were plenty encouraging. (As of the time this is being edited, he has two hits in Thursday’s game.) Show ‘em what’s up, Cross.

San Francisco Giants: Blake Snell (SP)

They actually did it this time! The best possible landing spot for Blake Snell, who lands in a home park with extremely forgiving dimensions and with the best possible defensive 3B having just been signed to gobble up all the ground balls he produces. Snell did also say he won’t be ready for opening day, not being fully built up and pitching with adrenaline the way he would have in spring. We should find out more next week about when he is expected to make his first start and how many pitches we should expect out of him in that start.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (Degenerate Gambler?)

Maybe taking Shohei Ohtani with your first-round pick at this point would show you too are quite the gambler. (Jokes!)

Colorado Rockies: Kyle Freeland (SP

The Rockies have to start someone on Opening Day, and Kyle Freeland is their huckleberry. At least he will be on the road, so the Rockies will lose more like 8-3 than 14-3. Man, the Rockies are going to be so awful this season. 

Arizona Diamondbacks: Eduardo Rodriguez (SP)

Not certain of exactly the extent of the injury yet for Eduardo Rodiguez, but this is certainly one to watch as he is slated to be a key piece of Arizona’s rotation. If he misses an extended period, we might see Tommy Henry end up with a rotation spot.