Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli announced on the radio on Wednesday that right-hander Pablo Lopez will be the team's Opening Day starter in 2024. It's a pretty early announcement, but it speaks to the confidence the Twins have in Lopez, who made his first All-Star team in 2023 and went 11-8 with a 3.66 ERA (3.33 FIP) and 1.15 WHIP while walking 48 and striking out a career-high 234 batters in 32 starts covering a career-high 194 innings in his first year in Minnesota. The 32-year-old has now made 64 starts in the last two seasons, but he's still never gone over 200 innings in his six years in the big leagues and is still somewhat of an injury concern. Adding a sweeper to his repertoire led to a career-high 29.2% strikeout rate. Assuming he can stay healthy all year again, Lopez is a fine target as a high-end No. 2 fantasy starter.

Free-agent catcher Sandy Leon and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a minor-league deal with an invite to 2024 spring training. The veteran split the 2023 season between the Guardians and Rangers organizations, appearing in 22 games with the world-champion Rangers. He hit just .146 without zero homers, a 2.3% walk rate, and a 45.5% strikeout rate across just 44 trips to the plate in that time. Known for his defense, Leon again posted positive defensive metrics in the small sample size. A veteran of 557 big-league games, Leon is a career .208 hitter with 31 home runs and a .587 OPS across 1,729 trips to the plate. With Salvador Perez likely to get more rest behind the plate and MJ Melendez slated for full-time outfield duty, Leon could perhaps find his way to the majors but will likely serve as Triple-A mentorship and depth in 2024.

The Chicago Cubs are looking to bolster their bullpen and are showing interest in Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. It was reported earlier in the offseason that Clase is a trade candidate and that the Guardians would be willing to move the All-Star. The Cubs are likely far from the only club interested in the 25-year-old considering his immense success through parts of four MLB seasons. Clase is coming off of a 3.22 ERA across 75 outings in the 2023 season but he also posted a 1.36 ERA or better in each of the 2021 and 2022 campaigns. His 86 saves over the past two seasons are easily the most in baseball, 14 more than the Blue Jays' Jordan Romano. He also ranks first in baseball with 152 appearances over the last two seasons, seven more than second-place A.J. Minter.

The Seattle Mariners have signed free-agent pitcher Austin Voth to a one-year, $1.25 million contract. The 31-year-old worked to a 5.19 ERA across 25 relief outings with the Orioles in 2023 but elbow inflammation bothered him for much of the season and he did not pitch after Aug. 30. Voth has bounced between the rotation and bullpen in parts of six seasons in the big leagues, combining to post a 4.90 ERA across 139 career appearances, 39 of which have been starts. Voth has fared better as a starter, posting a solid 4.23 ERA across 178 2/3 innings as a starter versus a 5.89 ERA in 120 2/3 frames as a reliever. Given the Mariners' starting pitching depth, Voth is likely bullpen-bound in 2024.

Free-agent infielder/outfielder Josh VanMeter signed a minor-league deal with the New York Yankees on Wednesday, according to a source. VanMeter didn't play in the big leagues at all this past season and instead slashed a combined .209/.400/.354 with six home runs, 22 RBI and 34 runs scored in 51 total games in the Arizona Complex League and at Triple-A Nashville in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. The 28-year-old utility player made his big-league debut in 2019 with the Cincinnati Reds and has played in four seasons in the majors with three teams, hitting .206/.293/.347 with 19 home runs, 79 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 300 games. VanMeter will most likely open the year as organizational infield and outfield depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.