The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly working on a one-year deal worth around $12 million with free-agent starting pitcher James Paxton, per MLB.com's Theo DeRosa. The 35-year-old lefty would add some depth to a rotation that has undergone major changes this offseason. Paxton was able to make 19 starts last season with the Red Sox, going 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 24.6% strikeout rate. Injuries have been the biggest preventative of Paxton returning to fantasy relevancy. Therefore, while the Dodgers would be a great landing spot for him, fantasy managers should be wary of trusting him in the early going.

Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer (back) said he should resume working out again in around three weeks. He has cleared the critical six-week mark after having back surgery without any setbacks. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer had surgery six weeks ago to fix a herniated disc in his back. Scherzer still has a ways to go and is hoping to make his 2024 season debut around June or July, which will obviously limit his fantasy appeal in spring drafts. He was as inconsistent as ever for his fantasy managers in 2023, going a combined 13-6 with a 3.77 ERA (4.32 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 45 walks and 174 strikeouts in 152 2/3 innings (27 starts) for the Rangers and New York Mets. Scherzer's stock has fallen considerably heading into his age-40 season, and his inability to keep the ball in the park last year was also concerning.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant's first two seasons with the team have been marred by injuries, but the veteran slugger and former MVP said he's healthy and ready to turn things around in 2024. He signed a seven-year, $182 million deal in the spring of 2022 and still thinks he can be the player the Rockies were expecting. Bryant is penciled in to be the team's starting first baseman this year, although he will get at-bats as the designated hitter and could also see some time in right field. He started seven games at first base in 2023, his first time playing the position since 2021. In two seasons in Colorado, the 32-year-old has slashed .259/.378/.508 while dealing with plantar fasciitis, a bruised left heel and a broken left index finger. Bryant peaked in 2019 and hasn't been able to stay healthy in recent years, but he will retain outfield eligibility for fantasy managers in 2024 and could provide some modest power numbers if he can stay on the field while playing first base.

Atlanta Braves right-hander Charlie Morton (finger) said that his finger is fine and that he's fully healthy heading into the 2024 season. The Braves were a bit uncertain about bringing back Morton for his age-40 season, but they still went ahead and picked up his $20 million option for 2024 this offseason. Morton had a career-worst 11.6 percent walk rate in his third year with Atlanta in 2023, but he still managed to strike out 183 batters and had a decent 3.64 ERA (3.87 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP in 163 1/3 total innings over his 30 starts. Morton might have just one season left in him, but he makes for a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm for the Braves and carries more fantasy appeal while being backed by one of the best offenses in the league. He's been reliable, making at least 30 starts in each season since 2018, excluding the shortened 2020 campaign.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (knee) said he plans to be back in center field for the team in 2024 despite being limited to designated hitter duties in 2023. Buxton hasn't played center field since August of 2022 and he can't say for sure how often he'll be able to play center field in 2024. But for now, he's running three times a week, hitting at full strength and doing some outfield work. It comes after offseason surgery that included an excision of the plica in his right knee to address the pain that kept him from playing defense. The Twins are a lot more optimistic about Buxton's knee than they were heading into last spring training. The 30-year-old managed to his 17 home runs in 85 games, but his knee injury impacted his swing and he hit just .207 with a .731 OPS. Buxton said his swing feels "as close to normal as it's going to get," but he's become one of the biggest injury risks in all of baseball.