San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said that outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. is strongly penciled in to start the 2024 season in right field, where he won a Platinum Gold Glove last year in his first season moving from shortstop to the outfield. "He's strongly penciled in to play right field, and that's the expectation for him and for us. But things always can change. So I'm not gonna close the door on anything, but at the moment there's nothing that indicates he's not going to play anything other than right field." There was some speculation that the Padres may move Tatis to center field after sending Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees in the blockbuster deal that included Juan Soto, but for now, Tatis will stick in right. On the offensive side, the 25-year-old may never get back to his pre-PED levels, but he's still an elite offensive force for his power-speed combination and should be a first-round pick in fantasy drafts.

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said that third baseman Manny Machado (elbow) "is killing his offseason." "He's been able to swing. I can tell you he's on pace to be able to be ready offensively, and he's in a really good spot and recovering well with his throwing. But we also know that we don't feel like we have to validate him going out there (at third base) the early part of spring, the first exhibition game. He's in a good spot to be ready for the start of the season." Expect the Padres to take things slow with the 31-year-old this spring, but barring any setbacks, it sounds like Machado should be ready for Opening Day. The Friars could also use Machado more at designated hitter early on to keep him fresh after he had surgery in October to fix the extensor tendon in his right elbow.

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said that pitchers Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez will come to spring training as starters behind Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish and Michael King, with Pedro Avila and Matt Waldron competing for the final spot in the starting rotation. Others to watch include Jairo Iriarte, Jay Groome and Glen Otto. Both Brito and Vasquez were acquired in the blockbuster trade this offseason that sent Juan Soto to the New York Yankees. Brito, 25, looked better in relief in the Bronx in his first MLB season in 2023 and finished with a 4.28 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 90 1/3 innings. Vasquez, 25, had a strong 2.87 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over just 37 2/3 innings in 11 games (five starts) last year but will be on the fantasy radar in deep NL-only leagues now that it looks like he'll open the season in a starting role in his new digs.

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said that right-handers Joe Musgrove (shoulder) and Yu Darvish (elbow) are "ramping up full-gear, ready to go, no limitations" heading into spring training in several weeks. "They mixed in a few hitters recently. They're recovering well, so they're ready, healthy." Musgrove made only 17 starts in 2023 after being shut down in early August due to inflammation in his right shoulder. The 31-year-old was statistically solid, as he was in his first two years with the Padres, before his injury and should be a solid No. 3 fantasy starter as long as he looks healthy in spring training. Darvish, 37, is much more of a risk after he was shut down late in August due to a bone spur in his elbow. In addition to his injury, Darvish's dominance has slowly been fading in recent seasons.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitching prospect Nick Frasso (shoulder) will miss at least most of the 2024 season after undergoing labrum repair surgery on his shoulder in November. Frasso suffered the injury towards the end of the year while pitching for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 25-year-old right-hander was a former fourth-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020 out of Loyola Marymount. In 25 starts for Double-A Tulsa (21 starts) and Oklahoma City, he had a 3.77 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 31 walks and a career-high 107 strikeouts in 93 innings pitched last season. Frasso had been rising up the minor-league ranks quickly, but his shoulder injury likely assures that we won't see him make his major-league debut until late in the 2025 season, at the earliest.