Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (rib) will miss the next four to six weeks due to a cracked left rib, according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman. As a result, catching prospect Drake Baldwin will have a chance to begin the 2025 regular season as the team's starting backstop. Chadwick Tromp is also on Atlanta's roster at the position, but Baldwin certainly offers much more upside offensively, both for the Braves and for fantasy managers in deeper leagues. The 30-year-old Murphy suffered the cracked rib on a hit by pitch in spring training last Friday, and he'll now be forced to open the season on the injured list. It's a tough break after the former A's catcher missed more than eight weeks of action last year after suffering an oblique strain on Opening Day. Murphy was never really able to bounce back when he returned, leaving fantasy managers now wondering if something similar will happen in 2025.

The plan is for Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve to spend most of his time this year in left field, according to manager Joe Espada. "Right now the plan is for him to play the majority of his games in left field, and the days that he plays second base opens the door for Yordan Alvarez maybe getting a start in left field, someone getting a DH day. So this move allows us to be creative and do stuff like that," Espada said. The skipper also said moving Altuve "back and forth is something that I am going to avoid." The 34-year-old veteran is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 4 fantasy second baseman, but he's also going to add outfield eligibility in fantasy leagues in 2025, making him even more valuable. Although the former MVP and nine-time All-Star was fortunate to hit .295 in 153 games last year, he still named 20 homers and 22 stolen bases.

Seattle Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco (knee) is making his Cactus League debut on Monday against the Cleveland Guardians, serving as the designated hitter and batting third. Polanco was held back early in spring training this year after having surgery to six the patellar tendon in his left knee last October. As long as he doesn't have any setbacks with his surgically-repaired knee once he resumes playing in games in spring training, the 31-year-old veteran infielder should be ready for Opening Day at the end of this month. Polanco has plenty of bounce-back potential in fantasy in 2025, but he's also a pretty big injury risk, having played in 120 games only three times since debuting in the big leagues in 2017. The switch-hitting Dominican did have 33 homers in 2021 and has intriguing power for a second baseman, but his injury history merely makes him a late-round flier in deep-mixed leagues.

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (back) is doing full baseball activities in camp on Monday, and manager Brandon Hyde expects Westburg to return to a Grapefruit League game on either Wednesday or Thursday. Westburg experienced lower-back soreness after the team's first game in spring training, causing the Orioles to shut him down as a precaution. The 26-year-old apparently has responded well to resuming baseball activities and is now ready to return to game action this week. As long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks with his back, he should be ready in plenty of time for Opening Day in late March. A healthy Westburg is expected to be Baltimore's primary third baseman in 2025 after he was a first-time All-Star in 2024 in just his second year in the majors. He hit 18 home runs and drove in 63 in just 107 games and is ranked as a top-10 fantasy third baseman at RotoBaller.

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (side) is feeling the "best he's felt" since leaving last Thursday's Grapefruit League game with right lower-side discomfort, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The skipper said that Henderson has turned a corner. With that said, expect Henderson to resume baseball activities soon and potentially get back into a spring training game by the end of this week. It's excellent news for the 23-year-old, who has become one of the best all-around players in baseball after his breakout season in 2024. RotoBaller currently has him ranked as the No. 6 overall player for fantasy drafts, behind Shohei Ohtani, Bobby Witt Jr., Aaron Judge, Elly De La Cruz and Jose Ramirez. The former second-rounder as a first-time All-Star in 2024 and slashed .281/.364/.529 with an .893 OPS, 37 home runs, 92 RBI and 21 stolen bases in 159 games played.