Houston Astros new third baseman Isaac Paredes could hit second for the Astros this year after going 0-for-2 with a walk out of the No. 2 spot in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Washington Nationals, according to manager Joe Espada. Second baseman/outfielder Jose Altuve will hit in his customary leadoff spot, with Paredes potentially sandwiched between Altuve and outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez. It's a great spot to be, and the Astros are hoping to utilize the 26-year-old's career .333 on-base percentage and 11 percent walk rate at the top of the order. Although Paredes hit only .223/.325/.307 with three home runs and 25 RBI in 52 games last year after being traded from the Rays to the Cubs, his move to Houston is viewed as a plus for his fantasy value in 2025, especially if he's hitting second regularly. He's RotoBaller's No. 15-ranked fantasy third baseman.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (hamstring) was scratched from Monday's lineup with right hamstring tightness. Maddie Lee of The Sun Times noted that this is a precautionary move. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status during the week in case this injury begins to linger. The former top prospect received his first full look at the majors last season and is expected to be the team's everyday center fielder in 2025. After a slow start in the first half where the 22-year-old posted a .203/.253/.329 line, Crow-Armstrong flipped the script in the second half as he held a much-higher .262/.310/.425 line. Across 123 contests, he swiped an impressive 27 bags and placed in the 99th percentile in sprint speed. Even if his bat needs more time to adjust to the major leagues, his elite speed makes him a viable No. 3/No. 4 OF in category formats.

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (knee) is dealing with soreness in his right knee. Nimmo has not been in the lineup since Friday but is expected to be cleared to return on Tuesday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but this injury does not seem to be overly serious. Manager Carlos Mendoza noted that it is of "low level of concern." Nimmo has been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot and another lower-body injury could potentially impact his play during the 2025 season. However, if he is able to return to form during spring training, fantasy managers should not be concerned. Last season, the 31-year-old held a .224/.324/.399 slash line with 23 home runs and 15 stolen bases. This was a significant drop from the .274/.363/.466 slash line with 24 long balls he hit during the 2023 season. When healthy, Nimmo should be the everyday left fielder in New York and bat in the top half of a potent lineup that is welcoming Juan Soto.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (back) is considered day-to-day in camp, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Back tightness caused the Diamondbacks to pull Carroll from Sunday's Cactus League game against the Texas Rangers. The 24-year-old isn't very concerned about the injury, so it sounds as though he could be back in spring action later this week, barring a setback. Before his back tightened up, Carroll has gone 6-for-12 early in Cactus League play with three long balls and two stolen bases. For now, fantasy managers should have no hesitation about taking him as a top-five fantasy outfielder in drafts. He's currently ranked as the No. 2 fantasy outfielder at RotoBaller, behind only Aaron Judge. Carroll won the National League Rookie of the Year in 2023. Despite a near 50-point drop in average in 2024, he still had 22 homers, 74 RBI and 35 steals in 158 games.

Free-agent left-hander Jose Quintana agreed to an one-year deal worth $4-5 million with the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, sources told Francys Romero. Quintana gives the Brewers a left-handed option for their starting rotation in 2025, although it's unclear if he'll be built up enough to start the year in the Opening Day rotation. The 36-year-old veteran Colombian has 13 years of major-league experience and went 10-10 with a 3.75 ERA (4.56 FIP), 1.25 WHIP, 135 strikeouts and 63 walks in 170 1/3 innings over 31 starts in 2024 while with the New York Mets. It was his biggest workload in a season since 2019. Although it was Quintana's third straight season with an ERA below 4.00, he was helped by a .263 BABIP and 78.2 percent strand rate. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect a repeat, and Quintana's low strikeout rate gives him little upside.