

Updating a previous report, Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said third baseman Junior Caminero (back) had "just a little tight back" and is "probably very day-to-day" after he was pulled early from Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Cash also added that the team doesn't expect Caminero "to miss too much time." Fantasy managers that already invested in the 21-year-old as a prime breakout candidate in 2025 can breathe a sigh of relief. Barring a setback with his back, Caminero should be fine for Opening Day later this month. Entering Thursday's game, the Dominican infielder has gone 4-for-17 (.235) with three home runs, a triple, eight RBI and four runs scored in six spring training games. He's fully expected to be Tampa's starting third baseman all year and has massive power upside.



Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward (knee) is back in Thursday's Cactus League lineup against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and is serving as the designated hitter and batting leadoff. Ward developed some knee soreness in camp earlier in the week but will be returning to the lineup for the first time since Monday after several days off. The 31-year-old veteran has only played in four Cactus League games to this point, but he's swung a hot bat, going 3-for-8 with a double, RBI and a run scored. He will be L.A.'s regular left fielder yet again in 2025 and could benefit from a fantasy perspective if Mike Trout can stay healthy all year with his move to right field. In his seventh year with the Halos in 2024, Ward had a career-high 25 home runs and 75 RBI while slashing .246/.323/.426 in 663 plate appearances to make him a top-40 fantasy outfielder.



The Cleveland Guardians re-signed Tyler Naquin to a minor-league deal on Thursday as a pitcher, according to MLB.com's Zack Meisel. The 33-year-old was originally drafted by Cleveland as an outfielder with the 15th overall pick in 2012 out of Texas A&M University, and he played in the big leagues with the organization from 2016-2020 before spending time with the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets and Chicago White Sox from 2021-23. Naquin always had a plus arm, so he will try his hand at pitching to attempt to extend his MLB career. He will turn 34 years old next month and will be a long shot to find any kind of fantasy appeal, let alone a lasting big-league roster spot as a pitcher in 2025 for the Guardians. Naquin was a .263/.316/.445 hitter with 61 homers and 237 RBI in 562 career games in his eight big-league seasons as an outfielder.


Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O'Neill (rib cage) was scratched from Thursday night's Grapefruit League contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to left rib-cage soreness. The Orioles are saying he was removed from the lineup as a precaution. It doesn't appear to be anything to really worry about, but O'Neill has missed plenty of game action this week already due to an illness. With the 29-year-old out again on Thursday, Colton Cowser will play left field and bat cleanup. O'Neill hit 31 homers in his one and only season with the Boston Red Sox a year ago, but it also came with a 33.6 percent strikeout rate. However, he also walked at a strong clip of 11.6% percent. Injuries are part of the deal if you have O'Neill rostered, as he was on the injured list three different times in 2024. He does most of his damage against lefties but should be in the lineup regularly in Baltimore in 2025. O'Neill is ranked just inside the top-50 outfielders at RotoBaller.


Tampa Bay Rays infielder Curtis Mead, who showed up to spring training in excellent shape, recorded eight hits in his first nine Grapefruit League at-bats and also went 4-for-4 with a walk in Thursday's spring contest against the Philadelphia Phillies to raise his current average to a ridiculous .778. The 24-year-old former top prospect in Tampa's system is certainly putting his best foot forward as he battles with outfielder Eloy Jimenez in camp for one of the last spots on the roster heading into the 2025 regular season. The Australian native has hit only .244 (50-for-205) with two home runs, 12 RBI and 51 strikeouts in 224 plate appearances over 62 games in his first two MLB seasons. He has yet to prove he belongs in the lineup everyday, but Mead can play both second and third base and could function as a utility infielder for the Rays in 2025.
