
Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (illness) tossed three innings in a minor-league game on Friday after he was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start on Thursday due to a stomach bug that is going around the clubhouse. deGrom should be able to make another spring outing soon and he will be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season, although the Rangers plan to ease him in at the back end of their starting rotation. The 36-year-old two-time Cy Young winner and four-time All-Star made only three starts in 2024 while coming back from Tommy John surgery. When considering the fact that he only made six stars for Texas in 2023, it makes complete sense for the Rangers to slow-play deGrom so that he can make it through the year healthy. deGrom is an extreme risk/reward in fantasy, but if he can stay healthy, he has league-winning ace upside.


Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu (illness) will make his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves after gaining clearance from recent tests. Manager Alex Cora now thinks it's possible for Abreu to be ready for Opening Day in late March, which is a change from a week ago when the team was uncertain if he'd be ready. A gastrointestinal virus hit the 25-year-old particularly hard in camp and has prevented him from playing in any spring games until this point. However, he's feeling good enough to play this weekend and will have a few weeks to get up to speed before Opening Day. Boston could still ease Abreu into action when real games kick off as he gets his conditioning to where it needs to be. When fully healthy, Abreu is expected to see most of the time as the team's starting right fielder in 2025.


Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Perez (back) received a cortisone injection in his back. However, the team expressed optimism and expect the 25-year-old to be ready for Opening Day. Perez has been dealing with lower-back tightness over the past two weeks. Fantasy managers should monitor his status but it appears the injury is not overly serious, given Detroit's optimism. While Perez remains sidelined for the time being, Riley Greene should continue to see opportunities in center field. However, once Perez is cleared for action, he will likely have a starting role in the everyday lineup as Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) are both expected to miss Opening Day. Last summer, Perez made his MLB debut and held a .242/.300/.383 line with nine home runs and nine stolen bases across 112 contests. He will have short-term value in deeper formats while he holds a spot in the starting nine.


Cincinnati Reds catcher Jose Trevino (hand) exited Friday's spring training contest early after a foul tip hit him on his hand. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team has yet to provide information on the severity of the injury. This is also not a good sign as top catcher Tyler Stephenson (oblique) is set to begin the season on the injured list. The Reds acquired Trevino earlier in the offseason in a trade from the Yankees in exchange for Fernando Cruz and Alex Jackson. Last season in the Bronx, the 32-year-old backstop posted a .215/.288/.354 line with five doubles and eight long balls. He showed a strong eye at the plate, holding a 17.5 percent strikeout rate. If Trevino were to miss time, fantasy managers should expect Austin Wynns to operate as the No. 1 backstop.

Chicago White Sox right-handed pitching prospect Mason Adams (elbow) exited Friday's spring training contest due to elbow discomfort. The team noted that he will undergo further testing on Saturday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status. Through seven 1/3 innings in camp, Adams has tallied eight punchouts with one walk. He has allowed seven hits and four earned runs. He was unlikely to make the Opening Day roster and, given this injury, will likely open the season in the minor leagues. Last summer, the former 13th-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft spent most of his season at Double-A before making his Triple-A debut. Across 103 1/3 innings at Double-A, Adams posted a 2.44 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP. Through his short 17-inning stint at Triple-A, Adams allowed 20 hits and 11 earned runs. If he begins to turn the corner at Triple-A, he could push for an MLB debut later in the 2025 season.
