The Kansas City Royals have optioned left-handed pitcher Evan Sisk to Triple-A Omaha. Sisk has yet to make his MLB debut. Last summer, the 27-year-old spent the entire campaign at the Triple-A level. He logged 57 1/3 innings to the tune of a stellar 1.57 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP. He tallied 81 punchouts and only served up 26 free passes. He did not allow a home run. This was a significant improvement compared to the 6.34 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP he held across 61 innings at the Triple-A level during the 2023 campaign. Fantasy managers should expect the southpaw to be in contention for an early-season 2025 MLB debut given the success he enjoyed at Triple-A last season. When he does get the call, he could contend for a middle-relief role in the bullpen.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Benson was competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will instead begin his 2025 campaign in the minor leagues. Benson struggled at the plate last season as he held an underwhelming .187/.274/.376 slash line with 14 home runs and 16 stolen bases. He generated a poor .268 xwOBA with a .180 xBA. This was a sharp decline when looking at the .275/.365/.498 slash line with 11 home runs and 19 stolen bases. During that campaign, Benson generated a solid 42.3 percent hard-hit rate and drew walks at an elite 12.2 percent rate. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression at Triple-A as he should be in the mix to return to the big leagues as an injury replacement. When he does get the call, he could be worth a look in deeper NL-only leagues, given his ability to hit for power and steal bases.

Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Bryan Shaw was optioned to Triple-A. Shaw joined the Reds as a non-roster invite earlier in the winter. Last season, the 37-year-old logged just four innings in the major leagues. Across this short stint, Shaw allowed four earned runs and held a 4:4 BB:K. During the 2023 campaign, Shaw logged 45 2/3 innings of work to the tune of a 4.14 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. During this season, Shaw tallied 40 punchouts with 17 walks and four saves. Across 92 2/3 career innings a the Triple-A level, Shaw has posted a 4.37 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Shaw to be in the mix to return to the majors later in the 2025 season when the Reds need additional depth in their bullpen.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/infielder Mookie Betts (illness) has been showing fatigue during team practices and could be in danger of missing the Tokyo series. Manager Dave Roberts said, "I think that we're really trying to be mindful of not just Opening Day but not putting him in harm's way." He added, " I just don't think the training staff would feel good about it" when discussing him playing during the Tokyo series. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but it appears that the coaching staff will lean on the side of caution and keep Betts sidelined for the opening series of the regular season. The 32-year-old has been dealing with this illness before they traveled to Tokyo. In addition, Betts has lost some weight due to the illness. Miguel Rojas will likely cover shortstop if he were to miss this series. Betts should continue to be viewed as a solid pick in the first round of all formats given his five category upside and elite plate discipline.

The X-rays came back negative on Athletics outfield prospect Colby Thomas (knee). Thomas exited Saturday's spring training contest early after being struck by a line drive while at third base. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but it appears that this injury is not overly serious. However, the team may keep Thomas sidelined for a few games out of precaution. Thomas is considered one of the top prospects in the Athletics system. Last season, the Mercer production opened the campaign by making his Double-A debut. Across 59 games, he held a strong .282/.340/.568 line. He was then promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas where he posted a .272/.344/.559 slash line. Fantasy managers should expect Thomas to open the 2025 campaign at Triple-A but he should be in the mix for an early-season MLB debut given his success at Triple-A last summer.