Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session this week at spring training. It's a notable development, as it will be the 26-year-old southpaw's first time throwing off a mound since he had Tommy John surgery last April. He isn't going to be ready to pitch in the first half of the 2024 season, but barring any setbacks along the way, Bubic should become an option for KC's starting rotation at some point in the second half. He only made three starts in 2023 before going under the knife and had a career-worst 5.58 ERA (4.78 FIP) and 1.69 WHIP with 63 walks and 110 strikeouts in 129 innings over 28 outings (27 starts) for the Royals in 2022. Fantasy managers in deep mixed leagues should take a wait-and-see approach on Bubic once he's ready to return later this year.

Free-agent reliever Amir Garrett agreed to a minor-league deal with the San Francisco Giants on Monday, according to sources. The deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training and would pay him $1.35 million if he's in the majors. The 31-year-old left-hander spent last season with the Kansas City Royals, where he posted a 3.33 ERA (5.56 FIP) and 1.73 WHIP with 20 walks and 28 strikeouts in 24 1/3 relief innings. Garrett does have an above-average 26.4 percent career strikeout rate in 325 1/3 career innings at the major-league level, but it's also come with an underwhelming 4.95 ERA (4.92 FIP) and 1.44 WHIP with eight saves over seven seasons with the Royals and Cincinnati Reds. He won't be on the fantasy radar in 2024, even if he makes San Fran's Opening Day roster.

Tampa Bay Rays rookie infielder Junior Caminero isn't expected to make the team's Opening Day roster out of spring training. Caminero made his major-league debut in 2023 as a September call-up and went 8-for-34 (.235) with a home run and seven RBI in just seven games played. This news makes sense, considering the fact that the 20-year-old prospect skipped Triple-A altogether when he was recalled last season. Still, the Dominican infielder is plenty intriguing despite Tampa's reputation for slow-playing their prospects after he hit a combined .324/.384/.591 with a .976 OPS, 31 home runs, 94 RBI, five steals and 85 runs scored in 117 games with High-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery last year. Given how hard Caminero hits the ball to all fields, he should resurface at some point with the Rays in 2024 and could eventually carve out everyday playing time.

Free-agent right-hander Jake Odorizzi (shoulder), who was an All-Star starter in 2019, is throwing without restrictions and is looking to sign a major-league deal in the coming weeks. The 33-year-old has pitched off a mound this offseason in front of evaluators from 10 to 12 big-league teams. Odorizzi had an arthroscopic debridement surgery on his right shoulder last April, which caused him to sit out all of the 2023 season. With the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves back in 2022, Odorizzi went 6-6 with a 4.40 ERA (4.28 FIP) and 1.33 WHIP while walking 35 and striking out 86 in 106 1/3 innings over 22 starts. It remains to be seen if he'll sign with a team in time to become a legitimate starting rotation option for the start of the 2024 season. Odorizzi was a first-time All-Star back in 2019 with the Minnesota Twins.

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said that the team will have "some level of competition" at third base during spring training, but also that they are confident in Brett Baty. Stearns also mentioned Mark Vientos, Joey Wendle and Zack Short. Baty, 24, won't have to contend with infield prospect Ronny Mauricio (knee), who tore the ACL in his right knee playing winter ball, but he still will have to earn his playing time at the hot corner in New York in his second full season in the big leagues. The left-handed slugger hit the ball hard at Triple-A last year but struggled to a .212/.275/.323 slash line with nine homers, 34 RBI and 109 strikeouts in 389 plate appearances with the Mets. Wendle probably poses the biggest threat to everyday playing time for Baty, who is going to need to improve against offspeed pitches to take the next step offensively in the majors.