The Kansas City Royals optioned outfielders Drew Waters and Joey Wiemer and infielder Nick Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, the team announced. The team also announced that infielders Harold Castro and Tyler Tolbert, right-hander Taylor Clarke and catcher Brian O'Keefe have been assigned to minor-league camp. With Waters and Wiemer going down, it means that Dairon Blanco and Mark Canha will be the team's backup outfielders to start the 2025 regular season. Waters really struggled this spring, going 6-for-32 (.188) with three doubles, two triples, four RBI, two steals and 18 strikeouts in 19 Cactus League games. Wiemer is being sent down despite a hot spring showing that saw him post an .838 OPS with two home runs, two doubles, nine RBI and three stolen bases in 21 contests.

The Los Angeles Angels have released outfielder Mickey Moniak. The 26-year-old posted an underwhelming .179/.224/.346 slash line with one double and two home runs across 21 contests during spring training. Last season, Moniak logged a career-high 124 contests with the Angels and posted a .219/.266/.380 slash line with 17 doubles and 14 home runs. He swiped eight bags. However, he generated a poor .283 xwOBA, which placed him in the 13th percentile among qualified hitters. Moniak also drew walks at a low 5.0 percent rate and struck out at a hefty 27.3 percent rate. The 26-year-old was originally drafted with the first overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft but has yet to take the next step in the major leagues. With Moniak off the roster, fantasy managers should expect Jo Adell to be the everyday center fielder in Los Angeles.

Texas Rangers outfielder Kevin Pillar will make the Opening Day roster. Shawn McFarland of the Dallas News reported that Pillar will likely be deployed as the designated hitter or in center field against left-handed pitching. Pillar inked a minor-league deal with the Rangers during the offseason. Last season, the 36-year-old spent time in the majors (100 games) split between the White Sox and Angels. Across this stint, he posted a .229/.291/.377 slash line with 16 doubles and eight long balls. While he posted a modest .173/.250/.292 line against right-handed pitching, Pillar performed quite well against southpaws, posting a strong .310/.352/.500 slash line. Fantasy managers in deeper AL-only formats should consider targeting Pillar when he faces southpaws, as he could carry value as a streaming option.

Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery (elbow) is set to undergo Tommy John surgery. During camp, Montgomery logged just three innings of work and allowed five earned runs and held a 3:2 BB:K. During the early part of the offseason, Montgomery was dealing with a strain in his left index finger. However, with this new injury, fantasy managers should expect Montgomery to remain sidelined for the entire 2025 campaign and potentially most of the 2026 season as well. Last offseason, the Diamondbacks signed the southpaw after he won a World Series with the Texas Rangers. However, his debut season in the desert was underwhelming as he posted a high 6.23 ERA with a 1.65 WHIP across 117 innings of work. Montgomery was set to be deployed out of the bullpen in 2025. However, with him now sitting out, this could potentially open up a larger role for Ryne Nelson, who also fell short of his rotation bid.

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (elbow) said that he will throw a bullpen session later this week. "Basically, spring training starts over. I've had something I've been dealing with for the last 3-4 years. It kind of flared up on me," Rodriguez said. The 25-year-old also confirmed that imaging on his right elbow showed no ligament damage, and he said he had "tendonitis in the tricep." It's good news that Rodriguez continues to make progress with his throwing program as he begins to build back up, but he still has a ways to go before eventually facing live hitters and then going on a minor-league rehab assignment. Even if he's able to avoid any setbacks with his elbow, it's likely that he will miss at least the first month of the season. Rodriguez's injury has allowed Cade Povich to open as the team's No. 5 starter. Rodriguez should be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues.