Boston Red Sox first baseman Bobby Dalbec is taking reps with the outfielders in spring training on Friday. Dalbec is trying to increase his versatility heading into the 2024 regular season. Perhaps it will help him see the field more often after he played in only 21 games for Boston in his fourth year in the majors in 2023. Dalbec went 10-for-49 (.204) with a homer and six runs scored, but he looked much better at Triple-A Worcester, hitting 33 home runs and stealing 17 bases. The 28-year-old former top prospect will back up Triston Casas at first base and will primarily be a bench bat for the Red Sox at the major-league level. There's still power in Dalbec's bat, but his high strikeout rate and inability to hit righties has kept him from a starting role.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that "if Jarren Duran is healthy, he's our leadoff guy." Duran impressed with a .295/.346/.482 slash line with an .828 OPS, eight home runs, 34 doubles, two triples, 40 RBI, 24 stolen bases and 46 runs scored in 362 trips to the plate and 102 games in his third big-league season with the BoSox in 2023, and he fared just fine against left-handed pitching as well. His season was cut short in late August when he needed surgery to fix a flexor tendon in his left big toe, but he's fully healthy in camp and will be ready for Opening Day. Duran might face some competition in center field from defensive wizard Ceddanne Rafaela, but even if Rafaela were to win the job, Duran would be a lineup regular in right field. Consider Duran a fine upside No. 3 outfield option in fantasy drafts.

Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen (lat) is in good spirits in camp after reporting to spring training with lat soreness, but he won't be back to throwing for a week or so. The Red Sox aren't going to take any chances with Jansen, especially since he's been the subject of trade rumors this offseason. The 36-year-old's injury isn't very serious, but it doesn't look great for an aging reliever as he prepares for the 2024 regular season. If Jansen is traded or isn't ready for Opening Day because of his injury, Chris Martin would be the most likely candidate to see a boost in value as Boston's primary closing option at the back of the bullpen. Jansen had 29 saves in 2023 to become MLB's active leader in saves, but he also dealt with back, knee and hamstring injuries and is a pretty big injury risk at the closing position for fantasy managers.

Baltimore Orioles left-hander John Means (elbow) said it's "probably unlikely" he'll be built up in time to be a part of the team's Opening Day starting rotation. Means is disappointed, but he's confident in his teammates to have early success in 2024. The O's will also be without Kyle Bradish (elbow) to start the year, as he's dealing with a sprained UCL. Means and the Orioles are still hoping he can make his season debut in April, though, but his exact timetable isn't very clear just yet. The 30-year-old had a setback with his surgically repaired left elbow last October and is roughly about a month behind the team's other starters. Means was an All-Star in 2019 but has made only six starts in the last two years and can be left to the waiver wire to begin 2024 in most mixed leagues.

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) is "very confident" he'll get past his right UCL sprain and pitch for the team in 2024. Bradish is scheduled to throw on Friday for the first time since receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow. The 27-year-old is going to open the 2024 regular season on the injured list, but the hope right now is that he'll eventually be able to recover through rest and rehab and can avoid having Tommy John surgery, which would wipe out his entire season. He was a breakout performer for Baltimore in 2023, posting a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 168 strikeouts and 44 walks in 30 starts (168 2/3 innings), but his injury to begin this season puts him off the fantasy radar in shallow mixed leagues.