San Francisco Giants infielder Wilmer Flores enters spring training this year without a clear role once again. Last year, he had a stretch when he mostly came off the bench, but then he ended up being a lineup regular and the team's best hitter due to injuries. Until this past week when the team signed right-handed slugger Jorge Soler, Flores looked headed for right-handed designated hitter duty and time at first base. "Wilmer is a tough one, man. I mean, that guy hits righties, hits lefties. He's so well respected, not only around the league but certainly in this clubhouse. You don't always have a full complement of players. Guys are going to get hurt, too, but I'll figure out a way to get him in there," manager Bob Melvin said. The 32-year-old hit a career-high 23 homers in 2023, but the addition of Soler is going to make it much tougher for him to find regular ABs.

San Francisco Giants catcher Blake Sabol, last year's primary backup catcher, will be moved around this spring to add some more versatility since there are two catchers now ahead of him on the depth chart in Patrick Bailey and Tom Murphy. "I think first base might be -- I haven't told him this yet -- but first base might be another spot," manager Bob Melvin said. "I think with LaMonte Wade Jr. as the only left-handed hitting first baseman, (Sabol) has played some outfield and is a versatile guy. We might move him around a little bit more." The 26-year-old also saw some time in left field in 2023. Sabol has minor-league options remaining, so don't rule out the Giants sending the former Rule 5 pick down to the minors at some point as well. He won't have much fantasy value outside of NL-only leagues in more of a bench role in 2024.

The Tampa Bay Rays won their salary arbitration case over designated hitter Harold Ramirez on Thursday. Ramirez will make $3.8 million in 2024 instead of the $4.3 million that he had filed for. This was Ramirez's third year of arbitration eligibility, and he'll see a $1.6 million increase from his salary a year ago. The 29-year-old has been mentioned as a trade candidate during the offseason and will have to compete for playing time with Jonathan Aranda if he sticks around with the Rays. He hit a strong .313/.353/.460 and an .813 OPS with career-highs in home runs (12), RBI (68), stolen bases (five) and runs scored (58) in 122 games in 2023 in his second year with the team. Ramirez has absolutely tortured left-handed pitching the last two years, making him the perfect platoon player for DFS.

Free-agent infielder Eduardo Escobar is moving toward a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night, according to sources familiar with the situation. Escobar became a free agent after the 2023 season when the Los Angeles Angels declined his $9 million team option for 2024. The 35-year-old veteran hit just .226/.269/.344 with six home runs, 31 RBI and 32 runs scored in 99 total games with the Angels and New York Mets. In Toronto, he'll now join Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal and Isiah Kiner-Falefa in a competition for playing time at the hot corner this year. Kiner-Falefa seems like the favorite to see the most reps at third, with Escobar serving as a veteran bench bat. The move to a hitter-friendly park in Toronto in a strong lineup is a good one for Escobar, but consistent playing time will likely be hard to come by.

Miami Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards could get pushed off the major-league roster to open the year with Vidal Brujan and the recently acquired Nick Gordon also competing for bench/utility roles in spring training. Edwards, Brujan and Gordon all have similar skill sets. Edwards hit an impressive .295 in his first 84 major-league plate appearances last year while appearing at second base and center field. However, Brujan and Gordon are both out of minor-league options, meaning they must make the Opening Day roster and could push Edwards out of a bench role to open the season. The 24-year-old Edwards might have to outplay both Brujan and Gordon in camp. His best attributes are his speed and his ability to hit for average because of his high contact rates, but Edwards' playing time is in question.