Washington Nationals outfielder Stone Garrett (leg) is a full-go for the start of spring training and will hopefully be ready for Opening Day, but general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez said that Garrett's progress will be monitored closely at camp. It was reported recently that Garrett was unlikely to be ready for Opening Day after having surgery last August to fix a fractured fibula. It appears the 28-year-old is making good progress, but he'll understandably be eased into Grapefruit League action, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he starts the 2024 season on the 10-day injured list. Whenever Garrett does make his season debut, he's likely to be involved in a platoon situation in Washington's outfield, possibly with the left-handed-hitting Jesse Winker.

Washington Nationals right-hander Mason Thompson (elbow) has been shut down for at least two weeks with an elbow issue that he suffered over the winter, according to general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez. Even though Thompson will require less time to get ready because he's a reliever, this news still puts his availability for Opening Day in question. In his second full year with the Nats in 2023, he went 4-4 with a career-worst 5.50 ERA (4.03 FIP) and 1.56 WHIP with his second career save, 22 walks and a career-high 44 strikeouts in 54 relief innings. Thompson has a career 4.53 ERA and 1.54 WHIP with 82 strikeouts in 103 1/3 relief innings over his three major-league seasons and won't be a roster lock, even if he's healthy.

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Keynan Middleton (illness) is dealing with a stomach bug and won't be in camp with the team on Wednesday, according to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. Middleton should recover in a day or two and rejoin the rest of the team's pitchers in spring training as they ramp up for the start of the 2024 regular season. The 30-year-old reliever should operate in a middle-relief role this year in his first campaign with the Cardinals, but he's not going to have much fantasy value, if any at all. He spent 2023 with the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, going 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA (4.20 FIP) and a 1.24 WHIP with two saves, 23 walks and a career-high 64 strikeouts in 50 2/3 relief innings.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Josh Winder (shoulder) is behind the team's other pitchers in spring training as he builds up from a right-scapula stress fracture that he suffered late in the 2023 season that needed rest. The 27-year-old didn't know about the injury until he had an MRI exam in October, and as a result, he was unable to have a normal offseason as he recovered. Winder should have enough time to get ready for the start of the 2024 regular season, barring any setbacks in camp. In his second year in the big leagues for the Twins last year, Winder had a 4.15 ERA (3.98 FIP) and a 1.41 WHIP with his first career save, 14 walks and 28 strikeouts in 34 2/3 relief innings in his first season as strictly a reliever. With no path back to a starting role or a high-leverage bullpen job in Minnesota, he should be avoided in all fantasy formats.

Seattle Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock (shoulder) threw a bullpen session at spring training on Wednesday. Hancock made his major-league debut in 2023, but he was only able to make three starts before being shut down due to a Grade 1 shoulder strain. The 24-year-old didn't need offseason surgery, though, and looks likely to be ready for the start of the 2024 season. Hancock will be competing for a starting rotation spot in camp, but he could be a long shot to break camp with the Mariners as long as their other rotation options stay healthy this spring. In his three starts last year, Hancock allowed six earned runs on 13 hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out six in 12 innings. The former first-rounder in 2020 hasn't shown much consistency in the minors and would benefit from more seasoning down on the farm to open 2024.