Chicago White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech (knee) appears to be healthy and threw a bullpen session at spring training on Wednesday. Kopech had minor knee surgery to remove a cyst from his right knee last year and finished the season on the injured list, but the 27-year-old appears to be fully healthy and should be ready for Opening Day. It was a rough 2023 season for Kopech, as he went 5-12 with a career-worst 5.43 ERA (6.46 FIP) and 1.59 WHIP with a league-high 91 walks and a career-high 134 strikeouts in a career-high 129 1/3 innings pitched over 30 appearances (27 starts). The White Sox took him out of the starting rotation late in the year because of his struggles, but he'll be back in the rotation to begin the year as he looks to bounce back. He's going to need to fix his walk issues if he's going to do that.

Right-hander Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies have started negotiations on a potential contract extension, according to Wheeler. It's early in the process, but Wheeler is hoping they can get something done before the start of the 2024 regular season. "I love it here. We're happy here," Wheeler said. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal said on Tuesday that he wouldn't be surprised if the two sides get something done soon. The 33-year-old made his first All-Star team in 2021 and has been everything the Phillies had hoped for since signing him before the 2020 season. In his four years with the Phils, Wheeler has gone 43-25 with a 3.06 ERA (2.90 FIP) and 1.05 WHIP with 135 walks and 675 strikeouts in 629 1/3 innings over 101 starts. Fantasy managers should have every reason to believe he'll remain a high-end starter in 2024.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Daulton Jefferies (elbow) will not face any restrictions and is a full-go in spring training this season. The 28-year-old was sidelined for the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery and hasn't been on a big-league mound since May 18, 2022, as a member of the Oakland A's. Jefferies' MLB career has been limited to just 14 appearances (10 starts), and he owns a 5.75 ERA and a subpar 15.2% strikeout percentage across 56 1/3 innings in that time. In addition to his Tommy John surgery, Jefferies has also underwent thoracic outlet surgery in the 2022 season, limiting him to just five appearances and 15 innings of work that year. He could serve as a long reliever or as Triple-A starting depth for the Giants in 2024.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu is expected to be the team's leadoff hitter in the 2024 season, according to manager Aaron Boone. "I want it to be DJ. Hopefully it is," Boone said when asked about the team's plans for the leadoff spot. It was also reported earlier in the offseason that LeMahieu would serve as the Yankees' primary third baseman this season. The 35-year-old endured a down season at the plate, by his standards, in 2023 as he hit .243 with 15 home runs and a .717 OPS across 136 games played. Perhaps most concerning is the fact his strikeout rate jumped all the way to 22.2%, a figure far beyond his 15.2% career mark and the highest rate of his MLB career. He also drew walks at a solid 10.7% clip a season ago.

New York Yankees catcher Jose Trevino won't be available for the first couple weeks of spring training games due to a calf strain, according to Yankees skipper Aaron Boone. The 31-year-old underwent season-ending wrist surgery after appearing in just 55 games in the 2023 season but wasn't expected to be limited to begin the spring prior to his new calf issue. It was a disastrous, injury-shortened season for Trevino at the plate in 2023 as he hit just .210 with four home runs and a .569 OPS across 168 trips to the plate. However, his highly-rated defense will keep him in the catching picture in the Bronx, especially with catcher Kyle Higashioka being traded to the Padres this winter. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on the situation as rookie Austin Wells could receive additional playing time if Trevino is sidelined.