Seattle Mariners infielder Luis Urias (shoulder) came in a couple of weeks ago to the team's spring training facilities and was dealing with some right-shoulder inflammation before being shut down from throwing. However, tests came back good, and he was able to resume work at camp on Monday. The 26-year-old has plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day in late March, although he could be eased into Cactus League play. Once one of the San Diego Padres' top prospects, the Mexican infielder has become more of a Quad-A player, hitting just .234 with 48 home runs in six major-league seasons. Urias slashed just .194/.337/.299 with three homers, 18 RBI and 41 strikeouts in 52 games with the Brewers and Red Sox in 2023 and comes to Seattle as infield depth in 2024.

San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said that right-handers Keaton Winn and Tristan Beck are the front-runners for the final two starting-rotation spots to open up the 2024 season behind Logan Webb, Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks. Winn, 26, had a 4.68 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with a save, eight walks and 35 K's in 42 1/3 frames over nine outings (five starts) in his rookie year in 2023. Opponents hit the ball really hard off him, though, so fantasy managers in NL-only leagues shouldn't expect much if he wins a rotation spot to open the year. Beck, 27, had a 3.92 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with two saves, 21 walks and 68 K's in 85 innings over 33 outings (three starts) in his rookie season in 2023. Beck was considerably better in relief than in his three starts. Both Winn and Beck will be keeping rotation spots warm for Robbie Ray (elbow) and Alex Cobb (hip).

San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (hip) threw 12 fastballs off the mound in camp on Sunday with a catcher in front of the plate and felt great on Monday. Cobb was scheduled to repeat the process on Tuesday and remains on track as he comes back from left-hip surgery that he had in October. The 36-year-old veteran is making good progress, but he won't be much of an option in shallow mixed leagues based on the fact that he isn't going to be an option for the Giants' starting rotation until later this summer. Cobb exceeded expectations in his second year in the Bay Area in 2023 by making 28 starts and going 7-7 with a 3.87 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with 37 walks and 131 strikeouts in 151 1/3 innings pitched.

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray will get the nod on Opening Day this year on March 28 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It will be Gray's first start for the Cardinals after signing a three-year, $70 million deal in free agency this offseason. The 34-year-old veteran finished second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2023 after he went 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA (league-best 2.83 FIP) and a 1.15 WHIP with 55 walks and 183 strikeouts in 184 innings over his 32 starts in his second year with the Minnesota Twins. He doesn't throw very hard, but Gray is great at keeping the ball out of the air while limiting hard contact, and he should be able to maintain a solid floor as a third fantasy starter in his new digs in St. Louis in 2024. However, his first matchup of the year against the Dodgers will be a tough one.

The Detroit Tigers claimed outfielder TJ Hopkins off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday and designated left-hander Kolton Ingram for assignment in a corresponding move to make room for Hopkins on the 40-man roster. Detroit will be the third team that Hopkins has been with this offseason. The 27-year-old made his major-league debut in 2023 and went 7-for-41 (.171) with no home runs, one RBI, one stolen base and seven runs scored in 25 games. However, he was much better at Triple-A Louisville, slashing .308/.411/.514 with a .924 OPS, 16 home runs and 55 RBI in 94 games over 393 plate appearances. Hopkins will most likely open the 2024 campaign as minor-league outfield depth for the Tigers at Triple-A Toledo.