Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Emmanuel Rivera is a backup option at shortstop behind starter Geraldo Perdomo this year, despite the fact that he hasn't played the position as a professional. However, the 27-year-old Rivera has played the 6 in winter ball and again this offseason, and some in the front office think he has the best hands of anyone in the infield and is a right-hander that hits lefties well. Rivera could be an option to spell Perdomo against tough left-handed pitching in 2024. He will get more work at short in camp and is also out of minor-league options. Top prospect Jordan Lawlar is the future at the position in Arizona, but he needs more development in the minor leagues. In addition to Rivera, Ketel Marte, Jace Peterson and Kevin Newman are other backup shortstop options for the Snakes in 2024.

Arizona Diamondbacks infielders Jordan Lawlar and Blaze Alexander are candidates to be the team's starting shortstop in 2024 behind Geraldo Perdomo, who earned the starting job after a strong 2023 campaign. General manager Mike Hazen said that for the D-backs to keep Lawlar on the roster this year, there has to be a path to regular and consistent at-bats for him. But with Perdomo at the 6 and Eugenio Suarez at third, there aren't really enough at-bats for Lawlar to continue his development in the big leagues. The same goes for Alexander. While the 21-year-old Lawlar has a very high ceiling in the long-term, and he's already a defensive whiz at shortstop, it's more likely than not that he'll open up the 2024 season at Triple-A Reno.

Along with Texas Rangers relievers Jose Leclerc, Kirby Yates and David Robertson, right-hander Josh Sborz will be a high-leverage option for the team in the late innings in 2024. Manager Bruce Bochy isn't placing any of the four potential closing options in any sort of order in spring training, but Leclerc and Robertson figure to have the best chance for regular save opportunities. The 30-year-old Sborz had a rough 5.50 ERA last year, but his 3.35 xERA as well as his 36.9 percent strikeout rate point to a rebound in the ERA department this year. As long as he's able to stay healthy -- he's been on the injured list five times in the last two years -- Sborz should at least be interesting for fantasy managers in holds leagues in the back of Texas' bullpen.

Texas Rangers rookie outfielder Evan Carter stepped up in a big way late last season when he was called up to the big leagues for the first time on the way to helping the team win their first-ever World Series title. He hit .306 with a 1.058 OPS in just 23 regular-season games and started every game in the postseason. However, the front-runner for the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year wants to improve against lefties in 2024. The 21-year-old went 1-for-20 against lefties last year and hit .243/.338/.257 in 70 at-bats against them in the minors. Carter is expected to start every day for Texas in left field in 2024, so inevitably he's going to face more left-handed pitchers. He'll be a strong No. 3 outfield target in fantasy drafts in a strong lineup and with the ability to steal 20-plus bases over a full season.

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) played catch out to 90 feet at spring training on Tuesday. Bradish is dealing with a partial tear of UCL in camp but is hoping that rest and rehab will help him avoid Tommy John surgery, which would keep him out for all of the 2023 season. The 27-year-old had a platelet-rich plasma injection and is throwing multiple times per week. Even if he avoids Tommy John surgery, Bradish will open the 2024 regular season on the injured list for the Orioles. Bradish was a breakout candidate for Baltimore and for fantasy managers last year, but he's already off to a bad start in 2024, and it would be wise to expect some regression if he doesn't eventually succumb to elbow reconstruction.