Even with spring training having already started, free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery and his agent, Scott Boras, have not dropped their asking price, according to an industry source. Along with the Texas Rangers, who he won a World Series ring with last year, the Boston Red Sox have been interested in the southpaw this offseason. By the time Montgomery lowers his demands to the point where he could be a reasonable fit for the Red Sox's budget, he'd also be affordable to many other clubs as well. Montgomery's wife, a dermatologist, is serving a residency at a Boston hospital, so choosing the Red Sox would have that appeal. The 31-year-old has a below-average strikeout rate, but he makes up for it by rarely walking hitters and inducing soft contact.

Texas Rangers outfield prospect Wyatt Langford is starting in left field and is batting third in the team's Cactus League opener on Friday against the Kansas City Royals. Fellow rookie outfielder Evan Carter is in right field and is hitting second. Langford, 22, was the fourth overall pick in last year's draft and has a legitimate chance to crack the Opening Day roster if he impresses the coaching staff in spring training. Carter and Langford are MLB Pipeline's No. 5 and 6 prospects in baseball, respectively. Even if Langford begins the year at Triple-A Round Rock, he's worth stashing in mixed leagues. He was the best pure hitter in last year's draft and is one of the most MLB-ready position-player prospects in baseball in 2024. Langford's combination of elite power and speed give him incredibly high fantasy upside.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove surrendered four earned runs during Thursday's Spring Training opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He struggled mightily in the role, surrendering a walk, single, and hit batter in the top of the first inning before allowing Teoscar Hernandez to drive in two runs with his double. After just four batters, Musgrave was pulled from the game, giving him a total of four earned runs, two hits, and zero outs in the contest. On a positive note, he has plenty of time to shake things off and get back on track before his next start.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a two-run double against the San Diego Padres on Thursday. Los Angeles never relinquished its early lead, slamming the door on their divisional foes by a score of 14-1. This was Hernandez's first game as a Dodger and he certainly made an impact, plating Mookie Betts and Chris Taylor with his extra-base hit. His contact skills, power, and job security give him significant fantasy value for the upcoming campaign.

San Diego Padres first baseman Jake Cronenworth went 1-for-2 with a solo homer during Thursday's Spring Training opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres fell behind early and never came back, dropping the first game of Cactus League play by a score of 14-1. Cronenworth took a step back offensively in 2023 with a .229/.312/.378 slash line and just 10 homers, but his history as a fringe above-average player at the plate and in the field is just enough to suggest that last year may have been a fluke. He'll look to re-assert himself this spring, and Thursday's solo shot certainly helped.