Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez struggled initially in his first taste of the big leagues in 2023, and the core of the issue was a lack of fastballs thrown. By September, he was throwing his fastball 56.7% of the time, a 12.2% increase from May. He threw 69% fastballs in his final start against the Rays, when he tossed eight shutout innings with seven strikeouts. Rodriguez is focused on leaning on his fastball more in 2024 and is tinkering with adding a two-seam fastball to his repertoire. The pitch has more arm-side run that could jam a right-handed hitter. After going back to the minors for a bit last year, the 24-year-old was great with a 2.58 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 73 strikeouts over 76 2/3 innings (13 starts) to finish the year. Overall workload could be an issue, but the former top prospect's finish to 2023 was very encouraging.

Free-agent designated hitter Matt Carpenter has agreed to a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday that is worth $740,000, according to a source. The Atlanta Braves will be responsible for the remainder of his $5.5 million guarantee. The 38-year-old Carpenter was originally drafted by the Cardinals in the 13th round in 2009 and spent the first 11 years of his career with the team, including being named to the All-Star team three times. It was a rough year for him with the San Diego Padres in 2023, though, slashing .176/.322/.319 with five homers and 31 RBI in 76 games as mostly a veteran bat off the bench. He was traded to the Braves earlier this winter before being released. Carpenter will probably sit the bench most of the time while occasionally serving as the team's DH against right-handed pitching.

The New York Yankees signed free-agent utility man Jose Rojas to a minor-league deal on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, according to a source. Rojas can play right field, third base and second base. The 30-year-old left-handed hitter made his big-league debut in 2021 with the Los Angeles Angels and has hit just .188 (42-for-224) with six home runs (all in his rookie season) and 16 RBI in 83 games and 241 plate appearances in his two seasons. He played for the Doosan Bears in the Korea Baseball Organization in 2023 but hit just .188/.245/.339 over 83 games. Rojas is most likely going to open the 2024 season in the minor leagues with the Yankees, providing utility depth.

Free-agent right-hander Matt Bowman signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins on Thursday that includes an invite to spring training, according to a source. He'll make $925,000 if he reaches the majors. Bowman spent the last three seasons in the New York Yankees organization and made three relief appearances for the Bombers in 2023, allowing four earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out three in four innings. It was the 32-year-old's first appearances in the big leagues since 2019 with the Cincinnati Reds. Bowman is strictly going to provide minor-league relief depth for the Twins to open the 2024 season. Bowman has a 4.13 ERA (3.73 FIP) and 1.28 WHIP with two saves, 64 walks and 152 strikeouts in 185 1/3 relief innings in his five years in the majors with the Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Reds.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (hip) is hoping to start a flat-ground throwing program in the next few days. It's unclear when Cobb will be ready to pitch in games leading up to the 2024 season after he had surgery in late October to fix a torn labrum and remove three bone chips from his left hip. The 36-year-old said he expects to be pitching for the Giants in the first half of the season, but when exactly that will be is unclear. We should have a better idea on his timetable once the club begins preparations at spring training. Despite being long in the tooth, Cobb was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and went 7-7 with a 3.87 ERA (4.01 FIP) and 1.32 WHIP with 37 walks and 131 strikeouts in 28 starts (151 1/3 innings). Given the injury, Cobb's age and his declining strikeout rate, he's not going to be a terribly attractive fantasy starter in 2024.