Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said the team expects "a much more comfortable version of Taj Bradley" this year. Both Bradley and Ryan Pepiot should have an opportunity to settle into the starting rotation behind Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale and Zack Littell. Bradley made his major-league debut in 2023 and finished with 21 starts, ending up with a 5.59 ERA and 23 home runs allowed in 104 2/3 innings pitched. He'll only be 23 years old this year, though, and his electric fastball averaged 96.1 mph, while his developing changeup produced a 41 percent whiff rate and his curveball was also effective. Expectations were high for Bradley as one of the team's top prospects, so he was more of a disappointment. However, if he can display better command and keep the ball in the yard more in 2024, Bradley could be much more productive.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (knee) underwent successful left-knee arthroscopic debridement surgery with Dr. Steven Cohen in Philadelphia on Friday morning. It's expected that Marsh will return to playing at three to four weeks and be ready for Opening Day. The surgery wasn't all that invasive, but if the 26-year-old has any setbacks at all during spring training, he'll most likely have the start of his 2024 campaign delayed slightly in the season's first month. When healthy, Marsh should see most of the playing time for the Phils in left field, and he's also an option to play in center field if Johan Rojas isn't ready for an everyday role. Marsh played well in 2023 in his first full season in Philly but struck out a third of the time and is still slightly more valuable for his glove than his bat. He'll give fantasy managers modest totals in homers and speed.

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw's new deal includes $10 million guaranteed with a chance to make more, according to league sources. It's a one-year deal with a player option for 2025 and includes a base salary of $5 million each year with a chance for the 36-year-old southpaw to boost his salary based on the number of starts he makes this year. His salary can max out at around $12 million in 2024. The three-time Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer had the capsule and gleno-humeral ligaments in his left shoulder repaired in November and will not pitch at all in the first half of the season. Kershaw is in the second week of a throwing program and is targeting a "July-ish, August-ish" timetable to return later this year.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (elbow) said he feels like a rookie again in Dodgers camp and feels like he's healthy and ready to start spring training as a hitter after having elbow surgery last year. The 29-year-old Japanese All-Star also said he's swinging the bat at 100 percent effort. The next step for Ohtani will be to face live pitching at spring training, which will come in time. The Dodgers are going to be extremely careful with their prized free-agent acquisition this spring, but he should be fully ready to go for Opening Day in 2024 as LA's primary designated hitter. He won't pitch at all this year after having right-elbow surgery, but Ohtani's bat will be extremely valuable in all fantasy leagues in a much better lineup with the Dodgers.

Right-hander Corey Kluber officially announced his retirement from professional baseball on Friday. The 37-year-old starter was never really the same pitcher once he left the Cleveland Guardians, and injuries ended up derailing his career the last several seasons. He appeared in only 15 games (nine starts) for the Boston Red Sox in 2023 and had a rough 7.04 ERA (7.11 FIP), a 1.64 WHIP, one save, 21 walks and 42 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched. In his prime, though, Kluber was one of the better pitchers in the game and he made three straight All-Star appearances from 2016-18. Kluber also won two American League Cy Young awards in his 13-year MLB career, ultimately finishing with a 3.44 ERA (3.23 FIP) and 1.13 WHIP with a 25.8 percent strikeout rate in 1,641 2/3 innings pitched with Cleveland, the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Red Sox.