Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Felix Bautista (elbow) said that his surgically repaired right elbow is feeling good and he's been rehabbing in Sarasota, Florida, at the team's spring training complex this offseason. Bautista's goal is to be ready for Opening Day in 2025, but if he's ahead of schedule and able to pitch late in 2024, he wants to do it. The 28-year-old had Tommy John surgery in October and can be ignored in single-year fantasy leagues, even though there's a chance he could pitch late in September if all is going great in his rehab by then. The Orioles aren't going to take any chances with their full-time closer the last couple of years, though. With Bautista on the shelf in 2024, veteran Craig Kimbrel will open the regular season as the locked-in closer for the ninth inning.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran (toe) is fully cleared for spring training and won't have any limitations in camp. Duran had surgery to fix the flexor tendon in his left big toe in late August but should be fully healthy this spring and for the start of the 2024 regular season. The 27-year-old is expected to be Boston's starting center fielder this upcoming season after slashing a strong .295/.346/.482 with an .828 OPS, eight home runs, 40 RBI, 34 doubles, two triples, 24 stolen bases and 46 runs scored in 102 games in his third year in the big leagues. A full-on breakout in 2024 isn't out of the question for the speedy Duran, but his power and on-base skills still leave a lot to be desired. But if Duran can stay healthy all year, he should be a valuable contributor in all fantasy formats.

Houston Astros relief pitcher Kendall Graveman (shoulder) underwent right-shoulder surgery last week and will be forced to miss all of the 2024 season, according to the team. It's unclear what specific surgery Graveman had on his shoulder, but he said he had progressed to throwing off flat ground this offseason when the discomfort in his shoulder returned. For an already-depleted Astros bullpen, this is a big loss heading into spring training. The 33-year-old will enter free agency after the 2024 season. He started 2022 with the Chicago White Sox before being traded to the Astros. Overall, Graveman went 5-6 with 3.12 ERA (4.88 FIP), 1.31 WHIP, eight saves, 36 walks and 66 strikeouts in 66 1/3 relief innings. Graveman's injury will put more pressure on late-inning setup men Bryan Abreu and Rafael Montero.

The Tampa Bay Rays signed free-agent right-hander Jacob Waguespack to a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league camp on Monday. Waguespack hasn't pitched in the big leagues since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. In his two years with the Toronto Blue Jays, he had a 5.08 ERA (4.87 FIP) and 1.46 WHIP while walking 38 and striking out 79 in 95 2/3 innings pitched over 27 appearances (13 starts). The 30-year-old pitched for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan in 2023 and had a 4.76 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with 30 walks and 78 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings over 36 relief appearances. Waguespack will almost certainly open the 2024 back in the US at Triple-A Durham and will serve as organizational relief depth for the Rays.

The Chicago Cubs have signed international shortstop prospect Fernando Cruz to a $4 million signing bonus on Monday. It's one of the top signing bonuses in this year's international class, even though the 17-year-old hasn't stood out quite as much as the other shortstop prospects in his class. Cruz has a very strong glove up the middle and has impressed during recent showcases, but he'll need to develop some of his other offensive tools as he matures in the next couple of years before he's considered one of the top prospects in the game at the premium position at the 6.