Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that infield prospect Connor Norby (side) won't play in Grapefruit League action on Saturday, but he's expected to get back into the spring training lineup in the next three to four days. There's still time for Norby to get ready for the start of the 2024 season, but even if he impresses when he gets back to game action this spring, he's fully expected to open the year at Triple-A Norfolk. The 23-year-old can play second base and the outfield, although he's not a standout defensively at either position, and he's blocked by a strong major-league roster. Norby's bat is what is intriguing after he hit .290/.359/.483 with an .842 OPS, 21 home runs, 92 RBI and 10 steals in 138 games at Norfolk in 2023. A trade may be his best bet for immediate fantasy value.

In his first season with a projected starting role in 2024, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar retooled his swing in the offseason with the help of Nolan Arenado after a disappointing 2023 campaign that saw him miss round 40 games due to injuries. Nootbaar revamped his swing mechanics in hopes of adding more power. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter clubbed 14 homers with a .418 slugging percentage in 426 at-bats in 2023, but there could be more power in his lumber. Nootbaar has always had great plate discipline, but he wanted to work on his lower half while also being able to lift more balls in the air to his pull side. Nootbaar's hands are now lower off his shoulders, which will allow him to create a more vertical swing path. Even if Nootbaar's average suffers as a result, it should lead to more backspin and balls clearing the fences. His power/speed combination makes him an intriguing fourth or fifth fantasy outfielder with upside.

Toronto Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann (hamstring) is feeling good after throwing a bullpen on Thursday, and it sounds like the next step is for him to face live hitters in camp soon. It should leave him plenty of time for a full ramp-up through March and into Opening Day late in March. The 21-year-old southpaw, one of the top overall pitching prospects in all of baseball, is still probably going to open the 2024 season with Triple-A Buffalo, especially considering he missed a big chunk of time last year in the minors due to an injury. Toronto isn't going to rush their best prospect to the big leagues, but he's still worth stashing in deep-mixed fantasy leagues due to his upside and the fact that he should make his MLB debut this year if he's healthy.

New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon surrendered four home runs during a live batting practice session against minor-league hitters on Friday. The 31-year-old allowed just one earned run with five strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings in his spring debut against the Blue Jays, so there's no reason for panic at this time. However, it's worth noting that he once again dealt with injuries in the 2023 season that limited him to just 14 starts while he posted a 6.85 ERA and dealt with big-time homer issues by way of a 2.10 HR/9 clip in that time. ATC projects a bounce-back season for the lefty as they peg him at a 4.08 ERA and a healthy 27.5% K% across 25 starts. While those numbers would serve fantasy managers well, he once again carries notable risk as part of his draft stock.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Yu Chang (oblique) is set to miss the next six to eight weeks as the injury is more severe than originally thought, according to skipper Kevin Cash. Chang's spring was off to a nice start as he homered on Sunday versus the Detroit Tigers but his chances at Opening Day are now zero. The 28-year-old spent the 2023 season with the Boston Red Sox but struggled mightily at the plate, hitting just .162 with six home runs, four stolen bases, and a .532 OPS across 112 plate appearances, production that graded out 61% below the league average, as per his 39 wRC+. A veteran of 235 MLB contests in parts of four seasons, Chang is a career .204 hitter with 20 home runs, five steals, and a .624 OPS across 650 trips to the plate.