Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jose Soriano will be stretched out as a starter this spring and will start Saturday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He still has a chance to end up in the bullpen but new Angels skipper Ron Washington wanted to give the 25-year-old a crack at the rotation. Soriano made his big-league debut in the 2023 season when he pitched to a 3.64 ERA alongside a big-time 30.3% K%, albeit alongside a 12.4% BB%, across 38 appearances. He made the jump to the bigs straight from Double-A where he posted a 4.24 ERA in 17 appearances (two starts). He struck out a hefty 29.8% of batters in Double-A but also walked 15.4% of the hitters he faced. His big strikeout numbers could be something to watch if he is able to crack the Angels' rotation in 2024.

The San Francisco Giants appear to be firming as the favorites to land free-agent left-hander Blake Snell. A deal could come within the next 24-48 hours, reportedly, while the Giants are seen ahead of the New York Yankees who have an offer on the table for the two-time Cy Young winner. Snell took down the NL Cy Young Award in the 2023 season with the San Diego Padres. He worked to an MLB-best 2.25 ERA across 32 starts, posting a 14-9 record alongside a hefty 31.5% K%. Interestingly, he led all of baseball with 99 walks but was able to strand 86.7% of his base-runners, a figure well above his 78.2% career mark. While regression is likely, he would be a major boon to the Giants' beat-up rotation while his durability and strikeout figures will continue to serve fantasy managers quite well.

Free-agent utility player Brandon Dixon announced his retirement from professional baseball on his Twitter/X account on Thursday. It was a brief career as the 32-year-old played in parts of five seasons and appeared in just 235 games. He hit .224 with 22 home runs, six stolen bases, and a .663 OPS across 658 trips to the plate in that time. However, he did pace the Tigers with a career-high 15 home runs in the 2019 season when he played in 118 games. Most recently, he played two seasons for his hometown San Diego Padres, hitting .203 with two homers, one steal, and a .573 OPS across 86 trips to the plate in the 2023 campaign.

Seattle Mariners pitcher Gregory Santos (lat) is progressing well early in his throwing program, according to M's general manager Justin Hollander. Santos was cleared to begin a throwing program on Tuesday and the early reports are positive at this time. The 24-year-old was acquired from the Chicago White Sox on Feb. 3 for two minor leaguers and a draft pick. He enjoyed a nice rookie season in the bigs in the 2023 campaign when he worked to a 3.39 ERA and a 17% K-BB% across 60 appearances, even locking down five saves. He is slated for late-inning work again with the Mariners in 2024 but behind closer Andres Munoz. However, the unstable injury situation with Matt Brash could yield Santos some holds if Brash were to miss notable time.

Minnesota Twins pitchers Anthony DeSclafani (elbow) and Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) have been delayed in camp but are ramping up their throwing. Trainer Nick Paparesta said that both pitchers still have time to be ready for Opening Day. DeSclafani is dealing with right-elbow soreness, while Thielbar is dealing with a left-hamstring strain. DeSclafani, 33, was acquired in an offseason trade with the Mariners. It's a troubling sign he's hurt again after missing most of last year due to a flexor issue in his arm. In his 19 outings (18 starts) for the Giants in 2023, DeSclafani went 4-8 with a 4.88 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 79 strikeouts in 99 2/3 innings. His injury in camp could make Louie Varland the favorite for Minnesota's final rotation spot to open the year.