The Texas Rangers are 'unlikely' to bring back free-agent starter Jordan Montgomery, according to general manager Chris Young. The left-hander remains unsigned despite enjoying a big 2023 season that included a World Series championship with the Rangers. Montgomery worked to a healthy 3.20 ERA across 32 starts between the Cardinals and Rangers a season ago, including a tidy 2.79 ERA across 11 starts with the Rangers following a trade-deadline deal from St. Louis. He went on to toss a 2.90 ERA in six outings (five starts) in the postseason, lowering his career postseason ERA to 2.63. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are a couple of teams that have been connected to the veteran this offseason.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong will begin the 2024 season with Triple-A Iowa after he was optioned on Friday as part of the Cubs' roster cuts. The 21-year-old's outlook for this season was hurt when the Cubs brought back center fielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger on a three-year deal. It's been a slow spring for Crow-Armstrong who hit just .160 (4-for-25) with seven strikeouts, although he did record three doubles and stole three bases. Crow-Armstrong hit .283 with 20 home runs and 37 stolen bases alongside an .876 OPS across 107 games between Double-A and Triple-A a season ago. He should see time in the big leagues in 2024 but his immediate-term value is hampered in redraft leagues.

Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Jackson Jobe is scheduled to make his spring debut on March 12 against the rival Minnesota Twins. The No. 25 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, was reassigned to minor-league camp on Friday but will pitch for the Tigers in Lakeland next week. The right-hander missed notable time early last season due to a back injury but impressed upon his return. Jobe worked to a 2.81 ERA with 84 strikeouts across 64 innings in four different minor-league stops a season ago before posting a stout 2.87 ERA across four starts in the Arizona Fall League. The 21-year-old likely won't make his big-league debut but could be an impactful fantasy asset as soon as the 2025 season.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler has had a rough start to his spring ahead of what is a pivotal season for the 31-year-old. Kepler is just 2-for-16 (.125) with one homer and two walks versus three strikeouts across 18 trips to the plate, good for a lowly .535 OPS in that time. A free agent following the 2024 season, Kepler is coming off an excellent 2023 campaign that saw him hit .260 with 24 home runs, 72 runs, 66 RBI, and an .816 OPS across 491 trips to the plate. He saw a decrease in his walk rate and an increase in his strikeout rate a season ago but his 124 wRC+ was a career-high. He projects for a .247 average with 20 homers and four steals by ATC for the 2024 season, giving him fair value with an ADP of 282.6.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley is enjoying himself a fine spring to this point in Cactus League action. After a two-hit effort on Wednesday, Fraley is now 5-for-13 (.385) with three doubles, three walks, a stolen base, and three runs scored across 16 trips to the plate, good for a 1.115 OPS in the small sample. The 28-year-old showed a nice combination of power and speed in the 2023 season, slugging 15 home runs and swiping 21 bases across 111 appearances and 380 trips to the plate. ATC projects 13 more homers and 15 swipes for Fraley in the 2024 season but only in another 384 plate appearances. The lefty-swinging outfielder's career .149 average and .482 OPS off of left-handed pitching will limit his usage and puts a damper on his fantasy value.