According to sources, free-agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery and the New York Yankees are back in contact, although a gap in contract talks still exists. Montgomery's camp compares him to Aaron Nola, who got $172 million over seven years with the Philadelphia Phillies. But Montgomery has actually been better since 2021 and was even better in the playoffs while helping the Texas Rangers win the World Series last fall. Compared to left-hander Blake Snell, who signed with the San Francisco Giants this week, Montgomery has been more durable, is younger, has been better in the playoffs, is cheaper and doesn't have a draft pick attached to him. While the 31-year-old southpaw's fantasy stock is dropping because he probably won't be ready for the start of the regular season and doesn't miss a ton of bats, he's still worth a gamble as a No. 3/4 fantasy starter for those who have yet to draft.

Baltimore Orioles third baseman/shortstop Gunnar Henderson continued tearing the cover off the ball in Wednesday's 13-4 Grapefruit League win over the Philadelphia Phillies, going yard with a two-run home run in the second inning. It was Henderson's first homer of the spring, but he's absolutely raked by hitting .464 with four RBI and a 1.197 OPS through 28 at-bats to this point. The 22-year-old former top prospect fully broke out for the O's during his first full season in the major leagues in 2023, taking home an American League Rookie of the Year trophy as well as a Silver Slugger award courtesy of a .255/.325/.489 triple-slash line, 28 round-trippers, 82 RBI, 100 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases over 560 ABs. Carrying a 31 NFBC ADP this spring, Henderson holds exciting five-category upside in the early rounds of drafts from a premium lineup spot in a stacked Baltimore offense.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale threw on a back field on Wednesday instead of the Grapefruit League game versus the Toronto Blue Jays. It serves as a likely indication that Sale is lined up to start Atlanta's third outing of the regular season on March 31 on the road against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies, with aces Spencer Strider and Max Fried setting up to take the ball in the first and second contests of the year respectively. The Braves acquired the 34-year-old Sale, MLB's all-time leader with 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings, from the Boston Red Sox back on Dec. 30 in exchange for former top infielder prospect Vaughn Grissom to bolster their starting rotation. The veteran southpaw posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 17:4 K:BB over 11 2/3 frames this spring and could be a value at his 129 NFBC ADP with a better defense behind him plus a more favorable home ballpark factor in 2024.

New York Yankees designated hitter/outfielder Giancarlo Stanton went off in Wednesday's 12-0 Grapefruit League rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates, smashing three home runs and piling up eight RBI. Stanton went deep for a towering two-run homer in the first inning, crushed a grand slam during the second frame, and launched a solo blast in the fourth just for good measure. And just like that, the 34-year-old slugger is now batting .314 (11-for-35) with four long balls, 10 RBI, and a 1.073 OPS this spring. Stanton's All-Star days might be behind him after a miserable 2023 saw him register a career-worst .191/.275/.420 triple-slash line across 415 plate appearances, but he'll open the 2024 season as the everyday designated hitter in the heart of the order in a loaded Yankees lineup. His playing time should be safe until Jasson Dominguez (elbow) returns later in the summer, and Stanton's 220 NFBC ADP should rise a bit following Wednesday's explosion.

Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford belted his sixth home run of spring training in the second inning of Wednesday's 8-1 Cactus League win over the Cincinnati Reds, also adding an RBI single during the sixth frame. Continuing to burgeon his way up fantasy draft boards as one of the spring's fastest-rising players, Langford is hitting .388 (19-for-49) with six homers, 19 RBI, and a 1.242 OPS so far. Although he's currently a non-roster invitee, the 22-year-old 2023 No. 4 overall pick's head-turning play figures to leave the Rangers no choice but to include him on their Opening Day roster. With Corey Seager (groin) and Nathaniel Lowe (oblique) projected to begin on the injured list, Langford has a clear path to regular at-bats during 2024's early stages. RotoBaller has Texas' No. 2 prospect ranked 80th overall, which gives managers a chance to draft him because he'll be long gone before his 180 NFBC ADP at this point.