Left-handed reliever Parker Mushinski has made the Houston Astros' Opening Day roster out of spring training, according to a source. The 28-year-old southpaw was drafted by the Astros in the seventh round in 2017 out of Texas Tech. In his first two years in the majors with the club, he's posted a 4.91 ERA (5.71 FIP) and 1.41 WHIP with seven walks and 23 strikeouts in 22 innings out of the bullpen. He'll be the team's third left-handed reliever, joining All-Star closer Josh Hader and Bennett Sousa. Mushinski is hoping to take a step forward in his third major-league campaign in 2024 after throwing nine scoreless innings while walking five and striking out 10 in the Grapefruit League this spring. You can ignore him in all fantasy leagues.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said he told right-hander Ronel Blanco in the dugout after his outing on Tuesday against Triple-A Sugar Land that he has won a starting rotation spot to open the regular season. Blanco's performance on Tuesday (10 strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings) convinced Espada apparently. The 30-year-old Dominican hurler will grab the team's final rotation spot with both Justin Verlander (shoulder) and Jose Urquidy (forearm) starting the year on the injured list. Blanco will have at least several turns through the rotation to prove himself after going 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA (5.99 FIP) and 1.48 WHIP with 28 walks and 52 strikeouts in 52 innings over 17 appearances (seven starts) for Houston a year ago. He had a 4.74 ERA and 1.37 WHIP as a starter and will only be worth a flier in AL-only fantasy leagues.

The New York Yankees acquired infielder Jon Berti from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, according to a source. It's unknown what the Marlins will receive in return. The Yankees are going to be without both DJ LeMahieu (foot) and Oswald Peraza (shoulder) for the start of the 2024 regular season, so the 34-year-old Berti will give the Yanks more infield depth until those two are able to return. Berti can also play in the outfield, but most of his playing time early in the season figures to come at third base for the Bombers. Berti stole a league-high 41 bags in 102 games for the Marlins in 2022 but came back down to Earth in that category last year with only 16 swipes, but he did manage to hit .294 (114-for-388) in 133 contests. He won't supply much power but his fantasy stock in AL-only leagues is now on the rise for his speed.

Relief pitcher Jackson Stephens elected free agency on Wednesday after the Atlanta Braves outrighted him to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday. The 29-year-old right-hander will now look to latch on with another organization with Opening Day in 2024 just one day away. The former 18th-round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2012 out of high school was let go by the Braves after the signed veteran reliever Jesse Chavez just the other day. In the last two seasons with the Braves, Stephens went 3-3 with a decent 3.56 ERA (3.58 FIP), a 1.37 WHIP, two saves, 28 walks and 58 strikeouts in 65 2/3 frames over 44 appearances (one start). In his 12 Grapefruit League innings this spring, he allowed four earned runs on 13 hits while walking five and striking out 11.

The Miami Marlins acquired right-hander Burch Smith from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations. Smith had an assignment clause in his minor-league contract, and the Rays didn't have a spot for him on their major-league roster out of spring training. The Marlins selected Smith's contract from Triple-A Jacksonville after the trade. The 33-year-old last pitched in the majors in 2021 with the Oakland Athletics, posting a 5.40 ERA (4.21 FIP) and 1.38 WHIP with 11 walks and 28 strikeouts in 43 1/3 relief innings. He'll be completely off the fantasy radar in what's expected to be a long-relief role for the Fish. In five big-league seasons, Smith has a poor 6.03 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP, one save, 87 walks and 184 strikeouts in 191 innings pitched.