Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told right-hander Joe Boyle that he will be the team's fifth starter to open the season behind Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, JP Sears and Paul Blackburn. Boyle will throw in Arizona against Double-A hitters on Wednesday as his final tune-up before making just his fourth major-league start. In his first three MLB starts with Oakland last year, Boyle allowed just four runs (three earned) on eight hits (one homer) while walking five and striking out 15 in 16 innings pitched. The 24-year-old has a history of wildness, though, as evidenced by his 15 walks in 18 1/3 Cactus League innings this spring. The 6-foot-7 hurler throws gas but will need to command it in order to have success and remain in Oakland's rotation for the long haul. At best, he's a waiver-wire pickup in AL-only leagues.

The Oakland Athletics acquired minor-league left-hander T.J. McFarland from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations and selected his contract from Triple-A Las Vegas to their 40-man roster. The 34-year-old southpaw was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the fourth round in 2007 and he has 11 years of major-league experience with five different teams, including the A's back in 2020. McFarland made three appearances out of the New York Mets' bullpen in 2023 and has a career 4.14 ERA (4.20 FIP), a 1.47 WHIP, one save, 154 walks and 279 strikeouts in 474 innings in his 11 major-league seasons. Now with the rebuilding A's, McFarland certainly has a much better chance at contributing at the big-league level again in 2024 now that he's out of LA.

The New York Mets released right-handed reliever Phil Bickford on Tuesday. The move comes after the Mets designated Bickford for assignment last weekend. The 28-year-old former Dodgers reliever will now be on the open market with Opening Day coming on Thursday. Bickford spent the 2023 season with both the Dodgers and Mets, pitching to a 5-5 record with a 4.95 ERA (4.46 FIP), a 1.45 WHIP, one save, 39 walks and a career-high 76 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He was originally drafted 18th overall in 2015 by the San Francisco Giants out of Southern Nevada. Bickford has a career 4.43 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with two saves and 204 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings with the Dodgers, Mets and Brewers in four MLB seasons.

The San Diego Padres have optioned right-hander Randy Vasquez to Triple-A El Paso to begin the 2024 regular season. Vasquez was acquired from the New York Yankees over the winter in the blockbuster trade involving outfielder Juan Soto, and he came to San Diego in competition for the final starting rotation spot. However, a poor spring showing (6.23 ERA with five walks and nine strikeouts in 8 2/3 Cactus League innings) sealed his fate. The 25-year-old will begin the year down on the farm, but the Friars will surely need him to make starts at some point at the big-league level this year given SD's questionable rotation depth. Vasquez could become an option for fantasy managers in NL-only leagues this year, but he has a low ceiling in mixed leagues as a streamer.

The Baltimore Orioles signed infielder/outfielder Tony Kemp to an undisclosed major-league contract on Tuesday and designated third baseman Nick Maton for assignment in a corresponding move. Kemp was in spring training with the Cincinnati Reds but opted out of his minor-league deal and is now headed back to the American League after slashing just .209/.303/.304 with five home runs, 27 RBI and a career-high 15 stolen bases in 124 games with the Oakland Athletics in 2023. In addition to being able to play the outfield, the 32-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran can also fill in at second base for the Orioles. At best, Kemp is going to fill a reserve role for the O's in 2024 and isn't much of a fantasy asset. The former fifth-round pick of the Houston Astros in 2013 out of Vanderbilt is a career .238/.325/.352 hitter with only 35 homers in eight big-league seasons.