Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood (quad) participated in defensive drills on Sunday. He was held out of Saturday's game due to a left quad issue. He continues taking part in batting practice without any issues. This doesn't like a long term issue, but the Nationals are going to continue being cautious with their star outfielder. The expectation is that Wood should be back on the field at some point this week. Fantasy managers shouldn't be concerned about his availability for Opening Day.

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The Texas Rangers have signed outfielder Kevin Pillar to a minor-league contract on Sunday. The veteran outfielder will receive a minor-league contract with an invite to Major League camp. The 36-year-old will look to catch on as depth heading into the regular season. His offensive stats have taken a hit over the last few seasons, but Pillar could still be a useful bench option. He slashed .229/.291/.377 with eight home runs and 45 RBI across 100 games with the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels. His days of being a fantasy contributor are likely over.

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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello (shoulder) was shut down from throwing earlier in camp due to soreness in his shoulder. The right-hander has now progressed to throwing from 90 feet. Bello will now move onto a strength test on Sunday. The Red Sox are going to take it day-by-day, but it doesn't sound like Bello is going to miss significant time. The 25-year-old has become a key piece of the Red Sox rotation, so hopefully he'll be ready to go again soon.

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Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong (shoulder) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's Grapefruit contest. Wong is dealing with shoulder soreness, but is expected to be back in the lineup on Monday. This appears to be a minor injury, so Wong should be fine within the next day or two. The expectation is that Wong will operate as the starting catcher in Boston. Last season, Wong slashed .280/.333/.425 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI across 126 games. He has earned a chance to be the everyday catcher in Boston.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran (calf) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Sunday's Grapefruit League contest. This is not believed to be a serious issue, but the Red Sox are holding out Duran due to calf soreness. It's not surprising to see the Red Sox taking the cautious approach this early into camp. The expectation is that he'll be back in the lineup after a few days. For now, Roman Anthony will take over in left field and bat leadoff during Sunday's game.

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Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Zach Penrod (elbow) experienced soreness after throwing a bullpen session earlier in the week. The southpaw underwent an MRI which didn't reveal any structural damage. Despite that, the Red Sox plan to shut down Penrod for now. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Penrod is going to be out awhile. Penrod looked solid in a small sample size during the 2024 season, but will now miss the beginning of the season. The Red Sox do have some depth in the left-handed reliever department with Aroldis Chapman, Brennan Bernardino, and Justin Wilson. For now, Penrod will avoid surgery, but that could change down the road.

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Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen launched a 433-foot home run during their spring training contest against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday afternoon. Veen is considered the No. 3 prospect in the system on MLB Pipeline. Injuries have limited Veen's playing time over the past two seasons. However, when on the field, the outfielder has been productive. Last season, the 23-year-old logged just 65 games in the minor leagues. He spent most of his time at Double-A, where he held a .268/.359/.457 line with five home runs and 10 stolen bases. Veen was then given a brief look at Triple-A, where he posted a .220/.281/.476 line with six home runs across just 21 games. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his development during spring training, but given that Veen only saw a brief look at Triple-A, he will likely open the 2025 campaign at that level.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller (concussion) is still dealing with headaches and drowsiness but could have been "a lot worse." Miller took a comebacker to the head during their first spring training contest on Thursday afternoon. After the contest, Miller entered concussion protocol. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during the spring, as he may need to miss time early in the season, depending on the severity of his concussion. Last season, the 25-year-old logged 56 innings in the majors and held an 8.52 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. However, during his rookie campaign in 2023, the right-hander was quite effective as he posted a 3.76 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He tallied 119 punchouts across 124 1/3 innings of work. When he returns to action, Miller could compete for a role at the back of the starting rotation.

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Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski has been building up his workload to be a starter during spring training. Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette noted that there were discussions at the end of last season about Mlodzinski building up to a starter's workload for the next season. Last season, Mlodzinski made four starts (40 games) and held a 3.38 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He tallied 46 punchouts across 50 2/3 innings. He generated an elite 2.8 percent barrel rate and a 35.2 percent hard-hit rate, which were both well above the average marks. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Mlodzinski's status during spring training, as he could compete for a role at the back of the Pittsburgh rotation. He will likely be competing alongside Bailey Falter and top prospect Bubba Chandler for a spot in the rotation.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (elbow/shoulder) touched 95 mph during his recent bullpen session on Saturday. He also added his cutter, which was a "big step" for the 30-year-old. His cutter was his third-most used pitch during the 2023 season. Ohtani is slowly ramping up his pitching workload, as he was unable to take the mound at all during the 2024 campaign. Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2023. However, his recovery as a pitcher did not inhibit his performance in the batter's box. Last season, the 30-year-old established the 50/50 club as he held a .310/.390/.646 line. Earlier in the offseason, it was reported that Ohtani is targeting a return to the mound in May. However, fantasy managers should continue to expect him to operate as the team's DH during the campaign's opening month. During the 2023 season, Ohtani held a 3.14 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP with 167 punchouts across 132 innings.

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Chicago White Sox right-handed pitcher Prelander Berroa (elbow) exited Saturday's spring training contest against the Chicago Cubs due to right elbow discomfort. The 24-year-old was only able to tally one out before being removed from the game. He allowed two runs, a free pass, and three hits before exiting as well. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his status but should expect the team to keep him sidelined until he is fully evaluated. After logging just one 2/3 innings in the majors in the 2023 season, Berroa logged a career-high 19 innings in 2024. He tallied 26 punchouts and held a 3.32 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He was deployed primarily out of the bullpen. When he does return to action, fantasy managers should expect the 24-year-old to compete for a high-leverage role in the bullpen.

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Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) threw his second live batting practice session on Saturday. The pitcher noted that it was a "home run." Adam McCalvy of MLB.com noted that if Woodruff's next few days go well, he could reach 30+ pitches sometime next week. This is a great sign for the 32-year-old as he slowly works his way back from the surgery he underwent in October 2023 to repair the anterior capsule of his right shoulder. During the 2023 season, the right-hander held a 2.28 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP across 67 innings. He tallied 74 punchouts across this stint. He was unable to pitch during the entire 2024 campaign. If he continues to progress well, he may be able to avoid a stint on the injured list at the start of the 2025 campaign. If Woodruff needs to miss time early in the season, Tyler Alexander could see a few starting opportunities.

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Free-agent veteran outfielder Mark Canha signed a minor-league deal with an invitation to major-league spring training on Saturday with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Canha will join an already crowded outfield group in Milwaukee after splitting the 2024 season with the Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants. In a combined 125 games played, Canha slashed .242/.344/.346 with a below-average .690 OPS, seven home runs, 42 RBI, seven stolen bases and 46 runs scored in 462 plate appearances. The 36-year-old was also traded to the St. Louis Cardinals but sprained his right thumb late in the year and didn't play at all for them. At best, Canha will probably be on the weak side of a platoon in Milwaukee if he manages to make the big-league roster. Canha's plate discipline has always been his strong suit, but as a long shot for an everyday role, he'll have limited fantasy upside, if any at all.

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Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Hyeseong Kim is expected to see work in center field during spring training. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic noted that Kim would also continue to see opportunities at second base and shortstop. The team views Kim's speed as a potential positive in center field. He would also provide them with a left-handed bat in center field for lineup construction purposes. The 26-year-old saw work in the overseas outfield but only in the corners. Earlier in the offseason, Kim signed a three-year $12.5 million contract with the Dodgers. Last season in the KBO, Kim held a .326/.383/.458 line with 11 home runs and 30 swiped bags. Fantasy managers should expect Kim to see most of his work at the keystone but could receive occasional starts in center field. When Kim is not in center field, Tommy Edman or Andy Pages will likely get the starting nod.

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According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Houston Astros have begun to rekindle trade talks for third baseman Nolan Arenado. Earlier in the offseason, the third baseman refused to waive his no-trade clause to go to Houston. However, it appears the Astros have begun to express interest in a trade once again. Feinsand noted that Arenado may be inclined to join Houston as they brought in first baseman Christian Walker, who was not on the team yet when they first attempted to acquire Arenado. The Cardinals have expressed interest in shedding payroll throughout the offseason and have actively searched for a trade partner for Arenado. However, they were unable to get a deal done prior to spring training. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Arenado's status. If he were to get shipped to Houston, he would cover the hot corner, which would shift Isaac Paredes to the keystone and Jose Altuve to left field. Last season in St. Louis, Arenado held a .272/.325/.394 line with 16 long balls.

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Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Michael Kopech (forearm) threw off the mound earlier on Saturday. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic noted that the right-handed pitcher is expected to "touch the mound" for a brief session on Sunday as well. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring Kopech's status throughout camp, as he may miss the start of the season. Earlier in the offseason, Kopech was unavailable due to right forearm inflammation. However, seeing the 28-year-old begin to throw off the mound is a positive sign. Last season, the Dodgers acquired Kopech from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline. With the Dodgers, Kopech held a stellar 1.13 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP across 24 innings of work. He tallied 29 punchouts and six saves. When cleared for action, he should have a high-leverage role and compete for save opportunities.

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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello (shoulder) is still not throwing bullpens. Manager Alex Cora noted that Bello will not pitch in games for at least a week. The 25-year-old was shut down from throwing earlier this month due to soreness. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout camp. If he remains sidelined, he could be in danger of missing Opening Day. Last season, Bello held a 4.49 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP across 162 1/3 innings. He tallied 153 strikeouts and showed poor command of his pitches as he served up walks at a high 9.1 percent. However, he did generate ground-balls at a strong 51.3 percent rate. In addition to Bello, starting pitchers Kutter Crawford (knee) and Lucas Giolito (elbow) are also battling injuries and could miss Opening Day. If Bello were to be sidelined for an extended period, Quinn Priester, Cooper Criswell, or Richard Fitts could see starting opportunities early in the season.

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Kansas City Royals catching prospect Blake Mitchell (wrist) suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand and will miss at least the next 4-to-6 weeks. Mitchell will undergo surgery sometime in the coming week. Mitchell was selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. He received a brief look in the Rookie League during the 2023 season. Last summer, Mitchell opened the campaign at Single-A, where he spent most of his time. Across 106 games, the backstop posted a .238/.376/.429 line with 16 doubles, 18 home runs, and 25 stolen bases. He held a 79:142 BB:K ratio. He was then given a brief look at High-A, where he tallied two hits across five games. When the 20-year-old is cleared for action, he will likely return to High-A and is several seasons away from his MLB debut.

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Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz is working on a changeup. During his recent bullpen session on Saturday, Munoz showed off a changeup that had a 10-inch vertical drop. Munoz relies heavily on a slider and four-seamer and occasionally mixes in a sinker. Last season, the right-hander held a 2.12 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP across 59 1/3 innings of work. He tallied strikeouts at an elite 33.2% percent rate. He also generated a strong .198 xBA and a 54.0 percent ground-ball rate, both well above the average marks and placed him in the 98th and 92nd percentile, respectively. If Munoz can develop this changeup, he could become an even better pitcher with an even higher strikeout upside. Fantasy managers should view Munoz as a high-end option for saves and strikeouts in all formats.

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Washington Nationals right-handed pitcher Lucas Sims is set to throw live batting practice on Sunday. Sims signed a one-year $3 million contract with the Nationals earlier this week and is slightly behind schedule. However, seeing him set to take the mound on Sunday should put him in a good position to be ready for Opening Day. Last season, the 30-year-old held a 4.38 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP across 49 1/3 innings. He split time with the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox. During the 2023 campaign, the 30-year-old held a 3.10 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP across 61 innings. During that season, he tallied an impressive 72 punchouts. Fantasy managers should expect Sims to compete for a high-leverage role in the Washington bullpen. In addition, with the team lacking a true closer, he could eventually earn save opportunities.

From RotoBaller