Injury News
Taj Bradley-Rays-SP
Taj Bradley is dealing with a strained pec but is considered day-to-day. This is an injury worth watching because it could mean a couple of days off from throwing or it could turn into a multi-week injury. Either way, he is not expected to be ready for the start of the season. The Rays are going to be cautious with their young right-hander. Bradley has much appeal coming into the year due to his skills (28% K, 9% BB, and 3.82 SIERA) not his on-field results (5.59 ERA and 1.39 WHIP). His velocity has looked good this spring and he has worked on his cutter which disappeared last season. He has been able to get the velocity back and add more movement which is a positive. The fastball is good, he just needs to figure out the secondaries which if any organization can it will be the Rays. Hopefully, this injury does not turn into something serious because the arrow is pointing up for Bradley.
Gerrit Cole-Yankees-SP
Gerrit Cole is expected to miss 1-2 months with an injury to his right elbow. He is still undergoing testing so this is a best-case scenario that he only misses 1-2 months. This is devastating news for the Yankees and fantasy owners. Cole is coming off a year in which the overall results were good (209 IP 15-4 W-L, 2.63 ERA, and 0.98 WHIP). However, the underlying skills were concerning. His strikeout rate dropped from 32% to 27%. His 3.63 SIERA was the highest since his Pittsburgh days. This was on top of a drop in velo (-1.1 mph) which is even more ominous with the information that we know now. It will be hard to click the button on Cole during drafts because there is no guarantee that he will pitch this season.
David Bednar-Pirates-RP
David Bednar (lat) is expected to resume throwing this week. With two weeks to go before the start of the regular season, Bednar should be good to go for the start of the season. This is positive news for those who have drafted Bednar or are thinking about doing it in the future. Bednar is coming off a dominant season (2.00 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 21% K:BB with 39 SV). There is always concern about pitching on a bad team but that is overblown for the most part when it comes to closers. They did sign Aroldis Chapman in the offseason but he is currently no threat to Bednar as a closer. Bednar is firmly entrenched as a top 10 closer and is closer to the top five.
Around the League
Jonathan India-Reds-3B
Jonathan India has slowly begun to get into game action as he tries to manage his plantar fasciitis symptoms. The 3B Noelvi Marte suspension has opened more playing time for India if he can stay healthy. Before this news, India was slated for a super-utility role that did not include a starting position. India has proven over the past three seasons that he can be a contributor in both power and speed (48 HR and 29 SB in 372 GP) with a decent average (career .255 AVG). The core skills are solid (21% K, 10% BB, and 8% Barrels). He doesn't hit the ball particularly hard but his power plays up due to his home ballpark. He's going late enough (291 ADP in 12-team NFBC leagues) to be worth a gamble.
San Francisco Giants Platoon Situation
The Giants did a ton of mixing and matching last year which resulted in lower at-bat totals for their "regulars". With the offseason additions of OF Jorge Soler, 3B Matt Chapman, and OF Jung Hoo Lee they don't have much room to platoon. They should have a more regular lineup this year with those three playing every day in addition to 2B Thairo Estrada and whoever their shortstop is (Marco Luciano or Nick Ahmed). The only spot that is likely to be platooned is going to first base. They are likely to go with 1B/3B Wilmer Flores against left-handers and 1B/OF LaMonte Wade Jr. against RHP. Flores hit .284 with 23 HR in 454 PA last year but is unlikely to repeat that success and is going to see fewer at-bats. LaMonte Wade Jr. is going to remain relevant in daily moves leagues and deeper mixed leagues because he is going to be on the strong side of the platoon and should hit in the middle of the lineup. He also crushes RHP (career 122 wRC+). Wade Jr. should see 475-500 PA which is just enough to keep him relevant in deeper mixed leagues and make him more valuable than Flores for fantasy despite Flore's strong 2023 season.
Justin Steele-Cub-SP
Justin Steele went 3.1 IP with 4 H, 1 BB, and 4 K's in his most recent spring start. He now has a 5.40 ERA which is another reminder to not pay attention to ERA, especially in spring training. His skills look as good as ever 13K/2 BB in 10 IP. The concern about Steele coming into the year was about him only having two pitches despite a breakout last year (3.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 20% K:BB). His core skills are very good (25% K, 5% BB, and 3.61 SIERA). On most sites, he has just two pitchers (fastball and slider) but he can manipulate his slider so that it can act like a cutter, curve, sweeper, and traditional slider. This gives him the ability to attack both LHB and RHB while keeping hitters off balance. He is not as big of a risk as some will make him out to be. He is currently going around pick #99 in NFBC drafts around other starters like Joe Musgrove, Chris Sale, and Dylan Cease.
Cristopher Sanchez-Phillies-SP
Cristopher Sanchez broke out in 2023 with a 3.44 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 20% K:BB across 18 GS. Sanchez showed solid skills across the board (24% K, 4% BB, and 3.33 SIERA). He also does a good job of keeping the ball on the ground (57% GB) which is important when pitching at home in Citizens Bank Park. Sanchez saw an improvement by featuring his offspeed pitches (slider and changeup) and throwing his fastball less often. He isn't going to ascend further into being an elite starter but he is a solid back-end starter on a good team. The deeper the league, the more valuable he becomes.
Chase Silseth-Angels-SP
Chase Silseth appears to have locked down a rotation spot for the Angels. He appeared in 16 games for the Angels last year which included 8 GS. He posted a 3.96 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 4.29 SIERA. As a starter he had a 3.89 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 21% K:BB. It was a small sample but he showed the ability to miss bats (30% K) due to his fastball/slider combination. He has a third pitch (splitter) which is important to keep hitters off balance. Silseth is worth a flier in deeper mixed leagues based on his small sample but keep in mind he is likely on an innings limit this year after throwing just 98 IP last year. Something in the 140-150 IP range would seem likely provided he stays healthy.
Dylan Cease Trade
Dylan Cease was traded to the San Diego Padres for Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte, Steven Wilson, and Samuel Zavala. Dylan Cease gets an upgrade in teams moving from the White Sox to the Padres. The White Sox are going to be one of the worst teams in the league to the Padres who are committed to winning and boast one of the more talented rosters in the league. Cease joins a rotation of Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, Michael King, and Matt Waldren or Jhony Brito. Cease is no longer going to be expected to be an ace which is important coming off a down year (4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP). He struggled with command (10% BB) but that is one of the least sticky things year to year. Cease still has great stuff (27% K and 14% SwStr) so a bounceback is not out of the question. Pitching in San Diego is also a nice park upgrade for Cease. He is someone worth gambling on because of his upside (2022 2.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 20% K:BB). Drew Thorpe was traded for the second time this offseason. He was excellent last year for the Yankees. In Single-A he had a 2.81 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, with 25% K:BB in 109 IP. He got five starts at Double-A and had 44 K and 5 BB in 30.1 IP. He is likely going to start the year in the minors for service time-related things but should make his major league debut this year. Jairo Iriarte should also get a shot to make his debut as well. He has electric stuff with an upper 90s fastball, slider, and changeup combination. The concern long term is that doesn't have the control to make it as a starter but the good news is that the White Sox can give him every opportunity to stick as a starter. There is immense strikeout upside but he is going to have to show improvement on his 14% walk rate from last year. Thorpe is the much better prospect but both are worth keeping an eye on for when they get called up.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto-Dodgers-SP
Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave up 4 ER on 8 H with 7 K's in his start against the Mariners. He was coming off a rough outing last time out in which he was hurt by weak contact. This time around the Mariners were able to put the bat on the ball with authority. Adjusting to a new team, league, ball, and country has proven to be a learning curve for the Japanese superstar. The contract plus Stuff numbers still believe that Yamamoto is going to be a top-ten starter in the majors. There was always going to be an adjustment period so the hope is that he gets it out of the way now instead of actual games. This is likely going to lower his draft price slightly but there is still so much upside. Pitching for the Dodgers is a great situation regardless of talent and Yamamoto has the stuff to be an elite starter which makes it a smart decision to ignore his struggles so far this spring.
Oneil Cruz-Pirates-SS
Oneil Cruz homered again for the Pirates (5) in their spring matchup with the Blue Jays. Cruz is hitting .292 with a 1.331 OPS. He has 6 K/5 BB in 24 AB. It is a huge positive that Cruz appears to be completely healthy after missing most of last year with an ankle injury. He has an intriguing blend of power and speed (19 HR/13 SB in 98 career GP). Hitting the ball hard has never been an issue for Cruz (15% Barrels and 45% Hardhit) but making contact has been (34% K). He has also struggled mightily with LHP (54 wRC+ in 122 PA). It is a small sample but it is worth noting and something that he is going to have to improve upon. He is expected to lead off for the Pirates which is going to lead to more at-bats and should allow Cruz to steal bases. Cruz has 25 HR/25 SB potential so it all will come down to his batting average because he could be a four or five-category contributor.
Jack Flaherty-Tigers-SP
Jack Flaherty gave up 0 ER across 4 IP with 5 K against the Phillies. Flaherty's velocity was down from his first two starts but still up 1 mph from last year. He is also showing an improved slider which was his bread and butter during his good years. Flaherty also flashed good control in this one throwing his fastball near the top of the zone and his slider down and away which created good tunneling. If Flaherty can keep this up there is a good chance that he will rebound in Detroit which is an excellent place to pitch. The key for Flaherty is going to be whether he can hold this fastball velocity throughout spring and into the regular season.
