[ayaghmour2]

As usual, I won't do a game-by-game recap of the spring, but I will announce any noteworthy stories that occur.

February 29th, 2024: Today marks the start of the Spring, so I called up a handful of non-roster invitees.

March 1st, 2024: The Red Sox signed RHP Phila Maton to a 1-year, $3,080,000 contract. He spent last year with us and Chicago, wortkina 3.02 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 62.2 innings with 76 strikeouts and 28 walks. They also signed RHP Ryan Tepara to a 1-year, $3,000,000 contract. He spent last year with the Rangers, and was 5-1 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.

March 8th, 2024: The Royals traded LF Oscar Rohjas to the Orioles for SS Juan Blancas and RHP Tyler Hanson. It's an intriguing deal for both teams.

March 15th, 2024: The Astros will be without RHP Corbin Martin for the year after he tore his flexor tendon. The former 2nd Rounder back in 2017 is a career 6-10 with a 3.94 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 191.2 innings with the Astros.

March 16th, 2024: Tampa lost RHP Francisco Rios for the year with a partially torn UCL. Last season was a rough one for him, his first with the Rays, as he was 3-8 with a 5.73 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 52 games (4 starts).

March 17th, 2024: The Twins lost Michael Pineda for the year with a torn rotator cuff. He's always dealt with injuries, and missed all of 2023 with a torn UCL he suffered in September of 2022.

March 19th, 2024: I traded Corbin Burnes to the Tigers for CL Marco Jimenez. Jimenez, a 24-year-old from the Domincan Republic is rated a 1.5/3.5, and spent 2022 with the Tigers, going 4-5 with a 3.51 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. He doesn't have to be added to the 40-man roster since he currently has a minor league deal.

Thomas Dillard is headed to the DL for 3 weeks with a bone bruise in his wrist. It's not a major injury, but our star catcher will not be back for Opening Day. Austin Hedges and Nick Fieght will get time behind the plate for the start of the year.

March 21st, 2024: Tampa will be without RHP Jose Almonte for the year with a partially torn unlar collateral ligament. Last year was his first in Tampa, and hes tossed 12.1 innings in 9 pen appearences, striking out 14 and walking 3.

March 27th, 2024: The Braves signed LHP Brad Hnd to a 1-year, $2,840,000 contract. The lefty had a bit of a down year in Toronto last season, but owns a career 3.87 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 74 saves.

March 28th, 2024: The Hand signing looks crucial now, as the Braves lost CL A.J. Minter for the year with a torn UCL. He's had his share of injury concnerns, logging under 70 innings total from 2019-2023, after 70.1 in 2018.

Arizona also lost RP Yency Almonte for the year with a damaged elbow ligament. After being a productive starter in 2021, he's split time between the pen and rotation with subpar results, recording ERA's of 5.92 and 6.60.

March 30th, 2024: The Rays can't catch a break, losing RHP Adrian Navas for 13 months with a torn UCL. In his career that spans parts of four seasons, he's worked a 2.85 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 120 strikeouts in 110.1 innings.

March 31st, 2024: The White Sox will be without SP Hector Antonio Perez for over a year with a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament. He hasn't had much big league success in 33 games (30 starts), going 6-10 with a 6.08 ERA and 1.72 WHIP.

The Mets took a bigger blow, losing star pitcher Brady Singer for the year with a torn labrum. The former 6th Overall Pick in 2018 is a career 30-17 with a 3.42 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 408 innings. He's struck out 379, including 201 last year in a dominate season where he finished 2nd in Cy Young voting.

April 3rd, 2024: With Opening Day tomorrow, I finalized my Opening Day roster, which looks like the best one I've had ever.

SP Walker Buehler (4/4)
SP Jake Florence (3.5/4.5)
SP Jordan Montgomery (3.5/3.5)
SP A.J. Puckett (2.5/2.5)
SP Mike Soroka (3.5/3.5)
RP Ernesto Estrella (3/3.5)
RP Luiz Gohara (3/3)
RP Tyler Jay (2.5/2.5)
RP Ben Popkin (3.5/5)
RP Max Povse (2.5/2.5)
RP Alpha Quivers (3/4.5)
RP Yasukazu Shiotani (4/4)
CL Jorge Moya (5/5)
C Nick Feight (2/2)
C Austin Hedgers (2/2)
1B Seth Beer (4/4)
1B Ryan Mountcastle (2.5/3)
2B Scott Kingery (3/3)
2B Brendan Rodgers (4/4)
3B Blake Tiberi (3/3)
SS Nick Gordon (3.5/3.5)
LF Lewis Brinson (3/3)
LF Adam Haseley (3.5/3.5)
CF Mickey Moniak (4/4)
RF Shoehi Ohtani (4/4)

Don't forget, I also have C Thomas Dillard (5/5) who will be back in a week.

There really aren't any weaknesses on this team except maybe my fifth starter, although I have a pair of 3/3.5 guys ready in AAA if needed. Same with third, where Nolan Gorman (3/4) can be called upon if Tiberi struggles. Of course, the bullpen can always be upgraded, and I actually have optionable guys so I don't have to worry too much.

Also, our Spring record was 16-12, so we actually preformed pretty well, but as many know, Spring record's aren't too important. I'm excited for this year, and I think the NL is ours!