The biggest developments in Spring Training ... so far

There has been A LOT going on across baseball since Spring Training camps began opening for the 2024 season in mid-February. Now with Grapefruit and Cactus League games underway, it might be hard to keep up with the news that has transpired over the past few weeks.

Consider this a spring refresher to help you get caught up on the top stories you may have missed.

• 12 Statcast standouts this Spring Training

Stars shining on new teams

After every long winter, the start of Spring Training games is like a baseball oasis. It's great to have the game back, and one of the highlights of every spring is seeing how some of the top players look on their new teams. So far, those players -- including the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, the Yankees' Juan Soto and the Braves' Chris Sale -- have looked really, really good.

Ohtani homered in his third at-bat with the Dodgers and went 5-for-7 through his first three games. Even as he recovers from right elbow surgery that will keep him off the mound this season, the two-time MVP looks like he's on track for Opening Day, when he will bat between two other MVPs. Oh, and Ohtani announced that he got married. Quite the offseason for that guy.

Soto has looked very comfortable in Yankee pinstripes. He went deep three times in his first four contests with the Bronx Bombers. That introduction included 17 total bases and a 2.616 OPS.

Sale has been one of the most impressive pitchers of the spring. He popped 97 mph on the radar gun in his first start and struck out nine batters through his first 4 2/3 innings without allowing a run.

Elsewhere, Corbin Burnes had a stellar debut with the Orioles. Jorge Soler has shown the power that he brings to the Giants' lineup. Sonny Gray tossed two scoreless frames with two K's in his first outing with the Cardinals, though his second start was cut short by a hamstring injury.

Young phenoms showing out

While it's been fun to watch those aforementioned veterans, there are also a bunch of top prospects who have become must-see standouts this spring. They are putting the league on notice for what's to come.

Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford (MLB's No. 6 prospect), Nationals outfielder James Wood (No. 14 prospect) and Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser (No. 19 prospect) all blasted three homers within their first eight games. Yankees slugger Spencer Jones (No. 84 prospect) launched a pitch 470 feet on the first full day of Spring Training action. Giants left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison (No. 23 prospect) has looked sharp in camp. Braves righty AJ Smith-Shawver (No. 69 prospect) has drawn rave reviews.

• 1 prospect to watch from each team during Spring Training

We even got a showdown between the top position player prospect -- the Orioles' Jackson Holliday -- and the top pitching prospect -- the Pirates' Paul Skenes. The hard-throwing Skenes won Round 1. However, we could see this matchup again and a whole lot more from the best young talents in baseball when the first Spring Breakout games are held on March 14.

This section wouldn't be complete without mentioning three players who aren't prospects but are MLB newcomers with considerable buzz: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shota Imanaga and Jung Hoo Lee.

Yamamoto's debut with the Dodgers was just about perfect. Imanaga struck out the last four batters he faced during his first outing with the Cubs. Lee has been one of the Statcast darlings of Spring Training, flashing impressive pop.

Big deals have been struck

We've also seen a lot of action away from the diamond since the start of Spring Training as a host of players have been signed, traded or extended. Here's a rundown of the most noteworthy transactions.

Cody Bellinger rejoined the Cubs on a three-year deal that contains opt-outs after 2024 and '25. He's set to debut on Wednesday.

The Giants improved their lineup and infield defense by signing Matt Chapman to a one-year contract that contains options for each season from 2025-27. That move came about two weeks after the Giants added the slugging Soler on a three-year deal.

A couple of veteran shortstops who had spent their whole careers with one franchise joined new teams last month as Brandon Crawford signed with the Cardinals and Tim Anderson joined the Marlins.

Three-time All-Star Whit Merrifield latched on with the Phillies.

Catcher Gary Sánchez, who had 19 homers in only 240 at-bats last season, finalized a deal with the Brewers.

Closer Liam Hendriks will be sidelined for at least the first few months of this season following Tommy John surgery last year, but he signed a two-year pact with the Red Sox. Similarly, frontline starter Brandon Woodruff, who may miss the entire season following right shoulder surgery in October, agreed to terms on a two-year contract to stay with the Brewers.

A couple of Keystone State aces have signed contract extensions recently. Mitch Keller, a second-round Draft pick by the Pirates in 2014, agreed to a five-year extension that will keep him with Pittsburgh through 2028. And in Philadelphia, Zack Wheeler will remain with the Phillies through 2027 thanks to a three-year deal that carries the highest average annual value ($42 million) for a contract extension in MLB history.

The Royals acquired high-leverage reliever John Schreiber in a trade with the Red Sox, and the Twins picked up outfielder Manuel Margot in a swap with the Dodgers.

Key players remain on the open market

The Hot Stove remains on as we move through March because there are a bunch of high-quality players who still don't know where they will be playing this year.

That group is headed by a couple of star southpaws, Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery. The Yankees, Angels and Phillies are among the possible landing spots for them, per MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi. Other starting pitchers available include Michael Lorenzen, Zack Greinke, Johnny Cueto and Noah Syndergaard.

J.D. Martinez is arguably the top hitter left in free agency. The 36-year-old DH hit 33 home runs and had a 134 OPS+ for the Dodgers last season. Adam Duvall, Tommy Pham and Brandon Belt could also help clubs that are looking for more offensive punch. Michael A. Taylor bopped 21 homers last season for the Twins and consistently provides top-tier defense in center field.

Perhaps these players will find Major League homes as injuries mount during Spring Training. Speaking of which...

Injuries

A handful of high-profile starting pitchers are already dealing with arm trouble.

Red Sox free-agent addition Lucas Giolito felt right elbow discomfort after his second spring start. While the team doesn't expect to announce any updates until later this week, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Tuesday morning that initial tests showed Giolito "likely has a partially torn UCL and flexor strain," which could put his 2024 season in doubt.

The Orioles will begin the regular season without Kyle Bradish and John Means. Bradish, who finished fifth among all pitchers in bWAR last year, has a sprained UCL in his right elbow. Means is a month behind schedule after dealing with a flare-up in his surgically repaired left elbow in October and won't pitch in any Grapefruit League games.

Mets ace Kodai Senga has been shut down because of a strained posterior capsule in his right shoulder. If his recovery goes smoothly, he could plausibly return to the club before the end of April.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander reported to Astros camp two weeks behind schedule because of a right shoulder issue and will begin the season on the injured list.

Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray has a "mild" right hamstring strain that could prevent him from being ready for Opening Day.

Marlins left-hander Braxton Garrett is unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular season after being delayed by general left shoulder soreness at the start of camp.

Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman, an AL Cy Young Award finalist in 2023, is dealing with right shoulder fatigue.

In the bullpen, Pirates closer David Bednar has yet to appear in a Spring Training Game due to right lat tightness. And the Angels have been cautious with right-hander Robert Stephenson, who is working through right shoulder discomfort.

There are a handful of impactful position players who are currently dinged up, but none of them have been formally ruled out for Opening Day as of yet. The biggest name on that list is reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. He has irritation around the meniscus in his right knee -- the same knee in which he tore his ACL in 2021. However, he is expected to be ready for Opening Day on March 28.

Rangers slugger Josh Jung suffered a left calf strain at the start of camp but was able to begin baseball activities during the first week of March.

The Mets have shut down Jeff McNeil from hitting activities due to a case of left biceps soreness.

The Reds' Matt McLain could make his spring debut later this month if all goes well in his recovery from a right oblique strain.

Ian Happ is optimistic that he will be playing for the Cubs on Opening Day despite a left hamstring strain.

Two players who appear iffy for the start of the regular season are Red Sox infielder Vaughn Grissom and Cardinals center fielder Tommy Edman. Grissom is viewed as doubtful for Boston's opener because of a left groin strain. There is no timetable for when Edman will see Grapefruit League action as he is continuing his recovery from offseason arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist.