March 28, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays catcher
Danny Jansen (rib) is in Friday's starting lineup. Jansen will be behind the dish and bat sixth against Colorado left-hander
Kyle Freeland. Jansen was sidelined at the end of spring training due to a pulled muscle in his rib cage. However, the 29-year-old was able to progress enough and will not miss Opening Day. Earlier in the offseason, the Rays signed Jansen to a one-year deal worth $8.5 million to be the primary backstop. Before the injury, Jansen tallied three round-trippers with a .320/.452/.640 slash line with two doubles and two long balls across 11 contests in the Grapefruit League. Last season, Jansen posted a modest .205/.309/.349 slash line with nine long balls. He is worth a look in DFS competitions facing Freeland, who posted a 5.24 ERA last season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
March 27, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays catcher
Danny Jansen (rib) appears to be ready to play on Opening Day on Friday against the Colorado Rockies after testing out his injured rib muscle while catching and hitting in a simulated game on Wednesday, according to Bally Sports' Ryan Bass. Jansen didn't have any limitations in Wednesday's sim game, clearing the way for him to be active on Friday. The 29-year-old backstop will open the 2025 campaign as Tampa's starting catcher after hitting a combined .205/.309/.349 with a .658 OPS, nine home runs and 24 RBI in 92 games with the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox in 2024. Jansen has decent pop for a catcher, but durability is an issue, as he's played in more than 100 games just once in his seven MLB seasons, and not since 2019. Expect the Rays to rest him regularly with
Ben Rortvedt.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Bally Sports Florida - Ryan Bass
March 26, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that catcher
Danny Jansen (rib) is doing better and will test his injured rib in a five- to six-inning simulated game on Wednesday. Jansen has been out the last few days due to a pulled rib muscle, but if he responds well to Wednesday's simulated game, he will be included on the team's Opening Day roster. If Jansen doesn't do so well on Wednesday,
Kenny Piper will open the year as Tampa's backup catcher behind
Ben Rortvedt. The good news is that even if Jansen isn't ready for Friday's season opener, it sounds like he won't have a lengthy absence to begin the regular season. The 29-year-old Jansen had a solid spring training, batting .320 (8-for-25) with two doubles, two home runs and four RBI in 11 Grapefruit League games. He has decent pop for a catcher, but Jansen's injury history makes him a No. 2 fantasy catcher.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
March 22, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays catcher
Danny Jansen (rib) has been unavailable for the last few days in spring training due to a rib-muscle pull, but manager Kevin Cash is hoping that they can get him back in the Grapefruit League lineup for one of the final two spring games or Wednesday's intrasquad game. "We're trying to just manage it and keep him off the field for a couple days," Cash said. "He's in a really good spot." The 29-year-old hasn't played since Wednesday, and his availability for Opening Day next Thursday is now up in the air. It would be a shame if he's not ready, as Jansen has gone 8-for-25 with two home runs, four RBI and six runs in 11 Grapefruit League games. When healthy, Jansen is expected to be Tampa's primary backstop, but he's no stranger to missing time due to injuries in his career. If he's not ready by the end of next week,
Ben Rortvedt will jump into the No. 1 catching spot.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Bally Sports Florida - Ryan Bass
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