The Baltimore Orioles have recalled outfielder Dylan Carlson in light of fellow outfielder Tyler O'Neill's (neck) move to the 10-day IL. Carlson will join the O's big-league roster, likely serving as depth while O'Neill works out a nagging neck injury that's forced him from a few appearances over the prior weeks. The switch-hitting 26-year-old has already been up with the Orioles briefly in 2025, going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, a RBI, and a walk. However, he's been much better for Triple-A Norfolk, batting .286 (18-for-63) with 18 runs, 11 RBI, and a 19:15 BB:K ratio. Once a first-round pick, Carlson has yet to live up to his power-speed billing in the MLB. Unless he captures some of his minor-league magic, it's unlikely he'll stick long at the major-league level. Teammate Ramon Laureano is covering right field on Saturday during their outing against the Tigers, batting ninth.

The Baltimore Orioles optioned outfielder Dylan Carlson to Triple-A Norfolk after Thursday's game against the Boston Red Sox to make room on the active roster for shortstop Gunnar Henderson (intercostal), who was officially activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday. Carlson is the odd-man out for now with Henderson returning. The 26-year-old former top prospect of the St. Louis Cardinals only played in two games in the early going in his first year in Baltimore and went hitless in six plate appearances with an RBI, run scored, one walk and four strikeouts. In only 96 games in 2024 with the Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays, Carlson slashed just .209/.287/.277 with a career-worst .563 OPS, three home runs and 25 RBI in 265 plate appearances. With a crowded outfield in Baltimore, it's going to be difficult for Carlson to break through in 2025 as a post-hype prospect.

The Baltimore Orioles have placed outfielder Colton Cowser (thumb) on the 10-day injured list due to a fracture in his left thumb. In a corresponding move, the Orioles promoted outfielder Dylan Carlson to the MLB roster. Cowser sustained this injury during their contest against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. Cowser apparently injured his thumb when sliding for a base. He was replaced by a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of that game. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status but expect him to remain sidelined for the foreseeable future. While Cowser remains sidelined, fantasy managers should expect Ramon Laureano and Heston Kjerstad to see an increase in opportunities in the corner outfield spots. Kjerstad got the starting nod on March 29, suggesting he may be slightly higher than Laureano on the depth chart. Carlson will likely only have a depth role in the outfield.

The Baltimore Orioles announced on Monday that they agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Dylan Carlson on a one-year, $975,000 deal for the 2025 season. Carlson can make an additional $25,000 at 200 plate appearances. The 26-year-old outfielder became a free agent this offseason when the Tampa Bay Rays non-tendered him. He struggled mightily at the plate last season and hit a combined .209/.287/.277 with a career-worst .563 OPS, three home runs, 25 RBI, 19 runs scored and 75 strikeouts in 265 plate appearance over 96 games with the Rays and St. Louis Cardinals. The switch-hitter was once a promising prospect in the Cardinals system, but it's been all downhill since a solid rookie campaign in 2021. Carlson won't be an everyday player in Baltimore, but he could carve out a platoon role in the outfield against left-handed pitching.

The Tampa Bay Rays non-tendered outfielder Dylan Carlson and left-handers Colin Poche, Tyler Alexander and Richard Lovely on Friday, making them all free agents. Once one of the St. Louis Cardinals' top outfield prospects, Carlson now finds himself on the open market this winter after being traded from the Cardinals to the Rays at the deadline this summer. The former first-rounder in 2016 was slightly better in his time with Tampa but still had an overall disappointing slash line in 2024 at .209/.287/.277 with a career-worst .563 OPS, only three home runs, 25 RBI, two steals and 19 runs scored in 97 total games with St. Louis and Tampa. The 26-year-old switch-hitter will surely latch on with another organization, but he's going to need to play much better to have a shot at a platoon role wherever he lands.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Dylan Carlson homered in Friday evening's series-opening walk-off win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks at Tropicana Field, adding a stolen base. Before hitting an RBI single in the eighth inning, Carlson cranked a solo home run off Arizona right-hander Ryne Nelson to right field to cut the Rays' deficit within 2-1 in the fifth frame on Friday against the D-backs. In his last 12 games since joining Tampa Bay, the 25-year-old former top prospect has gone 9-for-34 (.265) with three big flies, eight RBI, four runs scored, and one steal.

The St. Louis Cardinals sent former top prospect Dylan Carlson to the Rays for veteran reliever Shawn Armstrong. The Rays are widely known for their reclamation projects and hope to bring Carlson back to his 2021 form, where he finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting after hitting .266 with 18 home runs and 65 RBI. 2022 and 2023 were not nearly as kind to Carlson, as he regressed statistically across the board in all major categories, finally leading to his current .198 average and zero homers. A change of scenery might do Carlson some good. At only 25 years old, he still has youth on his side and also comes with a first-round draft-pick pedigree. With the Rays making a flurry of deadline moves of their own, there should be enough at-bats available for Carlson to prove himself. Don't discount the Tampa Bay front office; if they think highly enough of him to buy low, he should at least be added to all watch lists and kept a close eye on, especially over the next few weeks.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) has been activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since crashing into a wall during spring training. He'll make his season debut on Sunday, batting fifth and covering center field versus lefty Garrett Crochet. The former top prospect has struggled at times in the big leagues, so fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach here.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago White Sox. Pedro Pags will be optioned to Memphis as the corresponding move. Carlson recently completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis and is set to make his season debut on Sunday. The 25-year-old missed the start of the season due to a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. He slashed .219/.318/.333 with five home runs, 27 RBI, 27 runs, and three stolen bases over 255 plate appearances in 2023. With Tommy Edman (wrist) sidelined and Jordan Walker in Triple-A Memphis, Carlson has a clear path for playing time and is a speculative add in deep-league formats.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder), who is close to a return from his sprained left shoulder, is in the team's clubhouse on Saturday before their game against the visiting Chicago White Sox. It means that Carlson is likely on the verge of officially being activated from the injured list, although he's not in the team's lineup. The 25-year-old played nine innings in the field for Triple-A Memphis on Friday and went 3-for-11 with a solo home run in four rehab games with Memphis. With Tommy Edman (wrist) still on the IL, Carlson is expected to take over center field duties from rookie Michael Siani when he's officially active on the Cardinals' roster. The former first-round switch-hitter so far hasn't lived up to expectations in his four years in the big leagues, but he's certainly worth a waiver-wire pickup in deep-mixed leagues.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) went 2-for-3 with a home run in a rehab game with Triple-A Memphis. Carlson was playing in his second rehab game and was used as the designated hitter in this one after playing in center field on Wednesday. He will likely need a decent amount of time to get himself ready for a return to the majors, as he hasn't yet played in a game for the Cardinals this year after suffering a sprained left shoulder in Spring Training. The 25-year-old doesn't have much fantasy appeal, but he was once a well-regarded prospect and is still young, so a post-hype breakout is possible.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) will start his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday or Wednesday, according to manager Oliver Marmol. Carlson has yet to make his season debut with the Cardinals due to a sprained left shoulder that he suffered in spring training, but he's getting closer and is now ready to play in live games. The 25-year-old switch-hitter could need extended minor-league action before the Cardinals are comfortable activating him from the 10-day injured list, but when he does return to the big-league roster, he could see pretty regular playing time in center field since Tommy Edman (wrist) is still sidelined. Right now, rookie Michael Siani has been seeing most of the starts in center for the Red Birds.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) has taken swings, including some in the cage off batting practice tosses, and has gone through defensive work that includes throwing. However, he's still feeling some pain on the follow-through of his right-handed swing, but throwing has gone better than expected. There remains no timetable for his 2024 debut, but he's making progress and could start a minor-league rehab assignment in a few days. The 25-year-old is making slow progress and appears to be ahead of Tommy Edman (wrist) in his rehab, so he could be set for a starting role in center field when he's able to come off the injured list. The switch-hitting former 33rd overall pick in 2016 has disappointed in recent seasons, and injuries haven't helped his cause. When Edman is ready, Carlson figures to be a fourth outfielder in St. Louis.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tommy Edman (wrist) will start taking dry swings on Monday and will hit off a tee on Tuesday. Meanwhile, outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) will hit off a tee on Monday and will progress to soft toss this week. Edman is probably further from making his 2024 debut than Carlson after recovering from offseason surgery on his right wrist. When healthy, the 28-year-old will be St. Louis' starting center fielder after slashing .248/.307/.399 with a career-high-tying 13 home runs, 47 RBI and 27 stolen bases in 137 games played. Edman should be rostered in most fantasy baseball leagues despite his late start to the season. Carlson was shut down for two weeks after receiving a cortisone injection for an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder. The 25-year-old could have been playing every day if he was healthy, but when he returns, he might merely be the team's fourth outfielder.

St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) and shortstop Tommy Edman (wrist) will begin hitting activities on Monday. Per Cardinals' manager Oli Marmol, the two will begin to ramp up their rehab process on Monday by hitting off a tee and taking soft toss. Edman had previously been cleared for baseball activities while Carlson had not, so this is a positive sign for Carlson's progress. No return timeline has been established for either player. In Carlson's absence, Victor Scott II's takeover in center field has not gone well with Scott hitting for just a .091 batting average. Masyn Winn has filled in for Edman at shortstop much more admirably, hitting .379 to start this season. Edman will hold more value to fantasy managers than Carlson upon their returns.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) has not been cleared for baseball activities and is still in the strengthening phase of his rehab as he tries to recover from a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. Lars Nootbaar (ribs) and Tommy Edman (wrist) also landed on the injured list to start the 2024 campaign, which allowed rookie outfield prospect Victor Scott II to open the year as the team's starting center fielder. But Scott has really struggled offensively, so the Cards could really use one of the trio of injured outfielders to return. Nootbaar will probably be the first to be activated. By the time the 25-year-old Carlson is ready to make his season debut, he might be back to being the club's fourth outfielder.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) has been diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder and will start the season on the injured list after colliding with teammate Jordan Walker in Monday's contest. A Cardinals official said that Carlson's absence will be weeks, "not a matter of months." St. Louis' outfield is a mess to begin the year, with Carlson joining Tommy Edman (wrist) and Lars Nootbaar (ribs) on the IL. It means that one of the team's top prospects, Victor Scott II, will now make the Opening Day roster and start in center field on Thursday versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Michael Siani has also made the Opening Day roster and could see playing time in the outfield early on with Carlson, Edman and Nootbaar sidelined.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's exhibition game in Arizona against the Chicago Cubs, but shortstop Brandon Crawford (wrist) has returned after being hit by a pitch recently. Crawford is starting at shortstop and batting eighth. Carlson injured his left shoulder in Monday's Cactus League game when he collided with teammate Jordan Walker in the outfielder, and we still don't know the severity of the injury. With Opening Day right around the corner on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Carlson may not be ready. Tommy Edman (wrist) and Lars Nootbaar (ribs) are on the injured list, so Michael Siani could be St. Louis' starting center fielder on Opening Day.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson (shoulder) is dealing with a "left-shoulder injury" after colliding with teammate Jordan Walker in Monday's exhibition contest against the Chicago Cubs, according to the team. The severity of Carlson's injury has not been determined yet, so fantasy managers will want to check back for more information either later tonight or Tuesday morning. Outfielders Tommy Edman (wrist) and Lars Nootbaar (ribs) will start the year on the injured list, so the Cardinals can ill-afford to lose another outfielder to open the season. The 25-year-old Carlson is expected to be the regular center fielder in St. Louis, at least until Edman is able to return. If Carlson joins Edman and Nootbaar on the IL, Michael Siano could open the year with regular playing time, and prospect Victor Scott II would likely join the big-league roster.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that the Opening Day center field job is still open and he is not ready to name a starter in that spot yet. With Tommy Edman (wrist) set to open the season on the injured list after having surgery on his right wrist in the offseason, Dylan Carlson, Victor Scott II and Michael Siani are competing for the job. Carlson is getting the start in center field in the team's Grapefruit League game on Saturday and is the most likely candidate to see most of the playing time in center until Edman returns. The 25-year-old year-old Carlson also had offseason surgery on his ankle in September, but he's good to go and is gaining steam in deep-mixed leagues with Edman injured. Scott, 23, has plenty of speed to spare and has really impressed in spring training. Siani, 24, would be the long shot, but he could make the Opening Day roster out of camp as a fourth or fifth outfielder.