Capps (elbow) took the mound in a game Monday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March of 2016.

EDGE Analysis

Earlier in the month, Capps had not been widely expected to be ready by Opening Day, but it is now looking like he is close to completing his recovery. Now that the 26-year-old has his first Cactus League action under his belt, he will need to show that he has regained enough effectiveness to once again be a solid big-league reliever. If that turns out to be the case, Capps could have a shot at making a late run for San Diego's closer job.

The Padres may not push Capps (elbow) to be ready by Opening Day, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

The hard-throwing righty has yet to appear in a spring training game after undergoing Tommy John surgery last March. He has been getting work in non-game settings over the past couple of weeks, but he will have to make his Cactus League debut soon if he wants to have a serious shot at challenging Brandon Maurer for the Padres' closer role to begin the regular season. San Diego could always place Capps on the disabled list to begin the year and allow him to completely heal before making his regular season debut. That scenario would obviously put a slight dent in his value, but barring a setback, the Padres' prized reliever should make his debut early in the season.

Capps' unorthodox pitch delivery likely will remain legal despite the MLB rule change regarding similar windups, Dennis Lin of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

In his first spring activities this season as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, Capps "appeared to deviate from the accepted motion in his opening bullpen session of the spring; instead of dragging his push-off foot, he was taking a second small hop," per Lin. His normal motion follows the newly outlined rules, per sources, and manager Andy Green maintained his hurler doesn't need to adjust his pitching motion. Even if he can't enter save chances early in the season, he'll wind up holding value in mixed leagues sometime this year if he can regain his elite strikeout ceiling. Of course, with only about a year removed from TJS, fantasy owners shouldn't rush that outcome.

Capps and manager Andy Green contend that the right-hander's delivery is legal, despite MLB's passing of a rule change that brings it into question, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The pitcher argues he does not believe he resets his pivot foot, which is the crux of the recent bylaw revision, which states: "A pitcher may not take a second step toward home plate with either foot or otherwise reset his pivot foot in delivery." Capps, who's already dealing with a recovery from Tommy John surgery, may also have to appeal to the league to keep his delivery. Any alteration he'd have to make to his pitching motion could further stall a return to game action or fantasy-relevant innings. While a healthy Capps has big strikeout upside in fantasy leagues, Brandon Maurer looks safer for save chances than originally thought for the outset of the 2017 season.

Capps (elbow) will be eased into game action this spring, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Capps, who underwent Tommy John surgery last March, will likely throw a simulated game before making his spring debut. The right-hander has been steadily progressing in his rehab work and his ultimate goal is to be ready for Opening Day. Capps showed great promise in his last major league season, when he compiled a 1.16 ERA over 30 games with Miami in 2015, but he'll need to work his way back to full strength before returning to major league form.

Capps (elbow) threw to hitters for the first time this spring in a live batting practice session Monday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery last March, but he's been progressing steadily through his rehab process over the offseason. He only resumed mound work at the beginning of February, but Capps still thinks he can be ready for Opening Day. How realistic this goal truly is will likely be determined once he manages to get back into game action, but this step is a positive one nonetheless.

Capps (elbow) said Wednesday that his goal is to be ready for Opening Day, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

With his return to mound work recently, Capps reached an important milestone in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. He may not pitch in spring games right away, but Capps seems confident that clearance for Opening Day is within reach. Manager Andy Green had high praise for Capps, saying Wednesday that he believes a healthy Capps is a top-three reliever in Major League Baseball, which would suggest Capps has the inside track to close once 100 percent.

Capps (elbow) recently began throwing off a mound, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander with the jump-step delivery built up to 30 pitches in his most recent bullpen session Monday. If he continues to progress from Tommy John surgery as expected, Capps could get into spring training games around March 1. Brandon Maurer is the incumbent and would seem to have the leg up for the closer role entering spring training, but a healthy Capps should push for the ninth-inning job.

Capps (elbow) signed a one-year, $987,500 deal with the Padres on Wednesday, avoiding arbitration, FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reports.

EDGE Analysis

Capps is attempting to make it back in time for Opening Day after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Mar. 8. When healthy, he offers an elite strikeout rate (49.2 percent last season) that portends a late-inning role. Brandon Maurer will presumably open the year as the closer in San Diego, but Capps is the next best Padres reliever to own this year, as he could be useful in standard leagues even if he is not getting saves.

Capps (elbow) may be available for Opening Day, the Padres' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

The hard-throwing right-hander had Tommy John surgery on March 8, leaving him approximately 13 months removed from the procedure when the 2017 season begins. Capps has the ability to emerge as an elite closer if he returns to his pre-surgery form, but the Padres may opt to bring him along slowly with respect to the ninth-inning role as Brandon Maurer fared well in the second half of 2016 (13-for-15 in save chances, 3.09 ERA from July 1 on).