The Rays announced Friday that they had signed right-handed reliever David Carpenter to a Minor League deal.

Big Leaguers are, for the most part, eerily consistent. Year in, year out, most produce stats similar to the season before. But let’s be real — how much fun would fantasy be without a surprise or 10? And with that, let’s review MLB.com/fantasy’s bold predictions for 2016.

The San Francisco Giants’ homegrown pitching prospects stole the show on Thursday, as Chris Stratton, Chase Johnson, Joan Gregorio and Tyler Beede combined to allow just one run on two hits over seven innings in a win against the Brewers.

Respectful of the game and his good fortune, Nolan Arenado is now a terrific role model in the manner of those who helped shape him.

Jose Quintana’s first spring start came in a “B” game Saturday in Goodyear. But the White Sox No. 2 starter stepped up to Cactus League action without a hitch in Thursday’s 8-2 win against the Rangers.

Joe Panik went 3-for-3 and Brandon Belt was hit by a pitch in the Giants’ 3-1 Cactus League victory Thursday over the Milwaukee Brewers.

When the Cubs signed Jason Heyward, they projected him as the starting center fielder. But with the return of Dexter Fowler and the addition of Shane Victorino, Heyward is back in right field. Do the Cubs want Heyward to still play center?

Prior to Wednesday’s Cactus League contest with the A’s, Carson Fulmer had a chance to go over and talk with Oakland ace and fellow Vanderbilt product Sonny Gray. Fulmer, the White Sox No. 1 prospect, then went out and pitched a little like Gray in Thursday’s 9-2 loss to the Royals at Camelback Ranch.

Nationals right-hander Bronson Arroyo pitched three shutout innings in a 4-3 loss to the Astros on Thursday evening. Arroyo retired all nine hitters he faced and struck out three batters. Manager Dusty Baker called it “vintage Bronson Arroyo.” The skipper should know. He managed Arroyo for six years in Cincinnati.

Angels starter Jered Weaver arrived to camp on Thursday morning with tightness in his neck and was sent for a precautionary MRI exam, general manager Billy Eppler said. Weaver struggled mightily the previous day in a 13-13 tie with the Dodgers, serving up three home runs, recording only eight outs and topping out at 81 mph with his fastball.

Astros right-hander Collin McHugh has been a better pitcher in the second half of the season compared with the first half throughout his career. McHugh would like to get off to a fast start this year and that starts by putting together consistent outings such as Thursday’s 4-3 victory over the Nationals. He surrendered only two hits and struck out a pair in three scoreless innings.

Jaime Garcia took the mound Thursday for his second Grapefruit League start this spring. It was much better than his first one, six days earlier.

It’s natural to root for a long shot, and any compassionate baseball fan would have trouble not rooting for Mitch Harris. That includes Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.

In the grand tradition of all the great Japanese starters that came before him in the Dodgers organization, Kenta Maeda is beginning to stake his claim to that august lineage.

Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta had successful surgery Thursday morning in St. Louis to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.

With the regular season still almost a month away, Rangers left-handers Cole Hamels and Martin Perez did their work in a Minor League “B” game on the back field Thursday afternoon.

Robinson Cano can finally relax. He’s finally healthy. And he’s finally on target to have that breakout season.