Michael Fulmer, Brad Boxberger Viewed As Primary Closers
The Chicago Cubs view relievers Michael Fulmer and Brad Boxberger as their primary closing options in 2023 for the ninth inning. Boxberger has 82 career saves and a long track record of durability and reliability. Fulmer won the American League Rookie of the Year in 2016 and was an All-Star in 2017 as a starter, […]
Closers and Saves Report for Fantasy Baseball - Spring Training 2023
It's 2023, folks. Two thousand twenty-three. I'm aware that it's basically mid-March, but I'm still a little shocked every time I look at the date. With MLB Spring training in full swing and the World Baseball Classic underway, it's time to take our first look at the bullpens around the league to see what's changed […]
Yahoo ADP Comparison - Underpriced and Overpriced Players for Fantasy Baseball
Average Draft Position (ADP) is a must-have piece of information when it comes to drafting. While every league is different and may have a particularly aggressive or conservative group of owners when it comes to certain players, it’s the best tool we have when analyzing players’ value. Now, instead of just talking about total ADP […]
ESPN ADP Comparison - Underpriced and Overpriced Players for Fantasy Baseball
Average Draft Position (ADP) is a must-have piece of information when it comes to drafting. While every league is different and may have a particularly aggressive or conservative group of owners when it comes to certain players, it’s the best tool we have when analyzing players’ value. Now, instead of just talking about total ADP […]
Tigers Reportedly Sign Duque Hebbert To Minor-League Deal
Detroit Tigers scout Luis Molina reportedly signed Team Nicaragua's relief pitcher Duque Hebbert to a minor-league contract Monday after his performance in the World Baseball Classic's 6-1 loss to Team Dominican Republic. The 21-year-old pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing a double to Manny Machado but striking out Juan Soto, Julio Rodriguez and Rafael Devers. The […]
Andres Munoz Should Make Spring Debut Later This Week
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz (ankle) will throw live batting practice on Monday and should make his Cactus League debut in a game on Thursday or Friday. Munoz is behind the other pitchers in camp this spring after having surgery on his foot in the offseason, but barring a setback, he's expected to open […]
Felix Bautista To Make Spring Debut Tuesday
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Felix Bautista will make his spring debut Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates after dealing with knee and shoulder issues this spring. Bautista was hampered by a knee injury late in the 2022 season while he underwent a shoulder strengthening program this spring. The 27-year-old took over closing duties for the Orioles […]
Reynaldo Lopez (RP, CWS) - 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values
BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 300 CURRENT ADP: ~475 overall ANALYSIS: Once a starter, now a reliever, instant eyeballs emoji from me. You're telling me there is also a great chance that he starts the season in a closer committee with a 32-year-old fresh off a 1.40 WHIP campaign? Let's upgrade that up to the […]
Adbert Alzolay (SP/RP, CHC) - 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values
BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 430 CURRENT ADP: ~500 overall ANALYSIS: There's something about converted starters that really gets my blood pumping. Alzolay had some lofty expectations tied to him as a starter earlier in his career, but unfortunately, those never came to fruition. But there is certainly a silver lining here, as the Cubs […]
A.J. Minter (RP, ATL) - 2023 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values
BALLER MOVE: Draft target ~pick 400 CURRENT ADP: ~540 overall ANALYSIS: Minter already has some really good seasons on his resume, but in 2022, he stepped into great territory. Out of the 16 relievers to make it to the coveted 70-inning club, no one came close to matching Minter's 34.7 K%. He also finished in […]
Adrian Morejon Removed From Sunday's Contest
San Diego Padres pitcher Adrian Morejon (elbow) was forced to exit early during Sunday's Cactus League matchup against the Oakland Athletics. The left-hander exited the game due to discomfort in his elbow on his pitching arm. That certainly sounds concerning, but nobody should jump to conclusions. The Padres are likely going to have Morejon undergo […]
Josh Fleming Contending For Rotation Spot
With Tampa Bay Rays incumbent ace Tyler Glasnow (oblique) starting the season on the injured list, southpaw Josh Fleming is making a case to fill the fifth rotation spot. Fleming made three starts last season and molded a 9.26 ERA with 11 strikeouts. The lefty has yet to make more than 11 starts in his three-year career, but he's […]
Ronald Guzman Pulled From Sunday's Game
San Francisco Giants infielder/pitcher Ronald Guzman (forearm) was pulled out of Sunday's Cactus League matchup due to injury. Guzman threw a wild pitch to the backstop and immediately bent down in pain afterwards. Manager Gabe Kapler mentioned that Guzman felt something in his forearm on the final pitch that he threw. The expectation is that […]
Adrian Morejon Leaves With Arm Discomfort
San Diego Padres southpaw Adrian Morejon (arm) exited Sunday's game against the Oakland A's with arm discomfort. Manager Bob Melvin added that the pain ranges from the back of his arm to above his elbow. The Padres hope it is nothing serious and he can return soon. The 24-year-old-year-old is expecting to receive a heavy workload this […]
John Schreiber Fans Two In Saturday's Outing
Boston Red Sox relief pitcher John Schreiber walked none and struck out two in 1 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings in his Grapefruit League outing on Saturday against the Minnesota Twins. The 29-year-old right-hander faced five batters in his most recent spring outing. In his second season in Boston last year, Schreiber had a career-best […]
DL Hall Throws Live Session On Sunday
Baltimore Orioles left-hander DL Hall's (back) live batting practice session on Sunday went "extremely well," and he has another one scheduled for Tuesday at spring training. If his session on Tuesday also goes well, the Orioles are hoping to get Hall into a Grapefruit League game. The 24-year-old southpaw is building himself up as a […]
Andres Munoz Adding New Pitch And Close To Spring Debut
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz (ankle) is likely within a week from making his Cactus League debut. He's tentatively scheduled to throw one more live batting practice before getting into a spring game. Munoz had surgery shortly after last seven to clean up a previously fractured ankle. The 24-year-old right-hander is throwing pain-free now […]
Casey Sadler Throws To Live Hitters
Seattle Mariners right-hander Casey Sadler (shoulder) threw to live hitters for the first time in camp on Friday after coming off surgery. It was a big step, but Sadler still has a ways to go before he is pitching in big-league games. He wasn't throwing at full intensity and hitters were told to just track […]
Brooks Raley Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day
New York Mets relief pitcher Brooks Raley (hamstring) should be ready for Opening Day, according to manager Buck Showalter. The left-hander recently dropped out of the World Baseball Classic due to a low-grade left hamstring strain. The organization doesn't seem too concerned and believes he could return as early as Tuesday. It sounds like Raley […]
Yankees Hope To Have Lou Trivino Back In May
New York Yankees relief pitcher Lou Trivino (elbow) will open the 2023 season on the injured list with what general manager Brian Cashman called a "mild elbow ligament sprain." It's the first time that Trivino will go on the injured list in his career with an arm-related injury. Cashman is hoping the team will get […]
Brooks Raley Drops Out Of WBC Due To Injury
New York Mets relief pitcher Brooks Raley (undisclosed) has dropped out of this year's World Baseball Classic For Team USA due to an undisclosed injury. Los Angeles Angels reliever Aaron Loup will replace him on the roster. It remains to be seen what Raley's exact injury is or whether it puts him in danger of […]
Craig Stammen Removed From Friday's Game
San Diego Padres pitcher Craig Stammen (shoulder) was removed early during Friday's Cactus League contest. The veteran right-hander was forced to exit early due to discomfort in his pitching shoulder. This is not good news considering Stammen missed a majority of the second half of the 2022 campaign due to shoulder issues. It's likely that […]
Aaron Bummer Throws First Bullpen Thursday
Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Aaron Bummer (lat) threw his first bullpen session on Thursday at normal effort. Bummer said he'll have to see how he recovers on Friday, but the session went off as planned and he's feeling good. The 29-year-old left-hander entered spring training with some soreness in his left lat, so the […]
Collin Snider Looking Good This Spring
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Collin Snider has looked good so far in Cactus League games, allowing just one hit and no runs while walking none and striking out three in three relief innings to this point. The 27-year-old right-hander is unlikely to have a high-leverage role in KC's bullpen in 2023, but he's one […]
Scott Effross Resumes Throwing Program
New York Yankees relief pitcher Scott Effross (elbow), who had Tommy John surgery last October, started a throwing program on Monday. He's still in the early going of his rehab from elbow reconstruction. There's a chance that the 29-year-old right-hander could make it back for the Yankees at the tail end of the 2023 season, […]
Tommy Kahnle, Lou Trivino To Begin On Injured List
New York Yankees relief pitchers Tommy Kahnle (biceps) and Lou Trivino (elbow) will begin the 2023 season on the injured list, according to general manager Brian Cashman. Kahnle is dealing with biceps tendinitis at camp, which is also something he dealt with in 2018. The 33-year-old right-hander could end up missing the first month of […]
Mitch White To Throw Live BP Friday
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Mitch White (shoulder) is set to throw live batting practice on Friday. He recently threw a 43-pitch bullpen and may even throw a few innings in spring training if all goes according to plan. White suffered a shoulder impingement over the offseason and is slowly ramping things up to become a […]
Robert Stephenson Throws Bullpen Session
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Robert Stephenson (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday. The 30-year-old has been coping with right elbow discomfort and hasn't made an appearance in spring training. The Pirates are hoping for him to throw one more bullpen session before re-evaluating him. Stephenson spent his 2022 campaign with the Pirates and Colorado Rockies. […]
Daniel Hudson, Yency Almonte Facing Hitters Wednesday
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitchers Daniel Hudson (ankle, knee) and Yency Almonte (elbow) are scheduled to face live hitters on Wednesday for the first time since spring training started. Hudson suffered a season-ending torn left ACL last June and also had a setback with an ankle injury, which will cause him to open the 2023 […]
Gregory Soto Reports To Camp Wednesday
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Gregory Soto reported to major-league spring training camp on Wednesday. Soto has been late getting to spring training this year due to visa issues, but he should still have time to get himself ready for Opening Day as he gets set to begin his first year in Philadelphia. The 28-year-old left-hander […]