Joe Smith Signs With Twins

Free-agent relief pitcher Joe Smith is signing an undisclosed deal with the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, according to a source. The 37-year-old right-hander split the 2021 season with the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners, posting a 4.99 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 34 strikeouts and eight walks in 39 2/3 relief innings over 50 appearances. […]

Rays Place Yonny Chirinos On 60-Day Injured List

The Tampa Bay Rays placed right-hander Yonny Chirinos (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Friday to make room for outfielder Luke Raley, whom the Rays acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Chirinos had Tommy John surgery in August of 2020 and is also recovering from surgery last September to fix a […]

Garrett Whitlock Battling For Rotation Spot

Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock is in contention for the final rotation spot this spring with veteran Rich Hill. Manager Alex Cora said that Nick Pivetta is in line to be the No. 2 starter behind Nathan Eovaldi when the Red Sox open up the season against the rival New York Yankees. Tanner Houck […]

Kenley Jansen To Be Braves Primary Closer

Relief pitcher Kenley Jansen will be the Atlanta Braves primary closer after signing to a one-year, $16 million deal on Friday night. Left-handed reliever Will Smith is fine with the move and told general manager Alex Anthopoulous that he just wants to win another World Series ring. It's obviously a big hit to Smith's fantasy […]

Closers and Saves Report for 2022 Fantasy Baseball Drafts

We're back! Baseball is back and we're still getting all 162 games, so there can be good news in 2022! While there are still some big-name relievers looming in free agency and likely some trades left to come, it's never too early to take a look at where each team's bullpen stands. Once the season gets […]

Raisel Iglesias To Be Used In One-Inning Role

Los Angeles Angels closer Raisel Iglesias will be used in a one-inning role this year, according to manager Joe Maddon. Iglesias pitched more than an inning 15 times in 2021, although the Angels limited his usage down the stretch in order to keep him healthy heading into free agency. The Halos re-signed the right-hander to […]

Kenley Jansen Joins Braves

The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent relief pitcher Kenley Jansen to a one-year, $16 million deal on Friday. The three-time All-Star spent all 12 years of his MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he will now head to the east coast and is likely to supplant left-hander Will Smith as the Braves new closer […]

Rays Acquire Luke Raley From Dodgers

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired outfielder Luke Raley from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday in exchange for Double-A relief pitcher Tanner Dodson, according to sources. Raley made his major league debut with the Dodgers last year and hit .182/.250/.288 with two home runs and four RBI in 72 plate appearances over 33 games. The […]

Alex Reyes Diagnosed With Frayed Labrum

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Alex Reyes (shoulder) was diagnosed with a frayed labrum in his right shoulder and received a stem-cell injection from Dr. James Andrews. Reyes will not be allowed to throw for "at least" two weeks, so the Cardinals are expecting him to return in late May or early June. It's extremely […]

Derek Holland Joining The Red Sox

Free-agent left-hander Derek Holland announced on Twitter that he will be joining the Boston Red Sox this year. Holland made 39 appearances (one start) for the Detroit Tigers in 2021 and had a 5.07 ERA and 1.57 WHIP while striking out 51 and walking 20 in 49 2/3 innings. He's made just 14 starts over […]

Garrett Richards Joins Rangers

Free-agent right-hander Garrett Richards signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Texas Rangers on Thursday. The deal includes an option for the 2023 season. Richards was with the Boston Red Sox last season, posting a 4.87 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, three saves, 115 strikeouts and 60 walks in 40 appearances (22 starts) over 136 2/3 innings […]

Best Fantasy Baseball Fits For Baltimore’s Trade Chips

Just how much trading the Baltimore Orioles do before the regular season begins, and to an extent before the trade deadline, remains to be seen. Of course, that’s entirely speculative, but the argument can certainly be made that the Orioles should hang on to some of their younger players given where they are in their […]

Mychal Givens Signs With Cubs

The Chicago Cubs and reliever Mychal Givens have agreed to a one-year deal worth $5 million, according to Jesse Rogers. Givens should help a Cubs' bullpen that posted a 4.31 ERA in 2021. Givens posted a 2.73 ERA over 29 1/3 innings pitched while striking out 34 batters in 2021 with the Colorado Rockies. This […]

Ryan Tepera Signs Two-Year Deal With Angels

The Los Angeles Angels have signed relief pitcher Ryan Tepera to a two-year deal worth $14 million. The 34-year-old split the 2021 season with the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox. Overall, he appeared in 65 games and pitched to a 2.79 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP while averaging 10.9 K/9. He compiled two saves […]

Cubs Agree With Robert Gsellman

The Chicago Cubs are agreeing to an undisclosed deal with free-agent right-hander Robert Gsellman on Thursday, according to a source. The Cubs have been busy on Thursday, also adding veteran infielder Jonathan Villar and left-handed pitcher Daniel Norris to major league deals. Gsellman spent his first six MLB seasons with the New York Mets, posting […]

Drew Pomeranz Doubtful For Opening Day

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Drew Pomeranz, whose 2021 season ended with flexor tendon surgery in his left arm, is playing catch regularly but hasn't gotten on a mound yet. He's doubtful for Opening Day, according to manager Bob Melvin. The Padres also placed left-hander Adrian Morejon on the 60-day injured list after he underwent […]

Archie Bradley Set To Join Angels

Free-agent relief pitcher Archie Bradley is close to signing with the Los Angeles Angels and is headed to Arizona now, according to a source. Bradley spent last season pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies, where he recorded a 3.71 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 40 strikeouts, 22 walks and two saves in 51 relief innings over 53 appearances. […]

Cubs Sign Daniel Norris

The Chicago Cubs are signing free-agent left-hander Daniel Norris to an undisclosed major league deal, according to a source. The Milwaukee Brewers acquired Norris from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline last summer, but he struggled with the Brew Crew to the tune of a 6.64 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 20 1/3 innings […]

Relievers To Avoid Drafting In 2022 Fantasy Baseball

Predicting bullpen roles this offseason has been a guessing game. With the transaction freeze brought on by the lockout, some clubs will still be adding to their staff during Spring Training and could change the whole landscape of their closing situation. Not to mention, managers have been more prone to using a closer by committee, […]

AL-Only Draft Sleepers for 2022 Fantasy Baseball

Baseball is back with a vengeance! MLB teams are wheeling and dealing like fantasy managers on a bender, but who is complaining? Not me. The season starts on April 7, so your fantasy draft or auction is right around the corner. I am here to help with seven sleeper options in AL-only leagues. Who is going […]

FaBIO Analysis: Flyballer Starting Pitcher Prospects, Right-Handed Edition

I developed the Fielding- and Ballpark-Independent Outcomes (FaBIO) pitcher evaluation system circa 2013 as a tool for quantifying non-batted-ball and batted-ball fundamentals of individual pro pitchers versus batters of both and either handedness type. Since the model was first applied to affiliated 2013 MiLB play, its reach has been extended to MLB, NCAA Division 1, […]

Adrian Morejon Placed On 60-Day Injured List

The San Diego Padres have placed pitcher Adrian Morejon (elbow) on the 60-day injured list. The 23-year-old southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery last spring and is still in the midst of working his way back. The move of Morejon to the injured list helped free up a spot on the 40-man roster for newly signed […]

Greg Holland Signs With The Rangers

Relief pitcher Greg Holland has signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. The team has also invited the veteran pitcher to Spring Training with the major league squad. The 36-year-old Holland spent the last two seasons with the Kansas City Royals. He looked rejuvenated in 2020, when he had a 1.91 ERA and […]

David Robertson Signs With Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have signed reliever David Robertson to a one-year deal, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. Although Robertson has just 12 MLB innings under his belt since the end of 2019, he threw four scoreless innings during the 2021 postseason with Tampa Bay. Going forward, he'll offer veteran bullpen depth for a Cubs […]

Royals Trade For Amir Garrett Wednesday

The Kansas City Royals acquired left-handed reliever Amir Garrett from the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday in exchange for left-hander Mike Minor and cash. Garrett had seven saves for the Reds in 2021, but he also had a rough 6.04 ERA and 1.57 WHIP while striking out 61 and walking 29 in 47 2/3 innings over […]

Shane Greene Returns To Dodgers On Minors Deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed relief pitcher Shane Greene to a minor league deal on Wednesday. Greene started the 2021 season with the Atlanta Braves but finished things off with the Dodgers. Overall, he had a career-high 7.23 ERA and 1.65 WHIP while notching one save in 23 2/3 relief innings over 28 appearances. The […]

Keone Kela Joins The Diamondbacks

Free-agent relief pitcher Keone Kela agreed to a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the situation. Kela had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in May of last year, so he won't be ready to pitch until around midseason for the D-backs. The 28-year-old right-hander […]

Andrew Chafin Gets Two-Year Deal From Detroit

Free-agent relief pitcher Andrew Chafin agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. The deal includes an opt-out clause after the first year. Chafin was fantastic in 2021 with the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics, sporting a 1.83 ERA and 0.93 WHIP while striking out 64, walking 19 and earning […]

Cardinals Won't Have A Set Closer

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol suggested that the team won't have a set closer this season. It's something that the Cardinals have discussed for years. Right-hander Alex Reyes finally stayed healthy last year and rewarded the Cardinals and fantasy managers with 29 saves, but he's dealing with shoulder soreness this spring and won't be […]

Alex Reyes Won't Be On Opening Day Roster

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Alex Reyes (shoulder) will not be on the team's Opening Day roster this year. Reyes is visiting with Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday and will receive an injection to address his right shoulder soreness. The Cardinals will set a schedule on Friday for him to return to throwing. Reyes finally […]