Kenley Jansen Expected To Close To Start 2021

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen is expected to serve as the team's closer to start the 2021 season, according to manager Dave Roberts. Jansen struggled during the 2020 postseason and recorded an ERA over 3.00 in the regular season for the third straight year. The 33-year-old is no longer the dominant ninth-inning option he […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook - February 19th

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. I began this column a year ago, and made it about four or five articles in when Major League Baseball decided to shut things down, just like everything else around the globe, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, things are at least a little more […]

Playing For Keeps: Making Keeper Decisions for 2021

Spring training is officially underway, and with that comes the start of fantasy baseball draft season. While the majority of people participate in redraft leagues, keeper formats are also popular, and fantasy managers in those leagues are already weighing their decisions on which players to retain and which to toss back into the pool for […]

Matt Harvey May Not Start For Orioles

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Thursday that he will keep his options open with newly signed pitcher Matt Harvey. In terms of whether Harvey would be considered as a starter or a bullpen option, Hyde said: "Nothing is set in stone and we're just going to give him an opportunity to make the team." […]

Scott Oberg On Track To Return In 2021

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Scott Oberg (shoulder) is on track to return to the bullpen this year, according to Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. The 30-year-old right-hander missed the entire 2020 season due to blood-clotting issues in his throwing arm, which eventually required thoracic outlet surgery on his right shoulder in September. Oberg told reporters […]

Tigers Sign Wily Peralta To Minor League Deal

The Detroit Tigers have signed relief pitcher Wily Peralta to a minor league deal and he has been invited to spring training with the team. Peralta sat out the 2020 season after being designated for assignment by the Kansas City Royals in 2019. During his last year in the big leagues in 2019, he totaled […]

Jordan Hicks "Ready To Go"

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jordan Hicks (elbow) is "ready to go," according to Cardinals bullpen coach Bryan Eversgerd. Hicks has reportedly been throwing without issue and is now about 19 months removed from his Tommy John surgery. Entering camp, Giovanny Gallegos was considered the favorite for saves in St. Louis, but if Hicks is indeed […]

MLB Spring Training Notebook - February 18th

Welcome to the 2021 edition of RotoBaller's Spring Training Notebook. I began this column a year ago, and made it about four or five articles in when Major League Baseball decided to shut things down, just like everything else around the globe, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, things are at least a little more […]

Trevor Rosenthal Agrees To One-Year Deal With A's

The Oakland Athletics and relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal are in agreement on a one-year, $11 million contract, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. Rosenthal figures to slot into the closer role after Liam Hendriks departed Oakland in free agency. Rosenthal was superb last season, converting 11 of 12 save chances with a 1.90 ERA […]

Oliver Perez Returns To Cleveland

The Cleveland Indians have made a deal with relief pitcher Oliver Perez on Thursday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports. The 39-year-old lefty has shifted around quite a bit over his 18-year career, but he's finally found a bit of stability in Cleveland. He owns a 2.67 ERA thus far in Cleveland, including a 2.00 mark […]

Top 250 Dynasty Prospects Rankings (Part 1)

RotoBaller's Top 250 Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Prospects list is back and refreshed for the 2021 season. Baseball has undergone a lot of change over the past 12 months due to the pandemic and no area of the game has been more heavily impacted than the minor leagues. Since this time last year, Minor League Baseball has […]

Demarcus Evans Won't Throw Off Mound Until Mid-March

Texas Rangers relief pitcher Demarcus Evans (lat) isn't cleared to throw off a mound and won't be until mid-March after offseason surgery. Evans showed promise in his first four MLB games last year, throwing four innings with four strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA. It was a small sample size, but the hard-throwing youngster projects to […]

Joely Rodriguez Behind Schedule

Texas Rangers pitcher Joely Rodriguez (ankle) is reportedly a bit behind schedule, according to Levi Weaver of The Athletic. Rodriguez pitched in 12 games last year for the Rangers, posting a 2.13 ERA with 17 strikeouts. A strong 2020 season could propel Rodriguez into a larger role in 2021, though the injury setback could be […]

Blue Jays To Play First Two Homestands In Florida

The Toronto Blue Jays will play the first two homestands of the regular season at their spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, because of Canadian government restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blue Jays start off with a three-game series at the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers before a homestand with four games against […]

Padres Open-Minded About Bullpen

The San Diego Padres have relief pitchers Drew Pomeranz, Emilio Pagan, Mark Melancon and Keone Kela as options for the closer's role this season, but manager Jayce Tingler said on Wednesday that the club will be open-minded about the bullpen. "We're not committed to one way right now. We're going to stay extremely flexible," Tingler […]

Mets Remain In On Jeremy Jeffress

In addition to free-agent relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal, the New York Mets remain interested in 33-year-old free-agent reliever Jeremy Jeffress. Following a subpar 2019 season, the right-hander posted a 1.54 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP and 17:12 K:BB in 23 1/3 innings pitched for the Cubs in 2020. While Jeffress doesn't have the upside of Rosenthal, […]

Anthony Bass The Early Front-Runner For Saves

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly went to relief pitcher Anthony Bass often when discussing the team's closer role on Wednesday, according to Craig Mish of the Miami Herald. The ninth inning would seem to be an open competition after Brandon Kintzler did not re-sign with the Marlins, but Mattingly is already favoring Bass before even seeing […]

Jeff Brigham Sent To 60-Day Injured List

Miami Marlins pitcher Jeff Brigham was placed on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday morning. This created a 40-man roster spot for the newly signed Adam Duvall. Brigham pitched just once in 2020 due to issues with COVID-19 and a biceps strain to go with it. Brigham has worked mostly in mop-up duty at the […]

Red Sox Acquire Ronaldo Hernandez, Nick Sogard

The Boston Red Sox acquired catching prospect Ronaldo Hernandez and infield prospect Nick Sogard from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday in exchange for right-hander Chris Mazza, left-hander Jeffrey Springs and cash considerations. Hernandez was Tampa's No. 14 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. The 23-year-old has a really strong arm and hit .265 with nine […]

Marlins Acquire Reliever John Curtiss

The Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays completed a cross-state trade on Wednesday morning. The Marlins acquired relief pitcher John Curtiss in exchange for first base prospect Evan Edwards. Curtiss was outstanding in the shortened 2020 season, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts in 25 innings with just three walks. It was […]

Tony Watson Signs With Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies and relief pitcher Tony Watson agreed to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training, according to Todd Zolecki. Watson pitched well last season allowing a 2.50 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP with the Giants, albeit in only 18 innings. He has some experience as a closer when he racked […]

Pedro Strop Returns To The Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have brought back relief pitcher Pedro Strop on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Strip, 35, started last season with the Reds and only pitched in four games due to injuries and was eventually released and picked up by the Cubs. He didn't make any appearances for the […]

Cubs Sign Brandon Workman

The Chicago Cubs and relief pitcher Brandon Workman have agreed to a one-year deal worth $1 million on Wednesday, with the chance to earn up to $2 million if he reaches performance-based incentives. The reliever is now 32 years of age and struggled mightily in 2020 with a 5.95 ERA in 19 2/3 innings with […]

Cody Allen Hangs Up His Cleats

Free-agent relief pitcher Cody Allen drew some interest on the open market but has decided to retire from Major League Baseball. The 32-year-old compiled 153 career saves, with all but four of them coming for the Cleveland Indians. The right-hander was the ninth-inning man for Cleveland's 2016 World Series team, pitching in four World Series […]

Rays Re-Sign Oliver Drake

The Tampa Bay Rays are re-signing relief pitcher Oliver Drake to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday. The club also traded reliever John Curtiss to the Miami Marlins in exchange for minor league first baseman Evan Edwards. The 34-year-old Drake is expected to start the season on the 60-day injured list due to a flexor tendon […]

Rangers Acquire Josh Sborz From Dodgers

The Texas Rangers acquired right-handed pitcher Josh Sborz from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in exchange for minor league righty Jhan Zambrano. Sborz was designated for assignment on Feb. 11 when the Dodgers signed Trevor Bauer. A second-round pick in 2015, Sborz made his major league debut in June of 2019 and has thrown […]

Mets In On Trevor Rosenthal

The New York Mets have stayed in touch with free-agent relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal and are clearly "in" on the right-hander. The hard-throwing veteran is arguably the best reliever left on the open market after a bounce-back 2020 campaign in which he was a finalist for National League Reliever of the Year. The 30-year-old recorded […]

Matt Wise Named Interim Pitching Coach

Los Angeles Angels bullpen coach Matt Wise has been named as the team's interim pitching coach, replacing the suspended Mickey Callaway. New executive Dom Chiti will fill in as the bullpen coach until the investigation of Callaway is completed. Callaway is being investigated by Major League Baseball over allegations of inappropriate behavior toward several women […]

Justin Wilson Agrees To Deal With Yankees

The New York Yankees have agreed to a deal with relief pitcher Justin Wilson, pending a physical. Wilson pitched for the Yankees back in 2015 and spent the last two years pitching out of the New York Mets bullpen. Last year, Wilson posted a 3.66 ERA and 1.37 WHIP over 19.2 innings, averaging 10.5 K/9. […]

Padres Sign Keone Kela

The San Diego Padres have signed free-agent relief pitcher Keone Kela. The deal will be finalized once Kela passes a physical. Kela, who posted 24 saves for the Texas Rangers during the 2018 season, was penciled in to be the closer in Pittsburgh prior to the 2020 campaign. Those plans were derailed when Kela tested […]