Robert Stephenson To Throw Off Mound On Wednesday

Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson (elbow) said that he's throwing off a mound on Wednesday for the first time since having Tommy John surgery and an internal-brace procedure back in May of last year. Stephenson hopes to be back with the Angels by early July or right around the All-Star break. The 31-year-old […]

Ben Joyce To Get Another Year To Grow Into Closer Role

The Los Angeles Angels signed veteran closer Kenley Jansen on a one-year, $10 million deal on Tuesday, which will give 24-year-old right-hander Ben Joyce another year to grow into the closer role for the Angels. While Jansen will most likely be L.A.'s primary ninth-inning arm, he's also 37 years old and an injury risk, so […]

Yankees Claim Brent Headrick Off Waivers From Twins

The New York Yankees claimed left-hander Brent Headrick off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Headrick will now head to the American League East and hope to win a roster spot with the Yankees out of spring training. The 27-year-old southpaw made his major-league debut with the Twins in 2023 and had a rough […]

Jake Cousins, Clayton Beeter Dealing With Injuries

New York Yankees right-handers Jake Cousins (forearm) and Clayton Beeter (shoulder) are both dealing with injuries prior to the start of spring training. Cousins is dealing with a forearm strain but could start throwing next week or the week after, according to manager Aaron Boone. The injury has put his status for Opening Day in […]

Evan Phillips Unlikely To Be Ready For Opening Day

According to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Evan Phillips (shoulder) is still recovering from the injury that kept him sidelined during the World Series and is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. Plunkett noted that the 30-year-old suffered a tear in the back of his rotator cuff. […]

Rangers Sign JT Chargois To Minor-League Contract

According to Aram Leighton of Just BB Media, the Texas Rangers signed right-handed pitcher JT Chargois to a minor-league contract. Last season, Chargois spent time with the Miami Marlins and Seattle Mariners. Across 36 1/3 innings, the Rice product posted a solid 2.23 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP. He tallied 30 punchouts with a modest […]

Marlins Claim Ronny Henriquez Off Waivers

According to the team, the Miami Marlins have claimed right-handed pitcher Ronny Henriquez off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. In a corresponding move, the team designated right-handed pitcher Xzavion Curry for assignment. Henriquez has spent his entire MLB career with the Twins. Last season, the right-hander appeared in 16 games for the Twins (one start) […]

Xzavion Curry Designated For Assignment

According to the team, the Miami Marlins have designated right-handed pitcher Xzavion Curry for assignment. In a corresponding move, the Marlins claimed Ronny Henriquez off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. Last season, Curry spent time with the Cleveland Guardians and Marlins. Across 42 2/3 innings, Curry posted a 4.64 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP. He […]

Braves Invite Jake Diekman To Spring Training

According to Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Braves are signing left-handed pitcher Jake Diekman to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training. Last season, the 38-year-old logged 32 innings with the New York Mets. Across this stint, Diekman held a 5.63 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He was unable […]

Red Sox Open To Closer Committee

Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said on Tuesday that the team is open to using a closer committee during the 2025 season. When asked if anyone besides lefty Aroldis Chapman and righty Liam Hendriks are closer candidates, manager Alex Cora mentioned right-hander Garrett Whitlock (elbow). The Red Sox had 20 different pitchers […]

Angels Claim Michael Petersen Off Waivers From Jays

The Los Angeles Angels claimed right-hander Michael Petersen off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday and designated right-hander Kelvin Caceres for assignment in a corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster. Petersen will be on his fourth team of the offseason after being passed around from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami […]

Jose Butto To Work As Reliever, Tylor Megill Stretching Out As Starter

New York Mets right-hander Jose Butto will be a reliever this year, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Meanwhile, Mendoza said that right-hander Tylor Megill will be stretched out as a starter during spring training. Butto went 7-3 with a nice .255 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, his first three career saves and a 79:38 K:BB in 74 […]

Mets Optimistic About A.J. Minter

New York Mets left-handed reliever A.J. Minter (hip), who is recovering from surgery on his labrum, isn't a lock to be ready for Opening Day in late March, but the Mets are optimistic he'll be with the team then. When healthy, the Mets are expecting Minter to be a key left-handed, high-leverage setup man in […]

Scott Barlow Agrees With Reds On One-Year Deal

Free-agent relief pitcher Scott Barlow agreed with the Cincinnati Reds on a one-year, $2.5 million contract on Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Jesse Rogers. The deal is still pending a physical. Barlow will head to the National League Central in 2025 after going 3-3 with a 4.25 ERA (4.02 FIP), a 1.36 WHIP, two saves, 68 […]

Kenley Jansen Agrees To Contract With Angels

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, relief pitcher Kenley Jansen has agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. Jansen has spent the last two seasons with the Boston Red Sox after a brief stint with the Atlanta Braves and a long tenure with the Los […]

What are FIP and xFIP? Sabermetrics Glossary for Fantasy Baseball (2025)

Welcome RotoBallers to our overview of FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) and xFIP (expected Fielding Independent Pitching). This article is a deeper dive into FIP/xFIP and is part of our ongoing series "Using Sabermetrics for Fantasy Baseball." In this article, we'll explore how to separate a pitcher's performance from his supporting cast and luck using metrics […]

Austin Voth Signs Overseas

According to the Yakyu Cosmopolitan, the Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball have signed right-handed pitcher Austin Voth. Voth was non-tendered by the Seattle Mariners earlier in the offseason and will take his talents to the NPB. Last summer in Seattle, Voth held a 3.69 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP across 61 innings of work. […]

Dylan Covey Elects Free Agency

According to MiLB.com, right-handed pitcher Dylan Covey has elected free agency. Covey was designated for assignment by the New York Mets earlier in the offseason and will now test the open market. The 33-year-old was only able to log 20 1/3 innings in the minor leagues due to a shoulder injury. Across this stint, he […]

Cardinals Sign Rob Kaminsky To Minor-League Contract

According to the team, the St. Louis Cardinals signed left-handed pitcher Rob Kaminsky to a minor-league contract. Kaminsky was initially drafted by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He then returned to the Cardinals for a second stint. He has logged only four 2/3 career innings in the major league. […]

Marlins Sign Janson Junk To Minor-League Deal

According to the team, the Miami Marlins have signed right-handed pitcher Janson Junk to a minor-league contract. He is also being invited to spring training. Junk has only seen limited work in the majors over the past three seasons. Last summer, Junk logged just eight innings in the majors and held a 14.63 ERA with […]

Jayvien Sandridge Signs Minor-League Deal With Yankees

According to the team, left-handed pitcher Jayvien Sandridge has signed a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees. Sandridge will also be invited to spring training. The 25-year-old has yet to reach the major leagues. Last summer, Sandridge made his Triple-A debut with the El Paso Chihuahuas. Across 39 2/3 innings of relief, the southpaw […]

Taijuan Walker Must Pitch Well To Secure Bullpen Spot

MLB.com's Todd Zolecki writes that Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker will enter spring training with the final bullpen spot because he is owed $36 million over the next two years. However, Walker is going to need to perform in Grapefruit League action to keep the spot. Pitchers Max Lazar, Tyler Phillips, Nick Vespi and Joel […]

Tyler Matzek Secures Minor-League Deal With Yankees

Free-agent left-hander Tyler Matzek is signing a minor-league deal with the New York Yankees on Monday after he recently impressed scouts in a showcase. The 34-year-old veteran southpaw will head to the American League East after appearing in only 11 games out of the bullpen for the Atlanta Braves in 2024. In his 11 outings […]

Jorge Lopez The Favorite For Saves In D.C.?

It's unclear who the Washington Nationals plan on using for the majority of their save situations in 2025, but right-hander Jorge Lopez is currently the only reliever on the roster with any real closing experience. The 32-year-old veteran signed a one-year, $3 million deal in January after posting a solid 2.89 ERA, 50 strikeouts and […]

Jon Gray Could Be Used As A Closer

The Texas Rangers have had internal discussions about using right-hander Jon Gray in a closing role in 2025, according to the Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant. Last year's primary closer Kirby Yates signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency this offseason, and Jose Leclerc also left to join the Athletics, leaving the Rangers […]

Garrett Whitlock To Face Hitters On Tuesday

The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham reports that Boston Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock (elbow) will face live hitters on Tuesday. Despite having an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow last May Whitlock will have a normal spring training. The main reason the 28-year-old should be ready to go for Opening Day in 2025 is the […]

What Are ATC Projections? Overview, Uses and Unique Features for Fantasy Baseball

As someone who has played fantasy football for a lengthier period than baseball -- the roster size, league depth, and categorical balance still remains challenging in fantasy baseball. The player pool becomes difficult to master and understand, especially as the league and roster size grows. Thankfully, projection systems help give us a baseline of numbers […]

Jhony Brito Could Be Deployed Out Of The Rotation

According to MLB.com, San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Jhony Brito (elbow) could be an option for the rotation when healthy. Brito suffered an elbow sprain at the end of the 2024 season but did not need surgery during the offseason. Fantasy managers should monitor his status during spring training as he will likely compete for […]

Trevor Richards Invited To Spring Training

According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, the Chicago Cubs are inviting right-handed pitcher Trevor Richards to spring training. The 31-year-old inked a minor-league deal with the Cubs earlier in the offseason and has officially received his invite to the big-league camp. Last season, Richards logged 65 1/3 innings with the Minnesota Twins. He was typically […]

Matt Manning Has Unclear Role Heading Into Spring Training

According to Jason Beck of MLB.com, Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Matt Manning has an unclear role heading into spring training. Beck noted that while Manning has typically been deployed as a starter, he may have to shift to a bullpen role to have a spot on the MLB roster. Currently, Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Reese […]