Cubs, Red Sox Express Interest In Ryne Stanek

The Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox are two big-market teams that have expressed interest in veteran free-agent reliever Ryne Stanek this winter. In his third season for the Houston Astros and seventh overall in the big leagues, Stanek had a 4.09 ERA (4.60 FIP), 1.24 WHIP, 21 walks and 51 strikeouts in 50 2/3 […]

Dillon Tate Looking Healthy Ahead Of Spring Training

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said he saw right-hander Dillon Tate (forearm) in Sarasota, Florida, a few days ago and said Tate looks "unbelievable" and healthy. The skipper is hoping that Tate will be a contributor again in 2024 after a forearm injury kept him out for the entire 2023 season. Barring a setback, the […]

Giants Sign Tommy Romero To Minor-League Deal

The San Francisco Giants signed free-agent right-hander Tommy Romero to a minor-league deal on Thursday. Romero made his major-league debut in 2022 with the Tampa Bay Rays and also saw action with the Washington Nationals, allowing 12 runs (10 earned) on 11 hits (seven home runs) while walking nine and striking out seven in 8 […]

Rockies Sign John Curtiss To Minors Deal

The Colorado Rockies signed free-agent reliever John Curtiss to a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league spring training on Thursday, according to a source. Curtiss is expected to be ready for the start of the 2024 season after having arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow last August. Before his injury, the 30-year-old right-hander allowed […]

Carl Edwards Jr., Cubs Agree On Minor-League Deal

Free-agent relief pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a minor-league deal on Friday, according to a source familiar with the deal. Edwards had a 3.69 ERA in 31 2/3 innings with the Washington Nationals last season. His deal with the Cubs includes an invitation to spring training. Edwards will be reuniting […]

William Smith The Leading Candidate To Close For Royals

At the moment, Kansas City Royals left-hander William Smith is the team's leading candidate to open the 2024 season as the closer after they signed him to a one-year, $5 million contract early in free agency. Smith, who turns 35 years old in July, has won three straight World Series titles with three different teams. […]

Josh Rogers Signs Minors Deal With Rockies

The Colorado Rockies have signed pitcher Josh Rogers to a minor-league deal. The 29-year-old didn't appear in the big leagues in the 2023 season but rather spent the campaign with Triple-A Albuquerque in the Rockies organization. He made 30 appearances (13 starts) for the Isotopes but struggled mightily to an 8.02 ERA (and 7.82 FIP) […]

Josh James Signs Minors Deal With Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed right-hander Josh James to a minor-league deal. The deal presumably comes with an invite to big-league spring training, although not yet confirmed. Once a highly-touted young arm with the Astros, the now-30-year-old's career has been decimated by injury, most recently flexor tendon surgery that cost him all of last […]

Does Robert Stephenson Move the Needle for the Angels? Fantasy Baseball Outlook

The Los Angeles Angels have been dealt their fair share of body blows in recent years, some of which have been self-inflicted. Mike Trout continues to be injury-prone, their sizeable investment in former Nationals superstar Anthony Rendon has yielded 200 fruitless games in four seasons, and their decision to hold onto now-Dodger Shohei Ohtani through […]

Closers and Relief Pitcher Fantasy Baseball Rankings and Tiers - Roto Leagues (January Updates)

Hey, RotoBallers! We are back with more fantasy baseball rankings. Today, we will look at our MLB team's early 2024 fantasy baseball closer and relief pitcher rankings and tiers for 5x5 mixed roto leagues. Saves are one of the most volatile categories in fantasy baseball. However, the good news is that many teams have a clear […]

David Robertson Inks One-Year Deal With Rangers

Free-agent reliever David Robertson has signed a one-year deal in the $11-12 million range with the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers. The veteran signed a one-year deal with the Mets prior to the 2023 season and wound up tossing a tidy 2.05 ERA across 40 appearances with the club. However, Robertson was part of […]

Royals In Search Of A Closer

The Kansas City Royals are in search of a high-leverage pitcher to close out games for the club in the 2024 season. With the free-agent market devoid of quality closing options, the Royals have turned to the trade market to address their need. The club has signed relievers Will Smith and Chris Stratton this offseason […]

Ronald Guzman Signs Minors Deal With Orioles

Free agent first baseman/pitcher Ronald Guzman has signed a minor-league deal with the Baltimore Orioles. The 29-year-old declared last offseason he was attempting to transition into a two-way player but that plan was put on hold when he injured his forearm after throwing a pitch in a spring training game with the San Francisco Giants […]

Michael Lorenzen Being Eyed By The Orioles

Free-agent right-hander Michael Lorenzen is receiving interest from the Baltimore Orioles as the club remains active in the starting pitching market. Lorenzen split the 2023 season between the Tigers and Phillies, making his first career All-Star appearance. He worked to a solid 3.58 ERA in 18 starts with the Tigers but struggled to a 5.51 […]

Pitcher BABIP: Using Sabermetrics for 2024 Fantasy Baseball

While FIP is a useful tool to predict a pitcher's future ERA performance, fantasy managers should remember that ERA, not FIP, is what matters in most formats. This means that we are interested in the "luck" that separates the two statistics. While some of this luck is unpredictable, we can and should predict some of […]

Where Does Aroldis Chapman Fit With The Pirates? Fantasy Baseball Outlook

The Pittsburgh Pirates have added a high-octane arm to their relief corps as they have signed veteran big leaguer Aroldis Chapman to a one-year, $10.5 million pact for the 2024 campaign. This marks the southpaw's sixth different organization in the big leagues as he has spent time with the Reds, Yankees (twice), Cubs, Royals, and […]

Who Is The Astros Closer? Fantasy Baseball Saves Outlooks

Heading into the 2024 offseason, the Houston Astros bullpen did not seem like a crew that needed a massive overhaul. While Hector Neris, Phil Maton, and Ryne Stanek hit free agency, the steady hand of closer Ryan Pressly and the breakout of 26-year-old reliever Bryan Abreu meant that only low-end additions were likely. But the […]

Tigers Sign Drew Anderson To Minor-League Deal

The Detroit Tigers signed free-agent right-hander Drew Anderson to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Anderson, who turns 30 years old in March, spent the last two seasons pitching overseas in Japan. He's pitched in the big leagues for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers. In his five years in the big leagues […]

Josh Hader Signs With The Astros: Fantasy Impact

There are very few things more volatile in the fantasy landscape than closers. MLB teams continue to adapt and use their bullpens differently to gain an edge. That has left very few elite fantasy closers with more teams opting to go match-ups over having one ninth-inning option. It's not often an elite closer hits the […]

Angels, Matt Moore Agree To One-Year Deal Tuesday

The Los Angeles Angels and free-agent relief pitcher Matt Moore agreed to a one-year, $9 million deal Tuesday, per Los Angeles Times' Mike DiGiovanna. The 34-year-old had a solid 2023 season across three teams, including the Angels, going 5-1 with 22 holds, a 2.56 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and a 27.5% strikeout rate in 52 […]

Jay Jackson Generating Plenty Of Interest

Free-agent reliever Jay Jackson has drawn interest from 14 teams throughout the offseason, and there is growing optimism that he will receive a major-league deal, according to a source. The 36-year-old right-hander posted a 2.12 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023. In his five major-league campaigns […]

Carlos Estevez Is The Closer On Paper For Angels

Newly signed right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson said that he doesn't expect to fill in for closing duties in 2024, but he will if necessary. Meanwhile, general manager Perry Minasian noted that right-hander Carlos Estevez is the closer on paper, but the final decision will be made by manager Ron Washington. Estevez made his first All-Star […]

Phillies Agree To Terms With Kolby Allard

The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to terms on an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent left-hander Kolby Allard on Tuesday. Allard will remain in the National League East after returning to the Atlanta Braves for the 2023 season. He only made four appearances (three starts) for the Braves and allowed nine earned runs with four walks and […]

Alex Blandino Attempting Comeback As Pitcher

The Cincinnati Reds signed Alex Blandino to a minor-league deal in November. The 31-year-old hasn't played in the majors since 2021 and will be attempting a comeback as a pitcher this spring training, specifically as a knuckleballer. He hit .226 in 279 plate appearances over parts of three seasons with the Reds and suffered a […]

Mets Interested In Adam Ottavino Reunion

The New York Mets have reportedly considered free-agent relief pitcher Adam Ottavino as an option to bolster their bullpen this offseason. The 38-year-old veteran pitched well for the Mets last season, going 1-7 with 12 saves and 12 holds along with a 3.21 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 23.8% strikeout rate in 61 2/3 innings pitched. […]

Yankees, Mets Interested In Wandy Peralta

The New York Yankees and New York Mets are reportedly interested in free-agent relief pitcher Wandy Peralta. The 32-year-old pitched well for the Yankees last season, going 4-2 with four saves and 18 holds along with a 2.83 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 22.5% strikeout rate. The Yankees have maintained contact with Peralta over the offseason. […]

Cooper Criswell To Prepare As Starter In Spring Training

Boston Red Sox right-hander Cooper Criswell was told to prepare to be a starter in spring training after signing a one-year, $1 million deal for the 2024 season. The 27-year-old has pitched in just 12 major-league games, with 10 of them coming in relief in 2023 for the Tampa Bay Rays. Criswell said the Red […]

Aroldis Chapman Agrees With Pirates

Free-agent Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, according to sources. Chapman started last year with the Kansas City Royals before joining the eventual World Series-champion Texas Rangers. In 61 total relief appearances, the seven-time All-Star reliever had a 3.09 ERA (2.52 FIP), 1.25 WHIP, six saves, […]

Astros Designate Matt Gage For Assignment

The Houston Astros designated left-hander Matt Gage for assignment on Monday to make room on the 40-man roster for recently signed left-handed reliever Josh Hader, according to a source. Gage made his big-league debut in 2022 with the Toronto Blue Jays and made five relief appearances for the Astros in 2023, allowing two earned runs […]

Collin McHugh Announces His Retirement

Veteran right-hander Collin McHugh announced his retirement from professional baseball on Monday on his Instagram account. The 36-year-old spent his final season in the big leagues in 2023 with the Atlanta Braves, recording a 4.30 ERA (4.09 FIP), 1.57 WHIP, 22 walks and 47 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings over 41 appearances (one start) during […]