Orioles Agree On One-Year Deal With Cionel Perez

The Baltimore Orioles announced on Monday that they agreed to terms with left-hander Cionel Perez on an undisclosed one-year deal for the 2024 season with a club option for 2025 to avoid salary arbitration. Perez was seeking $1.4 million in arbitration for the 2024 season, and the Orioles had countered at $1.1 million. The 27-year-old […]

Mets Interested In Aroldis Chapman, Hector Neris

The New York Mets have expressed interest in free-agent relievers Aroldis Chapman and Hector Neris this offseason, according to league sources. Neris might be a better fit for the New York Yankees, but his asking price of one or two years at $7-11 million per year would fit the Mets' budget. The Mets have also […]

Astros Manager Won't Name Closer Between Ryan Pressly, Josh Hader

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada would not name a closer when reporters asked him over the weekend at the team's FanFest. This is notable as the Astros just signed closer Josh Hader to a record-breaking contract. Ryan Pressly, who locked down 31 saves for Houston last season, was the clear incumbent before the Hader signing. […]

Ken Giles Will Throw A Bullpen Session For Potential Suitors

Free-agent relief pitcher Ken Giles will throw a bullpen session for interested teams on Friday, Jan. 26 in Phoenix, Arizona, according to Jon Heyman. Due to injury, the 33-year-old has appeared in just nine games over the last three seasons, so he wants to prove to teams that he is finally healthy and ready to […]

John Brebbia In Agreement With White Sox

Free-agent relief pitcher John Brebbia is in agreement with the Chicago White Sox on a one-year, $5.5 million deal on Saturday, pending a physical. Brebbia comes to the White Sox after going 3-5 with a 3.99 ERA (3.93 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP with 14 walks and 47 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings pitched over 40 […]

Does Josh Hader Push The Astros Back Over The Top? Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Free agent reliever Josh Hader signed a historic deal with the Houston Astros on Friday. His total figure falls short of the $102 million deal Mets closer Edwin Diaz netted last winter but Hader's five-year, $95 million contract is the largest for a reliever in MLB history as it does not contain any referrals. Diaz's […]

Robert Stephenson Agrees To Deal With Angels

Relief pitcher Robert Stephenson will sign with the Los Angeles Angels, pending a physical. The former first-round pick struck out 77 of the 201 batters he faced in 2023, compiling 52 1/3 innings. Stephenson should work the late innings and closing is a possibility in Los Angeles, even though he has three career saves. After […]

Josh Hader Signs Megadeal With Astros

The Houston Astros have signed Josh Hader to a historic five-year, $95 million contract. While the total sum does not surpass the five-year, $102 million deal Edwin Diaz netted from the Mets prior to the 2023 season, it is the largest present-day value contract for a reliever in MLB history as it does not contain […]

Cardinals Transfer James Naile To Kia Tigers

The St. Louis Cardinals have transferred reliever James Naile to the Kia Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization. The right-hander made 10 relief appearances for the Cards in 2023 but surrendered 15 earned runs and nine walks against just seven strikeouts across 10 appearances and 15 1/3 innings of work. Add in his seven outings […]

Robert Stephenson Drawing Interest From Dodgers, Mets, Phillies

Free agent reliever Robert Stephenson is receiving interest from the Los Angeles Dodgers and a pair of NL East teams, namely the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. It has been reported that there are numerous teams with significant interest in the right-hander. A converted starter, Stephenson has found far more success as a reliever […]

Fantasy Baseball Top 100 Prospects for 2024 First-Year Player Drafts (January 2024 Update)

A number of the top international players that are being posted this offseason have signed, with a few more yet to come. Rankings for players have adjusted, some due to their destination, and a few MLB draft prospects are moving due to some additional viewing of tape and underlying metrics on those players. Otherwise, there […]

FIP/xFIP: Using Sabermetrics for 2024 Fantasy Baseball

While we've only examined how to evaluate hitters using advanced stats thus far, sabermetrics are just as useful for pitchers. The first advanced pitching stat most fantasy managers encounter is Fielding Independent Pitching or FIP. FIP measures a pitcher's actual skill instead of the effects of luck or his supporting cast. According to DIPS (Defense […]

What Is Yency Almonte's Value With The Cubs? Fantasy Baseball Outlook

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs swung a notable trade recently that saw young infielder Michael Busch and reliever Yency Almonte to the Windy City in exchange for prospects Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope. Full trade: The Chicago Cubs are acquiring third baseman Michael Busch and reliever Yency Almonte from the Los Angeles Dodgers […]

Matt Bowman Signs Minor-League Deal With Twins

Free-agent right-hander Matt Bowman signed a minor-league deal with the Minnesota Twins on Thursday that includes an invite to spring training, according to a source. He'll make $925,000 if he reaches the majors. Bowman spent the last three seasons in the New York Yankees organization and made three relief appearances for the Bombers in 2023, […]

Fernando Rodney Trying To Make A Comeback

Long-time major-league closer Fernando Rodney, who will turn 47 years old in two months, is attempting a comeback. He had 327 career saves, earned three All-Star selections, and won a World Series ring, but Rodney still has dreams of stepping back on a big-league mound. "I'm trying to get to 50," Rodney said flatly, before […]

Astros Targeting Josh Hader

Despite already having one of the best closers in postseason history in right-hander Ryan Pressly, the Houston Astros are trying to sign free-agent left-hander Josh Hader, who is considered perhaps the best closer in baseball. According to sources briefed on their discussions, the Astros are making a push for the 29-year-old southpaw who has been […]

Tyler Gilbert, Reds Agree To Minors Pact

The Cincinnati Reds have signed left-hander Tyler Gilbert to a minor-league deal with an invite to big-league spring training. The 30-year-old appeared with the Arizona Diamondbacks in each of the last two seasons, working to a combined 4.32 ERA, 9.6% K-BB%, and 36.9% ground-ball rate in that time. Thirteen of his 28 appearances in the […]

Is Sean Manaea Trustworthy With the Mets? Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Sean Manaea has been a solid pitcher throughout his eight-year big-league tenure. His 4.10 ERA fits nicely in the middle-to-back of just about every rotation in baseball. However, his most recent results are middling at best. The Mets added Manaea on a two-year, $28 million pact this winter, adding another new arm to a rotation […]

Dodgers Bring Stephen Gonsalves Aboard On Minor-League Deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed free-agent left-hander Stephen Gonsalves to a minor-league deal on Wednesday that includes an invite to spring training. The 29-year-old southpaw has thrown only 29 innings in the majors and hasn't appeared in the big leagues since 2021 with the Boston Red Sox. In 2023, he appeared at four levels of […]

Dodgers Sign Jesse Hahn To Minors Deal

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed free-agent right-hander Jesse Hahn to a minor-league deal on Wednesday that includes an invite to big-league spring training, according to sources. Hahn has pitched in parts of seven seasons in the majors with the San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals but hasn't appeared in a professional game […]

Yariel Rodriguez Signs With Blue Jays

Free-agent pitcher Yariel Rodriguez and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to an unspecified contract. The Cuban hurler and the Blue Jays were reportedly increasingly likely to get a deal done a couple of weeks ago, and it appears they have indeed come to terms, although immigration hurdles remain while Rodriguez still needs to undergo […]

Cubs Showing Interest in Guardians' Emmanuel Clase

The Chicago Cubs are looking to bolster their bullpen and are showing interest in Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. It was reported earlier in the offseason that Clase is a trade candidate and that the Guardians would be willing to move the All-Star. The Cubs are likely far from the only club interested in the […]

Austin Voth Inks One-Year Pact With Mariners

The Seattle Mariners have signed free-agent pitcher Austin Voth to a one-year, $1.25 million contract. The 31-year-old worked to a 5.19 ERA across 25 relief outings with the Orioles in 2023 but elbow inflammation bothered him for much of the season and he did not pitch after Aug. 30. Voth has bounced between the rotation […]

Vinesh Kanthan Announced As Marlins' Director Of Baseball Operations

The Miami Marlins officially announced Vinesh Kanthan as the team's director of baseball operations Tuesday. Kanthan spent the past five seasons with the Texas Rangers, most recently as assistant director of baseball operations for the reigning World Series champions. He also held roles in sports science and analytics during his tenure. Kanthan was previously in […]

Nationals Hire Sean Doolittle As Pitching Strategist

The Washington Nationals hired former left-handed relief pitcher Sean Doolittle as a pitching strategist on Tuesday. The former two-time All-Star and World Series winner will serve as a liaison between the analytics department and pitching staff while also assisting the manager and pitching coach with strategy, mental preparation and mechanics for the team's pitching staff. […]

Rangers Acquire Daniel Duarte From Reds

The Texas Rangers acquired right-hander Daniel Duarte from the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations. The Rangers now have 40 players on the major-league roster. Duarte's season ended early last year due to a shoulder injury, and it's unclear if he's going to be ready for spring training. The 27-year-old Mexican pitcher […]

Mariners Sign Joey Krehbiel To Minor-League Deal

The Seattle Mariners signed free-agent right-hander Joey Krehbiel to a minor-league deal on Tuesday that includes an invite to major-league spring training. Krehbiel has made 70 relief appearances over parts of four years in the big leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles, posting a 3.65 ERA (4.74 FIP) and 1.19 […]

Felix Bautista Would Like To Return Late In 2024

Baltimore Orioles right-handed reliever Felix Bautista (elbow) said that his surgically repaired right elbow is feeling good and he's been rehabbing in Sarasota, Florida, at the team's spring training complex this offseason. Bautista's goal is to be ready for Opening Day in 2025, but if he's ahead of schedule and able to pitch late in […]

Kendall Graveman To Miss All Of 2024

Houston Astros relief pitcher Kendall Graveman (shoulder) underwent right-shoulder surgery last week and will be forced to miss all of the 2024 season, according to the team. It's unclear what specific surgery Graveman had on his shoulder, but he said he had progressed to throwing off flat ground this offseason when the discomfort in his […]

Dusty Baker To Join Giants As Special Assistant

Former Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker is expected to join the San Francisco Giants as a special assistant to the front office, per MLB.com's Maria Guardado. The 74-year-old, who managed the Giants from 1993 through 2002, also served as a special adviser to CEO Larry Baer from 2018-19. His storied playing and managing career will […]