Cardinals Won't Have Designated Closer

The St. Louis Cardinals will enter the regular season without a designated closer, preferring instead to use matchups and workload to influence decisions. Lefty Andrew Miller has experience and could see ninth-inning duties based on the matchups. Reliever Jordan Hicks has triple-digit fastball velocity and is improving. Alex Reyes and Carlos Martinez could also be […]

Phillies Have Three Options For Ninth Inning

Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said that relief pitchers David Robertson, Seranthony Dominguez and Hector Neris could pitch in ninth-inning save situations in 2019. Nine different Phillies earned at least one save last year. Robertson has the most closing situation, but all three relievers can be unhittable when they are on their game. Robertson should […]

Drew Steckenrider Projected For Most Save Chances

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Drew Steckenrider, who had five saves as a rookie, is projected to get most of the save opportunities in the ninth inning, but left-hander Adam Conley will also get a shot if the matchups are more favorable for him. Sergio Romo, who has 109 career saves, is another option for Miami. […]

Arodys Vizcaino, A.J. Minter To Share Closing Role

Atlanta Braves relief pitchers Arodys Vizcaino and A.J. Minter (shoulder) will share the closing role this year, but Minter is unlikely to be available before the second week of the regular season. Vizcaino has a chance to stand out to begin the season, but he'll need to prove his right shoulder is fully healthy after […]

Brewers Getting Serious With Craig Kimbrel

The Milwaukee Brewers talks with free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel are pretty serious, according to sources. Kimbrel would help strengthen a bullpen that already boasts Josh Hader, Corey Knebel and Jeremy Jeffress, but Kimbrel would likely work the ninth inning. That would hurt the fantasy value of Knebel the most. Kimbrel has a 1.91 ERA, 0.92 […]

Eloy Jimenez Close To Long-Term Deal

The Chicago White Sox are closing in on a long-term deal with outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez on Wednesday. Jimenez is the team's top prospect and No. 3 overall by MLB Pipeline after hitting .337/.384/.577 with 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 108 games with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte last year. The upside is […]

CC Sabathia To Make Start Thursday

New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (heart, knee) will make his first minor league start this spring on Thursday. The veteran left-hander is likely to miss the first week or two of the regular season as he recovers from offseason knee and heart surgeries. He must also serve a five-game suspension for hitting Rays […]

Luis Severino Will Throw Again Thursday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (shoulder) made 25 pitches at about 60 feet from flat ground on Wednesday for the first time since being diagnosed with right rotator-cuff inflammation. The right-hander said he felt no pain and will increase his throws to 50 on Thursday. Severino will miss at least the first month […]

Twins Haven't Named Closer

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli hasn't offered any specifics about the team's ninth-inning plans this year, and the Twins leadership has spoken more broadly about high-leverage situations in the final three innings. Blake Parker, Trevor Hildenberger, Trevor May, Taylor Rogers and Fernando Romero will be featured in those situations, but it's unclear how it will […]

Royals Won't Have Set Closer In 2019

Even though Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Wily Peralta was perfect in his 14 save chances while filling in for Kelvin Herrera last year, manager Ned Yost said the team won't have a set closer this year. Yost will think of his relievers mainly as "high-leverage" guys, which includes Peralta, Jake Diekman, Tim Hill and […]

Shane Greene Still Detroit's Closer

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joe Jimenez is the closer of the future, but Shane Greene remains the closer of the present after finishing fourth in the American League with 32 saves last year. If Greene pitches well in the first half, he could be on the trade block at the July deadline. Despite the 32 […]

Mookie Betts Not Rushing To Sign Extension

Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts seems intent on testing the free-agent waters when his contract is up. "That’s exactly what I expect. I don’t expect anything to happen until I’m a free agent," Betts said when asked if he expects to enter the 2019 season without signing a long-term extension. The 2018 American League […]

Chandler Jones Transitioning Back To Outside Linebacker

Arizona Cardinals pass rusher Chandler Jones, who was tied for seventh in the NFL with 13 sacks in 2018, is "very excited" to move from defensive end back to outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Vance Joseph's 3-4 defensive scheme. Jones led the NFL with 17 sacks in 2017 the last time he played outside linebacker. […]

Giants Meet With Dwayne Haskins

The New York Giants brass met with Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins on Tuesday night, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Head coach Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator Mike Shula, vice president of player evaluation Chris Mara, director of college scouting Chris Pettit and assistant general manager Kevin Abrams were in attendance. The Giants have the […]

Andrew McCutchen To Hit Leadoff For Phils

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen will hit leadoff for the team this year instead of second baseman Cesar Hernandez. McCutchen has a career .378 on-base percentage and .481 slugging percentage and can still run a bit. In 49 games hitting leadoff last year, Cutch had a .414 OBP. Hernandez has a .366 OBP the last […]

Rhys Hoskins Battling Sore Shoulder

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman/outfielder Rhys Hoskins is battling "mild" left shoulder soreness, but manager Gabe Kapler said there is no reason to worry. An MRI exam showed no structural damage and Hoskins is expected to play on Opening Day on March 28. In the even Hoskins ever needs rest or is injured, Kapler said third […]

Dan Vogelbach Hopes To Return Thursday

Seattle Mariners first baseman Dan Vogelbach was hit by a pitch on the right elbow in the season opener against the A's in Tokyo on Wednesday and had to be taken out for the final three innings. However, he hopes to be back in action on Thursday. With the M's facing right-hander Marco Estrada on […]

White Sox Haven't Officially Announced Closer

Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria hasn't officially named a closer and might not do so before the regular season starts. Alex Colome, Kelvin Herrera, Nate Jones and Jace Fry are all good late-inning options. Colome led the American League with 47 saves for the Rays in 2017 and might be the odds-on-favorite alongside Kelvin […]

Ken Giles Is Toronto's Undisputed Closer

Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles is locked in as the undisputed closer despite barely pitching this spring after dealing with a severe cold and later a sore shoulder. He had a rough 4.65 ERA last year with the Astros and Blue Jays, but he was also perfect in his 26 save chances. Ryan Tepera, […]

Rays Will Play Matchups In Ninth Inning

The Tampa Bay Rays will head into the 2019 regular season without naming a closer and will instead play the matchups in the ninth inning. Sergio Romo, who led the team with 25 saves last year, is gone, so relievers Jose Alvarado and Chaz Roe are expected to see most of the opportunities to close […]

Matt Barnes A Strong Candidate For Saves

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Matt Barnes (96 strikeouts in 61 2/3 frames last year) is a strong candidate for the closing duties to open the season, but manager Alex Cora has been coy on who his closer will be on Opening Day. “You’ll find out on March 28,” Cora has said repeatedly. Ryan Brasier […]

Mychal Givens The Obvious Choice As O's Closer?

The Baltimore Orioles may open the season without a closer, even if relief pitcher Mychal Givens is the obvious choice for ninth-inning duties. Nate Karns is another back-end bullpen option after being turned into a reliever. The Orioles see value in using their best relievers in the middle of games during high-leverage situation, so this […]

Texans Sign AJ McCarron As Backup

The Houston Texans signed free-agent quarterback AJ McCarron to a one-year, $3 million deal on Tuesday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. He'll serve as the backup to Deshaun Watson in 2019. The former Alabama quarterback has played in just 12 NFL games, including seven for the Bengals in 2015 when he took over for […]

Vontaze Burfict Signs With Raiders

The Oakland Raiders signed free-agent linebacker Vontaze Burfict to a one-year deal worth roughly $5 million (including incentives) on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. Burfict roamed the middle of Cincy's defense for seven years, including a 2013 Pro Bowl season after he led the league with 177 tackles. The aggressive […]

Cowboys Agree With Randall Cobb

The Dallas Cowboys signed free-agent wide receiver Randall Cobb to a one-year, $5 million deal on Tuesday, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He's likely to replace Cole Beasley as the team's slot receiver alongside Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. Cobb was a second-round pick of the Packers in 2011 and spent his first […]

Clay Matthews Heading To Rams

The Los Angeles Rams signed free-agent linebacker Clay Matthews to a two-year deal worth a maximum of $16.75 million, a source informed of the situation told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The former first-rounder will return to his hometown. Matthews had double-digit sacks in four of his first six seasons with the Packers and was an […]

Brewers Talking With Craig Kimbrel

The Milwaukee Brewers are talking with free-agent closer Craig Kimbrel, according to sources. Milwaukee's bullpen is already stacked with Josh Hader, Corey Knebel and Jeremy Jeffress, but Kimbrel would likely slot in as the ninth-inning man. It'd hurt Knebel's fantasy value the most. Kimbrel already has a 1.91 career ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 333 saves and […]

Astros Agree To Extension With Alex Bregman

The Houston Astros and third baseman Alex Bregman agreed to a five-year, $100 million extension on Tuesday, according to a source. The deal buys out his three arbitration seasons and his first two years of free agency. The 24-year-old broke out last year with a .286/.394/.532 line, 31 home runs and 51 doubles while finishing […]

Dane Dunning Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

Chicago White Sox pitching prospect Dane Dunning (elbow), the team's No. 6 prospect and No. 80 overall per MLB Pipeline, had successful Tommy John surgery on Monday. He made 15 starts last year with High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham before suffering a moderate elbow strain in June. The right-hander will miss all of the 2019 […]

Matt Carpenter Should Be Good For Opening Day

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter (back) isn't expected back in the spring lineup until at least Friday, but manager Mike Shildt isn't concerned about Carpenter's back tightness becoming an issue that will keep him from being ready on Opening Day. Carp hit .257/.374/.523 with a career-high 36 home runs and 81 RBI in 156 […]