Pirates Talking To Todd Frazier

The Pittsburgh Pirates are talking to free-agent third baseman Todd Frazier about a minor league deal, but nothing is finalized yet. Frazier hit .236/.302/.382 with four home runs and 12 RBI in 45 games with the Rangers and Mets during the shortened 2020 season. In his last full season in 2019 with the Mets, the […]

Ian Happ Wins Arbitration Case

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ won his arbitration case against the team and will be paid $4.1 million this upcoming season. The Cubs had filed for $3.25 million, but after a strong season in 2020, Happ came out on top. The outfielder hit .258 with 12 home runs and 28 RBI this past season and […]

Don't Sleep On Adrian Morejon

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Adrian Morejon may not even have a roster spot right away in 2021 given the team's starting rotation and bullpen depth, but the 21-year-old left-hander has overpowering stuff. Morejon has an average fastball velocity of 96.6 mph and posted a 57 percent whiff rate on his knuckle-change in 2020. He […]

A Breakout Coming For Kyle Wright?

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kyle Wright is one of the team's most heralded pitching prospects, which is saying something considering the team also has Max Fried and Mike Soroka in their starting rotation. The fifth overall pick in 2017 had a 1.80 ERA over his final three regular season starts and Game 3 of the […]

Zach Eflin Overshadowed In Phillies Rotation

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin has been overshadowed by Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler in the team's rotation, and he hasn't been that great with a 4.63 ERA and 7.3 K/9 in his five-year career. But the right-hander struck out 70 in 59 innings (28.6 percent strikeout rate) while posting a 6.1 percent walk […]

Spencer Howard Has A Devastating Slider

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Spencer Howard didn't live up to expectations as the team's top prospect last year, but he showed flashes of his potential. The 24-year-old right-hander sat at 94 mph with his fastball and touched 97 mph and displayed a devastating slider that held opponents to a .217 average while generating whiffs on […]

Trevor Rogers Could Become Fantasy Relevant In 2021

Miami Marlins left-handed starting pitcher Trevor Rogers made his MLB debut in 2020 and had an ugly 6.11 ERA, but he touched 96 mph in his debut with an easy delivery. His slider and changeup missed plenty of bats as well, helping him to a 30 percent strikeout rate. When you combine that kind of […]

Nate Pearson's Secondary Pitches Make Him Intriguing

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Nate Pearson debuted last July to much fanfare, but he had a sky-high 16 percent walk rate and was among the worst starters in baseball at locating his pitches in 2020. The right-hander can hit triple digits on the radar gun and has a slider with good depth, a big […]

Griffin Canning's Curveball Could Take Him To Next Level

Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning had a slow start last season but posted a 3.14 ERA in his last five starts of 2020, capped by a career-high 10-strikeout performance against a potent Padres lineup while holding them to one run and two hits over six innings. The 24-year-old had a 47 percent whiff […]

Tarik Skubal Has Electric Stuff

Detroit Tigers left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal skyrocketed up prospect lists in 2019 after racking up 179 strikeouts in 122 2/3 innings (13.1 K/9) in the minors, and he showed some of his electric stuff (94.4 average mph, 2,422 rpm average spin rate on his heater) in 2020. But the 24-year-old finished with a 5.63 ERA […]

Jesus Luzardo Poised For A Breakout?

Oakland Athletics left-handed pitcher Jesus Luzardo made his first nine career starts in 2020 and had a 4.12 ERA (101 ERA+), but he had a 45 percent whiff rate on curveballs and changeups. The 23-year-old would've also had a 2.93 ERA on the year if two of his poor starts, in which he allowed four […]

Eduardo Rodriguez Healthy Heading Into 2021 Season

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (heart), who missed all of the 2020 season after being diagnosed with myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) related to COVID-19, is feeling normal and is ready to take his spot in the team's starting rotation. The 27-year-old left-hander had a career-best season in 2019 with a 3.81 ERA, […]

Tigers Considering Signing Rick Porcello

The Detroit Tigers are looking for another pitcher to bolster their starting rotation. They are currently considering a reunion with Rick Porcello, who pitched for the team from 2009 to 2014. The Tigers and Porcello are reportedly still not in agreement on the terms of the deal. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch has hinted that the […]

Edward Cabrera Dealing With An Inflamed Nerve

Miami Marlins pitching prospect Edward Cabrera is reportedly dealing with an inflamed nerve in his right (throwing) biceps. He is with the team in spring camp, but has been shut down from throwing for now. For now, it doesn't seem like the team is particularly worried about the injury, but Cabrera missed time with arm […]

Mike Soroka Still A Question Mark For Opening Day

Atlanta Braves starter Mike Soroka (Achilles) is making excellent progress in his recovery from Achilles surgery, but it is unclear whether he will be ready for Opening Day. The Canadian right-hander tore his Achilles tendon after just three starts in 2020, derailing the momentum from his phenomenal 2019 campaign. Soroka still needs to pass some […]

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 […]

Mets Sign Taijuan Walker

The New York Mets have signed right-handed starting pitcher Taijuan Walker to a deal. The terms of the contract have not yet been disclosed. In 2020, over 11 starts and 53 1/3 innings pitched between the Mariners and Blue Jays, Walker posted a 2.70 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and a 50:19 K:BB. For his career, […]

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." […]

Trey Mancini Reports Early To Camp Thursday

Baltimore Orioles first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini "looked really good" during Thursday's training sessions, per manager Brandon Hyde. Mancini fielded ground balls and hit as well. The 28-year-old missed the entirety of the 2020 season receiving treatment for colon cancer, so it is great news to see him back on the field. Mancini posted career numbers […]

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 […]

Felix Hernandez Motivated By Hall Of Fame

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Felix Hernandez said Thursday that his motivation to continue pitching is to reach the Hall of Fame, per MLB.com's Joe Trezza. King Felix, now 34 years old, put forth stellar numbers over his first 12 seasons with the Mariners. However, things started declining for him in 2017 and Hernandez has not […]

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 […]

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Working Out at 1B, 3B, OF

The Blue Jays organization is looking to increase Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s versatility this spring by having him work out at first base, third base, and in the outfield. A shortstop when he signed, the Cuba native has played a number of positions already in his career but was kept mostly to the outfield in 2020. […]

Max Stassi To Be Brought Back Slowly

Los Angeles Angels catcher Max Stassi (hip) is in line to be the team's primary catcher in 2021 but will be brought along slowly in spring training after having left hip surgery. The Angels signed veteran Kurt Suzuki to back up Stassi as the team takes it slow with his recovery. In 31 games last […]

Dylan Bundy's Slider Usage Key To Sustained Success

Los Angeles Angels starter Dylan Bundy has his sights set on building off his breakout campaign last season, not his impending free agency status. The former top prospect put it all together last season, going 6-3 with a 3.29 ERA in 11 starts last season. He will head into 2021 as the ace of the […]

Shane Bieber Tests Positive For COVID-19

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber has tested positive for COVID-19, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. Bieber reportedly experienced mild symptoms following his positive test and is a late arrival to camp as a result. However, the president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti was hopeful that the right-hander will be able to join the […]

Brian Dozier Retiring After Nine Seasons

Former Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier announced his retirement on Thursday after nine years in the major leagues and 167 career home runs. Dozier spent his first seven seasons with Minnesota before he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in 2018. He managed to hit 20 home runs and help the Washington Nationals […]

Tyler Glasnow Adding A New Pitch

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow is adding a new pitch -- a slider/cutter -- to his arsenal for the 2021 season. Already considered a strong SP2 for fantasy managers with plenty of upside in his right arm at 27 years old, Glasnow took a slight step back in 2020 with a 4.08 ERA […]

J.T. Realmuto Suffers Broken Thumb

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (thumb) suffered a broken thumb on his throwing hand and is expected to miss up to a month. Realmuto should be ready for Opening Day but will be out for a number of spring training games after recently signing a five-year deal worth $115 million to return to Philadelphia. As […]

Stephen Strasburg Fully Recovered From Wrist Injury

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg, whose 2020 season ended early due to wrist surgery, is at full strength as spring training begins. According to GM Mike Rizzo, Strasburg is no longer in "rehabilitation mode" but "preparation mode" for the 2021 season. That should allay any concerns about the specific injury Strasburg sustained last year, […]