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 […]

Fantasy Baseball Prospect Outlooks for Michael Busch, Yency Almonte, Jackson Ferris, Zyhir Hope - MLB Trade Analysis

The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers hooked up on Thursday, January 11 for a trade that will have an immediate impact in all fantasy baseball leagues, but the deal could have tentacles that reach out for quite some time due to the players that were involved. The interesting part of this was two teams […]

Yankees And Rangers Interested In Hector Neris

Free-agent relief pitcher Hector Neris is drawing interest from both the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers. Mark Feinsand of MLB Network stated that the two clubs have emerged as the front-runners to land the 34-year-old veteran. Neris is coming off an excellent 2023 season in which he finished with a 1.71 ERA, 1.054 […]

Sean Manaea Officially Signs With The Mets

New York Mets left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea has officially signed a two-year, $28 million contract with the team. This deal was announced last week but now the team has made it official. Manaea was a free agent this offseason and coming off a 4.44 ERA (3.90 FIP), 1.241 WHIP, and 128:42 K/BB over 117 2/3 […]

Danny Young Signs Minors Deal With Mets

Free-agent left-hander Danny Young signed a minor-league deal with the New York Mets on Friday, according to a source. Young will be invited to big-league spring training and would earn $825,000 if he's in the majors in 2024. The 29-year-old southpaw gave up one run in 11 innings pitched with two walks and 12 strikeouts […]

Braves Agree To Multi-Year Extension With Alex Anthopoulos

The Atlanta Braves agreed to a multi-year contract extension with president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos on Friday that will keep him with the team through the 2031 season. Anthopoulos was promoted to his current role in February of 2020 after joining the Braves as an executive vice president and GM in […]

Braves Sign Charlie Culberson As A Pitcher

The Atlanta Braves signed Charlie Culberson to a minor-league deal on Friday as a pitcher. The 34-year-old former infielder/outfielder is returning to the Braves after playing in just one game at the major-league level for them in 2023. He also spent three seasons in Atlanta from 2018-20, hitting .265/.314/.454 with 17 home runs and 66 […]

Jordan Hicks Inks Four-Year Pact With Giants

Free-agent right-hander Jordan Hicks has signed a four-year, $44 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. In a little bit of a surprising twist, the Giants plan to use Hicks as a starter rather than out of the back end of their bullpen. Just eight of Hicks' 212 big-league appearances have been starts, and the […]

Fantasy Baseball Outlooks for Robbie Ray, Mitch Haniger, Anthony DeSclafani, Andrew Kittredge, Jose Caballero, Luke Raley - MLB Trade Analysis

Last Friday, January 7, we saw a smattering of MLB trades. These were by no means any of the biggest names of the offseason, but we saw a former Cy Young winner and multiple All-Stars change teams. The three trades involved seven players and four teams, lefties, righties, youngsters, vets, pitchers, and position players. Let's […]

Closers and Relief Pitchers - 2024 Fantasy Baseball ADP Analysis, Draft Targets, Avoids

As we get into the middle of January, fantasy baseball draft season is gaining speed and momentum. By now, most of you have either already participated in a draft of some sort or are at least beginning your prep work and/or consuming more fantasy baseball content. This relief pitcher position is annually one of the […]

Brewers Avoid Arbitration With Devin Williams

The Milwaukee Brewers and right-handed reliever Devin Williams agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal to avoid salary arbitration on Thursday. The deal includes a team option for the 2025 season. Williams' 2024 salary will likely come out to around $7 million. The 29-year-old hard-throwing right-hander should be the first closer off the board in fantasy […]

Michael King Avoids Arbitration With New Club

New San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King and the team agreed to a one-year, $3.15 million deal for 2024 on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration. King was part of the package sent to San Diego when the New York Yankees acquired outfielder Juan Soto in December. The 28-year-old was moved from the bullpen to the […]

Clay Holmes And Yankees Settle At $6 Million

Right-handed reliever Clay Holmes and the New York Yankees settled at $6 million plus performance bonuses for the 2024 season on Thursday to avoid salary arbitration, according to a source. Holmes has been New York's primary closer over the last two seasons and has delivered a strong 2.70 ERA (2.75 FIP), 1.09 WHIP, 44 saves, […]

Billy McKinney Staying With Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed free-agent outfielder Billy McKinney, infielder Sergio Alcantara, outfielder Gilberto Celestino, right-hander Ben Heller, infielder/outfielder Jake Lamb, left-hander Michael Plassmeyer, right-hander Ryder Ryan and right-hander Hunter Stratton to minor-league deals with invites to spring training on Thursday. McKinney was traded to the Pirates from the New York Yankees in December and will […]

Brent Suter Agrees With Reds On One-Year Deal

Free-agent left-hander Brent Suter and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a one-year deal on Thursday, pending a physical, according to sources familiar with the deal. The contract pays him $2.5 million in 2024 with a $3.5 million club option or $500,000 buyout for the 2025 season. The 34-year-old southpaw comes to Cincy after posting a […]