Angels Sign Hunter Strickland To Minor League Deal

The Los Angeles Angels have signed veteran reliever Hunter Strickland to a minor-league deal, the team announced. Strickland, 35, hasn't pitched in the majors since 2022 but will be invited to Spring Training with the Halos. He owns respectable numbers throughout his career, including a 3.93 xFIP, 8.43 K/9, 3.44 BB/9, and 0.94 HR/9. Even... Read More

Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson On Track To Be Ready

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that relievers Blake Treinen (shoulder), Daniel Hudson (knee) and J.P. Feyereisen (shoulder) are all tracking to be on the active roster to kick off the season in a two-game series against the division-rival San Diego Padres in Korea. Roberts said Hudson is still working through some execution stuff... Read More

Tyler Kinley, Justin Lawrence To Compete For Closer Role

Colorado Rockies pitchers Tyler Kinley and Justin Lawrence are set to battle for the team's closer role in spring training. "We'll talk and as this spring progresses, those conversations will tighten up about role expectations," manager Bud Black said. Kinley saved five games down the stretch in September last year after returning from Tommy John... Read More

Nick Martinez Prefers To Start

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Nick Martinez can fill pretty much any pitching role, but he signed a two-year, $26 million deal with the Reds in December with the aim to be a starter. Right now, the team has 10 pitchers competing for five rotation spots, so there's no guarantee Martinez will open the year in the... Read More

Mason Miller's Velocity Looking Electric As Reliever

Oakland Athletics right-hander Mason Miller will be a starter in the long-term for the team, but he's ticketed for a bullpen role in 2024. He spent four months on the injured list in 2023 due to a UCL sprain in his right elbow. Miller finished his rookie year with a 3.78 ERA in 10 games... Read More

James Karinchak Dealing With Right-Shoulder Fatigue

Cleveland Guardians pitcher James Karinchak is dealing with right shoulder fatigue in camp and will be on a slower schedule than the rest of the pitchers who reported to camp on Feb. 13. He will not throw for the first few days of workouts but the team is hopeful he can resume his throwing program... Read More

McKinley Moore Claimed Off Waivers By Yankees

The New York Yankees have claimed right-hander McKinley Moore off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies. The 25-year-old was designated for assignment by the Phils on Wednesday but found a new home in short order in the Bronx. Moore made his big-league debut with the Phillies in 2023, appearing in three games while allowing seven earned... Read More

Huascar Brazoban Held Up Due To Visa Issues

Miami Marlins right-hander Huascar Brazoban has not yet reported to camp due to visa issues. Elvis Alvarado and Johnny Pereda are also in the same situation. The 34-year-old Brazoban should be able to earn a roster spot in Miami's bullpen to begin the 2024 regular season as long as he's healthy after he went 5-2... Read More

Kenley Jansen Won't Throw Until Next Week

Boston Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen (lat) is in good spirits in camp after reporting to spring training with lat soreness, but he won't be back to throwing for a week or so. The Red Sox aren't going to take any chances with Jansen, especially since he's been the subject of trade rumors this offseason.... Read More

Closers and Relief Pitchers to Regress for 2024 Fantasy Baseball

I have written the Bullpen Report every week during the fantasy baseball season for the past three years here at RotoBaller. The one thing that you quickly learn is that bullpen arms are volatile. Just because a reliever was awesome last year does not guarantee future success.  Now that does not mean they will fall... Read More

Rob Manfred Serving His Last Term As MLB Commissioner

When asked on Thursday if his current five-year term would be his last, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said, "This is going to be my last term." Manfred's current contract is set to expire in January of 2029. He's in his 10th year as the commissioner in 2024 and has overseen a period of... Read More

Huascar Ynoa Throws Bullpen Session

Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said that he saw right-hander Huascar Ynoa (elbow) throw a bullpen session the other day in camp after coming back from Tommy John surgery at the end of the 2022 season. "He looks great, I know that," Snitker said. The 25-year-old missed the entire 2023 campaign, but he appears to... Read More

Drew Pomeranz Says He's A "Full-Go" At Camp

Los Angeles Angels left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz (elbow), who is in spring training on a minor-league deal, said he's "full-go" in his effort to return to the majors for the first time since 2021. Pomeranz had elbow surgery in August of 2021 and has dealt with several setbacks since. "Pushing from bullpens to game speed... Read More

Freddy Tarnok, Sean Newcomb Slightly Behind In Camp

Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay mentioned that relief pitchers Sean Newcomb (knees) and Freddy Tarnok (hip) are "slightly behind" the rest of the team's pitchers at spring training as they return from surgeries. Both pitchers are progressing well on slower programs and may not pitch in Cactus League games right away. Newcomb, 30, had left-knee... Read More

Alex Young Dealing With Back Tightness

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Alex Young (back) experienced back tightness during his workout on Wednesday in spring training and is to be evaluated before resuming his throwing schedule. The Reds are going to be cautious with the 30-year-old reliever, and Young has plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day. The veteran southpaw was solid... Read More

Gregory Santos A Bit Behind In Camp

Seattle Mariners right-hander Gregory Santos (lat) is a little bit behind the other pitchers in spring training due to a right-lat that has recently surfaced. Santos won't be able to throw off a mound right away in camp. The 24-year-old also dealt with right-elbow soreness last year and could be in danger of opening the... Read More

Davis Martin To Start Throwing Bullpens Next Week

Chicago White Sox right-hander Davis Martin's (elbow) rehab from Tommy John surgery has gone well. His body and arm are feeling good and he is scheduled to start throwing bullpen sessions next Monday. The 27-year-old hurler went under the knife last May and continues to work his way back for the 2024 season. He will... Read More

Lou Trivino Hopes To Return In "Middle Of The Season"

New York Yankees right-hander Lou Trivino (elbow), who re-signed with the club on Wednesday, said that he hopes to be back "at some point in the middle of the season" after undergoing Tommy John surgery to fix a torn UCL last May. Trivino has already been throwing bullpen sessions and is feeling good. The 32-year-old's... Read More

Daniel Bard Receives Good News On His Knee

Doctors performed an arthroscopy/cleanup on Colorado Rockies right-hander Daniel Bard's left knee on Wednesday and did not need to do a meniscus repair as originally believed. The general recovery time frame is one month, which is a little less than the five to seven weeks the team originally believed he'd have to miss. It's good... Read More

Luis Gil Could Be An Option In Relief

New York Yankees right-hander Luis Gil (elbow) is now fully recovered from Tommy John surgery and is an intriguing arm for the team in 2024. Word at camp is that the plan for Gil is to keep him stretched out as a starter while remaining open to trying him in the bullpen. He featured a... Read More

Reynaldo Lopez Being Stretched Out To Start

Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez is being stretched out to start this spring but could end up back in the bullpen, where he's been more successful and where he blew the doors off some notable Braves hitters with his 100 mph fastball last year when he was with the Chicago White Sox. It would be... Read More

Mitch White Could Break Camp With Blue Jays

The Toronto Star's Gregor Chisholm projects that right-hander Mitch White will break camp with the last spot in the bullpen to start the 2024 regular season. White is out of minor-league options and can't be sent down without having to clear waivers. Right-hander Jordan Romano is the clear closing option, while Chad Green, Tim Mayza,... Read More

Sam Bachman Won't Be Ready For Opening Day

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Sam Bachman (shoulder) won't be ready for Opening Day despite making progress on his rehab. The 24-year-old said he expects to miss the first month of the season and is likely headed to Triple-A Salt Lake to open the season in their starting rotation. Bachman made his big-league debut in the... Read More

Kevin Ginkel Dealing With Elbow Soreness

Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel is dealing with right elbow soreness and will be slow played a bit during camp. The right-hander enjoyed an excellent 2023 season that saw him work to a 2.48 ERA across 60 appearances, locking down four saves and eight holds in the process. It was the second straight quality season... Read More

Eduard Bazardo Behind In Throwing Program

Seattle Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo is behind in his throwing program this spring due to an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles last season after he was designated for assignment by the O's. He made 10 MLB outings between the two clubs and posted a 4.50 ERA and... Read More

Joey Wentz To Work As A Reliever In Camp

Detroit Tigers pitcher Joey Wentz will be working as a reliever in spring training rather than stretching out as a starter. It's a big spring for the left-hander as Wentz is out of minor league options, meaning he will either have to crack the club's bullpen out of camp or likely be cut loose from... Read More

Edwin Diaz Looks Good While Facing Hitters

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz (knee) looked good while facing batters for the first time on Thursday since suffering a season-ending knee injury last March in the World Baseball Classic. He kept his fastball in the mid-90s by design on Thursday. The hard-throwing 29-year-old also had no issues during a bullpen session at camp... Read More

Evan Phillips To Get "Brunt" Of Save Chances

Los Angeles Dodgers manager stopped short of naming right-hander Evan Phillips the team's closer, but he said that Phillips will get "the brunt" of the save chances in the ninth inning this year. The Dodgers have been rumored to be considering bringing back Kenley Jansen in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, but for... Read More

Fantasy Baseball Injury Reports - Updates for Manny Machado, Justin Verlander, Kenley Jansen, Jacob deGrom, Shane McClanahan, Michael Kopech, Taylor Ward, and more

Fantasy baseball season is just around the corner, and injuries will affect some players early in the 2024 campaign. Let's take a look at the top injured players including Manny Machado, Justin Verlander, Kenley Jansen, Jacob deGrom, Shane McClanahan, Michael Kopech, Taylor Ward, and more. This is the first edition of this year's fantasy baseball... Read More

Eric Cross' 2024 Fantasy Baseball Bold Predictions

Bold predictions have been thrown about dating back to the stone age. Okay, maybe not that long, but they're always a fun topic to discuss with your friends, especially during this time of year when spring training is just beginning. The start of Spring Training always creates optimism throughout the baseball world. Sometimes that optimism... Read More