Blue Jays To Play First Two Homestands In Florida

The Toronto Blue Jays will play the first two homestands of the regular season at their spring training facility in Dunedin, Florida, because of Canadian government restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blue Jays start off with a three-game series at the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers before a homestand with four games against […]

Padres Open-Minded About Bullpen

The San Diego Padres have relief pitchers Drew Pomeranz, Emilio Pagan, Mark Melancon and Keone Kela as options for the closer's role this season, but manager Jayce Tingler said on Wednesday that the club will be open-minded about the bullpen. "We're not committed to one way right now. We're going to stay extremely flexible," Tingler […]

Mets Remain In On Jeremy Jeffress

In addition to free-agent relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal, the New York Mets remain interested in 33-year-old free-agent reliever Jeremy Jeffress. Following a subpar 2019 season, the right-hander posted a 1.54 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP and 17:12 K:BB in 23 1/3 innings pitched for the Cubs in 2020. While Jeffress doesn't have the upside of Rosenthal, […]

Anthony Bass The Early Front-Runner For Saves

Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly went to relief pitcher Anthony Bass often when discussing the team's closer role on Wednesday, according to Craig Mish of the Miami Herald. The ninth inning would seem to be an open competition after Brandon Kintzler did not re-sign with the Marlins, but Mattingly is already favoring Bass before even seeing […]

Jeff Brigham Sent To 60-Day Injured List

Miami Marlins pitcher Jeff Brigham was placed on the 60-day injured list on Wednesday morning. This created a 40-man roster spot for the newly signed Adam Duvall. Brigham pitched just once in 2020 due to issues with COVID-19 and a biceps strain to go with it. Brigham has worked mostly in mop-up duty at the […]

Red Sox Acquire Ronaldo Hernandez, Nick Sogard

The Boston Red Sox acquired catching prospect Ronaldo Hernandez and infield prospect Nick Sogard from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday in exchange for right-hander Chris Mazza, left-hander Jeffrey Springs and cash considerations. Hernandez was Tampa's No. 14 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. The 23-year-old has a really strong arm and hit .265 with nine […]

Marlins Acquire Reliever John Curtiss

The Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays completed a cross-state trade on Wednesday morning. The Marlins acquired relief pitcher John Curtiss in exchange for first base prospect Evan Edwards. Curtiss was outstanding in the shortened 2020 season, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts in 25 innings with just three walks. It was […]

Tony Watson Signs With Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies and relief pitcher Tony Watson agreed to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training, according to Todd Zolecki. Watson pitched well last season allowing a 2.50 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP with the Giants, albeit in only 18 innings. He has some experience as a closer when he racked […]

Pedro Strop Returns To The Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have brought back relief pitcher Pedro Strop on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Strip, 35, started last season with the Reds and only pitched in four games due to injuries and was eventually released and picked up by the Cubs. He didn't make any appearances for the […]

Cubs Sign Brandon Workman

The Chicago Cubs and relief pitcher Brandon Workman have agreed to a one-year deal worth $1 million on Wednesday, with the chance to earn up to $2 million if he reaches performance-based incentives. The reliever is now 32 years of age and struggled mightily in 2020 with a 5.95 ERA in 19 2/3 innings with […]

Cody Allen Hangs Up His Cleats

Free-agent relief pitcher Cody Allen drew some interest on the open market but has decided to retire from Major League Baseball. The 32-year-old compiled 153 career saves, with all but four of them coming for the Cleveland Indians. The right-hander was the ninth-inning man for Cleveland's 2016 World Series team, pitching in four World Series […]

Rays Re-Sign Oliver Drake

The Tampa Bay Rays are re-signing relief pitcher Oliver Drake to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday. The club also traded reliever John Curtiss to the Miami Marlins in exchange for minor league first baseman Evan Edwards. The 34-year-old Drake is expected to start the season on the 60-day injured list due to a flexor tendon […]

Rangers Acquire Josh Sborz From Dodgers

The Texas Rangers acquired right-handed pitcher Josh Sborz from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in exchange for minor league righty Jhan Zambrano. Sborz was designated for assignment on Feb. 11 when the Dodgers signed Trevor Bauer. A second-round pick in 2015, Sborz made his major league debut in June of 2019 and has thrown […]

Mets In On Trevor Rosenthal

The New York Mets have stayed in touch with free-agent relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal and are clearly "in" on the right-hander. The hard-throwing veteran is arguably the best reliever left on the open market after a bounce-back 2020 campaign in which he was a finalist for National League Reliever of the Year. The 30-year-old recorded […]

Matt Wise Named Interim Pitching Coach

Los Angeles Angels bullpen coach Matt Wise has been named as the team's interim pitching coach, replacing the suspended Mickey Callaway. New executive Dom Chiti will fill in as the bullpen coach until the investigation of Callaway is completed. Callaway is being investigated by Major League Baseball over allegations of inappropriate behavior toward several women […]

Justin Wilson Agrees To Deal With Yankees

The New York Yankees have agreed to a deal with relief pitcher Justin Wilson, pending a physical. Wilson pitched for the Yankees back in 2015 and spent the last two years pitching out of the New York Mets bullpen. Last year, Wilson posted a 3.66 ERA and 1.37 WHIP over 19.2 innings, averaging 10.5 K/9. […]

Padres Sign Keone Kela

The San Diego Padres have signed free-agent relief pitcher Keone Kela. The deal will be finalized once Kela passes a physical. Kela, who posted 24 saves for the Texas Rangers during the 2018 season, was penciled in to be the closer in Pittsburgh prior to the 2020 campaign. Those plans were derailed when Kela tested […]

Sergio Romo Signs With A's

The Oakland Athletics and relief pitcher Sergio Romo agreed to a one-year, $2.55 million contract pending a physical. The veteran right-hander will be 38-years-old on Opening Day but has been a solid relief option in recent years. Romo converted five saves in six chances last season with Minnesota and had 25 and 20 saves respectively […]

Michael Lorenzen Enters 2021 As Rotation Candidate

Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen began his big league career making 21 starts during his rookie season. As he has continued to slots into multiple roles, he has become an integral part of the Reds' bullpen, having amassed a 3.48 ERA over the last four seasons. But heading into 2021, he'll have the chance […]

Mike Montgomery, Tommy Hunter Join Mets For Spring Camp

The New York Mets' relief corps continues to grow by the day heading into the start of Spring Training next week. On Sunday, the team inked veteran left-hander Mike Montgomery and right-hander Tommy Hunter to Minor League deals with invites to big league camp. Montgomery pitched in just three games last year for Kansas City, […]

Collin McHugh Signs One-Year Deal With Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays and pitcher Collin McHugh agreed to a one-year contract pending a physical. McHugh opted-out of the 2020 season as his elbow was not responding to offseason surgery as well as he'd hoped. Elbow injuries are always concerning, but if McHugh is back to full health he could be a sneaky-asset for […]

Mark Melancon Signs With Padres

The San Diego Padres have agreed to a deal with free-agent reliever Mark Melancon. The deal with Melancon will become official once he's passed a physical. Melancon posted 11 saves in 13 attempts, a 2.78 ERA, and a 1.28 WHIP in 22 2/3 innings pitched for the Braves in 2020. While his strikeout rates declined, […]

Seth Lugo Scheduled To Have Elbow Surgery

The New York Mets announced on Saturday that relief pitcher Seth Lugo is scheduled to have elbow surgery to remove a bone spur on Tuesday. The Mets indicated that following surgery, Lugo won't throw for at least six weeks. Obviously, this is horrible news with spring training set to begin within a week. Heading into […]

Marlins Acquire Dylan Floro

The Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a trade on Friday, with the Marlins acquiring relief pitcher Dylan Floro in exchange for Alex Vesia and a prospect. Floro should immediately slide into a late-inning role for the Marlins and may even end up with save chances. He posted a 3.10 ERA over the […]

Relief Pitchers Set To Bust In 2021

Projecting relievers is notoriously tricky, and that’s especially true after an irregular 2020 season. As is prone to happen in small samples of performance, otherwise strong relievers sometimes have down seasons that are not entirely in their control. Still, some relievers are more likely to bust than others, and fantasy managers would do well to […]

Rough Times in the Rockies: Examining Prospects from the Arenado Trade

With the Nolan Arenado trade finalized, we now know who Colorado will be receiving from St. Louis. Here's how that trade breaks down: St. Louis receives: 3B Nolan Arenado Colorado receives: LHP Austin Gomber, SS Mateo Gil, 3B Elehuris Montero, RHP Tony Locey, RHP Jake Sommers I already wrote about what to expect from Arenado in […]

Ken Giles Agrees To Two-Year Deal With Mariners

The Seattle Mariners agreed to an undisclosed two-year deal with free-agent relief pitcher Ken Giles (elbow) on Thursday, according to sources. Giles will miss the entire 2021 season while coming off Tommy John surgery, but he's expected to be ready for 2022. Before he had surgery last season, the hard-throwing right-hander posted a 1.87 ERA, […]

Yankees, Among Others, Watch David Robertson Throw

Free-agent relief pitcher David Robertson (elbow) threw for a number of teams on Thursday, including the New York Yankees, at the University of Alabama. Robertson touched 91 mph and showed off his patented curveball and looks to be in shape with a week until pitchers and catchers report for spring training. The Phillies declined the […]

Red Sox Close To Signing Hirokazu Sawamura

The Boston Red Sox are close to signing Japanese right-handed reliever Hirokazu Sawamura, according to a source. Sankei Sports is reporting that the deal will be worth $2.4 million over two years. If it becomes official, he will join Matt Barnes, Adam Ottavino and Darwinzon Hernandez in the back of Boston's bullpen. The 32-year-old has […]

David Phelps Signs With Toronto

The Toronto Blue Jays signed free-agent right-hander David Phelps to a one-year, $1.75 million deal on Thursday, according to sources. Phelps can earn another $750,000 in performance bonuses. The 34-year-old reliever became a free agent when he had his $4.5 million 2021 option declined by the Philadelphia Phillies after he went 2-4 with an ugly […]