Jays DFA Shun Yamaguchi, Open Up Spot For Young Arms

With the Toronto Blue Jays recent waiver claim of right-handed pitcher Joel Payamps from the Boston Red Sox, another move was required to make room on the 40-man roster. Toronto made that move by designating Shun Yamaguchi for assignment. The veteran Japanese hurler struggled in his first year in North America with an ERA of […]

Anthony Bass Likely The Marlins Closer

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Anthony Bass is "the very likely closer" for the Marlins this season, according to the Miami Herald's Craig Mish. The Marlins were hoping to re-sign Brandon Kintzler, who saved 12 games last season, but he went to the Phillies on a minor league deal. Bass signed a two-year, $5 million deal […]

Brandon Kintzler Signs With Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies signed free-agent relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler to a minor league deal on Wednesday, according to a source. It's a one-year deal for $3 million if Kintzler makes the team out of spring training, plus incentives. Kintzler turned down a major league offer to return to the Miami Marlins, but he can make […]

Steve Cishek Joining Astros

The Houston Astros signed free-agent relief pitcher Steve Cishek to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Tuesday. The veteran right-hander has a 2.78 ERA in 594 career relief appearances with a .214 average against and 132 saves in 10-plus major league seasons. He's held right-handed hitters to a .204 average […]

Jordan Zimmermann Joins Brewers On Minors Deal

The Milwaukee Brewers signed former All-Star right-hander Jordan Zimmermann to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training on Tuesday. Zimmermann will turn 35 years old on May 23 and pitched in just three games (7.94 ERA) for the Detroit Tigers in 2020 due to a forearm injury. He went 1-13 with a […]

Giants Adding Jake McGee To Bullpen

The San Francisco Giants agreed to a two-year deal worth $7 million with free-agent relief pitcher Jake McGee on Tuesday, according to sources. McGee was solid in his lone season with the Dodgers in 2020, posting a 2.66 ERA and 0.83 WHIP with 33 strikeouts and only three walks in 20 1/3 innings over 24 […]

Marlins Still Haven't Made An Offer To Brandon Kintzler

The Miami Marlins have yet to make an offer to free-agent relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler. Kintzler spent the abbreviated 2020 season as the Marlins closer, saving 12 games while posting a 2.22 ERA. He doesn't have the typical closer stuff, but he's been a successful reliever for years at this point. The Marlins signed Anthony […]

Red Sox Making Progress With Hirokazu Sawamura

The Boston Red Sox have made progress on a deal with Japanese relief pitcher Hirokazu Sawamura, according to a source. If a deal is finalized, it will likely be a major league deal for Sawamura. The 32-year-old right-hander had a 2.77 ERA over nine seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball and spent the 2020 season with […]

MLB To Deaden Baseballs Amid Home Run Surge

Major League Baseball has slightly deadened its baseballs amid a years-long surge in home runs totals, according to a source. The league thinks that its changes will be subtle, however, and an independent lab found that the new balls will fly one to two feet shorter on balls hit over 375 feet. Five more clubs […]

Fantasy Baseball Preseason Injury Updates

Injuries remain commonplace in all sports. Baseball has seen the rate of injury continue to rise over the past few years. In fantasy, if someone is not in the medical field, it is hard to gauge how long a player will be out and whether they need to be replaced in a lineup. Sometimes this […]

Chasen Shreve Agrees With Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a minor league deal with relief pitcher Chasen Shreve. He will be guaranteed $1.5 million if he makes the major league roster, according to sources. The 30-year-old has a strong fastball/cutter combination and had the highest whiff rate for a left-handed pitcher with 25-plus innings last season. Shreve posted a […]

Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Redraft Prospects for 2021 (Part 2)

Spring Training 2021 is almost here, which means it’s time to start thinking about prospects again. A strong pop-up performance from a rookie or two can have a massive impact on a fantasy manager’s season. If we look back to the truncated 2020 season, we can easily locate a healthy dose of players that had […]

Top 750: Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Rankings

What's up RotoBallers. Today we are bringing you our top 750 fantasy baseball dynasty rankings for the 2021 MLB season. Dynasty leagues, or keeper formats, continue to become more and more popular in the fantasy sports landscape. For those of you who are playing in dynasty formats, or are interested in long-term valuations of fantasy players, […]

Richard Rodriguez (RP, PIT) - 2021 Fantasy Baseball Draft Sleepers

Saves are a scarce commodity in today's game, as more and more teams are relying on multiple relievers to handle ninth-inning duties. In last year's abbreviated season, just 10 pitchers reached double digits in the category. Going a little further down the list, only 18 closed out seven or more games, and that includes guys […]

Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Redraft Prospects for 2021 (Part 1)

Spring Training 2021 is almost here, which means it’s time to start thinking about prospects again. A strong pop-up performance from a rookie or two can have a massive impact on a fantasy manager’s season. If we look back to the truncated 2020 season, we can easily locate a healthy dose of players that had […]

Hirokazu Sawamura Negotiating With MLB Teams

Japanese relief pitcher Hirokazu Sawamura has traveled to the United States to negotiate with major league teams, according to a Nikkan Sports report. He's primarily been a reliever since 2015 and had a 1.71 ERA with 29 strikeouts and 10 walks in 21 innings for the Chiba Lotte Marines in 2020. He'll turn 33 years […]

Twins Acquire Shaun Anderson In Trade

The Minnesota Twins acquired relief pitcher Shaun Anderson from the Giants in exchange for outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. After adding Hansel Robles and Alex Colome to solidify the back end of the bullpen, Minnesota seems to be bringing in Anderson to fortify the middle innings. The 26-year-old reliever pitched to a 3.52 ERA in 15.1 […]

Nick Vincent Joins Rangers Bullpen Mix On Minors Deal

Right-handed relief pitcher Nick Vincent has signed a Minor League deal with an invitation to big league Spring Training with the Texas Rangers, attempting to pitch for a fourth Major League club in the past three years. Texas' bullpen situation is unique due to its seemingly wide-open nature; Jose Leclerc figures to reclaim closing duties, […]

Felix Hernandez Joining O's On Minor League Deal

The Baltimore Orioles are signing free-agent right-hander Felix Hernandez to a minor league deal on Wednesday, according to sources. The King will make $1 million if he makes the major league roster out of spring training. The 34-year-old former Mariners legend was looking excellent in spring training last year with the Braves before he opted […]

Bryan Shaw, Heath Hembree Sign With Cleveland

The Cleveland Indians signed free-agent relief pitchers Bryan Shaw and Heath Hembree to a minor league deals on Wednesday. Hembree will make $1.25 million plus incentives if he's in the major leagues. Reliever DJ Johnson was also signed. Shaw will return to the Tribe and will receive an invite to spring training. All three relievers […]

Diamondbacks Agree With Joakim Soria

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed free-agent relief pitcher Joakim Soria to a one-year, $3.5 million deal on Wednesday. The deal includes $500,000 in incentives. The 36-year-old veteran could be a strong candidate to close out games in the ninth inning for the Snakes in 2021 with no set closer currently on the roster. Soria has 223 […]

Alex Colome Signs With Twins

The Minnesota Twins signed free-agent relief pitcher Alex Colome to a one-year deal with a base salary of $5 million on Wednesday. The deal also includes a $5.5 million mutual option for the 2022 season and guarantees Colome $6.25 million. The 32-year-old right-hander was excellent in 2020 with the White Sox with a 0.81 ERA, […]

Twins Have Made Contact With Alex Colome

The Minnesota Twins have made preliminary contact with free-agent reliever Alex Colome, who posted a 0.81 ERA and 12 saves for the Chicago White Sox in 2020. Designated hitter Nelson Cruz, who just re-signed with the Twins on Tuesday night, will try to recruit Colome to join the team. Cruz's cousin is close with Colome, […]

Blue Jays Agree With Francisco Liriano

The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to terms with free-agent left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano on an undisclosed deal on Tuesday night, according to a source. Liriano will be a non-roster invitee to spring training. The southpaw was traded to the Astros in 2017 for young outfield prospect Teoscar Hernandez. He sat out the entire 2020 season […]

Padres Extend, Promote General Manager A.J. Preller

San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller not only earned the title of President of Baseball Operations on Tuesday, he also got his contract extended through the 2026 season. Preller has been with the club since August 2014, but his most recent off-season has brought significant pomp and excitement to the Padres' roster. After having […]

San Francisco Adds James Sherfy To Bullpen Mix

Right-handed pitcher James Sherfy is joining the San Francisco Giants on a minor league deal that includes an invite to spring training. Sherfy has not appeared in the big leagues since 2019, but he has produced a 2.98 ERA over 43 career appearances with the D-backs. Sherfy has familiarity with the Giants from his time […]

Kyle Barraclough Joins Yankees Bullpen Mix

Right-handed pitcher Kyle Barraclough has inked a Minor League deal with the New York Yankees that includes an invite to Major League Spring Training later in February. Barraclough has not pitched in the big leagues since 2019 when he posted a 5.61 ERA across 43 appearances split between Miami and San Francisco. Having served as […]

Angels Suspend Pitching Coach Mickey Callaway

The Los Angeles Angels suspended pitching coach Mickey Callaway on Tuesday after he was accused by five women of inappropriate behavior that included sending shirtless photographs, a request for nude pictures and other advances. The accusations span five years and included Callaway's run as pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians and manager of the New […]

Hector Rondon Agrees To Deal With Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with free-agent relief pitcher Hector Rondon on Tuesday. He'll have a chance to make another $1 million in performance bonuses if he's in the majors. Rondon became a free agent when the Diamondbacks declined his $4 million option for the 2021 season. The 32-year-old right-hander […]

Reds Agree With Sean Doolittle

The Cincinnati Reds agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent relief pitcher Sean Doolittle on Tuesday, according to a source. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed. The 34-year-old left-hander only threw 7 2/3 innings over 11 outings for the Nationals in 2020 while missing time with right knee fatigue and a right oblique strain. […]