Seth Halvorsen, Victor Vodnik Competing For Closer Role

Colorado Rockies relief pitchers Seth Halvorsen and Victor Vodnik are currently competing for the closer role during spring training. The bullpen was a big reason why the Rockies lost over 100 games last season. The organization is hopeful that some of their younger arms can take big steps forward in 2025. Vodnik might be the […]

Fantasy Baseball Bullpen Targets - Closers and Relief Pitchers To Draft In 2025

Fantasy baseball drafts are in full swing right now, and the debate over when to draft closers rages on. In early mocks and early drafts I have been in, I have been trying to anchor my relief corps with one of the top options on the board through the first four or five rounds, and […]

Drew Rasmussen Building Back Up As A Starter

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen threw his first live batting practice session of the spring on Wednesday and is working on a five-day starter's schedule. Rasmussen recovered from his third right-elbow surgery last year and rejoined the Rays as a reliever in August. The 29-year-old former sixth-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018 […]

Jared Shuster Transitioning To Starting Role

Chicago White Sox left-hander Jared Shuster, the 25th overall pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2020 out of Wake Forest University, is transitioning from a setup role last year into a starting role in 2025. Shuster is looking to raise his pitch count in spring training and will start the team's Cactus League opener this […]

Seth Halvorsen Could See Save Chances For Rockies

The Denver Post's Patrick Saunders writes that Colorado Rockies right-hander Seth Halvorsen is in the mix for saves in 2025. Tyler Kinley is believed to be the favorite for saves in Colorado to open the season because of the experience factor alone, but Halvorsen should be in the mix as well after making his major-league […]

Joe Kelly Could Retire

Free-agent right-handed reliever Joe Kelly (shoulder), who suffered a shoulder injury last September while with the Los Angeles Dodgers that forced him to miss the team's World Series run, acknowledged that he might retire. The 36-year-old remains open to pitching this year and continues to progress through a throwing program, but he's uncertain if he'll […]

Marlins Claim Seth Martinez

The Miami Marlins have claimed right-handed pitcher Seth Martinez off waivers. The Marlins opened a spot on the 40-man roster for Martinez by placing starting pitcher Eury Perez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list. Martinez was designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this week. Martinez has spent his entire MLB career with the […]

Ryan Yarbrough Signs Minor-League Contract With Toronto

Left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough signed a minor-league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Yarbrough will also be invited to spring training. Yarbrough spent time with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Blue Jays during the 2024 campaign. With the Dodgers, Yarbrough posted a 3.74 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP across 67 1/3 innings. However, the […]

Albert Suarez To Start Grapefruit League Opener

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde announced that right-hander Albert Suarez will get the nod to start the Grapefruit League opener on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Suarez didn't break camp with the big-league squad last year as a non-roster invite at spring training but was called up early on and debuted on April 17. He […]

Ian Hamilton Faces Live Hitters

New York Yankees right-handed reliever Ian Hamilton (calf) faced hitters in a live batting practice session at spring training on Thursday. Hamilton should be ready for Opening Day in late March after injuring his calf in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series last October against the Cleveland Guardians. In his second season in […]

Dylan Floro Joins A's

MLB.com's Martin Gallegos reports that free-agent right-hander Dylan Floro has agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Athletics and is in their clubhouse at spring training on Thursday. Floro will now compete for an Opening Day bullpen spot in Sacramento for the A's after pitching for the Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024. In […]

Josh Hader Looking To Simplify His Movements, Bolster Changeup

Houston Astros closer Josh Hader said that he's trying to simplify and limit his movements before his windup to the plate this year. "Not really with my mechanics, but just the initial coming set," Hader said. "That's where a lot of things can be picked up by hitters, when you're coming set. You tend to […]

Zach Penrod Dealing With Elbow Soreness

Boston Red Sox left-hander Zach Penrod (elbow) is dealing with left-elbow soreness in camp and has gone for an MRI exam. This could be why the Red Sox signed veteran left-handed reliever Matt Moore to a minor-league deal on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training. The 27-year-old Penrod made his major-league debut for […]

Matt Moore Signs Minors Deal With Red Sox

Free-agent left-handed reliever Matt Moore (forearm) signed a minor-league deal on Thursday with the Boston Red Sox that includes an invite to major-league spring training, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Moore missed the last month of the 2024 season due to a strained left forearm, but he's apparently past the injury and […]

Yankees Sign Aaron Boone To Two-Year Extension

The New York Yankees announced on Thursday that they signed manager Aaron Boone to a two-year contract extension through the 2027 season. Boone led the Yankees to the World Series last fall for the first time since 2009 and is one of three managers in franchise history to lead the team to the playoffs in […]

Jorge Lopez, Jose Ferrer To See Save Opportunities

Washington Nationals relief pitchers Jorge Lopez and Jose A. Ferrer are likely to see most of the save opportunities at the start of the 2025 campaign. When asked who would close games, manager Dave Martinez mentioned both pitchers and that the team would "play matchups." With Lopez being a right-hander and Ferrer being a left-hander, […]

Cody Poteet To Start Cactus League Opener On Thursday

Chicago Cubs right-hander Cody Poteet, who was acquired in the offseason trade with the New York Yankees that involved outfielder Cody Bellinger, is slated to start the team's Cactus League opener on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pitchers Brad Keller, Daniel Palencia, Jack Neely and Brooks Kriske are scheduled to appear in Thursday's game […]

Brendan White Sharp To Start Camp

Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Brendan White has looked sharp early in spring training. Jason Beck of MLB.com noted that the 26-year-old looked "strong" and flashed his "high-spin arsenal." Last season, White was limited to just seven 1/3 innings due to an elbow injury. He underwent a hydro-dissection procedure Tuesday to address radial nerve-related symptoms in […]

Mason Thompson Placed On 60-Day Injured List

The Washington Nationals placed right-handed pitcher Mason Thompson (elbow) on the 60-day injured list. This transaction opened a roster spot for right-handed pitcher Lucas Sims, who the team signed earlier on Wednesday. Earlier in the offseason, manager Dave Martinez expressed optimism about the right-hander, but Thompson was unable to progress enough. As a result, fantasy […]

Hunter Stratton Expected To Start Running Progression

Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Hunter Stratton (knee) is expected to begin a running progression soon. The 28-year-old has already begun throwing off the mound. Stratton is still recovering from the ruptured patella tendon in his left knee he suffered last August. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status in the coming weeks. If he […]

Jorge Lopez Faces Live Batters

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Jorge Lopez (groin) faced live batters during Monday's practice session. This is a great sign, as Lopez ended the 2024 campaign on the injured list with a right groin strain. Seeing him face live hitters early in practice suggests he is past this injury and is viewed as a full-go. Fantasy […]

Blue Jays Sign Jacob Barnes To Minor-League Deal

The Toronto Blue Jays announced earlier this week that they signed free-agent right-hander Jacob Barnes to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to major-league spring training. Barnes heads to the American League East after appearing in 63 games out of the bullpen for the Washington Nationals in 2024. He went 8-3 in his 66 […]

Rockies Sign Scott Alexander To One-Year Deal

The Colorado Rockies signed free-agent left-hander Scott Alexander to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, according to The Denver Post's Patrick Saunders. To make room on the team's 40-man roster, the Rockies designated infielder Aaron Schunk for assignment in a corresponding move. The 35-year-old southpaw will give the Rockies young bullpen some veteran experience to […]

Alex Faedo Throws Live Batting Practice

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Faedo (shoulder) was seen throwing a live batting practice session at spring training on Wednesday. Faedo is embarking on his first year with the Rays after he was drafted 18th overall in 2017 by the Detroit Tigers out of the University of Florida. The 29-year-old didn't pan out with the […]

Kenta Maeda To Start Grapefruit League Opener On Saturday

The Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold reports that Detroit Tigers right-hander Kenta Maeda will start the team's Grapefruit League opener on Saturday versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Maeda hit 92 mph during his live batting practice session on Tuesday in camp, which is significantly higher than where he was at a year ago. The Tigers would […]

Lucas Sims Signs With Nationals

Free-agent right-hander Lucas Sims officially signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the Washington Nationals on Wednesday. In a corresponding move, the Nationals placed right-hander Mason Thompson (elbow) on the 60-day injured list to open up room on the 40-man roster. Sims, a former first-round pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2012, is a bit behind […]

Chase Hampton Has A Flexor Strain, Possible UCL Damage

New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Chase Hampton (elbow, forearm) is dealing with a flexor strain and "something going on with his UCL," manager Aaron Boone said. Hampton is back in New York now to get looked at, and depending on what doctors find, the 23-year-old could need to go under the knife. Any kind […]

Dauri Moreta Making Good Progress

Pittsburgh Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said that right-handed reliever Dauri Moreta (elbow) is in the "side" portion of his rehab from Tommy John surgery. Moreta is making good progress but still is unlikely to pitch in any Grapefruit League games in spring training. Meanwhile, fellow pitchers Sean Sullivan and Yerry Rodriguez […]

Buck Farmer Joins Braves Bullpen

The Atlanta Braves signed free-agent veteran reliever Buck Farmer to a minor-league deal last Sunday, and he was immediately at Braves camp on Monday. Farmer will help make up for the losses of right-hander Joe Jimenez (knee), who could miss all of 2025 after having knee surgery last October, and left-hander A.J. Minter, who signed […]

Drey Jameson Faces Live Hitters

Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Drey Jameson (elbow) faced live hitters for the first time on Tuesday since undergoing Tommy John surgery. Jameson had the operation in September 2023 and is attempting to ramp up in time to make the Opening Day roster. Manager Torey Lovullo noted that his session was "electric." Jameson was able to […]