MLB

If true — and Nightengale added no detail about the injury — this comes completely out of the blue. There have been no concerns voiced about Kopech, who made 10 appearances and had a 3.00 ERA in last year’s postseason. Of course, his status isn’t really as fantasy relevant now as it was a few days ago before the Tanner Scott and the newly reported Kirby Yates additions.

No one else is stepping up, so the Dodgers keep adding. Yates could be the first option in the closer’s role over Tanner Scott, just because Scott is more versatile with his ability to match up against lefties and greater familiarity with coming on with men on base. Yates was phenomenal in the role last year for Texas, finishing with a 1.17 ERA and 33 saves.

Richards will compete in spring training for a spot in Chicago’s season-opening bullpen after struggling last year to an inflated 4.55 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 62/35 K/BB ratio across 65 1/3 innings (55 appearances) between the Blue Jays and Twins. The 31-year-old is merely emergency organizational relief depth at this stage of his career.

The deal is now official. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports that the agreement includes an opt-out following the 2027 season that is tied to a club option for 2030 that brings the total value to $110 million. KPRC 2 Houston’s Ari Alexander adds that the deal also contains more than $35 million deferred. Santander provides Toronto’s lineup with an immediate jolt as a middle-of-the-order force to complement franchise cornerstone Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The switch-hitting 30-year-old slugger, who blasted a career-best 44 dingers last year in his final season with the Orioles, has eclipsed 28 round-trippers in each of the past three seasons. His multi-year track record as an upper-echelon four-category impact contributor make it relatively easy for fantasy managers to forecast him as a near-lock to reach the 30-homer mark in his Blue Jays debut and finish next season as a top 25 fantasy outfielder.

Eisert draws the short straw for Toronto with the club needing to free up a 40-man roster spot for marquee free agent acquisition Anthony Santander. The 27-year-old lefty made three scoreless relief appearances last year for the Blue Jays in his first taste of the big leagues.

Gray was claimed off waivers last October from the Athletics and winds up losing his spot on Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster with franchise icon Andrew McCutchen returning for his 17th season. The 28-year-old has gotten into 17 games over the past two seasons between the A’s, Rays and Marlins.

Gray returns to affiliated ball following a dominant run in the Mexican Winter League where he posted a sparkling 1.57 ERA with 33 strikeouts over 23 innings of work. The 29-year-old righty last pitches for the Milwaukee Milkmen of the independent American Association during the 2023 season when he posted nine saves and a microscopic 1.38 ERA and 64 punchouts across 39 innings. He’s the definition of a low-risk flyer for the Rangers as extra organizational relief depth.

Young returns to Cincinnati, where he spent parts of the last two seasons, just a few months after being non-tendered by the Mets. The 31-year-old southpaw, who boasts a respectable 4.34 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 239/106 K/BB ratio across 277 2/3 innings (177 appearances, 25 starts) in the big leagues since 2019, provides the Reds with some additional relief depth entering spring training.

Davis made seven unremarkable relief appearances last year for San Diego and returns to the fold as extra left-handed relief depth. The 31-year-old southpaw holds a serviceable 5.77 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 165/78 K/BB ratio across 151 1/3 innings (143 appearances) in the majors since 2018.

Knapp made the announcement on his personal Instagram account. The 33-year-old backstop got into three games last year at the highest level and spent parts of seven seasons in the majors, batting .209/.309/.312 with 13 homers and two steals in 328 games between the Giants, Mariners, Pirates and Phillies.