At 32 years of age, Kiermaier has won three Gold Glove awards during a successful career with the Tampa Bay Rays. He hit .228 for the Rays last season, including seven home runs and 22 RBIs. Kiermaier headed into free agency upon deciding against activating the $13 million option included in his contract with the Rays.

While a career .248 hitter with 82 homers and 316 RBIs, Kiermaier’s talents don’t only lie in the swing of a bat; he is also a pacy runner, having stolen 112 bases during his nine-season career.

Selected in the 31st round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Rays, Kiermaier remained a key player in the Rays’ roster, despite suffering injury issues that led to him undergoing labrum surgery in August.

Kiermaier will greatly bolster the Blue Jays’ roster following the departure of right fielder Teoscar Hernandez in a trade with the Seattle Mariners last month.

Last season, the Blue Jays finished second in the American League East with a 92-70 mark; six games ahead of the Rays.

The post Kevin Kiermaier Agrees to Deal With Blue Jays, Reports Claim appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“King Felix”, once one of the most dominant starters in the league in the late 2000s and early 2010s, was set to get a chance to play for the Atlanta Braves in the 2020 season and looked sharp in Spring Training before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the start of the season and ultimately led the Venezuela native to opt out of the season.

The 34-year-old veteran had a bittersweet departure from Seattle as he became gradually less and less effective. After making six All-Star appearances between 2019 and 2015 and winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2010, he began to see a dip in effectiveness in 2015 and saw his ERA soar above 4 every year since 2017.

He was a shell of his former self in 2019, putting up a dreadful 6.40 ERA along with a 1-8 record in 15 starts.

If there’s any place where Hernandez could get a fair shot to get his career back on track, it is in Baltimore. The team has plenty of rotation openings heading into the 2021 season, and the former star is nearly certain to get a chance to pitch in the Big Leagues again.

The post Felix Hernandez Signs Minor League Deal with Orioles appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Hand, formerly of the Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, and Cleveland Indians, became a free agent earlier this offseason after Cleveland decided to decline its club option for his services next season despite his outstanding 2020.

The Minnesota native fired 22 innings for Cleveland, posting an outstanding 2.05 ERA with 29 strikeouts and only four walks. This past season was the fourth in the past five in which Hand has posted an ERA under 3, with his only “slip-up” occurring in 2019 when it was still a very respectable 3.30.

Hand is expected to take over as the Nationals’ primary closer option, supplanting Sean Doolittle who has struggled in the role over the past two seasons.

The Nationals knew that they needed to acquire a top-flight lefty reliever to counteract bats like Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper, and Michael Conforto, just three of the outstanding left-handed hitters in the NL East.

Hand will report to West Palm Beach, Florida over the next couple of weeks with his new teammates to begin preparations for the upcoming season.

The post Reliever Brad Hand Joins Nationals For 1 Year, $10.5 Million appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Lester is best known for his time with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, two teams that he helped lead to a total of three World Series championships as a key member of their rotations. The 37-year-old veteran will now embark on a new adventure with a club that won the title just two seasons ago.

The five-time All-Star saw his ERA balloon during the past two seasons with the Cubs. After an excellent 2018 season, he saw his ERA rise over a run to 4.46 in 2019 before seeing it go even higher in the abbreviated 2020 season, finishing at 5.16 with a 3-3 record.

While the deal has still not been officially announced, sources have indicated that Lester will be paid $5 million for the 2021 season. There is no word on how much the 2022 mutual option would be worth.

Expect Lester to slot into the back of the Nationals rotation and build depth behind Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, and Patrick Corbin as the Nationals look to get back into playoff contention after a disappointing 2020.

The post Nationals Add Free Agent SP Jon Lester appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Flexen, who made the move to South Korea to the Doosan Bears after being let go by the Mets last offseason, shined as he became a fixture for his new team in the 2020 season. The 26-year-old slinger was the team’s best starter, putting up a 3.01 ERA along with 132 strikeouts in just 116 innings.

The California native’s foray into foreign baseball was enough to revive his career after he failed to impress with the Mets during parts of three seasons. Flexen was ineffective in the Majors, compiling a 8.07 ERA in just 27 games from 2017 to 2019.

It is still unclear how Seattle plans to use their newest pitcher. Flexen was primarily a reliever during his stints with the Mets, but transitioned to becoming a workhorse starter for the Doosan Bears in 2020.

The deal, valued at just over $4 million, is a low-risk move for the Mariners as they look to add valuable pieces to a pitching staff that has struggled to find both talent and consistency in recent years.

The post Mariners Sign P Chris Flexen to 2-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Nunez, who batted .256 with 12 home runs and 31 RBI in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, was put on waivers last week after the Orioles decided that they didn’t want to pay him next season after he was due an arbitration salary raise.

The versatile infielder, who has spent significant time at both first base and third base over the past two seasons, combined to slug 43 homers in only 203 games between 2019 and 2020, proving that he is a great source of power.

However, low on-base percentages combined with unspectacular defense and a team that’s looking to rebuild and cut costs meant that it made sense for Baltimore to let Nunez go.

There should be no shortage of teams who will want to add Nunez as either a designated hitter, an infield option, or perhaps even a contender as a bench bat.

Nunez isn now free to negotiate to sign with any MLB team, and should have a new home come Spring Training 2021.

The post Orioles Release IF Renato Nunez appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Blue Jays announced over the weekend that Ray, acquired in August in a trade with Arizona Diamondbacks, agreed to a one-year deal with the team.

Although the organization didn’t disclose the financial terms of the agreement, the reports around the league say that the 29-year-old pitcher is set to earn $8 million in 2021.

By getting a contract from Toronto, Ray became the first player in this year’s free agency to get a new deal. There are now 180 free agents left that are looking to do the same.

Playing combined 12 games in the regular season with Diamondbacks and Blue Jays in 2020, Robbie Ray posted a 2-5 record to go with 6.62 ERA and 68 strikeouts. He pitched in one game for Toronto in the playoffs, striking out five batters and having a 3.00 ERA.

Ray made his MLB debut in 2014 and has suited up for Detroit Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Blue Jays so far in his career. He has an All-Star appearance from 2017 and career stats that include 49–51 record, 4.26 ERA, and 1,042 strikeouts.

The post Blue Jays Sign LHP Robbie Ray to a 1-Year, $8 Million Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Sandoval, who was released by the San Francisco Giants last week, will not immediately join the Braves’ active roster but should have a shot to latch onto a team with World Series aspirations in 2020.

The affable Venezuela native, the owner of a career .279 batting average with 149 home runs and 1,266 hits, rebounded to have a solid season with the Giants in 2019 after a disappointing stint with the Boston Red Sox. However, his slow start to 2020, which included just 1 home run to go along with a .220 average, meant that the franchise that he helped win three World Series titles had to let him go.

The Braves will see if they can get any more production out of Sandoval as they look to shore up their roster heading into the final weeks of the season. The team recently optioned potential third base option Johan Camargo to its alternate training site after he hit only .200 in 35 games this season. Primary third base option Austin Riley hasn’t done much better, hitting only .229 with 7 home runs.

Sandoval will now report to Gwinnett County, Georgia to look to impress his new team enough to get another big league shot.

The post Braves Add Veteran Infielder Pablo Sandoval After Giants Release appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Puig announced on social media that he is asymptomatic and feeling fine. “I will see you all very soon when I return to play ball,” he added on Twitter. Although it is likely that this just means there will be a small delay until he officially becomes a Brave, there is a small chance that Atlanta could not pick up his contract depending on when he receives two negative tests—MLB’s rule for when a player can return to action.

Puig played for the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians in 2019, and batted .267 for both teams combined. He was one of the best players still available on the free agent market and can add above average power and a cannon of an arm for anyone looking to upgrade their outfield.

The post Puig’s Contract May Be Void After Positive Covid-19 Test appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

At 32 years of age, Kiermaier has won three Gold Glove awards during a successful career with the Tampa Bay Rays. He hit .228 for the Rays last season, including seven home runs and 22 RBIs. Kiermaier headed into free agency upon deciding against activating the $13 million option included in his contract with the Rays.

While a career .248 hitter with 82 homers and 316 RBIs, Kiermaier’s talents don’t only lie in the swing of a bat; he is also a pacy runner, having stolen 112 bases during his nine-season career.

Selected in the 31st round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Rays, Kiermaier remained a key player in the Rays’ roster, despite suffering injury issues that led to him undergoing labrum surgery in August.

Kiermaier will greatly bolster the Blue Jays’ roster following the departure of right fielder Teoscar Hernandez in a trade with the Seattle Mariners last month.

Last season, the Blue Jays finished second in the American League East with a 92-70 mark; six games ahead of the Rays.

The post Kevin Kiermaier Agrees to Deal With Blue Jays, Reports Claim appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“King Felix”, once one of the most dominant starters in the league in the late 2000s and early 2010s, was set to get a chance to play for the Atlanta Braves in the 2020 season and looked sharp in Spring Training before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the start of the season and ultimately led the Venezuela native to opt out of the season.

The 34-year-old veteran had a bittersweet departure from Seattle as he became gradually less and less effective. After making six All-Star appearances between 2019 and 2015 and winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2010, he began to see a dip in effectiveness in 2015 and saw his ERA soar above 4 every year since 2017.

He was a shell of his former self in 2019, putting up a dreadful 6.40 ERA along with a 1-8 record in 15 starts.

If there’s any place where Hernandez could get a fair shot to get his career back on track, it is in Baltimore. The team has plenty of rotation openings heading into the 2021 season, and the former star is nearly certain to get a chance to pitch in the Big Leagues again.

The post Felix Hernandez Signs Minor League Deal with Orioles appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Hand, formerly of the Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, and Cleveland Indians, became a free agent earlier this offseason after Cleveland decided to decline its club option for his services next season despite his outstanding 2020.

The Minnesota native fired 22 innings for Cleveland, posting an outstanding 2.05 ERA with 29 strikeouts and only four walks. This past season was the fourth in the past five in which Hand has posted an ERA under 3, with his only “slip-up” occurring in 2019 when it was still a very respectable 3.30.

Hand is expected to take over as the Nationals’ primary closer option, supplanting Sean Doolittle who has struggled in the role over the past two seasons.

The Nationals knew that they needed to acquire a top-flight lefty reliever to counteract bats like Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper, and Michael Conforto, just three of the outstanding left-handed hitters in the NL East.

Hand will report to West Palm Beach, Florida over the next couple of weeks with his new teammates to begin preparations for the upcoming season.

The post Reliever Brad Hand Joins Nationals For 1 Year, $10.5 Million appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Lester is best known for his time with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, two teams that he helped lead to a total of three World Series championships as a key member of their rotations. The 37-year-old veteran will now embark on a new adventure with a club that won the title just two seasons ago.

The five-time All-Star saw his ERA balloon during the past two seasons with the Cubs. After an excellent 2018 season, he saw his ERA rise over a run to 4.46 in 2019 before seeing it go even higher in the abbreviated 2020 season, finishing at 5.16 with a 3-3 record.

While the deal has still not been officially announced, sources have indicated that Lester will be paid $5 million for the 2021 season. There is no word on how much the 2022 mutual option would be worth.

Expect Lester to slot into the back of the Nationals rotation and build depth behind Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, and Patrick Corbin as the Nationals look to get back into playoff contention after a disappointing 2020.

The post Nationals Add Free Agent SP Jon Lester appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Flexen, who made the move to South Korea to the Doosan Bears after being let go by the Mets last offseason, shined as he became a fixture for his new team in the 2020 season. The 26-year-old slinger was the team’s best starter, putting up a 3.01 ERA along with 132 strikeouts in just 116 innings.

The California native’s foray into foreign baseball was enough to revive his career after he failed to impress with the Mets during parts of three seasons. Flexen was ineffective in the Majors, compiling a 8.07 ERA in just 27 games from 2017 to 2019.

It is still unclear how Seattle plans to use their newest pitcher. Flexen was primarily a reliever during his stints with the Mets, but transitioned to becoming a workhorse starter for the Doosan Bears in 2020.

The deal, valued at just over $4 million, is a low-risk move for the Mariners as they look to add valuable pieces to a pitching staff that has struggled to find both talent and consistency in recent years.

The post Mariners Sign P Chris Flexen to 2-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Nunez, who batted .256 with 12 home runs and 31 RBI in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, was put on waivers last week after the Orioles decided that they didn’t want to pay him next season after he was due an arbitration salary raise.

The versatile infielder, who has spent significant time at both first base and third base over the past two seasons, combined to slug 43 homers in only 203 games between 2019 and 2020, proving that he is a great source of power.

However, low on-base percentages combined with unspectacular defense and a team that’s looking to rebuild and cut costs meant that it made sense for Baltimore to let Nunez go.

There should be no shortage of teams who will want to add Nunez as either a designated hitter, an infield option, or perhaps even a contender as a bench bat.

Nunez isn now free to negotiate to sign with any MLB team, and should have a new home come Spring Training 2021.

The post Orioles Release IF Renato Nunez appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Blue Jays announced over the weekend that Ray, acquired in August in a trade with Arizona Diamondbacks, agreed to a one-year deal with the team.

Although the organization didn’t disclose the financial terms of the agreement, the reports around the league say that the 29-year-old pitcher is set to earn $8 million in 2021.

By getting a contract from Toronto, Ray became the first player in this year’s free agency to get a new deal. There are now 180 free agents left that are looking to do the same.

Playing combined 12 games in the regular season with Diamondbacks and Blue Jays in 2020, Robbie Ray posted a 2-5 record to go with 6.62 ERA and 68 strikeouts. He pitched in one game for Toronto in the playoffs, striking out five batters and having a 3.00 ERA.

Ray made his MLB debut in 2014 and has suited up for Detroit Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Blue Jays so far in his career. He has an All-Star appearance from 2017 and career stats that include 49–51 record, 4.26 ERA, and 1,042 strikeouts.

The post Blue Jays Sign LHP Robbie Ray to a 1-Year, $8 Million Contract appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Sandoval, who was released by the San Francisco Giants last week, will not immediately join the Braves’ active roster but should have a shot to latch onto a team with World Series aspirations in 2020.

The affable Venezuela native, the owner of a career .279 batting average with 149 home runs and 1,266 hits, rebounded to have a solid season with the Giants in 2019 after a disappointing stint with the Boston Red Sox. However, his slow start to 2020, which included just 1 home run to go along with a .220 average, meant that the franchise that he helped win three World Series titles had to let him go.

The Braves will see if they can get any more production out of Sandoval as they look to shore up their roster heading into the final weeks of the season. The team recently optioned potential third base option Johan Camargo to its alternate training site after he hit only .200 in 35 games this season. Primary third base option Austin Riley hasn’t done much better, hitting only .229 with 7 home runs.

Sandoval will now report to Gwinnett County, Georgia to look to impress his new team enough to get another big league shot.

The post Braves Add Veteran Infielder Pablo Sandoval After Giants Release appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Puig announced on social media that he is asymptomatic and feeling fine. “I will see you all very soon when I return to play ball,” he added on Twitter. Although it is likely that this just means there will be a small delay until he officially becomes a Brave, there is a small chance that Atlanta could not pick up his contract depending on when he receives two negative tests—MLB’s rule for when a player can return to action.

Puig played for the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians in 2019, and batted .267 for both teams combined. He was one of the best players still available on the free agent market and can add above average power and a cannon of an arm for anyone looking to upgrade their outfield.

The post Puig’s Contract May Be Void After Positive Covid-19 Test appeared first on yoursportspot.com.