Mike Dunn signed a 3-year, $19 million deal with the Rockies. The deal includes a vesting option of $6 million for 2020 that includes a $1 million buyout if the Rockies want to move on at that time. Dunn is a 31 year old lefty – man do I wish my Dad made me a lefty like him – and that leads to work. The Rockies, desperate for reliable arms, paid a ton for a guy who has failed to throw 60-innings in 5-of-6 years. Dunn was held to 42.1 innings in 2016, his lowest mark in four years, as he posted a 3.40 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 8.08 K/9 and 0.65 GB/FB. That was a career worst GB/FB rate by the way, it will play horribly in Denver, and his 8.08 K/9 rate was nearly two full batters below his career rate (9.97). He can get lefties out. Other than that... I wish I was a lefty.
Derek Holland agreed to a one year deal for $6 million with the White Sox. "One of the greatest things about this whole process is how the White Sox came at me," said Holland. "I got to speak to both [White Sox manager Rick] Renteria and [pitching coach Don] Cooper and we just got to touch base.” Holland, no pressure, will be asked to replace Chris Sale in a rotation that includes Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, James Shields and Miguel Gonzalez. That is if Holland can hold off prospect Carson Fulmer for a starting spot... until the Sox deal Quintana or Shields of course. Holland last threw 120-innings in 2013, and over the last two seasons he’s been outright bad when on the hill having thrown 166 innings the last two years as injuries have crushed him. Holland has gone 11-12 with a 4.93 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 5.86 K/9 and a 2.82 BB/9 rate over the 166 frames of mediocrity. He’s also been extremely fly ball prone with a 1.41 HR/9 rate. Pitching in that park in Chicago ain’t gonna help that. AL-only is Holland.
Jamal Anderson... PWO... or the old penile whip out.
Tommy Milone signed a 1-year, $1.25 million deal with the Brewers. The lefty could end up as a swing man for the budget conscious Brewers, but it seems likely that he will make starts, potentially many. Last season he was a mess with a 5.71 ERA and 1.53 WHIP, and even at his best he’s nothing to look at in the fantasy game (4.14 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 6.45 K/9, 1.00 GB/FB).
Koji Uehara signed with the Cubs on a 1-year, $6 million deal. The righty will turn 42 in April, he was actually born on the same day as my brother, and he cannot be trusted to rack up the innings (he’s failed to reach 50-innings the last two seasons). Still though, the guy, when healthy, can get men out with the best of them. Even last year he posted a 3.45 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, 12.06 K/9 and 5.73 K/BB ratio. Folks, those are elite numbers. He doesn’t beat himself with the walk, throws that splitter a ton (45 percent last year), and just gets outs. Strong signing by the Cubs.
Yes, it happened. We released the 2017 MLB Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide. I know it’s only 2016, but you need something to read if you don’t have anyone to share the holiday with. You might need something to read if you hate the people you’re spending the holiday with (I know you are out there). You might want to give your significant other a special gift? Maybe you should just reward yourself for a good year? Whatever the reason, the Guide is available right now! For more, check out this description of the Guide and why it is so amazing this season. It will end up being our best effort yet, no doubt... and it’s available right now. Happy New Year weeks early!
THIS AND THAT
Jeurys Familia will not face any jail time as the case against him has been dismissed. However, the case was for domestic assault, and we’ve seen Major League Baseball suspend players even if they weren’t convicted of anything. If you are doing an early draft, better make sure you handcuff Familia with Addison Reed who dominated last year (1.97 WHIP, 91 Ks in 77.2 IP).
Matt Harvey says he can feel his fingers, minus the tingling, after having surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. "The way things are feeling now, I'd say it feels great," Harvey said. "Obviously, being healthy through Spring Training and getting to the season and being healthy through the season is a big plus for me. It's something that I'm looking forward to doing. But as far as the offseason goes, I'm right where I want to be. Everything's feeling great." It’s way too early to be bullish on Harvey, but this sounds good. Until he’s throwing 95 mph, with control, I’m not buying any of it.
Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 9 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).
Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.
Endy Rodriguez (finger) had his splint removed this week.
Rodriguez suffered a lacerated right index finger on April 14th. Now that he is out of his splint, he “is playing catch and doing a slightly modified swing.” Once he can progress to taking full swings, we’ll have a better sense of the timeline for his return.