Rangers Release Jake Marisnick And Brandon Workman
The Texas Rangers have released outfielder Jake Marisnick and relief pitcher Brandon Workman. Both players had signed minor league contracts with the club this offseason. The 31-year-old Marisnick spent the 2021 season with the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres. He had a rough spring with the Rangers, going just 4-for-25 over 10 games. Workman, meanwhile, only pitched two innings this spring. He allowed three hits and two earned runs, but he also recorded a save and struck out three batters. The 33-year-old pitched for the Boston Red Sox and the Cubs last year, but didn't have much success with either club.
The Texas Rangers signed right-handed free-agent pitcher Brandon Workman to a minor league deal on Friday. Workman pitched for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs last year, posting a 5.46 ERA, 2.04 WHIP, 25 strikeouts and 21 walks in 28 innings over 29 relief appearances. If the 33-year-old does win a spot in Texas' Opening Day bullpen, he'll be a low-leverage arm and won't be valuable in any fantasy leagues. Workman has a career 4.02 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 343 strikeouts and 157 walks in 329 innings over 238 appearances (18 starts) in seven major league seasons with the Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Cubs.
The Boston Red Sox have called up relief pitcher Brandon Workman from Triple-A prior to their game against the Houston Astros on Thursday. Fellow reliever Colten Brewer was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. Workman was DFA'd by the Chicago Cubs earlier this year after posting a 6.75 ERA over 10 appearances. He signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox and went on to make seven appearances at Triple-A, posting a 1.29 ERA and 1.00 WHIP while striking out 10 batters. He opted out of his minor league contract on Tuesday, forcing the Red Sox to decide whether to promote him or release him and they went with the former option.
The Chicago Cubs have designated relief pitcher Brandon Workman for assignment on Thursday. Workman earned a spot in the Cubs bullpen this spring, but the former closer has struggled in early leverage situations this season. Workman made 10 appearances with the Cubs and allowed nine runs (six earned) in eight innings with 11 strikeouts and seven walks. Workman is likely to latch on with another club as organizational depth. Replacing Workman will be left-hander Justin Steele. Steele saw some action earlier this season and has thrown 3 1/3 scoreless innings in three outings. He is likely to be used in low leverage situations and can be left on the waiver wire.
Dan Winkler, Brandon Workman, Jason Adam Placed On IL
The Chicago Cubs have placed relief pitchers Dan Winkler, Brandon Workman and Jason Adam on the 10-day injured list. The team hasn't specified the reasons for the moves yet, but they are believed to be COVID-19 related. The team's bullpen coach Chris Young tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, but is not with the team at this moment. The Cubs' game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday will go on as scheduled, according to Cubs manager David Ross. All Cubs players with the team have tested negative. The Cubs' bullpen will certainly be shorthanded on Monday as Winkler, Workman and Adam had 13 appearances combined so far this year. The team is yet to announce corresponding moves to fill the roster spots of the three relievers.
The Chicago Cubs and relief pitcher Brandon Workman have agreed to a one-year deal worth $1 million on Wednesday, with the chance to earn up to $2 million if he reaches performance-based incentives. The reliever is now 32 years of age and struggled mightily in 2020 with a 5.95 ERA in 19 2/3 innings with the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. Workman did have a strong 2019 campaign with the Red Sox, posting a 1.88 ERA with 16 saves, and he could be one of the top options for the Cubs to close games if Craig Kimbrel struggles. But for now, Workman will just be a speculative late-inning arm in deeper NL-only leagues.
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Brandon Workman allowed two runs (one earned) in an extra-innings loss to the Nationals on Tuesday. This game wasn't entirely on Workman, as Washington started the inning with a runner at second, but the former Red Sox reliever did retire just one of four batters faced. He has a brutal 6.72 ERA on the season and is walking batters at a 12.9 percent rate, which was his issue when Boston gave him a chance to close. Manager Joe Girardi has given three relievers save chances in the last week, and another Workman loss may take him out of the mix for the last four games. At this point, he may do more damage to your ERA and WHIP than he's worth for the possibility of picking up a save.
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless ninth inning and earned the win vs the Mets Monday. Workman was brought into a tie game in the bottom of the ninth and pitched around a walk to get the game to extra innings where he was rewarded with a win thanks to a Jean Segura two-run homer. Former closer Hector Neris earned the save in extras but Workman was used in the higher-leverage situation and has five saves in five chances since being traded to Philadelphia. He walks to many batters to be an elite closing option, but he is still the best reliever to own for saves in the Phillies bullpen.
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Brandon Workman pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his eighth save of the season Wednesday vs the Nationals. Workman recorded the first two outs of the inning with ease but, allowed the next two batters to reach base bringing the tying run to the plate; he got Luis Garcia to ground out, however, to preserve the win. Workman has some walk issues and his 2.14 WHIP is an eyesore for any pitcher, especially a closer. That could lead him into trouble at some point but for now he is the closer in Philadelphia and should be owned and started in fantasy leagues that reward saves.
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Brandon Workman earned his seventh save of the season - and third with the Phillies - in a win over the Braves on Saturday. Workman has now converted his last three save chances and has established himself as the closer as the team used former closer Hector Neris in the eighth inning. Workman doesn't have the elite stuff you like to see from a closer and his 12.5 percent walk rate is dangerous for a reliever. He allowed two more baserunners in this game and it seems like a matter of when, not if, he suffers a complete meltdown in a save chance. That makes Workman a bit of a risk in fantasy, but those who need saves should start Workman as long as he's collecting saves for the Phillies.
