Free-agent starting pitcher R.A. Dickey still has not made a decision on his future, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rosenthal's sources say that this may be about more than baseball, though, as Dickey wants to pitch and he has offers to pitch. Even though he could pitch in 2018, he is married with four children, and his oldest child recently turned 16. Dickey, 43, made 31 starts for the Braves last season, producing a 4.26 ERA in 190 innings.
Free-agent starting pitcher R.A. Dickey is likely to retire, sources tell Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. Dickey finished last year with a 10-10 record and 4.26 ERA and has averaged 32 starts per year over the last eight years, making him one of the most durable pitchers the league has seen in a long time. He is now 43 years old, though, and perhaps has just had enough.
Braves Pick Up Tyler Flowers' Option, Decline R.A. Dickey's
The Atlanta Braves exercised catcher Tyler Flowers' $4 million option for the 2018 season Monday while declining starting pitcher R.A. Dickey's $8 million option. Flowers had an extremely productive season, hitting 12 home runs and driving in 49 in 317 at-bats while splitting time with Kurt Suzuki behind the dish. Both catchers led the majors in catching wins above replacement (5.1) and hit a combined .279/.360/.480 with 31 home runs. Flowers also had arthroscopic surgery on his wrist Oct. 9, but he's expected to make a full recovery and be ready for spring training next year. Dickey, who is considering retirement, went 4.26 in 190 innings and would be an unattractive innings eater for fantasy owners in deeper leagues if he decides to continue playing. Flowers will remain a high-end second catcher in two-catcher or NL-only leagues.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher R.A. Dickey decided against making one final start Sunday. Instead, that start will go to pitcher Max Fried. Dickey finished up his 2017 on a good note, giving up just two earned runs while striking out four in 6 2/3 frames in a no-decision against the Mets on Tuesday. However, he once again had an up-and-down season with a 4.26 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 31 starts. His inability to make hitters miss (6.4 K/9) will make him an unappetizing NL-only starter if he returns for one more season.
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker will let pitcher R.A. Dickey make the start on Sunday against Miami if he chooses to. Dickey is retiring at the end of the year, so he can either end his career on a high note or make one final start against the Marlins. The veteran knuckleballer held the Mets to two runs over 6 2/3 innings on Tuesday. If he chooses not to pitch again, it will be Max Fried taking the mound in Dickey's place in the Braves' regular-season finale. Fried has a 3.74 ERA and 1.62 WHIP this season in 21 2/3 innings.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher R.A. Dickey, who will turn 43 years old soon, hinted at a potential retirement after the 2017 season. "I'd be lying to say I didn't have some emotions about it. This could be my last ever start at a home venue," Dickey said. He also said he'll wait to make a final decision until after the season. The knuckleballer has had moments of brilliance this year like when he held Washington to just two runs in eight innings Thursday, but overall he's been shaky with a 4.32 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and weak 6.5 K/9. Dickey has been a hit-or-miss streamer in NL-only leagues.
Veteran knuckleballer R.A. Dickey recorded his second win of August as the St. Louis Cardinals could only buy a single run in seven innings. Dickey has recovered from a mid-season hiccup and posted an impressive 2.12 ERA over his past ten appearances. Strikeouts continue to come and go, but his ability to minimize home run damage has made him a valuable streaming option for sparse rosters. Dickey will be lucky to avoid pitching in Colorado this week, though he will be constrained by the small park in Cincinnati on Friday.
Braves starter R.A. Dickey took an unprecedented step backwards with a concerning performance on Monday. The knuckleballer lacked any control or communication with catcher Tyler Flowers as he threw four wild pitches before being pulled. Arizona tagged Dickey for four runs, five hits, and five walks in the 3 2/3 innings pitched. This comes after the veteran ended his run of strong performances last time out, offering a concerning look moving forward. Though he's struggled at times, Dickey has been one of Atlanta's best starters of late and granting him extra leeway during the summer may be a necessary risk.
Braves' starter R.A. Dickey saw an end to his run of strong performances with late struggles against the visiting Cubs. After a fairly strong start, a pair of mid inning home runs and a Javier Baez double pushed Dickey from the game. This comes following a 26 inning stretch where he allowed only four total runs. The veteran appears to have overcome the early struggles that plagued his first two months of the season. Proving to be consistent enough, Dickey remains a reliable option against the right offenses.
R.A. Dickey had been a different pitcher since allowing eight runs to the Nationals on June 13th. Now five starts removed, Dickey has collected a 2-0 record with 27 strikeouts and a 1.09 ERA over 33 innings of work. Dickey remains limited in fantasy value given his low strikeout numbers, but decreased walks has resulted in all-around heightened production. The veteran has broken through to being an every-start option until he regresses .
