Holland cleared waivers and declined an outright assignment to become a free agent Thursday.
Holland was designated for assignment Tuesday by the Rangers and will now be searching for a new team. After signing a minor-league deal with Texas in the offseason, he managed to make the Opening Day roster and was in the conversation to pick up save chances. However, Holland struggled in the opening weeks of the campaign, surrendering four earned runs across 4.2 innings.
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Rangers' Greg Holland: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Holland was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Tuesday.
After Holland converted his minor-league deal into an Opening Day roster spot, there was some speculation that his 220 career saves could earn him Texas' wide-open closer role. Nobody on the Rangers has a save through nine games, and it won't be Holland who gets the first one, as he's been cast aside after allowing five runs (four earned) in 4.2 innings to start the season. His 5:1 K:BB is perfectly respectable, but he also allowed three homers. The 36-year-old's long track record could help him earn a roster spot elsewhere, but his days as a high-leverage arm may be over. Jon Gray (finger) returned from the injured list to take Holland's spot on the roster.
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Rangers' Greg Holland: Used early in loss
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Holland allowed one walk and struck out one over a scoreless fifth inning in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Rockies.
Holland authored his first scoreless outing among three appearances. Being deployed in the fifth inning was notable, since manager Chris Woodward talked about using Holland to close out games. His previous two outings have come in the eighth and 10th inning. The veteran reliever has given up two runs, three hits and a walk while fanning four over three innings. At this point, it's hard to get a read on the roles in the Rangers' bullpen.
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Rangers' Greg Holland: Suffers loss in extras
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Holland (0-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits while striking out one over one relief inning in Monday's 6-4 extra-inning defeat to the Rockies.
This was Holland's second appearance, and he's given up runs in each. He was called on to open the 10th inning and let the ghostrunner score on a single, then gave up a solo home run to Connor Joe. Holland is in the mix for saves, but the Rangers have not yet had a situation that called for a closer. When the first one arises, there may not be much to learn. Texas manager Chris Woodward will likely play matchups, so how he deploys late-game staff may need to be gleaned over multiple save situations.
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Rangers' Greg Holland: Officially added to 40-man roster
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Holland's contract was selected by the Rangers on Thursday.
Holland served as a non-roster invitee this spring but was recently informed that he would be part of the team's Opening Day bullpen. The right-hander tossed five scoreless innings this spring and will have a chance to carve out closing duties to begin the 2022 campaign since the Rangers have a lack of compelling options for ninth-inning work.
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Rangers' Greg Holland: Secures roster spot
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Holland will be on the Rangers' Opening Day roster, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Holland joined the team as a non-roster invitee, and his roster status remained unclear in recent days. It appears he's made the squad after tossing five scoreless innings this spring, and he has a legitimate chance to serve as the team's closer. He's recorded ERAs north of 4.50 in three of the last four seasons, so he wouldn't close for many other teams, but the Rangers lack compelling alternatives and could turn to the veteran with 220 career saves due to his familiarity with the role.
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Rangers' Greg Holland: Roster status murky
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Holland and Spencer Patton were not one of the 10 relievers identified as making the Opening Day roster, per independent baseball journalist Jeff Wilson.
Wilson's reporting includes 10 names, while Kennedi Landry of MLB.com identifies only nine that will break camp -- her list does not include Brett Martin. In addition to variance in count of relievers, manager Chris Woodward alluded to the possibility of another spot opening up due to an injured list stint but did not specify beyond that. Holland and Patton, both of whom were mentioned by Woodward last week as candidates for saves, could be added to the roster before Opening Day.
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Rangers' Greg Holland: Remains unscored upon
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Holland struck out two over a scoreless inning in Friday's spring training game against the Giants.
This was Holland's fourth scoreless outing in the Cactus League and first appearance since Texas manager Chris Woodward lumped him in with others that could close games in 2022. First, the non-roster invitee needs break camp with the Rangers, and the right-handed reliever has pitched well enough. He's allowed four hits and one walk while striking out four over four innings. Woodward also mentioned Spencer Patton and Matt Bush as closer candidates, although Joe Barlow, who saved 11 of 12 chances in 2021, still lurks.
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Rangers' Greg Holland: Could get saves
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Holland is a dark-horse candidate for saves, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Manager Chris Woodward is apparently hesitant to enter the year with Joe Barlow back in the closer's role, according to Landry's report. This leaves Spencer Patton, Holland and Matt Bush as potential replacement options for the ninth.
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Rangers' Greg Holland: Signs MiLB deal with Texas
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Holland signed a minor-league contract with Texas on Wednesday that includes an invite to big-league camp.
Holland posted a 1.91 ERA during the shortened campaign in 2020 but struggled in 2021 with a 4.85 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 53:26 K:BB across 55.2 innings. The veteran right-hander will need to demonstrate he's worthy of a spot on the Opening Day roster during spring training.
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Greg Holland: Hits open market
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Holland elected free agency Wednesday.
In addition to Holland, fellow right-handed relievers Ervin Santana, Wade Davis (shoulder) and Jesse Hahn (shoulder) opted to test their luck on the open market, leaving the Royals with 35 players on their 40-man roster. Holland served as a part-time closer for Kansas City in 2021, logging eight saves in 12 chances while accruing a 4.85 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 55.2 innings.
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Royals' Greg Holland: Earns third win
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Holland (3-5) pitched two perfect innings and earned the win Wednesday over Cleveland. He struck out one.
The right-hander covered the sixth and seventh innings, and he benefited from Kansas City taking the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Holland has not allowed a run in 7.2 innings since returning from a shoulder injury. He has a 4.97 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 53:26 K:BB across 54.1 innings. overall this season The veteran reliever has retained a high-leverage role, although Scott Barlow has seen most of the save chances lately.
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Royals' Greg Holland: Works clean inning
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Holland struck out one in a perfect inning during Saturday's 5-1 loss to Detroit.
The right-hander needed just 10 pitches (seven strikes) to sit down Detroit in order in the seventh inning. Holland has allowed just two hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings since he returned from a shoulder injury, although he's logged just one save in those five appearances. The 35-year-old appears to have been passed up by Scott Barlow and Josh Staumont in Kansas City's bullpen hierarchy. Holland owns a 5.16 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 52:26 K:BB, eight saves and eight holds through 52.1 innings overall.
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Royals' Greg Holland: Notches eighth save
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Holland fired a perfect 11th inning, striking out one to earn the save in the win over the Twins on Friday.
Holland was perfect in his first appearance since Aug. 14 after coming off the 10-day injured list with a shoulder injury. He retired the side in order and struck out Brent Rooker to end the game. The 35-year-old has a 5.66 ERA and 1.47 WHIP with 48 punchouts in 47.2 innings this season. It appears that he will receive at least a share of the save chances alongside teammate Scott Barlow.
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Royals' Greg Holland: Activated by Royals
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Holland (shoulder) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Thursday.
Holland had been sidelined since Aug. 15 due to right shoulder impingement syndrome, but he'll rejoin the Royals' bullpen after missing just under a month. Across 13 appearances since the All-Star break, the 35-year-old has posted an 8.49 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 11.2 innings.
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Royals' Greg Holland: Lands on injured list
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Holland was placed on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder impingement syndrome Monday, retroactive to Aug. 15.
Holland has struggled recently, as he's allowed nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits and four walks while striking out two in three innings across his last four appearances. His injury likely contributed to his issues, and it's not yet clear when he'll be healthy enough to return.
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Royals' Greg Holland: Dealt loss Monday
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Holland (2-5) allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning, taking the extra-innings loss to the Yankees on Monday.
In a game that saw the Royals rally from a deficit in four consecutive innings, Holland's sloppy pitching in the 11th combined with Whit Merrifield's costly error created a deficit too big to overcome. This was Holland's first loss since July 8, but he's now allowed six runs (four earned) in his last inning across two appearances. The 35-year-old has a 5.24 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 45:24 K:BB with seven saves, eight holds and four blown saves in 44.2 innings. Given Holland's recent struggles, manager Mike Matheny may be more inclined to turn to other members of the closing committee for save chances in the immediate future.
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Royals' Greg Holland: Can't nail down save Saturday
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Holland recorded his sixth hold of the season in Saturday's 9-8 win over the Tigers, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning.
Entering the game in the ninth inning to protect a three-run lead, Holland instead made a mess of things, serving up a two-run shot to Akil Baddoo and then walking two more batters before getting replaced by Wade Davis for the final out. Holland avoided another blown save, but the 35-year-old has an 8.64 ERA and 1.56 WHIP through 8.1 innings in July and seems to be losing ground to Scott Barlow in the Royals' closer mix.
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Royals' Greg Holland: Converts seventh save
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Holland struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-3 win over Detroit.
Holland has recorded saves in each of his last two appearances after going nine straight outings without one. The 35-year-old needed just 13 pitches to finish off Detroit in the ninth inning. The right-hander has a 4.62 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 42:18 K:BB through 39 innings. He's collected seven saves, five holds and four blown saves as part of Kansas City's crowded closer committee, although it appears Holland and Scott Barlow are the strongest high-leverage options at the moment.
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Royals' Greg Holland: Locks down sixth save
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Holland earned the save Tuesday against the Brewers by tossing a scoreless inning, allowing one hit while striking out two.
With the Royals holding onto a three-run lead, Holland was called upon to finish things up. He nearly surrendered a home run to Manny Pina, but Andrew Benintendi came through with a solid catch to bail him out. With his pair of punchouts, Holland picked up his 500th strikeout as a Royal and his 40th of the season across 38 innings. The right-hander has tallied six saves to go with a 4.74 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.
