White Sox's Dan Winkler: Finds work with White Sox
Rotowire
Winkler signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Thursday and was assigned to Triple-A Charlotte.
Winkler has already made a pair of relief appearances for Charlotte, covering two innings while giving up two earned runs on two hits and a walk. Before catching on with the White Sox, Winkler compiled a 3.50 ERA and 1.39 WHIP across 18 innings at Triple-A Round Rock. He opted out of his minor-league contract with the Rangers on June 1.
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Dan Winkler: Opts out of deal
Rotowire
Winkler exercised the opt-out in his minor-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday and has become a free agent, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
The 32-year-old joined Texas on a minor-league deal in mid-March but was unable to earn a chance in the majors. Winkler had a 3.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 26:13 K:BB over 18 innings for Triple-A Round Rock. He'll now look to latch on with another organization.
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Rangers' Dan Winkler: Sent down by Rangers
Rotowire
Winkler was reassigned to minor-league camp Wednesday.
Winkler made 47 relief appearances for the Cubs last year and posted a 5.22 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 39.2 innings. While he'll begin the 2022 campaign in the minors, the right-hander will be a candidate to serve as bullpen depth at some point in 2022.
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Rangers' Dan Winkler: Latches on with Texas
Rotowire
Winkler agreed to a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league camp.
Winkler appeared in 47 games for the Cubs last season and had a 5.22 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 40:30 K:BB over 39.2 innings before being released in August. The 32-year-old could earn a spot in the Rangers' Opening Day bullpen with a strong showing during spring training.
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Dan Winkler: Let go by Cubs
Rotowire
Winkler was released by the Cubs on Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Winkler had a consistent spot in the Cubs' bullpen across the last two seasons, but he was cast off the 40-man roster after he allowed 13 runs (12 earned) in 1.2 innings across his last three appearances. The 31-year-old will now be free to seek out other opportunities for the remainder of the 2021 campaign.
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Cubs' Dan Winkler: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Winkler was designated for assignment by the Cubs on Tuesday, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Winkler hasn't looked good this season, struggling to a 5.22 ERA over 47 relief appearances, with his 15.8 percent walk rate standing out as a major concern. His last three outings have been particularly poor, as he's allowed 13 runs while recording just five outs. Michael Hermosillo was added to the active roster in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Dan Winkler: Struggles continue Monday
Rotowire
Winkler allowed four runs (three earned) while retiring just a single batter in Monday's loss to the Reds. He gave up two hits and three walks with no strikeouts.
The wheels have come off for Winkler recently, as he's now allowed 12 earned runs in his last 1.2 innings on the mound. The rough stretch has pushed his ERA from 2.61 all the way up to 5.22. Winkler pitched well for the Cubs during the abbreviated 2020 season, recording a 2.95 ERA across 18.1 innings, so that coupled with his performance to begin 2021 should give him a little bit of job security in the Chicago bullpen, especially with Craig Kimbrel and Ryan Tepera no longer around. He doesn't have much fantasy value given his role and current production, however.
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Cubs' Dan Winkler: Struggles in loss Tuesday
Rotowire
Winkler (1-3) allowed three earned runs on three hits and one walk across 1.1 innings, taking the loss to the Brewers in Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader.
Winkler was solid in the fourth inning, retiring three of the four batters he faced. However, he got shelled in the fifth frame for two doubles and a walk before being pulled. The 31-year-old still has a 3.20 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP with 40 strikeouts in 39.1 innings.
Winkler (1-1) allowed two runs on two hits in one-third of an inning, taking the loss versus Cincinnati on Sunday. He also hit two batters.
Winkler allowed the first three batters he faced to reach before getting his lone out on a fielder's choice. His second hit batter yielded Cincinnati's game-tying run, and reliever Andrew Chafin allowed another fielder's choice with the run charged to Winkler. The right-hander allowed runs for the just the fourth time in 32 appearances this year. He owns a strong 1.82 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 31:16 K:BB with six holds across 29.2 innings.
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Cubs' Dan Winkler: Tosses scoreless inning Friday
Rotowire
Winkler, who pitched a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts in Friday's loss to the Reds, has 31 strikeouts and a 1.23 ERA across 29.1 innings this season.
Outside of closer Craig Kimbrel, Winkler has perhaps been the Cubs' most reliable and effective reliever this season. The righty was good in 2020 as well, posting a 2.95 ERA and 18 strikeouts across 18.1 innings during the condensed season. Winkler should remain in a high-leverage role for Chicago, though he likely won't see save opportunities if Kimbrel stays healthy.
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Cubs' Dan Winkler: Continues to pitch well
Rotowire
Winkler, who tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Wednesday's win over the Padres, has a 0.46 ERA across 19.2 innings this season.
The righty allowed an earned run in his first appearance of the season back on April 1 but has posted zeroes in 21 straight outings since then. He's due to let someone cross the plate at some point, but Winkler has established himself as a valuable member of the Chicago bullpen in front of closer Craig Kimbrel.
Winkler (triceps) was activated from the injured list Friday, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Winkler spent a minimum-length stay on the injured list after being sidelined with triceps tendinitis in early May. Before suffering the injury, he'd cruised through 10,2 innings of relief, posting a 0.84 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Brad Wieck was optioned in a corresponding move.
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Cubs' Dan Winkler: Plays catch
Rotowire
Winkler (triceps) played catch Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Winkler has been out since Tuesday with right triceps tendinitis. Whether or not he's in contention to return from the injured list when first eligible is uncertain, but the fact that he's able to throw in some capacity is good news.
The Cubs placed Winkler on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with right triceps tendinitis, Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Ahead of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Dodgers, the Cubs moved Winkler and fellow pitcher Jake Arrieta (thumb) to the IL while calling up Kyle Ryan and Keegan Thompson from Triple-A Iowa to provide a pair of fresh arms. Ryan will serve as a replacement in the bullpen for Winkler, who has been one of the Cubs' top relievers this season with a 0.84 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 12 strikeouts across 10.2 innings.
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Cubs' Dan Winkler: Picks up first win
Rotowire
Winkler (1-0) worked around two walks to pitch a clean 10th inning and earn the win against the Mets on Thursday. He struck out one.
With a runner automatically starting the frame on second base, Winkler got off to a rough start as he uncorked a wild pitch that advanced the runner to third with no outs. After a strikeout of Jeff McNeil, Winkler walked the next two batters, but then escaped the inning by inducing Dominic Smith to ground into a double play. Winkler then picked up his first win of the season when the Cubs walked off the Mets in the bottom of the inning. The righty has been solid through eight appearances (6.1 innings pitched) with a 1.42 ERA, though his 1.58 WHIP suggests he's been allowing too many baserunners and may see his ERA climb soon.
