Wittgren signed a minor-league contract with the Twins on Friday.
Wittgren posted a 4.97 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across 29 innings with the Royals last season, and he'll now attempt to work his way back to the majors as part of the Twins organization. The 32-year-old righty will report to Double-A Wichita.
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Mariners' Nick Wittgren: Joining Seattle
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Wittgren signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Wittgren found work with Seattle after recently parting ways with the Royals, who moved him off the 40-man roster after he posted a 4.97 ERA in 27 appearances this season. He had four saves, 22 holds and a 2.99 ERA for Cleveland between the 2019 and 2020 campaigns, but he's struggled to a 5.24 ERA over the past three seasons.
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Nick Wittgren: Becomes free agent
Rotowire
Wittgren elected free agency Wednesday.
Wittgren was sent to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday, but was able to elect free agency due to the fact he had no more minor-league options left. The 32-year-old righty holds a 4.97 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 29 innings this season and will now look to contribute elsewhere as bullpen depth.
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Royals' Nick Wittgren: Expected to elect free agency
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Wittgren is expected to elect free agency after being sent to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Kansas City announced Wednesday afternoon that Wittgren had been optioned to Omaha, but it would appear that the 32-year-old right-hander didn't actually have any minor-league options left. He had pitched to a 4.97 ERA and 18:11 K:BB through 29 innings of work this season out of the Royals' bullpen.
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Royals' Nick Wittgren: Optioned to Omaha
Rotowire
Kansas City optioned Wittgren to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.
John McMillon is joining the Royals' bullpen in a corresponding move. Wittgren, 32, carries a 4.97 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 18:11 K:BB in 29 innings this season at the major-league level.
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Royals' Nick Wittgren: Collects first win
Rotowire
Wittgren (1-0) was not charged with a run but allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning to earn the win after blowing a save Monday against the Mariners.
Wittgren entered the game with runners on first and second after Austin Cox struggled in the ninth inning. Wittgren proceeded to let both inherited runners to score, but the Royals rallied back for a walk-off win. When he was selected from Triple-A Omaha in May, he began in a low-leverage role, but Wittgren's 10.2-inning scoreless streak has earned him some more important assignments. Overall, he has a mediocre 4.97 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 18:11 K:BB through 29 innings while adding two holds this season, so he's unlikely to perform well enough to interest fantasy managers.
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Royals' Nick Wittgren: Added to roster
Rotowire
The Royals selected Wittgren's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Wittgren earned a look by posting a 1.25 ERA and 19:6 K:BB over 21.2 innings with Omaha. The veteran reliever will provide the Royals with a fresh bullpen arm.
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Royals' Nick Wittgren: Reassigned to minor-league camp
Rotowire
Wittgren was reassigned Tuesday to the minor-league side of Royals camp.
Wittgren was in major-league camp this spring as a non-roster invitee. The 31-year-old reliever struggled to a 5.90 ERA and 17:10 K:BB in 29 innings with the Cardinals last season.
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Royals' Nick Wittgren: Latches on in Kansas City
Rotowire
Wittgren signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on Monday.
He should be in major-league camp as a non-roster invitee. Wittgren has had some usefulness in the past, but he's now 31 years old and coming off back-to-back seasons with a plus-5.00 ERA.
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Cardinals' Nick Wittgren: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Wittgren was designated for assignment by the Cardinals on Saturday.
Wittgren hasn't pitched since giving up four runs on four hits and no walks while striking out one in one inning June 26, and he'll now lose his spot on the 40-man roster. It's not yet clear whether he'll remain in the organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
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Cardinals' Nick Wittgren: Covers two scoreless innings
Rotowire
Wittgren allowed a hit and struck out one in two scoreless innings during Friday's 3-0 loss to the Cubs.
Wittgren has strung together 5.2 scoreless innings across his last four appearances, which is his longest shutout streak of the year by innings. With a 4.82 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 16:10 K:BB in 28 innings overall, he's had his fair share of inconsistency, but he seems to be in good form in a low-leverage role. The right-hander has added a save and four holds with a 1-0 record, but he's a few rungs lower on the ladder than the Cardinals' top high-leverage arms in Ryan Helsley, Giovanny Gallegos and Genesis Cabrera.
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Cardinals' Nick Wittgren: Snags win Saturday
Rotowire
Wittgren (1-0) allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the win Saturday over the Reds.
Wittgren kept the deficit to one run in the top of the ninth inning, and Tommy Edman walked it off for the Cardinals in the bottom of the frame. Despite allowing nine runs, 14 hits and five walks in his last nine innings, Wittgren has picked up a save and a win in his two scoreless outings in that span without taking any losses or blown saves. The right-hander has a 5.79 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 11:10 K:BB in 23.1 innings overall, so he'll likely be limited to middle relief -- he hasn't picked up a hold since May 2.
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Cardinals' Nick Wittgren: Picks up first save
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Wittgren recorded the last out of Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Padres, earning a save.
Kodi Whitley allowed a solo home run to Luke Voit and then loaded the bases with two outs. Wittgren entered the game and got Robinson Cano to fly out to end the threat. While this was his first save of the season, Wittgren's seen some high-leverage work with four holds in 22 appearances. He's been shaky with a 5.30 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 9:8 K:BB in 18.2 innings -- Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley are most likely to see the closing assignments going forward, but both of them had pitched Monday and Tuesday.
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Cardinals' Nick Wittgren: Faltering in May
Rotowire
Wittgren allowed a run on three hits and struck out one in 1.1 innings in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Orioles.
Through five appearances in May, Wittgren has allowed three runs in 5.1 innings. He allowed all of one run in April, so this is a discouraging downturn for the righty reliever. For the season, the 30-year-old has a 3.09 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 7:4 K:BB across 11.2 innings while picking up four holds.
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Cardinals' Nick Wittgren: Picks up third hold
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Wittgren walked one batter in a scoreless inning to earn a hold in Friday's 4-2 win over the Reds.
Wittgren has picked up three holds through six appearances this season. The right-hander has been effective in limited time, as he's only covered a full inning in three of his outings. He's yielded one run, five hits and two walks while striking out two in 4.1 innings. Wittgren amassed 31 holds over the last three years with Cleveland, and he appears to be reprising a similar role as part of the high-leverage bridge to closer Giovanny Gallegos.
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Cardinals' Nick Wittgren: Signs on with St. Louis
Rotowire
Wittgren agreed to a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Cardinals on Sunday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Wittgren elected free agency after being outrighted off Cleveland's 40-man roster in November, and he'll continue his career in St. Louis. The right-hander posted a 5.05 ERA over 62.1 frames during 2021 but had a 2.97 ERA over the previous three years, and the Cardinals will undoubtedly hope he can rediscover that form.
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Nick Wittgren: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Wittgren elected free agency after being outrighted to Triple-A Columbus by Cleveland on Friday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.
Wittgren began the 2021 campaign as a potential closing option for Cleveland, but he quickly fell out of favor for high-leverage opportunities and posted a 5.05 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 61:17 K:BB over 62.1 innings. The right-hander had a 2.97 ERA in 112 appearances across the previous three seasons, so he should be able to latch on somewhere during the offseason.
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Indians' Nick Wittgren: Handed loss Wednesday
Rotowire
Wittgren (2-9) allowed three runs on two hits and a walk in one inning, taking the loss versus Kansas City on Wednesday.
Wittgren was responsible for Hunter Dozier's two-run triple, and the right-hander let him come across to score on a wild pitch. An uneven September has seen Wittgren post an 8.18 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in his last 11 innings. He has a 5.14 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 61:17 K:BB with one save and nine holds through 61.1 innings.
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Indians' Nick Wittgren: Takes loss in nightcap
Rotowire
Wittgren (2-8) took the loss in Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader versus Kansas City. He allowed two runs on a hit and three walks in two-thirds of an inning.
The right-hander lacked control early on, walking three straight batters after Nicky Lopez's one-out double in the first inning. Wittgren threw just 14 of 30 pitches for strikes in his first turn as an opener. He's pitched to a 5.05 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 58:16 K:BB across 57 innings. He's added a save and nine holds, but the 30-year-old's rough season has kept him in mainly low-leverage spots.
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Indians' Nick Wittgren: Starting Game 2
Rotowire
Wittgren will start Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader versus the Royals.
Wittgren will make the first start of his MLB career with Cleveland utilizing a bullpen game in the nightcap. The 30-year-old hasn't thrown more than two innings during a single appearance this season and is unlikely to pitch beyond that Monday.
