San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates avoided salary arbitration on Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $7.062 million deal. Yates was in the final year of arbitration eligibility. The right-hander was one of the best relievers in the game last season and posted a microscopic 1.19 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 41 saves and 101 strikeouts in 60 2/3 frames over his 60 appearances. Yates has become an elite fantasy closer for a Padres team that should be even better in 2020. That means he'll be one of the first ...

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates put up video game numbers in his age-32 season. He led the majors in saves (41) and ERA (1.19) while his 101 strikeouts helped him finish with the third-best K-rate (41.6%). This number set a career-high, and he also established a new best in walk rate (5.4%) to help him own a terrific 0.89 WHIP. Yates scrapped his slider in 2019 and focused on a two-pitch approach with his four-seamer and splitter. Each of these offerings were equally as lethal, holding ...

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates collected his major league-leading 41st save Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Yates worked around a leadoff walk to ultimately came out unscathed. The 32-year-olds breakout season has Yates staring at a 1.21 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 42 percent strikeout rate. Likely finishing 2019 as fantasys top closer, Yates has paid dividends in gold bars this year. Hell likely be overvalued going into 2020, making his probable ADP too pricey relative to other closing ...

San Diego Padres closer Kirby Yates blew a save and took the loss Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yates came in to get the last out in the eighth but immediately got into trouble in the ninth by letting two of three men reach before Dodgers second baseman Max Muncy cleared the runners with a double. The blown save was Yates third of the year and he still sits with an excellent 1.18 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 14.4 K/9. He leads the majors with 32 saves. [...]

The San Diego Padres are still fielding calls on closer Kirby Yates as the trade deadline approaches on Wednesday, but they've also had initial talks with him about a contract extension. The Nationals, Dodgers, Twins and Brewers are among the teams seeking bullpen help this summer. Yates has been an elite ninth-inning man this year, posting a 1.02 ERA, 0.82 [...]

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The trade deadline approaches and bullpen speculation is running rampant, with the battle for saves likely deciding which spot on the podium you'll stand on. [...]

Weve hit an interesting point in the season where a lot of the top prospects that are going to play every day at the MLB level in 2019 are already holding down a spot. The remaining prospects, for the most part, will now have to wait for an injury to provide them with an opportunity - although moves at the trade deadline could also open up some playing time.[...]

The San Diego Padres have placed a high price tag on closer Kirby Yates as the trade deadline approaches, according to other teams. Unless another team steps up and makes a big offer, Yates is likely staying in San Diego. It makes sense for the Friars to have a high asking price on their lone All-Star this year as they remain in wild-card contention to begin the second half of the season. Yates has been excellent, posting a 1.10 ERA, 0.81 [...]

The All-Star Game happened, and it was fun. But then came [...]