Rizzo ends talks; Odor getting cut; restrictions to loosen
Anthony Rizzo is cutting off talks with the Chicago Cubs on a new contract and is prepared to play the season as free agency looms after the World SeriesMARCH 29, 2021 • Associated Press
ROWDY TELLEZ #44 - FIRST BASEMAN - TEXAS RANGERS
17 HR •
49 RBI •
.228 AVG
17 HR
49 RBI
.228 AVG
Rowdy Tellez's no-doubt homer | 03/29/2021 Rowdy Tellez smashes a long fly to right-center field for his first spring homer, trimming the Blue Jays' deficit to 5-2 in the 4th inning
MARCH 29, 2021 • MLB.COM
Locks up roster spot Toronto informed Tellez on Sunday that he would be included on the Opening Day roster, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Impact The uncertain status of George Springer (oblique) for the start of the season might have helped Tellez's case for a spot on the 26-man roster, but the 26-year-old entered the spring on fairly sturdy ground after submitting a career-best .886 OPS over 127 plate appearances in the abbreviated 2020 campaign. The lefty-hitting Tellez will likely sit against southpaws more often than not, but he should start at least semi-regularly at either designated hitter or first base when the Blue Jays oppose right-handed pitchers.
MARCH 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Fantasy baseball sleepers: Bobby Dalbec, Rowdy Tellez and picks for all 30 MLB teams Reyes Moronta, C.J. Cron and Rowdy Tellez lead our MLB beat writer picks for 2021 fantasy baseball sleepers.
MARCH 22, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Continuing to refine approach Tellez has continued to focus on improving his approach with two strikes after chopping his strikeout rate nearly in half in 2020, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Impact Working with Blue Jays special assistant Dante Bichette last year, Tellez saw his strikeout rate drop to 15.7 percent after he'd whiffed at a 28.4 percent rate in 2019, and putting more balls in play allowed his natural power to surface more often. "He's going to hit home runs on accident," Bichette said this week. "He doesn't have to try to. He can hit a line drive out of the park; he can pop up a ball out of the park. To me ... his goal was to put the ball in play more often and just square the ball up more often. And he's done that so far. Since we've worked together, he's been really good." Regular at-bats could be tough to come by for Tellez with Vladimir Guerrero at first base and DH being used to occasionally give starters at other positions a partial rest, but if the 25-year-old shows that last season's .283/.346/.540 line was no fluke, Tellez is capable of bashing his way into a consistent spot in the lineup.
MARCH 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
After making 2-strike strides in 2020, is Blue Jays' Rowdy Tellez primed for a breakout season? Rowdy Tellez's work with Dante Bichette paid off with an improved two-strike approach. "He could just be a monster” in '21, Bichette said.
MARCH 13, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
After making two-strike strides in 2020, is Blue Jays' Rowdy Tellez primed for a breakout season? Rowdy Tellez's work with Dante Bichette paid off with an improved two-strike approach. "He could just be a monster” in '21, Bichette said.
MARCH 13, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Fantasy baseball 2021: Bobby Dalbec, Rowdy Tellez and sleeper picks for all 30 MLB teams Reyes Moronta, C.J. Cron and Rowdy Tellez lead our MLB beat writer picks for 2021 fantasy baseball sleepers.
MARCH 4, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
2021 Fantasy baseball sleepers on all 30 teams: C.J. Cron, Rowdy Tellez, and many more Reyes Moronta, C.J. Cron and Rowdy Tellez lead our MLB beat writer picks for 2021 fantasy baseball sleepers.
MARCH 3, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Sigh and Cy: Bieber tagged, Bauer sharp in Dodgers debut
Reigning Cy Young Award winners Shane Bieber and Trevor Bauer got off to different starts in spring training action MondayMARCH 1, 2021 • Associated Press
2021 Fantasy baseball sleepers by team: Our MLB experts weigh in on C.J. Cron, Rowdy Tellez and more Reyes Moronta, C.J. Cron and Rowdy Tellez lead our MLB beat writer picks for 2021 fantasy baseball sleepers.
MARCH 1, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Fantasy baseball draft sleeper picks: MLB experts weigh in on C.J. Cron, Reyes Moronta, Rowdy Tellez and more Reyes Moronta, C.J. Cron and Rowdy Tellez lead our MLB beat writer picks for 2021 fantasy baseball sleepers.
MARCH 1, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Blue Jays: Rowdy Tellez won’t be denied at-bats in 2021 If everyone stays healthy, the Blue Jays have more starting calibre players than lineup spots. Regardless, Rowdy Tellez will find a way to b...
MARCH 1, 2021 • JAYSJOURNAL.COM
Spring games begin with fans, new faces, moment for Mancini
All over spring training, baseball enjoyed a bevy of reassuring signs Sunday on the opening day of Grapefruit and Cactus league playFEBRUARY 28, 2021 • Associated Press
Rowdy Tellez's 2-run double | 02/28/2021 Rowdy Tellez smacks a two-run ground-rule double for the Blue Jays' first runs of the spring, giving Toronto a 2-0 lead over the Yankees
FEBRUARY 28, 2021 • MLB.COM
Rowdy Tellez's 2-run double | 02/28/2021 Rowdy Tellez smacks a two-run ground-rule double for the Blue Jays' first runs of the spring, giving Toronto a 2-0 lead over the Yankees
FEBRUARY 28, 2021 • MLB.COM
Rowdy Tellez discusses offseason | 01/09/2021 Rowdy Tellez talks about the team's possibility of landing a big free agent this offseason and how the Blue Jays are ready for 2021
JANUARY 9, 2021 • MLB.COM
Blue Jays: Could Rowdy Tellez be traded for a win now player? Could the Toronto Blue Jays dangle Rowdy Tellez as trade bait for a player who could make an immediate impact? The Toronto Blue Jays have no...
NOVEMBER 16, 2020 • JAYSJOURNAL.COM
Renfroe slam helps Rays sweep young Blue Jays in 1st round
Hunter Renfroe hit a grand slam and the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays won a postseason series for the first time in 12 years, overpowering the young Toronto Blue Jays 8-2 to fini...SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 • Associated Press
Remains on bench Tellez sits as expected for Game 2 of the Wild Card Round against the Rays on Wednesday.
Impact Tellez was able to return from a knee strain faster than expected and make the wild-card roster, though he's not recovered enough to start. He was able to appear off the bench in Game 1, however, grabbing a hit and scoring Toronto's lone run, so a pinch-hit appearance is certainly possible again in Game 2.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
García 1st MLB win, Yankees end 5-game skid, top Blue Jays
Deivi García earned his first major league win, Gleyber Torres drove in four runs and the New York Yankees snapped a five-game losing streak, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 • Associated Press
May be out for season Tellez (knee) is expected to miss the rest of the 2020 season with a suspected tendon injury, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
Impact The 25-year-old suffered the injury during Tuesday's contest and landed on the injured list Wednesday with a right knee strain, but it appears he'll be sidelined for more than the 10-day minimum by the unspecified tendon injury. Tellez remains without an official timeline for his return, so it's unclear if a return during a potential playoff run is possible.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Moves to injured list Tellez was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a right knee strain.
Impact An MRI revealed the strained right knee earlier in the day, and it was only a matter of time before the 25-year-old was shifted to the injured list. Tellez remains without an official timeline for his return, but he could be reinstated Sept. 19 for the final week of the season. Billy McKinney was recalled from the alternate training site in a corresponding move.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Injured list trip expected Tellez (knee) is expected to require a trip to the injured list after an MRI revealed a strained right knee Wednesday, Gregor Chisholm of the Toronto Star reports.
Impact Depending on the severity of the strain, Tellez could potentially have the chance to return for the final week of the season. He'd been reaching a new level at the plate this season, hitting .283/.346/.540 in 35 games, so his loss will be a blow to the Blue Jays. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Travis Shaw will spend time at first base in his absence.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Not starting Wednesday Tellez (knee) is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Impact It's no surprise to see Tellez out of the lineup, as he's set to undergo an MRI on his right knee Wednesday. Whether or not he'll be forced to miss an extended period won't become clear until the results of the test are known. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be the designated hitter Wednesday, with Travis Shaw starting at first base.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
