Bleier signed a minor-league contract Thursday with the Cubs, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Bleier has quickly found a new home after being released by the Red Sox last week. The veteran lefty reliever had struggled to a 5.28 ERA in 30.2 innings this season with Boston, but his career ERA sits at 3.27. He'll report to Triple-A Iowa for now.
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Richard Bleier: Cut loose after clearing waivers
Rotowire
Bleier was released by the Red Sox on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Bleier passed through waivers unclaimed after Boston designated him for assignment and is now free to latch on with another organization. The left-handed reliever has been shaky this season and has never missed many bats, but past success should earn him another chance somewhere.
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Red Sox's Richard Bleier: Pushed off 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Red Sox designated Bleier for assignment on Monday.
The 36-year-old has had a rocky August, allowing four runs in four innings of relief. In a corresponding move, the Red Sox selected right-hander Dinelson Lamet from Triple-A Worcester.
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Red Sox's Richard Bleier: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
Bleier (shoulder) was activated from the 15-day injured list Monday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Bleier's recovery from a shoulder issue went slower than expected, but he's ready to go now after making four scoreless rehab appearances. He'll give the Red Sox yet another lefty in the bullpen.
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Red Sox's Richard Bleier: Starting rehab assignment
Rotowire
Bleier (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Bleier's progress from left shoulder inflammation has been slow, but he's finally ready to test things out in game action. He's been out since late May, so the reliever figures to require multiple rehab appearances.
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Red Sox's Richard Bleier: Throwing off mound
Rotowire
Bleier (shoulder) tossed a bullpen session Tuesday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Bleier suffered a setback earlier this month in his recovery from a bout of left shoulder inflammation, but he's on the right track now and could return to the Red Sox around the middle of July. The lefty reliever was originally placed on the 15-day injured list May 22.
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Red Sox's Richard Bleier: Slow progress with shoulder
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Bleier (shoulder) is not progressing as quickly as hoped in his recovery, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
Bleier resumed throwing early last week, but he's apparently hit a snag in his buildup from a bout of left shoulder inflammation. The veteran reliever went on the injured list May 22, and there is currently no timetable for his return.
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Red Sox's Richard Bleier: Resumes throwing
Rotowire
Bleier (shoulder) began throwing again Tuesday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Bleier landed on the 15-day injured list May 22 due to inflammation in his left shoulder and is now throwing roughly a week later. There is still no timeline for when the 36-year-old lefty might return, but a better idea may come after a few more throwing sessions.
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Red Sox's Richard Bleier: Nibbled to death Thursday
Rotowire
Bleier allowed four runs on four hits and hit a batter over one-third of an inning in Thursday's 9-3 loss to the Rays.
Bleier had a nightmarish outing Thursday, as just one of the four hits off him were deemed "hard hit." The most ignominious of all was a two-out, bases loaded suicide squeeze (40.3 mph) by Manuel Margot that didn't produce an out and extended the inning for Harold Ramirez's three-run double (87.5 mph). The left-hander has allowed six runs and nine hits over 4.1 innings and sports a 12.46 ERA with a counterintuitive 2.93 FIP.
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Red Sox's Richard Bleier: Pitches scoreless inning
Rotowire
Bleier allowed one hit and one walk over a scoreless eighth inning during Wednesday's 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh.
Boston's bullpen has been taxed through the first week of the season, and Bleier made his third appearance in six games. The left-hander has made two consecutive scoreless appearances after allowing a pair of runs in his season debut.
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Red Sox's Richard Bleier: Heads to Boston
Rotowire
The Red Sox acquired Bleier from the Marlins on Monday in exchange for Matt Barnes and cash, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Bleier made 55 appearances for the Marlins in 2022 and turned in a 3.55 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB over 50.2 innings. With Boston recently dealing away Josh Taylor, the addition of Bleier gives the Red Sox a much-needed lefty arm in the bullpen. Bleier could be a factor in the middle innings or as a setup man for the Red Sox in 2023, but he's unlikely to see many save opportunities.
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Marlins' Richard Bleier: Collects first win
Rotowire
Bleier (1-1) picked up the win in Sunday's extra-inning victory over the Mets, tossing a perfect ninth inning without a walk or a strikeout.
The southpaw fired 11 of 14 pitches for strikes to preserve a scoreless tie, and Bleier got rewarded when the Marlins scored the game's only runs in the top of the 10th. The 35-year-old has been pitching better over the last month or so, posting a 3.48 ERA and 1.35 WHIP over his last 10.1 innings despite a lackluster 6:2 K:BB, but he's unlikely to move into a consistent high-leverage role any time soon.
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Marlins' Richard Bleier: Takes loss as opener
Rotowire
Bleier (0-1) allowed one run in an inning of work as the opener in Friday's loss against the Giants. He allowed one hit and one walk while recording one strikeout.
Bleier coughed up an RBI groundout and was eventually tagged with the loss as the Giants hung 15 runs on the Marlins. He now owns a 5.56 ERA with a 7:3 K:BB through 11.1 innings this season.
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Marlins' Richard Bleier: Serving as opener Friday
Rotowire
Bleier will serve as the opener for Friday's game against the Giants, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Elieser Hernandez was initially listed as the starter Friday, but Bleier will serve as an opener for the first time this season. Over 13 relief appearances in 2022, Bleier has posted a 5.23 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 10.1 innings. Hernandez isn't dealing with an injury, so he'll be available in relief.
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Marlins' Richard Bleier: Completes quarantine
Rotowire
Bleier (illness) rejoined the Marlins on Tuesday, but he has yet to be activated from the COVID-19-related injured list, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Bleier has resided on the IL since May 8, when he presumably first tested positive for the virus. Due to the time he's missed, manager Don Mattingly said he wants Bleier to throw a bullpen session and likely head out on a brief rehab assignment before coming off the IL. Bleier could be activated ahead of the Marlins' two-game series in Tampa Bay that begins next Tuesday.
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Marlins' Richard Bleier: Moves to injured list
Rotowire
Bleier (undisclosed) was placed on the injured list Sunday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
An injury designation wasn't included with the move, so Bleier's absence is likely related to COVID-19. Assuming that's the case, the veteran left-hander will be unavailable until he clears the league's virus-related protocols.
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Marlins' Richard Bleier: Could get situational saves
Rotowire
Bleier is an option for save chances to begin the season if Dylan Floro (hip) isn't available, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Floro, Miami's expected closer, has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game due to hip soreness, so manager Don Mattingly may use a committee in his place that includes Anthony Bender, Anthony Bass and Bleier. The latter is the left-hander in the group, so his late-inning role is likely to be situational, but getting the occasional save would still boost his value in holds-plus-saves formats. Bleier is coming off a strong 2021 season in which he recorded three wins and 20 holds over 68 appearances with a 2.95 ERA and 0.98 WHIP.
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Marlins' Richard Bleier: Inks two-year extension
Rotowire
Bleier signed a two-year, $6 million extension with the Marlins on Monday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.
Bleier made 68 relief appearances in 2021 during his first full season with the Marlins, and he recorded 20 holds with a 2.95 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 58 innings. He failed to convert any of his six save chances, but he'll be rewarded with a two-year extension and should be in the mix for a late-inning role in 2022.
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Marlins' Richard Bleier: Suffers second loss
Rotowire
Bleier (2-2) lost Tuesday's 6-5 defeat at the hands of the Padres, allowing one run on three hits with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning.
Bleier entered a 5-5 tie in the seventh and permitted three hits and a run before being removed. Though his season ERA is a solid 3.38, the veteran lefty is 0-2 with three blown saves in his last 10 appearances.
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Marlins' Richard Bleier: Takes loss in relief
Rotowire
Bleier (2-1) was tagged with the loss Tuesday against the Nationals after allowing three runs on two hits across two-thirds of an inning.
Bleier entered this contest riding a 12-appearance scoreless streak, but that run came to an end Tuesday in what was one of his poorer outings of the entire campaign. Despite not having problems finding the strike zone -- 11 of his 16 pitches were strikes -- he couldn't get the job done and allowed three of the five batters he faced to reach base. Despite the poor outing Tuesday, Bleier still has a 3.00 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP on the season. The latter figure would be a career-best mark for the southpaw if he's able to sustain it until the end of the season.
