CARLOS ESTÉVEZ NEWS

Closer role not guaranteed Angels manager Phil Nevin said Saturday that the first opportunity to close a game this season will depend on "what the game dictates," Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register...

Impact Estevez appeared to be the frontrunner for closing duties early in camp, but Nevin has yet to commit to any reliever for that role. Estevez has struggled statistically this spring, though he struck out the side in a scoreless inning during his last appearance and has attributed his troubles in Cactus League play to experimenting with pitch usage. Nevin did say that Estevez "is definitely going to get some big outs late in the game most of the year," so the veteran reliever's poor numbers this spring don't seem to have shaken his manager's confidence. However, Nevin elected for a closer committee after the Angels traded Raisel Iglesias last season, thus it's not certain that he'll name a full-time closer at any point in 2023.

MARCH 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not concerned over rough spring Estevez and the Angels aren't concerned over his poor numbers this spring, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Impact He has walked 10 batters in 3.2 innings and has a 19.64 ERA, but the veteran righty has been experimenting with new pitches and strategies at the expense of clean innings in exhibition play. Estevez has been working more up in the zone, because the numbers say he is harder to hit up there and he's been working on a new changeup grip while attempting to throw a harder slider. Pitching coach Matt Wise said Estevez is trending in the right direction and manager Phil Nevin said he expects Estevez to get more consistent as the start of the season nears.

MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Struggling this spring Estevez has pitched 1.2 innings over three appearances in Cactus League play thus far, allowing five runs on one hit and seven walks while striking out one batter.

Impact Estevez has never been a pitcher with pinpoint control, but his wildness has been particularly off-putting this spring given general manager Perry Minasian's optimism early in camp that the right-hander could win the Angels' closer job. That scenario certainly isn't off the table, but Estevez may need to put his early struggles behind him in order to earn the team's confidence. One reason for his poor numbers thus far may be a conscious attempt, at the direction of the organization, to pitch more at the top of the zone, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. Estevez has at least expressed confidence in adjusting to the changes, saying Sunday, "I think I'm going to get it. I just need to face more hitters and once I'm comfortable with it, I think I'm going to be fine." Los Angeles has other options, including Jimmy Herget and Ryan Tepera, to deploy in the ninth inning of meaningful games, so Estevez is among the shakiest options for fantasy managers to target when chasing saves in their drafts.

MARCH 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tabbed as favorite to close by GM Angels general manager Perry Minasian recently expressed optimism that Estevez will earn the team's closer role this season, though he made it clear that the decision will be made...

Impact Estevez signed a two-year contract with the Angels in December after spending the first six seasons of his career with Colorado. The right-hander has racked up 25 saves in his career, with 11 coming in his rookie campaign and another 11 in 2021. Estevez doesn't have huge strikeout numbers -- he fanned less than a batter per inning in each of his past two seasons -- but he posted career-best marks with a 3.47 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 57 frames in 2022. Jimmy Herget was impressive as part of a closer committee for Los Angeles last season after Raisel Iglesias was traded in early August, and Ryan Tepera should also be in the mix for save chances. Given Minasian's comments, Estevez may have a leg up in the closer competition, but he's far from guaranteed to be handed that role and should be among the final closers to be selected in fantasy drafts.

FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Signs with Angels Estevez agreed to a free-agent deal with the Angels on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Impact Estevez will receive $13.5 million across the next two seasons, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The hard-throwing righty logged a 3.47 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 57 innings for the Rockies in 2022. Estevez struck out less than a batter an inning and isn't a master of control, as he walked 23. Despite tallying just 13 saves between the last two seasons, he could be a top candidate to close games for Los Angeles.

DECEMBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers look to stop skid in game against the Rockies

The Los Angeles Dodgers look to stop a three-game slide when they play the Colorado Rockies

OCTOBER 5, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Los Angeles Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies Tuesday

The Los Angeles Dodgers take on the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday

OCTOBER 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rockies visit the Dodgers in season opener

The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies for the season opener

OCTOBER 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dodgers face the Rockies leading series 2-1

The Los Angeles Dodgers lead 2-1 in a six-game series against the Colorado Rockies

OCTOBER 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dodgers host the Rockies, try to extend home win streak

The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies trying to continue a four-game home winning streak

OCTOBER 2, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rockies head into matchup against the Dodgers on losing streak

The Colorado Rockies look to stop their six-game slide with a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers

OCTOBER 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dodgers host the Rockies to start 6-game series

The Los Angeles Dodgers start a six-game series at home against the Colorado Rockies on Friday

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shifts to 15-day injured list Estevez (illness) was transferred to the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Impact Estevez landed on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday, but he doesn't actually have coronavirus, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com. Still, the illness has affected him to the point that the Rockies decided to shut him down for the year. He'll end the season having recorded a career-best 3.47 ERA in 57 innings.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rockies aim to break 4-game slide, take on the Giants

The Colorado Rockies aim to end their four-game losing streak with a victory over the San Francisco Giants

SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rockies aim to stop slide in game against the Giants

The Colorado Rockies look to break their three-game losing streak with a win over the San Francisco Giants

SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Placed on COVID list Estevez was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday.

Impact Estevez has been having a solid year, posting a career-best 3.47 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 57 innings out of the bullpen. There is no minimum or maximum time that players must spend on the COVID list, but in the meantime Ty Blach has been recalled to replace Estevez in the bullpen.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Freeland outduels Cease, Rockies blank White Sox 3-0

Kyle Freeland outdueled Dylan Cease and put a dent in a push by the Chicago White Sox for a playoff spot, pitching 6 2/3 shutout innings as the Colorado Rockies earned a 3-0 victor...

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Márquez outduels Scherzer, Rockies edge Mets 1-0

Germán Márquez outpitched Max Scherzer, allowing one hit over seven sparkling innings and denying the New York Mets’ ace his 200th career win as the Colorado Rockies eked out a 1-0...

AUGUST 28, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rockies' Carlos Estevez eager to embrace late-game bullpen chance A door of opportunity has opened for Carlos Estevez and he plans to step through it and take full advantage.

AUGUST 13, 2022 • DENVERPOST.COM

Clean inning for second save Estevez pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

Impact Daniel Bard and Alex Colome both struggled in Thursday's win versus the Cardinals, so it's not surprising they were left in reserve Friday. Estevez stepped in seamlessly to pick up his second save of the campaign, facing Arizona's Nos. 5-7 hitters and retiring them on a combined 18 pitches (12 strikes). For the season, Estevez has a 4.28 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 38:18 K:BB, five holds, a blown save and a 3-4 record through 40 innings, but he's unlikely to unseat Bard as the Rockies' closer this year.

AUGUST 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Díaz, Rockies rally off Graveman in 9th, stun White Sox 6-5

Elias Díaz hit a two-run single off Kendall Graveman in the ninth inning, and the Colorado Rockies overcame the loss of starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela to beat the Chicago White...

JULY 27, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bryant has 3 hits, Rockies beat Bucs 2-0 in 5th straight win

Kris Bryant had three hits and an RBI, Charlie Blackmon extended his hitting streak to seven games with an RBI single, and Jose Urena pitched six scoreless innings in the Colorado...

JULY 16, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Back from paternity leave Estevez was activated off the paternity list Saturday.

Impact Players may spend between one and three days on the paternity list. Estevez wound up spending the minimum amount, having only just left the team Friday. Chad Smith was optioned to clear space for his return.

JULY 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rockies rout Pirates 13-2, extend win streak to 4 games

Brendan Rodgers homered and drove in four runs, C

JULY 16, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Moves to paternity list Estevez was placed on the paternity list Friday, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

Impact Estevez picked up his first save of the season with a scoreless inning Thursday against the Padres, and he'll now step away from the team in order to spend some time with his growing family. The 29-year-old should rejoin the Rockies before the start of the second half of the season next Friday.

JULY 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE