Brandon Kintzler

Brandon Kintzler

40-Year-Old PitcherP
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Brandon Kintzler in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
RANKS
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$Signed a one-year, minor-league contract with the Padres in August of 2022. Released by the Padres in November of 2022.
Inks MiLB deal with Friars
PSan Diego Padres  
August 17, 2022
Kintzler signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Wednesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Kintzler hasn't seen game action since being cut loose by the Phillies last year, but he'll now receive a chance to earn a late-season roster spot in San Diego. The veteran right-hander posted a 6.37 ERA over 29 appearances for the Phillies last season, though he was effective over the previous two campaigns with a 2.55 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 62:24 K:BB across 81.1 innings.
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Brandon Kintzler See More
Bernie on the Scene: Trade Deadline Edition
July 26, 2021
Bernie Pleskoff looks at players who could be moved at the trade deadline. Will the Mariners trade Mitch Haniger?
Week 6 FAAB Recap
Week 6 FAAB Recap
May 3, 2021
May 3, 2021
Shane McClanahan was the big prize free agent in a number of leagues this week.
Mound Musings: Bullpens With Unanswered Questions
April 1, 2021
Brad Johnson writes about seeking value in bullpens with possible question marks, like in Philadelphia, where Hector Neris might have closer potential, if he can work on his meltdowns.
MLB FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
March 25, 2021
Jason Shebilske analyzes the top FAAB targets for leagues that begin waiver-wire pickups this week. Mitch Haniger is healthy again and swinging a hot spring bat.
Mound Musings: A Look at Pitching in the NL East
March 18, 2021
Brad Johnson recaps the National League East, where he envisions Phillies ace Aaron Nola will fit in nicely atop most fantasy rotations.
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Kintzler came very close to the dubious distinction of compiling more saves than strikeouts last season, finishing with 12 saves and 14 punchouts in 24.1 innings. Despite the fact the he was largely successful as the team's closer, the Marlins declined Kintzler's $4 million club option for 2021. It's not difficult to see impending regression as Kintzler's 5.10 SIERA and 4.98 xFIP tell a truer story than his actual 2.22 ERA. Not to mention, Kintzler will turn 37 in August. There are some teams still believing in guile, so Kintzler will likely land a job somewhere, perhaps even in a high-leverage capacity. Don't draft him as a closer. Kintzler's 3.0 K-BB% last season is just another reminder the regression monster is lurking.
Kintzler turned in a career-best 2.68 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with a 48:13 K:BB over 57 innings with the Cubs last season. He also racked up 17 holds. Kintzler appeared to find the command of his sinker, finishing with a 54.7 GB% to go along with a .261 BABIP, much improved from .328 in 2018. He threw that pitch a bit less often -- from 80% of the time to 70% usage -- and incorporated his slider and changeup more. The tweaked pitch mix did wonders for his splits against left-handed batters (.217 wOBA, down from .363 in 2018). The 35-year-old reliever has now been mostly healthy for three seasons. He signed with the Marlins in January, and Miami presents him with a relatively clear path to save opportunities. Kintzler maybe lacks the velocity to slot in as the everyday closer.
Kintzler was a predictable pitcher to lose his closer role in 2018 because his saves in 2017 were more opportunity-based than they were skills-based. In a day and age of closers blowing pitches by batters, Kintzler simply lacks the swing and miss necessary to be consistently successful in high-leverage situations (career 16.5 K%, 7.6% swinging-strike rate). His value these days comes from an ability to generate groundballs in the setup innings, but even that skill has been in a three-season decline to the point that he is only a slightly above-average groundball pitcher rather than an extreme one. After he exercised his $5 million player option to remain with the Cubs in 2019, there is no reason to roster Kintzler on draft day. His secondary skills do not offer enough to keep him around without an official closer label hanging off his jersey.
Strikeouts are not part of the package with Kintzler (6.1 career K/9, 4.9 in 2017), but he was effective in the closer role for Minnesota, converting 28 of 32 save chances last season before being traded to the Nationals. His success was due in large part to the groundball -- Kintzler gave something back in that regard last season, but still had a well above-average 54.9 percent groundball rate -- and sharp control. Kintzler has issued a total of 24 walks over the past two seasons (125.2 innings). Even so, the indicators weren't all that favorable (3.77 FIP, 4.36 xFIP, 4.25 SIERA) as Kintzler had a pretty dramatic reverse platoon split (.293/.336/.399), but groundball specialists are especially valuable in today's home-run environment. He'll remain in a setup role after re-signing with Washington, working ahead of Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle.
Kintzler was an unheralded minor league signing last season as the Twins signed him for depth and he began the season at Triple-A. After Glen Perkins was lost for the year due to injury and Kevin Jepsen proved ineffective, Kintzler surprisingly got a shot at the closer role in June and kept the job the rest of the season. While Kintzler had just a 5.8 K/9, he kept batters off base with good control (1.33 BB/9) and generated groundballs (61.9 percent of batted balls), leading to conversions on 17 of 20 save chances. Despite his success, he's just as unlikely a candidate to keep the job given his lack of dominant velocity (92.7 mph average fastball) and mediocre strikeout rates (career 6.5 K/9). However, his success as a closer last season should give him the first chance at the role in 2016.
Kintzler had a quality season pitching in middle relief, but he was not as effective as he was the year before, as he had some trouble with the long ball and saw his strikeout rate fall. He has been a regular out of the Brewers’ bullpen the last couple seasons and will likely be one again in 2015, but he had a 4.74 FIP last season, so he will need to sharpen things up to hold down his spot.
Kintzler was a steady middle reliever for the Brewers in 2013, posting a 2.69 ERA and a miniscule 1.07 WHIP. He is not a big strikeout pitcher, but he does a good job keeping runners off the bases, and also keeping the ball in the park. Kintzler fared well pitching in late innings in the 2013 season, and as one of the more experienced relievers in the bullpen, he has a good chance to remain in that role in 2014.
Kintzler has been plagued by arm injuries the last couple seasons, but he was back at full strength by the end of last season and held his own in a September stint with the big club. Kintzler isn't a big strikeout pitcher despite throwing a mid-90s fastball, but he has given himself a chance to earn a spot in the Brewers' bullpen by pitching well in the minors the last couple seasons. Look for him to work in middle relief if he pitches well this spring.
Kintzler's season was cut short due to a stress fracture in his right arm after just 14.2 innings. He'll get a chance to earn a bullpen spot during spring training, but needs to eliminate his extreme vulnerability to the long ball (five allowed in 22 career big league innings) in order to secure his role as a middle reliever in Milwaukee.
Kintzler moved all the way from Double-A Huntsville to the majors in 2010, using a combination of control and groundballs. He'll get a chance to earn a bullpen role during spring training, but there's not a future closer skill set in play here.
More Fantasy News
Let loose by Philadelphia
PFree Agent  
August 3, 2021
Kintzler was released by the Phillies on Monday, Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation reports.
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Designated for assignment
PPhiladelphia Phillies  
July 30, 2021
Kintzler was designated for assignment by the Phillies on Friday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
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No-decision as opener
PPhiladelphia Phillies  
July 11, 2021
Kintzler didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Red Sox after allowing one run on one hit across one inning.
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Will serve as opener
PPhiladelphia Phillies  
July 11, 2021
Kintzler will serve as the opener for Sunday's game against Boston, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
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Reinstated from injured list
PPhiladelphia Phillies  
July 1, 2021
Kintzler (neck) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Thursday.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could return to Miami
PFree Agent  
December 8, 2020
Kintzler could sign with the Marlins later this month, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports.
ANALYSIS
There are other teams in play, but Mish reports that there is mutual interest in Kintzler returning to Miami for the 2021 season. No signing is imminent, but a deal could get done before January. Mish notes that the Marlins covet a hard-throwing ninth-inning arm to close, so Kintzler could have to settle for a setup role. Last year he logged 12 saves and a 2.22 ERA, but his fielding-independent estimators tell a different story (5.00 FIP, 4.98 xFIP).
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