George Kontos

George Kontos

39-Year-Old PitcherP
 Free Agent  
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for George Kontos in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a one-year, minor-league contract with the Nationals in May of 2019. Released by the Nationals in August of 2019.
Begins media career
PFree Agent  
July 20, 2020
Kontos recently accepted a position with NBC Sports Bay Area for the Giants' pregame and postgame shows, effectively spelling an end to his playing career, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
ANALYSIS
After the Nationals released him from his minor-league deal last August, Kontos apparently didn't draw many offers from other organizations or wasn't intrigued by the opportunities that may have been available, prompting him to embark on a media career. The 35-year-old right-hander worked exclusively out of the bullpen over his 350 big-league appearances spanning eight seasons, posting a 3.10 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across stints with the Yankees, Giants, Pirates and Indians. His best years came in San Francisco, with Kontos earning his lone World Series ring as a member of the Giants' 2012 squad.
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2018
2017
2018 MLB Game Log
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2017 MLB Game Log
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring George Kontos See More
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
April 1, 2018
Clay Link advises fantasy players to spend big on two new closers but doesn't want them to forget budding hurler Jack Flaherty.
Mound Musings: NL Central Draft Day Targets
March 1, 2018
This week, Brad Johnson examines the National League Central pitching staffs, including Pittsburgh’s Jameson Taillon who had a rough 2017 season but is poised to have a huge 2018.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
August 13, 2017
Jan Levine scours the waiver wire for this week's pickups, including prospect Dansby Swanson, who is back up with the Braves after a short demotion.
Collette Calls: NL Closers in Waiting
February 12, 2016
We all know about Jeurys Familia, but Jason Collette tells fantasy owners who they should also be focused on in the Mets' bullpen, and on every NL team.
Team Previews: NL West
Team Previews: NL West
February 4, 2016
February 4, 2016
RotoWire's Erik Siegrist takes a spin around the NL West with a team preview for each of the five clubs.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
Three different organizations (the Pirates, Indians and Yankees) gave Kontos a shot last season, but after picking up his second career save in early April he didn't have much success the rest of the way. In 26.2 total innings, he posted a middling 4.39 ERA. His 25.2% strikeout rate in 2017 looks like a total outlier, as that figure was cut nearly in half to 12.9%, the lowest rate of his career. The drop in strikeouts was at least partially the product of a drop in fastball velocity, which fell by 1.5 mph to 90.0 mph, the worst of his career. Now 33 years old with declining stuff and performance to match his age, Kontos seems unlikely to fill anything more than a low-leverage role this season.
An altered pitch mix helped Kontos post a career-best strikeout rate last season. With more cutters -- his primary pitch -- at the expense of his sinker and four-seamer, Kontos averaged 9.5 K/9 in 65 appearances between San Francisco and Pittsburgh. The cutter usage jumped even more after he joined the Pirates on a waiver claim in August, going from 51.5 percent to 58.7 percent, and what followed was a reduction in walks and homers (1.8 BB/9, 0.61 HR/9 with Pirates). His improvement in those two areas along with a little luck on balls in play (.222 BABIP) led Kontos to a 1.84 ERA in 15 appearances with Pittsburgh. This is looking like another potential Ray Searage success story, but Kontos still isn't likely to challenge Felipe Rivero for the closer role. If Rivero were to go down with an injury, Kontos could get a look, but he would have to beat out Michael Feliz for opportunities.
Kontos turned in another solid campaign for the Giants while serving as one of manager Bruce Bochy's most-trusted middle relievers, finishing with a 2.53 ERA in 57 appearances. He didn't provide much for fantasy owners with zero saves, nine holds and a pedestrian 5.9 K/9. Kontos doesn't overpower hitters with his fastball, instead relying on a wipeout slider to keep the opposition honest. While his 4.66 xFIP was over two runs higher than his ERA, he may simply be a sabermetric anomaly as his xFIP has been at least a whole run higher than his ERA for the past two seasons. The Giants bullpen was their biggest weakness in 2016, so the club will likely use arbitration to keep Kontos around to stabilize the middle innings next season.
On the surface, the 30-year-old Kontos turned in his best season as a professional in 2015. He tossed a career-high 73.1 innings and finished with a career-best 2.33 ERA. Digging a bit deeper we can see that things weren't so rosy for the veteran right-hander. His low strikeout rate (5.4 K/9), high LOB% (86.9%) and a 4.02 FIP that was nearly two whole runs higher than his ERA indicate that Kontos was getting extremely lucky in 2015. His success last season - fluky or not - earned him the right to start the year in the Giants' bullpen, but those who are hunting for holds should be weary of his ratios.
Kontos shuttled between Triple-A Fresno and San Francisco in 2014, making just 24 of his 54 appearances in the big leagues. He pitched well when called upon, however, turning a 7.5 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 into a 2.78 ERA thanks to a very low HR/FB rate (2.7%, career 8.0%). Kontos also handled lefties capably, posting a .143 BAA despite a 19.2 BB% against left-handed batters. Out of minor-league options, the Giants won't have the luxury of moving him up and down without exposing him to waivers. As a result, he may end up sticking in middle relief all season, as it's likely that another club would roll the dice on Kontos if he became available in 2015.
Coming off of a career year in 2012, Kontos took a step backwards in 2013 finishing with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP in 55.1 innings. Kontos barely has two full years of MLB service, so while a repeat of 2012 wasn't guaranteed, his peripherals (9.1 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 2.80 FIP, 3.25 xFIP) didn't indicate any sort of regression coming in 2013. His velocity levels in 2013 were in line with 2012, but the big difference was his ability to use his fastball effectively. In 2012, the pitch value for his fastball wasn't impressive by any means (-3.3 wFB), but in 2013 it plummeted to -12.2 wFB due to his inability to locate properly. Opposing hitters would lay off his excellent slider and wait for him to make a mistake with his fastball, which led to more home runs surrendered (1.1 HR/9 in 2013 compared to 0.6 HR/9 in 2012) and bloated ratios. The Giants will likely give him a chance to work out his fastball location issues during spring training and re-earn a spot in the bullpen.
Kontos appeared in 44 games with the Giants out of the bullpen after being acquired in a trade right before the start of the season from the Yankees. He became a key cog in the bullpen for Bruce Bochy, posting a 2.47 ERA, 2.80 FIP and 3.25 xFIP, which indicate that he could remain a key setup man in 2013. Kontos relies heavily on his slider, which allowed him to record a 12.5 percent swinging-strike rate and 9.1 K/9. With a 51.3 percent groundball rate and an improved walk rate (2.4 BB/9), Kontos also should an ability to pitch against left-handed hitters by holding them to a .218 wOBA.
Kontos made his major league debut late in 2011, and profiles as a middle reliever for the long term.  Kontos was fairly effective out of the bullpen for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2011, putting up a 2.62 ERA with a 1.097 WHIP with 91 strikeouts in 89.1 innings.  Kontos' good command could secure him a middle relief role somewhere, but he doesn't a deep enough arsenal to exceed that ceiling.
More Fantasy News
Hits open market
PFree Agent  
August 29, 2019
The Nationals released Kontos from his minor-league contract Wednesday.
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Joins Nationals
PWashington Nationals  
May 25, 2019
Kontos signed a minor-league deal with the Nationals on Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
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Dispatched to minors
PChicago Cubs  
March 16, 2019
The Cubs reassigned Kontos to their minor-league camp Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
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Joining Cubs on minors deal
PChicago Cubs  
January 25, 2019
Kontos agreed to a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
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Outrighted to Triple-A
PNew York Yankees  
August 17, 2018
Kontos was sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.
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