Free-agent relief pitcher Richard Lovelady has signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago Cubs. The 28-year-old will presumably receive an invite to big-league spring training. After three years with the Royals, Lovelady spent the 2023 campaign with the A's, working to a 4.63 ERA in 27 outings before a forearm strain suffered in July cost him the rest of his season. Lovelady worked to a rock-solid 3.48 ERA with the Royals in 2022 but sits with a 5.26 ERA across 73 outings and 65 innings of work in the big leagues. His 3.99 SIERA from 2023 is decent and he posted a palatable 14.6% K-BB% a season ago, as well. He will compete for a left-handed bullpen role with the Cubs or could serve as Triple-A bullpen depth in 2024.

Oakland Athletics left-hander Richard Lovelady (forearm) will not pitch again this season, according to manager Mark Kotsay. Lovelady was placed on the injured list on July 11 due to a left-forearm issue. He appeared in 27 games for the A's out of the bullpen and had a 4.63 ERA (4.57 FIP), 1.07 WHIP, 10 walks and 24 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings pitched in his first year in Oakland. After visiting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, an examination of Lovelady's forearm showed a left flexor-pronator strain. The 28-year-old southpaw has a 5.26 ERA (4.44 FIP), 1.34 WHIP, 25 walks and 64 strikeouts in 65 relief innings in the big leagues in four seasons.

Oakland Athletics left-hander Richard Lovelady (elbow) threw a 20-pitch live bullpen session on Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. The 27-year-old has been on the injured list since June 16 after suffering a left elbow strain. Before the injury, Lovelady pitched to a 3.86 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 23.8% strikeout rate with four holds and no saves across 21 innings. He'll likely need a few more bullpen sessions and possibly a rehab assignment, giving him a return date of sometime in early July. When Lovelady is back, fantasy managers can expect more holds and possibly some save opportunities, but fantasy owners don't need to stash him on any roster.

Oakland Athletics reliever Richard Lovelady was the losing pitcher in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Houston Astros after allowing one run on a Yordan Alvarez solo shot in the eighth inning. He also struck out one without walking anyone over one inning, and the 27-year-old still has impressive numbers, as he's running a 2.13 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 14 punchouts across 12.2 innings. The A's are thin in the bullpen, and with Zach Jackson (elbow) on the injured list, Lovelady is projected as one of the options for save situations, along with Garrett Acton, Sam Moll, and Austin Pruitt. Although saves will be at a premium in Oakland, fantasy managers in need of a closer should keep tabs on how this situation unfolds.

The Kansas City Royals have non-tendered pitcher Richard Lovelady, but he is expected to rejoin the team with a minor-league deal. The left-handed Lovelady appears unlikely to pitch in 2022 after having his 2021 seasoned cut short by Tommy John surgery. Before sustaining the injury, he was performing quite well, putting up a 3.48 ERA in 20 2/3 innings in relief. This move saves the Royals a 40-man roster spot while Lovelady recovers, and if all goes well he is expected to once again be a bullpen option in 2023.