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Trade Candidate: Charlie Morton

Anthony Franco — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 03:35:07 +0000

Charlie Morton’s time with the Orioles couldn’t have begun much worse. He started his first five appearances and lost all of them. His best outing in that stretch was a five-inning start in which he recorded 10 strikeouts but allowed five runs. By the end of April, he’d lost his rotation spot. He carried a 9.45 earned run average with nearly as many walks (21) as strikeouts (26) through 26 2/3 innings.

Morton spent the next three weeks working out of the bullpen. He allowed eight runs (seven earned) over 16 1/3 innings across six appearances. It was better than his early-season production but wasn’t a full-fledged turnaround. Injuries reopened a rotation spot at the end of May.

The 41-year-old Morton has seized the new starting opportunity. He has allowed two or fewer runs in six of his past eight starts. Over that stretch, he carries a 2.76 ERA. Morton has fanned more than a quarter of opponents with a vastly improved 7.5% walk rate. His 12.4% swinging strike percentage during that time is a top 30 mark in MLB. Morton’s fastball has gained some life. The heater averaged 93.7 MPH in April but has climbed to 94.4 MPH since the beginning of June.

Morton’s April struggles still leave him with a 5.18 ERA on the season. Yet he’s coming up on two months of the mid-rotation form he showed throughout his time with the Braves. This version of Morton is the pitcher the Orioles expected when they signed him to a $15MM free agent contract.

It’s an important development with two weeks until the deadline. Morton has quietly reemerged as an intriguing trade chip for a Baltimore team that is nine games below .500. As recently as six weeks ago, he seemed closer to a DFA candidate than a trade asset. He’s now probably the most appealing of Baltimore’s three impending free agent starting pitchers.

Zach Eflin has struggled since his suffering a lat strain in mid-April. He’s on the injured list with a lower back strain, though it seems likely he’ll return to make a start or two before July 31. Tomoyuki Sugano has a 6.62 ERA in seven starts since the beginning of June. Opposing hitters have a .327/.380/.520 slash line in that time. Sugano has a 14% strikeout rate and has allowed 1.72 homers per nine innings on the season. The O’s are going to have a difficult time drumming up interest.

Morton is owed a little more than $6MM the rest of the way. That’ll drop to roughly $4.75MM from the deadline through season’s end. That’s a decent sum for two months, but it’s reasonable if an acquiring team feels he’s back to being a playoff-caliber starter. Baltimore is going to get plenty of calls on All-Star slugger Ryan O’Hearn in the next couple weeks. Morton is pulling alongside Cedric Mullins and relievers Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto in their next tier of rental trade candidates.

Shintaro Fujinami Signs With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars

Anthony Franco — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 01:43:48 +0000

Former big leaguer Shintaro Fujinami has returned to Japan. He signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball, the team announced. The hard-throwing righty was released from a minor league deal with the Mariners last month.

This probably marks the end of Fujinami’s two and a half seasons in affiliated ball. The 6’6″ righty has an upper-90s fastball but hasn’t been able to harness his stuff. The rebuilding A’s took a one-year, $3.25MM flier on Fujinami in advance of the 2023 season. They initially gave him a rotation opportunity, but he struggled mightily in seven starts and quickly moved to the bullpen.

While Fujinami had an 8.57 ERA in 34 appearances with the A’s, they managed to flip him to the Orioles at the trade deadline. He tallied 29 2/3 frames of 4.85 ERA ball for Baltimore. Fujinami secured a big league split deal from the Mets in his return to free agency. He never made an MLB appearance with New York, spending time on the injured list before being designated for assignment.

Fujinami pitched in Puerto Rico over the winter to land another affiliated opportunity. He secured a minor league contract with Seattle in January but struggled to a 5.79 ERA with 26 walks in 18 2/3 Triple-A innings. He’ll now head back to NPB, where he owns a 3.41 earned run average in parts of 10 seasons.

Trade Deadline Outlook: Milwaukee Brewers

Darragh McDonald — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 01:03:57 +0000

MLBTR’s team-by-team look at the upcoming deadline continues with the Brewers. Milwaukee is firmly in a playoff spot and should be looking to buy. However, their financial restraints and apparent surplus of starting pitching could allow them to do some selling or some classic "baseball trades."

Record: 56-40 (82.9% playoff probability, per FanGraphs)

For other entrants in this series, see this post.

Buy Mode

Potential needs: Infield

As of a few months ago, starting pitching would have topped the list of potential needs, but that's no longer the case. The Brewers had a number of injuries early in the year, which spurred them to make a late-spring signing of Jose Quintana and an early-season trade for Quinn Priester. Since then, some of the injured pitchers have returned healthy while several young arms have stepped up to post encouraging results. Now the Brewers seemingly have a rotation surplus they could theoretically deal from. More on that later.

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Manfred On Twins Sale, Media Rights, Potential For Bay Area Expansion

Darragh McDonald — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:18:36 +0000

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred spoke to the media ahead of tonight’s All-Star game, touching on various topics, including the sale of the Twins, the ongoing media rights situation and the possibility of the Bay Area getting a future expansion franchise.

The Twins have been on the block for almost a year now, as it was back in October that the Pohlad family announced it would be exploring a sale. Per Dan Hayes and Evan Drellich of The Athletic as well as Phil Miller of the Star Tribune, Manfred chalked up the ongoing delay to the Justin Ishbia situation.

Justin Ishbia and his brother Mat were connected to the Twins early in the sale process. However, Justin abandoned his pursuit of the Twins and doubled down on his connection with the White Sox. Justin was already a minority owner of the Sox and, by early June, had a deal in place to become the eventual owner of that franchise.

The way Manfred frames it, Ishbia was initially viewed as such a frontrunner for the Twins that other potential bidders backed off. “You know this is a small business, right?” Manfred said. “All those bankers that are out there, there ain’t that many of them, they all talk to each other. When it becomes clear that you have a leader in the clubhouse, everybody else kind of backs away, right? Because they kind of get a feel for price. And unless they’re prepared to top, they’re going to move on and do something else. So a big part of the delay in Minnesota was associated with the leader in the clubhouse made a decision to do something else.”

However, interest has supposedly ramped up since Ishbia pivoted to the Sox. “I know some things that you don’t know,” Manfred said. “I can tell you with a lot of confidence that there will be a transaction there, and it will be consistent with the kind of pricing that has taken place. There will be a transaction. We just need to be patient while they rework.”

It has been reported since March that the Pohlad family is hoping to get $1.7 billion for the Twins. A $1.5 billion number which was floated by one potential bidder was considered “a non-starter.” Last year, the Angelos family sold the Orioles for $1.725MM. Rays owner Stuart Sternberg reportedly has an agreement in principle to sell the Rays for $1.7 billion this year. Perhaps the market has been set in a way which will allow the Pohlad family to get their asking price, though today’s piece from The Athletic notes that the Twins are carrying a fairly high debt load of $425MM.

Manfred also addressed the league’s media rights situation, per Drellich. Manfred previously noted that he hoped to have something to announce before the All-Star game in relation to the collapsed ESPN deal but it appears nothing is across the finish line yet. He said today that progress is being made but he didn’t specify a new target date for getting something done.

It was reported back in February that ESPN opted out of their deal with MLB for the 2026 through 2028 seasons. That deal included broadcast rights for Sunday Night Baseball, the Home Run Derby and the Wild Card round of the playoffs. ESPN still has the rights for the current season but those products are still up for grabs after 2025.

ESPN’s deal would have seen them pay $550MM annually, had they not opted out. They were reportedly willing to go as high as $200MM in order to keep the rights but MLB balked at that price. NBC reportedly made some kind of offer in May but it’s unknown what kind of number was floated, apart from it being “much less” than $550MM. Last month, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported that MLB and ESPN had renewed talks and that Apple and Fox had also been connected to the package, in addition to NBC.

On another note, Manfred left the door open for a future expansion franchise coming to the Bay Area, per Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle and John Shea of the San Francisco Standard. “In terms of expansion,” he said, “open book. You know what? People who want baseball should participate in the expansion process when we start that process, and I think by being wide open, with no predeterminations as to where it’s going, we’re going to end up with the best locations if we want to expand.”

The Bay Area still has the Giants but recently lost the Athletics, who are in the process of moving from Oakland to Las Vegas. Manfred cited recent changes in government as increasing the odds of a new franchise coming back to Oakland. “I don’t have any problem with any government official in Oakland,” Manfred said. “I thought Mayor [Sheng] Thao was not particularly helpful when we got down to brass tacks, but I don’t think I’m going to have to deal with her going forward.”

Thao was mayor of Oakland in 2023 and 2024 but was ousted in a recall election in November. Various reports have indicated that the relationships between Thao, A’s owner John Fisher and Manfred were not especially rosy. Slusser reports that Manfred previously swore off Oakland due to the unsuccessful negotiations, so his more neutral tone today is perhaps noteworthy. Both Slusser and Shea float San Jose as another possibility for the area, even if Oakland isn’t viable.

For the theoretical possibility to become a reality, a viable group would have to emerge and enter the bidding. Over the years, various groups have formed with the hopes of getting expansion franchises in places like Nashville, Salt Lake City, Orlando and Portland.

Manfred has consistently said expansion won’t be on the table until the A’s and Rays have new homes figured out. The A’s are scheduled to open their new stadium in Vegas in 2028. The Rays had a deal which fell apart in the wake of hurricane damage to The Trop, which then led to the aforementioned in-process sale. It expected that the Rays’ new ownership group will eventually pursue a new stadium in Tampa proper, as opposed to the club’s previous home in St. Petersburg.

Photo courtesy of Brett Davis, Imagn Images

Manfred: Longer Break In 2028 For All-Star Game And Olympics Is Possible

Darragh McDonald — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 23:26:59 +0000

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke to the media today, ahead of tonight’s All-Star game, addressing various topics relevant to the league. One subject that got a lot of discussion was the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the potential of MLB players participating. Baseball will be an event at the Olympics, with Dodger Stadium being the venue, but it’s still not confirmed if MLB players will be able to play. Manfred suggested it could be possible for the league to have a slightly longer midsummer break to include both the All-Star game and the Olympics, while also not impacting the regular season.

“It is possible to play the All-Star game in its normal spot, have a single break that would be longer but still play 162 games without bleeding into the middle of November,” Manfred said, per Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post. “That is possible.”

MLB players have never participated in the Olympics. Baseball has occasionally been an event in the games, but has been played by minor leaguers or college players. In recent years, it has not been unusual for MLB players to compete in international play. The World Baseball Classic has been running every few years since 2006, even though the COVID-19 pandemic threw the normal schedule off for a bit.

The main difference with the Olympics would be the timing. The WBC is held in March, ahead of the MLB regular season. The ’28 Olympics are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from July 14th to 30th. Per J.J. Cooper of Baseball America, the baseball field would include six teams, set by qualifying tournaments, who would then play from July 15th to 20th. Per Evan Drellich of The Athletic, the league would prefer that to be a little earlier. The All-Star break is usually the second Tuesday of July, which would be July 11th in 2028. The opening ceremony of the Olympics is scheduled for July 14th.

There are logistical challenges but it’s theoretically possible to line everything up. The fact that the games are taking place in the United States is also convenient, compared to a distant country where travel would be more of a concern.

It has been suggested in the past that perhaps the league could look to skip the All-Star game for one year, with the Olympics taking over as the main midsummer event. Manfred’s comments today point to both taking place, which would raise some interesting questions. Presumably, there could be a lot of overlap in terms of All-Star selections and Olympic rosters. If a player is planning to play in the Olympics and is also selected for the All-Star game, would they simply skip the latter like injured players do? Would some try to do both?

In terms of the scheduling, the details there aren’t clear either. In recent years, the MLB season has sometimes had some teams start the regular season in mid-March in order to play games in other countries such as Japan or South Korea. Starting the regular season earlier for all teams could perhaps allow for a longer midseason break, though that would lead to many weather-related annoyances in certain parts of the country.

Per Cooper, insurance is another potential hurdle. For the WBC, there are insurance policies in place to compensate an MLB team if one of their players is injured. But the WBC is put on by MLB, whereas the Olympics are put on by the International Olympic Committee. As noted by Cooper, it’s unclear if the IOC would be willing to pay the insurance premiums or if MLB would be willing to do so. MLB wouldn’t be directly benefiting from the event, since the IOC receives the proceeds, though the league would obviously hope that the Olympics would help to grow the MLB brand and expand its reach. Cooper mentions the possibility of Olympic committees of individual countries covering the insurance premiums but says this is the least likely scenario.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the logistical challenges could lead to San Francisco hosting the 2028 All-Star game. She says the league and the MLBPA would prefer a West Coast club host that year, in order to be near the Olympics in Los Angeles. She points out that San Diego, Seattle and Arizona have all hosted the All-Star festivities fairly recently, whereas the Giants last hosted back in 2007.

Slusser adds that MLBPA executive director Tony Clark also seemed open to the players agreeing to the Olympic plans, though with some details still to be worked out. “There’s just a lot of conversation that needs to be had sooner rather than later to see how viable this is,” Clark said. “But we’re hopeful that we can figure our way through it for the benefit of the game.”

If it comes to pass that the Giants host in 2028, it will kick things down the road for other clubs that have been waiting their turn. Last year, Manfred acknowledged that the Blue Jays were due, since they haven’t hosted since 1991. However, the Phillies are hosting in 2026, a decision that was made long ago to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It seems likely that the Cubs, who haven’t hosted since 1990, will be hosting in 2027. Putting the 2028 game in San Francisco would mean the Jays and other teams hoping to host would probably have to wait until 2029 at the earliest.

Manfred still seems to have a Toronto All-Star game on his radar, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. “Obviously, (the Blue Jays) are kind of perking up to the top of the list based on time,” he continued. “I’d like to be back in Toronto. Rogers has made a really significant investment in terms of improvements in the stadium. TBD at this point, beyond that.” Davidi adds that the Orioles and Red Sox are also interested. Baltimore last hosted in 1993 and Boston in 1999.

Photo courtesy of Brett Davis, Imagn Images

Trade Deadline Outlook: Cincinnati Reds

Steve Adams — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 22:25:03 +0000

The Reds are three games over .500 but 7.5 games out of first place in the NL Central. Their best path to the postseason is a Wild Card berth. They're 2.5 games back at the moment as they look for their first playoff bid since 2020 (just their second since 2013) and their first playoff win since back in 2012.

Record: 50-47 (Playoff odds 11.1%, per FanGraphs)

Other series entries: Rockies, Giants, Phillies, Pirates, Astros, Marlins, Athletics, Orioles, White Sox, Nationals, Cubs, Rays, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Angels, Mets, Blue Jays, Mariners

Buy Mode

Potential needs: Corner outfield, first base, second base, reliever

The Reds' primary need, regardless of position, is simply another bat -- or multiple bats -- to bolster what has been a stagnant offense. Ideally, that'd come in the outfield corners. Austin Hays has been great when healthy but has only made it into 44 games due to a trio of IL stints. He and utilityman Gavin Lux lead the team in plate appearances as a left fielder. Jake Fraley, who just returned from a shoulder injury, leads the pack in terms of plate appearances as a right fielder. The Reds have used eight different players in right field and ten in left. No one has more plate appearances at either position than Fraley's 140 in right field.

Fraley and Lux are both hovering around league-average offensive output that's driven largely by plate discipline. Neither is slugging even .400. Fraley has a .152 ISO (slugging minus batting average) that's right in line with the .154 league average. Lux is down at .114. Neither is going to provide much power, and neither can hit left-handed pitching.

A righty-swinging corner outfield bat would fit the Reds nicely -- all the better if it's someone controlled beyond the current season. The Reds are fringe contenders in 2025 but have the rotation talent to make a stronger run in 2026 with better health.

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Rays To Play Home Games At Steinbrenner Field Throughout Playoffs

Darragh McDonald — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 20:30:08 +0000

If the Rays are able to engineer a deep postseason run, they will be allowed to stay at Steinbrenner Field. “Our rule has always been that people play in their home stadiums during the World Series Game,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said this week, per Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. “And I’m not of a mind to change that rule. I understand it’s a unique situation. It’s different, but that’s where they’re playing. That’s where they’re going to play their games.”

The issue has been a theoretical talking point for a while. Tropicana Field suffered significant hurricane damage in the offseason, making it unplayable for the 2025 season. The Rays made arrangements to move to Steinbrenner Field for the year. The facility is normally the home of the Tampa Tarpons, the Single-A affiliate of the Yankees.

The capacity of the field is a bit more than 10,000. During the 2024 season, all 3o MLB venues had a capacity of at least 34,000. This year, the Rays and Athletics are both playing in minor league parks on a temporary basis. As mentioned, the Rays had to move due to the hurricane damage to The Trop. The A’s are building a new stadium in Las Vegas but couldn’t work out a deal to stay in Oakland for the interim, so they are playing at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. That’s the home of the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Giants.

For the Rays and A’s, playing in those venues was generally viewed as acceptable for the regular season but it was fair to wonder if the league would allow postseason games to be played at either spot. For the A’s, it quickly became a non-issue for this year as that club slipped in the standings. But the Rays have been in contention all year, having been in a postseason spot for much of the season.

Last month, it was reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that some preliminary conversations had occurred about what to do. Having playoff games in such a small venue would be less than ideal. “The league sets aside about 7,500 tickets for players, umpires, visiting teams, sponsors, broadcast partners, media and others” for World Series games, Rosenthal wrote last month. For pre-World Series games, the number is smaller but still notable. That lesser capacity would be a concern for the Players Association as well as the league, since players get a cut of gate receipts in playoff games. Beyond that, there would be concerns around the aesthetics of the broadcast as well as the straightforward logistics of getting all the media into the smaller facility and properly set up to cover the game.

But forcing a team to vacate its home turf for the postseason could be seen as a competitive disadvantage and it seems the league has opted to let the Rays stay. It may be a moot point, as they are not guaranteed to make the playoffs. They are currently a game and a half back of the Mariners for the final American League Wild Card spot. They would need to get the top Wild Card spot or win the East division to play any home games in the first round. Under the current playoff format, the top two division winners get a bye past the first round. The third division winner and the top Wild Card team each get to host the opening round for a best-of-three, with the two lesser Wild Card clubs being on the road for that entire series.

Last month’s reporting indicated that the league was comfortable with the Rays hosting the earlier rounds but was more concerned about the ALCS and World Series. It now seems that, if that becomes a reality, the league is willing to let the Rays stay at their temporary home and figure out how to make it work. Manfred tells Topkin that they will have conversations about potentially finding ways to add more capacity. “We’ll do the best we can to make the facilities good and service as many fans as we can,” Manfred said.

Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times provides a bit more info on the Rays and their upcoming sale. It was reported this week that owner Stuart Sternberg has an agreement in principle to sell to a group led to Patrick Zalupski for $1.7 billion. Though that could become official as soon as September, Topkin notes that the transfer of power wouldn’t occur until the offseason. If the Rays manage to win the 2025 World Series, Sternberg would be handed the Commissioner’s Trophy.

Photo courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images

Trade Deadline Outlook: St. Louis Cardinals

Tim Dierkes — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:35:31 +0000

The Cardinals reached the All-Star break in a tricky position. With about 40% of their season remaining, they're only 1.5 games back in the Wild Card and have a real shot at the playoffs. That's the case despite an offseason in which they did not attempt to improve the club, in what longtime president of baseball operations John Mozeliak termed a "reset." And Mozeliak will be navigating the July 31st deadline as a lame duck, given the club's stated plan to give his job to Chaim Bloom for the 2026 season.

Mozeliak put it this way nine days ago (Katie Woo of The Athletic reporting): "I do feel like where we are in the week leading up, or the 72 hours leading up to the trading deadline, may affect how we make our decisions." He further explained, "When we talk about all-in, I do think based on where the franchise is, based on payroll down and thinking more of the long view, we’re still trying to balance today’s success with ultimately having long-term success."

Record: 51-46 (28.5% playoff probability, per FanGraphs)

Buy Mode

Potential needs: Right-handed bat, pitching depth

Regarding the transition to Bloom, Mozeliak said, "When we get closer to the deadline, if there’s something that could impact how the future looks, clearly we’ll take a look at in a more collaborative sense."

With relative stability on the pitching staff, Mozeliak's deadline focus on the buy side may be on an offense that ranks fifth in the National League with 4.58 runs scored per game. Within that respectable showing, however, is a team that ranks 10th in the NL with an 88 wRC+ against left-handed pitching.

Mozeliak acknowledged the deficiency but also said, "I do feel like where they’re going to be in a week or two is not a glaring hole in terms of trading deadline thoughts," given Ivan Herrera's July 13th activation and minor injuries affecting other righty bats like Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras.

Brendan Donovan has been an everyday player, generally at second base, despite consistent struggles against southpaws over the last three seasons. Alec Burleson, currently deployed in the corner outfield, has been similar. Center fielder Victor Scott II has sat against some lefties in the last month in favor of Garrett Hampson. Lars Nootbaar, on the IL for a left costochondral sprain, had been sitting here or there against lefties but often with Donovan or Burleson in his spot and Thomas Saggese getting the start at second base.

Given that Mozeliak said "I don’t think we’re ever going to take away from the guys we’re trying to see play," it may be difficult to find the ideal addition. An improvement over Hampson as Scott's platoon partner could be one answer. Perhaps a call to the White Sox regarding Austin Slater or Michael A. Taylor of the White Sox would make sense. A homecoming for Randal Grichuk could work, though he hasn't played much center in recent years. Maybe the Astros will find Chas McCormick expendable once he completes his rehab assignment for an oblique strain.

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MLBTR Live Chat

Steve Adams — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:00:47 +0000

Click here to join Tuesday’s chat with MLBTR’s Steve Adams.

MLBTR Chat Transcript

Steve Adams — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:00:47 +0000

Steve Adams

Good morning! Hope everyone enjoyed the Derby last night! We’ll get going at 1pm CT today, but feel free to submit questions ahead of time.
Greetings!
Let’s begin.

Tim

What’s a comparative contract to what bichette is looking for?

Steve Adams

He’s going to hit free agency ahead of his age-28 season and as (assuming this keeps up) a well above-average hitter in six of his seven MLB seasons, with an injury-ruined 2024 campaign being the outlier.I don’t see any reason he wouldn’t be looking to top the deals signed by Javier Baez (6 years, $140MM), Trevor Story (6/140), Dansby Swanson (7/177) and Willy Adames (7/182) — especially since he’s going to hit free agency a year younger than all of them were when they got to the market.

Brian

Biggest Phillies need at deadline…OF help or bullpen arms?

Steve Adams

Bullpen help, but it doesn’t have to be one or the other.

Steve Cohen

Who would you list as the leading Candidates for ROY in each league? Does Jacob Misorowski have a legitimate shot?

Brewers Fan

Assumig Misiorowski wins the ROY, how does that change his status with us? Do we lose a year of control? He wasn’t promoted early enough to get a draft pick through the promotional program thing right? The rules around that stuff always confuse me…

Steve Adams

I love Misiorowski, but Rookie of the Year talk is pretty premature with only five starts. I think it’s fine that they took the buzzworthy rookie and put him on the All-Star team, but to call him the ROY favorite when Drake Baldwin is hitting .279/.351/.479 with plus defense in 65 games feels aggressive.Miz could absolutely end up getting there, but he needs to stay healthy and needs to remain as effective as he’s been, which isn’t a surefire thing for a guy who’s walking 11% of his opponents and benefiting from a .160 BABIP.
Misiorowski will earn a full year of service if he finishes first or second in ROY voting. The Brewers wouldn’t get a pick for that since he wasn’t called up until midseason.

Curious A’s Fan

Is JJ Bleday the A’s best (realistic) trade chip at the deadline?

Steve Adams

They’d be selling low, but I can see it. Jeffrey Springs is a more realistic trade option who’d net a decent return, though.

My Name

With Buxton’s comments about having a no trade clause, will reporters be done with the trade rumors?

Steve Adams

I’ve never understood the Buxton trade speculation. He has a full NTC and has said repeatedly he’s happy where he is, and the Twins have given zero indication they’re motivated to trade him, Lopez, etc.

Seebs

When do you see Crawford coming up and Kepler being traded for a bag of balls?

Steve Adams

I could see Kepler being moved regardless of a Crawford promotion. Phils could try to add another outfielder who’s a better fit and simultaneously ship Kepler elsewhere. Doesn’t seem like it’s been the most … agreeable … fit so far.

Desertdawg

Do you see the D’Backs going complete fire sale this trade deadline?

Steve Adams

No, but I think they’ll trade some impending free agents …. Suarez, Naylor, Gallen, Kelly, Grichuk, Beeks,, Miller if he’s healthy

Mark

Why don t the braves just sell their not going anywhere this season

Steve Adams

They will — partially anyway. I’d be surprised if they don’t trade Raisel Iglesias and Marcell Ozuna. Maybe Rafael Montero.

Chris H

Do the Angels have enough to get E. Suarez from the D-Backs? In general, I think they should be sellers at the trade deadline, but the hole at 3B has to be filled by someone other than Moncado, Rengifo, or Newman.

Steve Adams

Moncada has been fine when healthy. Trading anything of note — and Suarez will cost plenty of note — for a rental upgrade would be a significant misstep for the Angels.

Frustrated Nats Fan

How long will THIS rebuild last?

Steve Adams

Depends on the direction in the offseason and the Lerners’ willingness to spend to improve the roster.With Gore, Abrams, Wood, Crews and House there’s a decent foundation in place, but that was true last offseason and the biggest move ownership seemingly was comfortable with was re-signing Trevor Williams.
I’m skeptical they’ll have the pitching to contend and am warming to the idea of them trading Gore for a king’s ransom, but that feels like it’d be an offseason endeavor so that whoever is dictating the return in that package is the permanent GM and not an interim solution.

bass

top 2 likeliest closers to be traded at deadline?

Steve Adams

David Bednar and Kyle Finnegan?

JT Snow

What FV would Joe Ryan bring back?

Steve Adams

Multiple young big leaguers and/or 50-FV types.

Trade Deadline Question

Good afternoon Steve,
Who do you think will be the biggest name traded before the deadline? Bregman might be off that list due to the Red Sox recent 10 game winning streak. So who do you think will be the biggest name/contract that’s traded?

Steve Adams

I don’t think Bregman was ever plausibly on that list. There was some speculation and there were reports to the effect of “If the Red Sox made him available, Team X would be interested.”But realistically, trading a player with a $40MM AAV and a pair of opt-outs remaining is extraordinarily difficult.
Biggest names that have a real chance to move… Sandy Alcantara, Mitch Keller, Eugenio Suarez, Zac Gallen, Adolis Garcia, Raisel Iglesias, Marcell Ozuna, basically any impending free agent in Baltimore

Jax and Duran

Which one of us is most likely to be dealt this month? Are either of us talking extensions with out current employer?

Steve Adams

Neither, but Jhoan Duran costs more so I suppose nominally it’d be him. Would take a silly offer from another club to try to force the Twins’ hand.

RAGBRAI

If I put the o/u at 3.5 Pirates traded by the deadline, which would you take?

Steve Adams

Over.David Bednar, Andrew Heaney, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Caleb Ferguson will all go. Dennis Santana, Mitch Keller, Adam Frazier, Tommy Pham could all go, too. Teams will try on Oneil Cruz, but that seems like a reach.

Would Naylor or Suarez cost more to get from AZ?

Steve Adams

Suarez, but Naylor should still net a real return.

JErry DIpoto Mind Trick

What kind of player could Harry Ford bring back?

Steve Adams

He’s a near-MLB-ready catching prospect with a sizable offensive ceiling; he should get them a bat they can control for multiple years, if they move him (which isn’t a given). I’ve seen people ask if Ford would net both Suarez and Naylor, but:1) I don’t think I’d give up Ford for two pure rentals
2) Not that the D-backs “wouldn’t want” Harry Ford, but they already have a high-end catcher in Gabriel Moreno, so I wonder whether Ford would really be their focus, particularly given the overall depth of the Mariners’ farm system.

Matt Arnold

Could I move a young arm for Lawrence Butler or Tyler Soderstrom to give the A’s a young controllable arm in the rotation?

Steve Adams

I think you could build a viable trade framework between the A’s sending Soderstrom to the Brewers, sure. Something built around Logan Henderson, perhaps.

Draft Day

Sooooo many shortstops taken in the first round of the draft! Why do you think that happened?

Steve Adams

Shortstops are generally the best players/athletes on their teams and can slide down the defensive spectrum. Shortstops, pitchers, catchers, third basemen and center fielders are going to dominate the top rounds of the draft in a given year. I’m not sure there was an unprecedented number of shortstops selected or anything within this year’s first few rounds — though 15 of the first 30 is obviously quite a lot. Just happened to be the nature of this year’s class, I supposse.

Brewer Fan

Idk how much you follow draft prospects, but any team you think had a particularly good draft?

Steve Adams

I don’t focus hugely on the draft. It’s not my area of expertise or anything. I’m not a scout, and if we were going to cover the draft in earnest, it’d be something that’d require a resource to dedicate more than like half their time to, which isn’t a great ROI for us.There’s tons of great draft content at Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, FanGraphs, Baseball Prospectus, ESPN (Kiley McDaniel) and The Athletic (Keith Law).

Soler

Would halos have to eat some of his contract to trade him?

Steve Adams

They’d have to eat almost all of it. He’s a bat-only player whose bat has been 18% worse than average, and he’s earning $13MM this year and next.

the sad Braves fan

How much has Marcell Ozuna’s value declined by his hip injury and poor performance. Thank you for doing these chats!

Steve Adams

It’s down, for sure, but there aren’t going to be tons of impact bats available on the market, so he should still garner plenty of interest and net a return of some note.

rocky colovito

would not dbacks get more for Suarez if they exercised his $15 M option for next year and traded so team receiving gets 1/2 years of service?

Steve Adams

Suarez doesn’t have a $15MM option. They had a $15MM option on him for the 2025 season, which they picked up. He’s a pure free agent at season’s end.

Cards Fan

Do you see the Cards buying or sellers at the deadline?

Steve Adams

Both? I think they’ll trade Fedde and be open to moving Helsley but could also see them swinging deals to bring in some younger big league arms, for instance.

Patrick

Are the Reds buyers or sellers? If buyers, who would they go after?

Steve Adams

I’m working on their entry in our ongoing Trade Deadline Outlook series right now. I lean toward modest buyers and expect them to be in on a variety of right-handed-hitting bats and/or some help at 1B.They do have a tough start to the second half with the Mets, Rays and Dodgers standing as three of their first four series opponents, so if it goes south in a hurry that could change.

Orioles

What are we doing with Mayo? He’s just sitting on the bench and he needs AB’s

Steve Adams

I have long since given up trying to understand what the Orioles are doing with Coby Mayo and Heston Kjerstad. At this point I just hope both of them get traded so they can get an honest everyday look somewhere.You could argue that Kjerstad sort of got that this season, but it was like four weeks of mostly regular at-bats before they started reducing his role.
I’m not even a huge Kjerstad believer — I like Mayo more — but I still find it baffling that he’ll be 27 in February and have close to two years of MLB service but so far has all of 300 MLB plate appearances across parts of three seasons.

Detmers

Lots of halos questions but would cubs send Cassie for detmers 1 for 1? Who says no?

Steve Adams

I’m the resident “Detmers will be good eventually!” guy, and I still wouldn’t do Caissie/Detmers 1-for-1 if I were the Cubs.

Jays Hopeful

Will the jays swing big this trade deadline? Will they consider moving Arjun Nimmala or Trey Yesavage for a real upgrade?

Steve Adams

I expect the Jays to be one of the most active and aggressive buyers at the deadline and don’t think they’ll really have anyone truly off limits. Yesavage is close enough to the majors that he could help in the second half, though, so I can’t imagine him going unless it’s for a controllable and meaningful pitching upgrade.

Natitude

What would the potential return be on Mackenzie Gore and 2 years of control? Should the Nats new leadership entertain such an offer?

Steve Adams

Should top what the White Sox got for Garrett Crochet. I don’t think it’d happen before the offseason though, if at all.

Adam

Does Willi Castro bring back a real return?

Steve Adams

If the Twins sell some veteran pieces, yeah, Castro should net them a nice prospect. That’s not the direction the team is considering right now though, and they open the second half with series against the Rockies, Dodgers and Nats — so two of three pretty winnable series right out of the gate.

Braves Fan

I think the Braves should consider trading Murphy. SD needs a catcher. Could Atl pay some of Murphy’s contract and get a better return?

Steve Adams

I think they probably will, but catchers are tough to trade midseason — it’s hard to learn an entirely new pitching staff on the fly, mid-playoff push — and there will be more interested clubs in the offseason.Also not at all convinced the Padres have the money to add Murphy. If they had that kind of payroll space, they’d have put together a more interesting slate of offseason additions than Jason Heyward, Connor Joe, Martin Maldonado, Elias Diaz, Jose Iglesias and Gavin Sheets.
(Yes, they signed PIvetta, but they backloaded that deal in mammoth fashion, which only further points to limited 2025 resources)

Yoshida

Do the redsox trade him? How much of the contract would they have to eat?

Steve Adams

80-90% of it?Jesse Winker, another LHH “outfielder” who’s best relegated to platoon DH work, got a year and $7.5MM this winter.

Daniel Byrne

Tigers are deficient in the bullpen. Do you anticipate they will try to strengthen it?

Steve Adams

Every contender will try to strengthen its bullpen. Tigers are no exception and will probably be more aggressive than most, given the steps back from Hurter, Holton, Brieske, etc. this year.

Chris Young

Adolis is available? Who am I getting for him?

Steve Adams

I don’t think Garcia has massive trade value, given his salary and looming arbitration raise. But I do think the Rangers will listen on him for those reasons. They’ve tried, unsuccessfully, to retool their offense. Garcia probably gets a raise to $13MM+ for his final season of club control. Texas already has more than $131MM on the books next year, and that’s not even including Joc Pederson’s $18.5MM player option, which he’ll exercise.So you’re at $150MM in payroll and need to replace Tyler Mahle, Patrick Corbin and Jon Gray on the roster, plus half the bullpen (Shawn Armstrong, Hoby Milner, Chris Martin, Luke Jackson).
And you have questions at catcher and the infield corners.

Colin

Jose Ramirez available? I’d love to see him in Seattle for a package starting with Harry Ford, Williamson and a bunch of prospects

Steve Adams

No, and he has a no-trade clause. But that sort of trade would be tons of fun (and cost more than Ford, Williamson and a smattering of mid-range prospects)

Taker55

Who is in the running for this year’s most unforeseeable QO? Trent Grisham?

Steve Adams

Grisham is a decent one. Ryan O’Hearn, Tyler Mahle are another couple options after a quick scour of my free agent leaderboards. Probably blanking on an under-the-radar name or two

Closing Time 7/15: Ranking the Top 40 Closers Every Tuesday

Rick Graham — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:00:20 +0000

Ranking baseball's closer situations for the 2025 season.

The post Closing Time 7/15: Ranking the Top 40 Closers Every Tuesday appeared first on Pitcher List.

Guardians Place Paul Sewald On Injured List

Steve Adams — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:24:59 +0000

The Guardians placed right-hander Paul Sewald on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain, reports Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. The move is retroactive to July 12, and a corresponding transaction has not yet been announced by the club. It’s not clear how long Sewald is expected to be out.

It’s the second time this season that the 35-year-old Sewald has been placed on the injured list due to a strain in his throwing shoulder. The former D-backs and Mariners closer signed a one-year, $7MM deal with Cleveland in free agency and struggled for much of April before heading to the IL for what would wind up being a stay of more than two months. Sewald was only reinstated from the injured list on July 5, but it seems his return will only last for a week.

In his limited time with the Guardians, Sewald has pitched to a 4.70 ERA with terrific strikeout and walk rates of 29% and 6.5%, respectively. That’s all come in a sample of just 15 1/3 innings. Sewald allowed eight runs in 11 2/3 innings prior to his original IL stint (6.17 ERA) and returned with 3 2/3 shutout frames before now heading back to the 15-day IL. He’s been more homer-prone than usual in that small sample (1.76 HR/9) and has seen his fastball velocity dip from an average of 91.4 mph last year to just 90.3 mph this season.

Sewald has never thrown particularly hard, but his velocity has been in a steady decline in recent seasons. He averaged a career-best 92.5 mph in 2022 but dipped to 92.2 mph, 91.4 mph and 90.3 mph in subsequent seasons. His swinging-strike rate has dropped accordingly in each season, though he’s still managed to continue posting strong strikeout rates.

Sewald’s placement on the injured list just over two weeks before the trade deadline is increasingly notable, given his team’s recent slide in the standings. The Guardians dropped 10 straight games from June 27 through July 6, though they lessened some of that sting by closing out the first half with six wins in seven games. They’re now three games under .500 and four and a half games out of the final Wild Card spot in the American League.

Cleveland will open the second half with winnable series against the A’s, Orioles, Royals and Rockies — all of whom have records that are comparable to or worse than the Guardians’ own mark of 46-49. If the Guards slip further down the standings, they’d be increasingly likely to listen to offers on short-term veterans like Sewald. If he’s facing a notable absence, that scenario is off the table. Conversely, if the Guardians slice through that slate of opponents in the two weeks between now and the trade deadline, they’d presumably be more apt to add to the club, and Sewald’s absence could increase the front office’s desire to add to the bullpen.

Is It Legit? 7/15/25: Addison Barger, Edward Cabrera, Trevor Story

Chris Ballard — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:00:05 +0000

Are Addison Barger, Edward Cabrera, and Trevor Story for real?

The post Is It Legit? 7/15/25: Addison Barger, Edward Cabrera, Trevor Story appeared first on Pitcher List.

MLB Draft Stock Watch: Players Trending Up After Draft

Trevor Powers — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:30:09 +0000

Stock up players following the 2025 MLB Draft

The post MLB Draft Stock Watch: Players Trending Up After Draft appeared first on Pitcher List.

Mets, Yankees Among Teams To Show Recent Interest In David Robertson

Steve Adams — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:27:05 +0000

Free agent reliever David Robertson has been throwing for interested clubs recently, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. Two of his former clubs, the Mets and Yankees, have at least looked into the possibility of signing Robertson, per the report. Several other clubs are expected to scout a throwing session for Robertson over the next week or so.

Robertson, who turned 40 in April, hasn’t signed with a team since the 2024 season concluded. The right-hander was one of several notable older veterans who didn’t find offers to his liking in free agency. Lance Lynn encountered a similar situation and opted to retire. J.D. Martinez is unsigned as well and recently received some interest from the Rangers. Robertson’s recent and upcoming showcases for interested teams serve as a notable update on his status, signaling both an intent to play and at least some level of readiness to take the mound.

The lack of a compelling offer for Robertson wasn’t due to any downturn in results. The former All-Star and 16-year MLB veteran was terrific for Texas in 2024, pitching 72 innings of 3.00 ERA ball. Robertson picked up 34 holds and two saves while fanning a huge 33.4% of opponents against a 9.1% walk rate. He averaged 93.3 mph on his go-to cutter, which tied his 2023 mark for the highest of any single season in his career. Robertson’s 11.7% swinging-strike rate was a dip from his 2022-23 levels (13.3%) but right in line with his career 11.8% mark.

Back in April, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that Robertson had been seeking a $10MM annual salary in free agency over the winter. He earned $11.5MM with the Rangers last year ($5MM of it deferred). The Phillies also showed some interest in Robertson early in the season, even before Jose Alvarado was hit with an 80-game PED suspension, and they’re known to be on the lookout for bullpen help. It would stand to reason that they’re still interested in a reunion with Robertson themselves.

Presumably, Robertson will be prioritizing a deal with probable contenders. The Yankees, Mets and Phillies all fit that billing and are all among the top eight teams in terms of current playoff odds, per FanGraphs. The Tigers, Cubs, Astros, Blue Jays, Brewers and Mariners are all in extremely favorable postseason position as well, holding at least an 80% postseason chance per the odds at FanGraphs and/or Baseball Prospectus.

Poll: Who Will Win The 2025 All-Star Game?

Nick Deeds — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:34:32 +0000

The All-Star game is later today, and fans around the game are waiting eagerly for the star-studded event while baseball’s best players prepare to take the field. These days, the Midsummer Classic doesn’t hold the same influence as it did when it decided home field advantage for the World Series prior to the 2017 season. Even so, the exhibition remains a point of pride for players. The AL has historically dominated over the years, as they won every year between 2013 and 2022 until the NL finally snapped that streak in 2023. The junior circuit took the crown back last year, however. Who will emerge victorious this year? There’s a level of randomness to a one-game event like this one that can’t be ignored, but that doesn’t mean we can’t evaluate the talent on each roster and attempt to predict who will come out on top.

The starting pitchers for each league are difficult to choose between. Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes are two of the most dominating arms in the sport. Skenes has a 2.01 ERA and 27.9% strikeout rate this year, while Skubal has a 2.23 ERA backed up by an absurd 33.4% strikeout rate. Perhaps Skubal’s overwhelming strikeout stuff could give the American League a slight edge, but a number of other arms will appear throughout the game as well. The National League has a couple of more unconventional picks, as veteran lefty Clayton Kershaw will take the mound at some point during the game as a “Legend Pick” by the commissioner’s office despite his numbers in ten starts this year being more solid than spectacular. Another wild card on the NL roster is rookie Jacob Misiorowski, who has started just five MLB games so far but has a 33.7% strikeout rate that rivals that of Skubal.

While there are some reasons to think the pitching options favor the junior circuit, the NL benefits from having arguably the stronger group of position players. Perhaps no one in the NL can hold a candle to the pairing that is Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh, but with Jose Ramirez sitting the game out this year and the unconventional pick of Javier Baez patrolling center field to start the game for the AL it’s not hard to see how the senior circuit could stake out an advantage. All nine of the NL’s elected starters figure to participate in the game, meaning Skubal and the rest of the AL’s pitchers will have to contend with a heart of the order that figures to feature Shohei Ohtani, Ronald Acuna Jr, and Kyle Tucker. The NL also figures to be no slouch defensively, with Francisco Lindor and Pete Crow-Armstrong offering two of the sport’s very best gloves up the middle.

Of course, it’s not just the starters who will play in the game. Jonathan Aranda, Byron Buxton, and Bobby Witt Jr. are among the options on the AL’s star-studded bench, though players like Pete Alonso, Elly De La Cruz, and Corbin Carroll are hardly slouches in their own right. Should Boone and Roberts opt to go for traditional closers in this evening’s game, both will have formidable options as well. Edwin Diaz is representing the Mets this year with a 1.66 ERA and 19 saves so far, while Astros southpaw Josh Hader sports a 2.53 ERA and 25 saves.

Both rosters are extremely impressive from top to bottom, as any collection of All-Stars should be. Which side will come out on top in tonight’s contest? Have your say in the poll below:

Assessing the Sustainability of PCA’s Outstanding Campaign

Estevao Maximo — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:30:12 +0000

PCA is making the most out of his skill set to produce absurd numbers

The post Assessing the Sustainability of PCA’s Outstanding Campaign appeared first on Pitcher List.

The Opener: All-Star Game, Trade Season, MLBTR Chat

Nick Deeds — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:57:06 +0000

Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:

1. 2025 All-Star Game:

The main event of the All-Star break is set to take place later today when some of the biggest stars from the AL and NL take the field for the Midsummer Classic. Reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will take the mound to represent the junior circuit, managed by Yankees skipper Aaron Boone. The National League, led by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, will counter with 2024 National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young finalist Paul Skenes. Skubal has a 2.23 ERA in 19 starts this year and leads the majors with a 2.01 FIP, while Skenes leads the majors with a 2.01 ERA in 20 starts. Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, Mariners catcher and Home Run Derby champ Cal Raleigh, Orioles first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn, and A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson will all start the game in their first career All-Star appearances. The game is slated to begin at 8pm local time in Atlanta and will air on FOX.

2. Trade season to begin?

The 2025 draft has now officially concluded, and that means the attention of front offices around the game can turn fully towards the impending trade deadline. There have already been a handful of deals, including last month’s shocking Rafael Devers blockbuster and the swap that sent draft capital from the Orioles to the Rays in exchange for reliever Bryan Baker last week. For the most part, teams have held off on making moves of real significance. Several clubs on the fringes of playoff contention are still weighing whether to sell off for the future or make an effort to push in this year — or some combination of both. While fans wait for the deals to start rolling in, MLBTR Front Office subscribers and check in on our Trade Deadline Outlook series. Our Top 40 Trade Candidates for the 2025 Deadline, meanwhile, is available to all readers as a primer for trade season.

3. MLBTR chat today:

With the All-Star break underway and the draft in the rearview mirror, MLB’s trade deadline is just over two weeks away! Plenty of deals should be expected between now and then now that trade season can finally kick into full swing, with a number of contenders surely interested in patching holes in their roster ahead of the stretch run. Whether you’re looking ahead to the deadline or still trying to sort between the contenders and pretenders, MLBTR’s Steve Adams has you covered in a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Picks: 7/15

Mitch Steinberg — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:30:47 +0000

Be a waiver wire all-star this All-Star Break.

The post Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Picks: 7/15 appeared first on Pitcher List.

MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 7/15/2025

Steve Drumwright — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:15:53 +0000

Raleigh reigns by beating Caminero in Home Run Derby final.

The post MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 7/15/2025 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Nick Mariano's Week 16 Waiver Wire Picks - Get 'Em While They're Hot (Premium Content)

Nick Mariano — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 12:25:39 +0000

All other Premium Tools can be accessed on the premium dashboard. Welcome to the All-Star break (almost), which gives you a moment to sit back and take stock of your teams as we look towards second-half success. Since we won't have a clear picture of post-ASB rotations or intentions just yet, this piece will help […]

Are You For Real? Surprising Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Starts From Chase Burns, Taj Bradley, Janson Junk

Elliott Baas — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 12:18:07 +0000

Welcome back to the "Are You For Real?" series as we dive into Week 16 of the 2025 fantasy baseball season. For those unfamiliar, this is a weekly column where we examine starting pitchers who had surprisingly strong starts over the past week and put them under the microscope to determine whether they're legitimate or […]

Poll 2025: Which Group of Hitters Performs Better?

Mike Podhorzer — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 12:15:33 +0000

Vote for Pedro!

Source

Trade Deadline Outlook: San Diego Padres

Anthony Franco — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:59:27 +0000

Our team-by-team Trade Deadline Outlook series continues with the Padres. San Diego's top-heavy roster makes it easy to identify the priorities. If they remain resistant to trading either of their top prospects, they could pivot to under-the-radar or rental trade targets.

Record: 52-44 (48.3% playoff probability, per FanGraphs)

Buy Mode

Potential needs: Catcher, left field, starting pitcher, utility infielder

San Diego has had the same top few needs going back to the offseason. Free agent departures of Kyle Higashioka and Jurickson Profar left them without answers at catcher and in left field, respectively. The rotation depth has been a question since Joe Musgrove underwent Tommy John surgery. The late-offseason Nick Pivetta signing has been massive, but the back of the rotation still feels tenuous. Low-cost pickups in catcher and left field have not panned out, leaving the Padres to address both positions over the next two and a half weeks.

The Padres have had arguably the worst catching tandem in MLB. Elias Díaz and Martín Maldonado have combined to hit .195/.255/.306 over 327 plate appearances. Neither player rates highly as a pitch framer. While both players, especially Maldonado, have a strong reputation for the unquantifiable aspects of catcher defense (e.g. game-calling, managing a pitching staff), the production has not been there. It speaks to how far former top prospect Luis Campusano has fallen in the organization's eyes that he hasn't gotten an opportunity this year.

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Jim Clancy Passes Away

Anthony Franco — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:58:58 +0000

Former All-Star Jim Clancy has passed away, the Blue Jays announced. He was 69.

Clancy was drafted by the Rangers in the fourth round of the 1974 draft out of a Chicago high school. The 6’4″ right-hander pitched three seasons in the minors. The Blue Jays selected him in the expansion draft in advance of their inaugural season in ’77. Clancy made his big league debut against his former club that July. He started 13 games as a rookie and would remain a fixture in Toronto’s rotation for the next decade.

He won 10 games with a 4.09 earned run average over 31 outings during his first full MLB season. He struggled through an injury-plagued ’79 season before breaking out the following year. Clancy turned in a career-low 3.30 ERA across 250 2/3 innings in 1980. After a down season in ’81, he was one of the top pitchers in the sport in 1982. Clancy led MLB with 40 starts and tossed a career-high 266 2/3 innings. He won 16 games and earned an All-Star nod.

That kicked off a six-year run in which he posted five seasons with a sub-4.00 ERA. Clancy surpassed 30 starts and 200 innings in all but one of those years. While injuries limited him in 1985, he managed a 3.78 ERA across 23 starts and helped the Jays to the first playoff berth in franchise history.

Clancy pitched in Toronto through the end of the ’88 campaign. He finished his Jays tenure with a 4.10 earned run average and 128 wins. Longtime teammate Dave Stieb is the only pitcher in franchise history to top Clancy’s 2204 2/3 innings pitched. He trails only Stieb and Roy Halladay on the franchise leaderboard in strikeouts and wins. After leaving Toronto in free agency, he finished his career as a swingman with the Astros and Braves.

At age 35, Clancy was part of Atlanta’s pennant-winning ’91 team and made three appearances in that year’s classic World Series against Minnesota. He was the winning pitcher in Game 3, recording one out in the top of the 12th inning before Atlanta walked it off in the bottom half. He made his final major league appearance two nights later, tossing two innings of one-run ball to record a hold in an eventual blowout win. That pulled Atlanta ahead in the series by a 3-2 margin, but Minnesota won the final two games in extras (capped by Jack Morris’ 10-inning shutout in Game 7) to win the title.

MLBTR joins others throughout the game in sending our condolences to Clancy’s family, friends, loved ones and former teammates.

Grant Hartwig Signs With NPB’s Hanshin Tigers

Anthony Franco — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:12:13 +0000

Reliever Grant Hartwig has signed with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. The 6’5″ righty had been on a minor league contract with the Mets but was released last month. It seems that was to pursue this opportunity.

Hartwig, 27, pitched in the big leagues for the Mets in each of the previous two seasons. He logged 35 1/3 innings of 4.84 ERA ball as a rookie in 2023. He spent most of last year in Triple-A and lost a couple months to a meniscus tear that required surgery. Hartwig appeared in four MLB games, allowing six runs in 6 2/3 innings. The Mets dropped him from the 40-man roster early in the offseason and brought him back on a minor league deal.

A product of Miami Ohio, Hartwig signed with the Mets in 2021 as an undrafted free agent. He has turned in a 3.42 earned run average in parts of five minor league campaigns. Hartwig had a matching 3.42 ERA across 23 2/3 Triple-A frames this year, though he bizarrely surrendering 13 unearned runs (against nine earned) in 21 appearances. He fanned 29% of batters faced with a solid 8.8% walk rate while averaging nearly 95 MPH on his sinker. Hartwig will presumably lock in a stronger guarantee in NPB than he would’ve made had he played out the season in Triple-A.

Pirates Release Matt Gorski

Anthony Franco — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 03:45:27 +0000

The Pirates released outfielder Matt Gorski, per the MLB.com transaction tracker. Pittsburgh designated him for assignment last week to open a 40-man roster spot for reliever Yohan Ramírez.

Gorski has been on the Triple-A injured list since late May. Injured players cannot be placed on outright waivers. Once Pittsburgh designated him for assignment, a release was essentially inevitable. Assuming Gorski clears release waivers, the Bucs could try to bring him back on a minor league contract. He’ll have the right to pursue other opportunities as a free agent though.

The righty-hitting Gorski is a former second-round pick. He has power and speed but has had issues making consistent contact throughout his minor league career. The Indiana product got out to a hot start this year with Triple-A Indianapolis. Pittsburgh called him up in late April.

Gorski blasted a 434-foot home run off Tyler Anderson in his first major league at-bat. He recorded two homers and a triple in 15 games, but he also struck out 16 times while drawing just one walk. Pittsburgh optioned him back to Triple-A on May 17; he suffered the undisclosed injury a week later. He has hit .195 in 41 major league at-bats and is a career .254/.313/.509 hitter in parts of four Triple-A seasons.

Twins Not Currently Discussing Joe Ryan In Trade Talks

Anthony Franco — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 03:28:05 +0000

The Twins are among nearly a dozen bubble teams around MLB with just over two weeks until the trade deadline. Minnesota sits two games under .500 and four games out of the American League’s final Wild Card spot. They’re tied with the Angels and have two teams (the Rays and Rangers) between them and the Mariners, who currently hold the AL’s last playoff position.

Robert Murray of FanSided reports that the Twins have yet to have serious conversations about the possibility of selling. Specifically, Murray adds that Minnesota hasn’t had discussions with other clubs about All-Star starter Joe Ryan. That doesn’t mean they’d necessarily consider Ryan untouchable if things go poorly over the next couple weeks, but they’re evidently not currently focused on moving him. Jon Morosi of MLB Network noted last week that the Twins would need to be completely out of the playoff race and be blown away by an offer to deal Ryan.

President of baseball operations Derek Falvey told SKOR North’s Darren Wolfson last week that he anticipated that most bubble teams would take right up to the July 31 deadline to determine their directions. Falvey broadly acknowledged that other teams have interest in Minnesota’s controllable pitching talent. At the same time, he expressed optimism that the team would play better coming out of the All-Star Break than they did in the first half and didn’t sound eager to sell. The Twins will resume play this weekend with a very winnable series at Coors Field. They’ll then head to L.A. to take on the Dodgers before home sets against the Nationals and Red Sox that’ll take them to the deadline.

If they struggle and pivot to selling, the Twins would obviously have no trouble drumming up interest in Ryan. The 29-year-old has steadily improved over his four-plus year MLB career. He owns a personal-best 2.72 earned run average while striking out more than 28% of opposing hitters in 19 appearances. Every team could accommodate his $3MM salary, and he remains controllable via arbitration for another two seasons. If the Twins seriously entertained dealing him, he’d probably be the prize of the rotation market.

Ryan has been the lone consistent force in a rotation that has struggled since losing Pablo López and Zebby Matthews to injuries. Minnesota starters have performed fairly well in July but had an MLB-worst 5.59 ERA in June. A Ryan trade would more or less wave the white flag on 2025, and it’d deal a huge hit to next year’s pitching staff. It’s tough to see them doing that as long as they’re within a few games of a playoff spot.

That won’t stop other teams from trying. While Ryan may be Minnesota’s most valuable trade chip, they have a number of players who’d be coveted if they sell. Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax will get a lot of attention from clubs looking for high-leverage bullpen help. Impending free agents Willi Castro and Harrison Bader are quality role players on the position player side. Chris Paddack would pique the interest of some teams that are looking for a back-end starter. Jon Heyman of The New York Post wrote this evening that the Twins could field offers on Duran and Jax if they drop further in the standings. There’d be little reason not to shop Castro, Bader and Paddack in that situation as well.

In any case, it’s highly unlikely that Byron Buxton is going anywhere. The star center fielder is signed through 2028 and having the kind of monster season that has long been possible if he can stay healthy. Even in the improbable event that the front office considered trading him, Buxton’s deal has a full no-trade clause. The two-time All-Star tells Heyman he wouldn’t have any interest in waiving his no-trade rights and leaving the only organization he has ever known.

Kevin Herget Elects Free Agency

Darragh McDonald — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 01:12:58 +0000

Right-hander Kevin Herget has elected free agency in lieu of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. That indicates he cleared waivers after being designated for assignment by the Braves last week.

Herget, 34, was claimed off waivers from the Mets in May. Since then, he has mostly been on optional assignment, making just one appearance for Atlanta. That was a scoreless inning on July 1st, after which he was optioned back down to Gwinnett. The Mets claimed him off waivers from the Brewers in the offseason and gave him similar treatment. They mostly stashed him in the minors and only put him into one big league game before designating him for assignment.

Since he has previously been outrighted in his career, Herget has the right to reject outright assignments and has exercised that right. He has 45 2/3 major league innings under his belt, spread out over this year and the previous three seasons. In that time, he has a 4.53 earned run average, 13.9% strikeout rate, 5.7% walk rate and 35.9% ground ball rate.

His minor league work has been decent this year. Between Syracuse and Gwinnett, he has logged 30 1/3 Triple-A innings with a 3.26 ERA. His 21.6% strikeout rate, 8% walk rate and 41.6% ground ball rate are all pretty close to typical averages.

He will head to the open market to see what opportunities await him. Since he cleared waivers, he will probably be limited to minor league offers. If he eventually makes it back to the majors with some team, he can be optioned for the rest of this season but will be out of options in 2026.

Photo courtesy of Dale Zanine, Imagn Images

Travis Jankowski Elects Free Agency

Darragh McDonald — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 23:47:14 +0000

Outfielder Travis Jankowski has elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Syracuse, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. That indicates he cleared waivers after being designated for assignment by the Mets last week.

Jankowski, 34, is a veteran outfielder of the speed-and-defense variety. He has been bouncing around the league this year, heading wherever there’s an opportunity for him. He has suited up for the White Sox, Rays and Mets, getting into 26 games between those three clubs. He has a combined batting line of .244/.286/.289 in 50 plate appearances this year.

Over his career, he has hit a bit better than that, with a .236/.318/.305 line in 1,759 plate appearances. But as mentioned, his other attributes are how he pays the bills. He has 3,601 innings of outfield work with 29 Defensive Runs Saved and 32 Outs Above Average. He has also stolen 104 bases in 129 tries.

It seems that, at this stage, teams are happy to give him a roster spot when they have a few injuries. Then when guys get healthy, they bump Jankowski off the roster. As a veteran with years of experience, he has the right to reject outright assignments and elect free agency, which he is comfortable doing. This is his third time opting for the open market this season.

He will now see what opportunities await him. With the trade deadline coming up, plenty of roster shuffling will be taking place in the coming weeks. Perhaps that will open a path to playing time for him somewhere.

Photo courtesy of Wendell Cruz, Imagn Images

Twins Acquire Noah Davis

Darragh McDonald — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 23:00:53 +0000

The Twins have acquired right-hander Noah Davis from the Dodgers, per Phil Miller of the Star Tribune. The Dodgers, who designated Davis for assignment last week, will receive cash considerations in return. The Twins had an open 40-man roster spot and are sending Davis to Triple-A St. Paul, so no corresponding move is required.

Davis, 28, signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox in the offseason. Perhaps that deal contained some sort of upward mobility clause, as the Red Sox flipped him to the Dodgers on Opening Day. The Dodgers put him on their 40-man roster but immediately optioned him to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

He has served as an optionable depth arm for the Dodgers this year, with five big league appearances scattered throughout the season. The first four were pretty normal but the fifth was gruesome. On the Fourth of July, the Dodgers were losing to the Astros 7-1 in the fifth inning. They brought Davis in with two outs in the fifth and he struck out Mauricio Dubón to finish the frame. Davis was sent back out for the top of the sixth and allowed ten earned runs on six hits, three walks and a hit-by-pitch.

That nightmare outing gave Davis an earned run average of 19.50 for the year. He was optioned after the game and designated for assignment a few days later. He also has an unsightly 8.95 ERA in his career, though all of his major league work had been with the Rockies prior to this year.

Presumably, the Twins are looking at the larger sample of work Davis has put together in the minors. This year, he has tossed 32 Triple-A innings with a 3.94 ERA. His 10.9% walk rate is a bit high but his 27.5% strikeout rate is strong and his 48.1% ground ball rate quite good as well. His minor league numbers prior to this year aren’t as strong but he has mostly been a starter until recently. Perhaps the move to the bullpen has allowed him to find a new gear.

The Twins had an open roster spot and Davis is still optionable for the rest of the year, so he’s a sensible depth add. He can give the club an extra arm for now. It seems the Twins are getting lots of interest in relievers like Jhoan Durán and Griffin Jax. It’s unclear if they have any plans to entertain trades of those guys, but the path for Davis would open up if something like that comes to pass.

Photo courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images

Orioles Outright David Bañuelos

Steve Adams — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 22:19:40 +0000

The Orioles announced Monday that they’ve passed catcher David Bañuelos through waivers and assigned him outright to Triple-A. He had the right to elect free agency but will instead accept his assignment to Norfolk. The 40-man roster count drops to 38.

The 28-year-old was added to the Orioles’ big league roster last week after the team had traded reliever Bryan Baker to the Rays. Bañuelos was already traveling with the O’s on their taxi squad, and he was selected to the roster ahead of a doubleheader versus the Mets.

A short-term stint seemed likely, given that Bañuelos was selected due to his proximity on the taxi squad and a desire to avoid playing a man down in that twin bill. He’d been the third catcher on the roster behind Jacob Stallings and Alex Jackson, though Baltimore gave him a couple of plate appearances during his brief run. Bañuelos has just three MLB plate appearances and is still looking for his first big league hit. He did reach base for the first time in his career when he was hit by a pitch yesterday.

Bañuelos is the consummate glove-first catcher. He’s a career .197/.276/.362 hitter in parts of four Triple-A seasons but has been praised as a plus defender behind the dish dating back to his days at Long Beach State. He was originally a Mariners draftee but has spent the bulk of his pro career in the Twins’ system after Minnesota acquired him from Seattle in exchange for international bonus space. Bañuelos became a minor league free agent after the 2023 season and has since signed a pair of minor league pacts with the Orioles, who clearly value having his defensive skills on hand in the upper minors. He’s now accepted multiple outright assignments to remain with the O’s, so it seems like a mutually agreeable arrangement.

Stuart Sternberg Has Agreed To Sell Rays To Patrick Zalupski, Deal Expected To Be Final By September

Darragh McDonald — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 21:15:11 +0000

The sale of the Rays seems to be coming to fruition. A report from Evan Drellich and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic says that a sale has been agreed to in principle which would see the club be sold from current owner Stuart Sternberg to a group led by Patrick Zalupski. The deal is worth about $1.7 billion and is expected to be completed as soon as September. The report adds that Zalupski plans to keep the club in the Tampa area, with a preference for Tampa proper over St. Petersburg. The sale would need to be approved by 75% of MLB owners in order to become official.

It was reported about a month ago that Sternberg was in “advanced talks” to sell the team to Zalupski’s group. Shortly after that reporting emerged, Marc Topkin and Colleen Wright of the Tampa Bay Times spoke to hedge fund founder Trip Miller, who spoke of his desire to get involved in the bidding. It’s unclear if there was ever any chance of Miller’s group outpacing Zalupski’s, but it now seems basically confirmed that Zalupski’s group will be taking over.

As of a year ago, it seemed like Sternberg was going to stick around for a long time. He purchased the club in 2004 for $200MM. Since then, he has been trying to find a long-term home for the club so that the Rays could move on from Tropicana Field, which has long been viewed as insufficient and outdated for the major leagues.

Various proposals were floated over the years, including a creative plan which would have seen the franchise split its home games between Florida and Montreal. That was nixed but the Rays eventually put a plan in place to build a new stadium on the Tropicana Field site. Under that plan, the Rays would stay at The Trop through 2027 but would open the new facility in 2028. They had agreements in place with the city of St. Petersburg, Pinellas County and private investors for the $1.2 billion project.

That entire plan was thrown off the rails in October when Hurricane Milton swept through the area, doing significant damage to The Trop, particularly the roof. The Trop became unplayable for 2025 and the new stadium plan got delayed. Elections in October changed the composition of local government bodies, with the new paradigm less amenable to the Rays. The club made arrangements to play the 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner field in Tampa. That seemed to not sit well with some Pinellas County officials, as Steinbrenner Field is in Hillsborough County.

The relationship between Sternberg and local officials seemed to sour, as he claimed the delays would lead to massive cost overruns. It was reported in March that the Rays would not be moving forward with the planned deal. That was shortly after it had been reported that league officials had been pressuring Sternberg to sell.

Now it seems the transition process is making quick progress and Zalupski’s group could be at the helm a couple of months from now. That’s notable timing, as there are key things to be worked out regarding the future of the franchise. It’s still unclear if the The Trop will be playable in time for the 2026 season. There’s also the usual baseball matters of payroll and things of that nature. And of course, new plans will need to be developed for a future stadium.

As mentioned, the report from The Athletic says Zalupski’s preference would be for the club to be in Tampa proper, as opposed to St. Petersburg. That is something that will have to be negotiated with local officials and private investors. If the club can chart a course towards a move into Tampa, there would be logic to that. It has been suggested by many that The Trop’s location isn’t highly accessible, which has contributed to the club’s poor attendance figures over the years, despite generally fielding competitive teams. A move to Tampa could help in that regard, though previous attempts to get the club into Tampa have not been successful.

Zalupski is the CEO of Dream Finders Homes, a publicly traded, Jacksonville-based developer that has built more than 31,000 homes across ten states. Forbes estimates his net worth at $1.4 billion, while his company’s valuation rests at $3.4 billion.

The timeline for the Rays will also have consequences across the league. Commissioner Rob Manfred has long insisted that expansion wouldn’t be a realistic possibility until the Athletics and Rays found new stadiums. The A’s are currently playing in West Sacramento but are expected to start playing in their new Las Vegas stadium by the 2028 season. If that plan progresses on schedule and the Rays get a new stadium plan in the works, then expansion will become a more realistic possibility.

Photo courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images

Adolis Garcia Drawing Trade Interest

Steve Adams — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 20:20:14 +0000

Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia has been drawing trade interest from several teams as the deadline creeps closer, reports Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com. It’s not yet clear whether or how aggressively the Rangers will sell at this year’s deadline. Texas sits one game below .500 and 8.5 games out of first place in the American League West, but the Rangers are just 3.5 games back from the final Wild Card spot in the American League.

Garcia, 32, is in the midst of a second straight down year at the plate. He slugged 97 home runs for Texas from 2021-23 while batting a combined .246/.305/.472 (113 wRC+), but he’s hitting .228/.282/.401 in 1010 plate appearances dating back to last season (91 wRC+). He’s been hot for the past month, however, as evidenced by a .266/.312/.469 slash over his past 141 trips to the plate. He’s ripped six homers and eight doubles in that span and done so while striking out at a reasonable 21.3% clip (against a 6.4% walk rate).

That dip in strikeouts is particularly encouraging. Garcia fanned in nearly 27% of his plate appearances from Opening Day through early June, and he punched out at a 27.8% rate last year. He’s cut down considerably on his chase rate and his swinging-strike rate during this recent hot stretch, and when he does make contact, the quality is strong: 92.8 mph average exit velocity, 13.9% barrel rate, 48.5% hard-hit rate.

In addition to a recent uptick in offensive performance, Garcia is enjoying a bounceback year defensively as well. The two-time All-Star and 2023 Gold Glove winner saw his once-excellent defensive grades crater in 2024. Defensive Runs Saved (-5) and Statcast’s Outs Above Average (-13) both felt he was one of the worst defensive outfielders in the sport last year. It’s possible there was some carryover from a knee injury suffered late in the 2023 season, as Garcia’s average sprint speed in 2024 sat at a career-worst 26.7 feet per second. He’s not all the way back up to peak levels in 2025, but his 27.3 ft/sec is an improvement. DRS again has him among the game’s elite outfielders (+14), while OAA (+1) feels he’s at least back on the positive side of things.

Garcia is controllable via arbitration for one more season beyond the current campaign. If Texas falls too far out of the playoff picture, it makes sense to listen on him, although there’s an argument that they should be open-minded even if they push more firmly into the postseason chase in the next couple weeks. Garcia has always had strikeout and OBP concerns. He’s due what should be a notable raise on this year’s $9.25MM salary as he heads into his final season of club control. In Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter, the Rangers have two long-term outfield spots locked in place.

There’s no top outfield prospect on the immediate horizon, but Garcia is only controlled one more year, will command a notable eight-figure salary and up until June 10 or so had the look of a plausible non-tender candidate. His well-timed hot streak and a generally short supply of impact bats on the market might allow the Rangers to bring in some young talent and free up some payroll space at a time when Jon Gray, Tyler Mahle, Patrick Corbin and half the Texas bullpen (Chris Martin, Hoby Milner, Shawn Armstrong, Luke Jackson) will be up for free agency at season’s end.

Poll: Who Will Win The 2025 Home Run Derby?

Darragh McDonald — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 18:23:21 +0000

The 2025 home run derby takes place tonight at 7pm Central as part of the 2025 All-Star festivities in Atlanta. The field of eight consists of…

Byron Buxton, Twins
Junior Caminero, Rays
Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees
Oneil Cruz, Pirates
Matt Olson, Braves
Cal Raleigh, Mariners
Brent Rooker, Athletics
James Wood, Nationals

Per MLB.com, here is the format:

“In the first round, the eight players each have three minutes or 40 pitches (whichever comes first) to hit as many homers as possible. There is also a bonus period for each player that lasts until they record three outs (any swing that doesn’t result in a home run) within the period. If a player hits a home run of at least 425 feet within the bonus period, the period is extended until the player records a fourth out.

The players with the top four homer totals advance to the semis. In the event of a first-round tie, the player who hit the longest home run during the round advances.

In the semifinals, the format shifts to “knockout style,” with No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs. No. 3. The seeds are determined solely by the number of home runs each player hit in the first round. Players will have two minutes or 27 pitches in the semifinals and finals, and home run totals from the first round don’t carry over.

Ties in the semifinals or finals are broken by successive three-swing “swing-offs” until there is a winner.

The winners of the two semifinal matchups advance to the finals, where the limits are reduced to two minutes and 27 pitches. The player with the most home runs after that period is crowned Home Run Derby champion.

One final note: Each batter is entitled to one 45-second timeout in each of the three regulation periods, but timeouts can’t be called during the bonus periods or tiebreakers.”

According to Yahoo Sports, $2.5MM will be given out as prize money. The winner gets $1MM and the runner-up $750K. The rest of the money will be shared amongst the other participants. Last year’s champion was Teoscar Hernández of the Dodgers but he is not defending his title. He spent some time on the IL in May due to a groin strain and doesn’t want to risk reaggravating that injury, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. He also fouled a ball off his foot here in July and missed a few games.

Of this year’s eight participants, Olson is the only one with previous derby experience. Ronald Acuña Jr. was originally in the lineup to represent the home team but he was scratched with some back tightness, so Olson has stepped in. In 2021, Olson hit 23 home runs in the first round but was edged out by Trey Mancini’s 24, with that year’s format being a head-to-head bracket style. He has 276 career home runs in regular season play, including 17 this year.

Olson should be the hometown favorite but Buxton might also get some support since he grew up in Georgia. Per Betsy Helfand of the Pioneer Press, Buxton’s son is very excited to bring him a towel and Gatorade during the event. Buxton has 154 career home runs, including 21 so far in 2025.

Raleigh is having a monster season, with 38 home runs already in the bank. The record for most home runs in a season by a primary catcher is Salvador Perez with 48, so Raleigh is on pace to destroy that. Raleigh’s previous career high was his 34 homers last year, so he already eclipsed that before the break.

Chisholm spent some time on the IL but has 17 home runs in just 65 games this year. Cruz only has 16 this year but strikes out a lot while his Statcast data is off the charts, so perhaps his stuff will play up in the derby setting. Rooker hit 30 home runs in 2023, 39 last year and is up to 20 already this year. Caminero and Wood are each playing a full major league season for the first time. Caminero has 23 home runs and Wood 24.

Here are two polls for MLBTR readers, the first asking who you want to win the derby and the second asking who you think will win.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Jairaj, Imagn Images

Royals Place Michael Lorenzen On Injured List

Steve Adams — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:44:13 +0000

The Royals have placed right-hander Michael Lorenzen on the 15-day injured list due to a left oblique strain, per a team announcement. The move is retroactive to July 11, so he’ll be eligible to return no sooner than July 26. He joins fellow starters Cole Ragans (rotator cuff strain) and Alec Marsh (shoulder impingement) on the injured list.

Lorenzen, 33, re-signed with the Royals on a one-year deal worth $7MM this past offseason. He’s been a serviceable back-end option for Kansas City, taking the ball 18 times and pitching to a 4.61 ERA with a 20% strikeout rate and 6.8% walk rate in 99 1/3 innings. Lorenzen had his two worst starts of the season back-to-back on May 26 (six runs in five innings) and on June 3 (seven runs in 2 2/3 innings), but he’s rebounded with a tidy 3.63 earned run average and a 31-to-9 K/BB ratio over his past six starts (34 2/3 innings).

Kansas City didn’t specify a projected timetable for Lorenzen’s return, though even Grade 1 oblique strains (the least-severe) can sideline players for upwards of a month. The Royals also did not announce a corresponding move at this time. They’ll open the second half with three games in Miami and would need a fifth starter for the second game of their following series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 22.

With Lorenzen headed to the shelf, the Royals only have four healthy starters on the major league roster: Kris Bubic, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Noah Cameron. It’s a talented quartet, but the depth beyond the group is shaky.

Right-handers Kyle Wright and Luinder Avila are both on the 40-man roster in Triple-A but are both injured; Wright is dealing with a Grade 2 oblique strain, while Avila has been out since late May due to a shoulder impingement. Rich Hill, Thomas Hatch and Dallas Keuchel are among the veteran options who are in the Royals’ system but not on the 40-man roster (although Keuchel just signed last week). Down in Double-A, prospects Ben Kudrna, Steven Zobac and Frank Mozzicato are having tough seasons. The Royals could opt for bullpen games in the fifth spot if Lorenzen isn’t expected to be shelved much beyond the minimum 15 days. Righty Jonathan Bowlan tossed three innings in his most recent appearance and could handle the bulk of bullpen game if the need arises.

Yankees Claim Rico Garcia

Darragh McDonald — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:35:51 +0000

The Yankees have claimed right-hander Rico Garcia off waivers from the Mets, reports Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The Mets designated Garcia for assignment last week. The Yankees had an open 40-man spot. Garcia is out of options, so they will need to open an active roster spot for him.

Garcia, 31, signed a minor league deal with the Mets in the offseason. He then tossed 30 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level with a 4.45 earned run average. He struck out 27.4% of batters faced but also gave out walks at a 14.8% clip.

The Mets lost a number of pitchers to the injured list in recent weeks and called Garcia up to the big leagues at the start of July. He got into two games and gave them 4 2/3 scoreless innings. He averaged over 96 miles per hour on his fastball while also throwing a slider, curveball and changeup. The Mets bumped him off the roster when Kodai Senga was reinstated from the IL.

The Yankee bullpen has recently taken a number of hits. Mark Leiter Jr., Fernando Cruz and Yerry De los Santos all hit the IL in the past few weeks. Jake Cousins has been on the IL all year but recently required Tommy John surgery.

Garcia was a freely-available arm who has posted some intriguing strikeout numbers this year, so the Yanks have grabbed him off the wire. Since he’s out of options, his grip on a roster spot may be tenuous. The Yanks, like all contenders, will surely be looking to make bullpen additions before the deadline.

The righty has also pitched for the Rockies, Giants, Orioles, Athletics and Nationals, but always in fairly limited stints. He has appeared in five major league seasons but has just 40 1/3 innings under his belt, posting a 6.47 ERA in that time. From 2022 to the present, he has 165 minor league innings with a 3.33 ERA, 31.7% strikeout rate and 12.7% walk rate.

Photo courtesy of Sam Navarro, Imagn Images

More Trade Reviews

Chad Young — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:00:09 +0000

Looking at the trade market in keeper leagues.

The post More Trade Reviews appeared first on Pitcher List.

Blue Jays, Joe Mantiply Agree To Minor League Deal

Steve Adams — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:58:24 +0000

The Blue Jays have agreed to a minor league contract with left-handed reliever Joe Mantiply, per the transaction log at MiLB.com. Toronto also recently inked utilityman Buddy Kennedy to a minor league pact after he was released by the Phillies. He’s already made his debut with their Triple-A affiliate.

Mantiply was released by the Diamondbacks in early June after struggling considerably early in the year. The 34-year-old has a nice track record and was an important piece of Arizona’s bullpen from 2021-24, tossing 198 1/3 frames with a 3.63 earned run average, 22% strikeout rate, 6.1% walk rate and 51.9% ground-ball rate. He picked up three saves and 50 holds over that four-year run.

That track record feels like a distant memory after Mantiply was rocked for a 15.83 ERA in 9 2/3 big league innings this season. He’s never been a hard-thrower, but Mantiply’s 88.2 mph average fastball in 2025 was well shy of its 91.3 mph peak or even last year’s 89.5 mph average. Mantiply has struggled both in the majors and in Triple-A this season; he was tagged for a 5.56 ERA in 11/3 innings with the Diamondbacks’ Reno affiliate.

The Jays already have a pair of lefties in the big league bullpen: Justin Bruihl and breakout setup man Brendon Little. A third southpaw, Mason Fluharty, was just optioned to Triple-A Buffalo late in the season’s first half. Bruihl is a minor league signee who was just selected to the big league roster a few weeks ago. Fluharty was excellent up into early June but was rocked for a dozen runs in a span of 7 1/3 innings before being optioned back to Buffalo.

Mantiply will add some left-handed depth beyond that trio. He’ll join Amir Garrett — also with the Jays’ Triple-A club — as a veteran lefty reliever with some track record hoping to earn a look in Toronto.

Kennedy has appeared in parts of four major league seasons between the D-backs, Tigers and Phillies, but he’s only tallied 157 plate appearances in that time. He’s a .193/.287/.296 hitter at the big league level but touts a nice .279/.388/.432 slash in just over 1600 Triple-A plate appearances. Kennedy has already taken eight plate appearances in Buffalo, going 0-for-7 with a walk. He’s primarily played second base and third base in pro ball but does have more than 400 innings at first base and 93 innings of left field work under his belt.

Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup 7/13: Joey The Kid

Nick Pollack — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:38:31 +0000

Nick Pollack reviews every starting pitcher performance from Sunday.

The post Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup 7/13: Joey The Kid appeared first on Pitcher List.

Submit Your Questions For This Week’s Episode Of The MLBTR Podcast

Darragh McDonald — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:29:52 +0000

On the MLB Trade Rumors podcast, we regularly answer questions from our readers and listeners. With the next episode set for Wednesday, we’re looking for MLBTR’s audience to submit their questions and we’ll pick a few to answer.

The 2025 season is chugging along, and the trade deadline is just over two weeks away. If you have a question about the campaign, a look ahead to the deadline or anything else baseball-related, we’d love to hear from you! You can email your questions to mlbtrpod@gmail.com.

Also, if you want to hear your voice on the podcast, send us your question in audio form and we might play it. iPhone users can find instructions on how to do so here.

In the meantime, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Using PLA to Evaluate Pitchers – All Star Edition

Ryan Clark — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:00:31 +0000

What does PLA tells us about 5 All-Star pitchers?

The post Using PLA to Evaluate Pitchers – All Star Edition appeared first on Pitcher List.

Three Trade Targets in Points Leagues: Week 16

Michael Hanlon — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:00:04 +0000

Three hitters poised for plenty of points in the second-half.

The post Three Trade Targets in Points Leagues: Week 16 appeared first on Pitcher List.

D-backs Have Listened To Offers On Outfield Depth

Steve Adams — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 15:35:41 +0000

The Diamondbacks remain on the fringes of the NL postseason picture, sitting five and a half games out in the Wild Card chase. General manager Mike Hazen has said he hopes the team performs well enough to position itself as a late buyer, but the GM has also at least been listening to offers on some of his outfielders, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. That does not include star Corbin Carroll, unsurprisingly, but Heyman suggests names like Alek Thomas, Jake McCarthy, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Randal Grichuk have likely been discussed.

Of the four outfielders, Grichuk is the most obvious trade candidate. He’s playing the 2025 season on a one-year, $5MM contract. He’ll unlock a $250K bonus when he reaches his 200th plate appearance — he’s currently at 174 — and another $250K if he reaches 275 plate appearances.

Grichuk’s contract is structured such that Grichuk is owed a $2MM salary and a $3MM buyout on a $5MM mutual option for next year. That makes him a bit more expensive for the rest of the season than a standard one-year, $5MM contract would imply; he’d have about $634K in salary remaining at the time of the trade deadline but also that $3MM buyout and some potential incentive pay. Of course, the D-backs could make a trade more appealing by including cash to offset some of that backloaded 2025 salary.

The 2025 season hasn’t been Grichuk’s best, but he’s still hitting for power. The 33-year-old is batting .242/.282/.466 with seven homers, 13 doubles and a triple in his 174 trips to the plate. His 5.7% walk rate is right in line with his career mark. His 21.6% strikeout rate is down from his career level of about 25% but noticeably higher than the personal-best 16.5% clip he turned in last year in a more productive season with the Snakes.

Gurriel, 31, is a tougher sell from a trade standpoint. He’s being paid $14MM this season and is guaranteed $13MM in 2026 plus at least a $5MM buyout on a $14MM club option for the 2027 season. His .251/.299/.421 batting line (98 wRC+) already represents a down year, and any team to acquire him would know Gurriel will either opt into the remaining $18MM he’s guaranteed beyond the current season or go on a second-half tear and opt out. It’s not an appealing structure, and the Diamondbacks would probably need to eat a significant portion of the remaining money he’s owed to facilitate a trade.

Thomas and McCarthy are both controllable lefty-swinging outfielders, but neither is having a good season at the plate. Thomas, once touted as one of the top outfield prospects in baseball, has yet to hit in parts of four major league seasons. He’s a above-average runner and strong defensive center fielder, but this year’s .245/.295/.366 batting line (84 wRC+) is actually the best of the 25-year-old’s young career. He’s a lifetime .230/.276/.360 hitter in just under 1200 big league plate appearances.

McCarthy, on the other hand, has had plenty of big league success at the plate — just not in 2025. He hit .283/.342/.427 in 99 games back in 2022 (116 wRC+) and slashed .285/.349/.400 (110 wRC+) as recently as last season. He had a down year in 2023, however, and the 27-year-old has struggled to a career-worst .144/.228/.244 line (33 wRC+) in 102 trips to the plate this season.

That’s a relatively small sample, of course, and McCarthy has had some demonstrably poor luck. He’s hitting just .151 on balls in play — less than half the .328 career mark he carried into the season and some 130 points lower than the league average. McCarthy isn’t hitting the ball hard at all (83.9 mph average exit velocity, 23.7% hard-hit rate), but he also had poor batted-ball metrics even in his more productive 2022 and 2024 seasons. His 15.7% strikeout rate remains excellent, and McCarthy has walked at a solid 8.8% rate.

The D-backs optioned McCarthy to Triple-A after a rough three-week start and only recalled him back in late June. He batted .314/.401/.440 in 237 plate appearances with the Diamondbacks’ top affiliate in Reno and has put together an improved (albeit still diminished) .222/.300/.400 slash in his past 51 major league plate appearances.

Both Thomas and McCarthy are controllable for an additional three seasons. Both are eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason. The Diamondbacks burned McCarthy’s final option year when they sent him down to Triple-A back in April. He’ll be out of minor league options next year. Thomas also entered 2025 with one option year remaining, but his is still intact, as he hasn’t been sent down at any point this season.

2025 MLB Power Rankings: Week 16

Pablo Figueroa — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 15:30:37 +0000

Paul Skenes in Pittsburgh is like an F1 car on a muddy road

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Vinny Nittoli To Opt Out Of Brewers Deal

Steve Adams — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:55:43 +0000

Reliever Vinny Nittoli plans to trigger the opt-out clause in his minor league deal with the Brewers, reports Ari Alexander of KPRC-2. The actual opt-out date is tomorrow and will give the Brewers 24 hours to add Nittoli to the big league roster, MLBTR has learned. If the Brewers choose not to select Nittoli to the roster, he’ll become a free agent.

The 34-year-old Nittoli pitched in the majors each season from 2021-24 but has totaled just 18 2/3 MLB frames in that time. He’s pitched to a sharp 2.41 ERA across those four seasons, which have been split between the Mariners, Phillies, Mets, A’s and Orioles. Nittoli has fanned 17.3% of his major league opponents against a 6.7% walk rate.

Nittoli has spent the 2025 season with the Brewers’ Triple-A club in Nashville, pitching to a 3.86 ERA with an impressive 28.9% strikeout rate and an 8.6% walk rate. The journeyman right-hander doesn’t throw hard, sitting just 88-90 mph with his go-to cutter, but he’s induced chases on pitches off the plate at a strong 35.1% clip and recorded an excellent 14.3% swinging-strike rate during his time in Nashville this season.

The Brewers already have a strong bullpen. Milwaukee relievers rank 18th in the majors with a 4.00 ERA, but that includes some early struggles by Joel Payamps, swingman Tyler Alexander and righty Elvin Rodriguez — none of whom are on the 40-man roster at this point. Each of Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby, Jared Koenig, Nick Mears, Grant Anderson and DL Hall has an ERA of 3.69 or better. Five of those seven are under 3.00 (including a 1.66 mark for Ashby). The Brewers’ bullpen has a flat 3.00 ERA over the past calendar month — second-lowest in MLB.

Given the strength of that group, there’s no urgent need to add Nittoli, who’s out of minor league options and would need to stick in the big league bullpen if he’s selected. If the Brewers don’t want to lose the depth, they could select Nittoli to the 40-man roster and option Tobias Myers back to Nashville. (Myers was just recalled a few days before the All-Star break and didn’t get into a game.) The rest of the ’pen is largely set, however, so the Brewers may wind up letting Nittoli explore opportunities elsewhere despite his solid results in Nashville.

The Quarter Century AL All-Star Team

Adam Steinmetz — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:00:34 +0000

Complete with Fun Facts for Every Player

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The Opener: Home Run Derby, Draft Day 2, Rodriguez

Nick Deeds — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 13:48:06 +0000

Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. 2025 Home Run Derby:

All-Star week is officially underway, and with it comes the return of an All-Star week staple: the Home Run Derby. Eight sluggers will battle it out for the $1MM prize, and this year’s participants are Byron Buxton of the Twins, Junior Caminero of the Rays, Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees, Oneil Cruz of the Pirates, Matt Olson of the Braves, Cal Raleigh of the Mariners, Brent Rooker of the Athletics, and James Wood of the Nationals. The event is scheduled to begin at 8pm ET this evening, and will air on ESPN. Of this crop of contestants, only Olson has participated previously; he was eliminated in the first round back in 2021 while representing the A’s. It’s hard to view anyone other than catcher Cal Raleigh as the favorite headed into today’s event given his MLB-leading 38 homers this year. If he can take home the trophy, he’ll be the first catcher to do so in the event’s history and the first Mariners representative to win the Derby since Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.

2. MLB Draft Day 2:

Yesterday, MLB held the first three rounds of the 2025 draft. Eli Willits was drafted first overall by the Nationals, while consensus top talent Ethan Holliday went fourth overall to the Rockies. The full results of the first round can be found here. Now, the attention of teams will turn towards the later rounds of the draft. Rounds 4 through 20 are scheduled to take place today as teams around the league wrap up the draft, with Round 4 slated to begin at 11:30am ET this morning. A handful of top talents fall outside of the first few rounds every year, and that’s once again the case this season. A look at MLB Pipeline’s Draft Tracker reveals three top-50 talents in the draft have not yet been chosen: Oregon outfielder Mason Neville, Lincoln-Way East HS southpaw Jack Bauer, and Memorial HS right-hander Matthew Fisher.

3. Rodriguez to see doctor about ailing elbow:

Rays right-hander Manuel Rodriguez was pulled off his rehab assignment on Friday after experiencing some soreness in his elbow in conjunction with unusually low velocity. Rodriguez, who saw an alarming drop to just 91.2 mph during his latest outing after averaging 96.9 mph throughout the year, will be further evaluated today. The 28-year-old was a key piece of the Rays’ bullpen this year prior to his injury, with a 2.08 ERA and 2.98 FIP in 31 appearances. The Rays acquired Bryan Baker from the Orioles last week in hopes of bolstering their relief corps, though his team debut did not go well (three runs in one inning). A notable absence for Rodriguez could spur Tampa Bay’s front office to further address the bullpen.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Picks: 7/14

Joe Rowan — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 13:30:08 +0000

Waiver Wire adds that can make a difference.

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MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 7/14/2025

Steve Drumwright — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 13:15:33 +0000

Red Sox make it 10 in a row; Nationals make 17-year-old No. 1 pick.

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