TheRotofeed

Lou Trivino Elects Free Agency

Anthony Franco — Tue, 12 May 2026 23:59:35 +0000

Veteran righty Lou Trivino is back on the free agent market. The Orioles announced that the reliever elected free agency after clearing outright waivers on Tuesday. Baltimore designated him for assignment on Sunday.

Trivino had a very brief stint with the O’s. They signed him to a major league contract last Monday, a few days after he’d opted out of a minor league deal with Philadelphia. Trivino was rocked for six runs on four hits and three walks without completing a full inning against the Yankees in his O’s debut. He rebounded with 2 1/3 scoreless frames with three strikeouts against the A’s on Saturday.

After tossing 31 pitches in that outing, Trivino would’ve been unavailable for a day or two. The O’s swapped him out for a fresh arm, which required a DFA since Trivino has well above the five years of MLB service to refuse a minor league assignment.

While the small sample numbers in Baltimore were ugly, Trivino pitched well in Triple-A for the Phils last month. The 34-year-old righty struck out 20 of 56 batters faced (36%) while issuing four walks. He surrendered 15 hits and 10 runs, though only four of those were earned. Trivino’s sinker and four-seam fastball each sat in the 94-95 mph range and he used three other pitches — cutter, slider and changeup — with regularity. The fastballs were up to 96 during his MLB work.

That was Trivino’s second stint with the Philly organization. He signed a minor league deal last August and was selected onto the MLB roster at the end of the month. He worked nine innings of three-run ball to close the season. Trivino pitched for three different clubs overall and tallied a 3.97 earned run average across 47 2/3 MLB innings a year ago. It was first big league action in three seasons, as he’d missed most of 2023-24 due to Tommy John surgery.

Pirates Recall Brandan Bidois For MLB Debut

Steve Adams — Tue, 12 May 2026 22:19:14 +0000

The Pirates have recalled right-hander Brandan Bidois from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned righty Cam Sanders back to Indy in his place. Bidois was already on the 40-man roster, so no corresponding moves are necessary. Bidois will join the Pittsburgh bullpen and make his major league debut the first time he takes the mound. The Bucs also placed catcher Joey Bart on the 10-day injured list with a left foot infection and recalled Endy Rodriguez in a corresponding move.

Bidois, 24, was an international signee out of Australia back in 2019. He’s sporting an unsightly 7.20 ERA in 15 Triple-A frames this season but has been dogged by a .371 average on balls in play despite holding opponents to a feeble 87.9 mph average exit velocity and an even weaker 34.2% hard-hit rate. Bidois hasn’t done himself any favors by walking 12.9% of his opponents, but his 32.9% strikeout rate is excellent and his power arsenal is impressive.

The Aussie-born righty works predominantly off a four-seamer/slider combination, sitting 96.5 mph with the former and 85.9 mph with the latter. He’ll mix in an occasional low-90s changeup but has only thrown that pitch at an 8.6% clip this year. Bidois touts a very strong 13.8% swinging-strike rate — about three percentage points north of the major league average — and has induced chases on nearly one in three pitches he’s thrown outside the strike zone.

Although this year’s results haven’t stood out, those under-the-hood traits are encouraging — as was Bidois’ dominant 2025 campaign. He tossed 61 innings across four minor league levels last year and logged a superlative 0.74 ERA with a 30% strikeout rate and 11.7% walk rate. That includes 13 shutout frames in Triple-A.

Pittsburgh’s bullpen has been a middle-of-the-pack unit on the season overall, sitting 17th in the majors with a 4.14 earned run average. The past couple weeks have been grueling, however. Over the past 14 days, Pirates relievers have coughed up 29 earned runs in 36 2/3 innings (7.12 ERA). After fanning nearly one quarter of opponents through the season’s first five weeks, they’ve managed to strike out only 17.8% of the batters they’ve faced in the past two weeks. Sanders, who’s yielded six runs in five innings during that rough patch, has contributed to the bullpen malaise for manager Don Kelly.

Michael Harris Is Better Than Ever

Charlie Wright — Tue, 12 May 2026 22:16:54 +0000

Braves outfielder Michael Harris II picked up four hits on Friday against the Dodgers, pushing his batting average back over .300. The 25-year-old has a career-best 139 wRC+ through 38 games. Harris, already in his fifth big-league season, seems to be making good on the prospect pedigree that had him atop Atlanta’s system before his 2022 debut.

Harris was just 21 years old when he was handed the Braves’ everyday center fielder gig. He performed well in his first taste of the majors, slashing .297/.339/.514 across 441 plate appearances. He fell just one homer shy of a 20/20 campaign. Harris earned NL Rookie of the Year honors, beating out teammate Spencer Strider.

Atlanta signed Harris to an eight-year, $72MM extension in August of that first season. It looked like a good bit of business for both sides. Harris secured a significant payday after just four months as a big leaguer. The Braves locked down a promising young outfielder for the rest of the decade. With Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies also signed to relatively inexpensive long-term deals, the organization had its core in place for the foreseeable future.

Harris took a slight step back in the power department in 2023, but was still 16% better than league average at the plate. He improved his strikeout rate to 18.7%, down from 24.3% as a rookie. Harris regressed again in 2024. His wRC+ slipped below 100 for the first time. After two years hitting above .290, Harris hit .264 in 110 games. He missed a significant chunk of the year with a hamstring injury.

The 2025 campaign was a bounce-back from a health perspective. Harris played a career-high 160 games. The volume helped him finally reach his first 20/20 season. The rate stats were concerning, though. Harris slashed .249/.268/.409 across 641 plate appearances. His walk rate, already among the lowest in the league, fell to 2.5%. Harris chased pitches out of the strike zone more than ever.

The game plan against Harris was pretty clear last year. Pitchers attacked him with four-seamers and sinkers. Harris hammered fastballs as a rookie, but began to struggle against the heat. He posted a career-worst -4 Run Value vs. four-seamers in 2025. Sinkers were an even bigger issue. No hitter performed worse on any pitch than Harris against sinkers, with a league-low -17 Run Value. It was the worst mark since Tigers infielder Jonathan Schoop posted a -18 Run Value against four-seamers in 2022. Unsurprisingly, Harris saw sinkers at a career-high 20.9% clip.

Getting exploited by fastballs is a big problem at the highest level. It can be a career-ending flaw. Harris was on the verge of being a glove-only asset stuck at the bottom of the lineup. He seems to have solved his fastball issues in 2026. He’s hitting .318 against sinkers this season. He’s also obliterating four-seamers, with a .700 SLG and a silly 70.6% hard-hit rate. Harris is doing damage like never before, regardless of pitch type. He ranks in the 99th percentile in hard-hit rate and average exit velocity. Harris has a robust .326 xBA and a hefty .614 xSLG.

Harris has made subtle tweaks to his stance and setup. He’s moved up in the box and closer to the plate. His feet are a couple of inches further apart than last year. He’s also opened his stance by seven degrees compared to 2025. The adjustments, combined with career highs in bat speed (75.1 mph) and fast swing rate (51.4%), have produced a massive 16.5% barrel rate and a career-best 19.2% pulled air rate.

There are still some process flaws here. Harris is once again chasing more than ever. He’s offering at 43.1% of pitches outside of the strike zone, the eighth-highest mark among qualified hitters. Harris’ 51% groundball rate is his highest since 2022. And while he’s hit safely at a solid rate against sinkers, it’s been strictly singles. Those are more nitpicks than major concerns, though.

The quad injury has sapped Harris’ speed, which might cost him a shot at another 20/20 season, but the power looks legit. Health permitting, he should cruise past his career high of 20 home runs. The adjustments he’s made this year suggest he’s back to being an offensive force in a lineup that looks like one of the best in baseball.

Photo courtesy of Brett Davis, Imagn Images

Fantasy Reliever Rankings: Closers, Holds & SOLDs – 5/12

Rick Graham — Tue, 12 May 2026 22:15:47 +0000

Top 100 Relief Pitcher Rankings for Fantasy Baseball Leagues in 2026

The post Fantasy Reliever Rankings: Closers, Holds & SOLDs – 5/12 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Phillies Sign Dylan Carlson To Minor League Deal

Darragh McDonald — Tue, 12 May 2026 21:50:30 +0000

The Phillies have signed outfielder Dylan Carlson to a minor league deal, reports Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. The ALIGND Sports Agency client will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He was with the Cubs on a minor league deal earlier this month but was released from that pact.

Carlson, 27, signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in January. He cracked the Opening Day roster while Seiya Suzuki was on the injured list. Carlson didn’t get a hit in four plate appearances then was designated for assignment when Suzuki was activated off the IL in April. Carlson cleared waivers and elected free agency, then re-signed on a new minor league deal. He hit .175/.250/.350 in 44 Triple-A plate appearances before being released.

Once upon a time, Carlson looked like a potential building block for the Cardinals. He was selected 33rd overall in 2016 and became a notable prospect. He hit 18 home runs in 2021 while playing all three outfield positions. Unfortunately, his offensive production has tailed off and he has become a journeyman depth guy. Dating back to the start of 2024, he has played for the Cardinals, Rays, Orioles and Cubs while hitting .204/.280/.303.

For the Phillies, there’s little harm in adding some depth on a minor league deal. They have Brandon Marsh, Justin Crawford and Adolis García getting regular playing time in the majors. They have Edmundo Sosa and Félix Reyes on the bench, though those two have spent more time as infielders than outfielders. Johan Rojas would have been in the mix but he received an 80-game PED suspension back in March.

If someone on the major league roster suffers an injury, the Phils could turn to Carlson, though they will have other options. Steward Berroa and Gabriel Rincones Jr. are on the 40-man roster, as are infield/outfield guys like Otto Kemp and Christian Cairo. The Phils also have non-roster options like Bryan De La Cruz and Pedro León. For now, Carlson will report to the IronPigs and try to get in a good groove.

Photo courtesy of David Richard, Imagn Images

Yankees Place José Caballero On IL, Recall Anthony Volpe

Darragh McDonald — Tue, 12 May 2026 20:55:43 +0000

3:55pm: The Yankees have now officially announced the moves, listing Caballero’s injury as a right middle finger fracture. Manager Aaron Boone tells reporters, including Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, that Caballero could be back after a minimum stint and that he expects Caballero to be the club’s starting shortstop at that time.

2:35pm: The Yankees are placing infielder José Caballero on the ten-day injured list with a finger injury. Shortstop Anthony Volpe will be recalled as the corresponding move. Francys Romero of BeisbolFR first reported on Volpe’s recall. Jorge Castillo of ESPN confirmed that Caballero would be placed on the IL.

Though Max Schuemann is the starting shortstop today, Volpe will presumably take over as the club’s regular at that spot with Caballero on the shelf. That was the way things were supposed to play out earlier this year. Volpe was the Yankee shortstop from 2023 through 2025. Volpe required shoulder surgery in October of last year and was going to begin the 2026 season on the IL. The Yankees planned to have Caballero, who had mostly been a utility player, hold down the position until Volpe was healthy.

But the plans seemed to change as Caballero played well and Volpe didn’t storm out of the gates after getting back on the field. Caballero has produced a .259/.320/.400 line this year, good enough for a 105 wRC+. He has also received strong grades for his defense and stolen 13 bases.

The Yanks decided to ride the hot hand and stick with Caballero. Volpe had begun a rehab assignment in mid-April. Rehab assignments for position players come with a 20-day maximum. When Volpe’s 20 days were up a little over a week ago, the Yanks optioned him to Triple-A for more reps. Caballero hurt his finger sliding into a base this week. It’s unclear how much time he is expected to miss but it will lead to Volpe getting back to the majors.

Perhaps it will be a chance for Volpe to re-cement himself as the club’s shortstop, something that has become a bit more cloudy lately. He made the club’s Opening Day roster in 2023 just before his 22nd birthday. He hit 21 home runs, stole 24 bases and got good grades for his defense. Despite the home runs, his overall offense was subpar. He slashed .209/.283/.383 for a wRC+ of 83. But that was held back by a .259 batting average on balls in play. Given his youth and poor luck, it was fair to expect growth.

That hasn’t played out, unfortunately. Volpe slashed .229/.283/.377 over 2024 and 2025, translating to a wRC+ of 85. In 18 minor league games this year, he has a .221/.276/.294 line and 52 wRC+. After undergoing shoulder surgery, a bit of rust is perhaps not surprising but it’s continuing a trend of subpar offense.

The Yankees are 26-16 while most American League clubs are below .500, so they should be fine even if Volpe struggles in the next few weeks. There may be long-term implications, however. George Lombard Jr. is one of the club’s top prospects and has reached Triple-A, so he could be pushing for a big league promotion at some point. There’s also the fact that second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is an impending free agent.

With a few things up in the air when it comes to the middle infield, the Yankees will eventually have to make some decisions about the way forward. Volpe has a full slate of options and could be sent back down in the future but the Yankees would also like it if he performs well enough to stick around.

For Volpe’s earning power, the quick recall is potentially significant. He came into this year with exactly three years of big league service time. He continued racking up service days while on the IL but that clock stopped when he was optioned. It will now start ticking again.

The big league season is 187 days long but a player only needs 172 days of service to be credited with a full year. Since Volpe was only optioned on May 3rd, nine days ago, he could still get to the four-year mark if he stays up for the rest of the year. Though if he’s optioned again and ends up short of that four-year line, his path to free agency will be delayed by a year.

Photo courtesy of Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images

Athletics Announce Several Roster Moves

Steve Adams — Tue, 12 May 2026 20:42:15 +0000

The A’s announced a broad slate of roster moves Tuesday. In addition to their previously reported selection of Henry Bolte‘s contract from Triple-A, they’ve also selected Michael Stefanic‘s contract and placed shortstop Jacob Wilson on the 10-day injured list due to a left shoulder subluxation. Infielder Brett Harris was optioned to Triple-A as well, while minor league righty Eduarniel Núñez was designated for assignment. Additionally, the A’s noted that catcher Austin Wynns, whom they’d previously designated for assignment, cleared waivers and was released.

More to come.

Sean Murphy To Miss Eight Weeks With Finger Fracture

Darragh McDonald — Tue, 12 May 2026 20:35:31 +0000

3:35pm: Murphy will miss at least eight weeks due to his fracture, Weiss tells Jesús Cano of The Athletic.

12:08pm: The Braves announced that catcher Sean Murphy has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 11th, with a fractured left middle finger. Fellow catcher Sandy León was signed to a big league deal to replace Murphy on the roster. The club also selected the contract of outfielder José Azócar and optioned infielder Jim Jarvis. They had two 40-man vacancies, which have now been filled by these moves.

Murphy’s injury appears to stem from a catcher’s interference plan in Sunday’s game. Hyeseong Kim swung at a pitch and made contact with Murphy’s glove, as seen in this video from MLB.com. After the game, manager Walt Weiss told Mark Bowman of MLB.com that Murphy would be going for X-rays but would probably be fine. It now seems that a fracture has been discovered, so Murphy will head to the IL.

It’s unclear how long Murphy will be out of action but it’s a frustrating setback nonetheless. Injuries have been a recurring theme for him in recent seasons. He was limited to fewer than 95 games in both 2024 and 2025 due to various ailments. One persistent issue has been hip problems, which eventually led to surgery in September of last year. He was rehabbing from that surgery until about a week ago. Now after just four games, he’s back on the shelf.

While Murphy was on the IL earlier, Atlanta used a catching tandem of Drake Baldwin and Jonah Heim. When Murphy was reinstated earlier this month, Heim was designated for assignment and then traded to the Athletics. Atlanta still has Baldwin but now has no Heim and will be without Murphy for a while, so they had to get a bit creative in finding a new backup.

León, 37, is a glove-first veteran journeyman. He began this year with Triple-A Gwinnett but slashed .118/.268/.118 in ten games and was released. He then signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo in the Mexican League. He got into ten games for that club, hitting .143/.273/.143, before Atlanta came calling again.

It’s not likely that León will provide much with the bat. He has a career line of .207/.275/.311. From 2017 to the present, it’s an even slimmer .187/.256/.289 line. But he has nonetheless been able to carve out a lengthy career due to his strong reputation when it comes to the other facets of being a catcher, namely his defense.

He’ll back up Baldwin while Murphy is on the shelf. The club also has Jair Camargo and Chadwick Tromp in the system on minor league deals. They may keep their eyes out for external options. For instance, Austin Wynns was designated for assignment by the A’s last week and is still in DFA limbo.

Azócar, 30, was added to the roster for a few days earlier this month. Atlanta bumped him off when they called up Jarvis about a week ago. Azócar cleared waivers but quickly returned to the club on a new minor league deal and is now back on the big league roster. Since Jarvis is being sent out, it’s effectively a reversal of the transaction from last week.

Presumably, that quick change is due to developments elsewhere in the position player mix. Yesterday, the club reinstated infielder Ha-Seong Kim from the IL. In a corresponding move, outfielder Eli White hit the concussion IL. Kim’s return meant that they effectively had three bench infielders in Jorge Mateo, Kyle Farmer and Jarvis. Meanwhile, White’s IL placement left them shorthanded in the outfield.

Azócar has only hit .243/.288/.318 in his career but is a strong defender and baserunner. With Ronald Acuña Jr. on the IL, Atlanta should have a regular outfield of Mike Yastrzemski, Michael Harris II and Mauricio Dubón, with Azócar backing up that group. Azócar is out of options, which could potentially lead to him being designated for assignment again when guys come off the IL.

Photo courtesy of Kirby Lee, Imagn Images

Yankees To Place José Caballero On IL, Recall Anthony Volpe

Darragh McDonald — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:55:43 +0000

The Yankees are placing infielder José Caballero on the ten-day injured list with a finger injury. Shortstop Anthony Volpe will be recalled as the corresponding move. Francys Romero of BeisbolFR first reported on Volpe’s recall. Jorge Castillo of ESPN confirmed that Caballero would be placed on the IL.

Photo courtesy of Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images

Ottoneu Hot Right Now: May 12, 2026

Jake Mailhot — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:30:17 +0000

A pair of prospects, a pair of throwback starters, and a platoon outfielder.

Source

Position Player Playing Time Changes: May 12, 2026

Jon Becker — Tue, 12 May 2026 18:30:57 +0000

All the latest in significant position player playing time projections over the last seven days.

Source

Expected SP Schedules Weeks 7-8

Michael Hanlon — Tue, 12 May 2026 18:00:35 +0000

Every upcoming matchup for every scheduled starter across the league.

The post Expected SP Schedules Weeks 7-8 appeared first on Pitcher List.

MLBTR Live Chat

Steve Adams — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:59:59 +0000

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

MLBTR Chat Transcript

Steve Adams — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:59:59 +0000

Steve Adams

Good afternoon! We’ll get going in a couple minutes but feel free to start sending in questions now.

A fella

do the pirates start looking at help bullpen help soon? It’s kinda frustrating seeing the bullpen blow leads

Steve Adams

They can start looking, but there aren’t going to be many (any) impactful arms on the market this time of year. Bullpen hasn’t been that bad on the whole — middle of the pack — though obviously the past few weeks have been rough.I imagine if any of their arms who are in AAA but already on the 40-man were performing well, you’d see some of those in-house changes, but it’s been rough across the board.
I wouldn’t expect to see anything notable, trade-wise, until late June or early July though — especially with what a cluster the AL is at present.

Deuce

What do you see Clay Hoyles or Robbie Ray costing the Cubs?

Steve Adams

Doesn’t need to be one of those two, specifically. Ray, Holmes, Joe Ryan, Freddy Peralta, Kris Bubic … lots of names that could hit the market. I do think the Cubs will end up bringing in at least one starter.
Of the two you mentioned I don’t think either has an exorbitant asking price, good as they’ve been pitching.
Holmes has a player option for 2027 which really tanks his trade value. Not saying the Mets can’t get anything for him, but any acquiring teams knows he’s either pitching well and bolting for FA or pitching poorly/getting hurt and then saddling them with an unwanted $12MM salary for the upcoming season.Ray is making $25MM and hasn’t been nearly as good as his ERA would indicate. He’s been fine, but he’s not going to keep stranding 93% of his baserunners and maintain a .220 BABIP.
Neither should cost the Cubs one of their top four to five prospects or anything.

Cooper Ingle

”Mr. Antonetti…trade me now!” Seriously? What more do I need to do for a look? Why won’t Cleveland add a hitter? Couldn’t they run away with the division?

Steve Adams

The Guardians’ fascination with all-glove catchers is next level. Ingle spent a couple weeks on the IL down in AAA, but he started hitting again as soon as he was reinstated last week.I think the long-term vision has to be Ingle+Bailey for the next several years, but the Bailey addition does at least open up the Guards to more seriously entertain the notion of trading Ingle if another team offers a compelling MLB-ready bat with a few years of control remaining.
I don’t think Cleveland’s pitching is good enough to run away with the division, but to your broader point, I have no idea why they’re so reluctant to add any semblance of offensive help. I’ve harped on it repeatedly in these chats, on our podcast, in their offseason review, etc. It is confounding.

Sandy

Fix and flip for Thomas and the Dodgers? Also congrats on breaking it

Steve Adams

I think they just see a good defender/runner with an option remaining and some decent underlying indicators with the bat. Thomas has never hit much, but his contact rate is better than his strikeout rate would indicate, and he has decent exit velo, hard-hit rate, barrel rate, etc. — all while hitting the ball in the air a decent amount. No harm in seeing if they can unlock something.

Jake

How do you think the A’s outfield will shake out now that the are calling up Bolte?

Steve Adams

Soderstrom-Bolte-Butler in the short term, with Gelof playing more infield again following the Wilson/Muncy injuries.If I’m guessing the longer-term alignment … Soderstrom-Bolte-Butler with Clarke as a fourth OF. I’m not convinced Clarke or Bolte will hit, but Bolte has the better chance.
Soderstrom and Butler have struggled to varying extents, but both are still hitting the ball hard and walking a ton. Soderstrom’s the better player for me, but I think Butler can be a fine everyday RF with a power-over-hit approach

Guard

Does Bo Naylor have any trade value at all

Steve Adams

Feels like an eventual non-tender candidate. I don’t see anyone giving up anything for him in his current state, but he’s still relatively young, has minor league options left, plenty of club control. If he’s hitting in AAA, sure, but it’s not going to be anything very notable.

ROTY

Early ROTY picks?

Steve Adams

I picked DeLauter and Griffin pre-season and am now henceforth bound to those for all eternity.

Junior Caminero Jr.

Do you see Buxton getting dealt by the deadline, and what would it cost the Rays to put him in center?

Steve Adams

I do not. And it would cost a ton.

Ellis

Seems like no one’s really trying to win the AL Central, as is the case every year, but who’s legit and who’ll be out of it come August?

Steve Adams

Still the Tigers for me. Guardians in second. Rest of the teams just aren’t that good to me. Twins have one of the worst bullpens I’ve ever seen. White Sox’ pitching won’t sustain its pace to date. Royals’ offense just isn’t good enough, and the bullpen is rough there too (albeit not to the extent as in MN)

Dinger

Who on the Rockies are valuable trade chips at the deadline?

Steve Adams

I still don’t think Mickey Moniak makes enough contact to keep this up, but I am slowly being dragged (kicking and screaming) into the “Ok, maybe he’s a decent power-over-hit corner OF” camp. I’m sure once I decide I’m there, he’ll crater. But he’s an obvious option.If any of Freeland, Sugano, Quintana or Lorenzen is pitching half decently, they’ll be in there — though as of right now, that’s not looking likely. Sugano’ss ERA is decent but he’s not missing any bats and is still the most homer-prone pitcher in baseball. Lots of solo HRs thus far but that’s going to catch up with him.
A sentence I never thought I would write: Antonio Senzatela is … awesome now?
And he’s a FA at season’s end. Someone will give up a real prospect for him if he’s healthy and the wheels haven’t totally come off

Mrs Devers

Am I really going to have to move again? Where most likely?

Steve Adams

No one is touching that contract right now. You can close your Zillow app.

Jake

No love for Carlos Cortes?

Steve Adams

Genuinely have no idea what to make of him. I don’t think he’s this generation’s Jose Bautista, breaking out from nowhere at 28-29 years old. He’s had 200 awesome MLB plate appearances, but a good chunk of it is BABIP-related. Love the contact skills, skeptical of the power and defense.Nice out-of-the-blue development for the A’s, though, and I should’ve included him in my prior bit on their OF — but I’m less sold on him than some of his teammates, impressive as he’s been.

Ludwig’s Free Pass

With Sean Murphy out with a fractured finger and Jonah Heim traded away, does Baldwin go full time at catcher? If so, who can DH effectively?

Steve Adams

Dom Smith’s opportunities just keep piling up!I imagine lots of Smith against RHP and pick your preferred option against LHP. Maybe they’ll finally remember Kyle Farmer is on the roster. I don’t understand how it’s May 12, he hasn’t been on the IL all season, and he has 14 PAs. The Braves are so weird. I’m blanking on who it was now — help me out ATL fans — but they rostered someone for like 4-6 weeks a few years back and gave them under 10 PAs. No other team does this, haha.
Sandy Leon, maybe? I’d have to check.

Jacob D

Is TJ Friedl a guy who could get DFAd?

Steve Adams

I’d be very surprised. He still has two minor league option years left. They can just send him to AAA to try to get right. This is really the only truly “bad” stretch he’s had in his career, and it’s 135 PAs. He was a 3 WAR guy last year and 4 in 2023. Can’t imagine they’d just designate him.

Saul Goodman

As usual, most of the top teams need bullpen help. Who will be the most sought after names?

Steve Adams

Antonio Senzatela, Bryan Abreu (still assuming he’s too talented not to get back on track, unless he’s injured), Victor Vodnik, Juan Mejia, Brooks Raley, Aroldis Chapman perhaps (depending how the Sox play), Matt Strahm, A.J. Minter (if he’s healthy), Kirby Yates (if healthy) … plenty more I’m sure. I’m just spitting off the cuff here.

Spud

Even with the return of Jackson Cherio, Andrew Vaughn, and Christian Yelich, the Brewers still have a black hole on the left side of their infield. What is the reason that most teams wait for the trade deadline to address potential fatal flaws in the team’s lineup?

Steve Adams

Because most teams don’t concede to sell valuable pieces who could plug those holes until closer to the deadline.

Guest

Can the Jays get anything for Lauer or will they simply release?

Steve Adams

Last year’s resurgence was kind of outta the blue, and he now looks like the same struggling version of himself (circa 2023) that wound up going to South Korea and scuffling over there as well in 2024. I don’t think they’re going to find much interest. Release seems likeliest to me, but someone will pick him up once he’s available for the prorated league minimum.

ATL

Charlie Culberson was on the Braves 2023 active roster for several months and got exactly one (1) plate appearance during that time. He singled in that at bat and his 2023 OPS+ was 447, leading the team! That was his final major league at bat in his career.

Steve Adams

There we go
Knew they had an insanely long run with someone in their bench mix who was basically relegated to mascot duty (sorry Charlie, no offense intended — just was one of the craziest stretches I can remember seeing for someone on a MLB roster who wasn’t used whatsoever)

Snarfle

Which of the recent callups stirs your coffee the most?

Steve Adams

Didn’t get a chance to watch Robby Snelling’s debut, unfortunately, but I’ll be watching his next one hopefully. Always fun to see position players come up, but I love good pitching and will go out of my way to see top-tier new arms when they arrive.

TC Bear

With the AL Central being super mediocre as usual, is there a world where the Twins actually buy at the deadline? Tom Pohlad made alot of statements in the off-season about being a “go big or go home” guy. Will he actually do something to prove it?

Steve Adams

He made those comments and then proceeded to do exactly nothing, even though there were several veterans of note who could’ve helped his predictably bad team. Closest I can see to them buying would be to target MLB-ready guys again, like they did last summer when they sold. I guess if they’re loosely in it and can get an actual big league reliever for a struggling change-of-scenery candidate (e.g. Matt Wallner), maybe you try that?But in general, I don’t think they’ll buy. I expect Joe Ryan’s name to be all over the pages of MLBTR again this summer — more so than last.

Joel

With the AL teams all jumbled together, do you foresee the trade deadline mainly being last minute deals?

Steve Adams

I’d have predicted mostly last-minute deals on day one of the season regardless.
Today’s brand of front office doesn’t make proactive moves. With a few notable exceptions (Posey, Dombrowski, Dipoto, Preller) they’re all extraordinarily risk-averse and use every last second available before even making the most minor decisions.

John

Do you think Kade Anderson is starting games for the Mariners later this year? The guy is destroying the minors…

Steve Adams

I’d lean toward a 2026 debut, yeah

Joey Jojo Jr. Shabadoo

Who’s on the trading block for the stros? I’m guessing rentals such as Okert, De los Santos, Bryan Abreu, and Christian Vasquez at the minimum if they’re 7 or so games behind the WC/ALW come 7/31.

Steve Adams

Those guys, yes. Jeremy Pena. Christian Walker.
Astros fans will revolt at me mentioning Pena, but he’s a free agent after 2027 and is a Boras-repped star who isn’t signing an extension.Last time they had a superstar who they knew they wouldn’t extend, Kyle Tucker became a Cub.
I’d be surprised if a Pena trade wasn’t something they’d at least be open to this winter, and if they’re not contending in 2026 anyhow, why not jumpstart the process?

Bednar

Bednar seems really shaky as the closer. Will the Yanks stick with him or go after someone else?

Steve Adams

We got a question like this for the podcast this week. I just don’t really agree. I suppose he’s had a couple wobbly outings recently, but he’s been given 147 save/hold chances over the past decade and converted 89% of them. He misses bats, limits walks, piles up grounders. I think recency bias is impacting this point of view. Bednar is really good.

Brewerfan

When will the Brewers do something about the left side of the IF? You think Pratt will be up soon?

Steve Adams

He’s not hitting whatsoever in AAA. .205/.338/.308 overall.If you want to cherry-pick, he’s at .264/.412/.472 over his past 53 PAs, but that was all tied up in a brief flurry that has since died down. He’s back to .125/.282/.219 over his past eight games/32 PAs.
I expect infield help to be a point of focus this summer, but they’ll hang around in the interim even with the current cast of light hitters. Rengifo’s been pretty unlucky, so maybe he can get going at 3B at least. Shortstop looks rough.Jett Williams has been on a pretty consistent tear for a few weeks in AAA while playing almost exclusively 3B, too, so perhaps that’s the next move coming down the pipe if the current group can’t turn things around.

Aaron Ashby

Over/under 17.5 wins?

Steve Adams

40-game winner
Ashby’s weird season is awesome, haha. I love baseball randomness.

radhippo

Is this the year the Angels finally sell their players??

Steve Adams

Should be! Doubt it will be.

Posey

a report came out this week, i’d like of load all my big contracts. does any of them have any value? devers, lee, adames, chapman? seems like im stuck, especially with the no trade clauses for adames and chappy.

Steve Adams

I don’t think that was a report so much as Bob Nightengale stating the obvious. The Giants have three (four, if you count Jung Hoo Lee) huge contracts owed to players who are colossally underperforming. Any GM/president of bb ops in that spot would want to unload them, but understandably, no team is touching any of those deals.

Nate Rambis

In regard to you statement “I picked DeLauter and Griffin pre-season and am now henceforth bound to those for all eternity” Wouldn’t it just be this season and not all of eternity?

Steve Adams

Don’t come at me with your well thought-out logic!
Chase DeLauter will be Rookie of the Year in 2049, and I’ll hear no argument to the contrary!

Steve Adams Defense

It would be your 2026 ROY pick for all eternity!

Steve Adams

Now we’re talking

Adam Christenson

What are the chances Skub

Braves Place Sean Murphy On Injured List

Darragh McDonald — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:50:31 +0000

The Braves announced that catcher Sean Murphy has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 11th, with a fractured left middle finger. Fellow catcher Sandy León was signed to a big league deal to replace Murphy on the roster. The club also selected the contract of outfielder José Azócar and optioned infielder Jim Jarvis. They had two 40-man vacancies, which have now been filled by these moves.

Photo courtesy of Kirby Lee, Imagn Images

Using PLA to Evaluate Pitchers – Veteran Edition Part 2

Patrick Connors — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:30:20 +0000

How is PLA grading these pitchers so far in 2026?

The post Using PLA to Evaluate Pitchers – Veteran Edition Part 2 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 5/11

Rick Graham — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:11:51 +0000

A Review of Key Bullpen and Reliever Usage from Yesterday's Games

The post Fantasy Baseball Relief Pitcher Roundup: 5/11 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Mets Designate Andy Ibáñez For Assignment

Steve Adams — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:06:08 +0000

The Mets announced Tuesday that infielder Andy Ibáñez has been designated for assignment. His spot on the 40-man roster goes to top prospect A.J. Ewing, whose previously reported selection to the major league roster is now official.

New York claimed the 33-year-old Ibáñez off waivers from the A’s late last month. He appeared in only three games as a Met, going 0-for-6 with a pair of sacrifice flies in eight trips to the plate. Between brief stints with the Athletics and Mets, Ibáñez has taken 26 plate appearances this season and gone 2-for-23 with a walk, three strikeouts and that pair of sac flies.

It’s an obviously poor start to the season, though Ibáñez has a longer track record in the big leagues, specifically against left-handed pitching. He’s a career .250/.301/.383 hitter in 1246 plate appearances as a big leaguer but has solid .272/.316/.437 slash (108 wRC+) in 572 career plate appearances versus southpaws. During his time in Detroit, Ibáñez was a go-to option for skipper A.J. Hinch. From 2023-24, Hinch plugged Ibáñez into 272 plate appearances versus left-handers and was rewarded with a .278/.331/.480 batting line.

Ibáñez’s production against lefties dipped to about league average last year, however, prompting Detroit to non-tender him. He signed with the Dodgers in free agency, but L.A. was clearly hoping to ink him on a reasonable one-year deal then pass him through waivers to stash as depth in the upper minors. The A’s threw a wrench into that gambit by claiming him in February, just two weeks after he signed with the Dodgers in the first place.

On the defensive side of things, Ibáñez is both versatile and effective. He’s drawn above-average grades for his work at second base, third base and first base in his big league career. He’s also made brief cameos at shortstop (eight innings) and in the outfield corners (171 innings). No team is going to install him as a semi-regular option at shortstop, but he can handle the position in a pinch and can bounce just about anywhere else on the diamond. Ibáñez isn’t a burner on the basepaths, but his sprint speed sits in the 55th percentile of big leaguers, per Statcast, so he could be a late pinch-running option for a plodding slugger if need be.

More to come.

Patience or Panic: Trevor Story, Caleb Durbin, and Matt Wallner

Andrew Krutz — Tue, 12 May 2026 16:00:43 +0000

What should we do with these struggling players?

The post Patience or Panic: Trevor Story, Caleb Durbin, and Matt Wallner appeared first on Pitcher List.

Tigers, Nick Sandlin Agree To Minor League Deal

Anthony Franco — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:58:43 +0000

The Tigers are in agreement with reliever Nick Sandlin on a minor league contract, as first reflected on the MLB.com transaction log. The Ballengee Group client will report to Triple-A Toledo. Sandlin elected free agency after being waived by the Angels last week.

Sandlin, 29, had a solid four-year run as a middle reliever in Cleveland to begin his MLB career. The Southern Mississippi product turned in a 3.27 earned run average in just under 200 innings for the club. They traded him to Toronto alongside Andrés Giménez over the 2024-25 offseason. Sandlin missed most of his lone season with the Blue Jays due to an elbow injury and was cut loose in November.

After offseason surgery, Sandlin joined the Halos on a minor league contract. He made the MLB roster in April and was hit hard in eight appearances. Sandlin gave up 11 runs on nine hits and eight free passes (five walks and three hit batters) over 8 2/3 innings. He only recorded six strikeouts with a career-low 10.2% swinging strike rate.

The Tigers will see if they can get him on track in the minors. Sandlin throws from a low arm slot and leans most heavily on a plus slider. He missed a decent number of bats early in his career, though his average fastball speed has progressively dropped from 94 mph as a rookie to 91-92 over the years.

Detroit’s bullpen is middle of the pack in ERA (3.83) and strikeout rate (22.7%). They’re in the bottom third of the league in swinging strikes for a second straight season. Setup man Will Vest has been on the injured list since April 29 with what seems to be minor forearm inflammation.

PPP 789 – Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitchers To Add And Drop – 5-12-26

Nick Pollack — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:44:39 +0000

Nick Pollack's latest episode of his SP focused Plus Pitch Podcast.

The post PPP 789 – Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitchers To Add And Drop – 5-12-26 appeared first on Pitcher List.

More Than a Hot Hand?

Jack Dorfman — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:30:10 +0000

The pitchers who begin the season on the fringe of being rostered can end up making your season. Sometimes that may feel like it is just luck, but we can create our own luck.

Source

MLB Rumor Roundup: 5/9

Griffey Geiss — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:21:20 +0000

Diving into recent talk, transactions, and trends around the league!

The post MLB Rumor Roundup: 5/9 appeared first on Pitcher List.

D-Backs Trade Alek Thomas To Dodgers

Anthony Franco — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:13:32 +0000

The Diamondbacks and Dodgers announced a trade sending center fielder Alek Thomas to L.A. for minor league outfielder Jose Requena. The Dodgers will assume the approximate $1.4MM remaining on Thomas’ $1.9625MM arbitration salary. He’ll reportedly be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, while the Dodgers designated fellow outfielder Michael Siani for assignment last night to open a 40-man roster spot.

Arizona designated Thomas for assignment last week when they called up top outfield prospect Ryan Waldschmidt. The Dodgers take a flier on the 26-year-old, a former second-round pick who was one of the better prospects in MLB when he debuted in 2022. He’s a highly-regarded center fielder who had hit at every stop in his minor league career. That hasn’t carried over against MLB pitching, as Thomas has been a well below-average hitter over his four-plus seasons in the big leagues.

Thomas is an extremely aggressive hitter, ranking in the top 15 this season in both overall swing rate and chases off the plate. He has particularly struggled against secondary stuff as a result, and the very low walk rates have consistently tamped down his on-base percentage. Thomas has a career .230/.273/.361 batting line in just shy of 1500 plate appearances. It’s the ninth-lowest OBP among hitters who have tallied at least 1000 trips since the start of the ’22 season.

While he hasn’t developed offensively, Thomas has a strong reputation with the glove. His sprint speed and defensive grades have dipped slightly since he suffered a left hamstring strain early in 2024, but he still rates as an above-average defender and baserunner.

The D-Backs have considered trades of both Thomas and Jake McCarthy for a few seasons. They’re now both gone to division rivals, as they shipped McCarthy to Colorado over the offseason. Waldschmidt and Jorge Barrosa are manning center field between Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Thomas still has a minor league option remaining, so he’ll begin his time in the L.A. organization in Triple-A. The Dodgers are operating without a true backup center fielder behind Andy Pages, but they can’t option Santiago Espinal or Miguel Rojas. Although fourth outfielder Alex Call is a better fit in a corner spot and has a couple options remaining, he’s hitting well in a limited role as a right-handed platoon player. The Dodgers should also get Kiké Hernández back from the injured list two weeks from now.

The Dodgers spend a couple million dollars to swap in Thomas for Siani as a fifth outfielder. In addition to the salary obligations, they’ll also pay just over $1.5MM in luxury tax commitments. That’s of little concern for the Dodgers, who can retain Thomas via arbitration for at least two more seasons. He needs to spend another 20 days on the MLB roster in 2026 to surpass four years of service time, which would keep him on track for free agency after the ’28 campaign. If he spends at least 20 days in the minors, he’ll be out of options next year.

Siani is also a speed and defense center fielder. He bounced around the league via waivers over the offseason, twice being claimed by the Dodgers. He has been on optional assignment all season, batting .225/.355/.303 without a home run while striking out 30 times in 107 plate appearances in Oklahoma City. He’s also in his final option year and will be traded or placed back on waivers within the next five days.

Requena is a 17-year-old who hasn’t played a professional game. Listed at 6’3″ and close to 230 pounds, he’s a right-handed hitter who signed as an amateur out of Venezuela in January. Ben Badler of Baseball America unsurprisingly wrote at the time that Requena is a corner outfielder whose profile is built on raw power and plus arm strength. He’ll likely make his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League.

MLBTR’s Steve Adams first reported that Thomas was being traded to the Dodgers. Fracys Romero confirmed that Requena was the return. Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reported that the Dodgers were assuming Thomas’ salary, while Jack Harris of The California Post confirmed he’d be optioned to Triple-A. Image courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images.

Starting Pitcher Streamer Ranks Fantasy Baseball: 5/12 & 5/13 & 5/14

Nick Pollack — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:09:23 +0000

Best SP streamers and rankings for today & tomorrow & day after.

The post Starting Pitcher Streamer Ranks Fantasy Baseball: 5/12 & 5/13 & 5/14 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Patience or Panic: Fernando Tatis Jr., Bo Bichette, Jake Burger

Josh Shaw — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:00:41 +0000

Two superstars and a solid patty.

The post Patience or Panic: Fernando Tatis Jr., Bo Bichette, Jake Burger appeared first on Pitcher List.

Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup 5/11: Monoah?! Get The Boat

Nick Pollack — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:04:49 +0000

Nick Pollack reviews every starting pitcher performance from Monday.

The post Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup 5/11: Monoah?! Get The Boat appeared first on Pitcher List.

Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup 5/11: Manoah?! Get The Boat

Nick Pollack — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:04:49 +0000

Nick Pollack reviews every starting pitcher performance from Monday.

The post Fantasy Baseball SP Roundup 5/11: Manoah?! Get The Boat appeared first on Pitcher List.

Starts and Sits - All Starting Pitcher Matchups for Fantasy Baseball (May 11 - May 17)

Nick Mariano — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:50 +0000

Let's put those April showers fully behind us and take May by storm with our updated starting pitcher starts/sits for fantasy baseball for the week ahead - Monday, May 11 through Sunday, May 17. This column provides readers with who is pitching, the opponent, and a confidence/startability score based on an array of proven and […]

Of Rice and Ben – Fantasy Hitting Recap 5/11/2026

Ryan Amore — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:49 +0000

Breaking down Monday's notable hitting performances.

The post Of Rice and Ben – Fantasy Hitting Recap 5/11/2026 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Rice Goes Yard Again – Fantasy Hitting Recap 5/11/2026

Ryan Amore — Tue, 12 May 2026 14:00:49 +0000

Breaking down Monday's notable hitting performances.

The post Rice Goes Yard Again – Fantasy Hitting Recap 5/11/2026 appeared first on Pitcher List.

MLB News & Moments: Jonathan Aranda Keeps Rays Rolling

Steve Drumwright — Tue, 12 May 2026 13:30:24 +0000

Julio Rodriguez aims Mariners toward another win over the Astros.

The post MLB News & Moments: Jonathan Aranda Keeps Rays Rolling appeared first on Pitcher List.

The Opener: Ewing, Bolte, Imai

Charlie Wright — Tue, 12 May 2026 13:21:59 +0000

Yesterday’s Opener highlighted Baltimore’s struggles against left-handed starters. Through six innings on Monday, it was more of the same. Ryan Weathers carried a no-hitter into the seventh. Two baserunners spelled the end of Weathers’ night, and reliever Brent Headrick immediately gave up a three-run homer to Coby Mayo. Baltimore held on for its first win against a lefty this year.

1. Ewing gets the call

The Mets are expected to call up outfield prospect A.J. Ewing for a series against the Tigers. The 21-year-old was only recently bumped up to Triple-A. He’ll head to the big leagues after just a dozen games with Syracuse. MLB Pipeline ranks Ewing behind only right-hander Jonah Tong in the Mets’ system. The 2023 fourth-round pick has mashed at every minor league stop. Ewing put up a 147 wRC+ across three levels in 2025. He racked up 70 steals in 124 games. The lefty-swinging Ewing will look to revive an offense that ranks dead last in OPS and wOBA against right-handed pitching. New York is tied for last in scoring with the Giants.

2. Bolte joining A’s

The Athletics are also calling up an outfield prospect. Henry Bolte is expected to join the club against the Cardinals on Tuesday. The 22-year-old has destroyed Triple-A pitching this season, hitting .348 with 12 home runs in 37 games. A second-rounder in 2022, Bolte has steadily worked his way up the Athletics’ system. He’s consistently posted strong offensive numbers, including on the base paths. Bolte has stolen 40+ bases in back-to-back seasons. Strikeouts have been the main drawback, though he’s shown improvement there. Bolte punched out at a massive 34.7% clip in 2024. He trimmed it to 28.9% in 2025, and it’s down to 22% this year.

3. Imai back in the big leagues

Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai is expected to get the ball on Tuesday against the Mariners. He missed just over a month with what the team described as arm fatigue. The NPB import has made three MLB starts, bookending a scoreless appearance against the A’s with two disastrous outings. One of the blowups came against this Seattle lineup. Imai didn’t escape the first inning, walking four and hitting a batter. He has 11 walks in 8 2/3 innings. Imai has a ghastly 54.1% strike rate through three starts, more than 9% below league average. The righty returns to the lineup during a crucial four-game set against an AL West foe. Houston has lost all five games against Seattle this year.

Photo courtesy of Rhona Wise, Imagn Images

Relief Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball: 5/12

Rick Graham — Tue, 12 May 2026 13:15:44 +0000

The Best Reliever Streamers for Today with Updated Bullpen Usage Charts

The post Relief Pitcher Streamer Rankings Fantasy Baseball: 5/12 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Picks: 5/12

Jeremy Heist — Tue, 12 May 2026 13:00:52 +0000

Consider adding these players off of the waiver wire.

The post Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Picks: 5/12 appeared first on Pitcher List.

2026 MLB Power Rankings: Week 7

Pablo Figueroa — Tue, 12 May 2026 13:00:24 +0000

Aaron Ashby may be the real MVP of the Brewers.

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Week 7 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Starting Pitcher Chart – May 12th, 2026

Paul Sporer — Tue, 12 May 2026 12:57:13 +0000

A handful of aces headline Tuesday's board but bankable options dry up quickly

Source

Hitter Pull FB% Gainers & Decliners — May 12, 2026

Mike Podhorzer — Tue, 12 May 2026 12:30:30 +0000

In my recent articles, I’ve mentioned hitter flyball pull% a lot. It’s a metric I rarely see discussed, but hugely important when evaluating a hitter’s HR/FB rate potential. It’s pretty clear why: HR/FB Rate By Flyball Direction FB Direction HR/FB Pull 30.7% Center 7.8% Oppo 3.7% If you want to be a home run hitter, […]

Source

Daily Fantasy Baseball News and Notes | First Pitch 5/12/26

Jake Crumpler — Tue, 12 May 2026 11:00:17 +0000

Everything you need to know to win your fantasy baseball league, daily

The post Daily Fantasy Baseball News and Notes | First Pitch 5/12/26 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Are You For Real? Surprising Fantasy Baseball Pitcher Starts From Ryne Nelson, Keider Montero, Cade Cavalli

Elliott Baas — Tue, 12 May 2026 10:30:37 +0000

Welcome back to the "Are You For Real?" series as we dive into Week 7 of the 2026 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 […]

Mets To Select A.J. Ewing

Anthony Franco — Tue, 12 May 2026 04:57:19 +0000

The Mets are calling up top outfield prospect A.J. Ewing, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. He should make his big league debut tomorrow when the Mets welcome Jack Flaherty and the Tigers to Citi Field. New York will need to create space on the active and 40-man rosters.

It’s an aggressive promotion the Mets are hoping will spark life into an offense that ranks 29th in scoring. The 21-year-old Ewing opened this season in Double-A. New York just promoted him to Triple-A Syracuse on April 27 and will give him an MLB look after 12 games there.

Ewing was a fourth-round pick out of high school in the 2023 draft. The Mets selected him with the #134 overall selection, their compensation for losing Jacob deGrom, and signed him away from a commitment to Alabama. It turned out to be an excellent find for New York’s scouting department, as Ewing’s plate discipline and athleticism have vaulted him up prospect lists.

The lefty-hitting Ewing has hit .290 with an on-base percentage close to .400 over parts of four minor league seasons. He’s out to an even better start this year, running a .339/.447/.514 line over 132 plate appearances between the top two levels. Ewing has walked nearly 17% of the time against a 15.2% strikeout rate. He’s also 17-18 in stolen base attempts, one year after he swiped 70 bags during his climb from Low-A to Double-A.

There are some parallels with the Mets’ decision to have Carson Benge break camp after he’d played just 24 Triple-A games. Benge had an ice cold start to his MLB career but has been one of the team’s best hitters over the past couple weeks. He has officially graduated out of prospect status, leaving Ewing as the Mets’ best prospect in Baseball America’s most recent update of the league’s Top 100 minor league talents. BA slotted Ewing the #33 prospect in the game. MLB Pipeline ranks him 78th overall and second in the system behind right-hander Jonah Tong.

Listed at 6’0 and 160 pounds, Ewing doesn’t have immense raw power. He has 15 professional home runs, just five of which have come since the start of the 2025 season. Baseball America and Keith Law of The Athletic each wrote over the offseason that Ewing makes more hard contact than the home run total might suggest, though his approach is geared more toward line drives and getting on base than hitting for power.

Ewing had some strikeout concerns early in his minor league career. He has toned that down considerably over the past year-plus, but he’ll face a much bigger challenge against MLB pitching. There’s no question about his athleticism, though, and Ewing’s plus-plus speed should make him an asset on the bases and give him defensive value.

Drafted as a second baseman, Ewing moved to the outfield in 2024. He has made four starts at second this year but is primarily a center fielder. He should step into the everyday center field role between Benge and Juan Soto for the time being. The Mets placed Luis Robert Jr. on the injured list in late April with a disc herniation. His return timeline is uncertain. They’ve divided center field between Tyrone Taylor and Benge — with MJ Melendez drawing into the lineup in right field — since Robert went down.

Taylor’s glove has made him a favorite of president of baseball operations David Stearns, but he has a .219 OBP through his first 76 plate appearances. Melendez came out of the gates hot but is 3-19 since the calendar flipped to May. He spent most of last year in Triple-A for a Kansas City team that had one of the worst outfields in MLB.

Melendez and Taylor certainly haven’t been the Mets’ biggest problems, but they’re easy enough to bump out of the lineup. New York’s .287 on-base percentage is the worst in MLB, meaning Ewing would only need to carry over a fraction of his minor league production to be an improvement. If both he and Benge are performing once Robert is back from the injured list, the Mets could give him reps at second base over the scuffling Marcus Semien and trade some defense for offense.

Benge, Melendez, Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez are the only hitters on New York’s MLB roster who have minor league options. It seems safe to assume Benge and Alvarez aren’t getting demoted. Baty isn’t hitting but is the primary third baseman with Francisco Lindor and Ronny Mauricio hurt and Bo Bichette needed at shortstop. Melendez has been hitting third against right-handed pitching, itself an indictment of the rest of the lineup. There’s a decent chance the Mets designate someone for assignment tomorrow. Vidal Brujan, Andy Ibáñez and Austin Slater are all in bench roles.

Ewing entered the season as a Top 100 prospect at each of BA, MLB Pipeline and ESPN. He therefore meets the criteria to win himself a full year of service time if he finishes top two in Rookie of the Year voting. (The Mets cannot receive an extra draft choice because they didn’t call him up by the middle of April.) He’d otherwise fall short of a full service year and be under club control for six seasons beyond this one. He’ll be on track for early arbitration as a Super Two player during the 2028-29 offseason, but future optional assignments to Triple-A could change that trajectory.

Image courtesy of Sam Navarro, Imagn Images.

Astros Notes: Imai, Pearson, Peña, Meyers

Anthony Franco — Tue, 12 May 2026 04:49:04 +0000

The Astros will activate Tatsuya Imai from the injured list tomorrow. Houston lists him as the probable starter against Bryan Woo in the second game of a four-game set against the Mariners. They’ll need to option a pitcher as the corresponding move.

Imai returns after a month-long absence due to what the team called arm fatigue. The righty has had a difficult start to his MLB career, struggling in two of his first three appearances. He walked 11 hitters over his first 8 2/3 innings and failed to complete three innings twice. Imai’s pair of minor league rehab starts haven’t done much to assuage the command concerns, as he has issued another eight walks in five frames.

The Astros will likely go back to a six-man rotation. Spencer Arrighetti and Peter Lambert have stepped up in depth roles since Houston lost Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier to shoulder injuries. Mike Burrows has pitched well in his past three times out after a rocky start to the year. The Astros will continue giving Imai starts to try to get him on track after signing him to a three-year free agent contract.

Lance McCullers Jr. has continued to struggle. Kai-Wei Teng and Cody Bolton are candidates for the sixth starter spot, while Ryan Weiss and Jason Alexander could be back up in the second half of May after recently being optioned.

Nate Pearson was expected to be in that conversation when he signed a one-year free agent deal early in the offseason. Pearson was held up by offseason elbow surgery and has been on the injured list all season. He’s on a rehab assignment and will need to secure a spot on the MLB roster or be placed on waivers because he’s out of options.

The Astros announced on Monday that they’re now viewing Pearson as a reliever (relayed by Chandler Rome of The Athletic). Pearson walked multiple hitters in each of his first three rehab appearances before tossing a perfect inning for Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday. He’s averaging 96.4 mph on his four-seam fastball. Houston has been without Josh Hader all season and placed Bennett Sousa back on the injured list over the weekend with elbow inflammation.

Hader began a rehab stint last week and could be back when first eligible on May 24. The Astros could get a pair of key position players back in the next couple weeks as well. Jeremy Peña should begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Corpus Christi tomorrow, while Jake Meyers is likely to begin his own rehab stint this week (via Brian McTaggart of MLB.com). The series of injuries have contributed to a dismal first month and a half of the season. Houston dropped to a season-low 10 games below .500 with tonight’s loss, tying the Angels for the worst record in the American League at 16-26.

Matt Bowman, John Brebbia Have Upcoming Opt-Outs In Twins’ Deals

Anthony Franco — Tue, 12 May 2026 03:59:08 +0000

Relievers Matt Bowman and John Brebbia can opt out of their minor league contracts with the Twins on Sunday, reports Darren Wolfson of KSTP and SKOR North. Assuming the right-handers trigger their out clauses, Minnesota would either need to call them up or allow them to become free agents.

Bowman is sitting on a 1.77 earned run average with a 26% strikeout rate and near-55% grounder percentage over 20 1/3 innings at Triple-A St. Paul. The sinkerballer also pitched quite well during Spring Training, reeling off 7 1/3 frames with one unearned run and seven punchouts. Bowman made five MLB appearances for the Twins early in the 2024 season and has signed a handful of minor league contracts with the club over the past three years.

Minnesota picked up Brebbia just after Opening Day. The 35-year-old (36 later this month) had been in camp with Colorado and was granted his release at the end of Spring Training. Brebbia has struggled to a 5.40 ERA across 18 1/3 innings with St. Paul. He’s striking hitters out at a near-30% clip, but he has allowed at least one run in five of his past six appearances.

Neither Brebbia nor Bowman are generating huge swinging strike rates. They’re both journeyman middle relievers who sit around 92 mph with their fastballs. There’s no guarantee the Twins select either player. That said, they could easily carve out space in a bullpen that has been one of the worst in the league.

Only the Astros have a higher relief ERA than Minnesota’s 5.54 mark. They’re also 29th in strikeout percentage (above the Nationals, in this case) and have the eighth-highest walk rate. Kody Funderburk is the only Minnesota reliever who has a sub-4.00 ERA while throwing more than 10 innings. Funderburk has more walks than strikeouts and was optioned to Triple-A yesterday. Every other Minnesota reliever has struggled to prevent runs.

Their three relievers with the highest strikeout rates — Garrett Acton, Cody Laweryson and Cole Sands — are all injured. Luis García, Taylor Rogers, Eric Orze and Anthony Banda have drawn their highest-leverage assignments.

Rangers Notes: Eovaldi, Latz, Smith

Anthony Franco — Tue, 12 May 2026 01:20:58 +0000

The Rangers are sending Nathan Eovaldi for imaging after the veteran starter reported left side tightness, manager Skip Schumaker told reporters (including Kennedi Landry of MLB.com). Texas scratched Eovaldi from his scheduled start tonight in Arizona. Jakob Junis got the first couple innings of an impromptu bullpen game.

Schumaker’s bullpen should be well rested. The Rangers are coming off consecutive shutouts of what had been a hot Cubs lineup. They used three relievers after Jack Leiter on Saturday, but only Gavin Collyer tossed more than 13 pitches. Jacob Latz was their only reliever yesterday, tossing 20 pitches over two scoreless innings behind a masterful start from Jacob deGrom (seven scoreless with 10 strikeouts).

Although the pitching staff is well equipped to handle one missed start, it’d be tougher to weather an injured list stint if that proves necessary. Eovaldi has been one of the American League’s best pitchers over his time in Arlington. His 4.15 earned run average this year is higher than his ERA from any of his first three seasons, thanks mostly to a spike in his home run rate.

Eovaldi has had a trio of rough outings but has also reeled off four quality starts, including two excellent appearances against the Yankees each of his past two times out. He held New York to one run (an Aaron Judge homer) with 15 strikeouts in as many innings over those two starts. Texas won both games.

The Rangers have a below-average offense for the third straight season. Only the Giants and Mets have scored fewer runs entering play Monday. Texas has stayed close to .500 (19-21) thanks to a pitching staff that has the sixth-best ERA. Their bullpen deserves more of the credit for that than does the starting rotation, as their stitched together relief group has an MLB-low 2.80 mark. The top half of the rotation is Texas’ biggest on-paper strength, however.

Texas hasn’t made any changes to their rotation of deGrom, Eovaldi, Leiter, MacKenzie Gore and Kumar Rocker. Latz’s start in the second game of the season was the only one until tonight opened by someone other than the aforementioned quintet. deGrom is again pitching at a level that’ll have him in the Cy Young conversation if he stays healthy. The others all have an ERA north of 4.00, though all but Rocker are racking up strikeouts.

The rotation falls off sharply after the front five. Latz pitched well when called upon as a spot starter last season, but the Rangers could be hesitant to ask him to do that again. The lefty has seized the closer role after Texas opened the season with a committee approach. Latz has only allowed two runs across 20 2/3 innings on the year, recording the save in four of his last five times out.

Junis, Tyler Alexander and Cole Winn all recorded at least one save early in the season. Latz has gotten all the opportunities going back to April 13. He’s probably too valuable at the back of the bullpen to stretch back out as a starter, particularly if Eovaldi’s injury turns out to be mild.

Cal Quantrill has been working in long relief and could get a look. Jose Corniell, the only depth starter on the 40-man roster, had spent the last five weeks at the team’s Arizona complex and only made his first Triple-A appearance on Friday. Josh Stephan, who went unselected in last offseason’s Rule 5 draft and has no MLB experience, has been the organization’s best starter in Triple-A.

Schumaker also provided an update before Monday’s game on Josh Smith. The second baseman, who has been out for the past week with a glute strain, is also dealing with wrist inflammation (link via Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News). Schumaker said the team is hopeful he’ll only be shut down for a few days, but it all but ensures that Smith won’t be activated from the injured list when first eligible on Thursday.

A productive utility player from 2024-25, Smith was tabbed as the everyday second baseman after the Marcus Semien/Brandon Nimmo trade. He has started very slowly, hitting .217/.324/.239 without a home run through 108 plate appearances. His strikeout and walk profile is strong, but he’s not making any impact. Smith, who has traditionally played very well in April, has also posted subpar defensive grades this year.

Ezequiel Duran has taken over second base in Smith’s absence. He’s hitting too well to take out of the lineup, batting .286/.359/.451 over 32 games. Duran had previously been playing mostly left field due to the Wyatt Langford injury, so the Smith injury indirectly opened the most playing time for outfielder Alejandro Osuna. The 23-year-old has reached base 16 times in his first 37 plate appearances since being recalled from the minors on April 22.

Braves, Jose Azocar Agree To Minor League Deal

Steve Adams — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:11:11 +0000

The Braves and outfielder Jose Azocar are reuniting on a new minor league deal, per the team’s transaction log at MLB.com. He’d previously been designated for assignment by Atlanta and briefly elected free agency after clearing waivers.

Azocar, 30 today, went hitless in his only two plate appearances with Atlanta (and in his lone Braves plate appearance last season as well). He’s a career .243/.288/.318 hitter in 420 big league plate appearances. Azocar has swiped 20 bags and popped two homers in the majors. Most of his big league time has come with the Padres, though he also appeared in a dozen games with the Mets last year.

Azocar is out to a fine start in Triple-A this year. He’s taken 113 plate appearances with Atlanta’s Gwinnett affiliate and slashed .270/.348/.420 with a couple homers, eight steals, a 10.6% walk rate and a 16.8% strikeout rate. Those slash stats are near mirror images of Azocar’s career marks in Triple-A. He’s played parts of six seasons at the top minor league level and notched a .276/.321/.416 batting line in 1203 plate appearances.

While he’s never been a huge threat with the bat, Azocar possesses plus speed (88th percentile in 2025, per Statcast) and is a quality defender in all three outfield spots. He’s spent 459 big league innings in center, 370 in right and 238 in left. Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average both peg him as at least average in all three slots, with Azocar’s center field work standing as his most effective to date.

The Braves placed Eli White — another speedy, glove-first, righty-swinging outfielder — on the injured list earlier this morning. However, his IL placement coincided with Ha-Seong Kim‘s return from the injured list, which is going to mean less infield work for Mauricio Dubón and Jorge Mateo, both of whom can play the outfield. With that pair supporting the trio of Mike Yastrzemski, Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuña Jr., there’s no need for another speed-and-defense outfielder on the bench. If the Braves incur more injuries in the outfield, however, Azocar could get another look, given that the Braves don’t have any minor league outfielders on the 40-man roster.

Daily Fantasy Baseball News and Notes | First Pitch 5/11/26

Jake Crumpler — Mon, 11 May 2026 23:37:37 +0000

Everything you need to know to win your fantasy baseball league, daily

The post Daily Fantasy Baseball News and Notes | First Pitch 5/11/26 appeared first on Pitcher List.

Orioles Select Josh Walker

Darragh McDonald — Mon, 11 May 2026 22:40:14 +0000

The Orioles announced that they have selected left-hander Josh Walker to their roster. Right-hander Trey Gibson was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding active roster move. To open a 40-man spot, outfielder Heston Kjerstad was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Walker, 31, has generally put up good numbers in the minors but has struggled in limited big league opportunities. He finished last season on Baltimore’s roster after they claimed him off waivers in August. They then signed him to a major league deal for 2026 and designated him for assignment a few days later. That may seem like a strange sequence but the O’s were presumably hoping that the salary, which has not been publicly reported, was enough to get him through waivers to be stashed as non-roster depth. This didn’t immediately pay off, as Atlanta claimed him in November. Baltimore was able to claim him back in December and then finally outrighted him in January.

He has tossed 14 1/3 innings for Norfolk this year, allowing 4.40 earned runs per nine. That ERA doesn’t jump off the page but he has perhaps deserved better. His 8.9% walk rate is around average while his 28.6% strikeout rate and 51.5% ground ball rate are both comfortably better than par. His 61.6% strand rate in that small sample is on the unfortunate side, which may have pushed some extra runs across, which is why his 3.48 FIP is roughly a run better than his ERA.

As mentioned, Walker has often done well in the minors without major league success. He has a 6.59 ERA in 27 1/3 big league innings. But dating back to the start of 2022, he has thrown 146 minor league innings with a 3.95 ERA. His 11.4% walk rate in that sample is high but he paired that with a 30.3% strikeout rate. He will now give the Orioles a fourth lefty in their bullpen alongside Keegan Akin, Dietrich Enns and Grant Wolfram. Walker still has one option remaining and can be easily sent back to Norfolk in the future.

Kjerstad has been on the 10-day IL all season due to a right hamstring strain. His 60-day count is retroactive to that initial IL placement, so he’ll be eligible for reinstatement in a few weeks. He began a rehab assignment on Saturday. Rehab assignment for position players can last 20 days, so the length of that rehab assignment roughly aligns with his IL timeline. If he is able to come off the IL later this month, he still has an option and could be bound for more time in the minors.

Photo courtesy of Morgan Tencza, Imagn Images

FAAB Frenzy and Waivers Wild: Week 8

Vlad Sedler — Mon, 11 May 2026 22:30:58 +0000

Why Ryan Waldschmidt was the top hitting prospect acquisition of the weekend, and more.

Source

Top 100 Starting Pitchers For 2026 Fantasy Baseball: 5/11 Week 8 Rankings

Nick Pollack — Mon, 11 May 2026 22:29:56 +0000

Fantasy Baseball best 100 Starting Pitcher rankings updated.

The post Top 100 Starting Pitchers For 2026 Fantasy Baseball: 5/11 Week 8 Rankings appeared first on Pitcher List.

Dodgers Activate Mookie Betts

AJ Eustace — Mon, 11 May 2026 22:22:37 +0000

May 11th: Betts has now been officially reinstated, with Freeland optioned as the corresponding move. Jack Harris of the California Post reported earlier today that Freeland would be sent down for Betts.

May 10th, 10:55pm: The Dodgers and Espinal renegotiated the 45-day deadline attached to the advanced consent clause in Espinal’s contract, Katie Woo writes. Under the previous clause, the Dodgers could have released Espinal within the first 45 days of his contract and owed the infielder only the prorated portion of Espinal’s $2.5MM guaranteed salary. The reworked clause pushed forward that 45-day deadline, which Woo views as a sign that Espinal will be kept on the active roster, so Kim or Freeland will be optioned upon Betts’ return.

3:34pm: Mookie Betts has been out for over a month with a right oblique strain, but he is now on the cusp of returning to the Dodgers. After two rehab games, Betts is returning to Los Angeles today and is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list tomorrow, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic.

Betts only made 32 plate appearances with a 99 wRC+ before landing on the 10-day injured list on April 5. That’s a negligible sample size on its own, though it also mirrors Betts’ diminished offensive output in 2025. In 150 games, he batted .258/.326/.406 with a 104 wRC+. That still made Betts an above-average hitter, but not to the heights he has set in his career. Betts won the AL MVP award with the Red Sox in 2018 and was at least 31% better than average by wRC+ in every season from 2019-24. It’s hard to criticize a hitter for merely being slightly above average, of course, and Betts’ track record gives the Dodgers plenty of confidence that he can return to normal as he distances himself from this injury.

There is also reason to believe Betts was unlucky last year. For one thing, he batted just .258 on balls in play, well below his career BABIP of .299. While Betts’ 89.1 MPH average exit velocity and 35.8% hard-hit rate were both lower than in 2024, his batting average, slugging percentage, and wOBA were all 9-16 points lower than their expected values.

Betts’ relative lack of offensive pop was offset by his superb defensive work at shortstop, and of course he was still a big contributor to the Dodgers’ second consecutive World Series victory. Even this year, losing Betts for over a month hasn’t slowed Los Angeles down, as the 24-15 Dodgers are again atop the NL West.

The duo of Hyeseong Kim and Miguel Rojas have capably filled in at shortstop during Betts’ absence, and Kim in particular has performed well, hitting .301/.366/.411 over 82 PA this season. Rojas will return to backup infield duty once Betts is back at shortstop, leaving the Dodgers to decide between Kim, Santiago Espinal and Alex Freeland at second base. Kim and Freeland have minor league options remaining, while Espinal (who has only a .438 OPS over 34 PA) would have to be designated for assignment if removed from the 26-man roster.