Mark Polishuk | MLB Trade Rumors

Orioles Notes: Kantrovitz, Dubin, Ragsdale, Rutschman

By Mark Polishuk | September 14, 2025 at 10:07pm CDT

The Orioles reached out to Cubs VP of scouting Dan Kantrovitz about a possible interview for their general manager opening, according to 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine. However, it appears as though Kantrovitz declined the offer, as he isn’t looking to leave the Cubs organization.

Kantrovitz has over 21 years of baseball operations experience, split over stints with the Cardinals, Athletics, and Cubs. He has been in his current position since leaving Oakland for Wrigleyville in September 2019, and he received some interest from the Angels (in 2020) and Mets (in 2023) for higher-level front office positions. There wasn’t any indication that he actually interviewed for those jobs either, yet it isn’t surprising that clubs keep showing interest considering the Cubs’ strong prospect depth

Since Kantrovitz started overseeing Chicago’s drafts, the team has amassed a farm system that many pundits rank among the game’s best. Such homegrown names like Cade Horton and Matt Shaw are contributing to the Cubs’ success in 2025, and the club has also used its prospect depth to swing some prominent trades, such as last winter’s blockbuster with the Astros that saw 2024 first-rounder Cam Smith included as part of the package that landed Kyle Tucker.

There are some past ties between Kantrovitz and Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias, as the two worked together in the St. Louis front office from 2007-09. This naturally doesn’t mean that the O’s are looking just for candidates Elias is personally familiar with, but Kantrovitz’s amateur scouting background is perhaps a hint about what the Orioles are prioritizing in their GM search.

It was only earlier this week that we learned a GM search was even underway, when news broke about Elias’ promotion to PBO last offseason and the Orioles’ plan to hire a general manager to act as Elias’ chief lieutenant in baseball ops. Levine writes that Kantrovitz was a “short list” candidate for Baltimore, which indicates that the team might have moved beyond an initial stage of the process, even as they’re still rounding up interview candidates.

In other Orioles news, the club placed right-hander Shawn Dubin on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to September 13) due to right elbow discomfort. Interim manager Tony Mansolino told the Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Calvin Meyer and other reporters that Dubin will undergo an MRI, and there is “some concern there” over a possible serious injury.

Dubin has been with the O’s for less than three weeks, since he was claimed off waivers from the Astros. Now in his third MLB season, Dubin struggled to a 5.61 ERA over 25 2/3 innings with Houston this year, but he improved to a 3.38 ERA over eight innings and seven appearances since arriving in Baltimore. Dubin didn’t allow a run over his first six outings as an Oriole, but in his final appearance before his IL placement, he was charged with three runs in 1 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays on Friday.

Injuries have been the larger story of Dubin’s season. Shoulder problems and then a sprained ankle kept him sidelined through all of Spring Training and delayed his 2025 debut until May 11. He later missed about seven weeks due to a forearm strain, and the combination of that forearm issue plus this new elbow discomfort raises the ominous specter of UCL damage.

To fill Dubin’s spot on the active roster, Carson Ragsdale was called up from Triple-A Norfolk, and the righty made his Major League debut in today’s 11-2 loss to the Blue Jays. It was far from a dream debut for Ragsdale, as he allowed eight runs over three innings against the AL East leaders.

Ragsdale is another new arrival in the organization, as the Orioles claimed him off waivers from the Giants in early August. A fourth-round pick for the Phillies in 2020 draft, Ragsdale struggled with San Francisco’s Triple-A affiliate over the last two seasons, though his bottom-line numbers picked up in Norfolk. For the season as a whole, however, Ragsdale’s strikeout rate plummeted to 19.7% after posting K-rates of well over 30% in the lower minor league levels. His homer rate also spiked during his time with Triple-A Sacramento and the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but he had better luck in keeping the ball in the park during his brief time in Norfolk.

Finally, it looks like Adley Rutschman is on pace to make it back to the Orioles’ lineup before the season is over. The catcher hasn’t played since August 17 due to a right oblique strain, but Mansolino said Rutschman is probably going to be starting a rehab assignment in the near future.

Though Baltimore is playing out the string, getting into a few more games will hopefully allow Rutschman to finish a tough year on some kind of high note. The former All-Star has hit just .227/.310/.373 over 348 plate appearances, while missing extended periods of time due strains of both his right and left oblique.

MLBTR Chat Transcript

By Mark Polishuk | September 14, 2025 at 8:29pm CDT

Mark P

One of the final Weekend Chats of the regular season is now underway. Let’s take a minute for some questions to pile up, and then launch….

Noah

Do you think we see any FO/Coaching changes in Tampa next year? Two meh years in a row and a lot of guys at all levels took a step back this year…

Mark P

A new ownership group means nothing is guaranteed, but reports have already indicated that no big changes are coming. And, I feel, rightly so. 2025 could easily be viewed as an aberration due to the oddity of the ballpark situation, and the Rays’ track record is pretty stellar

Jason

How in the world are the Guardians still in the wild card picture, and seem destined to finish above .500 regardless? On paper this team looks…not very good.

Mark P

The struggles of many other AL teams have opened the door for the Guardians, and it has helped that Cleveland has been feasting on some lighter competition
Cleveland/Texas in the final series of the regular season, and that would be a lot of fun if that’s a de factor play-in series for a wild card slot

Slider33

Time for the Reds to pack it up?

Mark P

Speaking of teams that had a door open for them, the Reds have been struggling badly over the last four weeks. Cincinnati only had to play decent ball in that stretch, and they’d be well in front of the Mets at this point

Read more

A frustrated Angels Fan

I don’t get it, this season should have been better. I’m not saying they were supposed to make the playoffs but to not trade outgoing free agents for prospects and then absolutely screw up the number 2 pick in this years draft. I would think the front office and manager /coaches would be changed. What do you think?

Mark P

Ron Washington’s health situation probably means he’ll return for a proper full season as manager in 2026. Perry Minasian just signed an extension about a year ago, through 2026 is the last guaranteed year of that extension.
The bigger problem is still at the ownership level, as the Angels simply lack much direction. This isn’t at all to say that Minasian is blameless for the state of the roster, but to some extent his hands are tied by Arte Moreno’s wishes.

Guest

If the Rangers DO make it, is Eovaldi able to be back in time?

Mark P

Nope. When he went on the IL, there was no “well, if they make it deep enough into October…” qualifier on his status.

Herman

Hey Angels fan, the Braves did the same dumb stuff not trading Iglesias or Ozuna. Please tell me they don’t go wild and offer Ozuna a contract for 2026?

Mark P

Ozuna is almost certainly gone. Much more likely that Atlanta opens up the DH space and payroll space by letting him walk.

Guest

Can SDP resign King given their other payroll commitments?

Mark P

Given all of the time King has missed this year, it might’ve helped keep him in the Padres’ price range. Chances are King is looking at either a one-year contract or a 2-3 year deal with multiple opt-outs, so he can (in theory) re-enter free agency next winter after a full and healthy season to land a bigger long-term deal.
It’s not entirely out of the question that King accepts a qualifying offer from San Diego, for such a short-term pact. Or, maybe the Padres work out an opt-out laden new contract themselves.

What? Good News for the Nats? Unpossible!

No real question, just sharing my real enjoyment of the rookie season that Daylen Lile is having. .288/.339/.457/.796. With 14 doubles, NINE triples, and five HRs in 79 games. Nats 2021 draft is actually looking kinda OK. Which is a refreshing novelty for the team.

Mark P

He’s looked really good, so that’s at least one silver lining in a grim Nationals season. At the very least, Lile has put himself in the running for an everyday job next year, even amidst a fairly crowded OF picture

Hud

Who’s your MVP pick, Judge or Raleigh?

Mark P

Who would get your vote as AL MVP?

Judge (30.1% | 195 votes)

Raleigh (69.8% | 452 votes)

Total Votes: 647

Baseball fan

How do you think Yesavage does tomorrow? What do you think his role will ultimately be down the stretch and into the postseason, and would you have made the move as Tor?

Mark P

He’ll ultimately be a reliever, since the Jays have too many other proven veterans as rotation options. To that extent I’m a little surprised he’s debuting as a starter at all.
As to whether or not I’d have done it, I guess it can’t hurt? The Jays’ bullpen has been shaky enough (despite some better results in the last week) that Yesavage might provide some spark, and an unknown quantity for opposing batters

Giants Collapse

arw the Giants of the last month closer to what they are than that mid-summer run? And how much do they need to do in the offseason to truly compete all of next season? Pitching moves only with the offense they have and Eldridge on the way?

Mark P

It can be reasonably assumed that Devers and Adames will hit more their usual selves (as they have in the last month or so) in 2026 than they did for much of 2025. While rotation help is certainly a need, the Giants need to address the outfield, and second base.

UGA 44 Vols 41

Do you see the Braves having a real chance at Kyle Schwarber and do the Braves trade Sean Murphy this offseason?

Mark P

Murphy is owed $45MM over the next three years, and he’ll spend the offseason rehabbing from hip surgery. His trade value is pretty minimal right now, so the Braves’ plan is probably just to keep Murphy/Baldwin as the catcher/DH combo.
Schwarber would be a great fit basically anywhere, but a particularly great fit in Atlanta. That said, I find it hard to believe that the Phillies won’t break the bank to re-sign him.

Kris Bubic

Do I sign an extension this offseason, or bet on myself to deliver a full season of all star stuff and get PAID

Mark P

As good as Bubic looked this year, missing two months with a rotator cuff strain will throw a wrench into his asking price for any extension talks.
Given how the Royals have made a point to lock up starting pitchers, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they also talked with Bubic about a long-term deal. Or, on the flip side, they may be less open to extending Bubic since so much has been invested elsewhere in the rotation.

Keep in mind that Bubic has already had a lot of ups and downs in his career, plus injury issues. He might welcome the chance to lock in some life-changing money right now, even if that means he leaves some on the table in foregoing free agency.

Ethan

Do you see the Guardians non-tendering Nolan Jones next year?

Mark P

He will be arb-eligible for the first time this winter, and is controlled through 2028. So that’s enough control at a cheap enough price tag that the Guardians might give him one more chance….but yeah, I’d lean towards a non-tender

Do the Angels go after Cody Belinger this offseason? Seems to be a good fit

Mark P

I’m sorry to keep giving the same answer to Angels fans year after year when they ask about big-ticket free agent pursuits…..but if you’re a star player with options, why choose the Angels over a team with a much more clear-cut chance of winning? LAA would have to drastically overpay to get onto Bellinger’s radar.

Race of the Century

Willie Mays Hayes vs Adult Benny the Jet Rodriguez. Who wins?

Mark P

Outstanding question. My pick is Hayes, because we saw more of him as an adult than we did of Benny the Jet.

Playing Nats GM

Who is a realistic target for the Nationals this offseason assuming they moderately spend with new front office hire(s)? They can’t go another offseason with some ridiculously low $50M budget again.

Mark P

I think another lower payroll is very likely, barring a real change of direction from the Lerner family. It may depend on who the next PBO/GM actually is, but in all likelihood, the Nationals will continue in low-spending rebuild mode, adding just some veterans on one-year deals.

The Shortstop Andres Gimenez

Are the Blue Jays telegraphing something in subtly moving Gimenez over to SS in Bo’s absence? I’ve always thought the trade with Cleveland last winter made very little sense if Gimenez wasn’t being seen as the opening day SS in 2026

Sneaky Pete

Can the Giants front office convince Bo Bichette to take $225mil to play 2nd base?

Mark P

2025’s success notwithstanding, I think it’s still likely that Bichette is playing elsewhere next year. The Gimenez trade was indeed probably a hedge for the Jays, in part because at the time of the deal, Bichette was still a question mark coming off his rough 2024 performance.
Bichette being open to a 2B position change would also help his overall free agent case, in addition to being the more logical move overall in the long run for him on the field. Teams that may be hesitant about Bichette’s shortstop glovework, or simply don’t have a shortstop spot open (i.e. the Giants) would be much more willing to engage in his market for Bichette the second baseman

Veteran Righthander

An also-ran team you think might be a sleeper for next year, based on later-season call-ups and better performances by starters?

Mark P

This doesn’t really fit your criteria, but the Royals started playing a lot better once they started getting even a modest amount of production from their outfield. Bolstering the outfield and adding more hitting in general could get KC back into contention next year, since they’ve got the arms.

Dave Dombrowski

Given Aaron Nola’s decline and Zack Wheeler’s postoperative uncertainty, what are the chances I re-sign Ranger Suarez? Alvarado’s money is a start…

Mark P

The 2026 rotation looks like Sanchez, Walker, Nola, hopefully Wheeler, and presumably Painter. Rather than spend a lot of money on reuniting with Suarez, I can see the Phillies adding more of a depth starter type, since on paper, they might have a rotation surplus if all goes well.
That said, when does it ever go well? Since unexpected injuries (i.e. Wheeler) or sudden struggles (i.e. Nola) can happen at any time, more pitching is always a need. Once we get more of a sense of Wheeler’s status, it’ll be easier to predict Philly’s next move

Garrett

Does Frankie Frisch letting a bunch of his pals into the Hall in the 70s still have an effect today?

Mark P

It led to an overhaul of how the HOF approaches the veterans committee, though those committees have been altered many times over the years. Beyond that, I’m not sure it has much impact outside of “who is the worst Hall of Famer?” arguments

Andrew R.

So Luzardo isn’t in the Phillies rotation plans next year?

Mark P

Whoops, forgot to add Luzardo to that list! Yes, he’s obviously part of the 2026 rotation.

Ken

Jacob Wilson’s defensive metrics at SS leave something to be desired. Should the A’s shift him to 3B and have Darell Hernaiz handle SS until Leo DeVries arrives?

Mark P

Wilson’s got a good arm, but it’s just a matter of whether or not his range is so limited that 3B would also be a problem.

Is there a market for Brent Rooker with the emergence of Kurtz and Soderstrom/could he potentially bring back a mid rotation starter type in a deal?

Mark P

Not that the A’s care a ton of about PB, but they just signed Rooker to a long-term deal last spring. Trading him less than a year after that signing doesn’t seem too likely.

Guest

What would a Naylor contract look like with him only being 28? 4 years 90ish

Mark P

My feeling is he’ll get less than $90MM, though his younger age is a plus. It’s possibly Naylor might even explore an opt-out in his contract in order to maybe re-enter free agency when he’s still young, but being a 1B-only player might mitigate that flexibility.

Dave

Walker Buehler a possibility for 2926 Phillies?

Mark P

Wow, that’s one long career. Not even Jamie Moyer pitched for 900 years.
Typo jokes aside, Buehler might get himself into the Phillies’ plans with a good showing in September (or October….), but odds are, Buehler will want a chance at a clear rotation job on his next team.

Richard

Is Bochy manager of the Rangers in 2026?

Mark P

There have been some conflicting reports on Bochy for much of the season, so it’s all up to his personal decision. If he wants to manage another year, it seems the Rangers will happily take him back. If a new deal is reached, it’s probably likely to be a rolling year-to-year type of pact that gives Bochy flexibility if he decides to retire.

Marlins

who’s a FA we can sign? We have the SP, and now with Marsee and Stowers we are in wild card conversation with one more legit bat

Mark P

This will be an interesting offseason in Miami. The most probable outcome is that the Marlins will continue to play it safe and sign (at most) a couple of veterans to one-year contracts, since the team needs a lot more than just “one more legit bat” to patch up all the holes in the lineup.

Tiger Town

If Skubal misses any time or his injury lingers, Detroit is cooked, right?

Mark P

It doesn’t look like Skubal’s injury is all that serious, so the Tigers caught a major break. But yeah, if he’d been hurt, that alone would’ve almost certainly scorched Detroit’s chances.

Midwest

What does a Salvy extension look like? Who are most likely targets for the Royals to get them into the post season? Also, is Salvy a first ballot HoF or an eventual famer?

Mark P

It’s been such a rough year offensively and defensively for Perez that if it was anyone else, it would be an easy call for the Royals to decline his option. But, since he’s a franchise icon, he’ll be back for $13.5MM (really it’s an $11.5MM decision for the team due to the $2MM buyout).
The Fermin trade at the deadline basically cemented Perez as returning for at least 2026. An extension isn’t out of the question, but the Royals have enough young catchers in the pipeline that committing too many more years to Perez doesn’t seem feasible.

Verlander

Is he cooked?

Mark P

He has a 2.44 ERA over his last 10 starts. Verlander has quickly gone from “cooked” to “on fire,” and he’s been a big part of the Giants’ surge.

AndthenIsaid

Will shutting Winn down early hurt his chances at a GG?

Mark P

Nick Allen has the better overall slate of public metrics, as both DRS and OAA love his work. Winn is only getting the love from OAA, and Mookie Betts is the inverse, getting great DRS grades but only good OAAA grades.
If anything, Winn being such a good defender despite playing hurt all year might be a point in his favor with voters

Preller Jr

Has Laureano played his way out of SD with his well he has done since the trade? He seems to be a great fit in LF and a backup in CF.

Mark P

That’s a question the Padres won’t have to answer for a while. They hold a $6.5M club option on his services for 2026, and that’s a lock to be exercised the way Laureano is playing.

Bernie Brewer

Do the Brewers and Brandon Woodruff exercise the mutual option for next season ?

Mark P

Given the long history between the two sides and the circumstances, this might be the rare example of a mutual option has a tiny chance of being mutually exercised.
But, the much more likely scenario is that Woodruff is a free agent.

Aaron

Do you keep Volpe out for the rest of the season

Mark P

At this point, yes. Caballero looks like the better option, and Volpe is just simply not healthy.
It begs the question of why he wasn’t put on the IL months ago.

Chris Getz

Do the White Sox pursue anything this offseason? They seem to have the infield and catcher covered, and if Benintendi and Tauchman come back, maybe they’ll need a starter or two to hold down the rotation until some arms start coming back mid-season. Maybe a power hitting 1B? Josh Naylor?

Mark P

The White Sox aren’t remotely in the position to start signing prominent free agents like Naylor.

DBacks 40-man

To what degree should I be concerned about the Snakes needing to add 9(!) players back from the 60-day IL at the end of the season? Never mind protecting guys from the R5

Mark P

A few spots will be opened by non-tenders and free agents, but you’re right, it’s a large number. Arizona might be a team to watch when it comes to early-offseason trades.

Alpa Chino

Bees?

Mark P

Beads?!

Moyor City Beach Bum

What are your thoughts about Tigers signing Schwarber to DH in Detroit? Move Carp into the OF which is what he wants. Would that be the ideal big bat they need to anchor that lineup for the next 4-5:years?

Mark P

As noted earlier, Schwarber would help most every team in baseball. The Tigers included, for the very reasons you mention. It does add yet another lefty bat to the lineup, but for the sake of adding Schwarber’s power, it’s fine (plus Detroit could then trade another LHH elsewhere).
Not to sound like a broken record, however, but chances are he’ll stay in Philadelphia. And, I hesitate to put the Tigers as suitors for any big-ticket free agent until they actually land one, though in fairness they did push for Bregman

Ray

Besides Tucker, which of the Cubs’ other OFs/DHs figures to be gone next season? I’d like to see Ballesteros stay.

Mark P

Suzuki and Happ are both free agents after 2026, but they also both have no-trade clauses. That doesn’t necessarily rule out a trade if either player is open to a move, except it makes things much trickier in finding a deal acceptable to all sides.

Package for the Reds

What would be a good package for Matt McLain, dudes a hard worker and decent producer but he has fallen off a bit this year

Mark P

He’s fallen off more than “a bit,” so a trade fit might be another player in McLain’s same situation — a former top prospect who might’ve had some early MLB success but has since struggled. Basically, the Reds would want someone else that might benefit from a change of scenery.
The other factor with McLain is that teams might be concerned that his downturn is due to his injuries, or even that his 2023 rookie success was mostly based on BABIP.

My Name Here

Is Lawrence Butler the new Terrence Long; 6 good weeks a long time ago somehow keeps him on the roster for years.

Mark P

The big increase in strikeouts and the home/away splits are certainly concerns, but Butler is still a pretty useful player overall. Perhaps ultimately his optimal usage will be part of a platoon.

Bobby Cox

Aa made a good move at ss. Does ha take the option

Mark P

Kim has barely played this year, so it seems likely that he’ll pick up his option and lock in that $16MM

Randy

What is PB?

Mark P

Passed balls? Peanut butter?
If you mean the PBO acronym I used earlier, it’s “president of baseball operations”

Cat_Herder

Struggling Tigers fan. This team seems to be so streaky, especially offensively. Can you offer some hope for October?

Mark P

Skubal appears to be ok, which is the best news Detroit could’ve possibly received. The trick with a streaky team is that if their next hot streak happens to take place in October, the Tigers will be really hard to stop.

Zakis

Your prediction for Walker Jenkins next year?

Mark P

He’ll make his MLB debut sometime in 2026 and (to provide Twins fans with some optimism) be in the running for Rookie of the Year honors.
After two hours of chatting, it’s time to wrap things up. Thanks to everyone who sent in a question, it’s always great to hear from the readership!
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Jose Quintana To Undergo MRI For Calf Injury

By Mark Polishuk | September 14, 2025 at 5:43pm CDT

Jose Quintana suffered a calf injury that led to his abbreviated start in the Brewers’ 3-2 loss to the Cardinals today. Manager Pat Murphy told media (including Hunter Baumgardt of 97.3 The Game radio) said Quintana was wearing a walking boot, and would undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the damage.

Quintana threw only 67 pitches today, allowing three earned runs on four hits and two walks over four innings of work. That final inning was a painful one for the veteran southpaw, as Quintana was hit by a Pedro Pages comebacker in the first at-bat of the frame, and Murphy said Quintana then hurt his calf while covering first base to record the final out.

More will be known once the MRI results are in, yet as Murphy put it, potentially losing Quintana would be “alarming, with how injured we already are in the bullpen and on the mound.” Milwaukee has seven pitchers currently on the injured list, including five members of the relief corps — Shelby Miller and Connor Thomas have both been lost to long-term UCL surgeries, while Logan Henderson won’t pitch for at least the rest of the regular season.

The tough outing against St. Louis gives Quintana a 7.40 ERA over his last four starts and 20 2/3 innings pitched. Though he tossed 184 2/3 innings for the Mets during the 2024 regular season and postseason, it could be that Quintana is starting to feel some fatigue down the stretch this year, after amassing 131 2/3 more frames in his 14th Major League season. It should be noted that Quintana didn’t sign with the Brewers until early March, and his season debut was held off until April 11 so the lefty could spend more time in extended Spring Training to make up for lost time in camp.

A calf injury now throws another wrench into the equation, leaving Quintana’s readiness in doubt for Milwaukee’s playoff roster. The Brewers have already clinched a postseason berth, are on the verge of clinching the NL Central title, and are on pace to claim a first-round bye, even if the Phillies remain in hot pursuit of the Brew Crew for the National League’s top seed. This gives the Brewers some flexibility and time to figure out their playoff pitching plans, and it may give Quintana more time to heal up if he does have to hit the injured list.

Given both his recent struggles and the Brewers’ list of other rotation options, Quintana was probably headed to a relief role in October anyway. Freddy Peralta, Quinn Priester, Brandon Woodruff, and Jacob Misiorowski look to be Milwaukee’s top rotation options for the postseason, and Chad Patrick may also be ahead of Quintana on the rotation depth chart. Quintana has a 3.96 ERA over his 131 2/3 innings this season, but with a host of subpar Statcast numbers, indicating that Quintana is getting a lot of help from his .259 BABIP.

Cashman: Yankees “Believe In” Anthony Volpe Despite “Tough Stretch”

By Mark Polishuk | September 14, 2025 at 5:08pm CDT

Anthony Volpe’s underwhelming season has made the shortstop a topic of controversy in the Bronx, and more attention was generated this week when it was revealed that Volpe has been playing with a small tear in his left shoulder labrum since May 3. Trying to play through this shoulder problem has clearly impacted Volpe’s performance — not only has he hit .197/.248/.378 in 418 plate appearances since suffering the injury, Volpe’s formerly excellent defense has drastically fallen off.

Speaking with ESPN’s Jorge Castillo and other reporters on Friday, Yankees GM Brian Cashman noted Volpe’s “tough stretch” and said that “this isn’t the season we expected or he expected.” That said, Cashman gave a vote of confidence to Volpe, saying that the 2025 season “doesn’t change our viewpoint of what he’s capable of,” and that he is still the Yankees’ choice at shortstop going forward.

“He’s someone that we can count on and we believe in….I think he’s a really talented guy and I think he has a chance to be a positive impact, obviously,” Cashman said.

Volpe was hitting significantly better (.239/.333/.453) in his first 135 plate appearances of the season pre-injury, so it could be that his labrum tear prevented a potential breakout year. Still, Volpe’s full-season numbers aren’t far off the .228/.288/.373 slash line he posted over 1290 PA in his first two Major League seasons, so it isn’t as if struggles at the plate are a new problem for the 24-year-old.

Outsized expectations have followed Volpe ever since his emergence as one of baseball’s top prospects, and the Yankees’ decision to debut him as their Opening Day shortstop in 2023. While the team itself has always been quick to downplay the “next Derek Jeter” hype, the Yankees’ immediate installation of Volpe in an everyday role has stood in stark contrast to the club’s more infrequent usage of most other top minor leaguers in recent years. If anything, Volpe’s critics are sure to argue that Cashman’s continued confidence in Volpe is part of the problem, and that the Yankees should be more open to upgrading at shortstop.

While Cashman has made some rather blunt critiques of other New York players in the past, it only makes sense for the GM to continue his public support of Volpe, and there isn’t any reason to yet suspect that the Yankees aren’t viewing Volpe’s rough year as anything but a by-product of his shoulder injury. Since Volpe is only entering arbitration eligibility this coming offseason, his three remaining years of pretty inexpensive team control make him an intriguing asset on a team loaded with big salaries and a hefty luxury tax bill. If Volpe is able to get healthy and break out as, in Cashman’s words, “a quality, above-average regular shortstop in the game,” that’s a major boost for the Yankees on every front.

Still, finding another inexpensive shortstop candidate could change the equation, and one such player may have already been found in Jose Caballero. Acquired from the Rays at the trade deadline, Caballero has hit .263/.358/.439 in 68 PA in the pinstripes, which far and away represents the best offensive stretch of his three MLB seasons. The utilityman has also pitched in at both corner outfield slots, second base, and third base, but most of Caballero’s time has come at shortstop in the wake of Volpe’s increased missed time.

Volpe hasn’t played since Tuesday after receiving a cortisone shot in his ailing shoulder, paving the way for Caballero to step into regular shortstop duty. Boone told Castillo and company that “we’ll see” about who plays shortstop when Volpe is ready to return, which hints that the Yankees could be considering a timeshare at the position.

The longer-term issue of Volpe’s health is also a lingering question. Cashman said more will be known once Volpe receives more tests, and while the GM “wouldn’t rule…out” an offseason surgery, “as of right now, there’s no surgery recommended. There’s not even an IL recommended.” Should Volpe indeed end up going under the knife, he’d very likely miss some time and perhaps an extended amount of the 2026 season, leaving the Yankees in need of another shortstop.

Giants Place Dominic Smith On Injured List

By Mark Polishuk | September 13, 2025 at 5:23pm CDT

5:23pm: Smith has officially been placed on the injured list with a right hamstring strain. Outfielder Jerar Encarnacion was recalled to the roster in a corresponding move.

2:24pm: Patrick Bailey’s walkoff grand slam gave San Francisco a memorable 5-1 win over the Dodgers yesterday, but it wasn’t an entirely perfect night for the surging Giants. First baseman Dominic Smith had to make an early exit in the fourth inning after suffering a thigh strain, and manager Bob Melvin said postgame that Smith would undergo an MRI.

“Usually those things are a little bit tougher, but I think it’s higher [on his hamstring], which is a little bit better. We’re not sure where it’s going to go,” Melvin told MLB.com’s Maria Guardado and other reporters, before praising Smith’s determination in completing the play that led to his injury.

Matt Chapman made a diving stop of an Andy Pages grounder in the top of the fourth, and then rocketed a throw across the diamond that was aimed just a bit short of first base. However, Smith made a big stretch to snag the throw just before Pages hit the bag, and the inning-ending out was upheld after a replay challenge from the Dodgers. Smith was in obvious discomfort after making the play, and Wilmer Flores pinch-hit for Smith in the bottom half of the fourth.

2025 has been a resurgent season for Smith, who hit only .241/.311/.360 over 1538 plate appearances with four different teams from 2021-24. Starting this year on a pair of minor league contracts with the Yankees, Smith didn’t receive a call-up, and triggered an opt-out clause to re-enter free agency in June, with the Giants quickly signing the first baseman to a Major League deal.

The result has been a .284/.333/.417 slash line across 225 plate appearances for Smith in a San Francisco uniform. A .329 BABIP has helped Smith overcome some uninspiring hard contact numbers, but Smith has been making a lot of contact (18.7% strikeout rate) in general. The majority of his playing time has come against right-handed pitching, as the Giants utilized the lefty-swinging Smith in a first base platoon initially with Flores.

Rafael Devers’ emergence as a first baseman didn’t knock Smith out of the lineup, and Flores has increasingly been the odd man out with Devers and Smith splitting time between the first base and DH slots. Should Smith have to miss time on the injured list, Flores is the most logical candidate to step into his role.

Smith’s signing didn’t draw much buzz back in June, yet in classic “you just never know” fashion, his health may play a significant factor in the playoff race. The red-hot Giants have won 14 of their 18 games and the Mets are on a seven-game losing streak, leaving San Francisco just a half-game behind New York for the final NL wild card slot. With things finally clicking for the Giants, the last thing they need is an injury to a player who has become a lineup staple.

Red Sox Shut Down Liam Hendriks Due To Forearm Tightness

By Mark Polishuk | September 13, 2025 at 1:28pm CDT

1:28PM: Hendriks told reporters (including Tim Healey) that he “very much” wants to keep playing in 2026, referencing his Tommy John surgery by noting that “I got a new elbow for a reason.”

12:46PM: Liam Hendriks’ long stint on the injured list has now been extended by forearm tightness, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told the Boston Globe’s Tim Healey and other reporters. This setback has halted Hendriks’ throwing and has likely ended his season after 14 games and 13 2/3 innings at the big league level.

Forearm issues aren’t a good sign for a pitcher who missed all of the 2024 season due to a Tommy John surgery, but for now this bout of tightness represents just the latest in a series of injuries that has led to another virtual lost year for Hendriks. He developed elbow soreness during Spring Training that delayed the start of his 2025 campaign, and Hendriks hasn’t pitched since the end of May due to hip inflammation and an abdominal strain.

In between those two stints on the IL, Hendriks posted a 6.59 ERA over his 13 2/3 frames for Boston. Since the start of the 2023 season, Hendriks has thrown only 18 2/3 total Major League innings with the White Sox and Red Sox, with a 6.27 ERA to show for those 19 games. Hendriks returned from a battle with cancer in the early part of the 2023 campaign, before elbow problems surfaced and resulted in his TJ procedure.

The Red Sox signed Hendriks to a backloaded two-year, $10MM contract in the 2024 offseason, with the idea that Hendriks would likely miss 2024 rehabbing and then return healthy and ready to contribute this year. Unfortunately, it now looks like the reliever’s tenure in Boston will end after just 14 games. Hendriks’ contract has a $12MM mutual option for 2026 that will naturally be declined, so Hendriks will receive a $2MM buyout and re-enter free agency.

Since Hendriks turns 37 in February, it is fair to wonder if retirement could be in the cards after all the tumult of his last three seasons. That said, Hendriks surely doesn’t want to go out on a low note, and was so intent on making it back before 2025 was over that it seems likely he’ll seek out a minor league contract this winter, unless this forearm tightness develops into something more serious.

Red Sox Sign John Brebbia To Minor League Contract

By Mark Polishuk | September 13, 2025 at 11:12am CDT

The Red Sox have signed right-hander John Brebbia to a minor league deal, according to NESN’s Tom Caron. Brebbia wasn’t on the open market for long, as it was just two days ago that he elected free agency rather than an accept an outright assignment to the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate.

The signing is a homecoming for Brebbia, who was born in Boston and grew up in Sharon, Massachusetts. Perhaps the return to familiar surroundings will help turn around what has been a difficult year for Brebbia, who has a 7.71 ERA over 23 1/3 combined innings with the Tigers and Braves.

After inking a one-year, $2.75MM free agent deal with Detroit, Brebbia was designated for assignment and subsequently released in June after struggling badly over 19 appearances in a Tigers uniform. The Braves inked him to a minors deal shortly thereafter and selected his contract to the majors at the end of August, but Brebbia had a 7.71 ERA in 4 2/3 innings and three games. Atlanta designated Brebbia for assignment earlier this week, and (unsurprisingly) he cleared waivers, resulting in Brebbia opting for free agency.

Since the Tigers are responsible for the bulk of Brebbia’s remaining salary, the Red Sox will owe him only the prorated portion of the MLB minimum salary for any time the reliever might spend on Boston’s active roster. (Brebbia’s contract also includes a $4MM club option for 2026, yet that option is sure to be declined.) Because he is joining the organization after August 31, Brebbia isn’t eligible for postseason play.

For the cost of next to nothing, the Red Sox aren’t risking much in bringing Brebbia aboard as a depth arm for the remainder of September. A big spike in home run rate has led to a lot of struggles for Brebbia over the last two seasons, but he was a mostly effective bullpen arm earlier in his career with the Cardinals and Giants. There’s not a ton of time left in 2025 to see if Brebbia can get things turned around, but if nothing else, his time in the Sox organization could serve as an audition for another minor league deal this winter.

Rays Select Garrett Acton

By Mark Polishuk | September 13, 2025 at 10:46am CDT

The Rays announced that they have selected the contract of right-hander Garrett Acton. Righty Eric Orze was optioned to Triple-A Durham to create room on the 28-man roster, and outfielder Jonny DeLuca was moved to the 60-day injured list to create space for Acton on the 40-man roster.

Acton made his Major League debut in less than stellar fashion with the A’s in 2023, as the 27-year-old was rocked for a 12.71 ERA over six games and 5 2/3 innings of work. Acton allowed three home runs in that brief sample, and issued an equal number of walks and strikeouts (five apiece). Any attempts at a follow-up were then put on hold by a Tommy John surgery, which kept Acton from any game action at either the major or minor league levels in 2024.

Released by the A’s in June 2023, Acton landed with the Rays on a two-year minor league deal the following offseason, with the understanding that Acton would spend all of 2024 recuperating. He got back to the mound this year and has looked pretty sharp, posting a 3.64 ERA, 30.7% strikeout rate, and an 11.0% walk rate that is on the high side. The velocity isn’t all the way back, as Acton’s fastball is averaging 93.7 mph this year after clocking in at 95.3mph during his brief stint in the Show in 2023.

Acton’s homer rate is a respectable 8.6% this season in Durham, which is a career best for an extreme fly-ball pitcher. Acton’s attempts to keep the ball in the park will be immediately tested this weekend in Wrigley Field against a powerful Cubs lineup, and his promotion represents the Rays’ need for a fresh arm in the bullpen. Tampa Bay used five relievers (including Orze) in yesterday’s 6-4 loss to the Cubs, since starter Shane Baz was chased in the third inning.

DeLuca’s 2025 season has now officially been ended with the move from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL. The outfielder was first sidelined by a left hamstring strain back on August 7, and seemed to be working his way back on a Triple-A rehab assignment before suffering a quad strain earlier this week.

This is unfortunately DeLuca’s second trip to the 60-day IL in 2025. An April shoulder strain that was initially expected to keep DeLuca out for 2-4 weeks ended up keeping him off the Rays’ roster for over 3.5 months. DeLuca’s lost year will end with just 20 big league games, though he did hit well (.333/.356/.456 in 59 plate appearances) when he was able to play.

Guardians Notes: Brito, Bazzana, Thomas

By Mark Polishuk | September 13, 2025 at 10:26am CDT

Juan Brito’s injury-ravaged season has come to an early end, as the Guardians announced yesterday that the infield prospect would be undergoing surgery to fix his damaged left hamstring. The procedure has a recovery timeline of 8-12 weeks, so Brito should be ready for the start of Spring Training.

This marks the second major surgery of Brito’s 2025 campaign, as he missed close to two months recovering from thumb surgery. Returning to action with Triple-A Columbus near the end of June, he appeared in just eight more games with the Clippers before being sidelined again by a left hamstring strain. Brito had resumed baseball activities a few weeks ago, but seemingly with little progress, so the decision was made to fully address the injury with surgery.

Brito will conclude his season with just 31 games played — 24 in Triple-A ball, and seven on a rehab assignment with the Guardians’ rookie league affiliate. He still hit well (.256/.357/.463) over his 99 plate appearances in Columbus, yet that isn’t much consolation given that Brito posted similar numbers over a full Triple-A season in 2024, and looked set to make his big league debut this year.

There was even some chatter last spring about Brito potentially breaking camp with the Guardians and earning at least a platoon role at second base. Cleveland instead optioned him to Triple-A before Opening Day, and while Brito’s injuries perhaps made the team’s decision a moot point, the keystone has been a weak spot for the Guardians. The team’s second basemen (Daniel Schneemann, Brayan Rocchio, Angel Martinez, Gabriel Arias, and Will Wilson) have combined for 0.6 bWAR, ranking the Guards 23rd of 30 teams in second base bWAR.

Going into 2026, the hope is that Brito (who turns 24 later this month) will be healthy and ready to rebound after his lost year. Acquired from the Rockies in the Nolan Jones trade three years ago, Brito has posted good offensive numbers during his rise up the ranks of Cleveland’s farm system. Evaluators aren’t sure if his glove necessarily plays anywhere, but even a bat-first type of infielder might help a Guardians team still struggling for consistent offense.

Brito has already exhausted his number of minor league option years, so for now, he’ll be officially out of options heading into 2026. Since the league can grant a fourth option year to players whose careers have been stalled by injury, however, it seems quite likely that Brito will get that bonus option given how little he played in 2025.

Turning to the top name in the Guards’ minor league system, Travis Bazzana may be facing another oblique issue. Bazzana was removed from Thursday’s Triple-A game due to left oblique soreness, and there hasn’t yet been an update on his status. This injury comes on the heels of a right oblique strain in May that ended up costing Bazzana a little over two months of the Double-A season.

The first overall pick of the 2024 draft has started his pro career in impressive fashion, already advancing to Triple-A ball and hitting .225/.420/.438 over his first 120 PA with Columbus. As much as some Cleveland fans were hoping Bazzana might provide the big league team with a boost during the playoff push, there probably wasn’t much chance the Guardians were going to call Bazzana up even before Thursday’s injury scare. That said, Bazzana’s quick rise through the minors has certainly put him on the radar for 2026, and he might now be the second base prospect under consideration for an Opening Day assignment.

Speaking of injury-marred seasons, Lane Thomas has played in only 39 games for the Guardians due to three different IL stints. The first IL trip was due to a bone bruise in his right wrist, and the latter two have been as a result of Thomas’ ongoing battle with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. The outfielder has been on the 10-day injured list since early July, and he played in three rehab games with Double-A Akron earlier in September before he was sidelined again with more foot soreness.

The next step might be surgery, as Thomas told The Athletic’s Zack Meisel and other reporters that he will speak with a foot specialist this coming week to decide on how to best treat the injury. Should Thomas go under the knife, he’d need a three-month recovery period. This timeline would leave him ready to go for the start of spring camp, yet a surgery would add another complication to what will already be a tricky ride through the free agent market for the 30-year-old.

It was less than two years ago that Thomas hit 28 homers as the everyday right fielder for the 2023 Nationals, but his production has dropped sharply since that career year. His bat particularly cooled off after he was dealt to the Guards at last year’s trade deadline, and his nightmare of a 2025 season has seen Thomas hit just .160/.246/.272 over 142 PA.

Teams will want to ensure Thomas is healthy before signing him to any sort of contract, so he’ll probably have to complete his rehab before his market gathers any kind of momentum. At best he’ll receive a one-year deal with a modest guaranteed salary, and it is certainly possible Thomas may have to settle for a minor league deal. Thomas told Meisel and company that he would welcome a return to Cleveland, and since the Guardians will be looking for outfield help anyway, the team might be open to bringing Thomas back on a low-cost deal.

Cardinals Release Garrett Hampson

By Mark Polishuk | September 13, 2025 at 8:53am CDT

The Cardinals released Garrett Hampson, according to the utilityman’s MLB.com profile page. Hampson was designated for assignment earlier this week, and while he had the option of declining an outright assignment in favor of free agency, it appears the Cards just streamlined by the process with a release as soon as Hampson cleared waivers.

It is possible Hampson could sign elsewhere before the 2025 season ends, should a team want some versatile depth in the minors or on a big league bench. However, Hampson has rarely brought much with his bat during his eight Major League seasons, and his offense has sunk to a career-worst .143/.250/.169 over 91 plate appearances in 2025.

The nomadic nature of Hampton’s season didn’t help him get into any kind of groove at the dish. Beginning the season on a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks, he was released for the first time this year in May after appearing in 18 MLB games for Arizona. A stint in Cincinnati didn’t go any better, as the Reds designated Hampson for assignment after about a month, but St. Louis then claimed Hampson off waivers near the end of June.

The release officially ends Hampson’s Cards tenure at 35 games, and he has gotten into 62 contests as a whole this year spread over his three different teams. This marks the least amount of action Hampson has received during a regulation-length MLB season since his 2018 rookie year, when he debuted with 24 games with the Rockies. His ability to play all over the diamond should keep getting Hampson looks on minor league contracts, even if it may be hard for him to escape the proverbial “last man on the roster” status.

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