Headlines

  • Bobby Jenks Passes Away
  • Braves Release Alex Verdugo
  • Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
  • Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline
  • Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim
  • Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

The Opener: Dodgers, MRIs, Pirates

By Nick Deeds | August 19, 2024 at 8:43am CDT

With just six weeks until the 2024 regular season comes to a close, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Dodgers roster shuffle incoming:

The Dodgers have plenty of questions that need to be answered before they take the field in L.A. opposite the Mariners at 7:10pm local time. Most pressing among those is the status of superstar first baseman Freddie Freeman, who is scheduled to undergo a CT scan today to evaluate a right middle finger injury that’s currently keeping him from gripping a bat. If the 145 wRC+ slugger ends up requiring a trip to the injured list, that could impact the club’s plans regarding Max Muncy. Muncy was originally expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list tomorrow, but Dodgers brass have indicated that the club could activate him a day early depending on the needs of the club in the aftermath of Freeman’s injury.

Activating Muncy would requiring the club to clear space on both the 40-man and active rosters to accommodate the 33-year-old’s return to action. One 40-man roster spot can easily be opened by transferring right-hander River Ryan to the 60-day IL ahead of his impending Tommy John surgery, but that spot on the 40-man is already expected to go to Tommy Edman, who the Dodgers plan to activate today regardless of the decisions made regarding Muncy and Freeman. Ryan is the club’s only obvious 60-day IL candidate as things stand, meaning the club will likely have to designate someone for assignment to bring both Edman and Muncy back into the fold.

2. Several players undergoing MRIs:

Yesterday saw a number of notable players suffer potentially serious injuries, with each expected to undergo an MRI today to determine the severity of their respective issues. Rays closer Pete Fairbanks is already expected to hit the shelf due to a lat strain, but today’s MRI could decide whether the hard-throwing righty returns to action this season. The Braves and third baseman Austin Riley are facing some uncertainty regarding the 27-year-old’s status after initial imaging following a hit-by-pitch to Riley’s right hand and wrist was inconclusive. The Braves are expected to use today’s day off to determine whether or not Riley will require a trip to the IL.

It seems likely that Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim will miss at least some time due to the jammed shoulder he suffered during yesterday afternoon’s game, though the Padres fortunately have a deep infield mix that features Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth, Luis Arraez, Donovan Solano, and Tyler Wade, allowing them to handle the potential loss better than most clubs. It’s a similar situation in New York regarding outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who exited yesterday’s game due to shoulder soreness and is the fourth regular scheduled for an MRI today. Nimmo’s injury came the very same day that the Mets activated veteran outfielder Starling Marte, so even if Nimmo misses time they’ll have a fairly well-stocked outfield with Marte, Jesse Winker, and Harrison Bader as starting-caliber options.

3. Pirates roster move incoming:

The Pirates are expected to select the contract of outfielder Billy McKinney this evening. Pittsburgh’s outfield lost Joshua Palacios and Andrew McCutchen to the injured list, while Jack Suwinski has been optioned to the minors due to lackluster performance in the majors this year. McKinney, a veteran of parts of six big league seasons who put together a roughly league-average performance with the Yankees in a part-time role last year, has impressed at Triple-A and is currently slashing .295/.396/.450 through 40 games. The Pirates will need to make room for the 29-year-old on both the 40-man and active rosters. With no obvious 60-day IL candidates currently on the shelf for the Pirates, it seems likely the club will have to designate a player for assignment in order to bring McKinney into the fold.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

The Opener

AL Notes: Verlander, Garcia, Buxton, Paddack, Rangers, Skubal
Main
Marlins To Promote Connor Norby
View Comments (64)
Post a Comment

64 Comments

  1. GhostOfPedro

    11 months ago

    Good to see the Buccos are rearranging the deck on the Titanic with the arrival Billy McKinney.

    4
    Reply
    • avenger65

      11 months ago

      Hold on, Ghost. If anyone has driven their Titanic of an organization into a very large iceberg more than anyone, it’s the reinsdorf-piloted White Sox.

      2
      Reply
    • Dice 66

      11 months ago

      He should of made club at start of season! Another stupid move! Should of kept him in cf and never signed Talor.

      1
      Reply
      • lesterdnightfly

        11 months ago

        should have, should have, Taylor.
        Can’t wait till 4th grade starts, eh?
        And save the exclamation points (that’s what they call “!”).

        2
        Reply
    • solaris602

      11 months ago

      Upon being called up McKinney remarked, “Jack Suwinski back in AAA after a lackluster showing in MLB this year? Hold my beer!”

      1
      Reply
  2. avenger65

    11 months ago

    It seems every year, the Dodgers have a lot of guys – mostly pitchers – on the IL. Still, they always manage to have a big lead over the NLW. Looks like all the injuries have caught up to them this season with both AZ and SD close behind. As much as I’d like to see a team like the Padres or the DBacks win the division strictly for the sake of someone new (and because I like both teams), it might actually be good for the Dodgers. Finishing first every year hasn’t gotten them a full-season ring. Maybe it will take some of the pressure off of them in the PO if they don’t finish first.

    3
    Reply
    • DodgersBro

      11 months ago

      avenger

      “Maybe it will take some of the pressure off of them in the PO if they don’t finish first.”

      That’s ridiculous

      Playing an extra round cuts your WS chances in about half.

      2
      Reply
      • Informed Sportsball Discussion

        11 months ago

        @DodgersBro Three out of the last four World Series participants didn’t get that memo.

        4
        Reply
        • DodgersBro

          11 months ago

          ISD

          Yes, they did

          They just understood it, unlike you.

          1
          Reply
        • Informed Sportsball Discussion

          11 months ago

          @DodgersBro

          Try not to be the typical insufferable Dodger fan. You understood my point.

          Your point is valid too, although I doubt that percentage. Teams wouldn’t be questioning the wisdom of the time off for the top seeds if it were perceived as a bona fide advantage at this point.

          2
          Reply
        • DodgersBro

          11 months ago

          ISB

          I understood your point, yes

          It just wasn’t a good one

          “every matchup in playoff history where one team had a layoff of four or more days while their opponent had a layoff of two or fewer days

          …

          The team with more rest has gone 24-11”

          blogs.fangraphs.com/layoffs-havent-hindered-playof…

          1
          Reply
        • User 3222006999

          11 months ago

          You’ve just got to feel sorry for the team that spent like 2 billion dollars on players this off season having all these injury problems. Right? Don’t we? Do I? Hmmmm………I’m leaning No.

          1
          Reply
        • DodgersBro

          11 months ago

          Um

          Imagine being an uncle and acting like a nephew

          Muted

          2
          Reply
  3. DodgersBro

    11 months ago

    I’m going to guess…

    Ryan to the 60 and Ahmed DFA

    Then Edman takes Ahmed’s spot and Muncy takes Freeman’s if he has to go to the IL or Pages to AAA

    3
    Reply
    • theroyal19

      11 months ago

      Agreed. The more interesting part comes with Freeman healthy and both Muncy & Edman back. You’re left with Kiermaier vs Heyward vs Pages for the last spot.
      The team seems to really like Kiermaier, Pages has looked better the last few weeks, and then there’s Heyward. Assuming Freddie goes to IL, Heyward will get saved by the Sept roster expansion.

      1
      Reply
    • fox471 Dave

      11 months ago

      Makes sense. Forgot about Peterson.

      Reply
      • Luis_Fazenda

        11 months ago

        I think Ahmed will be DFA, and Pages will go down.

        Reply
  4. California 8

    11 months ago

    Not 1 single other player from McCutchen’s rookie season is still playing for the Pirates. Almost unbelievable.

    2
    Reply
    • User 401527550

      11 months ago

      Wow you are really creative in trying to get attention. Come up with a new bit.

      3
      Reply
      • California 8

        11 months ago

        Same goes for your Mets with David Wright’s rookie season.

        Didn’t want to point that out, but you forced the issue with the tone of your response.

        2
        Reply
        • User 401527550

          11 months ago

          You didn’t even make sense. Move on too something else.

          Reply
        • Flanster

          11 months ago

          At this stage, who HAVEN’T you muted?

          Reply
        • mike127

          11 months ago

          Flanster—I can only guess who you are talking about, but if you mute the muter you never have to keep track again. There’s a very viable reason most sites have stopped comment sections altogether. This is one of the lone sites that allow the ability to keep things sane.

          Reply
    • Skeptical

      11 months ago

      Puzzled why you find that “almost unbelievable”. Cutch is in his sixteenth season, not a high percentage of players make it that far let alone remain on the same team. It would be “almost unbelievable”, if there were any player from his rookie season still on the Pirates. This holds true for all teams.

      2
      Reply
    • letitbelowenstein

      11 months ago

      You remind me of Bill (You can call me Ray) Saluga. Trying to be relevant based on one “joke”. Drop it, please.

      Reply
  5. jdgoat

    11 months ago

    I am also perplexed how Ross Ohlendorf isn’t fronting that rotation right now.

    3
    Reply
    • Terry B

      11 months ago

      Dodgers will fight thru all the injuries, they seem to have every year, but the rotation definitely worries me! If Yamamoto comes back healthy I think they have a really good shot at the World Series with a top three of Glasnow, Flaherty and Yamamoto with Kershaw waiting in the shadows if needed. Stone seems to have hit a wall and fallen off and Buehler and Miller can go kick rocks!

      1
      Reply
    • Slibb

      11 months ago

      Paul Maholm, where are you?

      3
      Reply
  6. California 8

    11 months ago

    Ohtani is falling off during the later stages of this season and he is already 30. The contract is going to be a disaster.

    2
    Reply
    • Wire to wire 2024

      11 months ago

      He’s playing mvp caliber baseball and he isn’t even pitching this year. I’m sure years down the road it’ll be bad but they’ll probably get their money’s worth

      Reply
  7. Old York

    11 months ago

    Dodgers are so busy shuffling their deck, you’d think they’re playing poker, not baseball. All this fussin’ over who’s got a sore finger or who needs a scan—back in the day, you’d tape it up and get back in the game.

    1
    Reply
    • DodgersBro

      11 months ago

      OY

      “you’d tape it up and get back in the game.”

      :shakes head:

      Yes. A very smart comment

      Reply
      • Old York

        11 months ago

        @DodgersBro

        Well, I’m just callin’ it like I see it. Seems like today’s game is more about coddlin’ than playin’. Don’t get me wrong—keeping players healthy is important, but sometimes it feels like they’re more worried about paper cuts than pennants. Back then, grit was part of the game, and a little tape went a long way.

        1
        Reply
        • DodgersBro

          11 months ago

          OY

          “Well, I’m just callin’ it like I see it”

          Of course. And that’s the problem.

          1
          Reply
        • DodgersBro

          11 months ago

          OY

          “I miss the days when a little dirt and determination got you through”

          Seems the attitude of individuals like you are the reason that so many institutions are failing. “If I just try hard, I can do it. Who cares if I’m actually fit for the job or know what I’m doing”

          Sorry that the world has passed you by. And your half a century old high school education isn’t enough any more

          Reply
        • DodgersBro

          11 months ago

          *your

          Reply
        • Old York

          11 months ago

          @DodgersBro

          You said a word salad without saying a thing. Another problem with our current society.

          Funny, how less educated individuals were building America in the 1800 and 1900s and yet nowadays, we can’t build a single thing without taking decades to make a decision. It seems society has regressed since those days.

          2
          Reply
        • DodgersBro

          11 months ago

          OY

          piss off, old man

          Off to mute land with you

          Imagine that, that less educated individuals were building stuff 200 years ago when nobody knew [poop] about anything. And now, you have to actually know something.

          Reply
        • Old York

          11 months ago

          @DodgersBro

          So, less educated individuals built palaces and temples and now we can’t build anything close to that. All we know how to build are rectangular boxes in the sky. Hilarious! Talk about a society regressing.

          Thanks to decades of populist governments we have the so-called most educated society in the world that can’t even come close to building like they used to. Amazing! The old days were much better than they are today.

          1
          Reply
        • DodgersBro

          11 months ago

          OY

          So dumb. Read a book old man

          In the 1800’s you would have had to send this message on a damn horse. Now, you are sending it on a beam of light.

          Get out of here

          Reply
        • Old York

          11 months ago

          @DodgersBro

          A beam of light? That’s what this generation thinks is the internet? Wow! My point exactly…

          Reply
        • Squeeze32

          11 months ago

          Old York has never heard of a fiber optic cable.

          Reply
        • Old York

          11 months ago

          @Squeeze32

          It’s more than a beam of light. My goodness If it was a beam of light, you wouldn’t need all the ridiculous infrastructure to go along with it. Clearly, it’s more than that.

          Reply
        • User 3222006999

          11 months ago

          Be careful Old York. He’s a tad touchy. Probably Feely too. Just a guess.

          1
          Reply
        • Thefrogsaregey

          11 months ago

          You probably think income inequality means something. Lol

          Reply
      • Luis_Fazenda

        11 months ago

        @DodgersBro….

        Old York is actually right. Maybe you’re just too young to remember those days.

        Reply
  8. California 8

    11 months ago

    WHY ON EARTH isn’t James Outman still on the major league roster and batting in the middle of the lineup.

    Reply
    • Luis_Fazenda

      11 months ago

      @DJ LeDoneHieu

      Is that a serious question? Or are you simply trying out new material for Open Mic Night?

      1
      Reply
  9. Thefrogsaregey

    11 months ago

    One of the guys traded for flaherty has a 1200 ops since being traded. Oh, and he is very young for his level. They got owned

    Reply
    • DodgersBro

      11 months ago

      Tfag

      Imagine knowing so little about baseball that you think a 1200 OPS in 64 minor league plate appearances means you “got owned”

      What a pathetic website this is

      1
      Reply
      • Thefrogsaregey

        11 months ago

        Star

        Reply
      • Flanster

        11 months ago

        ….and yet ,here you are!!

        Reply
        • lesterdnightfly

          11 months ago

          Where else should he express his opinions on the Dodgers on this site? On another stupid Aaron Rodgers saga?

          Reply
      • Luis_Fazenda

        11 months ago

        @DodgersBro

        You’ll have to admit it’s not nearly as bad as that loony bin they call Dodgers Nation on FB.

        Reply
        • DodgersBro

          11 months ago

          LF

          “You’ll have to admit it’s not nearly as bad as that loony bin they call Dodgers Nation on FB.”

          Never been there

          So, no, I don’t have to admit it

          Is “FB” Facebook? LOL.

          Reply
        • Luis_Fazenda

          11 months ago

          Yes….and you’re better off for not ever going.

          Reply
        • DodgersBro

          11 months ago

          LF

          On Facebook? Agreed

          I quit like 5 years too late, but better late than never

          1
          Reply
  10. That Baseball Fan

    11 months ago

    My guess is Kiermaier goes. No one claims him and he goes down to AAA until September.

    2
    Reply
    • UWPSUPERFAN77

      11 months ago

      I like your guess! Little Tommy plays that position!

      Reply
      • Luis_Fazenda

        11 months ago

        If Freeman is out for a 10 day stint, Muncy will cover him at 1st, which will likely mean Edman will see time in the infield…which means they’ll need Kiermaier to stick around a bit. I sure do like the guy’s mitt in center.

        1
        Reply
    • Luis_Fazenda

      11 months ago

      My money is Pages optioned, and Ahmed going down.

      Reply
  11. UWPSUPERFAN77

    11 months ago

    Good Luck Braves on Riley. if he is out, you guys are done! Sorry! You are running out of players!

    Reply
  12. David Koufax

    11 months ago

    0.153 that’s why.

    Reply
  13. Dolla Bill

    11 months ago

    Lazy opener today. MRIs and Pirates moves?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Brandon Woodruff To Start For Brewers On Sunday

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Yordan Alvarez Shut Down Due To Setback With Hand Injury

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Tucker Barnhart To Retire

    Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline

    Reds Release Jeimer Candelario

    Dave Parker Passes Away

    Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles

    Pirates Reportedly Have Very Few Untouchable Players At Trade Deadline

    Recent

    Giants Activate Matt Chapman, DFA Sergio Alcantara

    Nationals Reinstate Mason Thompson From 60-Day IL

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Rangers To Sign Rowdy Tellez To Minor League Deal

    Yankees Likely To Promote Cam Schlittler

    Astros Sign Hector Neris

    Dodgers Not Planning To Add Third Base Help Before Deadline

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Blue Jays Place Yimi Garcia On 15-Day Injured List

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version