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Archives for July 2025

Tigers Sign Luke Jackson, Designate Geoff Hartlieb

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The Tigers have signed Luke Jackson to a one-year, Major League contract, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press.  Jackson signed a one-year, $1.35MM deal with the Rangers last winter and Texas is still responsible for most of the remaining salary still owed to the right-hander, with Detroit covering just the prorated portion of the MLB minimum salary.  Right-hander Geoff Hartlieb was designated for assignment in the corresponding moves on the 26-man and 40-man rosters.  (The transactions were first noted earlier today by MLive.com’s Evan Woodbery and other members of the Tigers beat, who noted that Jackson had a locker and Hartlieb didn’t in the Detroit clubhouse.)

The Rangers just released Jackson yesterday following a two-day DFA period, so the righty not only quickly landed a new contract, but Jackson will get the opportunity to carve a niche for himself on a Tigers team in sore need of bullpen help.  Detroit has lost 11 of its last 12 games, and the relief corps’ 7.04 ERA over that stretch has been a lead cause in what has become a major slump.  Relief pitching is a clear priority heading into the deadline, and Jackson may be one of several bullpen additions that could be coming to Motown before July 31.

Jackson posted a 4.11 ERA and 53.8% grounder rate over 35 innings with Texas this season.  That excellent grounder rate, some decent batted-ball luck (.272 BABIP), and an above-average 7.5% barrel rate helped Jackson limit the damage despite strikeout (15.8%) and walk (12.5%) rates that ranked near the bottom of the league.  Control has long been an issue for Jackson, but the lack of whiffs is a surprise, as he had a 27.1 K% over 289 2/3 innings during the 2018-24 seasons.  His overall effectiveness has tended to hinge on the success of his slider, and Jackson’s primary offering has only a -1 in Statcast’s Pitch Value metric this season.

While Jackson hasn’t looked very sharp, groundball specialists tend to have an even wider range of variance than most relievers.  It was just in 2023 that Jackson had a 2.97 ERA in 33 1/3 innings for the Giants, and his 1.98 ERA over 63 2/3 innings for the 2021 Braves played a key role in Atlanta’s path to the World Series.  At the cost of essentially nothing, there’s little risk for the Tigers in taking a flier on Jackson to see if a change of scenery can help him get on track.

Hartlieb signed a minor league deal with Detroit two weeks ago, and he had a 9.00 ERA over two appearances and two innings with the Tigers at the MLB level when his contract was selected two days ago.  A frequent visitor to DFA limbo, Hartlieb has been designated three times just within the last month — today’s move off the Tigers’ roster, and two previous instances when pitching with the Yankees.

Hartlieb declined outright assignments after clearing waivers in each of those two earlier DFAs and elected free agency, which is his right as a player who has been previously outrighted in his career.  Chances are he’ll elect free agency again, and perhaps either re-sign with the Tigers on another minors deal or look elsewhere for another landing spot.  Since Hartlieb is out of minor league options, he might well face more DFAs unless he can pitch consistently well enough to pitch in a big league bullpen.

Hartlieb has an ungainly 21.60 ERA in 3 1/3 total innings with New York and Detroit this season, boosting his career ERA to 7.95 over 82 2/3 innings with six different Major League clubs.  His 3.13 ERA over 37 1/3 Triple-A innings this year is much more palatable, and it could get Hartlieb another look from a team as at least minor league depth.

Phillies Interested In Eugenio Suarez

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The Phillies have had some talks with the Diamondbacks about third baseman Eugenio Suarez, according to Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer.  It isn’t clear whether or not the discussions are anything more than due diligence on the Phillies’ part, but Philadelphia can now be added to a lengthy list of teams with some degree of interest in the slugger.

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman raised Suarez as a “potential fit” for the Phils yesterday, since the club is in need of third base help with Alec Bohm on the 10-day injured list.  Putting Suarez in between the powerful left-handed hitting duo of Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber would only add more balance and pop to the lineup, and make it even harder for opposing pitchers and managers to navigate through what is already a dangerous Philadelphia lineup.

Since Bohm is expected back from his fractured rib roughly halfway through August, however, Lauber notes that adding Suarez would create a bit of a positional logjam.  Harper and Schwarber have the first base and DH spots locked down, so there would be nowhere for Bohm and Suarez to both play unless Schwarber was moved into left field.  Harper doesn’t appear to be a candidate for a return to outfield work, as Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski stated last month.

Speculatively, the Phillies could clear space by trading Bohm himself, though such a deal would naturally be trickier since Bohm is on the IL.  It is possible Bohm could head to Arizona as part of a Suarez trade package, as adding Bohm would help the D’Backs fill some at-bats at first base since Josh Naylor has been traded, and Bohm could provide cover at third base if Jordan Lawlar runs into more struggles at the MLB level.  Bohm is arbitration-eligible for the final time this winter, so this extra year of team control might appeal to the Diamondbacks or other teams looking for corner infield help.

Since the Diamondbacks are also shopping several of their outfielders, it is possible the two sides could work out a multi-player deal that would see the Phillies add both Suarez and some outfield help in one fell swoop.  Lauber writes that Arizona was scouting Mick Abel’s most recent Triple-A start, which again could be due diligence or a signal that the D’Backs (known to be pursuing pitching) have a particular interest in Abel as a trade chip.

Dombrowski is no stranger to bold trades, so the Phillies can’t be entirely ruled out for Suarez until the dust settles.  Money won’t be a factor, as the Phils have already shown they’re more than willing to break the bank in pursuit of a championship.  Suarez is still owed roughly $5.2MM of his $15MM salary for the 2025 season before he heads into free agency.  Since the Phillies are already over the highest level ($301MM) of luxury tax penalization, they’ll pay a 110% tax on every dollar spent beyond the $301MM threshold, so Suarez’s real price tag for the Phillies will be more than $10.5MM.

Rockies Select Warming Bernabel

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TODAY: The Rockies officially announced Bernabel’s selection.

JULY 25: The Rockies are expected to select Warming Bernabel before tomorrow’s game in Baltimore, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com.  Mike Rodriguez first reported that the 23-year-old infielder was being called up. Colorado has an opening on the 40-man roster after the Ryan McMahon trade.

This is Bernabel’s first major league call. He was on Colorado’s 40-man roster during the 2023 season so the Rox could keep him out of the Rule 5 draft. He hit .236/.282/.367 in the minors that year. The Rockies felt comfortable exposing him to waivers and outrighted him off the roster at the end of Spring Training 2024. He spent last season at Double-A Hartford and has played this year with Triple-A Albuquerque.

Bernabel is hitting .301/.356/.450 in his first 75 Triple-A contests. That looks strong on the surface but is below average after accounting for the Pacific Coast League environment. Bernabel has plus bat-to-ball skills but frequently expands the strike zone. That keeps him from making much hard contact. He’s averaging just 84 MPH off the bat in the minors. It’d be tough to make that approach work against big league pitching unless he finds a way to become a lot more selective.

There’s nevertheless little harm for the Rockies in giving a look to a young player who was once a prospect of some note. Bernabel is a primary third baseman and could step into everyday playing time vacated by McMahon’s departure. He also has experience at first base, where Michael Toglia is hitting .197/.266/.359.

Diamondbacks Designate Trevor Richards For Assignment

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The Diamondbacks announced that right-hander Trevor Richards has been designated for assignment.  Left-hander Brandyn Garcia was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding move, and though Garcia was already on the 40-man roster, the DFA may have been necessary since Richards has enough big league service time that he couldn’t be optioned to the minors without his consent.

Arizona signed Richards to a minor league contract in June and selected him to the active roster after the All-Star break, with Richards delivering a 3.38 ERA over two appearances and 2 2/3 innings in a D’Backs uniform.  Richards has signed minors deals with the Cubs, Royals, and Diamondbacks since the start of 2025, and those contracts translated into 5 2/3 total innings at the big league level with Arizona and Kansas City.

A veteran of eight Major League seasons, Richards has a 4.53 ERA over 565 2/3 career innings in the Show with seven different teams.  Richards has worked in a variety of roles (starter, reliever, opener, swingman, long man) over his career, while frequently battling some inconsistent control.  Richards had a 31.3% strikeout rate over 201 innings during the 2021-23 seasons, but that number has dropped sharply to a 21.9 K% in 71 big league frames since the start of the 2024 campaign.

Richards has enough of a track record that an interested team might put in a waiver claim.  Given the timing of the DFA, a claim could come after the July 31 trade deadline, if a club needs to fill a hole in the bullpen.  Richards has been outrighted before, so if he clears waivers, he has the right to reject an outright assignment from the Diamondbacks and instead opt for free agency.

Rays Designate Coco Montes For Assignment

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The Rays announced that infielder/outfielder Coco Montes has been designated for assignment.  The move opens up roster space for Tristan Gray, acquired earlier today in a trade with the White Sox that is now official.

Montes made his Major League debut by playing in 18 games with the Rockies in 2023, and he split his 2024 season between Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate and the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.  Returning to North American ball this past winter, Montes inked a minors contract with the Rays that has resulted five big league appearances and several shuttles back and forth between the Show and Triple-A Durham.

Montes has a .527 OPS over 51 trips to the plate at the MLB level, and he has posted some very strong numbers with the Rockies’ Triple-A team before struggling to a .221/.272/.344 slash over 272 PA in Durham this year.  Between the lack of Triple-A production and four of his maximum five in-year options already used, the Rays were perhaps simply willing to part ways with Montes for a player with a bit more roster flexibility and upside in Gray.

The Rockies outrighted Montes off their 40-man roster near the end of the 2023 season, and that previous outright gives Montes some leverage in his next career step.  If he clears waivers and the Rays try to outright him to Triple-A, Montes has the right to reject that assignment and become a free agent.

Phillies Acquire Brewer Hicklen, Designate Ryan Cusick

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The Phillies announced a trade with the Tigers that will see outfielder Brewer Hicklen head to Philadelphia in exchange for cash considerations.  In the corresponding roster move, the Phils designated right-hander Ryan Cusick for assignment.

Hicklen was designated for assignment by Detroit earlier this week, and he’ll now head to the Phillies for the second time in his career.  Philadelphia previously acquired Hicklen back in August 2023 in a trade with the Royals, and the outfielder didn’t get any MLB playing time before becoming a minor league agent following the season.  Hicklen signed a minor league deal with Milwaukee in November 2023, and the novelty of Brewer playing for the Brewers lasted until this past March, when the Brewers designated him for assignment and the Tigers acquired Hicklen in another cash trade off the waiver wire.

Hicklen has appeared in 10 MLB games (with 17 plate appearances) over parts of three seasons, including a single game with Detroit this year.  He has a .242/.351/.466 slash line over 1598 career PA at the Triple-A level, though his output at Triple-A Toledo (.227/.335/.394 in 254 PA) has been more modest in 2025.  A heavy dose of strikeouts has limited Hicklen’s offensive output over his career, though speed is his primary calling card, with 118 steals to show for 129 attempts in the minors.

Between that baserunning prowess and his ability to play all three outfield positions, Hicklen is an interesting depth piece for the Phillies to stash at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.  He has appeal as a pinch-running bench specialist for the stretch run or during the playoffs, and Hicklen could be a replacement in Lehigh Valley if top prospect Justin Crawford gets the call to the majors in the near future.  The Phillies are known to be looking for outfield help at the trade deadline, but they could address that need from within by giving Crawford his first crack at the Show.

Cusick has now been designated four times in the last two months, and the three previous trips to DFA limbo resulted in Cusick changing teams on waiver claims.  Beginning the season on the Athletics’ roster, Cusick went from the A’s to the Tigers to the White Sox to the Phillies, with the right-hander’s arrival in Philadelphia coming in early June.  Through it all, Cusick has a 7.99 ERA over 23 2/3 combined minor league innings in 2025, so his frequent roster changes might well be having an impact on his performance.

Selected 24th overall by the Braves in the 2021 draft, Cusick went to the A’s as part of the Matt Olson trade package.  He is still awaiting his MLB debut after amassing a 5.40 ERA over 246 2/3 minor league innings, as Cusick has been hampered by some severe control issues.  Past history suggests he could again get claimed by another team looking for bullpen depth, and Cusick’s first-round pedigree is recent enough that he might still have some late-bloomer appeal.

Aaron Judge Undergoing Testing For “Elbow Issue”

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Aaron Judge isn’t in the Yankees’ starting lineup, as manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including YES Network’s Jack Curry, NJ Advance Media’s Max Goodman, and the New York Post’s Joel Sherman) that the superstar is undergoing testing on what Boone described as an “elbow issue.”  Judge had some difficulty making throws from right field in yesterday’s 12-5 loss to the Phillies, so the scans were ordered to examine what exactly is wrong with the reigning AL MVP’s right arm.

It appears as though the injury initially took place in Tuesday’s 5-4 win over the Blue Jays, as Judge was seen grimacing after making a throw from deep right field.  Boone said Judge seemed to be feeling fine after Thursday’s off-day, yet the discomfort resurfaced during Friday’s game.

More will be known when the results of the tests are in, and Boone didn’t comment on the seriousness of the potential injury.  Needless to say, the Yankees and their fans are dearly hoping that Judge’s elbow doesn’t have any structural damage, as a significant injury would be devastating to New York’s postseason chances, let alone its chances of a return trip to the World Series.

Judge is in the midst of yet another incredible season, as he leads the majors in all three slash categories (.342/.449/.711), hits (129), total bases (268), and both fWAR (7.2) and bWAR (6.8).  Judge has an unreal 208 wRC+, which would be tied for 15th on the all-time single-season wRC+ list.  It would also mark the third time in the last four seasons that Judge has topped the 200 wRC+ mark, following his 206 wRC+ in 2022 and his 219 wRC+ in 2024.  Those other two seasons saw Judge win AL MVP honors, and he and the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh are far and away the top two favorites for this year’s award.

A stint on the injured list could throw a wrench into the MVP race, but more importantly, into the Yankees’ hopes of contention.  New York’s once-healthy lead in the AL East has been erased by a 14-22 record over its last 36 games, and a subsequent surge by the Blue Jays has elevated Toronto to both the best record in baseball and 5.5-game advantage over the Yankees in the AL East.  The Yankees are still the top AL wild card team, though their 56-47 record doesn’t provide much cushion over the Rangers, whose 54-50 record leads the list of American League clubs below the playoff line.

A day-to-day type of injury for Judge would therefore still hamper the Yankees, even if it naturally represents the best-case scenario in the bigger picture.  The Bronx Bombers’ next off-day isn’t until August 7, so the team doesn’t even have the benefit of a break in the schedule to give Judge some built-in rest.  If the soreness persists for Judge, a 10-day IL stint might be in the cards for precautionary reasons, even if the scans come back clean.

On paper, the Yankees have enough depth to manage this scenario.  Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Jasson Dominguez become the everyday outfield trio, and Giancarlo Stanton and Ben Rice split the DH at-bats, with potentially a new right-handed hitting infield type also added to the depth chart to bring more balance to a lineup that would tilt even further to the left if Judge is sidelined.  This is probably enough to get the team by over a short-term absence for Judge, and perhaps the one silver lining to the situation is that it came in advance of the trade deadline, so the front office can adjust their buying plans if Judge will indeed miss time.

That said, obviously there’s no way to actually replace a talent like Judge.  If he is forced to miss an extended amount of time, it isn’t a reach to suggest that the injury could torpedo New York’s season.  While the Yankees have some of the best overall offensive numbers of any team in baseball, Judge is such a singular focal point within the lineup that losing him would suddenly put the spotlight on the more inconsistent nature of New York’s other hitters.

Rays Acquire Tristan Gray From White Sox

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The Rays have acquired infielder Tristan Gray in a trade with the White Sox, FanSided’s Robert Murray reports.  Chicago will receive cash considerations in return.

It’s a return trip to Tampa Bay for Gray, who made his MLB debut in the form of two games with the Rays in September 2023.  He followed that cup of coffee in the Show with a slightly longer stint of 15 games last season, split between the Marlins (seven games) and the Athletics (eight games).  This limited playing time resulted in 36 plate appearances for Gray at the big league level, and only a .152/.222/.273 career slash line.

Gray went from Miami to Oakland on a waiver claim last August, and he was then picked off the waiver wire again by the Pirates in October, before being released and signing on with the White Sox on a minors deal in the offseason.  The Sox selected Gray’s contract to the active roster for a couple of days earlier this month, but he was optioned back to Triple-A Charlotte before getting any official game action for Chicago.

Gray moves on with some pretty strong Triple-A numbers to show for his time in the White Sox organization, as he hit .270/.333/.472 over 282 PA in Charlotte.  This boosts his career Triple-A slash line to .242/.310/.472 in 2050 PA, and beyond his limited bat, Gray has amassed a lot of playing time at all four infield positions.  The trade gives the Rays a familiar left-handed hitting name back on the depth chart as the team evaluates its infield situation in advance of the trade deadline.

Cubs Interested In Adrian Houser

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Just 11 months after being released by the Cubs, Adrian Houser may be a candidate to return to Wrigleyville.  The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney writes that Houser is one of many pitchers the Cubs “are considering” as deadline upgrades.

The Cubs got a first-hand look at Houser just last night, as he tossed 6 2/3 innings while allowing three earned runs on five hits and three walks in a 12-5 White Sox win over the crosstown rivals.  It was Houser’s ninth quality start in 11 outings this season, resulting in a sterling 2.10 ERA for the veteran right-hander over 68 2/3 innings.  Houser’s 4.51 SIERA is much less flattering, as he has achieved his success despite a middling walk rate and a 17.1% strikeout rate that ranks only in the 15th percentile of all pitchers.

Houser has also allowed a lot of hard contact, but he has done a good job of avoiding the most damaging types of contact, as his 4.9% barrel rate is one of the league’s best.  The righty has also limited fly balls altogether, with a very solid 47.3% grounder rate.  His signature sinker continues to be a very effective pitcher, and while Houser’s 95.1mph fastball is only slightly above league average velo-wise, it represents the highest velocity of Houser’s nine MLB seasons.

Even if some regression is inevitable, Houser has at least bounced back nicely from a rough 2024 season.  He posted a 5.84 ERA over 69 1/3 innings with the Mets before being designated for assignment and then released in late July.  The Cubs and Orioles each signed Houser to minor league deals over the remainder of the 2024 season but he didn’t receive any big league playing time with either club.  Another minors deal with the Rangers in the offseason also didn’t go anywhere and he was released by Texas in mid-May, but soon landed with the White Sox on a guaranteed one-year deal worth a prorated $1.35MM salary.

That contract has ended up being a tremendous bargain for the Sox, who now look to further benefit by flipping Houser before the July 31 trade deadline.  The return will be pretty limited for a rental pitcher with Houser’s spotty Statcast metrics and career history, but the 32-year-old has certainly performed well enough to get onto the radar of the many contenders that in search of rotation help.

The Cubs have one of baseball’s best lineups, so improving the rotation and bullpen has been the team’s chief goal as the deadline approaches.  Houser has worked as a swingman and long reliever in the past, so he could help Chicago in both regards depending on how the Cubs might choose to deploy him, or depending on what other arms could be joining Houser either as deadline adds or as internal returns.  As Mooney notes, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad are on track to return from the injured list in August, but that won’t be until well after the deadline, and the Cubs need pitching help now in their battle with the Brewers for the NL Central lead.

Dylan Cease and Mitch Keller are among the starters who have been linked to the Cubs on the rumor mill.  Chicago is also heavily involved in the bullpen market and is reportedly looking for third base help, so president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has plenty of plates in the air this close to July 31.  If the Cubs invest more of their trade capital in landing a third baseman or a blue chip reliever, Houser represents more of a less expensive backup plan for the rotation in terms of both salary owed and trade cost.

White Sox Notes: Robert, Taylor

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Since being activated from the 10-day injured list following a minor hamstring strain, Luis Robert Jr. has hit .982 OPS over his last 43 plate appearances, only adding to the speculation that he’ll be traded at the deadline.  This hot streak has lifted Robert’s season-long wRC+ to only 77, but since he is continuing to mash left-handed pitching, rack up stolen bases, and display decent glovework in center field, there is more longer-term evidence beyond just the last couple of weeks that Robert could be a valuable asset to a potential trade suitor.

Though Robert has been mentioned in trade rumors for years, and the White Sox have maintained a high asking price on the outfielder even as he struggled through an injury-marred 2024 season and delivered little at the plate for most of the 2025 campaign.  Robert is in the final guaranteed year of his contract, but since Chicago holds $20MM club options on Robert for both 2026 and 2027, the Sox are “operating as if they will have [Robert] under contract for two more years,” FanSided’s Robert Murray writes.  As such, Murray also hears from sources that the White Sox “are not operating with a ’get something while we can stance.’ ”

Some gamesmanship could obviously be at play here, as naturally it hurts Chicago’s leverage if the club is even hinting at any desperation to move Robert before the deadline.  It was also a little over a month ago that the White Sox were reportedly offering to include some money in trades for Robert or Andrew Benintendi to help offset their salaries, and if the club is still operating with this mindset, that is more clearer evidence that the Sox would probably prefer to move Robert sooner rather than later.

Robert’s struggles over the last two seasons have left Sox GM Chris Getz in a tough spot, as he has been unable to find an acceptably high return for a player who (on paper) is one of Chicago’s best trade assets.  Coming off an All-Star season in 2023, Robert’s contractual control was seen as a major plus, yet those $20MM club options now loom as complicated decisions for the White Sox and any teams who may be interested in swinging a deal by July 31.  Those option years make Robert more than a rental in Getz’s eyes, but other clubs might only be willing to give up relatively little for a player they might not view as a long-term piece.

If the Sox really are viewing Robert as a player controlled through 2027, it adds credence to the idea that the team will exercise at least the first of those options.  With a $2MM buyout involved, picking up the option is an $18MM decision for the White Sox, and seemingly a pretty steep price for such an inconsistent player.  Such a scenario would seem more likely if Robert were to keep hitting well over the season’s final two months, but that isn’t something the White Sox can count on as we sit within a week of the trade deadline.  Not trading Robert by July 31 and then declining the club option, however, would mean that Chicago would be lose Robert for nothing.

One player who seems far less likely to be moved at the deadline is Grant Taylor, the rookie right-hander who has a 3.93 ERA over his first 18 1/3 Major League innings.  A source tells The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that rival teams have been “all over” the Sox about Taylor’s availability, yet the team has barely been willing to even entertain these offers for obvious reasons.

A second-round pick for Chicago in the 2023 draft, Taylor made his big league debut on June 10 and has already opened a lot of eyes around baseball.  A .341 BABIP and a low 61.9% strand rate could account for Taylor’s uninspiring ERA, as his SIERA is a much more impressive 2.50.  Taylor also has a 31.5% strikeout rate, an 8.2% walk rate, and a fastball that averages 99mph.

With a Tommy John surgery and a significant lat strain already on Taylor’s health history, he has logged only 64 1/3 pro innings to date, as the White Sox have eased him into game action primarily as a reliever.  He has appeared in relief in 14 of his 15 big league games, with his lone “start” coming as an opener.  Taylor has already recorded three saves, so a future as a closer might be in the cards if starting pitching doesn’t work out.  Until the White Sox know what they have in Taylor, it doesn’t make sense for the rebuilding club to move such an intriguing long-term building block, even if it seems like Chicago could already land a massive trade return if Taylor was moved in the near future.

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