On top of all the rumors in the run-up to tomorrow’s trade deadline, here are three other things to keep an eye on today:
1. Acuna to undergo MRI:
Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr. is already on the injured list due to an issue with his right Achilles tendon, but David O’Brien of The Athletic writes that Acuna is flying back to Atlanta today in order to undergo an MRI on the ailing area to determine the severity of the issue. Acuna has had plenty of trouble with lower-half injuries in the past. He suffered ACL tears in both 2021 and 2024, and with Atlanta buried in the playoff race there’s little reason not to act with an abundance of caution. The 27-year-old has hit at an otherworldly pace since his return from the injured list back in May, posting a .309/.430/.582 slash line with 14 homers in just 54 games.
2. Cubs roster moves incoming:
Longtime Cubs left fielder Ian Happ exited yesterday’s loss to the Brewers after fouling a ball off of his shin, and while Jesse Rogers of ESPN reports that x-rays on the affected area came back negative, it still seems as though Happ is ticketed for a trip to the injured list. Catcher/designated hitter Moises Ballesteros is set to be promoted to the majors, according to a report from Rogers. He’d likely take over DH duties while Seiya Suzuki covers for Happ in left field.
3. Trade deadline impact on probable starters:
White Sox right-hander Adrian Houser is set to make what will likely be his final start for the South Siders tonight, as the Phillies and right-hander Taijuan Walker (who has a 3.84 ERA in a swing role this year) look to take the series after winning last night’s game. Of course, with tomorrow’s deadline looming, there’s a chance Houser doesn’t actually make that start. Other feasible trade candidates slated to take the mound tonight include Rays righty Zack Littell, Marlins righty Cal Quantrill, A’s southpaw Jeffrey Springs and Nationals ace MacKenzie Gore. Each of those teams might feel a bit of extra urgency to push a deal across the line before their pitchers take the mound (although Gore, specifically, is a long shot to be moved).
Meanwhile, right-hander Chris Paddack is poised to make his first start for the Tigers today after being acquired from the Twins alongside Randy Dobnak earlier this week. Paddack’s first opponent as a Tiger will be Arizona left-hander Ryne Nelson, who has a 3.29 ERA in a swing role this season.
Acuna is entering Stanton territory. He’s going to leave a potential HOF career on the IL.
I.E. marshmallow territory!
Somebody answer this question honestly:
Why wouldn’t the Cubs bring up Caissie to give him some MLB at bats and can actually play the OF, Instead of bringing up a guy that can play no position really, and can only play at DH? Does that make sense to anybody? I’ll wait.
Hitting is all that’s needed right now and Ballesteros is the better pure hitter. Also, Caissie is still running a 30%-ish K rate in AAA. He’s likely to need a longer runway to get going in MLB with that approach. There’s also value in getting Seiya some outfield reps to keep that part of his game from going stale.
Not even saying I disagree with your argument, but this is the counterargument.
Caissie has been raking at AAA. Even if the Cubs thought about bringing him up a week or two ago, any downturn at the MLB level would reduce his status at a trade chip.
Octane I really doubt the cubs are planning on trading him and that playing poorly in a brief stint world hurt his value much.
Yeah, I thought Caissie was their Tucker replacement in waiting. Hard to imagine the Cubs would trade him unless they got a ridiculously overwhelming return.
Yea, it makes sense. Ballesteros can actually hit. Suzuki is good enough in the outfield. This is the better alignment.
That’s what you think until Justin Turner is the one who actually gets the ABs.
Ehhh( Buzzer sound) -The correct answer is if Caissie comes up and rakes it makes your newly re signed POBO look bad for trading for Tucker. Defense rests
Can’t imagine how acquiring Tucker could ever be a bad look.
Y’all are also under appreciating Caissie’s passivity and whiff issues. He’s going to get eaten alive on his first run through the league.
Sadly we’ll never know. Hoyers ego has to be massaged. And I’ll stop when he starts doing things that help the CUBS and not his” Look”. Even if you’re right and he struggles isn’t it better to give him a look now so he’s ready next year? Assuming he’s still here of course. Hoyer may just trade him to remove the botch he’s made of the whole thing. It would only be ten days.
How you look bad: When Tucker signs elsewhere and the player you traded skips AAA and wins the ROY.
“How you look bad”…The only way to guarantee that you never “look bad” is to never attempt anything.
People who are fearful of “looking bad” will generally never accomplish much.
Nope. It makes zero sense Mike. He should’ve been on this team from the Tokyo Series. Or at least some point early on in April/May
Welccome to you new 4th OF- Drum roll- Vidal Brutal
Yo Unc, Brujan DFA’d, Happ not going to the IL Bally is already in Milwaukee.
Jammer- So if something happens to one of the OF’s who plays OF? Worse yet, What if it’s PCA? This seems like a 1 game fix and with an off day tomorrow and it’s deadline day, Something has to change and fast. Hoyer better have a real good day tomorrow. Not missing Vidal Brutal at all but what took so long?
That is a good question. Personally I would’ve still put Happ on the IL DFA’d Brujan and called up ONKC for Happ. Stressly Pressly needs to go too. I wish Birdsell wasn’t hurt. I wanna see what he has.
Birdsell has a shot putter delivery and mostly they don’t have great control and I don’t really like them. Carson Fullmer was the same way for the Sox. But Birdsell is an exception and he has had great control so far. However since he’s been on rehab his control has been bad and I fear it’s going to take longer for him to get his mojo back than normal. Think we can forget about him this year.
I’m okay with waiting. He’s still young. It’s cool that I share a birthday with him. 15 years apart.
The Cubs just can’t seem to develop pitching. I miss the days of Big Z and Wood and Prior.
The Cubs have pitching up and down the system just nobody talks about them and I watch them all. However you only need about 10 starters and the Cubs have to start developing some guys for the bullpen. For instance Wiggins could be called up right now if they only use him in relief. He has MLB stuff that would play for an inning and save his workload. But that would take a gutsy guy at the top to make that move. And well you know……………,The Cubs need relievers from the system who are optionable. In other words they need a plan and well you know………………..
In fact Assad and Amaya are playing for Iowa right now.
The way Caissie has been playing, Cubs will be forced to bring him up at some point this season, even if it’s just a cup of coffee.
And it’s he’s not traded. If he’s traded, the chances are high that he immediately starts in the bigs.
Maybe one reason they’re not bringing Caissie up is because he’s on a plane headed to another franchise tonight… I’m hoping that’s not the case, but clearly it’s a possibility.
That said, they need to find a 4th outfielder before the deadline…
I agree 💯!
Seiya. Outfield.
Balesteros DH.
YUP!
If they give him the rest of the year off and let him heal completely and he starts out red hot next year a Soto type haul at the deadline would get this team back on track. They have some other really good pieces that would have them in Nationals territory (wood, Abram’s, gore) but still be holding Baldwin, Murphy, Riley, Olson and Harris. The nationals didn’t have that kind of core to add to. Those 3 guys have became that core.
The odds of an Acuna trade working out as well for the Braves as the Soto deal did for the Nats seem very very low.
Usually when its a package of prospects, first year players, they don’t all seemingly hit their ceiling or close to it. The only other trade that comes to mind as a comparable of that happening is when Cleveland traded Bartolo Colon and got back Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips.
The players Cleveland got back also didn’t all take off as quickly as the Soto pieces did either. The trade happened in 2002, Sizemore and Lee broke out in 2005, while Phillips did in 2007, but he had been traded to the Reds.
Sucks Acuna is hurt again! I don’t think it’s a given that he is now Stanton or Trout on the injury front, but hopefully some changes can be made to prevent him from getting there.
Braves need to start putting the plan together for the 2029 roster. Either extend Acuna or start listening on offers for him. Don’t have to pull the trigger immediately but we need to focus on 2029
Ryne Nelson is a RHP — and a damn good one!
For the record, White Sox SP Adrain Houser’s potential last start ahead of the trade deadline versus the Phillies is scheduled to begin at 1:10 PM CT. A stormy Chicago weather forecast could push back that start time.
I wouldn’t even risk pitching him.
Ryne Nelson is a RH pitcher, not a lefty as the article states ….
OOF. I would offer to proofread these articles prior to publication for a nominal sum. I am available 365 days.
As expected, Trout Jr. is back on the IL.
You are right about RAJ, however he was hurt in the bases Monday and let coaches know but didn’t want to miss any more time and the coach ran him back out Tuesday to further aggravate the inflammation in his heel in what is a meaningless game for the team at this point!!!
Houser will either be a Yankee or blue Jay by end of the day…
I’m picking SD or LAA.
Arte still thinks Angels are contenders.
Spencer Jones (I think that’s his name). Currently Houser is a top line starter.
“Although Gore, specifically, is a long shot to be moved” is a disaster. “Specifically” shouldn’t be in the sentence.