Blue Jays To Acquire Simeon Woods Richardson From Twins
6:42pm: The Twins will acquire cash considerations in return, Bannon reports.
6:31pm: The Blue Jays are acquiring right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson back from the Twins, reports Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Minnesota designated him for assignment over the weekend.
It’s the second time the Toronto front office has acquired Woods Richardson. The first came as a prospect back in 2019, when the Jays acquired him from the Mets as part of the Marcus Stroman deal. Woods Richardson was one of the better pitching prospects in MLB and found himself in another notable deadline trade two years later. Toronto packaged him and then-top prospect Austin Martin to Minnesota in ’21 for José Berríos.
More to come.
Angels Re-Sign Joey Lucchesi On Minor League Deal
The Angels announced they’ve re-signed reliever Joey Lucchesi to a minor league contract. He’d been released from his previous deal yesterday, presumably after triggering an opt-out clause.
Lucchesi has been on and off the roster since the end of Spring Training. He was in camp with the Giants on a minor league deal, opting out when San Francisco informed him he wouldn’t make the roster. Lucchesi signed a big league deal with the Halos and was on the Opening Day club. He was designated for assignment a couple weeks into the season.
The 6’5″ southpaw cleared waivers, elected free agency, then returned on a minor league deal. He was called back up in late April and the cycle repeated itself. Lucchesi returned on a second minor league contract after another quick DFA and free agent stint. He has made five MLB appearances this year, allowing six runs on seven hits and six walks over 3 1/3 innings.
Lucchesi has logged 18 frames with Salt Lake. He carries a 4.50 earned run average with a strong 28% strikeout rate against a manageable 9.9% walk percentage. They’re decent numbers overall, though he issued three walks and gave up two runs in his most recent appearance. He’ll re-join Tayler Saucedo and the just optioned Sam Aldegheri as depth options with the Bees. The Halos are carrying Drew Pomeranz, Brent Suter and Mitch Farris in the big league bullpen.
Corbin Burnes Suffers Teres Major Strain, Likely Out Until September
Diamondbacks right-hander Corbin Burnes has suffered a teres major strain and will be shut down from his throwing progression. Manager Torey Lovullo says Burnes probably won’t be back until September with this setback. Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic was among those to relay the news.
The righty underwent Tommy John surgery in June of last year. That procedure normally comes with a recovery period of 14 months or longer, which would have put Burnes in line for a return in August. He was optimistic about beating that, telling reporters in February that he expected he could return around the All-Star break in July. He faced live hitters last week, per Piecoro, but any hope of a July return is now dashed.
It’s an unfortunate development for Burnes and the Diamondbacks, as both parties were hoping he could be a late-season factor. Lovullo didn’t rule him out for the season but he now has an even tighter window to make an impact on the 2026 season.
Arizona will continue with a starting five of Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, Michael Soroka, Eduardo Rodriguez and Ryne Nelson. It hasn’t been a great group overall but has been one of the better rotations in the National League over the past month. All aside from Gallen have pitched well of late, but Soroka is the only one missing bats at an average or better rate. Nelson has also worked around one of the highest home run rates in MLB.
It feels fairly tenuous and there’s very little in terms of rotation depth. Prospects Mitch Bratt, Kohl Drake and Dylan Ray are all on the 40-man roster and at Triple-A Reno. None of those three have pitched in MLB, and only Drake (who has an ERA above 8.00) is currently healthy. There’s not much to be done right now beyond hoping the rest of the rotation stays healthy. Arizona is four games above .500 and currently holds the NL’s final Wild Card spot. If they can hang in the postseason picture, adding a starter at the deadline feels like a must.
This also all but ensures what already looked like an obvious call for Burnes not to opt out of the remaining four years and $140MM on his six-year free agent deal. There was an outside chance Burnes could’ve considered that if he made a seamless return from the elbow surgery and dominated in the second half — especially with a dismal free agent class after Tarik Skubal. That’s not going to happen anymore. Gallen and Soroka are impending free agents (the latter after his mutual option is bought out), so the D-Backs will need a healthy Burnes in 2027.
Angels Select Shaun Anderson
The Angels announced that they have selected the contract of right-hander Shaun Anderson. He’ll take the active roster spot of left-hander Sam Aldegheri, who was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake after last night’s game. Catcher Travis d’Arnaud was transferred to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man spot.
Anderson has been bouncing on and off the Halos’ roster for most of the past two years. Since he is out of options, he needs to be removed from the 40-man roster when the Angels want to swap him out for another pitcher. This is the fifth time he has been selected to the roster since the start of 2025. He gives the bullpen a fresh arm and is usually designated for assignment after a few appearances. Each time, he has cleared waivers, elected free agency and then re-signed.
It’s not just the Angels and Anderson who have this kind of arrangement. Carlos Carrasco has been doing a similar thing in Atlanta, ditto Albert Suárez in Baltimore. While those players would probably prefer more stable MLB gigs, the fact that they keep clearing waivers indicates no one is willing to give them that kind of job. In this setup, at least they get sporadic hits of major league pay and service time. The teams, meanwhile, effectively get a 41st man on their 40-man rosters.
Last night, Grayson Rodriguez started for the Angels and only lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing eight earned runs in the process. Aldegheri came in and pitched 5 1/3 scoreless frames to finish the game, throwing 89 pitches. Since Aldegheri wasn’t going to be available for the next few days, the Angels have added Anderson so that they won’t be short-handed in the bullpen.
Anderson has a 6.35 earned run average in 180 career innings, dating back to his 2019 debut with the Giants. Since the start of 2025, when his run with the Angels began, he has a 7.71 ERA in 28 innings. He’s been throwing four to five innings in his recent minor league appearances, so he gives the club an option for long relief if they need one again in the near future.
As for d’Arnaud, he landed on the 10-day IL on May 7th due to right foot plantar fasciitis. His 60-day count is retroactive to that date, so he’s ineligible to be reinstated until early July. His current status isn’t clear but the Angels evidently don’t expect him back for at least another month.
Photo courtesy of Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images
The Pirates Finally Have an Offense
No team scored less often in 2025 than the Pirates. Of course, that wasn’t anything new. Since Pittsburgh’s playoff drought began in 2016, only one team, the Marlins, has scored fewer runs. The 2016 season was the last time the Bucs ranked among the top half of NL teams in scoring, while 2018 was the last time they finished a season with an OPS above the NL average. In recent years, the easiest way to sound like a broken record in Pirates circles was to ask when the team was going to give their talented young pitchers the kind of run support they deserved.
Through 61 games in 2026, it’s starting to sound like Ben Cherington and Co. have finally taken that broken vinyl off the player. The Pirates rank among the league’s top eight in all three triple-slash categories (BA, OBP, & SLG), as well as walks, wOBA, xwOBA, OPS, and wRC+. They also lead the majors in stolen base success rate, while their 61 steals rank third. Most importantly, all of that hitting, walking, and running is helping them drive runs across the plate. Pittsburgh is averaging 5.1 runs per contest, fifth in MLB.
The team’s top producers have been a nice combination of homegrown heroes and shiny new toys. Bryan Reynolds, the longest-tenured Pirate, leads the team with a .403 on-base percentage; among qualified outfielders, only Mike Trout and James Wood have reached base at a higher rate. Acquired in the 2018 Andrew McCutchen trade, Reynolds broke out as a star in 2019 and ’21, his first two full seasons. However, his next few years were more good than great, and his 2025 campaign was genuinely disappointing; he saw his wRC+ dip below league average, while his .157 isolated power (ISO) was the lowest of his career. He hardly resembled the middle-of-the-order bat who convinced a famously stingy organization to open the purse strings and sign him to the largest contract in franchise history (at the time) a few years back. Through the first two months of 2026, Reynolds looks like that kind of player again. His power numbers are still down, but he’s compensating with discipline. He walked 57 times in 2025, 57 times in 2024, 53 times in 2023, and 56 times in 2022. This year, the switch-hitter has already drawn 44 free passes, and Pittsburgh has 101 games left to play. Add in his four hit-by-pitches, and he’s on pace to stroll to first base nearly 130 times in 2026; his previous career-high is 83. All told, the offensive production is right up there with that of his best years: an .835 OPS and a 138 wRC+.
While Reynolds is bringing the walks, another resurgent veteran is bringing the power. Brandon Lowe, acquired in a three-team trade this winter, leads the club in home runs, extra-base hits, and wRC+. His 15 long balls are tied for fourth in the National League. If he keeps hitting them at this rate, he’ll be the Pirates’ first 40-homer hitter since Willie Stargell in 1973, and it isn’t unrealistic to think he can pull that off. Lowe has always had big power, but frequent injuries have held him back; he hit 31 home runs in 134 games last year and 39 in 149 games in 2021. The fact that PNC Park isn’t very homer-friendly hasn’t hurt him either. Instead, it’s helped him hit 12 doubles, putting him on pace for a new career-high in total bases and extra-base hits.
There’s no one Reynolds or Lowe has driven in more often than Oneil Cruz, who leads the Pirates in runs scored and RBI. Cruz is a flawed player. He’s struck out in more than one-third of his trips to the plate, and he drives too many balls straight into the ground. The thing is, those flaws are almost trivial when the 6-foot-7 Cruz is making the most of his ridiculous strength and speed. His 119-mph double from April 16 remains the hardest batted ball any player has hit this year – and that’s still nearly 4 mph slower than Cruz’s personal best (which is also the Statcast-era record). In 2026, Cruz has taken advantage of having the third-fastest average swing speed and the highest hard-hit rate in baseball to smack 14 home runs, just seven back of his career high. He is also tied for third in MLB with 19 stolen bases in 22 attempts. That makes him the only player on pace for a 30-30 season.
In many ways, Spencer Horwitz is the anti-Cruz. The 5-foot-10 first baseman doesn’t run well, swing fast, or hit the ball hard. Yet, only 10 qualified hitters have a lower swing-and-miss rate, and only four have a higher walk-to-strikeout ratio. Thanks to his high-contact approach, Horwitz ranks third on the Pirates with an .843 OPS and a 137 wRC+. And while he doesn’t have as long a track record as many of his teammates, he owns a shockingly impressive 146 wRC+ since last year’s All-Star break. Only five qualified NL batters are ahead of him in that time: Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Kyle Schwarber, Brice Turang, and Corbin Carroll. The catch is that the Pirates have done everything in their power to shield the lefty-batting Horwitz from same-handed pitching. Nearly 87% of his plate appearances over the last two years have come against right-handers, and he owns a career .561 OPS and 66 wRC+ without the platoon advantage. Nonetheless, he has proven incredibly valuable, even with his limitations. It seems like the Pirates knew exactly what they were doing when they acquired him in (essentially) another three-team trade two offseasons ago.
Speaking of righty mashers, Ryan O’Hearn returned from a brief stint on the injured list over the weekend, and he celebrated with a home run off a right-hander in his first at-bat back. The two-year, $29MM deal O’Hearn signed over the winter represented the largest guarantee the franchise has ever given to a free agent hitter. While a contract like that wouldn’t count as a big swing for most teams, it was for the Pirates. So far, it’s looking like they picked the right player to take that swing on. With eight home runs in 46 games, O’Hearn is tracking to surpass 20 for the first time. His .845 OPS and 136 wRC+ would also be his best marks in both categories since his 44-game rookie season in 2018. The Pirates haven’t protected O’Hearn from southpaws the same way they have for Horwitz, so they must be hoping he’ll improve on his .669 OPS and 84 wRC+ against lefty pitching. Even if he doesn’t, his numbers against righties make it easy to overlook his same-handed shortcomings.
The Pirates’ platoon issues go beyond any individual player. Their offense has been relentless against right-handed pitching, but unfortunately, they still have to face left-handers about 30% of the time. With lefties on the mound, the Pirates have a middling .690 OPS and 94 wRC+. Reynolds is doing just fine, and the lefty-batting Cruz has reverse platoon splits, but Lowe, Horwitz, and O’Hearn have struggled to do much damage. That’s compounded by the fact that none of the right-handed hitters in the lineup have stepped up to mash southpaws. Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, another offseason signing, is showing his 35 years at the plate, while third baseman Nick Gonzales has had most of his success against righties. The good news for the Pirates is that they have at least one righty bat they can count on a whole lot more from.
Konnor Griffin was widely considered the top prospect in baseball entering the season. No one understood the hype better than the Pirates themselves, who agreed to a $140MM extension with their star rookie just a few days into his MLB career. Through 208 PA, Griffin has a modest .729 OPS and 104 wRC+, with roughly even platoon splits. However, he was still finding ways to be a major contributor to Pittsburgh’s offense before he hit the IL over the weekend. (He has a flexor tendon strain, and he isn’t expected to miss much time.) The lightning-fast 20-year-old is 14-for-15 in stolen bases, and he leads the majors in the FanGraphs baserunning metric, BsR. Thus, despite his pedestrian performance at the plate, he has already scored 30 runs in 51 games. If he taps into more of his potential, he can help protect against regression from some of his teammates, and Pittsburgh’s platoon splits should start to even out.
The Pirates haven’t had an offensive core like this in a long time. Lowe, Reynolds, Horwitz, and O’Hearn all rank among the top 20 qualified NL batters in wRC+. In the last decade, only one Pittsburgh hitter – Reynolds in 2021 – has finished a season with a wRC+ high enough to crack the NL’s top 20. Meanwhile, Cruz is on pace to score more runs than any Pirates hitter since Brian Giles in 2001, and he’s hoping to join Barry Bonds as just the second player to go 30-30 in franchise history. Then there’s Griffin, who has the tools to be the organization’s biggest position player star since McCutchen.
This team isn’t without its problems. The Pirates would make the playoffs if the season ended today, but it doesn’t. They have to show they can keep this up for another four months. To do that, they need their veterans to stay hot, their young guys to take the next step, and Endy Rodríguez to finally prove he can be the answer behind the plate. Yet, as early as it still is in the season, there’s something about this version of the Pirates that truly feels different. For the first time in a long time, the Pirates have an offense.
Images courtesy of Charles LeClaire and Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images.
Reds Release Josh Staumont
The Reds have released right-hander Josh Staumont, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. It’s possible his minor league deal had a June 1st opt-out, since that’s a common date for such provisions.
Staumont, 32, was once a second-round pick of the Royals and had some success with that club. From 2019 to 2021, he tossed 110 2/3 innings for Kansas City, allowing 2.93 earned runs per nine. His 11.4% walk rate in that time was high but he struck out 26.7% of batters faced.
His results back up in 2022 and 2023, as he posted a 6.09 ERA over those two campaigns. His 25.3% strikeout rate was still strong but his control problems got worse, as he walked 15.8% of opponents. There was some bad luck in there, as his .329 batting average on balls in play and 62.8% strand rate were both to the unfortunate side. His 4.56 SIERA suggested he deserved better but still indicated he wasn’t as good as in the previous seasons. He required thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in July of 2023.
He was non-tendered ahead of the 2024 season and signed with the Twins. He gave Minnesota 24 1/3 innings with a 3.70 ERA, but in this case, he was lucky for that number to be so low. His 17.6% strikeout rate and 13.7% walk rate were both subpar. His .246 BABIP and zero home runs allowed were helping him out tremendously, which is why his SIERA was 5.06. His four-seamer averaged 94.3 miles per hour, more than two ticks below where he was in 2021. The Twins released him in August.
He signed a minor league deal with the Reds for 2025 but was placed on the full-season injured list in March due to an undisclosed ailment. The Reds then re-signed him for 2026. He started the season back on the minor league IL but was able to start a rehab assignment in May. He logged seven innings between the Complex League and High-A, allowing one earned run. He struck out 11 of the 31 batters he faced, a 35.5% clip. He walked three opponents, a 9.7% clip, though he also hit two batters.
Staumont is little more than a lottery ticket at this point but perhaps someone will pick him up. His numbers this year are a very small sample at the lower levels of the minors but he was punching guys out at an encouraging rate. Given his track record, perhaps he can find another minor league deal as he continues trying to put his injuries behind him.
Photo courtesy of Sam Greene, Imagn Images
Yunior Marté Elects Free Agency
Right-hander Yunior Marté, who was designated for assignment by the Reds earlier this week, has cleared waivers. He has informed the club he will exercise his right to elect free agency. Charlie Goldsmith of Charlie’s Chalkboard passed along the update.
Marté, 31, signed a minor league deal with Cincinnati in the offseason. He just got a very brief look in the majors. He was selected to the roster on Friday and appeared in that night’s game, allowing four earned runs in a third of an inning. He was designated for assignment on Monday.
Though Marté’s performance didn’t help, the quick hook was likely related to the club’s roster situation. Both Graham Ashcraft and Pierce Johnson hit the injured list in quick succession recently. Chase Burns had a start pushed back due to illness, forcing the club to improvise a bullpen game. As the Reds have tried to dance around those situations, Marté, Lyon Richardson and Brandon Leibrandt all got added to the roster but then designated for assignment after one appearance.
Prior to getting called up, Marté was with Triple-A Louisville. In 19 1/3 innings for that club, he allowed 5.12 earned runs per nine. That’s obviously not a good number but there was some more intrigue under the hood, as his .377 batting average on balls in play and 66% strand rate were both unfortunate numbers. His 12.6% walk rate was too high but he was striking out 27.4% of batters faced and inducing grounders on 50% of balls in play.
In situations like this, it’s common for the player to return to his previous club on a new deal. Perhaps Marté will re-sign with the Reds in the coming days but he’ll have a chance to explore other opportunities. He has a 5.94 ERA in 113 2/3 major league innings with the Giants, Phillies and now Reds. He spent last year in Japan, posting a 1.95 ERA for the Chunichi Dragons, though with a lot of help from a .213 BABIP. His four-seamer and sinker average in the upper-90s. His main secondary pitch is a mid-80s slider.
Photo courtesy of Frank Bowen IV, Imagn Images
Padres Designate Nick Castellanos For Assignment
The Padres announced that first baseman/outfielder Nick Castellanos has been designated for assignment. Infielder/outfielder Samad Taylor has been selected to take his place on the active and 40-man rosters.
Castellanos, 34, spent many years as a middle-of-the-order threat. Ahead of the 2022 season, the Phillies signed him to a five-year deal worth $100MM. Before that deal had run its course, Castellanos wore out his welcome in Philly. In the 2025 season, he slashed .250/.294/.400 for a wRC+ of 90. Since he’s a poor outfield defender, he was considered to be below replacement level for the year. He also clashed with then-manager Rob Thomson, which didn’t seem to help matters.
He was still signed through 2026, with a $20MM salary. It was well known throughout the winter that the Phils were looking to move on. In the end, they weren’t able to line up a trade, so Castellanos was released just as camps were opening in February. That left the Phils on the hook for the money. Any other club could sign Castellanos and would only owe him the prorated league minimum for any time spent on the roster. That amount would be subtracted from what the Phillies paid.
The Padres quickly volunteered, signing Castellanos within a few days of his release. It was a low-risk move from a financial perspective but it hasn’t worked out. Castellanos has a .191/.221/.339 line through 122 plate appearances this year. His .228 batting average on balls in play isn’t doing him any favors but his 4.1% walk rate and 27.9% strikeout rate are both a few ticks worse than average, in addition to being worse than his own career numbers. He has good career numbers with the platoon advantage but isn’t hitting pitchers of either handedness this year, with a .182/.206/.303 line against southpaws.
San Diego rolled with Castellanos long enough for him to return to Philadelphia in a new uniform. The Padres kicked off a series at Citizens Bank Park last night, though Castellanos wasn’t put into the game. They have now decided it’s time to move on. He will likely be released again in the coming days.
Time will tell if any other club is willing to give Castellanos a shot. As mentioned, he is having a poor season and was struggling last year as well, though he has been a force at the plate at times. As recently as 2024, he was able to hit 23 home runs and slash .254/.311/.431 for a 104 wRC+. That included a .269/.324/.506 line and 124 wRC+ against lefties. If any club thinks he can get back to that level, he will be cheap.
The Padres will instead turn to Taylor, who they signed to a minor league deal in the winter. He is hitting .319/.406/.500 in Triple-A, leading to a 122 wRC+. That line is buoyed by a .371 batting average on balls in play but Taylor’s 11.7% walk rate and 17.6% strikeout rate are both solid clips.
Taylor has often put up big numbers in the minors but hasn’t yet clicked in very limited big league looks. He has been sent to the plate 83 times over three separate seasons with the Royals and Mariners, hitting just .205/.272/.260 in that time.
Ideally, he can produce some offense resembling his minor league numbers. Even if he can’t, he should be able to provide value in other ways. He is a threat on the bases, for instance. He has nine steals already this year and has been in the 40 to 50 range in many of his minor league seasons. He can also provide a bit of defensive versatility, as he has been playing second base and all three outfield spots this year. In previous seasons, he has played shortstop and third base as well.
The Friars currently have Jake Cronenworth on the injured list, so there’s a hole at second base. They have been using Sung-Mun Song and Fernando Tatis Jr. to cover that spot. They also lost Ramón Laureano to the IL this week, so perhaps they want Tatis to go back to being a regular in the outfield. Song has a .154/.290/.192 line on the year, so perhaps Taylor can take some second base playing time from him. If that pans out, then Tatis can remain in the outfield with Jackson Merrill, Gavin Sheets, Jase Bowen and Bryce Johnson.
Even if Taylor doesn’t work his way into a regular role, he should be a useful as a bench player who can do some pinch-running and defensive replacement work. If he gets squeezed when Cronenworth and Laureano come back, he is out of options.
Photo courtesy of David Frerker, Imagn Images
Rule 5 Update: June Edition
MLBTR checks in with periodic updates on last offseason’s Rule 5 class throughout the year. There have been a few changes since our most recent check-in during the first week of the regular season. Four players who were on their selecting team’s roster at the time have since lost their spots.
Rule 5 draftees must remain on a team’s major league roster or injured list for the entire following season. If they spend less than 90 days on the active roster, the stipulations carry into the following year. A team that carries a Rule 5 pick for the entire year — plus the 90-day active roster requirement — gets the player’s full contractual rights.
If the drafting team wants to remove the player from the MLB roster, they need to trade or waive them, giving all other clubs an opportunity to take on the Rule 5 requirement. Most DFA’d Rule 5 picks will clear waivers and then need to be offered back to their original organization for $50K — half of what the drafting team paid the previous club to make the selection in December. The original organization gets the player back without requiring a 40-man roster spot. They almost always take the player back, though it’s not universal (as we’ll see with one member of this year’s Rule 5 group).
There were 13 players selected in last year’s draft. Only three remain on the active roster, but two of them have had significant impacts. A right-hander who entered the season with almost zero minor league experience is now a de facto starter for the defending American League champions. Another draftee’s hot start to his MLB career factored into a team’s willingness to trade their two-time Gold Glove catcher.
Two more players remain with their drafting team on the injured list. The other eight were pushed off the roster, but one worked his way back to the Majors via a circuitous journey this week.
On Drafting Team’s Active Roster
- Spencer Miles, Blue Jays RHP (selected from Giants)
Miles was probably the most surprising pick in this year’s class. A fourth-rounder by the Giants out of Missouri in 2022, he has thrown 14 2/3 career minor league innings. Miles had a back injury shortly after the draft, then underwent Tommy John surgery. He returned last year in the Arizona Fall League but had two career appearances above rookie ball, both in Low-A.
The Giants left him unprotected, reasoning that no team would roll the dice on a player with such scant experience. It might’ve made sense for a rebuilding team to take a flier on a pitcher with a 96 mph sinker and a plus curveball, hoping to stash him in low-leverage relief. However, Miles was selected by an all-in Jays team coming off an AL pennant. What were the odds they’d actually be willing to keep him on the roster?
High enough, it turns out. The Jays carried Miles as their final reliever out of camp. He rewarded their faith in low-leverage spots while building up to 2-3 inning stints. Toronto’s rotation became progressively more decimated by injury. By May, they’d reached a point where Miles was essentially in the rotation. He might pitch behind an opener and would only work around four innings, but he was pitching every fifth day and logging the biggest workload of any Toronto pitcher on that day.
The 6’3″ righty has pitched quite well. Miles carries a 3.47 ERA with league average strikeout and walk rates and a near-56% grounder percentage over 36 1/3 innings. The Orioles knocked him around in his most recent appearance, but he’d reeled off 15 1/3 frames of one-run ball in his preceding four outings.
It’ll be interesting to see how John Schneider manages Miles’ workload throughout the season. They’re probably not going to have him throw 100+ innings. Dylan Cease, Shane Bieber, José Berríos, Max Scherzer and Cody Ponce are all on the IL. Berríos and Ponce are done for the year, while Bieber still seems around a month off.
- Daniel Susac, Giants C (selected from A’s via trade with Minnesota)
Susac was the A’s first-round pick in 2022 out of the University of Arizona. He hit 18 homers in Triple-A last season, batting .275/.349/.483 over 407 plate appearances. That’s actually middling production in an extremely offense-friendly Pacific Coast League environment. Susac struck out at a 27% clip while chasing a lot of pitches off the plate.
The A’s have Shea Langeliers entrenched behind the dish. They opened the season with journeyman Austin Wynns in the backup role, leaving Susac off the 40-man roster. The Giants jumped the Rule 5 draft order by sending rookie ball catcher Miguel Caraballo and cash to the Twins, who held the fourth pick.
Susac broke camp as the backup catcher behind Patrick Bailey. He played sporadically in April but seemed to collect two or three hits every time he was in the lineup. Bailey was hitting terribly as part of an overall punchless San Francisco offense. Susac went on the injured list with ulnar neuritis on April 20. By the time he returned in the middle of May, the Giants had traded Bailey to the Guardians for the #29 pick in this year’s draft and depth arm Matt Wilkinson.
The Giants didn’t make the trade based entirely on two weeks of strong performance from Susac, but he was no doubt part of the consideration. They briefly carried another rookie catcher, Jesús Rodríguez, and are now operating with a Susac-Eric Haase combination.
Susac is hitting .323 in his first 70 plate appearances. He has thrown out seven of 16 stolen base attempts. There’s a decent chance that MLB pitchers will be able to exploit his aggressiveness over a larger sample, and it’s much too soon to declare Susac the Giants’ catcher of the future. He has a knack for hitting line drives, though, and his stock is certainly higher than it was coming into the year.
- Ryan Watson, Red Sox RHP (selected from Giants via trade with A’s)
The 28-year-old Watson has had a winding career arc. A former undrafted free agent, he came up through the Orioles’ system and spent the past couple seasons with the Giants. Watson posted strong strikeout and walk numbers in Triple-A last year to catch the attention of the Red Sox. They swung a deal with the A’s, who held the #8 pick, trading minor league infielder Justin Riemer for Watson’s draft rights.
Boston stuck with Watson through an ugly April in which he gave up 13 runs across 17 2/3 innings. He has started to find his footing in May, allowing seven runs over 16 frames while doubling his strikeout rate. The overall season line still isn’t particularly good: a 5.35 ERA, 19.2% strikeout rate, and six home runs across 33 2/3 innings (1.60 HR/9).
Of the three players in this group, Watson seems the least likely to hold his spot all season. He gets a lot of extension and has a five-pitch mix which the front office clearly likes, but almost all of his work thus far has come in mop-up situations.
On Major League Injured List
- Carter Baumler, Rangers RHP (selected from Orioles via trade with Pittsburgh)
Baumler broke camp and made four appearances before going down with an intercostal strain in early April. He had a setback while trying to rehab last month and is without a clear return timeline. Baumler has only logged 11 of the necessary 90 days on the active roster. A long-term injury could carry the Rule 5 restrictions into next season if the Rangers keep him.
- RJ Petit, Rockies RHP (selected from Tigers)
Petit, the #1 selection, blew out in Spring Training and underwent Tommy John surgery. He’ll spend the entire season on Colorado’s injured list and at least pick up a $780K MLB salary. The Rockies will need to decide whether to reinstate him to the 40-man roster or offer him back to Detroit at the beginning of the offseason. If they hold him, he’ll need to log at least 90 days in their MLB bullpen in 2027 to stick around.
On New Team’s MLB Roster
- Zach McCambley, Reds RHP (selected by Phillies from Marlins)
The Phillies took McCambley out of the Miami system. They returned him at the end of Spring Training after he had more walks than strikeouts in camp. The Fish accepted McCambley back but wound up trading him to the Reds in mid-May for outfielder Rece Hinds. Cincinnati called him up yesterday as they cycle through middle relievers.
The Coastal Carolina product has yet to make his MLB debut. He has a 2.37 ERA with a 31% strikeout rate and 15% walk percentage across 30 1/3 Triple-A innings this year. The Reds are not subject to any Rule 5 restrictions because McCambley already passed through waivers and was returned to his original club in March. They’ll likely shuttle him up and down from Triple-A Louisville throughout the season.
DFA Limbo
- Matt Pushard, RHP (selected by Cardinals from Marlins)
Pushard is currently in DFA limbo after St. Louis designated him for assignment over the weekend. The 28-year-old reliever lost six weeks to patellar tendinitis in his right knee. He made six appearances for St. Louis, allowing five runs (four earned) with a 6:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio over seven innings. The Cards have been surprisingly competitive and evidently felt they could make a better use of that bullpen spot. Assuming he clears waivers, the Marlins will likely accept him back.
Returned To Original Organization
- Alexander Alberto, RHP (returned to Rays by White Sox)
Alberto, the second of the White Sox’s Rule 5 picks, struggled in camp and was returned to the Rays midway through Spring Training. He’s pitching well out of the bullpen at Double-A Montgomery, working 22 innings of 2.86 ERA ball with a huge 35.2% strikeout rate.
- Griff McGarry, RHP (returned to Phillies by Nationals; subsequently traded to Dodgers)
McGarry has monster stuff but has never been around the strike zone. It was more of the same in Spring Training. Despite the Nationals having one of the worst bullpens in MLB, they returned him to the Phillies at the end of camp. Philadelphia traded him to the Dodgers a few weeks later for $500K in international bonus pool space, which went towards their $1.2MM agreement with South Korean amateur pitcher Chan-min Park.
Over 18 Triple-A appearances between the Philly and Dodger organizations, McGarry holds a 5.51 earned run average. He has 24 strikeouts but has walked 22 batters and hit two more in just 16 1/3 innings.
- Jedixson Paez, RHP (returned to Red Sox by White Sox)
Paez was the first of Chicago’s Rule 5 selections and went second overall. Unlike Alberto, he broke camp. It was a leap to expect him to stick all year without having previously pitched above High-A, however. Paez gave up six runs over three innings and was returned to Boston in early April. The Red Sox assigned him to Double-A Portland and have been gradually building him back up as a starter. He has allowed eight runs over 14 2/3 innings across six appearances in his first stint at that level.
- Peyton Pallette, RHP (returned to White Sox by Guardians)
A former second-round pick, Pallette had a flawless camp to earn a middle relief spot with the Guardians. He pitched well in April and looked like one of the better finds in the class, but his command backed up after that. Pallette had nine walks and strikeouts apiece over eight innings in May. Cleveland moved on last week, swapping him out for long man Logan Allen.
Pallette went unclaimed on waivers over the weekend. The White Sox assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte, where he worked around a walk to throw a scoreless inning yesterday. Pallette had a 29.3% strikeout rate in Triple-A last season and could get a look from Chicago later in the summer if he’s around the zone.
- Cade Winquest, RHP (returned to Cardinals by Yankees)
The Yankees carried Winquest for the first couple weeks of the season as part of a nine-man bullpen. They never got him into a game and pushed him off the roster when they needed a fifth starter as the schedule picked up. The Cardinals assigned Winquest to Triple-A Memphis and have used him as a reliever after he’d been a starter throughout his career. He missed a month to injury and has only made seven appearances, allowing five runs despite 13 strikeouts over 8 2/3 innings.
Declined By Original Organization
- Roddery Muñoz, Astros RHP (selected from Reds)
Muñoz was an unconventional Rule 5 selection. While most draftees have no MLB experience, he’d pitched in the Majors with the Marlins and Cardinals from 2024-25. Muñoz had just signed a minor league contract with Cincinnati when Houston snagged him in the Rule 5. He had a strong spring and broke camp but was bombed for seven runs in four innings over three regular season outings.
The Astros designated Muñoz for assignment in early April. He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sugar Land. The Reds evidently preferred not to send the $50K to bring him back, which isn’t all that surprising considering he’d spent a total of one week during the offseason as part of the organization. Muñoz has a 4.58 ERA with a 31% strikeout rate across 19 2/3 Triple-A frames. Houston’s bullpen has been a disaster but should be in a little better shape with Josh Hader and Nate Pearson back from the injured list.
Phillies’ Aidan Miller Out Six To Eight Weeks Following Back Procedure
The Phillies announced Wednesday that top infield prospect Aidan Miller underwent a “minimally invasive” back procedure called a “radiofrequency ablation of the facet joints.” He’s expected to be shut down for the next week and is currently projected to return to game action in six to eight weeks overall.
Miller has felt persistent back pain throughout the season and has yet to get into a game at any minor league level. Per the Phillies’ press release, he was diagnosed with discogenic pain and facet inflammation in his lumbar spine. Both Phillies medical personnel and third-party medical experts who were consulted for second opinions agreed that this was the best course of action to get him back on track.
Miller, 21, was the No. 27 overall pick back in 2023 and currently ranks as the game’s No. 61 prospect on Baseball America’s top-100 rankings. That ranking has slipped considerably, due both to his injury absence and big performances from rising prospects around the league. He entered the season ranked 14th on BA’s top 100.
Though he won’t turn 22 until next week, Miller has already reached the Triple-A level. He’s hit at every minor league stop, slashing .259/.382/.427 in a pitcher-friendly Double-A setting last year (134 wRC+) before destroying Triple-A pitchers in the final few games of the year. Miller appeared in eight games with Lehigh Valley last summer, tallied 37 plate appearances and hit .333/.514/.519. Between the Double-A and Triple-A levels last season, Miller tallied 14 homers and 59 steals while drawing a walk in 15.6% of his plate appearances and striking out at a 23.6% clip.
Had Miller been healthy, he’d likely have been a consideration for a call to the majors at this point — if he hadn’t already been promoted by now. He’s a natural shortstop but is blocked there by Trea Turner. Third baseman Alec Bohm has begun to turn things around after an awful start to the season, but Miller might have gotten a look over him or also-struggling second baseman Bryson Stott by now. Instead, it seems he’ll be sidelined into the season’s second half.
If today’s back procedure proves effective, Miller could still be a candidate for a call to the majors late in the season, though that’s hardly a foregone conclusion. He’s not eligible for selection in the Rule 5 Draft until December of 2027, so he wouldn’t be added to the 40-man roster this winter. If he struggles upon returning to the field or simply fails to force the issue, the Phils could keep him in the minors in order to preserve some offseason flexibility with regard to the 40-man roster.
Whether it’s this year or next, Miller doesn’t seem far from impacting the Phillies’ big league infield. Bohm and Stott have both been well below-average at the plate this year, though the former put together a big May. Bohm is a free agent at season’s end, too, which could create a natural opening for Miller at the hot corner.