Tarik Skubal To Undergo Surgery To Remove Loose Bodies From Elbow
The Tigers received a gut-punch medical update, as ace Tarik Skubal is headed for arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow, manager A.J. Hinch tells the team’s beat (link via Evan Woodbery of MLive.com). A timetable for his recovery has not yet been determined, but Skubal will obviously be placed on the 15-day injured list for now. The Tigers will recall righty Ty Madden and go with a bullpen game opened by Tyler Holton in Skubal’s place tonight. Jon Heyman of the New York Post first reported that Skubal was being scratched from his start tonight.
Skubal has been his typically excellent self so far in 2026. He’s started seven games, totaled 43 1/3 innings and notched a tidy 2.70 ERA to begin the season. His average fastball is down about a mile per hour relative to last year’s 97.6 mph peak, but this year’s 96.6 mph average is right in line with his 2024 levels, when he won the first of his two Cy Young trophies. Skubal has fanned 27.1% of his opponents against a superlative 3.6% walk rate.
Obviously, any absence for Skubal — even if it’s simply pushing his start back a few days — is going to sound some alarm bells. He’s not necessarily having the strongest start of any pitcher in the sport, but his track record makes him the consensus best pitcher in the American League, if not all of Major League Baseball. Even a short-term absence is a major loss, and of course any health issues that arise could be talking points during what’s expected to be a historic trip through free agency this offseason.
More to come.
Tommy Kahnle Likely To Stay With Red Sox
May 4: Kahnle is likely to stay with Triple-A Worcester, per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.
May 1: Kahnle has triggered the assignment clause, reports Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston. The Sox will know by Sunday whether another team is willing to carry him on the MLB roster.
April 30: Veteran right-hander Tommy Kahnle, currently pitching with the Red Sox’ Triple-A affiliate, has an upward mobility clause in his deal that he can trigger tomorrow, writes Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. The clause was reported at the time of Kahnle’s signing in Boston, but it still bears mentioning with the seasoned setup man pitching well in the upper minors at present.
If triggered, an upward mobility clause would push the Sox to make Kahnle available to all 29 other clubs. If any other club would put him on its major league roster, the Red Sox would either have to select Kahnle to their own 40-man roster or, if they’re not willing to do so, allow him to depart to an organization that would put him in the major league bullpen. Such clauses are common in minor league deals for veteran players.
Through the season’s first month, Kahnle has done a nice job trying to force Boston’s hand. The 36-year-old has pitched 8 1/3 innings out of the Worcester bullpen, allowing three earned runs (3.24 ERA) on eight hits and three walks. He’s fanned eight of the 36 batters he’s faced (22.2%), hasn’t allowed a home run and has done a decent job avoiding too much hard contact (88.3 mph average exit velocity, no barrels, 41.7% hard-hit rate).
Kahnle’s 92.7 mph average fastball would be the lowest of his career, although through the first month of the 2025 season in Detroit, he wasn’t much higher (93.1 mph). He sat 93.6 mph the rest of the way. It seems reasonable to expect Kahnle’s heater to gain a bit of life as he continues to build up this season, but the four-seamer is a secondary pitch for him anyhow; Kahnle is perhaps the foremost changeup specialist in the game. This season’s 59.5% usage rate on his changeup is actually a stark decrease relative to recent seasons. From 2022-25, Kahnle threw 79% changeups against just 18.7% fastballs with a very, very occasional slider (2.4%) mixed in to throw some hitters off balance.
Although he’s coming off a lackluster season with the Tigers — hence the minor league deal — Kahnle has a lengthy track record of success in the majors. He’s been hurt more frequently than he or the teams for which he’s pitched would prefer, but from 2016-24, the right-hander logged a combined 3.11 ERA, 31.1% strikeout rate and 10.1% walk rate in 271 2/3 innings between the White Sox, Yankees and Dodgers.
It’s not clear whether the Red Sox would be amenable to adding Kahnle to the big league bullpen. Relief pitching has been a strength in an otherwise disappointing season for Boston. Sox relievers have combined for a 3.67 ERA that ranks eighth-best in the majors. The only Red Sox relievers who can be optioned are Greg Weissert, Zack Kelly and Tyler Samaniego. Plugging Kahnle into the ‘pen would give the Red Sox a sixth reliever who cannot be sent down without being exposed to waivers.
The decision will belong to chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, but interim skipper Chad Tracy — who managed Kahnle for several weeks to begin the season — sounded amenable to the idea. Asked by Smith just yesterday whether Kahnle could help the big league club, Tracy replied:
“For a veteran of his caliber that’s been around, yes, he can help out. He’s been around the big leagues for a really long time. He knows how to pitch. He’s been here, he’s pitched in the playoffs. So absolutely can help out.”
If not the Red Sox, there seems to be a decent chance Kahnle could draw the interest of another club. Each of the Nationals, Cardinals, Twins, Royals, Angels and Astros have received a combined ERA of 5.00 or worse from their bullpen so far in 2026. The Phillies, Astros, Cubs and Marlins all have their closers on the injured list. Chicago’s Daniel Palencia is expected to return soon, but he’s one of six Cubs relievers on the shelf.
Trade Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat, Today 2pm CT
MLBTR's Steve Adams is hosting a live chat today at 2pm CT, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers.
Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription
- Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco.
- Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony.
- Remove ads and support our writers.
- Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker
Randy Vásquez’s Hot Start Could Be Huge For The Padres
Rotation depth has been an issue for the Padres for years and the most recent offseason didn’t do much to inspire confidence that 2026 would be an exception. So far, the starting group has been passable, with Randy Vásquez stepping up to play a big role. That has helped the Friars start 20-13 and it could help in future seasons as well if Vásquez can keep rolling.
In 2025, the San Diego rotation was middling. Overall, their starters had a 4.07 earned run average, putting them 16th out of the 30 major league clubs. At the trade deadline, they sent out some depth. They flipped Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert to the Royals in the Freddy Fermin trade. Braden Nett and Henry Baez went to the Athletics in the Mason Miller deal. At the end of the season, they lost Dylan Cease and Michael King to free agency. Yu Darvish required elbow surgery in November, wiping out his 2026 season.
They were able to re-sign King but Cease departed for the Blue Jays. The hope was that King, Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove could be a solid trio at the front of the 2026 rotation. That would leave two spots open for guys like Vásquez, Walker Buehler, Germán Márquez, Matt Waldron and JP Sears.
That latter group has been leaned on harder than the Padres would have liked. Musgrove hasn’t yet made an appearance this season. He underwent Tommy John surgery late in 2024 and missed the entire 2025 campaign. Getting back in the mix for the start of 2026 was a reasonable expectation but he has hit some setbacks and his timeline is unclear. Pivetta made four starts before he joined Musgrove on the IL. Pivetta has a flexor strain and will probably miss a few months.
As of a few weeks ago, there wasn’t much reason to expect Vásquez to separate himself from the rest of the pack. He did post a 3.84 ERA in 2025, but not in any kind of sustainable way. He only struck out 13.7% of batters faced last year, which isn’t just well shy of average — it was one of the worst marks in baseball. Among pitchers with 130 innings pitched last year, only Antonio Senzatela and Erick Fedde were lower than Vásquez in that category. Both of those pitchers had ERAs well north of 5.00 and lost their rotation jobs last year.
The same likely would have happened to Vásquez if not for good luck. For one thing, he still had options, meaning the Padres could send him to the minors. Though his ERA was good, he did get optioned a few times last year, suggesting the Padres weren’t overly confident in his results. His .261 batting average on balls in play and 77.4% strand rate were both to the fortunate side. Measures like his 4.85 FIP and his 5.43 SIERA suggested his respectable ERA was a mirage.
It would not have been a surprise if Vásquez came out and posted an ERA around 5.00 or 6.00 this year. Since he’s now out of options, his roster spot might have even been in jeopardy. Instead, he’s gone completely in the other direction.
Vásquez has a 2.94 ERA through six starts. Not only that, but this feels more real. His strikeout rate is way up to 24.8% so far this year, almost double where he was at last year. His walk rate and ground ball rate have held around league average. There is still a bit of good luck, as Vásquez currently has an 81.5% strand rate, but his 3.44 FIP and 3.71 SIERA suggest he would be getting solid results even with more neutral luck.
This is still a fairly small sample of work but it’s encouraging that it corresponds to a change in his arsenal, led by improvements with his four-seam fastball. Vásquez is throwing the pitch 31.2% of the time so far this year, a notable jump from last year’s 21% usage. The pitch is averaging 94.8 miles per hour, more than a full mile higher than last year’s 93.5 mph. His spin rate on the pitch is up, and he’s getting more movement on it as well. He has also thrown more cutters, curveballs, changeups and sliders, at the expense of his sinker and sweeper.
Time will tell if Vásquez can keep this going over a larger sample. For now, it has cemented him in the rotation. Griffin Canning just returned from the injured list over the weekend and there was never a question about Vásquez being bumped out, as he and King are seen as the two locks of the rotation for now. Rather, speculation circled around the Buehler, Waldron and Márquez trio, with Márquez eventually placed on the IL as the move for Canning. Lucas Giolito will be in the mix soon as well, but Vásquez won’t be at risk of losing his spot at that point either.
In the longer term, it would also be tremendous for the Padres if Vásquez can be a viable big league starter, even a back-end one. He can still be controlled for four seasons after the current campaign. It’s possible he’ll be a Super Two guy, as his service count of 1.129 will put him right in the middle of previous cutoffs. But even as his salary creeps up via arbitration, it’ll be solid value if he’s got an ERA somewhere in the 3.00s.
The long-term San Diego rotation will still have question marks. King is signed through 2028 but has opt-outs after each season in his deal. If he pitches well, he’ll head to free agency. If he is hurt or not performing and decides not to opt out, that means he’ll be paid above his market value. It’s a similar situation for Pivetta, who is also signed through 2028 with opt-outs after this year and next. Musgrove is currently a question mark. Even if he is able to come back and be his old self, he is only signed through 2027. Giolito, Canning, Buehler and Márquez are all impending free agents. Three of those guys have mutual options for 2027 but it’s been over a decade since one of those provisions was triggered by both sides. Waldron has the same window of club control as Vásquez but he’s out of options and not putting up good numbers, so he may not even last much longer on the roster.
The farm isn’t likely to provide solutions in the near term, as the Friars have been aggressively trading from their pipeline to keep the major league roster in good shape. They now have one of the worst farm systems in the league. Sears is on the 40-man but he had an ERA over 5.00 in the majors last year and is at 7.00 in Triple-A so far in 2026. He’ll be out of options next year. The club’s top starting pitching prospects are Kash Mayfield, Miguel Mendez and Kruz Schoolcraft. Mendez hasn’t yet reached Triple-A and has only made ten Double-A starts so far. Mayfield is in High-A, Schoolcraft in Low-A.
It seems fair to expect the Padres to be looking for free agent starting pitching in future offseasons. Perhaps the incoming ownership group will greenlight some extra spending to bolster the staff, but there are no guarantees about how they’ll spend. Having Vásquez securely in a rotation spot, even if it’s not at the front end, will make the front office’s job much easier as they steer the club into the future.
Photo courtesy of David Frerker, Imagn Images
Marlins Recall Joe Mack For MLB Debut, Option Agustin Ramirez
May 4: Miami has formally announced both moves. Mack has been recalled from Jacksonville, and Ramirez has been optioned there in his place.
May 3: The Marlins will promote top catching prospect Joe Mack prior to tomorrow’s game with the Phillies, SportsGrid’s Craig Mish reports. Agustin Ramirez will be optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding 26-man roster move, and Mack is already on Miami’s 40-man roster.
Mack was the 31st overall pick of the 2021 draft, and after steadily working his way up the Marlins’ minor league ladder, the 23-year-old is now on the cusp of his Major League debut. Baseball America ranks Mack as the 50th-best prospect in the sport, and pundits like The Athletic’s Keith Law (52nd), MLB Pipeline (54th) and ESPN.com (61st) also have Mack listed within their top-100 rankings.
The consensus is that Mack is ready for the big leagues on defense alone, as he has received praise for his framing, blocking, and strong throwing arm. There have been fewer questions about his ability to hit since Mack bounced back from a poor 2023 season to post much better numbers across the last three minor league campaigns, and he has hit .249/.334/.444 with 21 home runs over 515 plate appearances with Triple-A Jacksonville.
Mack’s approach is a little all-or-nothing since he is primarily looking to pull the ball in the air, but even if this leads to his share of strikeouts, Mack has enough power to capitalize when he does make contact. Over 103 PA in Jacksonville this season, Mack’s walk rate has shot up to 19.4% (from 8.5% in 412 Triple-A PA in 2025) and he has reduced his strikeout rate from 27.9% to 21.4%.
It was seen as just a matter of time before Mack got the call to the Show, even if the Marlins opted against including Mack on their Opening Day roster. Miami continued with the catching tandem of Ramirez and Liam Hicks, and Hicks has broken out to hit .309/.366/.557 with seven homers over 112 PA while splitting time between catcher, first base, and DH.
Ramirez, however, is hitting .230/.318/.345 with two home runs over 129 PA, making him the odd man out of the catching picture. Ramirez went yard 21 times in 2025 while batting .231/.287/.413 in 585 PA, but his dropoff in power has taken away his most potent offensive weapon. Since Ramirez is also arguably the worst defensive catcher in baseball, there wasn’t much of a case to continue giving him at-bats while Mack was ready to go at Triple-A, as MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald argued earlier this week.
Since Hicks is also nothing special in terms of glovework, putting Mack behind the plate should have an immediate impact on the Marlins from a defensive standpoint. While obviously the hope is that Mack can adjust quickly as a big league hitter, producing even average offense in his first looks at MLB pitching would be a bonus along with the ripple effect that Mack’s defense brings to Miami’s run-prevention efforts.
Because Mack is only coming up to the majors now, the Marlins wouldn’t earn a bonus draft pick via the Prospect Promotion Incentive if he finishes in the top two in NL Rookie of the Year voting (or has a top-three MVP finish before he is eligible for arbitration). However, Mack himself would earn a full year of big league service time if he does manage a top-two ROY finish, and he is currently on pace to achieve Super Two status and an extra year of salary arbitration eligibility if he remains on Miami’s active roster.
Cionel Perez Elects Free Agency
May 4: Perez has rejected his outright assignment in favor of free agency, the Nationals announced Monday.
May 2: The Nationals announced that left-hander Cionel Perez has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Rochester. Right-hander Orlando Ribalta was called up from Triple-A to take Perez’s spot on the 26-man roster, and Washington now has only 39 players on its 40-man roster.
There wasn’t any previous indication that Perez had been designated for assignment, and the lefty actually pitched just yesterday in the Nationals’ 6-1 loss to the Brewers. Perez tossed two scoreless innings in what could be his final game in a Nats uniform, and the transaction could’ve been made in part so Ribalta could provide a fresh arm for the bullpen. Since other relievers still have minor league options remaining, however, the Perez outright could indicate that the team has just decided to move on from the 30-year-old.
Signed to a minor league deal over the offseason, Perez made the Nats’ Opening Day roster and thus locked in a $1.9MM guaranteed salary. Things haven’t gone well, as Perez has recorded more walks (11) than strikeouts (nine) while posting a 6.19 ERA over 16 innings. Batters have been making tons of hard contact against Perez’s pitches, and the damage could be even worse if it wasn’t for Perez’s 60.4% grounder rate and a favorable .275 BABIP.
Perez has been outrighted in the past, so he has the right to decline the Nationals’ assignment to Rochester in favor of free agency. Perez’s month-plus on Washington’s roster has now given him enough big league service time to cross the five-year threshold, so he can now retain the approximately $1.5MM remaining of his $1.9MM salary even by becoming a free agent. If Perez signs elsewhere, his new team would pay him the prorated portion of the league minimum salary, which is subtracted from the $1.5MM sum that is still Washington’s responsibility.
Submit Your Questions For This Week’s Episode Of The MLBTR Podcast
On the MLB Trade Rumors podcast, we regularly answer questions from our readers and listeners. With the next episode set for Wednesday, we’re looking for MLBTR’s audience to submit their questions and we’ll pick a few to answer.
The 2026 season is humming along. Do you have a question about a hot or cold start in the early going? The upcoming trade deadline? Next winter’s potential labor showdown? If you have a question on those topics or anything else baseball-related, we’d love to hear from you! You can email your questions to mlbtrpod@gmail.com.
Also, if you want to hear your voice on the podcast, send us your question in audio form and we might play it. iPhone users can find instructions on how to do so here.
In the meantime, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Andrew Chafin Opts Out Of Reds Deal
Veteran lefty Andrew Chafin triggered an opt-out clause in his minor league contract with the Reds and is now a free agent, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
The 35-year-old Chafin has already been with two teams this season. He spent most of spring training with the Twins but was granted his release after being informed he wouldn’t make their Opening Day roster. Chafin posted good bottom-line results with shaky rate stats both in camp with the Twins and in Triple-A with the Reds. He tossed six spring innings and allowed only two runs; he struck out 20% of his opponents but also walked 12% of them. It’s been a similar story in Louisville with the Reds’ top affiliate. Chafin has allowed only one earned run in 9 1/3 frames (0.96 ERA) with a nearly average 21.6% strikeout rate, but he’s walked 16.2% of his opponents.
During spring training, Chafin sat just 85.7 mph with his four-seamer and sinker alike. He’s added some life back to both pitches as he’s ramped up, evidenced by his 88 mph average four-seamer and 87.7 mph sinker with the Reds’ Louisville club. Both, of course, are still bottom-of-the-scale velocity marks in today’s game. Chafin posted a 2.41 ERA in 33 2/3 big league innings last year while averaging 89.5 mph on his four-seamer and 89.7 mph on his sinker. That was the first time since his brief 14-inning MLB debut in 2014 that he averaged less than 91 mph on either pitch, however.
While some clubs may express trepidation over his diminishing velocity, Chafin has never been a hard thrower and has still found consistent success in the majors. He’s averaged just 91.5 mph on his four-seamer and sinker dating back to 2021 and still has a 3.03 ERA in that time. He’s fanned 26.7% of his opponents against a 10.3% walk rate along the way, tacking on a slightly above-average 43.3% grounder rate for good measure. Chafin has picked up 17 saves and 71 holds in that time. Overall, he has a 3.35 earned run average, 20 saves and 153 holds in parts of 12 major league seasons between the D-backs, Cubs, A’s, Tigers, Brewers, Rangers, Nationals and Angels.
There’s no shortage of teams in the league currently in need of some help in the bullpen. The Twins may regret opting not to carry him on the roster after their bullpen has predictably been a disaster (5.31 ERA — 28th in MLB). The Astros have MLB’s worst bullpen by ERA (6.20). Chafin’s former Angels sit between that pair with a 5.62 ERA on the season. The Brewers have three lefty relievers on the injured list. The Cubs have five relievers on the IL at the moment. Chafin’s track record ought to earn him a look with another club before too long.
The Opener: Mack, Petty, Cubs
Longtime Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling has passed away at the age of 87, first reported by WFAN Sports Radio. He was the voice of the club from 1989 to 2024. Sterling’s “The Yankees win!” call was one of the more iconic post-victory catchphrases in the sport.
1. Mack heading to Miami
The Marlins are expected to call up catcher Joe Mack for his big-league debut on Monday against the Phillies. The 23-year-old backstop is a consensus top 100 prospect and one of the more promising bats in Miami’s system. Mack has hit at just about every level of the minor leagues, but his most intriguing attribute, considering team context, might be his defense. Mack has a huge arm and has earned strong marks for framing and blocking. FanGraphs gave him a 60 current grade as a defender. The Marlins have struggled mightily behind the plate and in controlling the running game, as Darragh McDonald broke down last week.
2. Petty back with Reds
The Reds are planning to recall right-hander Chase Petty to start against the Cubs, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Petty’s 2025 debut didn’t go as planned, but a six-inning sample isn’t enough to determine his MLB future. The righty was pounded for nine earned runs in his first career start. Petty finished his brief big-league stint with a 19.50 ERA over three appearances. He had more walks (8) than strikeouts (7) and allowed three home runs. Petty’s 10.4% walk rate at Triple-A this year is a slight concern, but he’s punching out minor leaguers at a strong 27.4% clip. Cincinnati is heading to Chicago for a fascinating four-game series against the division-leading Cubs.
3. Cubs streaking again
Speaking of those Cubbies, the team has ripped off five wins in a row after sweeping the Diamondbacks over the weekend. Chicago had a 10-game winning streak come to an end in Los Angeles last weekend, but the club is back on track with another stretch of victories. The NL Central is turning into one of the more compelling battles in the league. Every team in the division is comfortably over .500 after the Pirates swept the Reds over the weekend. Pittsburgh’s 19-16 record would be good enough for first place in the AL Central and the AL West. Instead, the Pirates are in last place in the NL Central. Cincinnati is two games back of Chicago and can make a move up the standings this week.
Photo courtesy of Sam Navarro, Imagn Images
AL Injury Notes: Raleigh, Suarez, Jenkins, Smith
Cal Raleigh has missed the Mariners‘ last two games after he felt soreness in his right side in the aftermath of Friday’s game, and the team and the catcher are still waiting on MRI results to determine the extent (if any) of the injury. Speaking with the Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish and other reporters today, Raleigh said he felt better “compared to where it was feeling postgame Friday and [Saturday] early. Very positive, very encouraging. So that’s kind of where we’re at right now.”
As a precaution, the Mariners called up catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A on Saturday when Will Wilson was placed on the 10-day IL due to a thumb fracture. Infielder Ryan Bliss joined the taxi squad today as further infield depth in Wilson’s place if the decision was made to place Raleigh on the IL, and the M’s might have to make that call by tomorrow to ensure that Raleigh’s IL stint can start within the three-day backdating period.
More on some of the many injuries that arose during today’s action in both the majors and minors…
- A hamstring strain forced Ranger Suarez out of today’s game after four innings, but the Red Sox left-hander told The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey that he is hopeful the injury isn’t serious enough to cost him even his next start. Suarez will stay in Boston to rest while the Sox make a three-day mini-trip to Detroit, and an MRI isn’t planned. It’s a situation to monitor over the next few days, as the Red Sox already have six starters (including Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray) on the injured list. On top of those concerns, manager Chad Tracy told reporters that the team may use an opener ahead of Brayan Bello on Tuesday, so the struggling Bello can avoid the left-handed bats atop Detroit’s lineup.
- Top Twins prospect Walker Jenkins left today’s Triple-A game with a left shoulder injury after colliding with the outfield wall after making a catch. Jenkins was in obvious discomfort in the aftermath, and he’ll undergo testing to determine the extent of the injury. The fifth overall pick of the 2023 draft, Jenkins has hit .250/.389/.386 over 108 Triple-A plate appearances this season, and is expected to make his MLB debut at some point in 2026 if this shoulder problem doesn’t scuttle those plans.
- Shane Smith will miss at least two weeks on the Triple-A injured list due to a right rotator cuff strain, as the White Sox announced today. The injury is another setback for Smith, who posted a 10.80 ERA in his first two big league starts this season and then a 5.27 ERA in 13 2/3 Triple-A innings after being optioned to Charlotte.