Cubs Designate Nicky Lopez, Promote Kevin Alcantara
The Cubs designated infielder Nicky Lopez for assignment, and called up outfielder Kevin Alcantara from Triple-A Iowa in the corresponding move. Alcantara was already on the 40-man roster and the Cubs already have an open spot on their 40-man roster, so Lopez’s DFA leaves Chicago with just 38 spots filled. 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine reported earlier today that Alcantara was present in the Cubs’ clubhouse.
After receiving 22 plate appearances in 13 MLB games over the last two seasons, Alcantara is back in the Show for another go, even if his path to playing time again seems limited. The right-handed hitting Alcantara projects to get some at-bats against southpaws, spelling either Pete Crow-Armstrong in center field or Michael Conforto at DH. Moises Ballesteros is currently the right-handed side of the DH timeshare, but since Ballesteros has only three hits in his last 55 plate appearances, he figures to lose playing time and could even be a candidate to be optioned back to Triple-A.
Because Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki are both free agents after the season, the expectation has been that Alcantara might have to wait until 2027 to get any extended looks in Chicago’s outfield. He still doesn’t turn 24 until July and he has yet to correct the swing-and-miss issues that have stood out as a red flag in the minor leagues. Granted, Alcantara has looked great when making contact, as evidenced by his 15 homers and his .247/.339/.567 slash line over 180 PA in Iowa this season. He does have 60 strikeouts within those 180 PA, and those holes in his swing may be more glaring against MLB pitching.
Lopez was acquired from the Rockies for cash considerations in late April, but he played in only four games during his month on the Cubs’ active roster. Chicago’s lineup is among the most stable in all of baseball, and Lopez joins Scott Kingery and Dylan Carlson as experienced players who have come and gone from the active roster with only a slight amount of playing time.
Once a regular in the Royals’ infield, Lopez has hit only .228/.298/.281 over 1220 PA with five different big league teams since the start of the 2022 season. He has a wealth of experience as shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman, but is little more than a depth option at this stage of his career.
It is possible another team in need of infield help could claim Lopez off waivers, but should he clear waivers and be outrighted, Lopez can decline that assignment in favor of free agency. Since Lopez has three different stints with the Cubs in 2025 alone, he might well become a free agent but then quickly re-sign with the team on a new minor league contract, since there’s obviously some connection between the two parties.
Twins Designate Luis Garcia, Reinstate Taj Bradley From 15-Day IL
The Twins activated right-hander Taj Bradley from the 15-day injured list, and Bradley is expected to start today’s game with the Red Sox. To make room for Bradley on the active roster, Minnesota designated right-hander Luis Garcia for assignment.
Bradley’s placement was retroactive to May 6, so he’ll return to the mound after slightly longer than a minimal 15-day stint. Right pec inflammation sent Bradley to the IL in what seemed like mostly a precautionary move on the Twins’ part, and he made one rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul during his brief time on the sidelines.
The injury threw a minor wrench into what has otherwise been a very solid start to Bradley’s 2026 campaign. The right-hander has a 2.87 ERA and a 26.1% strikeout rate over his first 47 innings and eight starts, and his 8.5% walk rate is also slightly above the league average. Bradley’s 3.66 SIERA is reflective of both that uninspiring walk rate and some good fortune in the form of an 84.3% strand rate, but overall, Bradley’s contributions have helped a Twins rotation that has been hampered by injuries.
This is already the second DFA of the season for Garcia, who was designated and subsequently released by the Mets in April. Minnesota signed Garcia to a minor league deal shortly thereafter and selected him to the 26-man roster in late April, but the veteran righty struggled to a 10.38 ERA over nine appearances and 8 2/3 innings in a Twins uniform. Over 15 total innings with New York and Minnesota, Garcia has a 9.00 ERA and an equal number of walks and strikeouts (six apiece).
Garcia signed a one-year, $1.75MM free agent deal with the Mets this past offseason, and New York remains on the hook for the majority of that salary. The Twins had to pay Garcia only the prorated portion of an MLB minimum salary during his time on their active roster, and that sum is subtracted from his overall $1.75MM figure. Since a waiver claim would mean Garcia’s new team would absorb all of Garcia’s remaining salary, it’s likely that he clears waivers and then elects free agency over an outright assignment to Triple-A St. Paul.
It is at least worth wondering if this could be the end of the line for Garcia, given how he is 39 years old and in his 14th Major League season. Consistency has been an issue for Garcia over his long career, but he has balanced things out with a respectable 4.20 ERA, 21% strikeout rate, and 10% walk rate over 598 1/3 innings in the Show. It was only a season ago that Garcia posted a 3.42 ERA across 55 1/3 innings with the Dodgers, Nationals, and Angels, and it looks like the right-hander is in for another nomadic season as he again enters DFA limbo.
Reds Activate Eugenio Suarez, Place Ke’Bryan Hayes On 10-Day IL
The Reds placed third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes on the 10-day injured list yesterday, while also activating third baseman Eugenio Suarez from the 10-day IL. Suarez returns after missing a month due to an oblique strain, while Hayes (whose placement is retroactive to May 21) is dealing with a lumbar bulging disc.
Back problems have been a recurring issue for Hayes over the years, and Cincinnati manager Terry Francona told The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans and other reporters that Hayes has been bothered by a bad back at various points this season. “I think the spasming has gotten to the point where it’s kind of getting in the way,” Francona said, so the decision was made to let Hayes fully recover during an IL stint.
Beyond just getting healthy, Francona suggested that Hayes’ rehab process will include a stint working on his offensive mechanics at the Reds’ Spring Training facility in Arizona. The Reds were hoping that Hayes might find some untapped hitting potential after he was acquired from the Pirates at last year’s trade deadline, but whatever changes Hayes has made with his new team haven’t worked. Never known for his offense even at the best of times, Hayes’ bat has completely cratered this year, as he has hit only .142/.195/.225 over 128 plate appearances.
While Hayes remains one of baseball’s top defensive third basemen, excellent glovework only goes so far when a player has a 12 wRC+ — the lowest of any player in baseball with at least 120 PA. Sal Stewart had already started to receive some starts at third base even before Hayes went on the IL, and Stewart will likely get the majority of time at the hot corner while Suarez may make the odd start but is more likely to again factor heavily in the DH mix.
Cincinnati’s struggling offense will naturally get a boost from inserting Suarez in Hayes’ place, even if Suarez himself has yet to get going in 2026. After signing a one-year, $15MM free agent deal this past winter, Suarez’s encore in a Reds uniform has thus far resulted in three homers and a .231/.300/.363 slash line over an even 100 PA before the oblique strain sent the veteran to the injured list.
The Opener: Henderson, Williams, Rays
The Cardinals went from “tarps off” to tarps on the field Friday, as the NL Central matchup between the Cards and Reds in Cincinnati was postponed due to rain. The two clubs will make it up as part of a split doubleheader today, with games at 12:10pm CT and 6:15pm CT.
1. Henderson shines again
This may be small consolation given how the Dodgers swept the Brewers in the NLCS last season, but Milwaukee has now won each of its last nine regular-season games against Los Angeles following Friday’s 5-1 victory. Logan Henderson earned the win after tossing five shutout innings, and might’ve gone longer if it wasn’t for a minor back problem that the right-hander told reporters (including Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) wasn’t an issue going forward. Henderson’s performance made some history, as he is now the first pitcher in modern baseball history to allow two or fewer earned runs in each of his first 10 career starts. The series between the NL West leaders and the NL Central leaders continues today in Milwaukee when Roki Sasaki takes the hill against Robert Gasser.
2. Williams tops Sanchez in pitching duel
Kyle Manzardo hit a ninth-inning home run off Jhoan Duran for the only run of the Guardians’ 1-0 win over the Phillies on Friday. The game saw both starters dominate over eight innings of shutout ball, with Gavin Williams earning the win by striking out 11 batters and allowing only four hits during his gem of an outing. Cristopher Sanchez gave up only four hits and two walks during his eight frames of work, extending the star southpaw’s scoreless innings streak to 37 2/3 frames — well within reach of Grover Cleveland Alexander‘s Phillies record of a 41-innings streak. The red-hot Guards will try to extend their winning streak to eight games when Slade Cecconi faces Zack Wheeler today in Philadelphia.
3. Rays extend their AL East lead
Gerrit Cole looked very sharp in his return from Tommy John surgery, shutting out the Rays over six innings Friday and leaving the game with a 1-0 lead. Tampa Bay then erupted for four runs in the top of the eighth to emerge with a 4-2 victory in Yankee Stadium, and between the Rays’ five-game win streak and the Yankees’ three-game losing streak, the Rays now hold a 5.5-game lead over New York in the division race. The weekend series will be put on hold, however, as today’s game as already been postponed (until September 22) due to inclement weather.
Dodgers Acquire Eric Lauer
May 18: Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports that the Jays are sending around $2.5MM in cash to cover the bulk of Lauer’s salary. The Dodgers are picking up around $600K, though that’s only a marginal amount above the roughly $550K that a minimum salary player would have made the rest of the year. Davidi adds that the Jays will not receive a player to be named later, so it’ll be Lauer and cash for a nominal cash consideration.
May 17: The Blue Jays announced they’ve traded left-hander Eric Lauer and cash to the Dodgers for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Los Angeles transferred reliever Brusdar Graterol from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
Toronto designated Lauer for assignment earlier in the week. They’re paying down some portion of the approximate $3.1MM remaining on Lauer’s $4.4MM arbitration salary, though the precise amount hasn’t been reported. The Dodgers will pay a 110% tax on whatever amount of Lauer’s salary they’re assuming.
Lauer posted solid numbers as a starter and swingman with the Padres and Brewers from 2018-22, but his career was at a crossroads after a rough 2023 campaign. The left-hander didn’t pitch in the big leagues at all in 2024, as he spent his time in the minors with the Astros and Pirates and also had a stint in the KBO League with the Kia Tigers. Toronto inked Lauer to a minor league contract in the 2024-25 offseason, and he ended up being one of the unsung heroes of the Jays’ run to the American League crown.
Initially called up as a long reliever and bulk pitcher, Lauer was moved into a full-fledged starting role by June before being shifted back into bullpen work in September and throughout the postseason. Lauer posted a 3.18 ERA, 23.9% strikeout rate, and 6.1% walk rate across 104 2/3 regular-season innings and then delivered a 3.12 ERA in 8 2/3 playoff frames.
Despite these solid numbers, the Jays still viewed Lauer as a swingman or depth option heading into 2026, as Toronto addressed the rotation by signing Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, and then reuniting with Max Scherzer. However, fate intervened again with a swath of injuries that quickly thinned the Blue Jays’ pitching depth, leaving Lauer again in a starting job.
This time, Lauer came back to earth. He posted a 6.69 ERA over 36 1/3 innings and eight outings this season, and his 16K% and 9.9BB% also went in the wrong direction from 2025. Lauer wasn’t entirely healthy himself as he battled through a bad case of the flu, but there also seemed to be some discord between the left-hander and the team over his usage. Lauer went public with his displeasure over first his lack of starting opportunities, and then the Jays’ decision to use an opener for some of Lauer’s outings.
Ironically, Lauer now finds himself on a team known for non-traditional pitcher deployment, so it wouldn’t be a shock if the Dodgers again use an opener if Lauer is lined up to face a team with several tough right-handed batters atop a lineup. That assumes Lauer will start at all, though that is probably the likeliest scenario given the team’s rotation needs.
Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are both on the injured list, leaving Los Angeles with two holes in its preferred six-man rotation model. Roki Sasaki‘s starting job is also less than stable given the right-hander’s shaky start to the 2026 campaign, though Sasaki might retain his rotation role just by dint of a lack of other options. Lauer could be inserted alongside Sasaski, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Justin Wrobleski, and Emmet Sheehan. Down on the farm, River Ryan might be approaching readiness for a return to the majors as well, so the Dodgers again find themselves in the odd position of both technically having a rotation surplus, yet also a shortage of arms.
Katie Woo of The Athletic first reported the Dodgers were acquiring Lauer.
Twins’ Matt Bowman Exercises Opt-Out Clause
Right-hander Matt Bowman has triggered an opt-out clause in his minor league contract with the Twins, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. Bowman can become a free agent if Minnesota doesn’t add him to the 26-man roster by Wednesday. Earlier this week, Darren Wolfson of KSTP and SKOR North reported on the opt-out clauses held by both Bowman and John Brebbia, and there isn’t yet any word on Brebbia’s decision.
This is the second time in two months that Bowman has used an opt-out clause, as he also opted out of his previous minors contract with Minnesota at the end of Spring Training. The Twins granted Bowman his release rather than a spot on the Opening Day roster, but Bowman returned to the organization on a new minor league deal shortly thereafter.
It is possible this scenario may repeat itself if the Twins again decide against selecting Bowman’s contract. Minnesota has a full 40-man roster, so the team would likely have to make multiple moves to accommodate Bowman on both the 26-man and 40-man rosters.
Working in Bowman’s favor this time around are a set of impressive Triple-A numbers — a 1.69 ERA, 28.1% strikeout rate, and 6.7% walk rate over 21 1/3 innings in St. Paul. The 34-year-old is obviously pitching against much younger and less experienced batters in the minors, and Bowman has a 5.46 ERA in 59 1/3 innings in the majors over the 2023-25 seasons. That said, an argument can be made that the Twins might as well give Bowman a look considering that Minnesota’s bullpen has been one of the least-effective units in baseball.
AL West Notes: D’Arnaud, Smith, Clarke
Plantar fasciitis in his right foot sent Travis d’Arnaud to the Angels‘ 10-day injured list on May 7, and it will be some time yet before the catcher is back on the field. D’Arnaud is currently using a scooter to get around, and he told MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger that it will be at least two weeks before he can put any weight on his right foot. Between this recovery time, a ramp-up of baseball activities and a minor league rehab assignment, a mid-June return looks like the absolute best-case scenario for d’Arnaud’s return.
After signing a two-year, $12MM deal with Los Angeles in November 2024, d’Arnaud struggled to a .197/.255/.343 slash line over 231 plate appearances in the first year of the contract. He had a modest .614 OPS over his first 40 PA this season, so between the lack of production and now this extended IL stint, d’Arnaud’s time in Anaheim is looking like a bust for all sides. D’Arnaud’s absence is just one of many issues plaguing the woeful Angels, whose 16-30 record is the worst in the majors.
More from the AL West…
- Josh Smith will spent 7-10 days in hospital being treated for viral meningitis, the Rangers announced in a press release on Friday. As per the release, “the club will determine an appropriate return to play program for Smith once he is able to resume physical activity.” Smith has been on the 10-day injured list since May 4 due to a right glute strain, since he has since been set back by wrist soreness and now this illness. These health concerns add to what has already been a tough year on the field for Smith, as he was hitting only .217/.324/.239 in his first 108 plate appearances.
- Denzel Clarke began a minor league rehab assignment yesterday, with MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos writing that Clarke will play two games at A-level Stockton before likely heading onto the Athletics‘ Triple-A affiliate. Clarke hasn’t played since April 20 due to a bone bruise in his right foot, so it’ll be a full month on the shelf for the outfielders even though he seems to be making good progress. Already one of baseball’s top defensive center fielders in just his second MLB campaign, Clarke’s bat is a long ways behind his glove, as he has hit just .214/.262/.323 over 219 career PA with the Athletics.
Dodgers Place Jack Dreyer On 15-Day Injured List
The Dodgers announced that left-hander Jack Dreyer has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to discomfort in his throwing shoulder. Southpaw Charlie Barnes was also optioned to Triple-A, as Los Angeles called up right-handers Paul Gervase and Chayce McDermott to fill the two open spots in their bullpen. No further roster maneuvers were required since Gervase and McDermott are already on the 40-man roster.
After going undrafted in 2021, Dreyer signed a free agent deal with the Dodgers that August and has developed into a valuable member of the club’s bullpen. Dreyer made his MLB debut last season and finished ninth in NL Rookie of the Year voting after posting a 2.95 ERA, 24.1% strikeout rate, and 7.8% walk rate over 76 1/3 innings. The southpaw was even sharper in his sophomore year, with a 2.08 ERA, 28.6K%, and 7.1BB% over his first 21 2/3 frames of 2026.
This impressive run will now be interrupted for at least the next 15 days, though manager Dave Roberts believes Dreyer will miss a minimal amount of time. Roberts told The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya and other reporters that Dreyer felt the discomfort while warming up yesterday, though imaging showed only inflammation.
Gervase and McDermott will add two fresh arms to the L.A. bullpen, and McDermott was actually in the team’s clubhouse yesterday in advance of a possible move. Formerly a notable prospect in the Orioles’ farm system, McDermott has a 12.79 ERA over 12 2/3 career big league innings, and he is now lined up for his first MLB action of 2026 in a new environment. Baltimore designated McDermott for assignment in April, then traded him to Los Angeles for minor league right-hander Axel Perez.
Angels Reinstate Grayson Rodriguez From 10-Day Injured List
MAY 17: The Angels officially activated Rodriguez, and optioned right-hander Alek Manoah to Triple-A in the corresponding move.
MAY 16: The Angels announced Grayson Rodriguez as their scheduled starter for Sunday’s game with the Dodgers, meaning that Anaheim will officially activate the right-hander from the 15-day injured list tomorrow. A bout of shoulder inflammation and “dead arm” soreness during Spring Training resulted in Rodriguez opening the season on the IL, and delaying both his 2026 debut and his Angels debut.
Beyond those milestones, tomorrow will also mark Rodriguez’s first appearance in a Major League game since July 31, 2024. Rodriguez had a 3.86 ERA, 26.5% strikeout rate, and 7.3% walk rate over 116 2/3 innings for the Orioles that season (his second MLB campaign) before discomfort in his right lat/teres area brought his year to an early end. He then didn’t pitch a single inning in the majors or minors in 2025 due to a lat strain and multiple instances of elbow soreness, with the final result being an elbow debridement surgery last August.
Injuries notwithstanding, it was still surprising when the Orioles traded Rodriguez to the Angels last November in a one-for-one swap for Taylor Ward. While Ward has been a valuable bat for Baltimore, he is a free agent this winter, whereas Rodriguez is a former top prospect who is controlled through 2029. There’s plenty of upside for the Halos if Rodriguez can get healthy, though it obviously isn’t a great sign that his tenure in Orange County immediately began with an IL stint.
Yusei Kikuchi is still sidelined at least through May due to shoulder inflammation, but with Rodriguez now approaching his return, the Angels’ rotation is a step closer to its first-choice state. Jose Soriano is enjoying a fantastic season, and Rodriguez will join Reid Detmers, Walbert Urena, and Jack Kochanowicz as the rest of the starting five.
The outlook isn’t quite as good for another Angels pitcher attempting to return after a long layoff. According to MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger, Ben Joyce‘s rehab assignment has been slowed due to some discomfort in his surgically-repaired right shoulder. An MRI came back clean, however, so it doesn’t appear as if Joyce is dealing with anything but normal soreness.
“We got a little flare-up….It’s just part of the process after a shoulder surgery,” Joyce said. “Just kind of has ups and downs. But we were pretty positive about the results. Nothing structurally wrong, it’s just working through a little soreness right now.”
It was almost exactly a year ago that Joyce underwent the shoulder procedure that ended his 2025 campaign after five appearances. Joyce began this season on the 15-day IL but will probably be moved to the 60-day IL the next time Los Angeles needs a 40-man roster spot, as he is already approaching 60 days on the sidelines.
Pirates Place Ryan O’Hearn On 10-Day Injured List
The Pirates announced that first baseman/right fielder Ryan O’Hearn has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right quad strain. Outfielder Jake Mangum was activated from the 10-day IL in the corresponding move, and Mangum will take O’Hearn’s spot on the 26-man roster.
O’Hearn’s injury occurred in yesterday’s 6-0 Pirates loss to the Phillies. While playing first base in the top of the second inning, O’Hearn made a bit of an awkward move to avoid batter Alec Bohm on the baseline while chasing a pop-up in foul territory. O’Hearn completed the play, but then “every time I tried to do more than a walk or a slow jog, it just felt like my leg was grabbing on me,” as he told Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and other reporters. Jared Triolo replaced O’Hearn at first base prior to the top of the fourth inning.
An MRI was arranged for O’Hearn yesterday, and the tests revealed a strain serious enough to require an immediate placement on the IL. The Pirates don’t play on Monday, so while the team could perhaps have given O’Hearn a couple of days to rest before making a decision, the club has opted to start the clock on the IL stint right away.
The injury is a tough setback for both O’Hearn and the Pirates as a whole, as the veteran has been tremendous in his first season in Pittsburgh. O’Hearn signed a two-year free agent contract worth $29MM in guaranteed money, and he has thus far more than lived up to his end of the deal by hitting .289/.368/.459 with seven home runs in 182 plate appearances. O’Hearn has a 132 wRC+, which would be a career best for the 32-year-old if he managed to keep it up over the full season.
O’Hearn has primarily played right field for the Buccos, though he has often been shifted over to first base late in games. Now that Mangum is back from a minimal 10-day IL stint due to a hamstring strain, he should help fill the void in right field. Triolo, Nick Yorke, and Billy Cook could all get some time in right field while O’Hearn is out, with that same trio also candidates for part-time first base duty. Down at Triple-A, Jhostynxon Garcia is still waiting on his first MLB call-up since joining the Pirates last winter, but “the Password” hasn’t been hitting well.