Dodgers Claim Brent Honeywell Jr. Off Waivers From Pirates
10:19PM: The Honeywell claim has now been officially announced, via the Dodgers’ team transactions page on MLB.com. In the corresponding move, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was shifted from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL, so August 15 now represents the earliest Yamamoto can return from his rotator cuff strain. Yamamoto has seemingly been making good progress in the initial steps of his recovery, as manager Dave Roberts has said Yamamoto has been playing catch.
1:45PM: The Dodgers have claimed right-hander Brent Honeywell Jr. off waivers from the Pirates, as noted by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. L.A. will need to make a corresponding 40-man roster move, though one has not yet been announced.
Honeywell, 29, is best known for his time in the Rays system as a top prospect. A lengthy series of injuries that included Tommy John surgery and multiple elbow fractures left Honeywell to pitch just 103 1/3 innings in professional games from 2018 to 2022. Nonetheless, the righty managed to make it to the majors last year with the Padres. He posted a decent 4.05 ERA in 46 2/3 innings of work with San Diego but was pushed off the roster down the stretch last summer and ended up with the White Sox. He was lit up for seven runs in just 5 2/3 innings of work during his brief stint with the South Siders and departed for free agency over the winter.
Back in February, Honeywell signed with Pittsburgh on a minor league deal and started the season with the club’s affiliate in Triple-A. He pitched to a 4.85 ERA across 39 innings of work with a 19.6% strikeout rate and a 10.1% walk rate during his time in the minors. That somewhat lackluster performance still earned him a brief call up to the majors, however, and Honeywell excelled by the results in that limited showing with a 2.70 ERA in 3 1/3 frames, although he walked one more batter than he struck out in that cup of coffee. Honeywell was designated for assignment yesterday after just a few days in the majors, but he’ll evidently get another chance at the big league level with the Dodgers.
With Los Angeles, Honeywell will continue trying to unlock the talent that made him a top prospect during his time in Tampa. Back in 2017, the right-hander was one of the game’s top pitching prospects after posting a 3.64 ERA and 2.84 FIP in 24 starts at the Triple-A level where he struck out 29.1% of batters faced against a walk rate of just 5.9%. He’s several years removed from those sensational numbers at this point, but his time with the Padres last year showed that even with his current diminished strikeout (20.6% in San Diego) and walk (9.8%) rates he can still be an effective middle relief arm.
While the Dodgers’ bullpen has been among the best in baseball overall this year, they’ve struggled somewhat in recent weeks. Since the calendar flipped to June, the club’s 3.46 relief ERA remains solid, but their 4.18 FIP is bottom ten in the majors and suggests they could be in for some regression as the season wears on. The introduction of Honeywell, who can at least provide the club with another arm in the final weeks leading up to the trade deadline, should allow the Dodgers to help keep their relief options fresh as the club likely contemplates other additions in the coming weeks.
Orioles GM Mike Elias Discusses Trade Deadline, Holliday, Mayo
Orioles GM Mike Elias spoke to reporters prior to this afternoon’s game against the Yankees and touched on a number of topics, including the club’s needs and goals ahead of the trade deadline as well as the status of two of the club’s key, upper-level prospects: infielders Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo. As noted by Roch Kubatko of MASN, Elias suggested to reporters that both Holliday and Mayo figure to factor into the club’s plans as “big contributors” in the second half this year.
Holliday, of course, is the consensus top prospect in the entire sport and got a brief cup of coffee at the big league level earlier this year. The 20-year-old looked overmatched in the majors at the time, slashing just .059/.111/.059 in 36 trips to the plate across ten games. He then returned to the Triple-A level and hit .252/.418/.429 over his next 40 games. That’s a solid overall slash line but a far cry from what Holliday had done in the past, especially looking at his production in early June, when he hit just .212 with a 26.7% strikeout rate and a .394 slugging percentage in ten games before being placed on the minor league IL due to what the club referred to at the time as a “barking” shoulder.
The young phenom returned to action after two weeks on the shelf and has looked more like himself at the plate, slashing a solid .250/.464/.425 in 12 games since returning. He’s been limited to appearances at DH since returning, but that restriction figures to come off soon as Elias told reporters (including Rich Dubroff of Baltimore Baseball) this afternoon that Holliday will resume playing the field after the All-Star break. That should leave Holliday in line to take over a regular role at second base for the Orioles at some point in the second half.
Baltimore has been relying on a combination of Ramon Urias and Jorge Mateo to fill out the infield mix, with Jordan Westburg playing second base on days Urias is in the lineup and third base on days Mateo is in the lineup. Holliday’s arrival would likely open the door for Westburg to settle in at the hot corner on a more permanent basis while shifting both Urias and Mateo into bench roles. Of course, that infield picture figures to get complicated further by the introduction of Mayo, who Elias spoke of glowingly in conversation with reporters (including MLB.com’s Jake Rill) this afternoon.
“He is in an exceptionally good spot. We talk about him all the time,” Elias said of Mayo, according to Rill. “He’s very close. He’s going to help us this year. It’s just going to be about the right moment and the right opportunity and the right runway for something like that.“
Mayo’s readiness for a new challenge is all but undeniable at this point. The 22-year-old infielder posted a 127 wRC+ in 62 games at the Triple-A level last season and has followed it up with even stronger numbers this year. In 284 trips to the plate at Triple-A this season, Mayo has slashed an incredible .297/.380/.606 with a wRC+ of 147. While his 24.6% strikeout rate is perhaps a smidgen higher than is ideal, he more than makes up for the swing-and-miss with a 10.4% walk rate and a phenomenal 19 homers in just 63 games.
Talented as the slugger is, however, his roster fit in Baltimore is a difficult one to sort out. Mayo’s native position is third base, and that’s where he’s received almost all of his reps throughout the minors. With that being said, his defense has drawn mixed reviews and with Westburg likely to lock down the hot corner on an everyday basis upon Holliday’s ascension to the majors, that would leave Mayo on the outside looking in when it comes to reps at his natural position. Mayo has also received occasional time at first base, however, and it’s fairly easy to imagine him factoring in to the club’s first base/DH mix. Even that part of the roster is overcrowded, however, as Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O’Hearn are currently splitting time there while Adley Rutschman also spends time at DH when not behind the plate and the club’s five outfield bats- Austin Hays, Anthony Santander, Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins, and Heston Kjerstad– vie for what’s left of the playing time available at DH when not patrolling the grass.
The Orioles’ overflow of positional talent could, of course, be lessened somewhat by trades in the run-up to the deadline on July 30. Elias told reporters (including Dubroff) that while the front office is largely focused on the draft, which will run from tomorrow until Tuesday, the club will turn its attention toward the upcoming deadline afterwards and will have the flexibility to add payroll as they pursue additions. Kubatko adds that while Elias did suggest that payroll could increase under the club’s new ownership group, that doesn’t mean it’s “definitely” going to happen this summer and that the front office plans to be “disciplined” in their spending going forward, even as the purse strings loosen relative to where payroll had been under the Angelos family. Of course, even just reaching the vicinity of peak payroll under the Angelos family, which Cot’s Baseball Contracts lists as just under $165MM back in 2017, would offer the Orioles plenty of room to work with this summer and headed into the offseason.
In terms of specific needs, Elias acknowledged (as relayed by Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun) that adding a starting pitcher with multiple years of team control would be a “big bonus” for the club as they stare down an offseason where they’ll need to fill out an Opening Day rotation where only Grayson Rodriguez, rookie Cade Povich, and struggling righty Dean Kremer can be reliably penciled in thanks to the pending free agencies of John Means and Corbin Burnes as well as surgeries underwent by Means, Kyle Bradish, and Tyler Wells that figure to sideline them into 2025. Attractive as the addition of a controllable arm would be, however, Weyrich goes on to note that Elias made clear the club will be “approaching this deadline with 2024 front and center.”
A look at MLBTR’s Top 50 Trade Candidates for the summer will reveal a list littered with potential options that feature multiple years of control, ranging from breakout White Sox star Garrett Crochet and veteran righty Erick Fedde, to Rockies hurlers Cal Quantrill and Austin Gomber, and even Rays starters Zach Eflin and Zack Littell. While an intradivision trade with Tampa seems somewhat unlikely, the Orioles certainly have the farm system to acquire virtually any player they set their sights on, even without parting ways with Holliday or Mayo.
That said, it’s certainly feasible that the club could look to acquire shorter-term pitching options as well. Right-hander Jack Flaherty is the top rental pitcher on the market this summer and seems like a less than ideal fit after he struggled to a 6.75 ERA down the stretch with Baltimore last year, but hurlers like Frankie Montas, Michael Lorenzen, and Trevor Williams could also be available this summer as pure rentals depending on the competitiveness of their respective clubs in the run-up to the deadline. It would also hardly be a surprise to see the Orioles attempt to beef up a bullpen mix that recently lost left-hander Danny Coulombe to surgery that will keep him out of action until at least September.
Orioles Select Vinny Nittoli
1:07pm: The Orioles have announced the selection of Nittoli’s contract. In corresponding moves, left-hander Cade Povich was optioned to Triple-A and Coulombe was transferred to the 60-day IL.
8:45am: The Orioles are selecting the contract of right-hander Vinny Nittoli, as MASN’s Roch Kubatko reported this morning. The righty signed with the club on a minor league deal earlier this month. The club will need to make a corresponding 40-man move in order to add Nittoli to the roster, though that could be accomplished by transferring lefty Danny Coulombe to the 60-day injured list.
Nittoli, 33, was a 25th-round pick by the Mariners back in 2014 and has spent his decade in professional baseball largely as a minor league journeyman. After spending a few years in Seattle’s minor league system, Nittoli departed affiliated ball in 2017 and spent two years pitching in the independent American Association before catching back on in the minors. Over the course of his professional career, he’s suited up for the Mariners, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Yankees, Phillies, Cubs, Mets, A’s, and now the Orioles at the Triple-A level. In all that time, however, he’s received only scattered playing time in the majors with 13 big league appearances to his name.
More than half of those appearances came with the A’s earlier this season. He pitched eight innings of work in total with Oakland, and performed to a strong 2.25 ERA with five strikeouts against two walks. The righty has actually received similarly brief cups of coffee in the major leagues in each of the last four seasons, having first made his big league debut with the Mariners back in 2021. In all, Nittoli sports a 3.07 ERA despite a lackluster 5.02 FIP and a strikeout rate of just 16.4% in 14 2/3 innings of work at the big league level.
Despite those relatively pedestrian numbers at the big league level, it isn’t hard to see why the Orioles would be interested in giving Nittoli a look at the big league level. He’s been nothing short of dominant at the Triple-A level this year with a 2.73 ERA in 26 1/3 innings of work split between the affiliates of Oakland and Baltimore. That already impressive figure is made all the more intriguing by the fact that the majority of those innings came in the inflated offensive environment of the Pacific Coast League, where the Athletics’ affiliate in Las Vegas plays. Nittoli has paired those strong run prevention numbers with an eye-popping 36% strikeout rate at the level this year, suggesting that there could be a meaningful improvement in skills to go along with the results.
Altogether, Nittoli’s resume is interesting enough for the Orioles to give him a shot in their bullpen mix. The club’s relief corps has been more or less league average this year, rankings 14th in baseball with a 3.84 ERA, but there’s certainly room for improvement ahead of the club’s back-end duo of Yennier Cano and Craig Kimbrel, particularly after Coulombe underwent surgery last month. Right-hander Bryan Baker, for example, can be optioned to the minors and has struggled to a 5.14 ERA and 4.38 FIP in 14 innings of work with the club.
Reds Select Tony Santillan
The Reds announced this morning that they’ve selected the contract of right-hander Tony Santillan. To make room or Santillan on the 40-man and active rosters, outfielder Nick Martini was transferred to the 60-day injured list while right-hander Carson Spiers was placed on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder impingement.
It’s far from Santillan’s first stint in the majors with Cincinnati. The 27-year-old was a second-round pick by the club back in 2015 and made his debut with the club back in 2021, when he was one of the club’s top relievers. In 43 1/3 innings of work that season, Santillan posted a strong 2.91 ERA (162 ERA+) despite a somewhat lackluster 4.62 FIP in 26 games. While Santillan struck out an excellent 29.5% of opponents, his 11.1% walk rate and his seven homers allowed both weighed that down somewhat.
Those issues, combined with a back strain that sidelined Santillan for much of the 2022 campaign and the early part of the 2023 season, left the right-hander on the outside looking in of the club’s bullpen mix going forward, however. Over those two injury-marred seasons, Santillan struggled to a 5.09 ERA with a 4.52 FIP, 19.3% strikeout rate, and 14.9% walk rate while pitching just 23 total frames in the majors. His work in the minors last year wasn’t much better, as he was torched to the tune of a 7.88 ERA in 35 appearances at the Triple-A level last season.
Despite that rough performance, the Reds nonetheless re-signed Santillan to a minor league deal this past offseason, and that decision has largely paid off. The righty has looked much better at Triple-A this season than he did a year ago, posting a 3.49 ERA with a 3.87 FIP in 38 2/3 innings of work as a single-inning reliever. While his 13.2% walk rate is still elevated as ever, his strikeout rate has bounced back in a big way to compensate: he’s fanned 30.5% of opponents this year. That high strikeout rate was a big part of what made him so successful in 2021, and given that it’s hardly a surprise that the Reds would be interested in seeing what he can do at the big league level.
Making room for Santillan on the Cincinnati roster is Spiers, who has emerged as a quality middle relief arm for the Reds this year after struggling in his first taste of big league action last season. The 26-year-old posted an ERA north of 6.00 in 13 innings of work in 2023 but has emerged looking far better this season with a solid 3.83 ERA and even more impressive numbers under the hood while swinging between the rotation and bullpen this year. While Spiers has only struck out 20.5% of batters faced this year, an excellent 4.5% walk rate has left him with a 3.51 FIP and a 3.86 SIERA, both of which are well above average marks. Fortunately, Spiers told reporters (including Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer) this afternoon that his injury figures to be only a short-term issue and that he expects to miss just one start.
As for Martini, the outfielder’s transfer to the 60-day IL is hardly a surprise given the fact that he underwent surgery on his thumb earlier this week. Martini’s timetable for return isn’t entirely clear, though he’s expected to be able to return before the end of the year. That return now won’t come until after September 5, 60 days after he was first sidelined by the injury. In 163 trips to the plate with the Reds this year, Martini has slashed a lackluster .212/.272/.370.
Astros Sign Aledmys Diaz To Minor League Deal
The Astros have signed veteran utility bat Aledmys Diaz to a minor league deal, per a team announcement. Diaz is set to report to the club’s complex in Florida rather than immediately be assigned to a minor league club.
The news is something of a homecoming for Diaz, as he was a key piece in the Astros’ bench mix between the club’s acquisition of him from the Blue Jays during the 2018-19 offseason until he elected free agency following the 2022 season. In his four years with the club, Diaz hit a solid .255/.313/.425 (102 wRC+) while splitting time between all four infield spots as well as the outfield corners. After winning the World Series with Houston in 2022, Diaz hit the open market and signed on with the A’s in a two-year guarantee for a club that has given out multi-year deals in free agency increasingly sparingly throughout their rebuild.
That contract did not go as anyone had hoped. Diaz took a major step back as a semi-regular player in Oakland last year, slashing just .229/.280/.337 with a wRC+ of 72 in 109 games, his most in a season since his time with the Blue Jays half a decade earlier. While his versatility still offered some value for the A’s, the power stroke he flashed in Houston that allowed him to slug 12 homers in 327 trips to the plate during the 2022 season evaporated upon his arrival in Oakland as he slugged just three homers in 2023.
That step back in the power department didn’t leave much hope for the 32-year-old to turn things around and once again become a slightly above average bat with the A’s this year, and his performance in 2024 proved to be nothing short of disastrous. Diaz missed the first two months of the season due to groin and calf issues this year and, upon being activated, appeared in just 12 games for Oakland. In that time, Diaz recorded just three hits (all singles) and walked only once across 30 trips to the plate. That paltry .103/.133/.103 slash line was good for a wRC+ of -31 and led the A’s to release him last week, ending his tenure in Oakland three months early.
For the Astros, the return of Diaz represents a possible depth option for the club’s bench in the event of a rash of injuries. Mauricio Dubon has largely stepped into the role Diaz previously filled on the Houston bench quite admirably, with a .279/.308/.404 slash line and a 97 wRC+ in 744 trips to the plate over the past two seasons. While Dubon has clearly established himself as the club’s preferred utility infielder and it’s even likely that 40-man infielders Jacob Amaya and David Hensley are also above Diaz on the club’s hierarchy, the deal still offers Diaz the opportunity to attempt to work through his struggles in a familiar organization and re-establish himself as a worthwhile depth option for big league clubs headed into free agency this winter.
Phillies Reportedly Seeking Right-Handed Outfielder
The Phillies are “prioritizing” finding a right-handed hitter to add to their outfield mix, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Gelb adds that Philadelphia is expected to make at least one trade to address its bench mix before the deadline.
The organization cleared a spot on its bench for a righty outfielder yesterday by parting ways with veteran utility player Whit Merrifield. That’s left the club to search for a platoon partner for the lefty-swinging Brandon Marsh in left field, and their internal options are fairly limited—particularly with Johan Rojas patrolling center on a regular basis. Cristian Pache and Weston Wilson are both currently on the club’s roster, but neither inspires much confidence.
Pache, 25, was a roughly league average hitter (99 wRC+) for the Phillies last year in 95 trips to the plate but has struggled in a similar role this year. In 109 trips to the plate this year, Pache has struggled to a .200/.294/.274 with a wRC+ of just 65. Meanwhile, Wilson has just 11 games under his belt at the big league level across the past two seasons. While he’s hit a solid .261/.431/.391 in that limited time, it’s hardly a surprise that the Phillies would be interesting in a more established option than Weston, particularly given his somewhat middling 107 wRC+ at the Triple-A level this year.
Edmundo Sosa, who his hitting an excellent .275/.333/.461 (123 wRC+) on the year and was forced out of the starting lineup by the return of Trea Turner from the injured list, may seem like an obvious solution. The 28 year old has been ice cold at the plate lately, however, with a slash line of just .239/.269/.347 in his last 104 trips to the plate this year. Even setting aside Sosa’s prolonged cold streak, the utility infielder has virtually no experience in the outfield with his four brief cameos on the grass spanning just 5 1/3 innings. That would make him a risky choice for regular time in the outfield, particularly with Nick Castellanos‘s less-than-stellar defense in right field on an everyday basis.
That’s left the Phillies to look for external options as they track down a platoon partner for Marsh, who is hitting just .149/.222/.170 against southpaws this year. Fortunately, there are plenty of potential trade candidates who could improve on that production substantially. A look at MLBTR’s Top 50 Trade Candidates for the upcoming deadline reveals a number of right-handed hitting outfield options, and while top option Luis Robert Jr. is likely not in the cards for a club that appears to be looking for a smaller addition pieces like Tommy Pham, Kevin Pillar, or even Miguel Andujar could all capably fill the short-side platoon role the Phillies are looking to add a candidate for.
Pillar in particular appears to be a strong fit for the Phillies are looking for. The veteran has had a resurgent season at the plate with the Angels after struggling during his time with the White Sox earlier this year, and much of that production has come by way of crushing lefties. The 35-year-old has hit an excellent .359/.406/.625 in 69 trips to the plate against southpaws this year, and that strong production is largely backed up by his career .282/.318/.470 line against opposite-handed pitching. While he’s more of a scratch defender (-1 OAA, -3 DRS) at this point in his career than the elite center fielder he was in his younger days, Pillar could still be an excellent platoon bat for a team like the Phillies.
Beyond the aforementioned options, there are some other less likely trade candidates who could make some sense for the Phillies, such as Tigers veteran Mark Canha or A’s slugger Brent Rooker. Rooker has been connected to the Phillies previously but may be an imperfect fit for a club looking for smaller acquisitions, but the 35-year-old Canha could fit that bill nicely after a somewhat down season at the plate this year. That overall downturn in production hasn’t stopped him from being a quality hitter against lefty pitching, however, as Canha has slashed a strong .290/.408/.484 in 76 trips to the plate against southpaws this year. While the slugger is split-neutral for his career his lengthier track record of offensive production could be appealing for the Phillies.
The Opener: Kiermaier, Futures Game, Draft
As the baseball world wraps up play prior to the All-Star break, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Kiermaier on waivers:
The Blue Jays are 8.5 games out of a Wild Card spot in the AL and seven games under .500 after going just 8-14 in their last three weeks of play. That’s led the club to begin considering trading away rental players this summer as they pivot more firmly towards selling, and news yesterday that they’ve placed center fielder Kevin Kiermaier on waivers is the latest signal that the Jays are open to shedding some veterans. Waivers are a 48-hour process, so a resolution can be expected today or tomorrow (depending on when the Jays formally placed the veteran on waivers).
Any claiming team would be on the hook for the remainder of Kiermaier’s $10.5M salary, and that hefty price tag makes a claim rather unlikely. It’s certainly feasible that teams would have interest in Kiermaier’s speed and elite defense in a scenario where the Jays eat most of his salary in a trade, but the four-time Gold Glove winner (and former Platinum Glove winner) is hitting just .191/.238/.295 in 72 games this season (51 wRC+). Kiermaier is still owed about $4.5MM between now and season’s end.
2. Futures Game this weekend:
Although play around the league won’t stop until Monday, MLB is kicking off All-Star week festivities tomorrow with the Futures Game. The game, which is scheduled for 3:10pm CT and will be broadcast on MLB Network, is set to feature a number of top prospects from around the game, including catcher Samuel Basallo of the Orioles, infielder Colson Montgomery of the White Sox, and outfielder Spencer Jones of the Yankees in the AL. Meanwhile, the NL will feature top talents like Reds righty Rhett Lowder, Padres catcher Ethan Salas, Pirates infielder Termarr Johnson, and Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews.
The weekend will also feature a Skills Showcase where eight prospects from around the league (Basallo, Johnson, Cubs catcher Moises Ballesteros, Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony, Nationals infielder Brady House, Rangers infielder Sebastian Walcott, Reds infielder Cam Collier, and Rays infielder Tre’ Morgan) will compete in a series of three events designed to show off their hitting talents. You can read more about the event, which is set to air on Sunday at 9:00am CT, in this piece from MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo.
3. 2024 Draft to kick off Sunday:
All-Star week has also begun to feature the MLB draft in recent years, and the first round of this year’s draft is scheduled to begin at 6pm CT on Sunday. All eyes will be on the state of Ohio, as the Guardians and Reds will be picking first and second overall, respectively, after winning the top two spots in the draft lottery over the offseason. Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana, Georgia outfielder Charlie Condon, West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt, Florida two-way star Jac Caglianone, Arkansas lefty Hagen Smith, and Wake Forest righty Chase Burns are among the prospects receiving the most buzz ahead of the draft.
The Opener: Bellinger, Alvarez, Bichette
As the July 30 trade deadline creeps closer by the day, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Bellinger undergoes testing:
The Cubs were dealt a potentially tough blow in their win over the Orioles last night when Cody Bellinger was struck in the hand by a 97mph pitch from lefty Cionel Perez. According to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, Bellinger’s middle finger was struck by the pitch, and he was removed from the game because he didn’t believe he could throw a baseball. Bellinger is set to undergo testing to determine the severity of the issue.
If Bellinger were to miss significant time, it could have a major impact on the Cubs as they attempt to work their way back into the conversations for an NL Wild Card spot. The club is currently 3.5 games back from a playoff spot despite a lackluster 44-49 record but has started to show signs of life with a 5-1 record in their last six games. The loss of Bellinger, who has slashed .269/.331/.410 in 344 trips to the plate this year while playing all three outfield spots and first base for Chicago this year, would not only throw a wrench into the club’s efforts to contend but also take a potential trade chip off the board for the Cubs in the event that they end up selling. If Bellinger requires a stint on the IL, prospect Alexander Canario could be a candidate take his spot on the active roster and in the outfield mix.
2. Alvarez exits:
Bellinger wasn’t the only star pulled from a game yesterday. Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez exited the club’s win over the Marlins due to tightness in his right hip. As noted by Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, manager Joe Espada said he doesn’t think Alvarez’s injury is serious enough to require imaging. That’s certainly good news, although it’s still somewhat concerning for Alvarez to be removed from the game just one day after returning to the lineup following a hit-by-pitch to the knee that occurred on Saturday. If the Astros decide to give Alvarez a few days to rest with the All-Star break just around the corner, players such as Chas McCormick, Joey Loperfido, and Trey Cabbage could get additional reps.
3. Bichette undergoes MRI:
A third star player exited play with injury yesterday when Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette was pulled from the club’s win over the Giants due to soreness in his right calf. That’s the same calf that required a stint on the IL last month. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet relayed after the game that Bichette was undergoing an MRI.
The 26-year-old Bichette has struggled to a bleak .222/.275/.321 slash line this season, but a club that has fallen 8.5 games out of the AL Wild Card race and has begun to consider selling at the deadline can ill afford to lose one of its most talented players. Bichette’s combination of injuries, underperformance and remaining season of contractual control make him an unlikely trade candidate, especially if the Blue Jays hope to return to contention in 2025. However, an extended absence for Bichette could push Toronto even further towards selling. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is on the injured list as well at the moment but would be a top candidate to step in at shortstop if he’s out for a lesser period of time than Bichette. Currently, Ernie Clement and Leo Jimenez are the top healthy options at shortstop on the active roster.
The Opener: Phillies, Angels, Doubleheaders
As the march toward the trade deadline continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Phillies banged up:
While the Phillies welcomed both Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper back from the injured list yesterday, it seems they may now be facing injury issues elsewhere on the roster. Both right-hander Zack Wheeler and outfielder Johan Rojas exited yesterday’s game. As noted by MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Wheeler exited after just five innings and 76 pitches due to what the club has described as left lower back tightness. Rojas was hit in the right forearm with a pitch during the seventh inning and didn’t come back out for the eighth.
Rojas, who has struggled to a .227/.262/.284 slash line so far, said after the game that he expected to be fine after the incident, but Wheeler’s status is more up in the air. Following the game, Wheeler indicated that while he hopes to make his next scheduled start Sunday, the back issue that took him out of yesterday’s game has been bothering him since late last month. Wheeler is scheduled for one more start before the All-Star break, but if the Phils want to be cautious they could push that outing back until after the Midsummer Classic. The Phillies’ ace has once again been among the very best pitchers in baseball this year, with a 2.74 ERA and 3.28 FIP in 111 2/3 innings of work.
2. Angels roster move incoming:
The Angels’ bullpen has been heavily taxed in their series against the Rangers after right-hander Davis Daniel threw just 3 2/3 innings Monday, followed by righty Roansy Contreras making it through just two innings yesterday. With the club’s relief corps left to cover 12 1/3 innings over the past two games, manager Ron Washington told reporters (including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register) that the club will probably need to make a roster move to freshen up the bullpen. Guillermo Zuniga is the only reliever the Angels have at Triple-A currently on the 40-man roster, making him a strong contender to get promoted. Other options could include turning to a starter such as Zach Plesac as a long reliever or making a 40-man roster move to promote a veteran like Amir Garrett or Bryan Shaw.
3. Doubleheaders in the Midwest:
Rain washed away two games yesterday, postponing a matchup between the White Sox and Twins in Chicago as well as a game between the Cardinals and Royals in St. Louis. Those games will both be made up today as doubleheaders. In the case of the Twins and White Sox, MLB.com’s Scott Merkin and Do-Hyoung Park note that the two games will be played as part of a straight doubleheader beginning at 1:10pm local time, with fans holding tickets for today’s regularly scheduled game welcome to attend both contests. Looking at the day’s matchups, the White Sox will send Erick Fedde (3.13 ERA) to the mound opposite Bailey Ober (4.12 ERA) in the first game, while Game 2 will feature rookie Drew Thorpe (3.71 ERA) and struggling All-Star Pablo Lopez (5.18 ERA).
Meanwhile, John Denton of MLB.com relays that today’s doubleheader between St. Louis and Kansas City will be split, with the first game set to begin at 12:45pm local time and the second set to begin at 6:45pm. Denton adds that tickets for yesterday’s game will be valid for Game 1 of today’s doubleheader. Right-handers Andre Pallante (4.00 ERA) and Sonny Gray (3.30 ERA) are listed as the probable starters for the Cardinals, but Katie Woo of The Athletic noted this morning that rookie Gordon Graceffo was expected to take the ball in Game 2 instead of Gray as the doubleheader’s 27th man (thus giving all their veteran arms an extra day of rest). The Royals will counter with righties Alec Marsh (4.57 ERA) and Michael Wacha (3.74 ERA).
The Opener: Phillies, Red Sox, MLBTR Chat
With just three weeks until the trade deadline, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Phillies getting healthy:
The Phillies are expecting to welcome slugger Kyle Schwarber back from the injured list today, and he might be joined by veteran superstar Bryce Harper. The duo were both placed on the injured list late last month due to a groin strain and hamstring strain, respectively, though both issues were described as very mild. Per reporting over the weekend, Schwarber has been running at 100% intensity for several days now while Harper had been running “either at or close to 100% intensity.”
The return of Schwarber and potentially Harper figures to transform a Phillies lineup that has dealt with not only those losses but also the loss of catcher J.T. Realmuto in recent weeks. Schwarber has enjoyed a strong season that’s become typical of him during his time with the Phillies, slashing .250/.373/.447 with 17 home runs in 367 trips to the plate this year. Harper has been even better at the plate, turning in a massive .303/.399/.582 line with 20 homers in 336 plate appearances.
2. Red Sox 40-man move incoming?
The Red Sox optioned left-hander Cam Booser to Triple-A following last night’s game, per a team announcement. Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported last night that Booser’s departure is likely to lead to the Red Sox selecting the contract of right-hander Trey Wingenter today. Wingenter, 30, was acquired by the Red Sox in trade with the Tigers over the weekend in exchange for minor league reliever CJ Weins.
Wingenter, who’s pitched in parts of three big league seasons, has struggled to a 5.28 ERA in the majors despite a much stronger 3.82 FIP. He’s posted strong strikeout numbers but also an elevated walk rate. The deal was reportedly prompted by Wingenter triggering an assignment clause in his minor league contract, meaning the Red Sox would have to add the righty to their 40-man roster shortly after the trade. That’s now expected to happen today, and the Sox will need to clear a 40-man spot for Wingenter.
3. MLBTR Chat Today:
We’re now just three weeks from the July 30 trade deadline, and the earliest trades of the summer are now starting to take place, with Aaron Civale, Austin Slater, and Alex Young now having changed uniforms. If you have any questions about the upcoming deadline or your team’s direction with the All-Star break just over the horizon, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will host a chat with readers at 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, and that same link will allow you to join in on the chat once it begins or read the transcript after it is completed.