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White Sox Acquire Blake Sabol

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The White Sox have acquired catcher Blake Sabol from the Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations, according to an announcement from the Worcester WooSox. Sabol was outrighted off Boston’s 40-man roster earlier this month, so no corresponding transaction was necessary for Chicago to acquire him.

Sabol, 27, has now been traded for the second time in seven months. Acquired by the Red Sox from the Giants back in January, the former Rule 5 pick appeared in just eight games for Boston this year. He hit a paltry .125/.167/.188 in that limited time and didn’t perform much better at Triple-A Worcester, where he batted .167 with a .281 on-base percentage and slugged .299. That weak performance was enough to convince the Red Sox to risk losing Sabol on waivers when they designated him for assignment earlier this month, but he cleared waivers successfully and was outrighted to Triple-A.

Now that he no longer requires a dedicated 40-man roster spot, it seems the White Sox had interest in him as a depth option. The combination of Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, and Korey Lee leave Chicago fairly well set up in terms of catching options on the 40-man roster, but the addition of a non-roster veteran like Sabol could be helpful given the youth of that trio. If two of those three young catchers need more seasoning in the minors at some point, Sabol could step in to help fill the gap at the big league level. The same could be said for the possibility of injury; one look at the Orioles this year shows you can never have too much catching depth.

It’s also worth noting that Sabol has had at least some level of offensive success in the majors before. While 2025 has been disastrous for him so far, Sabol did enter the year with a .243/.313/.392 slash line at the big league level across 121 games with the Giants. That’s a roughly league average showing, and it’s not impossible to imagine that his numbers could improve if he stopped spitting time between catching and the outfield and focused on one position full-time, particularly given the fact that Sabol remains in his prime.

Sabol is theoretically controllable until after the 2030 season, though it must be noted that he’ll be eligible to elect free agency following the 2025 season unless the White Sox add him back to their 40-man roster. Even so, that potential for longer-term team control gives the acquisition of Sabol more upside than the typical depth addition. As for the Red Sox, the emergence of Carlos Narvaez has more or less solved their issues behind the plate, as he and Connor Wong have managed to form a formidable tandem. Seby Zavala is likely the next man up on the catching depth chart for Boston, and that figured to be the case even before Sabol’s departure.

Orioles Designate Corbin Martin For Assignment

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The Orioles announced this morning that they have recalled left-hander Grant Wolfram to the major league roster. Right-hander Corbin Martin was designated for assignment to make room for Wolfram on the club’s active roster. Baltimore’s 40-man roster now stands at 39 players.

Martin, 29, was a second-round pick by the Astros back in 2017 and received some attention as a top-100 prospect prior to the 2019 season. He underwent Tommy John surgery during the first half that year, and early in his recovery found himself traded to the Diamondbacks on the day of the trade deadline as part of the Zack Greinke blockbuster alongside Josh Rojas, Seth Beer, and JB Bukauskas. Martin didn’t return to a mound until 2021, and once he did so the results left much to be desired. He surrendered a 10.69 ERA in 16 innings of work during his first season with the Diamondbacks at the big league level, and while he showed some signs of improvement during his age-26 season in 2022 he suffered a number of additional injuries.

That includes a lat tear in his shoulder that required surgery and cost him his 2023 campaign. Martin was ultimately designated for assignment by the Snakes in early 2024, and after a brief stint in the Brewers’ minor league system last year he found himself claimed off waivers by the Orioles last May. He pitched at Triple-A for Baltimore’s Norfolk affiliate last year and was eventually removed from the 40-man roster, but remained with the organization and was brought back up to the majors earlier this month. This latest stint in the majors proved to be a brief one, as he remained on the roster for less than two weeks and made just one appearance. The appearance was an impressive one, however, as he struck out two and allowed just one hit in 1 1/3 innings of work against the Rangers.

Going forward, the Orioles will have one week to either work out a trade involving Martin or attempt to pass him through waivers. Should he clear waivers successfully, he would have the opportunity to either accept an outright assignment to the minor leagues or elect free agency in search of a better opportunity elsewhere. It wouldn’t be a shock to see some team take a chance on him now that he’s healthy, though his 5.29 ERA at Triple-A this year still raises some questions about his effectiveness even after his strong return to the majors earlier this month. As for Wolfram, the rookie made his big league debut with the Orioles earlier this year and has a 31.3% strikeout rate in three appearances at the big league level so far this season. With Keegan Akin on the injured list, Wolfram’s return to the bullpen should take some pressure off of fellow lefty Gregory Soto going forward.

Royals Receiving Interest In Catching Prospects

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The Royals have had a tough season. They’re 46-50, buried in their division by 13 games, and currently sit 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot with a negative run differential and ace Cole Ragans on the injured list. They don’t exactly look like the likeliest buyers with the trade deadline less than three weeks away, but The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal writes that the front office is getting “consistent interest” from rival executives regarding top catching prospects Blake Mitchell, Carter Jensen, and Ramon Ramirez.

Mitchell, 21 next month, was the eighth-overall pick in the 2023 draft. He’s a consensus top-100 prospect in the sport who’s even more well-regarded by some outlets, though he’s gotten into just 14 games this year due to hand and wrist injuries. Jensen, 22, was a third-rounder back in 2021 and has split the 2025 season between Double- and Triple-A with a .286/.356/.462 slash line overall. In his first 13 games since being promoted to Omaha, Jensen has already crushed six homers and four doubles. As for Ramirez, the 20-year-old is currently on the injured list but signed with the club out of Venezuela and made his pro debut back in 2023. This year, he’s slashed .252/.366/.472 in 44 games at the Single-A level.

It’s an impressive crop of catching talent, and it’s not hard to see why some clubs would be intrigued by adding any of these youngsters to their farm system. Teams like the Nationals, Padres, Rays, Rangers, Twins, Phillies, Reds, and Guardians all have catching tandems with room for improvement in the near future, whether that’s due to an existing pair of catchers that could use an upgrade or an established option that figures to hit free agency within the next year or two. With so many teams that could stand to upgrade at catcher, either now or in the next few years, it’s not hard to imagine the Royals being able to bring back a controllable piece like the Phillies did when they traded Logan O’Hoppe to land Brandon Marsh at the 2022 trade deadline.

Of course, it can’t be ignored that the Royals could use some more certainty behind the plate themselves. Salvador Perez is a World Series champion and franchise legend, but he’s also been a replacement level piece in his age-35 season and it could be hard to justify picking up the $13.5MM club option on his services for 2026 rather than paying him a $2MM buyout. Freddy Fermin has been a solid partner to Perez behind the plate in recent years but has never had more than 368 plate appearances in a season and could be miscast as a regular.

There’s clearly some uncertainty behind the plate in Kansas City for the first time in a long time, and it would be understandable if that made the Royals hesitant to trade from their crop of catching talent. While that group could quickly turn into a surplus of catching talent in the coming years, one need look no further than MJ Melendez to see how quickly even a well-regarded catching prospect can flame out in the majors. There’s little reason for the Royals to rush into trading any of their catching prospects now unless they get a deal they’re pleased with; after all, it wasn’t long ago that the Blue Jays were viewed as overflowing with legitimate catching options but they waited until all four of Alejandro Kirk, Danny Jansen, Reese McGuire, and Gabriel Moreno were either in the majors or at Triple-A to start parting with that talent behind the plate.

Still, the idea of trading one of their catching prospects for a more immediate impact talent at another position of need on the roster has merit. Kansas City has received below-average offensive production from second base, DH, and all three outfield spots this year. A controllable bat that fills one of those holes could help the Royals not only try to get back into the playoff race this year, but help fortify the team and maximize the club’s current window while players like Ragans and Bobby Witt Jr. remain under team control. If another team was willing to dangle such a player for one of the club’s prospects, especially one further from the majors like Mitchell or Ramirez, that could be difficult to turn down.

J.C. Escarra Drawing Trade Attention

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30-year-old backstop J.C. Escarra has been a pleasant surprise for the Yankees this year since emerging as the club’s primary backup to Austin Wells. In 36 games this year, the journeyman who spent the 2022 and ’23 seasons outside of affiliate ball has slashed a respectable .215/.312/.354 (89 wRC+) with elite pitch framing numbers. While Escarra has been a below-average hitter overall, he’s sporting impressive plate discipline numbers with a strikeout rate of just 14.0% against a phenomenal 11.8% walk rate. Escarra’s 36-game showing in the majors has been enough to grab the attention of some rival clubs, according to a report from the New York Post’s Joel Sherman.

Sherman writes that Yankees GM Brian Cashman was receiving calls regarding Escarra dating all the way back to last year’s trade deadline, a time when the journeyman backstop had spent less than a season back in affiliated ball and had been at the Triple-A level in the Yankees’ system for less than two weeks. That combination of interest and the possibility the fact that the Yankees have begun giving Ben Rice reps behind the plate in games was enough to lead Sherman to suggest the Yankees could consider listening to offers on Escarra this summer, though that appears to be largely speculative on Sherman’s part.

Regardless of whether New York is interested in parting with their backup this summer, the fact that teams have interest in his services is interesting. Given the fact that Escarra made his big league debut earlier this year, he has five years of team control remaining after this season and wouldn’t be eligible for arbitration until the 2028 campaign. That could make him a strong fit for a number of catching-needy clubs, both those in contention and those with longer playoff timelines.

The Padres could certainly stand to get more out of their catching tandem and are known to be looking for upgrades in the middle of a win-now season, but on the other end of the spectrum the Nationals have the worst catching tandem in the majors and could view a gifted framer like Escarra as a perfect complement to Keibert Ruiz long-term. The Twins stand out as a team on the bubble of playoff contention that could be a speculative fit for Escarra’s services, as well. Christian Vazquez has not only been among the worst hitters in baseball this year but is ticketed for free agency following the 2025 campaign, meaning that a controllable catcher like Escarra could not only improve Minnesota for 2025 but also fill a long-term need for the club.

It’s hard to say exactly how much the Yankees could expect to get in return for Escarra, but given the club’s many needs this summer it’s not hard to imagine them finding some sort of match. A third baseman figures to be a priority, and options like Willi Castro and Amed Rosario could theoretically be had from the Twins and Nationals respectively. Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan could bolster the club’s flagging bullpen down the stretch, and while it could be difficult for a pair of contenders like the Yankees and Padres to match up on the trade market perhaps the Padres have a depth starter like Matt Waldron or Kyle Hart who could interest the Yankees.

Of course, all of this speculation is predicated on the idea that the Yankees would be open to carrying Rice as their primary backup behind the plate for the stretch run. Rice has enjoyed a proper breakout season at the dish this year with a 122 wRC+ and even stronger underlying batted ball data, but he’s made just 11 appearances behind the plate this year, including only four starts and two complete games. Without much additional catching depth available to the Yankees in the lower minors, trading Escarra would be a major vote of confidence in Rice as a player capable of handling the defensive duties of a big league backup.

Cristian Javier Begins Rehab Assignment

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Right-hander Cristian Javier took a big step towards returning to the Astros rotation today when he began a rehab assignment, as relayed by Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Javier threw 1 1/3 innings in the Florida Complex League today, and manager Joe Espada told reporters (including Kawahara) that Javier “came out feeling really good” after a 35-pitch outing where he touched 95 mph with his fastball.

That Javier is back on the mound after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June of 2024 is encouraging news for an Astros club in desperate need of pitching reinforcements. Breakout ace Hunter Brown and the ever-reliable Framber Valdez have been good enough this year to paper over a number of issues, but Lance McCullers Jr. has a 6.48 ERA in ten starts this year. Relying on him to start playoff games would be a tough pill to swallow, and rookies Colton Gordon and Brandon Walter aren’t much more reliable despite Walter in particular putting together a strong effort so far.

Javier has a career 3.59 ERA in the major leagues, but the Astros would surely take even the career-worst 4.56 he posted during the 2023 season if it meant adding some much-needed depth to their rotation. Kawahara writes that the Astros are “optimistic” that the right-hander will be able to return at some point in the second half to chip in for the club’s latest playoff push, but it’s not exactly clear when or in what role Javier will be expected to participate. Typically, a pitcher’s rehab assignment can only last for a maximum of 30 days. That would normally suggest Javier should rejoin the big league club at some point in early-to-mid August, but pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery can receive up to three ten-day extensions on their rehab time for a maximum of 60 days.

That means it wouldn’t be outlandish to see Javier continue rehabbing into mid-September, and that’s before even considering the possibility of a setback. Without a more firm timetable for the right-hander’s return, it’s hard to know how much Houston is expecting to be able to count on the righty in the second half. Fortunately for the Astros, Javier isn’t the only pitcher on the mend. Luis Garcia is still on his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in May of 2023 after repeated shutdowns due to continued soreness in his elbow, but began a rehab assignment of his this past Monday. Spencer Arrighetti, meanwhile, has been sidelined since April with a thumb fracture. A rehab assignment could be in sight for him as well, but Kawahara relays (per Espada) that he’ll need “a couple” of sessions against live hitters before taking that step.

All of those impending returns from key arms should help the Astros down the stretch, but with so much uncertainty about that trio’s timeline it’s hard to imagine it being enough to convince the Astros not to search aggressively for rotation upgrades prior to the trade deadline on July 31. Last year, the club surrendered significant capital to acquire a top rental in the form of southpaw Yusei Kikuchi. Barring a surprise injury to Brown or Valdez, they may not need to be quite as aggressive this time around but should still at least be in the market for some type of rotation depth. Pirates southpaw Andrew Heaney, Nationals righty Michael Soroka, and White Sox right-hander Aaron Civale are among a number of veteran rentals who aren’t likely to be quite as expensive as some of the summer’s top names.

Multiple Teams Showing Interest In DJ LeMahieu

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It’s been just two days since the Yankees officially released veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu, but that hasn’t stopped him from attempting to get back onto the field. Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported earlier today that LeMahieu was looking to sign with a team to finish out the 2025 season, and has subsequently reported that multiple teams are showing interest in the veteran’s services. There’s no indication that a deal is close at this time and it’s unclear whether that interest is in adding LeMahieu on a big league deal or a minor league pact, but Morosi adds that LeMahieu being available before trade season picks up in earnest could work in his favor as he searches for a new club.

Just one day shy of his 37th birthday, LeMahieu’s numbers have been passable if unexciting this year. He slashed .266/.338/.336 (94 wRC+) with underlying metrics to match in 142 plate appearances across 45 games for the Yankees this year prior to his DFA while playing second base exclusively. His Fielding Run Value of 0 and Outs Above Average of -1 this season suggest his defense at the keystone is just a tick below average at this point in his career, though that’s a far cry from the Gold Glove caliber defense he was capable of in his younger days. Still, the combination of slightly below average offense and defense should be enough to make him an attractive candidate for a part-time or bench role with a team in need of help on the infield.

LeMahieu would be more attractive as a role player for a contending club if he was capable of providing substantial versatility, but there are questions about his ability to handle third base at this point in his career. As Bryan Hoch of MLB.com noted following the Yankees’ decision to part ways with the veteran, LeMahieu expressed during this past offseason concerns about his ability to handle the physical demands of third base and expressed a preference for remaining on the right side of the infield in 2025. Morosi suggested that LeMahieu would be best suited to play for a team that would be able to work him in at some combination of second base, first base, and DH, which could indicate that concerns about his ability to play the hot corner remain.

Given LeMahieu’s significant injury struggles in recent years, it would be understandable if he wasn’t a realistic third option at third at this point. On the other hand, manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including Hoch) that LeMahieu had expressed a willingness to resume workouts at third base if the Yankees requested he return to the position. If LeMahieu can prove himself capable of handling third base, that would surely help his market. Teams like Cubs and Reds have players entrenched at second base currently but wide open playing time available at the hot corner. LeMahieu would surely be of interest to those clubs if he could handle occasional time at third base, but would not make nearly as much sense if he’s limited to the right side of the infield.

Even if LeMahieu remains unable to handle the hot corner, there should still be several teams that would benefit from his services. The Royals are currently relying on Nick Loftin at the keystone on a semi-regular basis, while Luis Rengifo might benefit from someone to help him shoulder the load at second for the Angels after a tough first half that’s left him as one of the least effective qualified hitters in baseball this year. The Astros, Giants, and A’s are among a handful of other clubs who have struggled to get production at second base this year, but each has recently installed new options at the position who could be preferable to LeMahieu: Houston has promoted top prospect Brice Matthews, while both West Sacramento’s temporary ball club has just welcomed Zack Gelof back from the injured list while San Francisco did the same with Casey Schmitt.

Rafael Devers Suffering From Disk Injury In Lower Back

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After being traded from the Red Sox to the Giants in a shocking June blockbuster, Rafael Devers hasn’t quite looked like himself in recent weeks. At least some of that downturn in productivity can likely be attributed to injury, as Janie McCauley of the Associated Press writes that Devers is facing a disk injury in his lower back that has hampered him during his time in San Francisco. Manager Bob Melvin discussed Devers’s status with reporters (including McCauley) yesterday and suggested that the club is hopeful their new superstar will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list thanks to the impending time off associated with the All-Star break.

Aside from that impending opportunity to rest up for the second half, Devers began taking anti-inflammatory medication to help combat the symptoms and underwent an MRI exam on Thursday as he continues to play through the issue. Melvin suggested that the issue bothers Devers the most when he’s running the bases, though he acknowledged that the injury was “probably a little bit” of a problem for the slugger at the plate as well. The manager went on to suggest that his back injury is the reason Devers has remained entrenched as the club’s DH rather than moving to first base, where he has not only agreed to play for San Francisco but also begun working out before games in preparation for the move.

The news that Devers isn’t fully healthy sheds some additional light on his performance so far with his new team. It’s likely hard for Giants fans to not be a bit disappointed in their recently-acquired star’s performance so far given that he’s hit just .220/.350/.354 (104 wRC+) in his first 23 games as a Giant. That’s already a sample size of 100 plate appearances, but it’s easier to dismiss those numbers as an outlier and believe that better days are ahead given the possibility that he’ll be able to produce more like his usual self if he can rest up and get healthy. Additionally, Melvin’s comments suggest that Devers playing through injury is the reason they’ve been reluctant to deploy him at first base rather than any struggles adapting to the new position in drills or resistance from Devers himself to the move.

While a physical explanation for Devers’s slump offers reason for optimism that he’ll bounce back when fully healthy, it’s fair to wonder whether or not the All-Star break will actually be enough time for him to shake the injury. Back issues are hardly uncommon for sluggers as they age. Mike Trout, Kris Bryant, and Miguel Cabrera are among a number of star players who have had their careers impacted by back problems at varying levels as they aged, and injuries of that sort can often be nagging and become a matter of pain tolerance. While Devers is still just 28 years old, he’s often battled through day-to-day injuries to other areas of his body in the past: shoulder, hamstring, knee, and groin issues have cropped up at various points the slugger’s time in the majors.

While that aforementioned trio are known for their struggles remaining healthy later in their careers, a large number of hitters deal with back problems at one point or another but go on to stay healthy in the future and avoid ongoing issues. It’s a situation worth monitoring for the Giants, who have Devers locked up for eight seasons after this one, but there’s little reason to automatically assume this will be a long-term problem for him throughout his time in San Francisco at this point. In the short-term, the Giants will continue relying on a combination of Dominic Smith and Wilmer Flores at first base while Devers heals up and gets ready to take over the position.

Poll: Who Should The Nationals Pick First Overall?

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The 2025 draft is just a few days away, and the Nationals hit the jackpot over the winter when they won the draft lottery and were selected to pick first overall despite entering the lottery with just a 10.2% chance of nabbing the top pick. Since then, a disappointing season has led to the dismissal of longtime GM Mike Rizzo, meaning that interim GM Mike DeBartolo will be piloting the organization when it makes this weekend’s crucial pick. With hundreds of players set to be drafted to begin their pro careers in the coming days, who should the Nats stake their future on? A look at some of the top options:

Ethan Holliday

Holliday is an 18-year-old shortstop out of Stillwater HS in Oklahoma. Holliday has long garnered plenty of attention thanks to his family; he’s the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday and the brother of 2022 first overall pick Jackson Holliday. Will the younger Holliday brother follow in the footsteps of his sibling and be selected first overall? There’s certainly a strong argument for it. Holliday is considered the top prospect in the draft by both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America.

A slugger who stands at a projectable 6’4”, Holliday receives rave reviews for both his batting eye and ability to generate easy power to all fields but does suffer from some swing-and-miss concerns at the plate. While he’s listed as a shortstop, few expect him to remain there long-term given his size and room to grow physically. More optimistic scouts see him as a player who could remain a plus defender at shortstop, while others see a future in the outfield or at first base. Holliday is generally viewed as the consensus top offensive talent in the draft, but his timeline to the majors might not be the best fit for a Nationals team that already has a big-league ready core of James Wood, CJ Abrams, and MacKenzie Gore earning service time in the majors.

Seth Hernandez

A 19-year-old right-hander from Corona HS in California, Hernandez is in many ways a pitching mirror of Holliday. The hurler lacks Holliday’s familial connections to the majors, but has drawn rave reviews from scouts for years and is viewed as a player with all the tools to be a prototypical ace. Hernandez has a four-pitch mix led by a mid-90s fastball that can touch triple-digits and a changeup that’s already universally viewed as a plus offering, alongside a curveball and slider that are both viewed as potentially above average pitches. Aside from Hernandez’s strong stuff, he also sports impressive control for his age and is viewed as having a strong makeup. Ranked as the #2 prospect in the draft by Baseball America and #3 by MLB Pipeline, Hernandez’s ace upside is more than enough to justify the Nationals considering him for the top pick even though he could have a long road to the majors as a prep pitcher.

Kade Anderson

The consensus top college player available in this draft, Anderson is a 21-year-old left-hander pitching for LSU. Anderson’s fastball typically sits in the low-to-mid 90s and maxes out at 97 mph, but the main draw of his arsenal is his trio of secondary offerings. Both his curveball and slider are viewed as above-average pitches, and while his changeup garners more mixed reviews, some scouts view it as the most impressive secondary in his arsenal and all agree it at least has the potential to be an average offering that helps keep right-handed hitters honest. Anderson also features above-average control and is viewed as a high-floor arm likely to be a starter in the big leagues long-term.

The fact that he’s already had Tommy John surgery is a potential red flag, although some teams may not be especially bothered by that in a sport where elbow surgery is increasingly becoming the expectation for pitchers. The #2 prospect in the draft according to MLB Pipeline and #4 according to Baseball America, Anderson is viewed as having the same ace-level upside as Hernandez but could be much quicker to the majors. That could be attractive to the Nationals, especially if they end up opting to go under-slot with their first pick to take bigger swings later in the draft.

Other Options

While the aforementioned trio of prospects figure to get the most attention this weekend, they aren’t the only players the Nationals could feasibly consider selecting first overall. Eli Willits is a prep shortstop who would be the youngest first-overall pick in history if selected, but Baseball America views him as the #3 talent in the entire draft and his well-rounded profile could make him an attractive under-slot option for the Nats. Jamie Arnold is a lefty hurler at Florida State who offers a more impressive fastball than Anderson, though he has just three pitches and hasn’t needed to use his changeup much as an amateur. Aiva Arquette is a shortstop at Oregon State and is viewed as the consensus top college bat in the draft, but is seen as having far less upside than someone like Holliday or even Willits despite confidence in his ability to stick at shortstop.

Who do MLBTR readers think the Nationals should take with the top pick in this year’s draft? Have your say in the poll below:

The Opener: 2025 Draft, Pitchers’ Duel, Mets

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Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world this weekend:

1. 2025 Draft to begin:

The 2025 draft kicks off this weekend, with the first three rounds scheduled to begin at 5pm CT on Sunday evening. The Nationals, Angels, Mariners, Rockies, Cardinals, and Pirates have the top six picks after winning the draft lottery this past winter. While those six teams were the big winners, they’re far from the only teams that will be in prime position to bolster their future. The Orioles, for example, have four of the top 37 picks after dealing Bryan Baker to the Rays yesterday morning in exchange for the 37th pick in this year’s draft. Competitive Balance Round picks are the only ones that can be traded in MLB, but it’s at least plausible that another team with one of those picks could look to dangle it in trade talks over the next couple of days in order to facilitate an early deal rather than waiting until the Trade Deadline on July 31.

2. Pitchers’ duel in Minnesota:

The Pirates are headed to the Twin Cities this weekend for a three-game set, and the series kicks off tonight with a pitchers’ duel scheduled for 7pm local time. The Twins will send All-Star right-hander Joe Ryan to the mound for his 19th appearance of the season, while Pittsburgh will counter with superstar right-hander Paul Skenes. Ryan, 29, is in the midst of a career year with a 2.76 ERA and a 28.6% strikeout rate in 104 1/3 innings of work. Skenes, meanwhile, will enter his 20th start of the season with a sterling 1.94 ERA and a 27.8% strikeout rate in 116 innings. The Twins are one of several teams on the buy/sell bubble with the trade deadline looming just under three weeks away. They’ll play three of their next four series against clear sellers — Pirates, Rockies, Nationals — and likely need a strong showing in those winnable series to avoid selling off some rental pieces.

3. Mets rotation gets reinforcements:

The Mets have battled injuries in the rotation throughout the year, but their starting staff finally appears to be getting healthier. Right-hander Kodai Senga is scheduled to be activated from the injured list and start today’s game against the Royals and righty Michael Wacha. Senga has been out with a hamstring strain for the past month but had a sensational 1.47 ERA in 13 starts prior to that injury. He’s not the only arm the Mets figure to get back this weekend. While New York hasn’t announced a starter for Sunday’s game, Will Sammon of The Athletic was among those to note that lefty Sean Manaea is expected to be activated for his season debut on Sunday. Manaea re-signed with the Mets long-term over the winter after serving as a key fixture of the rotation last season, when he posted 3.47 ERA in 32 starts. He’s been sidelined all season with an oblique injury but is in line to square off against Royals rookie Noah Cameron on Sunday.

Poll: Which Teams Should Make The Biggest Push For Jarren Duran?

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The Red Sox have fought their way back into playoff contention after their shocking trade of franchise face Rafael Devers last month. Boston has rattled off a seven-game win streak to put themselves at a 50-45 record entering play today and in a statistical tie with the Mariners for the final AL Wild Card spot. That hasn’t stopped some of their top players from finding their names in the rumor mill, however. While it would be shocking for a team in playoff position that has plenty of uncertainty on the infield as it is to trade away someone like Alex Bregman, the Red Sox do have an overflowing outfield mix that could at least theoretically be put to use this summer and bring back some much-needed pitching help.

Masataka Yoshida returned to the Red Sox yesterday after missing the first half of the season while rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder, and with his return comes an embarrassment of riches in the Red Sox outfield. Roman Anthony entered the season as the sport’s consensus top prospect and, after a slow start, has taken off in recent weeks with a .308/.413/.462 slash line since the Devers trade. Fellow youngster Ceddanne Rafaela has also caught fire of late, with an absurd .303/.341/.630 slash line since the start of June that he’s paired with some of the best outfield defense in the entire American League. And that’s before even getting into Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran, both of whom established themselves as impact players with big campaigns in 2024.

It’s Duran who’s gotten the most attention as a trade candidate of that group, and he’s certainly attractive. He’s just one year removed from a top-ten finish in AL MVP voting, and while his 2025 season (105 wRC+) has left something to be desired, it’s easy for teams to dream on that upside given his three-and-a-half years of team control remaining. There aren’t many teams in baseball who wouldn’t stand to benefit from adding someone of Duran’s caliber to their lineup, but which clubs should be most interested in his services? A look at some potential fits:

San Diego Padres

The most discussed potential suitor for Duran early on, San Diego has targeted the outfielder in the past and that interest appears to be ongoing. The Padres are operating under a tight budget, so a player like Duran who remains in the early years of arbitration is an attractive addition. They’ve also got a gaping hole in the lineup after their left field platoon of Jason Heyward and Connor Joe to open the season did not work out. Gavin Sheets is currently holding down the fort at the position, and while his 118 wRC+ this year has been impressive he’s also a poor defender best suited to DH work. Adding Duran, then, could upgrade the club both offensively and defensively.

Houston Astros

There might be no team that’s a better on-paper fit for Duran than the Astros. With Yordan Alvarez on the injured list for most of the season and Kyle Tucker having been dealt to Chicago, Houston has no left-handed regulars in its lineup. That lack of lefty bats has made them a pedestrian offense (103 wRC+) against right-handed pitching this year, and while Cam Smith has settled in well as the club’s new right fielder a combination of Taylor Trammell, Cooper Hummel, and Jose Altuve in left isn’t great. Duran would be a perfect addition for the club, though a farm system typically viewed as one of the weakest in the majors could make acquiring a talent of his caliber difficult.

Kansas City Royals

The Royals have been looking to find help for Bobby Witt Jr. in their lineup, and while they thought they found just that this winter when they traded for Jonathan India, the addition hasn’t worked out as hoped so far. No team gets less production from their outfield mix than Kansas City, and while Jac Caglianone should contribute at some point, the rest of the group is in need of a serious makeover. Duran would be a strong addition who could fill the leadoff role India was brought in to address, but the team’s 46-48 record could make buying this summer a tough sell unless they can rattle off a big win streak. While other contenders are likely more motivated to make a deal now, the Royals could be an especially interesting suitor if Duran remains in Boston headed into the winter.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are clinging to a small lead over the Mets in the NL East at the moment, and they’re doing that without much production from their outfield. Brandon Marsh has turned things around after a disastrous start to the year and is now roughly league average overall, and Nick Castellanos remains his usual self. The addition of Max Kepler simply hasn’t worked out, however, and Johan Rojas hasn’t looked good as anything more than a defense-first bench option either. Replacing Kepler with Duran would not only help the Phillies in the short-term, but it would also allow the team to add a controllable, cost-effective bat to the lineup at a time where multiple significant pieces (Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Ranger Suarez) will either need to be re-signed or replaced.

Other Options

While the four teams mentioned above are arguably the teams that could benefit most from adding Duran, there are certainly other clubs that should have at least some interest in his services. Michael Conforto’s OPS is below .600, and with him ticketed for free agency after the season the Dodgers would certainly stand to improve from adding Duran and could make room for him long-term. The Mariners could be a tricky fit given that both Duran and Randy Arozarena are best suited to left field, but they could certainly use an extra outfield bat. The Pirates are clear sellers this season but need reliable bats to surround Paul Skenes and the rest of their young rotation, and even Bob Nutting can afford an arbitration-level player like Duran. The Twins will need a replacement for Harrison Bader’s production going forward, and perhaps Duran could serve as a bridge to Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez for Minnesota.

If the Red Sox decide to move Duran, which club would benefit most from bringing him in? Have your say in the poll below:

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