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Pirates Claim Ryan Kreidler

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The Pirates have claimed infielder Ryan Kreidler off waivers from the Tigers, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Pirates had an open spot on their 40-man roster for Kriedler, so no corresponding move was necessary. The club’s roster now stands at 40 players.

Kreidler, 27, was a fourth-round pick by the Tigers back in 2019. He made his big league debut during the 2022 campaign and has spent each of the past four seasons in an up-and-down role with the Tigers as a utility man. He’s gotten into just 89 total games at the big league level, but hasn’t shown much with the bat in that time. Across 211 MLB plate appearances, Kreidler has a lackluster .138/.208/.176 slash line with an ugly 31.8% strikeout rate. That’s a tough slash line to stomach from even a bench player at the big league level, though what he lacks in offensive ability he makes up for with versatility; Kreidler has split time between shortstop, center field, and third base throughout his time in the majors with brief cameos at second base and in left field as well.

He’s played those same positions in the minors over the years, and is generally regarded as a high-level defender at both shortstop and in center field. Still, that wasn’t enough to assure Kreidler of his 40-man roster spot with Detroit. The Tigers are in the midst of a banner year where a number of role players have stepped up to contribute to the team’s offense. Kreidler’s role as a versatile, quality defender who hits from the right side has been usurped by Javier Baez, who has enjoyed a rebound campaign after dealing with injuries and ineffectiveness during the majority of his time with the Tigers.

While still just an average to slightly below average hitter overall, Baez’s performance is a big step up over Kreidler, and now that he’s no longer the club’s everyday shortstop he can pitch in as a more versatile piece with reps at third base and in center field—a change that covers all of Kreidler’s usual positions. Even as Kreidler no longer has a clear role with the Tigers, however, he’s managed to find himself a role with the Pirates. Pittsburgh has had one of the weakest offenses in the sport for a few years now, so the club is no stranger to light-hitting players on the roster. Perhaps Kreidler will get the opportunity to compete with Liover Peguero or Ronny Simon for a bench job down the stretch, a role in which his elite glove and defensive versatility can shine a bit more.

There even could be some room for optimism with Kreidler’s bat if he can get some reps over the season’s final few weeks. In 84 games at Triple-A Toledo this year, Kreidler has slashed a perfectly respectable .251/.374/.410 with 25 doubles and 14 steals. Expecting that level of production from Kreidler would be unrealistic at this point, but if he can even bring his numbers into the 80-90 wRC+ range it would go a long way to establishing him as a viable glove-first bench piece.

Orioles Notes: Bradish, Wells, Mateo

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While the 60-70 Orioles are nine games back of a Wild Card spot and would need nothing short of a miracle to make it into the postseason at this point, that isn’t stopping them from doing what they can to best set themselves up for 2026. So far, that’s meant offering ample playing time to young players like Coby Mayo, Dylan Beavers, and the recently-extended Samuel Basallo. One other way to set the roster up for 2026, however, is to get reps in for players who are working their way back from injury.

Three such players are nearing returns from the injured list for Baltimore. Danielle Allentuck of the Baltimore Banner was among those to relay that Kyle Bradish is likely to be activated from the injured list to start Tuesday’s game for the Orioles, while Rich Dubroff of Baltimore Baseball was among those to note that both Tyler Wells and Jorge Mateo figure to be activated from the injured list when rosters expand on September 1. All three players are currently on the 60-day injured list and will need to be added to the 40-man roster when activated.

For Bradish, Tuesday’s expected start will mark his first time on a big league mound since he was sidelined last June due to Tommy John surgery. He’s been on the mend ever since, and has made six rehab starts in the minor leagues as he prepares for his return to the majors. Getting Bradish into a good place to help front the Orioles’ rotation in 2026 figures to be a top priority for Baltimore over the next few weeks. The righty was emerging as an ace before he went under the knife last year, as he followed up a fourth-place finish in 2023 AL Cy Young award voting with a 2.75 ERA and 2.50 FIP and a 32.5% strikeout rate in eight starts last season.

If Bradish can be counted on for anything like his numbers over the last two years, where he pitched to a 2.81 ERA and 3.12 FIP in 38 starts, that would be a massively encouraging turn of events for the Orioles as they look to get back on track next year. Starting pitching was undeniably Baltimore’s Achilles heel this year, as short-term fliers on players like Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano were unable to compensate for the loss of Bradish due to injury and Corbin Burnes due to him signing with the Diamondbacks in free agency last winter. Burnes went on to have a difficult season of his own in Arizona that ultimately ended in Tommy John surgery, but his absence at the top of the Orioles’ rotation has nonetheless been felt as Baltimore starters have combined for a 4.76 ERA this year that stands as the worst mark in the American League.

Another arm who could help right the ship in terms of starting pitching is the right-handed Wells. Wells underwent an internal brace procedure on his UCL just a few days after Bradish’s own surgery, and while his contributions in 2024 were limited to just three starts where he surrendered 11 runs (ten earned) in 15 1/3 innings of work, he was a useful back-of-the-rotation starter and swing man for the Orioles prior to that year with a 3.96 ERA and 4.53 FIP across 43 starts and 49 relief appearances from 2021 to 2023. If Wells can get back to being that sort of dependable, league-average piece, that would go a long way to raising the floor for the Orioles next year. It’s not entirely clear whether Wells will be able to squeeze into Baltimore’s rotation upon returning given the presence of Sugano, Dean Kremer, Cade Povich, and Trevor Rogers (not to mention Bradish), but it’s not impossible that the club could at least consider a six-man rotation down the stretch.

On the position player side of things, the Orioles also figure to welcome Mateo from the injured list. Mateo, 30, is a pending free agent after this year who has been limited to just 32 games due to a number of injuries this season. After undergoing elbow surgery last August and beginning the season on the injured list, Mateo was sidelined by inflammation in that same elbow back in June. He suffered a hamstring strain about a month after that, which was severe enough to sideline him for what at the time was expected to be between 8 and 12 weeks.

His return will be on the shorter end of that timeframe, as he’s expected to return just under eight weeks after sustaining that injury. Mateo will look to finish the season strong ahead of free agency after struggling to a .180/.231/.279 (41 wRC+) line in 32 games for the Orioles this year, though that body of work includes just 65 trips to the plate. Typically, he’s been a below average but decent enough hitter for a bench role, and hit .225/.271/.371 (78 wRC+) in 423 games from 2022 to 2024.

Marcus Semien Out 4-6 Weeks Due To Foot Injury

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August 24: As noted by McFarland (among other reporters), the Rangers revealed today that Semien met with a foot specialist today and was diagnosed with a fractured third metatarsal bone and a Lisfranc sprain in his left foot. Those injuries will leave him out of commission for four to six weeks, effectively ending the veteran’s 2025 campaign for at least the regular season. On the off chance that the Rangers can rally and find themselves in a postseason spot, it’s at least theoretically possible Semien could join the club for the playoff push. Kennedi Landry of MLB.com notes that Semien will not need surgery on his foot at this point.

August 23: The Rangers announced this afternoon that they’ve placed Marcus Semien on the 10-day injured list with a left foot contusion in a move that’s retroactive to August 22. In a corresponding move, outfielder Adolis Garcia was activated from the injured list.

While Semien had been plagued by his ailing foot for a few days at this point, it’s still a moderate surprise to see the veteran head for the shelf. The 34-year-old veteran is arguably one of the most reliable players in the entire sport when it comes to availability. Since his first full season with the A’s back in 2015, Semien has appeared in 93.7% of his teams’ games. Almost all of those missed games came in 2017, when he was limited to 85 games by a sprained wrist. Outside of that season, he’s not appeared in less than 155 games in a 162-game season since becoming a full-time player.

That will now change, as Semien won’t be eligible to come off the IL until August 31. It’s more of a loss for the Rangers than Semien’s 88 wRC+ may make it seem at first glance. Strong defense and baserunning has allowed Semien to put together 2.1 fWAR so far this year in spite of his weak offensive numbers, and Semien has actually hit quite well since breaking an early season slump; while he was one of the worst hitters in baseball over the season’s first two months, since May 30 he’s slashed .270/.338/.464 (122 wRC+) in 311 plate appearances.

Ezequiel Duran and Cody Freeman have gotten reps at second base the past two days while Semien has been out. That duo could continue seeing playing time at the position, though utility man Josh Smith will likely also get reps at the keystone over the next few days. That’s all the more likely now that Garcia is back in the fold. Smith had been playing outfield primarily in recent days while Garcia spent a minimum stint on the injured list due to a sprained ankle. It’s been a tough year for Garcia, who has hit just .224/.266/.388 with a wRC+ of 79 in 116 games, and unlike Semien he hasn’t yet been able to turn his season around over a substantial stretch of time. He’ll be looking to do just that down the stretch this year, as without a strong finish to the season Garcia looks like a very likely non-tender candidate headed into the offseason.

In other Rangers injury news, it seems veteran right-hander Chris Martin shouldn’t be expected to return to the majors anytime soon. Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News wrote this afternoon that Martin was forced to end his live bullpen session early today after the calf strain that’s left him sidelined since late last month flared up. Manager Bruce Bochy called the incident a “little setback” in Martin’s efforts to return to the mound for the Rangers this year, but with September rapidly approaching it’s fair to wonder just how long Martin’s window to return will remain open. Texas would surely love to have him back, as he’s been excellent when healthy this year with a 2.36 ERA in 39 appearances.

Braves To Activate Chris Sale On Saturday

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After more than two months on the injured list, ace southpaw Chris Sale is set to make his return to the mound next weekend. David O’Brien of The Athletic relays that Sale is “penciled in” to be activated from the injured list and take the ball for Saturday’s game against the Phillies. Sale is on the 60-day injured list, so the Braves will need to clear a 40-man roster spot to accommodate his return once it becomes official.

The 59-71 Braves are ten games out of a Wild Card spot and have virtually no hope of making a run to the postseason at this point. Sale’s return isn’t likely to change that, but getting the 36-year-old veteran starts down the stretch will nonetheless be important for the likely future Hall of Famer personally. Sale is no stranger to injuries; his 2024 Cy Young award winning campaign saw him make 29 starts, his highest total since 2017. Through his first 15 starts of this year, Sale seemed to have not missed a beat: he pitched to a phenomenal 2.52 ERA with a 2.69 FIP and a phenomenal 30.8% strikeout rate.

Unfortunately, a ribcage fracture sidelined Sale back in June. He’s been out of the club’s rotation ever since, and in that time has become one among a pile of injured starters the Braves have been forced to replace. Reynaldo Lopez and AJ Smith-Shawver both hit the injured list with season-ending ailments before Sale got hurt, and since Sale’s injury that trio has been joined by Spencer Schwellenbach (fractured elbow) and Grant Holmes (elbow inflammation). Sale is the only one expected to return among that group this season, and when he arrives this weekend he’ll join Spencer Strider and top prospect Hurston Waldrep at the top of the Atlanta rotation. Behind that trio, Brian Snitker will like rotate between some combination of Joey Wentz, Bryce Elder, and recent waiver claim Cal Quantrill with Dane Dunning and Didier Fuentes also in the mix as potential depth options.

If Sale can return for five or six healthy and effective starts down the stretch, that should put him in a good position to have a normal offseason and once again be a fixture of the Atlanta rotation come 2026. With Marcell Ozuna and Raisel Iglesias both set to reach free agency and the club poised to miss the postseason for the first time since 2017, this offseason could be one that sees significant change come to the Braves organization. With so many homegrown players signed to long-term contracts, however, it could prove somewhat difficult to retool the roster in a substantial way. Listening to offers on a rental ace like Sale could be one way to accomplish that, but it seems unlikely that will even be considered given Atlanta’s firm position against making their ace available at the deadline.

Angels Place Nolan Schanuel On 10-Day Injured List

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The Angels announced this afternoon that first baseman Nolan Schanuel has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist contusion. Outfielder Matthew Lugo was recalled to replace Schanuel on the roster.

The 23-year-old Schanuel was selected 11th overall by Anaheim in the 2023 draft and made his big league debut later that same year. He was an above-average hitter from the very outset, slashing .275/.402/.330 (113 wRC+) in 29 games at the big league level during his draft year. A lack of power has limited Schanuel’s ceiling somewhat, but he’s still been a quality regular for the Angels at first base. This season, he’s slashed .266/.355/.383 (108 wRC+) with a career-low 12.3% strikeout rate, ten home runs, and five steals in six attempts. Most notably, he’s made strides at first base after starting out as a well below average glove to post average (+0 Fielding Run Value) defense at the position according some advanced metrics.

All of that is now on hold, as Schanuel is ticketed for the injured list for at least the next week. Schanuel was struck by a pitch from Phillies southpaw Ranger Suarez that at the time caused what was labelled as a left wrist contusion, the same diagnosis Schanuel is now headed to the shelf with. That was more than a month ago, so it’s not clear if this ailment is the same one that was caused by that hit by pitch. With that being said, Schanuel’s numbers have fallen off in a big way since that incident in Philadelphia. In 30 games, he’s slashed just .243/.328/.342 (90 wRC+). That’s a significant downgrade from the 113 wRC+ Schanuel posted through the end of that series against the Phillies, and since the end of that series Schanuel has been striking out more often and walking far less than 10% of the time, a major change of pace for a patient, OBP-focused hitter like him.

Whatever the cause of Schanuel’s ailing wrist, the Angels have clearly decided that it would be wise to offer the 23-year-old some time to heal. With a 61-68 record entering play today, the Angels sit 7.5 games back of an AL Wild Card spot and even further behind the AL West, so the possibility of a playoff berth is a remote consideration at best. That surely made it a relatively easy decision to prioritize Schanuel’s long-term health, and it stands to reason that the club won’t try and rush Schanuel back into the lineup before he’s completely healthy. Niko Kavadas, who made his MLB debut last year with Anaheim and is a career .184/.286/.327 (78 wRC+) hitter at the big league level, figures to handle first in Schanuel’s absence.

Replacing Schanuel on the active roster is Lugo, who made his MLB debut earlier this year and has played primarily center field after spending time both in the outfield and on the infield during his time in the minors. A second-round pick by the Red Sox back in 2019, Lugo came to Anaheim as part of a trade last summer. He’s done well in a limited look at the MLB level, with a .238/.256/.548 (115 wRC+) slash line in 17 games. That solid performance is mostly carried by his three homers, but he’s still looked like a viable complementary piece for the Angels’ outfield mix. Lugo could vie for playing time in center field, which is currently occupied by Bryce Teodosio. Jo Adell and Taylor Ward have locked down the outfield corners and seem all but certain to remain everyday players down the stretch, barring an injury.

Mariners Place Dylan Moore On Unconditional Release Waivers

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TODAY: Moore has now been placed on unconditional release waivers, the Mariners announced.

AUGUST 23: The Mariners announced this afternoon that they’ve designated utility man Dylan Moore for assignment. Moore’s spot on both the 40-man and active roster will go to outfielder Victor Robles, who was activated from the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Robles was recently dealt a ten-game suspension for an incident where he threw his bat towards the pitcher’s mound during a minor league rehab game. Robles will need to serve that suspension in the majors, but Daniel Kramer of MLB.com writes that Robles is expected to be in tonight’s lineup while he appeals the suspension.

Moore, 33, was the longest-tenured player on the Mariners roster prior to his DFA. The utility man debuted with the club back in 2019 and appeared in 113 games before breaking out in a big way during the shortened 2020 season. Moore appeared in 38 games for Seattle that year, and slashed an excellent .255/.358/.496 (140 wRC+) with eight homers and 12 steals in 159 trips to the plate. That was enough to make him the second best hitter on the roster, behind only catcher Austin Nola.

He dropped back below average in 2021, but starting in 2022 enjoyed a three-year stretch of above-average offense (113 wRC+) that also saw him swipe 60 bases and win a Gold Glove award.  Even in his leaner offensive seasons of 2019 and ’21, Moore’s impressive versatility was enough to make him a valuable piece of the Mariners roster. He’s appeared at every position on the diamond except for catcher throughout his time in the majors, included a one-inning cameo on the mound during his rookie season.

That versatility combines with his speed (116 steals in 156 career attempts) to make Moore a valuable role player every season. Another notable trait of Moore’s that has made him valuable to the Mariners over the years is his knack for hitting well against southpaws. While he’s a career 92 wRC+ hitter against right-handed pitching, that jumps up to 110 when looking at his work in 675 plate appearances against lefties. His work against opposite-handed pitching has been even more impressive in recent years, as he slashed .233/.356/.425 (129 wRC+) against lefties during his peak seasons from 2022 to ’24.

All of that came apart in 2025, unfortunately. This year has been the worst of Moore’s career by a wide margin. He’s hit just .193/.263/.359 (78 wRC+) in 88 games while striking out at a career-high 35.7% clip. His typically strong defense all over the diamond hasn’t rated well by the metrics this year. Most concerning is his vanishing production against left-handed pitching; while his 91 wRC+ against righties this year is right in line with his career norms, Moore has hit just .149/.257/.309 (66 wRC+) with a 40.4% strikeout rate in 109 plate appearances against lefties this year.

That production simply wasn’t tenable for even a bench role, and now the Mariners have opted to part ways with the veteran just a few months before he otherwise would have reached free agency. Seattle will have one week to attempt to pass Moore through waivers, where he can be claimed by any MLB club willing to give him a spot on their roster and pay the remainder of his 2025 salary. Should he clear waivers unclaimed, the club could try to outright him to the minor leagues but he has more than enough service time to reject that outright assignment in favor of free agency.

Replacing Moore on the roster is Robles, who suffered a dislocated shoulder back in April and has been on the injured list ever since. A former top prospect who spent parts of eight seasons with the Nationals, Robles broke out with the Mariners at the age of 27 last year as he slashed .328/.393/.467 with 30 steals in just 77 games. That elite production was enough to earn Robles a two-year extension with the club, but year one of that deal hasn’t gone especially well between his lengthy stay on the IL and the aforementioned suspension he incurred during his rehab assignment. With Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodriguez entrenched in left and center field respectively, Robles figures to share time with Dominic Canzone and Luke Raley in right going forward.

Padres Place Jackson Merrill On 10-Day Injured List

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TODAY: Infielder Will Wagner was called up from Triple-A to take Merrill’s spot on the active roster, the Padres announced.

AUGUST 23: The Padres announced this evening that they’ve placed outfielder Jackson Merrill on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain. The move was retroactive to August 20th, and no corresponding move to replace Merrill on the roster will be announced until tomorrow.

Merrill, 22, already hasn’t appeared in a game since August 17th due to his ailing ankle and now won’t be back for at least the 29th. It’s been a frustrating sophomore season for the outfielder, as he’s been limited to just 91 games between his current ankle injury, an early-season hamstring strain, and an IL stint for concussion-like symptoms back in June. Even when Merrill has been healthy enough to take the field for the Padres, he’s not quite looked like himself. The youngster’s rookie year saw him hit .292/.326/.500 (130 wRC+) with 61 extra-base hits (including 24 homers) and 16 steals in 19 chances.

That was enough to get him plenty of accolades: he finished second only to Paul Skenes in NL Rookie of the Year voting and nabbed an All-Star appearance, a Silver Slugger award, and a ninth-place finish in NL MVP voting. That banner year created plenty of optimism that Merrill would anchor the middle of San Diego’s lineup for years to come, and those hopes were further bolstered when he signed a nine-year extension with the organization earlier this year. Unfortunately, his numbers simply haven’t kept pace with last year. He’s slashed just .261/.317/.413 (105 wRC+) in 386 trips to the plate with 31 extra-base hits (including nine homers) and just one steal in three attempts.

That’s perfectly solid production, of course. It’s just a far cry from what Merrill did last year, and for a Padres clubbed locked in a tight NL West race with the Dodgers a healthy and effective Merrill would be a game changer. Perhaps that’s what has convinced the Padres to finally bite the bullet and place their center fielder on the shelf; giving him some additional time off to rest his ailing ankle could help him heal up for the September stretch run and into the postseason. If a healthy Merrill could play closer to his .357 xwOBA, which is in the same league as stars like Alex Bregman and Byron Buxton, then sitting him down for another week in order to get him healthy would be well worth doing.

Deadline addition Ramon Laureano has been handling center field in Merrill’s absence. That’s left an outfield corner open for Gavin Sheets, while Ryan O’Hearn has settled into a first base and DH role alongside Luis Arraez. With Laureano and O’Hearn in the mix following last month’s deadline, the Padres’ lineup is much better-equipped to handle Merrill’s absence than it was earlier in the year with players like Jason Heyward and Oscar Mercado in the outfield mix. With a fairly solid outfield mix even without Merrill on the roster, it’s unclear what direction the Padres will go for tomorrow’s corresponding transaction. Speculatively speaking, an infielder like Mason McCoy or Will Wagner could make some sense given that both Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth have missed a game recently with day-to-day injuries.

Frankie Montas Done For 2025 Due To “Pretty Significant” UCL Injury

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4:13pm: Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters (including Mike Puma of the New York Post) that Montas’s UCL injury is “pretty significant.” Mendoza went on to confirm that Montas will not pitch again in 2025.

2:21pm: The Mets announced that Frankie Montas has been placed on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to August 22) due to a UCL-related injury in his right elbow.  Right-hander Huascar Brazoban has been called up from Triple-A to take Montas’ spot on the active roster.

It’s the latest setback in what was been a brutal inaugural season for Montas in Queens. The right-hander signed a $34MM guarantee with the Mets during the winter but has produced just 38 2/3 innings of work for the team so far. A lat strain suffered at the outset of Spring Training left Montas to open the season on the injured list and he did not make his season debut until June 24. After throwing five scoreless innings in his first start of the year, Montas pitched to a ghastly 7.85 ERA over his next six starts with an 18.2% strikeout rate and a whopping seven home runs allowed. Those brutal results led the Mets to move Montas to the bullpen earlier this month, where he’s surrendered four runs (two earned) on four walks and six hits (including a home run) while striking out just three.

Altogether, Montas has posted a 6.28 ERA and a 5.31 FIP during his time with the Mets with an 18.0% strikeout rate and a 7.9% walk rate. It’s a deeply disappointing outcome, and now it’s an open question when Montas will next be available to pitch. The Mets have made no announcements about the right-hander’s timeline for return, nor offered any indications about the severity of the injury. Of course, many fans will wonder about the possibility of Tommy John surgery, which is often required to repair a pitcher’s UCL once damaged. Such a procedure (or even a less-invasive internal brace procedure) would likely cost Montas not only the remainder of this year but also the entire 2026 season. With that being said, some UCL injuries are possible to address via rehab. That’s a path that Braves hurler Grant Holmes opted to take earlier this month as he deals with a partial UCL tear, though even Holmes’s rehab process has brought his 2025 campaign to an abrupt end.

While the details of Montas’s prognosis and timeline for return won’t be clear until the Mets make an announcement offering more information, the club will be without the right-hander for at least the immediate future. Given the fact that Montas’s performance was poor enough that he was bumped from the rotation earlier this month, perhaps that’s not too massive of a blow. Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, David Peterson, and Clay Holmes remain in the club’s rotation and have recently been joined by top prospect Nolan McLean. Brandon Waddell and Justin Hagenman remain in the minors already on the 40-man roster as potential depth options behind that group, and well-regarded prospect Brandon Sproat has a 4.24 ERA in 24 starts at Triple-A this year.

Replacing Montas on the roster is Brazoban, who began his career in the majors with Miami back in 2022 but has served as an up-and-down relief arm for the Mets this year. It’s a role he’s performed quite well in, with a 3.83 ERA and 4.14 FIP across 51 2/3 innings of work spread between 3 starts and 41 relief outings. Brazoban figures to take up Montas’s mantle as the club’s long reliever going forward.

IL Activations: Chapman, Yates

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Here’s a look at some of the more notable names to be activated from the injured list today…

  • The Giants activated third baseman Matt Chapman from the injured list today after spending just a week on the shelf due to inflammation in his right hand. Versatile infielder Tyler Fitzgerald was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Chapman on the active roster. Chapman has appeared in just 96 games for San Francisco this year after missing time due to a sprained right hand back in June. He missed nearly a month due to that injury, and after being activated in early July he hit just .200/.290/.365 over 31 games before heading back to the IL due to his ailing hand. Chapman received a cortisone shot during this latest stint on the shelf, and both he and the Giants are surely hoping he’ll be able to hit more like his first half self (.243/.360/.452 in 65 games) going forward. As for Fitzgerald, he’s hit just .217/.278/.327 (73 wRC+) in 72 games this year thanks primarily to vanishing power relative to his 15 homers in 341 plate appearances last year.
  • Elsewhere in the NL West, the Dodgers activated veteran relief arm Kirby Yates from the injured list today. He takes the roster spot of southpaw Blake Snell, who is headed to the paternity list. Yates was shelved on August 1 due to low back pain and hasn’t appeared in a game since July 26. He was placed on the shelf after a difficult month of July where he surrendered a 6.00 ERA and 5.95 FIP across eight appearances, but the Dodgers are surely hoping that his month-long layoff has helped him get healthy for the final weeks of the season. Yates was arguably the best reliever in baseball with the Rangers last year as he posted a 1.17 ERA with a 2.50 FIP and picked up 33 saves in 61 appearances. This year his ERA has ballooned to 4.31, but a 32.8% strikeout rate still offers some reason for optimism that he’ll be able to turn things around now that he’s healthy. Yates joins a Dodgers bullpen that is presently relying on Blake Treinen and Ben Casparius in the late innings from the right side.

Tigers Sign Kevin Newman To Minor League Deal

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The Tigers have signed infielder Kevin Newman to a minor league deal, as noted this evening by Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Newman has already reported to Triple-A Toledo and is in tonight’s lineup for the Mud Hens.

Newman, 32, was a first-round pick by the Pirates back in 2015 who made his big league debut during the 2018 season. He appeared in just 31 games during that first taste of the majors and didn’t hit much at all, but earned a regular role with the Pirates in his first full big league season the following year and hit quite well across 130 games. Then 25 years old, Newman impressed with an above-average .308/.353/.446 slash line (109 wRC+) in 531 plate appearances as Pittsburgh’s starting shortstop. Unfortunately, that excellent rookie season proved to be an outlier. Over his next three years with the organization, Newman hit just .240/.283/.323 (64 wRC+) in 270 games.

Newman’s lackluster work following his rookie campaign led the Pirates to part ways with Newman following the 2022 season. In November of that year, he was shipped to the Reds in a minor trade just before the non-tender deadline. With Cincinnati in 2023 and Arizona in 2024, Newman showed a form similar to the one he showed with the Pirates during the 2022 campaign as he hit a below average .267/.311/.370 (84 wRC+) with strong enough infield defense to be a quality bench bat and role player. His value was further augmented by his ability to put up respectable numbers (including a 114 wRC+ from 2022 to ’24) against left-handed pitching.

That solid work in a part-time role over the past few years was clearly enough to convince the Angels to sign Newman to a one-year, $2.75MM guarantee this past offseason. He was part of the club’s infield mix alongside a number of newcomers like Yoan Moncada, Scott Kingery, Tim Anderson, and J.D. Davis. The majority of those players are no longer on Anaheim’s roster, and Newman himself was designated for assignment on the day of the trade deadline after the Angels acquired Oswald Peraza in a trade with the Yankees. That DFA came after Newman appeared in just 33 games with the club and hit a paltry .202/.209/.272 (27 wRC+) in the 116 plate appearance he received during his time in California.

That weak offense wasn’t enough to keep a job on Anaheim’s big league staff, but Newman has now attracted interest from the Tigers as a minor league depth piece. By joining his new organization prior to the start of September, Newman remains eligible to play in the postseason for the Tigers in the event he gets added to the roster at some point. Javier Baez, Zach McKinstry, and Trey Sweeney have split time at shortstop this year for Detroit, but it’s possible that Newman could make his way into that group if one of that trio suffers an injury or the Tigers decide they’d prefer to get both Baez and McKinstry more time at other positions.

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