The Opener: NL Powers Clash, Red Sox/Yankees, Baz
As Shohei Ohtani celebrates his 30th birthday today, let’s look at three headlines from around baseball heading into weekend action…
1. NL’s best square off this weekend
Possible playoff previews abound as the National League’s three division leaders and top wild card team are paired off in three-game series beginning today. The league-leading Phillies head to Atlanta to kick off a three-game set with the Braves, beginning with a fun Aaron Nola vs. Max Fried pitching matchup in tonight’s game. Philadelphia enjoys a healthy nine-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East race, though the Braves have won two of the three games between the two division rivals already this season, and 10 remaining head-to-head meetings gives the Braves some opportunity to directly chip away. Atlanta could be fortunate to be catching the Phils when Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are both out of action, though the Phillies are 4-2 since their two sluggers were placed on the 10-day injured list.
In a battle of division leaders, the NL Central-leading Brewers head to Los Angeles to face the NL West-leading Dodgers. The newly-acquired Aaron Civale will make his Milwaukee debut in tonight’s start, taking the hill against a former Rays teammate in Tyler Glasnow. Among the storylines to watch in the series is the status of Jason Heyward, who will undergo an MRI today on his left knee after suffering an injury in yesterday’s game with the Diamondbacks. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Jack Harris of the L.A. Times) said Heyward was hurt while jumping to try and snag Joc Pederson‘s first-inning home run, and Heyward was pulled from the game prior to the start of the third.
2. Red Sox vs. Yankees
One of baseball’s signature rivalries is renewed in the Bronx this weekend as the Red Sox and Yankees open up a three-game series with both teams in a playoff position. New York is the AL’s top wild card team, while Boston has taken a half-game edge over the Royals for the third and final wild card slot. The two clubs last met in a three-game series on June 14-16 that now seems like a bit of a turning point for both sides.
After an 8-1 loss to New York on June 14, the Red Sox won the next two games to capture the series. That started the run of 12 wins in 16 games that has now firmly put the Sox back into the postseason hunt. Meanwhile, the Yankees have gone in the opposite direction, with a dismal 4-13 record in their last 17 games.
3. Shane Baz returns after two-year layoff
Shane Baz is expected to start for the Rays against the World Series champion Rangers tonight, marking the end of the right-hander’s long injury rehab. It was almost exactly two years ago (on July 10, 2022) that Baz made his last MLB appearance, as Tommy John surgery derailed his career and then his already-lengthy comeback trail was extended by an oblique strain this past spring. Formerly one of baseball’s top prospects, Baz posted a 4.02 ERA over 40 1/3 big league innings in 2021-22, showing just some glimpses of his potential. Nobody expects Baz to be a frontline arm right away, yet becoming a solid rotation piece and simply getting some Major League innings under his belt would be a nice result for the 25-year-old and his team.
A recent hot streak has got the Rays back over the .500 mark at 44-43, and they sit 3.5 games back of the Red Sox for the last wild card spot (with the Royals and Astros in between). Tampa Bay will be one of the more interesting teams to watch as the trade deadline approaches, as the Civale deal is an early sign that the club will be looking to both buy and sell in its constant attempt to both manage a tight payroll and build a contending roster.
Mike Ford Signs With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars
Mike Ford has signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, the team has announced. Ford was designated for assignment by the Reds earlier this season. He elected free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment to the minor leagues.
Ford, 32, signed with the Yankees as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Six years later, he made his MLB debut for the Bronx Bombers. A first baseman and designated hitter, the lefty batter made quite the impression in his rookie season, slugging 12 home runs in 50 games and putting up a .909 OPS. The following year, at 28 years old, he made his very first Opening Day roster.
Unfortunately for Ford, he struggled to replicate that early success over the rest of his tenure in pinstripes. He slashed .134/.250/.276 across 51 games in 2020 and ’21, and the Yankees designated him for assignment in June 2021. He then bounced between the Rays, Nationals, Mariners, Giants, Mariners (again), Braves, and Angels organizations before landing back with the Mariners for a third time ahead of the 2023 campaign. Four years after his breakout, Ford would put together the best season of his career. He forced his way to the majors with 13 home runs and a 1.031 OPS in 49 games at Triple-A, then hit another 16 home runs with a .798 OPS in 84 games for Seattle from June to October.
Despite his strong performance in 2023, the Mariners designated Ford for assignment at the end of the season. He signed a minor league deal with the Reds this past February, opted out in March, re-signed a week later, and then opted out again in early May. This time, he re-signed on a major league deal, but after going 9-for-60 with a .411 OPS in 17 games, he was designated for assignment at the end of the month. Before signing with the BayStars, he had been a free agent since May 31.
AL West Notes: Tucker, Verlander, Bloss, Woo, Jung
Astros manager Joe Espada offered a disappointing, if not entirely surprising, injury update regarding two of his biggest stars. Speaking to reporters (including Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle) ahead of today’s contest in Toronto, the skipper acknowledged that neither Kyle Tucker nor Justin Verlander is likely to return from the IL before the All-Star break.
Tucker has not played since June 3 as he nurses a right shin contusion he suffered when he fouled a ball off his leg. In mid-June, Espada suggested that Tucker would likely require a minor league rehab assignment. With the All-Star break fast approaching and the outfielder yet to begin any on-field work (per Kawahara), it’s hard to imagine he makes it back before the break. The Astros would surely like to have Tucker back as soon as possible, but they have played surprisingly well in their best hitter’s absence. Making sure that he’s healthy for the stretch run is more important than rushing him back in July.
Meanwhile, Verlander has not pitched since June 9; he is dealing with neck discomfort. He is progressing well, but Espada says the future Hall of Famer has not yet gotten back to throwing off a mound. Once again, the Astros could certainly use the veteran in their injury-plagued rotation ASAP, but rushing him back would be a shortsighted move with so much season left to play.
Another point of interest concerning Verlander: As Kawahara notes, it is now extremely unlikely that his conditional $35MM player option for 2025 will be triggered. Even if the 41-year-old were to return immediately after the All-Star break and pitch once every five games for the rest of the season, he would need to average 6 1/3 innings per start to reach the necessary 140 innings pitched.
Finally, Espada also mentioned that rookie Jake Bloss will make a rehab start this weekend. Barring any setbacks, the young righty could make his next start in Houston. Bloss, 23, is generally considered one of the Astros’ better pitching prospects. He landed on the IL with shoulder discomfort on June 21, the same day that he made his MLB debut.
More injury updates from around the AL West:
- Rangers manager Bruce Bochy offered reporters an update on Josh Jung, who has been on the IL almost all season. The All-Star third baseman fractured his wrist on a hit-by-pitch on April 1. Jung has recently been nursing a flare-up of discomfort in his injured wrist and has not swung a bat since his last rehab game on June 20 (per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com). However, he has no further structural damage. The Rangers are going to shut him down completely for another week, after which they hope he’ll be able to restart his rehab assignment (per Jeff Wilson of Rangers Today). Needless to say, this means Jung will not be ready to return to Arlington before the All-Star break.
- In more positive news, the Mariners aren’t ready to rule out the possibility that Bryan Woo could return to their rotation ahead of the Midsummer Classic. He threw a successful bullpen session on Wednesday (per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com) and will make a rehab start this weekend. If all goes well in that outing, there’s a chance he could make his next start for Seattle. Woo, 24, has pitched exceptionally well in his sophomore season, with a 1.77 ERA in eight starts. Not all of his underlying numbers are quite as eye-catching (4.01 SIERA, 3.96 xFIP), but there’s no doubt the Mariners would like to have the young hurler back as soon as possible to see more of what he’s capable of.
Dodgers Release Jonathan Araúz
The Dodgers have released Jonathan Araúz, according to the infielder’s player page on MLB.com. The 25-year-old spent the first three months of the season playing around the infield for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
Arauz signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers last December, after electing free agency at the end of the 2023 campaign. He spent the previous season in the Mets organization, playing in 100 games for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets and 27 contests for the big league squad. However, he was outrighted at the end of the season and chose to seek a new opportunity with another team.
Signed by the Phillies as an international free agent in 2014, Arauz made his professional debut in Philadelphia’s system at just 16 years old. Not long after, he was traded to the Astros as part of the Ken Giles deal. The infielder then spent four years in Houston’s minor league system until the Red Sox took him in the Rule 5 Draft ahead of the 2020 season.
Arauz appeared in the majors every year from 2020-23, first with the Red Sox and then the Orioles and Mets. He has played a total of 95 MLB games, slashing .184/.253/.308 across 262 PA. He has never graded out as a particularly effective fielder or baserunner either, but he provides value with his versatility; he can hold his own at second base, third base, and shortstop. The Dodgers, who appreciate positional flexibility, had some questions about their infield picture entering the season, so Arauz made good sense as a minor league depth signing. However, he has hit especially poorly at Triple-A, slashing .227/.286/.324 with a 51 wRC+. With several other infielders playing significantly better for Oklahoma City, Arauz became the odd man out.
Arauz is now free to search for his next professional opportunity. Not yet 26 years old, he should be able to find another club in need of a versatile infielder with big league experience.
Twins Sign Matt Bowman To Minor League Deal
The Twins have signed relief pitcher Matt Bowman to a minor league contract, according to his player page on MLB.com. The deal includes an opt-out in early August (per Darren Wolfson of SKOR North). The right-hander has been assigned to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints.
Bowman began the 2024 season with the Twins, with whom he signed a minor league deal in January. Although he did not make Minnesota’s Opening Day roster, the team selected his contract in mid-April. He made five appearances for the Twins, giving up two earned runs in seven 2/3 innings of work before he was designated for assignment at the end of the month.
The Twins traded Bowman to the Diamondbacks for cash considerations, and the journeyman made four appearances for Arizona (6 ER, 6 2/3 IP) before he was designated for assignment once more. The 33-year-old elected free agency and found his next opportunity with the Mariners, signing a minor league contract with Seattle. He made just one appearance for the M’s, giving up a home run and a walk and recording two outs, before he was DFA’d yet again. After electing free agency, Bowman signed a new minor league deal with the Mariners in mid-June, but the deal contained an opt-out clause – one which he chose to exercise earlier this week. Presumably, the reliever decided he had a better chance to get back to the majors with a different organization.
Thus, Bowman returned to the place where his 2024 campaign began. The Twins have had one of the better bullpens in the American League this season, but they currently have four relievers on the 60-day IL. They only have two right-handed relievers on the 40-man roster who aren’t in the majors (Josh Winder and Ronny Henriquez), neither of whom has anywhere close to as much big league relief experience as Bowman. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why both sides were interested in a reunion.
Bowman began his professional career with the Mets in 2012 and made his MLB debut as a Rule 5 Draft pick with the Cardinals in 2016. He has also spent time with the Reds and Yankees. The righty made 183 appearances from 2016-19, pitching to a 4.02 ERA and 3.86 SIERA. Unfortunately, he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020 and did not make his way back to the majors until September 2023, when he made four appearances for the Yankees. In other words, while he has plenty of experience, it has been several years since he enjoyed any prolonged big league success. His MLB numbers over the past two years are uninspiring (19 IP, 13 K, 9 BB, 4 HR, 6.16 ERA), but his minor league stats (74 2/3 IP, 3.62 ERA, 4.24 FIP) are significantly more promising.
Mets Release Trayce Thompson
The Mets have released outfielder Trayce Thompson, according to his transaction log on MLB.com. He signed a minor league contract with the club this past offseason.
A second-round pick in the 2009 draft, Thompson made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2015. He has since spent time with the Dodgers, Yankees, Athletics, Guardians, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Padres, Tigers, and Mets organizations, including two separate stints with the Dodgers and three with the White Sox.
Thompson, now 33, had the best year of his career with the Dodgers in 2022. He joined the team in mid-June (after short stints with the Padres and Tigers) and stuck on the active roster for the rest of the season. Over 74 games with L.A. that year, he slashed .268/.364/.537 with 14 doubles and 13 home runs. He also played well in the field, putting up a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and 4 Outs Above Average (OAA) in 496 2/3 defensive innings. After his impressive performance, Thompson made the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster in 2023 but struggled to replicate his success from the year prior. He spent almost all of June and July on the IL with a strained oblique, and the Dodgers traded him back to the White Sox at the deadline as part of a package for Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly. Thompson struggled even more over the rest of the year in Chicago, and the White Sox outrighted him after the season. He elected free agency shortly afterward.
The Mets came calling this past winter, and Thompson agreed to a minor league deal with his tenth organization in December. Although he received an invitation to spring training and produced an .891 OPS in 12 Grapefruit League games, he failed to earn a spot on New York’s Opening Day roster. He hit reasonably well in 62 games for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, hitting 16 home runs and posting an .800 OPS in 253 plate appearances. However, the International League has a high standard for offense, as evidenced by the fact that Thompson’s .800 OPS translates to a below-average 95 wRC+. The Mets recently needed to promote an outfielder when Starling Marte went on the IL, but it was Ben Gamel – another veteran who signed a minor league deal with the club this offseason – who got the call.
Thompson is now eligible to seek his next opportunity and perhaps join his eleventh MLB organization.
Twins Re-Sign Diego Castillo To Minor League Deal
The Twins have re-signed right-hander Diego Castillo to a minor league deal, per Theodore Tollefson of Twins Daily on X. The righty well rejoin the St. Paul bullpen and give the Twins some non-roster bullpen depth again.
Castillo, 30, signed a minor league deal with the Twins at the end of March. He reported to the Saints and performed very well, allowing five earned runs over 18 innings for an ERA of 2.50. He struck out 29.7% of batters faced, gave out walks 8.1% of the time and kept the ball on the ground at a 54.5% rate.
That got him the call to the big leagues but he wasn’t able to replicate that kind of performance. He did have a 2.57 ERA in his seven innings but was lucky to do so, as he danced around seven walks with just three strikeouts. Rather than wait for him to fall off that tightrope, the Twins designated him for assignment. He cleared waivers and elected free agency but has now circled back to the club on a new pact.
Though the results were iffy while Castillo was with Minnesota this year, there’s plenty of sense in bringing him back aboard. He tossed 259 2/3 big league innings from 2018 to 2022 with a 3.12 ERA, 28.1% strikeout rate, 8.9% walk rate and 50.7% ground ball rate. His results fell off in 2023, as he posted a 6.23 ERA, but his numbers with the Saints earlier this year were fairly close to his pre-2023 work.
The Twins have four relievers on the 60-day injured list right now: Brock Stewart, Justin Topa, Daniel Duarte and Zack Weiss. A couple of the guys currently on the roster, Kody Funderburk and Caleb Thielbar, are sporting ERAs north of 5.00. Having Castillo around gives them an experienced depth arm with lots of success on his track record, should the bullpen suffer another injury or some more poor results.
Which Other Postseason Hopefuls Might Have Arms To Spare?
The Rays made a somewhat unconventional trade Wednesday, shipping right-hander Aaron Civale to the Brewers in exchange for infield prospect Gregory Barrios. Tampa Bay had the luxury of moving a current member of its rotation despite the fact that the team is still in the Wild Card race and still harbors postseason aspirations. That's due primarily to the organizational depth in the rotation, which was thin earlier in the season but is deepening as the year wears on and as injured arms like Shane Baz, Jeffrey Springs and (eventually) Drew Rasmussen reenter the fold. Baz will step into the Rays' rotation in Civale's place this Friday.
Most teams don't have that type of cushion. Starting pitching is always at a premium, and starters -- particularly those with multiple years of club control remaining -- tend to be the most coveted asset at nearly every MLB trade deadline.
And yet, the Rays aren't the only club that's poised to operate in this capacity over the next 27 days. There are a handful of teams who could walk the line of dealing from the big league roster -- specifically the rotation -- despite hoping to find themselves playing a prominent role in October baseball. Let's take a look at some possibilities.
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Austin Wynns Accepts Outright Assignment With Reds
Catcher Austin Wynns passed through waivers unclaimed and has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Louisville, per C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic on X. The backstop had been designated for assignment by the Reds earlier this week.
Wynns, 33, signed a split deal with the Reds in the offseason that pays him a $900K salary while in the majors and $300K in the minors. Since he is out of options, the club has outrighted him off the 40-man three times already this year. As a player with more than three years of service time but less than five, Wynns can reject an outright assignment but would have to walk away from his remaining money in order to do so.
That specific contract structure and service time situation have allowed the Reds to shuttle Wynns on and off the roster whenever they have needed a third catcher to support Tyler Stephenson and Luke Maile. Wynns was added a couple of weeks ago when Stephenson was hurt but bumped off the roster when Stephenson felt better. Shortly thereafter, Stephenson went on the paternity list, which gave Wynns another few days on the roster before being bumped off again.
It’s possible that Wynns may be quickly needed yet again in short order. Maile appeared to injure himself running to first base today, with video relayed on X by Bally Sports Cincinnati. He initially stayed in the game but was later replaced behind the plate by Stephenson. Wynns has hit just .229/.276/.331 in his career but is generally considered a competent defender behind the plate.
Mariners Claim Duke Ellis From Mets
The Mariners announced that they have claimed outfielder Duke Ellis off waivers from the Mets and sent him to Triple-A Tacoma. The latter club had designated him for assignment recently. The Mariners already had a vacancy on their 40-man, which is now full.
Ellis, 26, had never appeared on a 40-man roster until a month ago but has now been on three of them in that time. The White Sox selected him on June 4 and he has since bounced to the Mets and now Mariners via waiver claims.
The interest is largely due to his wheels. In his 968 minor league plate appearances, he has a batting line of .241/.329/.333, which translates to an 88 wRC+. However, he stole 117 bases in 134 tries during that time. While he was briefly in the big leagues with the White Sox, he swiped four bags in four tries.
Such players can often carve out roles on contending clubs, particularly with expanded rosters in September. A key pinch running opportunity late in a game can often be the difference between a win and a loss. That’s especially true in the age of the free runner in extra innings.
The Mariners had an open roster spot, so there’s little harm in them grabbing Ellis for now. He can take some at-bats in Tacoma, though perhaps they will try to pass him through waivers at some point down the line or call him up to take advantage of his speed.