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Phillies Reinstate Bryce Harper, Designate Buddy Kennedy For Assignment

By Steve Adams | June 30, 2025 at 1:45pm CDT

The Phillies announced Monday that first baseman Bryce Harper has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list. To make room on the active roster, Philadelphia designated utilityman Buddy Kennedy for assignment.

Harper missed just under four weeks due to inflammation in his wrist. He’ll be back in the heart of the Phillies’ order starting Monday, looking to improve on a .258/.368/.446 slash. That’s quality output at the plate — 26% better than average, per wRC+ — but constitutes a “down” season relative to Harper’s lofty standards.

To his credit, Harper touted a more robust .276/.382/.470 line in late May but hit only .143/.273/.286 in eight games before landing on the injured list, so it seems his wrist had been bothering him for awhile before he finally sat down to let it heal up. Manager Rob Thomson said at the time of Harper’s IL placement that the wrist had been bothering the former NL MVP for “awhile” without specifying just how long. Harper was also plunked on the elbow by a Spencer Strider heater in the middle of the eight-game slump that preceded his IL placement and missed several games in the aftermath, so it’s likely that he was pretty banged up by the time Philadelphia pulled the trigger on an IL stint.

Kennedy, 26, has now been designated for assignment twice by the Phillies this year. He’s out of minor league options and didn’t make the club out of spring training, prompting a DFA and a quick return on a minor league deal after he briefly elected free agency. He was selected back to the majors just 11 days ago and appeared in only four games, going hitless with a walk in a small sample of eight plate appearances.

Kennedy has appeared in parts of four major league seasons between the D-backs, Tigers and Phillies, but he’s only tallied 157 plate appearances in that time. He’s a .193/.287/.296 hitter at the big league level but touts a nice .281/.391/.437 slash in nearly 1600 Triple-A plate appearances. He’s primarily played second base and third base in pro ball but does have more than 400 innings at first base and 93 innings of left field work under his belt.

The Phillies can trade or waive Kennedy at any point in the next five days. Waivers are a 48-hour process, so he’ll have a resolution on his DFA within a week’s time. If Kennedy clears waivers, he’ll have the right to reject a minor league assignment in favor of free agency.

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Philadelphia Phillies Transactions Bryce Harper Buddy Kennedy

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Athletics Select Colby Thomas

By Steve Adams | June 30, 2025 at 1:17pm CDT

The Athletics announced a series of roster moves Monday, notably selecting the contract of well-regarded outfield prospect Colby Thomas from Triple-A Las Vegas. The A’s also reinstated Shea Langeliers from the 10-day injured list, recalled reliever Justin Sterner from Vegas and optioned outfielder JJ Bleday, righty Tyler Ferguson and catcher Willie MacIver to Triple-A.

Thomas, 24, was the Athletics’ third-round pick in 2022. He’s steadily climbed the minor league ranks and currently sports a .297/.365/.542 slash with Las Vegas, although given the extraordinarily hitter-friendly setting, that’s only about 11% better than league average (111 wRC+) when adjusted for home park and league run-scoring environment. Thomas’ 26.3% strikeout rate, 7.3% walk rate and massive pop-up rate — a staggering 28% of his fly-balls are infield flies — aren’t ideal, but he’s also hitting plenty of line drives.

Baseball America and MLB.com both list Thomas among the system’s top-five prospects, whereas FanGraphs had Thomas way down at 27th in the system citing concerns over his hit tool and overaggressive approach at the plate. Both BA and MLB raise those flaws as well, but Thomas’ raw tools — above-average to plus grades on his power, speed, outfield defense and arm strength — lead to a more favorable overall rating at both outlets, questions in the batter’s box notwithstanding.

Thomas joins an outfield mix that includes Lawrence Butler in right field, defensive standout Denzel Clarke in center and slugger Tyler Soderstrom in left. Designated hitter Brent Rooker can cycle into the corners as well but has just 202 innings on defense dating back to Opening Day 2024. Thomas’ right-handed bat could serve as a complement to the lefty-swinging Soderstrom, who’s batting just .205/.235/.269 against lefties this year (81 plate appearances) but .268/.367/.485 versus righties.

Langeliers returns after missing nearly four weeks with an oblique strain. He batted .237/.300/.430 with 10 homers in 230 plate appearances prior to the injury, continuing his trend of providing low average/OBP marks with above-average pop.

Ferguson was solid for the A’s in 2024 but has seen his velocity, strikeout rate, swinging-strike rate, walk rate and home run rate all trend in the wrong direction in 2025. He’s currently sitting on a 6.69 ERA in 35 innings.

Last year, Bleday looked to have broken out as a quality hitter and potential core piece with the A’s. His glovework in center field was brutal, but Bleday slashed .243/.324/.437 with 20 homers in 642 plate appearances. He’s drawing tons of walks with slightly above-average power again in 2025, but Bleday’s contact rate, strikeout rate and infield fly rate have all trended the wrong way in ’25. This is now the second time he’s been optioned, and went just 5-for-37 between minor league stints before being sent back down. There’s still room for him to bounce back and reclaim a spot in the Athletics’ long-term plans, but right now his stock is down considerably relative to 2024.

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Oakland Athletics Transactions Colby Thomas J.J. Bleday Justin Sterner Shea Langeliers Tyler Ferguson Willie MacIver

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Submit Your Questions For This Week’s Episode Of The MLBTR Podcast

By Steve Adams | June 30, 2025 at 10:55am CDT

On the MLB Trade Rumors podcast, we regularly answer questions from our readers and listeners. With the next episode set for Wednesday, we’re looking for MLBTR’s audience to submit their questions and we’ll pick a few to answer.

The 2025 season is chugging along, and the trade deadline is just over four weeks away. If you have a question about the campaign, a look ahead to the deadline or anything else baseball-related, we’d love to hear from you! You can email your questions to mlbtrpod@gmail.com.

Also, if you want to hear your voice on the podcast, send us your question in audio form and we might play it. iPhone users can find instructions on how to do so here.

In the meantime, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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Uncategorized

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Poll: Should The Pirates Trade Mitch Keller?

By Nick Deeds | June 30, 2025 at 10:17am CDT

The second year of the Paul Skenes era in Pittsburgh is not going well. The Pirates are currently 35-50, leaving them buried in both the NL Central and the Wild Card race. The Bucs stand as one of the few clear sellers this summer, and it seems as though the team is operating with very few untouchables. One of the names that’s gotten the a good bit of buzz this summer is right-hander Mitch Keller, who has drawn attention as one of the few established, controllable starting pitchers with a chance to be dealt.

The Cubs have come up as a potential suitor for Keller, and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported yesterday that the sides have been discussing a deal for more than a week. That’s not necessarily an indication that a trade, whether with the Cubs or otherwise, is particularly close. Still, it lends credence to the idea that the Pirates are serious in their willingness to consider moving the right-hander. That’s at least a mild surprise, given that he’s in just the second season of a five-year contract, but there’s a case to be made that the Pirates should capitalize right now.

After all, Keller is making $54.5MM over the final three years of his contract. That’s a below-market sum for a solid mid-rotation veteran but still steep for the perennially low-budget Pirates. Pittsburgh has already assembled an impressive group of young pitching talent with Skenes, top prospect Bubba Chandler, and injured-but-talented righty Jared Jones leading the pack. With affordable arms like Mike Burrows, Braxton Ashcraft and Thomas Harrington already having debuted, and well-regarded prospect Hunter Barco not far behind, the Pirates are amassing some enviable pitching depth. (That doesn’t include left-hander Bailey Falter, who’s affordably controlled for three more seasons.)

Pittsburgh would arguably be better off spending Keller’s salary on some sorely needed offense. Teoscar Hernandez, for example, signed with the Dodgers for a similar amount: $66MM over three years, with enough money deferred to lower the net present value of the contract to just under $60MM. Gleyber Torres, Tyler O’Neill, Christian Walker, and Pete Alonso are among the other hitters who signed for $60MM or less guaranteed this past winter. Not all of those deals have worked out, and there are always dangers of spending on even mid-range free agents like this, but the Pirates could have made reasonably competitive bids for some notable veterans on the open market with a sum comparable to what they still owe Keller.

Aside from the ability to reallocate financial resources, moving Keller would surely come with a solid return. Cost-controlled starting pitching is typically the most valuable commodity on the trade market, and while Keller is hardly elite given his 109 ERA+ this year, his affordable contract and year-to-year stability would give the acquiring club additional long-term certainty in their rotation that a rental pitcher like Zac Gallen could offer.

Using the Cubs’ system as an example due to their status as a rumored suitor for Keller, it’s easy to see why the Pirates might be willing to deal within the division. Chicago has a number of quality position player prospects knocking on the door of the big leagues. Outfielder Owen Caissie has 12 home runs and a 125 wRC+ at Triple-A Iowa as a 22-year-old this year. Catcher/DH Moises Ballesteros, outfielder Kevin Alcantara, and infielder James Triantos are all close to MLB-ready as well. Triantos’ stock is down after a difficult and injury-marred start to the 2025 season, but a package centering around one of those other young hitters could be appealing for a Pirates club that is looking to players like Andrew McCutchen and Spencer Horwitz to fill out the middle of its order at present. Other clubs with upper-level position player prospects have undoubtedly inquired on Keller, too.

As appealing as some of the arguments for trading Keller may be, there are real concerns that would come with making a deal. Keller was once looked at as a potential No. 2 starter during his prospect days and, while he hasn’t lived up to that potential yet, he’s not far removed from a three-WAR season wherein he struck out 25.5% of his opponents. His 4.21 ERA that year was pedestrian, but his 3.83 SIERA was 18th-best in baseball among qualified starters, just behind Logan Gilbert and ahead of players like Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, and Dylan Cease. Keller is still just 29 years old, and he certainly wouldn’t be the first pitcher to take a step forward in the middle of his prime. If the Pirates believe Keller still has another gear, they might prefer to hold onto him in hopes that he can unlock it and increase his trade value or his value to the Pirates themselves.

Aside from the possibility of selling at less than peak value, it’s worth noting how much uncertainty there is when it comes to developing pitching. The Tigers drafted Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize back in 2018 but only began to truly see the fruits of that labor last year after both players were derailed by injuries early in their career. Jones is already recovering from elbow surgery, and with pitching injuries seemingly more frequent than ever, it can be hard to part with a steady arm like Keller. Given the soaring price of pitching in free agency, the Pirates would likely have to keep scoring deals on low-cost veterans like they did with Andrew Heaney this year in order to fill out and create depth behind their young rotation mix.

How do MLBTR readers think the Pirates should act regarding Keller? Should they move to trade him in order to help boost the offense for their young arms, or should they hang onto him as a veteran presence and hope he can increase his value from here? Have your say in the poll below:

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Chicago Cubs MLBTR Originals MLBTR Polls Pittsburgh Pirates Mitch Keller

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The Opener: Brown, Waldron, Schmitt

By Nick Deeds | June 30, 2025 at 8:21am CDT

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

1. Brown to sign?

Outfielder Seth Brown elected free agency last week after being designated for assignment by the Athletics, and a report from MLBTR’s Anthony Franco yesterday afternoon indicates that Brown is deciding between three teams and is likely to sign somewhere within the coming days. The 32-year-old outfielder struggled badly through 38 games with the A’s this year, slashing just .185/.303/.262 across 76 plate appearances. Tough as this season has been for Brown, however, he hit a respectable .225/.289/.426 with 73 homers and 102 wRC+ from 2021 to 2024. He also boasts a career 109 wRC+ against right-handed pitching, so a club that struggles to produce against righties could benefit from his services if they’re willing to look past his poor start to the year.

2. Waldron to make season debut:

Right-hander Matt Waldron is set to make his season debut later today, per a report from Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Waldron will be on the mound for the Padres in Philadelphia when they take on the Phillies at 6:35pm local time (3:35pm CT). The knuckleballer posted a pedestrian 4.91 ERA (84 ERA+) in 146 2/3 innings of work last year, but his 4.26 FIP and a 4.13 SIERA both indicated that he could benefit from some positive regression in the future. He’s made five starts at Triple-A this year since returning from an oblique strain that sidelined him at the beginning of the season, and now that he’s back in the big leagues he’ll face off against Phillies ace Zack Wheeler (2.45 ERA).

3. Schmitt to undergo MRI:

The Giants’ infield has been stretched thin lately as third baseman Casey Schmitt has been forced to sit since he was hit in the wrist by a pitch on June 25. A CT scan showed no fracture and he was diagnosed with a bone bruise, but Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that Schmitt is set to undergo an MRI once they arrive in Arizona for tonight’s game against the Diamondbacks. That could mean that more details on Schmitt’s injury and whether or not he’ll ultimately require a trip to the injured list will be available as soon as today. Christian Koss has been at third base with Brett Wisely at second while Schmitt has been on the mend so far, though a trip to the IL would mean a tough loss for the Giants’ lineup as Schmitt has slashed .276/.360/.439 in 34 games this year.

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The Opener

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White Sox Place Luis Robert Jr. On 10-Day Injured List

By Nick Deeds | June 29, 2025 at 11:12pm CDT

The White Sox announced this afternoon that they’ve placed outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. The move is retroactive to June 26. Chicago will make a corresponding roster move prior to Tuesday’s game against the Dodgers, but will have just 25 players available for this afternoon’s game against the Giants.

The fact that Robert needs an IL stint is hardly a surprise given that he’s missed each of the club’s last three games, but (as noted by Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun Times) the timing of the move is a bit unusual. Robert was participating in light baseball activities before today’s game against the Giants, and he was expected to be evaluated further on Monday in order to determine whether or not an IL stint would be necessary. Perhaps Robert’s pregame activities today made it clear to the Sox that a trip to the shelf would be needed. It’s also worth noting that IL stints can be backdated a maximum of three days, so any time spent waiting after today would’ve effectively lengthened the minimum amount of time that Chicago would be without their outfielder.

The White Sox are surely hoping this will be a minimum stint or close to it. The possibility for a Robert trade has been a major topic of the rumor mill for years now, and after the club declined to trade him at various other points throughout their rebuild for fear of selling low on their mercurial and oft-injured star, his value may now be at its lowest point ever.

Robert has hit just .185/.270/.313 across 73 games this year. While he’s swiped 23 bases and is walking at a career-high 10.2% clip, he’s striking out more than 30% of the time and has the worst power numbers of his career. Even his once-elite center field defense isn’t holding up quite as well as it has in previous years. While his +3 Outs Above Average is certainly a solid number, it’s a far cry from the +13 OAA Robert posted back in 2023.

Between Robert’s declining offense and high salary, it could be difficult for the White Sox to find takers on the outfielder this summer. Perhaps that’s why the Sox are reportedly willing to include cash alongside Robert in order to facilitate getting a deal done. Robert is due around $7.5MM for the remainder of this season, but if the White Sox were willing to pay a significant amount of that down it might be easier for them to work out a trade.

After all, Robert’s offensive potential is still immense even amid his recent stretch of injuries and ineffectiveness, and even if he doesn’t reach that ceiling adding a plus defensive center fielder with speed to the lineup could be valuable for a team like the Guardians or Braves that has struggled to find production in center field this year. Robert is also still hitting a robust .268/.406/.464 against left-handed pitching this year, so perhaps a team like the Rangers or Giants that struggles against southpaws could have interest in bringing him into the fold as well.

All of this, of course, will hinge on Robert returning in relatively short order with enough time to prove himself reasonably healthy and effective before the trade deadline. Even mild hamstring strains can often require at least a couple of weeks of recovery, and if Robert isn’t ready to go by the time the White Sox come back from the All-Star break that could leave the club in a bit of a bind as they try to get what they can for the former All-Star. In the meantime, they’ll continue turning to Michael A. Taylor to cover center field while Robert recovers.

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Chicago White Sox Transactions Luis Robert

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AL Central Notes: Arias, Carpenter, Cannon

By Mark Polishuk | June 29, 2025 at 10:54pm CDT

Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias had to be carted off the field with a left ankle sprain during today’s 7-0 loss to the Cardinals.  In the third inning, Arias jammed his left foot while sliding to try and gather a Masyn Winn grounder that went for a single, and Arias needed immediate treatment from the club’s training staff in the aftermath.  Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt told MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins and other reporters that Arias will undergo an MRI tomorrow, though the good news is that initial x-rays were negative.

More will be known about Arias’ status tomorrow, but it seems like a placement on the 10-day injured list is inevitable prior to the Guardians’ next game on Tuesday.  Now in his fourth MLB season, Arias began 2025 in a second base timeshare with Daniel Schneemann, and then assumed starting shortstop duties in mid-May.  Arias has +3 Outs Above Average and +3 Defensive Runs Saved over 424 1/3 innings at short this year, helping the Guards with his glove even if he is hitting only .231/.293/.369 over 281 plate appearances.  As Stebbins notes, former starting shortstop Brayan Rocchio will probably be called up from Triple-A to handle shortstop in Arias’ absence.

Here’s some more from around the AL Central…

  • Speaking of MRIs, Kerry Carpenter will also receive a scan tomorrow after he had to make an early exit from the Tigers’ 3-0 win over the Twins tonight.  Carpenter was removed from the game with right hamstring discomfort after hitting a triple in the fifth inning, though he told reporters (including MLive.com’s Evan Woodbery) that his hamstring started to act up earlier in the game when he was playing right field.  Detroit doesn’t play Monday so Carpenter will have a built-in day off to heal up, though a trip to the injured list might be a wise idea since Carpenter has been dealing with hamstring soreness for much of the season.  Carpenter has a 116 wRC+ and 16 home runs over 280 PA, but his .257/.285/.494 slash line reveals a severe dropoff in his on-base numbers, as Carpenter’s 2.5% walk rate is among the lowest in baseball.
  • The White Sox activated Jonathan Cannon from the 15-day injured list today, and the right-hander allowed a run on three hits and three walks (with four strikeouts) over three innings of a start in Chicago’s 5-2 over the Giants today.  Cannon missed just short of four weeks dealing with a lower back strain, and he now has a 4.59 ERA over 13 appearances (11 starts) and 66 2/3 innings this season.  A third-round pick for the Sox in the 2022 draft, Cannon made his Major League in 2024 and figures to be part of Chicago’s rotation for the rest of the season as the rebuilding White Sox figure out their future rotation.  Right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move for Cannon’s activation.
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Chicago White Sox Cleveland Guardians Detroit Tigers Notes Gabriel Arias Jonathan Cannon Kerry Carpenter Wikelman Gonzalez

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Twins Designate Jonah Bride For Assignment

By Mark Polishuk | June 29, 2025 at 9:03pm CDT

Following the Twins’ 3-0 loss to the Tigers tonight, Minnesota announced that infielder Jonah Bride has been designated for assignment.  No corresponding move has been made yet, but several members of the Twins beat speculated that Royce Lewis will be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to the team’s next game on Tuesday in Miami.

By coincidence, Bride came to the Twins from Miami in a trade back in April.  This is the third time Bride has been designated in his career, and the previous two DFAs resulted in trades — from the A’s to the Marlins in February 2024, and then the swap that brought Bride to the Twin Cities.

Multiple injuries around the Twins’ infield created the need for Bride’s versatility, and he ended up appearing in 33 games with Minnesota mostly at third base, but with a few cameos as a first baseman, second baseman, and even four outings as a mop-up pitcher in blowouts.  While Bride hit better with Minnesota than he did in Miami, he still has only a .170/.248/.188 slash line over 125 total plate appearances with both clubs in 2025.

A veteran of four big league seasons, Bride seemed to have a bit of a breakout with the Marlins in 2024, hitting .276/.357/.461 over 272 PA.  It could be that rebuilding Miami never saw the 29-year-old Bride as more than a stopgap, however, and Bride’s lack of minor league options also reduced his flexibility in terms of roster shuffles.

That out-of-options status is why the Marlins and now the Twins have had to designate Bride and expose him to waivers before attempting to send him to the minors and outright him off their 40-man rosters.  Bride doesn’t have a past outright on his record or the necessary MLB service time to reject an outright assignment, should he clear waivers this time and the Twins move him to Triple-A.

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Minnesota Twins Transactions Jonah Bride

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Giants Sign Austin Barnes To Minor League Deal

By Mark Polishuk | June 29, 2025 at 8:55pm CDT

The Giants have signed catcher Austin Barnes to a minor league deal, as per Barnes’ MLB.com profile page (hat tip to FanSided’s Jeff Young).  Barnes has been assigned not to Triple-A but to the Giants’ Arizona Complex League team, likely for a ramp-up period before heading to a higher affiliate.

The backstop’s 11-season run with the Dodgers ended when Los Angeles released Barnes back in May.  Should Barnes make the Giants’ roster, San Francisco will owe him only the prorated portion of the MLB minimum salary, and the Dodgers will be on the hook for the remainder of the $3.5MM salary Barnes was owed for the 2025 season.

San Francisco president of baseball operations Buster Posey knows a thing or two about catching, so the idea of adding another respected veteran to the team’s catching ranks behind the plate probably held some particular appeal for the Giants, especially at virtually no cost.  Adding a former longtime member of the Giants’ arch-rival might also provide an added bonus if Barnes can share a few secrets from his long stint in Dodger Blue.

Starting catcher Patrick Bailey is an elite defender who has struggled badly with the bat this season, and Andrew Knizner has provided even less offense since his contract was selected to the big league roster earlier this month.  Sam Huff and Logan Porter provided little in limited duty this season, and Porter remains on the Giants’ 40-man roster while Huff was outrighted following a DFA earlier this month.  Max Stassi, Huff, and now Barnes are experienced catchers in the minor league pipeline that the Giants would have to add to the 40-man in order to bring them up to the Major League roster.

Barnes would likely not bring much in the way of offense himself, as the 35-year-old has a career slash line of .223/.322/.338 over 1757 career plate appearances in the Show.  Barnes’ numbers dipped to just a .518 OPS over 44 PA this season when the Dodgers opted to designate and then release Barnes to make way for top prospect Dalton Rushing as Will Smith’s new backup.

While Barnes has had his share of moments at the plate over the years, he has carved out his long career as a defensive specialist.  Long regarded as a strong blocker, pitch-framer, and handler of pitchers, Barnes unofficially acted as Clayton Kershaw’s personal catcher for years, even when such catchers as Smith or Yasmani Grandal were the established starters in L.A.

Assuming he is selected to the Giants active roster in due course, Barnes will go from working with Kershaw to another future Hall-of-Famer in Justin Verlander, not to mention ace Logan Webb and former Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray.  Barnes’ veteran knowhow might also be helpful in mentoring younger rotation arms like Hayden Birdsong and Landen Roupp, who have been tasked with greater responsibility in pitching key innings for a Giants team that is trying to contend for the playoffs.

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San Francisco Giants Transactions Austin Barnes

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MLBTR Chat Transcript

By Mark Polishuk | June 29, 2025 at 8:42pm CDT

Mark P

  • Beads, bees, stew preparation, and maybe even some baseball discussion….we’ve got it all here in the latest edition of the Weekend Chat!

ChrisMC88

  • What should the mets prioritize more at this point, pitching or offense.. both need attention.. or even maybe look deeper into their hitting coaches.

Mark P

  • Things have looked rough in general for the Mets over the last couple of weeks, but their rotation is still the bigger need than their lineup.  I expect the front office to pursue help in both areas, but it seems like the patchwork that has been the Mets’ rotation is simply starting to fray

Brian

  • Do u think Crawford(Phillies prospect) has better change to play for Phillies or be traded by deadline this year???

Mark P

  • Seems like a better chance that he’ll stick with the Phillies, since they need OF help already.

John

  • Is there a world there the orioles don’t sell?

Mark P

  • Because baseball is baseball, the O’s could turn around and win 11 of their next 13 games and nobody would bat an eye.

    That being said, it would take an extreme hot stretch like that in July to get the O’s fully back into the playoff picture.  Feels like they just dug themselves into too big a hole too early.

Read more

Orbit

  • With Yordan and Melton coming back, do the Astros really need Mullins ? There isn’t must to trade with and Crane is so hesitant to go over the tax luxury.

Mark P

  • Melton is still an unproven commodity, and one can argue that Houston is still too righty-centric even with both Alvarez and Melton.  A veteran left-handed hitter like Mullins could help, even if Mullins’ own bat has been ice cold for two months now.

Ken

  • Is Severino’s vocal criticism of the Sutter Health Field 1) part of a ploy to get traded to a contender (now that he has an above market contract), 2) a veteran giving voice to criticisms that younger, less established players also have about playing there, or 3) just an indication of how much it sucks to play there?

Mark P

  • I think all of the above.  You make a good point that Severino is probably speaking for a number of teammates, many of whom have less security and tenure in the sport.  As MLBTR’s Nick Deeds noted today, Severino is a difficult trade candidate due to his contract, his opt-out clause after 2026, and how his numbers aren’t entirely tied to his home/away splits

Theo

  • If you were the GM of the Blue Jays, what would you do at the deadline?

Mark P

  • Add pitching, first and foremost.  At least a solid innings-eater type starter to solidify the back of the rotation, and it wouldn’t hurt to check in on any possible frontline types that may or may not be available. The heavily worked bullpen could also use a new arm or two.

Mikey Mousel

  • Bees?

Mark P

  • Beads?!

ANM

  • Clase to Philly for Abel,Miller and or Crawford… Who says no?

Mark P

  • Clase is a terrific closer under long-term control via his contract, but I don’t think I see the Phillies parting with that level of prospect for him.

MKE

  • What are the Brewers going to do with the excess of starting pitching? With proven big league arms like Peralta, Woodruff, Cortes, Quintana and young talent like Priester, Miz, Patrick, and Gasser there seems to a log jam. Easy bet is Gasser stays in the minors when he returns and a 6-man rotation is in play. Anyone on the move?

Mark P

  • Easy answer is that every pitching surplus is quickly diminished by injuries.  The Brewers will wait until late July to determine whether or not everyone is healthy before they decide to move a starter or not.

    Someone like Quintana might be a decent bet to be moved, as he was probably someone that might not have really been on the radar anyway if it wasn’t for some of their health concerns in camp.

Braves

  • Seems like the Braves aren’t that far back. They likely pass the Mets, but can they leap frog enough other teams to be buyers?

Mark P

  • The Braves are about to get passed by the Marlins in the standings, so I’d pump the brakes on them making a run at contending.

    As much as Anthopoulos wants to compete and won’t sell until he absolutely has to, Atlanta is another team that needs a major hot streak in July to get back into the “realistic buyer” conversation

Garrett

  • Best baseball card you own?

Mark P

  • Sadly (and foolishly?), many of my old baseball cards were sold away at a garage sale years ago.

MN

  • Is there a reason Luis Garcia (Nats Version) isn’t more discussed as a trade candidate?

Mark P

  • Under arb control through 2027, and the Nats certainly hope they’re contending again during Garcia’s time with the team. I don’t think they’d hang up the phone if someone called with an intriguing enough offer, but the Nats are going to try moving several other shorter-term veteran types before exploring trades for players like Garcia

Sandy

  • Are the Marlins… good?

Mark P

  • They’re on a heck of a run right now, though I’d hesitate to say they’re going to be this year’s surprise team or anything.  But, wins are wins, even though the Fish have taken advantage of a couple of teams (SF, Arizona) who are struggling right now
  • In short, if you think Miami will suddenly be deadline buyers or anything, I’d calm down.  But if you’re a Marlins fan, seeing the team play some good ball has to be nice, especially with some of this young talent seemingly emerging

Bert

  • with the large amount owed to Alcantara and his awful stats, Hoyer should be fired if he gives up anything good for him right?

Mark P

  • Alcantara was starting to look like his old self before he struggled against the D’Backs the other day.  At this point there’s probably a better chance Alcantara is moved in the offseason than at the deadline, but I wouldn’t be shocked at a short-term move

Kyle

  • Breslow still saying the Sox will be buyers at the deadline; just posturing or are they still looking to add pieces for this year?

Mark P

  • He’s not going to throw in the towel in late June.  But, here’s yet another team that now looks like they need a big winning streak sooner than later, since the club has looked pretty lost since the Devers trade

Mike elias

  • Mullins for Spencer Arrighetti who says no

Mark P

  • Such a deal would be about the future for Baltimore, so the fact that Arrighetti is currently on the IL might not be a big obstacle?  But, a broken thumb on a throwing hand isn’t nothing for a pitcher, so the O’s (who are notoriously finicky about pitching health) would want a deep dive into the medicals before making such a swap

Framber Valdez

  • POLL: Do I get traded by the deadline?

Mark P

  • If you’re an Astros team in first place, why trade a guy having a great season and who has a long playoff track record for you?  Houston has been willing to let plenty of impending free agents just walk in the past, since the team is trying to win.

Tarik Skubal

  • Wow, I am pitching pretty well right now, no? It’s pretty impressive how I still have time to check out the MLBTR chat while pitching!

Mark P

  • You posted that just as the perfect game was broken up, so jinx!

Bucs

  • What’s you favorite Dave Parker memory?

Mark P

  • Most of Parker’s career was before my time, but I was a young Blue Jays fan when the team picked up the Cobra in September 1991.  He hit well during his brief time in Toronto and helped the Jays win the AL East, even if he was ineligible for the playoffs due to his late acquisition date.

    I think I vaguely recall my reaction being “great, Dave Parker!….who’s that?” and my dad filling me in about the Cobra’s storied history.  RIP to a great player, and it’s a shame he didn’t make it to the actual induction ceremony next month.

Brewer Fan

  • My question is on Quinn Priester and also the Brewers pitching system. They have the reputation of getting the most put of pitchers but it can’t happen this quickly right? So by extension,  since his results are already pretty good,, is Priester’s ceiling higher than we thought once he has a full offseason in the system?

Mark P

  • Priester isn’t far removed from being a first-rounder and a top-100 prospect, so it’s not like he’s some guy the Brewers found off the scrap heap.  The upside is certainly still there, and it should be noted that if Priester’s ceiling is “only” what it is now, that still makes for a serviceable starter over the long term

Dalton Rushing

  • What sort of return could the Dodgers get for me if they strictly wanna swap me for pitching?

Mark P

  • Teams will undoubtedly be calling about Rushing, and Will Smith’s long-term contract probably means LA will be open to hearing offers.  That would put the Dodgers in need of a veteran backup catcher type, but those are readily available.

    Offering Rushing would open the doors to a lot of potential arms on the market for the Dodgers, and he’s a sought-after enough commodity that I don’t think LA moves him for just a rental.

Logjam

  • Mark I loved your article today about Yoshida. The obvious question is how will they work it with Anthony/Duran/Abreu/Rafaela when none of them can DH against RHP since Yoshida will be doing that?

Mark P

  • The Sox can be judicious in giving people some off-days, since there’s no clearcut way to manage it.  Rafaela could conceivably be used at 2B but that’s not an idea use of an outstanding defensive center fielder

Fox Mulder

  • Pepsi or Coke, Mark?

Mark P

  • My power rankings go…
    • Pepsi and Coke tied
    • Diet Pepsi (which I’m drinking right this moment)
    • Coke Zero
    • (small gap)
    • Pepsi Zero
    • (Grand Canyon-sized gap)
    • Diet Coke

CardsRPathetic

  • what type of return can the Cardinals expect to receive in a trade of Thomas Saggese, who is blocked by other young midfielders

Mark P

  • He’s an intriguing enough trade chip that I doubt St. Louis would trade him for less than a big return, i.e. a player who is controlled beyond 2025.  My guess is that the Cards will shop Gorman first (notwithstanding now Gorman has been red hot over the last few weeks)

Michael Gillis

  • If the Braves want to compete, a huge change is needed in the core. Who goes?

Mark P

  • Albies had a huge 2023 season, but that was his only good year in the last four.  This season has been particularly rough, as Albies has barely been a replacement-level player.

    He is controlled for two $7MM club options beyond this season, so at that price, it’s easy to see the Braves retaining him to bet on a turn-around.  But, perhaps in a way because second base is a relatively easier position to address, I could see AA decide to trade Albies before the option deadline to get some other team deal with his struggles.

Angels Fan

  • If Ethan Holliday is not picked #1 by the Nationals do you see the Angels taking him or are they looking at a college bat that can be brought up to the majors by next season?

Mark P

  • That would seem to fit the Angels’ fast-tracking M.O. They could also opt for a college pitcher like Arnold or Anderson

Pop Fisher

  • The Natural or The Sandlot?

Mark P

  • Sandlot all day.  This might be an even hotter take than my Coke/Pepsi rankings, but I don’t think the Natural is a good movie.

Friars

  • Padres, meet your new left fielder, Seth Brown, am I right?

Mark P

  • He isn’t much of a defender, and his bat hasn’t done much in a few years.  I could see SD taking a flier on Brown since they’re so thin for left field options, but there would seem to be better candidates out there

Josh Bell

  • Tell it to me straight… am I getting traded or DFA’d before the deadline?

Mark P

  • I think he’ll be dealt, if even for a minimal return.  The legend of Josh Bell’s sudden turn-arounds will make some team interested in making Washington an offer

Reggie

  • Was there ever a good explanation why the Jays didn’t sign Yarborough at the end of spring training when it was clear that their rotation is on the older side and Scherzer can’t be counted upon…ie the Jays were always clearly going to need depth starters at some point.

Mark P

  • Shi Davidi explored this a couple of months ago, as apparently the Jays wanted Yarbrough to sign an advanced consent clause, thus giving the team the ability to keep up on the active roster for up to 45 days without guaranteeing his full salary.

    https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/as-blue-jays-search-for-fifth-sta…

  • I absolutely agree that this was a big mistake for the Jays, as Yarbrough was just what the rotation needed as a depth arm.  The error became evident almost immediately when Scherzer got hurt in his first start.

Krall’s Self Doubt

  • Does the Jeimer Candelario release show that the reds are willing to make a big move at the deadline or is it just a cap cut for open space

Mark P

  • The Reds don’t save any money for the early release, as they’ll be eating the rest of Jeimer’s contract.  (Minus the minimum salary that will be covered by whatever teams signs him next.)

SF

  • On the rotation, I know it was said that we have depth for days. But with the Devers trade, Harrison and Hicks were given up, along with the slow down of Birdsong and approaching career innings for Roupp, it seems to be a thin rotation. A starter at the deadline? Who though would Posey target? Hopefully not a rental, I wouldn’t think he would.

Mark P

  • Black or Winn could be called up to cover innings, but agreed that a more proven SP option would be helpful.  It doesn’t need to be an ace or a “will start a playoff game” type — just a veteran who can eat some innings and provide some stability for the kids.

Eriepopcorn

  • Is it safe to say after getting swept by the cards. The guards have gone from Maybe adding to 100% selling now

Mark P

  • Guardians are still only two back of the last wild card slot, so it’s too soon to wave the white flag yet

Buster Posey

  • Did I make to big of a move to fast considering where the roster is?

Mark P

  • Picking up Devers is a long-term move beyond just what the Giants hope to accomplish in 2025.  I think Posey makes that deal 10 times out of 10, even if the Giants had been struggling

Adell

  • Why is my turnaround not getting more attention?  And have the Adell trade Qs finally gone away?

Mark P

  • It feels like the Angels are collectively flying under fans’ radars, though to be fair, I can understand the “I’ll believe it when I see it” sentiment given LAA’s recent history.

    Adell could be World Series MVP en route to leading the Halos to a title, and I’d still get “is this the right time to sell high on Jo for pitching?” questions

Billington

  • Is Buxton finally the Buxton we all thought he was gonna be??!!

Mark P

  • I think everyone is holding their breath and hoping that Buxton can finally stay healthy, but All-Star level performance was always his ceiling if he could stay on the field.

Starryl Drawberry

  • Are there any expensive and underperforming pitchers out there that the Mets could cash in Starling Marte for? Marte doesn’t seem to have a place on the Mets, and they desperately need pitching right now.

Mark P

  • As amusing as a Starling-for-Severino might be, I’m not sure Marte carries a lot of trade value.

Jorge

  • The White Sox seem to have done well with two rule 5 pitchers, are they exploiting a new market inefficiency?

Mark P

  • The Rule 5 has been around for a century in one form or another, so it’s not exactly a “new” inefficiency.  But if you’re a rebuilding team that is willing to give a young player plenty of time, why not take a flier or two on any interesting available prospects?

Blue

  • With Sheehan seems to be ready in MLB, why did Dodgers send him back to minors? I am still confused.

Mark P

  • I’m knocking on the biggest piece of wood I can find, but right now, the Dodgers’ rotation is….

    /looks upwards for any falling pianos
    /looks both ways before crossing a busy street

    ….reasonably healthy right now?  Wrobleski has been pitching well and has earned the right to keep getting some starts.  Sheehan will definitely get more looks as the season goes on, and as the staff undoubtedly is altered again by returns and other injuries

Frankensteve

  • The Mariners haven’t traded elite prospects for rentals in the Dipoto era. With such a tight, if not mediocre, American League, could this be the year they make splashes and actually make a legitimate effort to get to the World Series (as difficult as that may be with the lack of available talent and number of hopeful teams looking for upgrades).

Mark P

  • Moving Harry Ford seems like the most feasible “splash” move of an elite prospect possible, given that the M’s have already made the big commitment to Cal Raleigh.  I suggested last week that the Mariners could do worse than simply calling Ford up to help out with their DH needs, but dealing him for a more prominent proven bat is also plausible

H.Kim Dodgers

  • Is hitting .400 not enough to be an everyday starter these days? The phones are gonna be ringing off the hook for me at the deadline. Hope I can get on a team where I’m an everyday player.

Mark P

  • I don’t think Kim is at all regretting joining such a stacked team, and his time will come.  Now that Edman is getting back into OF duty, that could get get Pages into LF in Conforto’s place, and open up 2B for Kim more often.

Mayor

  • Would you consider Alex Cobb a bust for the Tigers? If so to they trade at the deadline for another starter?

Mark P

  • It’s June 29 and he hasn’t thrown in the majors yet, so yeah, unfortunately Cobb’s deal is looking like a big whiff at the moment.  The fact that he’s still dealing with hip inflammation isn’t great.

    Detroit’s rotation is still awfully strong even without Cobb, and Olson will be back within the week.  The Tigers probably will explore other needs before focusing too much on the rotation

John

  • Hall of Fame question. Should Cooperstown change their policy and allow someone to be inducted both as a player and a manager? In basketball that is allowed ( Jerry West for example as a player and executive) . Joe Torre is in as a manager but he also had a 57.8 WAR as a player- more than Dave Parker for instance. Not saying Torre should be a HOF but he should be considered

Mark P

  • I’m not sure you necessarily need two inductions for the same person, even if an individual has excelled both on and off the field.

    I am in favor of something like a “cumulative” vote, for a candidate who might not be quite over the line as just a player or just as a manager/executive, but the sum total of their career makes them worthy.  This was the argument for Gil Hodges for a while before the Era Committee just put him in as a player

Aaron Judge

  • I can’t carry the team the whole year and now that I’m struggling we don’t look so good

Mark P

  • The Yankees did score 12 runs today, but I see your point.  Judge having (again) one of the literal best seasons in the history of baseball has elevated this lineup to an incredible extent, and he had to (relatively) cool off at some point

Al Kaline Battery

  • Riley Greene -does the world realize how good I am?

Mark P

  • Looks like Greene will be getting some spotlight time come October, the way the Tigers are playing.  He still needs to cut back on the strikeouts, but everything else is aces

Michael Harris Sr

  • When will the Braves send my son down to AAA to regain confidence and figure out the strike zone?

Mark P

  • Harris wasn’t in the lineup for Atlanta’s last two games, which is in part a function of the Phillies’ left-handed starters, but Snitker said it was intended as a mental break.  Monday is also an off-day for the Braves, so the team is hoping Harris can reset himself after this mini-rest period.

Etc.

  • Arizona won’t trade Eugenio Suarez unless they drop out of the race and he isn’t worth much more than salary relief, correct?

Mark P

  • Salary relief?  Suarez would arguably be the best hitter available at the deadline if the D’Backs decided to sell.  Even as a rental, Arizona would get a nice return for him.

Noah Schultz to Cubs

  • Matt Shaw, James Triantos, and a prospect for Noah Schultz and a pitcher?  Who says no?

Mark P

  • The Cubs, since if they’re moving all that young talent, it will only be for premium established help

Bregman

  • I think he will opt out from the 40m next year from Redsox. What contender might look at him for 3/100?? Tigers again??

Mark P

  • Bregman isn’t opting out for another short-term, high-AAV contract.  He’ll be looking to cash in big, much closer to the $200MM that was at least his initial asking price last winter

Guest

  • Bednar and Keller are we playing for Pittsburgh or Chicago in 2 weeks?

Mark P

  • Pittsburgh. just because I think the Bucs wait until closer to the deadline before making any significant sells.

Dodgers POBO

  • We want Framber and won’t take NO for answer!  Could Rushing do it straight up? If he helps us win another WS it would be worth it.

Mark P

  • But to my earlier point, why would the Astros do this?  They’d be moving a SP who would be their #1 or #2 starter in a playoff series, thus putting Houston on the lookout for finding more pitching.

    While Valdez could leave for nothing in free agency after the year, “if he helps [Houston] win another WS, it would be worth it.”

Etc.

  • Teams can sort of trade draft picks, right? Like SF just did for Devers. They just have to pick the guy and then wait how long? before he’s tradeable.

Mark P

  • I believe teams cannot trade a player until at least six months after the draft.
  • Time to wrap things up for the evening.  Thanks for all the questions in another spirited chat, and we’ll be back with more next weekend!
  • If you’re interested in more baseball Q&A, one of the many benefits of our Trade Rumors Front Office subscription is the exclusive weekly live chats. The more limited field means you’re about 10 times more likely to get a question answered, as opposed to battling for space with hundreds of other questions in today’s chat. For more on our memberships, check out this link:

    https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/membership?ref=chat-6-29-25

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