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The Opener: Raleigh, Winn, Phillies, Mets

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

1. Raleigh goes for 50:

Yesterday, star catcher and AL MVP candidate Cal Raleigh enjoyed a multi-homer game where he crushed his 48th and 49th homers of the season. That pair of dingers saw him tie and then claim sole possession of the record for most home runs hit by a catcher in a single season, eclipsing the efforts of Salvador Perez back in 2021. With that record now claimed, the wait begins for Raleigh to establish himself as the first 50-homer catcher in MLB history. Seattle’s superstar is slashing .247/.353/.593 with a wRC+ of 160 so far this year, and his 7.3 fWAR leaves him tied with reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge for the MLB lead. Raleigh will look to reach the 50 homer plateau—and continue strengthening his MVP case—against the Padres and left-hander JP Sears this evening. The switch-hitting Raleigh has excelled from both sides of the plate in 2025 but has been better when swinging right-handed, with a .281/.337/.693 slash and 19 big flies in just 166 plate appearances.

2. Winn to undergo MRI:

Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his knee today, as relayed by MLB.com’s John Denton. Denton adds that Winn already underwent an MRI on that same knee back in July that showed “a little something,” but that Winn nonetheless hopes to play through what’s ailing him this season and save the possibility of an arthroscopic procedure on his knee for the offseason. The Cardinals are more or less buried in the NL Wild Card race at this point, and Winn has hit just .200/.259/.320 in August while playing through this knee issue. Despite that lackluster offense, Winn has remained one of the sport’s very best defenders at shortstop and could well be a finalist for an NL Gold Glove Award at the position if he can push through to the end of the season without heading to the injured list.

3. Series Preview: Phillies @ Mets

The Mets have fallen seven games back of the Phillies in the standings with just over a month left to play, which will make capturing the NL East title a tall order. Virtually any path to a division title runs through this coming series, when the Phillies will head to Queens for a three-game set. Cristopher Sanchez (2.46 ERA) will be on the mound for Philadelphia in tonight’s series opener, while the Mets will counter with Kodai Senga (2.58 ERA). That pitchers’ duel will be followed by a pair of lefties Tuesday, with Sean Manaea (5.15 ERA in eight appearances) on the bump for New York opposite Jesus Luzardo (4.10 ERA). The series will wrap with veteran righty Taijuan Walker (3.44 ERA) on the mound for Philadelphia against Mets rookie Nolan McLean, who has allowed just two runs over 12 1/3 innings pitched in his first two MLB starts (1.46 ERA).

BBWAA To Institute Relief Pitcher Of The Year Award In 2026

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The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced the creation of a new award, as starting in 2026, the writers will now be voting on a Relief Pitcher Of The Year in both the American and National League.  The RPOY will join the MVP Awards, the Cy Young Awards, the Rookie of the Year Awards, and the Manager of the Year Awards as the most prominent year-end honors voted on by the BBWAA.

This isn’t the first time relievers have gotten their own trophy.  The old “Rolaids Relief Man Award” existed from 1976-2012, with winners determined by a points system rather than a voting system.  Since 2014, Major League Baseball has a Reliever Of The Year trophy that has been decided by a panel of former relief pitchers, with the AL version of the award named after Mariano Rivera and the NL version named for Trevor Hoffman.  The Rivera and Hoffman Awards are expected to continue, as per The Athletic’s Steve Berman, though it seems possible the league could retire their awards if the BBWAA’s trophy becomes the most public standard for relief pitching achievement.

Jayson Stark was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Relief Pitcher of the Year Award, and Stark outlined the BBWAA’s thought process in a piece for The Athletic.  Simply put, “relief pitching now dominates this sport — how it’s played, how it’s managed, who sprays champagne every fall — in a way it never has before,” Stark writes, and thus relievers deserve their own dedicated award to reflect their specific role.

While relievers are naturally eligible for other awards, a relief pitcher hasn’t won a Cy Young Award since Eric Gagne in 2003.  Stark notes that it is increasingly rare to see relievers receive any first-place votes in Cy Young or MVP races, and even the Rivera/Hoffman Awards usually focus on closers (as one ex-player on the voting committee admitted to Stark).  The creation of a prominent award for relievers also adds some historical weight to their careers, which helps in future Hall of Fame voting and for a fuller appreciation of just how good a particular relief pitcher was in any given year or any given era.

It’s probably safe to assume closers will still win Relief Pitcher Of The Year Award the majority of the time, yet the broader scope allows the BBWAA voters to consider all types of relievers, who are arguably even more overlooked in terms of recognition.  Pitchers like Abner Uribe, Garrett Whitlock, Randy Rodriguez, Bryan Abreu, or (from the Padres alone) Jeremiah Estrada, Jason Adam, or Adrian Morejon are examples from 2025 of pitchers who have been dominant out of the pen in set-up or fireman roles.

From a transactional standpoint, a high finish in a RPOY vote may not necessarily mean much for a relief pitcher in free agency, as teams will still prioritize statistics and projections even if a RPOY Award gives a player a bit more acclaim.  The creation of this award could mean a few extra dollars for relievers in terms of contractual bonuses, in the same way that hitters and starting pitchers often receive incentive bonuses attached to any top-3, top-5, etc. finishes in MVP or Cy Young Award balloting.

Yankees Notes: Judge, Volpe, Cruz

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Aaron Judge has been hampered by a flexor strain in recent weeks. He first spent a minimum stint on the injured list to rest his ailing elbow, and since returning he’s been limited to exclusively DH work. Earlier this week, some questions were raised about just what shape Judge will be able to get his throwing arm back into before the end of the year. Fortunately, any concerns over Judge’s ability to throw seem to be on hold for the time being as Judge started throwing to the bases from the outfield during pregame workouts today.

The reigning AL MVP told reporters (including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch) today that was about “checking a box” in his rehab and that he’s sticking purely to what the team’s trainers tell him to do as he works his way back into condition to resume regular duties in the outfield. Manager Aaron Boone, meanwhile, told reporters (including The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty) that while Judge “looked good” throwing to second base today, there’s still no timetable for his return to the grass in a game setting. Boone emphasized that the club feels it’s important to take Judge’s recovery process slowly in order to avoid re-injury.

That, of course, makes sense given how important Judge’s 196 wRC+ bat is to the lineup. Judge’s .218/.386/.418 (126 wRC+) slash line since returning from the IL on August 5 isn’t quite as robust as his usual otherworldly numbers, but it’s still well above average production that virtually any other hitter in the sport would be happy with. In the meantime, Giancarlo Stanton has begun playing in right field as a temporary solution to get his bat in the lineup while Judge occupies the DH slot.

Stanton’s return to the outfield isn’t the only shakeup of the Yankees lineup from the past few days. Shortstop Anthony Volpe has had a rough year on both sides of the ball, and today Boone made the decision to leave him out of the club’s starting lineup with deadline addition Jose Caballero starting at shortstop in his stead. Boone was non-committal before the game (as noted by Greg Joyce of the New York Post) about when Volpe would return to the starting lineup, but he was used as a defensive replacement in tonight’s game against the Red Sox. After a four-hit performance on August 1, Volpe has hit a paltry .121/.171/.242 in his last 19 games and was charged with an error in last night’s contest. That was enough for the Yankees to decide mix things up for at least a little while, but Volpe suggested after the game to reporters (including Kuty) that he’ll be back in the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Nationals after sitting out tomorrow as well.

For now, it seems like this time out of the lineup is just an opportunity for Volpe to reset amid a tough stretch both at the plate and in the field. With that said, it’s at least possible that the Yankees could be looking to get Caballero a bit more playing time. Since coming over from the Rays at this year’s trade deadline, Caballero has slashed .320/.433/.600 in 31 plate appearances across 14 games with the organization. While Caballero is generally regarded as a below-average hitter overall, that recent hot streak in conjunction with his fairly well-regarded glove and impressive speed on the basepaths could be enough to earn the soon to be 29-year-old infielder some more playing time down the stretch, particularly if Volpe’s struggles continue.

On the pitching side of things, Hoch reports that the Yankees are poised to get some reinforcements tomorrow when right-hander Fernando Cruz is activated from the injured list. Cruz has been sidelined due to an oblique strain for nearly two months, but the 35-year-old had looked nothing short of excellent over the season’s first half with a 3.00 ERA, 2.48 FIP, and an eye-popping 41.2% strikeout rate in 33 innings of work prior to the injury. If Cruz looks anything like that upon his return, he should be a massive asset to a Yankees bullpen that has struggled somewhat despite the aggressive addition of reinforcements at this summer’s trade deadline. David Bednar, Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, and Camilo Doval have all taken turns in save situations but each has looked shaky of late, leaving plenty of opportunity for Cruz to fashion a key role for himself upon his return.

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.

Astros Promote John Rooney

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The Astros optioned right-hander AJ Blubaugh to Triple-A prior to today’s game against the Orioles, and called up left-hander John Rooney to provide the bullpen with a fresh arm.  Rooney was already on Houston’s 40-man roster, so the Blubaugh demotion was the only corresponding move necessary.

Rooney is on the mound at the time of this post, and thus the 28-year-old is now officially a Major League player.  A third-round pick for the Dodgers back in the 2018 draft, Rooney spent his whole pro career in the Los Angeles farm system until 2025, when he joined the Marlins as a minor league free agent.

Miami then dealt Rooney to Houston earlier this month, and he has a 2.56 ERA and a 34.2% strikeout rate over 38 2/3 combined innings with the Marlins’ and Astros’ Triple-A affiliates.  Those impressive numbers came with the downside of a 14.9% walk rate.  Rooney has been prone to issuing free passes for most of his career, and a move to full-time bullpen work in 2023 only briefly solved his control issues.

It remains to be seen if Rooney will get anything more than a cup of coffee in the Show, as the Astros have Steven Okert and Bryan King as the primary left-handers in their bullpen.  However, the relief corps lost a pair of very prominent southpaws (Josh Hader and Bennett Sousa) to the injured list, and starter Colton Gordon is the only other Triple-A lefty on the 40-man roster.  This could open the door for Rooney to get more of an extended look on the active roster if he can produce against MLB hitters.

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