Yankees To Designate Cade Winquest For Assignment
The Yankees are designating Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest for assignment, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The righty didn’t get into a game during his two weeks in New York’s bullpen.
That’ll evidently be the corresponding move for tomorrow’s recall of Luis Gil. Manager Aaron Boone said over the weekend that the Yankees would bring Gil up this week. He’s listed as the probable starter opposite Steven Matz for Friday’s series opener against the Rays. The 13-pitcher limit meant an arm from the MLB roster had to be squeezed out.
The Yankees had the luxury of running a four-man rotation for the first couple weeks based on their number of available off days. Gil joins Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers in the rotation. They needed to drop from nine to eight in the bullpen. Brent Headrick has pitched too well to be sent down. Jake Bird has been sharp as well aside from one ugly outing against Miami on Sunday. Fernando Cruz and Camilo Doval are their only other relievers with minor league options.
Rather than option a more trusted reliever in Bird, the Yankees move on from Winquest. The 25-year-old didn’t have a great spring, allowing nine runs (eight earned) with eight strikeouts and four walks across 10 innings. It was a surprise that he broke camp at all.
The Yankees clearly liked some of what they saw but didn’t find a scenario where Boone felt comfortable bringing him into a regular season game. Teams generally use Rule 5 picks as low-leverage relievers, especially early in the season before they’ve gained a manager’s trust. All four of New York’s losses have been by one run, games in which they could certainly have come back. They’ve had three blowout wins, but two came behind long outings from Fried and one followed an off day so the rest of the bullpen was fresh.
They’ll have five days to trade Winquest or place him on waivers. If he goes unclaimed, he’ll be offered back to the Cardinals. The former eighth-round pick had previously spent his entire career in the St. Louis organization. He has worked as a minor league starting pitcher and combined for a 3.99 ERA across 106 innings between High-A and Double-A last year. Unless another team is willing to keep him on the MLB roster, he’ll head back to his original club without requiring a spot on the 40-man roster for St. Louis.
Angels Re-Sign Joey Lucchesi To Minor League Deal
The Angels announced they’ve re-signed lefty reliever Joey Lucchesi to a minor league contract. He’ll be assigned to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Lucchesi was designated for assignment over the weekend when the Halos needed a roster spot to promote George Klassen as a spot starter. He cleared waivers and elected free agency. After a brief return to the open market, he’ll circle back to the Halos. That’s a common outcome for veterans who have the service time to refuse an outright assignment.
The 32-year-old southpaw had a very brief stint with the MLB club. He signed a major league contract at the end of Spring Training and made three appearances. Lucchesi allowed five of six hitters to reach in his season debut. He followed up with a pair of scoreless outings but walked at least one batter in all of his appearances. He wound up issuing five free passes (four walks and a hit batter) across 2 1/3 innings.
Lucchesi spent last season with the Giants. He opened the year in Triple-A but was called up in the middle of June. He remained on the active roster for the final three and a half months, turning in a 3.76 ERA over 38 1/3 innings. Lucchesi got grounders at a 53% clip but had a modest 18.8% strikeout rate that led the Giants to drop him from the 40-man roster at season’s end. He returned on a minor league contract for Spring Training and was granted his release when the Giants picked up Ryan Borucki late in camp.
Drew Pomeranz and Brent Suter are locked into Kurt Suzuki’s bullpen as veteran southpaws. The Halos recently recalled a third lefty, Mitch Farris, as a long reliever. Farris will probably be up and down from Triple-A throughout the season. Tayler Saucedo and Angel Perdomo are also in the organization on minor league deals.
Josh Fleming, Austin Voth Elect Free Agency
Left-hander Josh Fleming and right-hander Austin Voth have both cleared waivers and elected free agency. Both were designated for assignment by the Blue Jays this week. Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet was among those to relay the news.
As of a few days ago, both pitchers were with the Jays on minor league deals. The club’s pitching staff suffered a few notable blows, forcing them to cycle through some depth. Cody Ponce suffered a knee injury that eventually required surgery. Lazaro Estrada was recalled when Ponce landed on the injured list. Estrada made one appearance in a bullpen game on Saturday, logging four innings, then got optioned back to the minors.
Voth was one of the pitchers who came up when Estrada went down. Eric Lauer, battling through the flu, started on Sunday but only went two innings. Voth tossed 2 2/3 innings in relief. He was designated for assignment the next day when Fleming was selected. On Monday, Max Scherzer started but he was pulled after two innings due to some right forearm tendinitis, which led to Fleming coming in to pitch three frames. Fleming was designated for assignment when the Jays recalled Patrick Corbin, who will start tomorrow’s game.
A player has the right to reject an outright assignment and elect free agency if he has a previous career outright or at least three years of service time. Each of Voth and Fleming qualify on both accounts. The two of them now head into free agency to see what offers await them.
Both pitchers generally have passable career numbers in swing roles. Voth has thrown 363 big league innings over 208 games, including 39 starts. He has a 4.69 earned run average, 22% strikeout rate, 8.3% walk rate and 34.4% ground ball rate. Fleming has thrown 257 2/3 innings in 81 games, including 25 starts. He has a 4.86 ERA, 14.4% strikeout rate, 7.6% walk rate and 58.5% ground ball rate.
It’s possible that one or both pitchers will re-sign with the Jays, as that’s a common outcome in these situations, but they can explore alternatives. The Jays do have Trey Yesavage, José Berríos and Shane Bieber working back from injuries but their depth is a bit perilous in the short term and Scherzer’s status is still up in the air, meaning the pitchers would have decent paths back to the majors. Estrada is now on the minor league IL, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com, so that’s one fewer competitor with the Jays. Though on the other hand, they’re certainly not the only club dealing with pitching injuries.
Photo courtesy of Nick Turchiaro, Imagn Images
Dodgers Release Nick Nastrini
The Dodgers have released Nick Nastrini, according to his transaction log on MLB.com. The right-hander made one appearance for the Tulsa Drillers, L.A.’s Double-A affiliate, earlier this season. He failed to record an out and walked all three batters he faced.
Nastrini, 26, began his professional career in the Dodgers organization. They took him in the fourth round of the 2021 draft, and he worked his way up to Double-A Tulsa. He was traded to the White Sox ahead of the deadline in 2023, along with Trayce Thompson and Jordan Leasure, in the deal that sent Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly back to L.A.
The following season, Nastrini made his MLB debut for the White Sox, pitching in nine games (eight starts). Unfortunately, the righty went 0-7 with a 7.07 ERA. He finished with more walks (36), hits (32), and earned runs (28) than strikeouts (26).
Nastrini has not appeared in the majors since September 2024. He started the 2025 season down at Triple-A Charlotte. The Marlins and then the Dodgers claimed him off waivers in quick succession last July, and he finished the 2025 Triple-A season with an 8.56 ERA in 47.1 innings for three organizations. Once again, he walked more batters (50) than he struck out (49). Now a free agent, he is eligible to sign with a new organization that can hopefully help him improve his command and get back to the big leagues.
Astros To Select J.P. France, Taylor Trammell
11:13 am: Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports that the Astros are also planning to select outfielder Taylor Trammell. This almost certainly indicates that fellow outfielder Jake Meyers is headed to the injured list. Meyers exited on Wednesday with lower back tightness. Like France, Trammell will require a spot on the 40-man roster, and currently, Houston only has one opening. That means the Astros will have to free up one more space to add both France and Trammell before tomorrow’s game. Ronel Blanco, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery last June, is a likely candidate to move from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL.
Trammell, 28, is a five-year MLB veteran. After bouncing from the Mariners to the Dodgers to the Yankees in 2024, he was traded to the Astros ahead of the 2025 campaign. A pair of IL stints limited him to 52 games for Houston, though that was still a career-high for the lefty batter. He slashed .197/.296/.333 with an 80 wRC+, mostly splitting his time between left and center field. He was DFA’d and sent outright to Triple-A after the season. However, a hot spring (.904 OPS, 136 wRC+) and an even hotter start for Sugar Land (1.003 OPS, 177 wRC+) have earned him another chance in the majors. He’s likely to serve as at least the strong half of a platoon in center field while Meyers is on the shelf.
10:00 am: The Astros will select J.P. France’s contract from Triple-A Sugar Land before tomorrow’s game against the Mariners, reports Chandler Rome of The Athletic. He will be able to take the 40-man roster spot left vacant after Roddery Muñoz was designated for assignment on Monday.
As for the 26-man roster, there’s a good chance France is replacing Cristian Javier, who exited his start on Wednesday with shoulder tightness. It’s also possible the Astros won’t be ready to make a decision about Javier by tomorrow, but that they still want a fresh arm for the bullpen, given the workload their relievers shouldered in yesterday’s 9-1 loss. In that case, they might consider optioning AJ Blubaugh, who has given up nine runs on nine hits in his last two outings. Meanwhile, Spencer Arrighetti is the most likely candidate for a call-up if Houston needs a longer-term replacement for Javier in the rotation. Jason Alexander is also available at Triple-A.
France, 31, made 23 starts for the Astros in 2023, his rookie campaign. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury ruined his next two seasons. He made just seven appearances for Houston between 2024 and ’25 and struggled in a handful of minor league outings as well. The team designated him for assignment this past offseason and sent him outright to Triple-A. However, if the early results from 2026 are any indication, France seems to be throwing with a healthy shoulder again. He struck out 13 batters in 11.2 innings this spring and another eight in his first 5.1 frames for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. The righty has yet to allow a run at Triple-A, with just one walk and two hits allowed to the 19 batters he’s faced.
If France can get back to pitching the way he did in 2023 – whether he’s starting or working in long relief – the Astros will surely be grateful. Through 13 games, Houston’s pitchers have the highest ERA in the AL (6.05). Walks and home runs have both been serious problems. What’s more, two of the team’s most important arms are on the injured list: Hunter Brown (shoulder strain) and Josh Hader (biceps tendinitis). Losing Javier for any period of time would only further weaken a beleaguered staff. While the team still has depth arms to call on for the rotation and the bullpen, those options are starting to wear thin.
Pirates Outright Enmanuel Valdez
The Pirates sent utility infielder Enmanuel Valdez outright to Triple-A Indianapolis, per the MLB.com transaction log. He evidently cleared waivers after being designated for assignment when the Bucs called up Konnor Griffin last week.
Pittsburgh acquired Valdez from Boston over the 2024-25 offseason in a DFA trade that sent minor league pitcher Joe Vogatsky to the Sox. He spent a month as Pittsburgh’s primary first baseman while Spencer Horwitz was working back from wrist surgery. Valdez hit .209/.294/.363 across 31 games before sustaining a season-ending dislocation of his left shoulder, which required surgery.
Valdez is healthy but no longer had much of a path to playing time on the Pittsburgh infield. Horwitz has established himself as the primary first baseman. They acquired Brandon Lowe to play second and have Griffin up at shortstop. Third base is still a question mark, especially with Jared Triolo shelved by a knee injury, but Valdez had dropped below Nick Yorke and Nick Gonzales on the infield depth chart.
The 27-year-old Valdez owns a .230/.288/.392 batting line in a little less than 500 MLB plate appearances. He didn’t hit during Spring Training and is out to an 0-10 start with five punchouts through four Triple-A games. He doesn’t have the service time or previous career outright to elect free agency. Valdez will remain at Indianapolis, where he’d begun the season on optional assignment, and try to shake off the rust offensively. He’d qualify for minor league free agency at the end of the season if the Bucs don’t add him back to the 40-man roster.
Diamondbacks Re-Sign Joe Ross To Minor League Deal
The Diamondbacks re-signed righty Joe Ross to a minor league contract. He has been assigned to Triple-A Reno, where he’s back in action.
Ross had a brief stay on the open market after electing free agency earlier in the week. Arizona had designated him for assignment. It’s common for veterans in his position to decline an outright assignment but re-sign on a new minor league deal. Those can come with a higher minor league salary or opt-out/upward mobility opportunities that might not have been present had they accepted the outright.
The 32-year-old Ross broke camp in a long relief role after signing a minor league contract in February. He worked a perfect inning in his season debut but was knocked around over the next two appearances. Ross gave up six runs without getting through an inning against the Tigers on March 30. He surrendered three walks and a Mauricio Dubón homer in a blowout loss to Atlanta two days later.
Ross has plenty of starting experience but has worked as a multi-inning reliever for the past year-plus. He posted a 5.12 ERA across 51 innings out of the Philadelphia bullpen last season. Ross worked in relief of pitching prospect Mitch Bratt tonight in his first appearance with Reno. He gave up six hits and four runs, including a two-run homer to Trey Mancini, across 2 1/3 frames.
Phillies Acquire Steward Berroa, Designate Yoniel Curet For Assignment
The Phillies announced that they have acquired outfielder Steward Berroa from the Brewers in exchange for cash considerations and optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Milwaukee has designated Berroa for assignment last week. In order to open a 40-man spot for Berroa, the Phillies have designated right-hander Yoniel Curet for assignment.
Berroa, 27 in June, has a fairly limited track record in the big leagues. He appeared in 28 games for the Blue Jays in 2024 and then two for the Brewers last year. He has a rough .167/.314/.190 line in 51 plate appearances.
But he has a decent floor as a speed-and-defense guy. In the minors, he’s generally good for 40-plus steals per season. He was limited to 34 bags in both 2024 and 2025 but played in only 79 games in the former and 86 games in the latter. Put those two together and it’s basically a 60-steal pace for a full season. In only 120 big league innings in the outfield, he’s been credited with five Defensive Runs Saved and three Outs Above Average. It’s also possible there’s a bit more in the bat than what he has shown in the big leagues, as he has a .255/.353/.373 line in 673 plate appearances at the Triple-A level.
Outfield depth is an area of concern for the Phillies. They are trying out rookie Justin Crawford in center field. He has a strong .324/.361/.382 line so far but in just 36 plate appearances and with a .407 batting average on balls in play. He has always had high BABIPs in the minors thanks to his speed but staying at that level is impossible. For instance, Aaron Judge led the majors with a .376 BABIP in 2025.
If a time comes where Crawford needs to be sent back down to the minors, or an injury pops up, then Johan Rojas would have been a fallback plan. However, he received an 80-game PED suspension prior to the season. The Phils have started the year with utility guys Dylan Moore and Otto Kemp as their backup outfielders behind Crawford, Adolis García and Brandon Marsh.
Berroa still has one option season remaining, so he can be kept in Triple-A. If the Phils need to dip into their outfield depth at some point, he’ll be a candidate to get the call. They also have Pedro León and Gabriel Rincones Jr. on the roster.
Curet, 23, was a Rays prospect for a long time. Tampa designated him for assignment in December and the Phils then acquired him, sending Tommy McCollum the other way. He hasn’t yet appeared in a minor league game this year. The Phils optioned him to Double-A Reading to start the year but his transactions tracker at MLB.com says he was reassigned to Single-A Clearwater a week ago.
He’ll now head into DFA limbo, which can last as long as a week. The waiver process takes 48 hours, so the Phils could take as long as five days to explore trade interest. Curet does still have an option season and can be kept in the minors. In his minor league work, he has shown big strikeout potential but with control problems. Overall, he has thrown 371 1/3 innings on the farm with a 3.10 earned run average. He has punched out 30.7% of batters faced but given out free passes at a 13.8% pace.
Photo courtesy of Katie Stratman, Imagn Images
Mariners Select Connor Joe, Place Victor Robles On IL
Veteran outfielder Connor Joe is joining the Mariners, the team announced. He’ll replace Victor Robles, who’s heading to the injured list with a pectoral strain. Right-hander Carlos Vargas was shifted to the 60-day IL to clear a 40-man spot for Joe. Vargas went down with a lat strain in late March.
Joe joined the organization on a minor league deal in February. He was tremendous in MLB Spring Training, slashing .340/.411/.560 over 20 games, but fell short of a big-league roster spot. Joe spent a couple of weeks with the Padres in 2025. He went hitless in 10 plate appearances. The veteran was traded to the Reds in May. He hit .213 in 35 games with Cincinnati.
The 33-year-old Joe will provide some defensive flexibility off the bench for the Mariners. He spent time at all three outfield spots and first base with the Reds. Joe graded out as a neutral defender by Defensive Runs Saved last year. He’s likely overextended as a center fielder, but should be able to contribute on the corners.
After a couple of seasons in Colorado, Joe showed he wasn’t just a product of Coors Field, posting a 106 wRC+ with the Pirates in 2023. He earned regular playing time with the club the following year, but his production slipped below league-average levels. Seattle already has a right-handed bench outfielder in Rob Refsnyder. Joe could factor in at first base against lefties when Josh Naylor needs a day off.
Robles had been limited to part-time work with Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone both off to decent starts. He was injured during a pregame workout on Tuesday, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. A dislocated shoulder limited Robles to just 32 games in 2025.
Photo courtesy of Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images
Reds Designate Christian Encarnacion-Strand For Assignment
Reds first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand has been designated for assignment, the team announced. Catcher P.J. Higgins is taking his spot on the 40-man roster. Higgins was recalled after catcher Jose Trevino went to the IL due to a thoracic spine strain.
Encarnacion-Strand was the heir apparent at first base as Joey Votto‘s legendary career wound down. He delivered a 113 wRC+ across 63 games as a rookie in 2023. With Votto moving on at the end of that season, Encarnacion-Strand opened 2024 as Cincinnati’s everyday first baseman. He hit just .190 over the first six weeks of the year. A broken wrist ended his campaign in early May.
It was more of the same for Encarnacion-Strand last year. He had the first base job to begin the season, but posted a .482 OPS through three weeks, then hit the IL with back inflammation. Encarnacion-Strand spent most of June with the big-league club, slashing .230/.262/.410 over 17 games. He was sent back to Triple-A in early July.
The Reds landed Encarnacion-Strand in an August 2022 trade that sent right-hander Tyler Mahle to Minnesota. Cincinnati also acquired infielder Spencer Steer and left-hander Steve Hajjar in the deal. The swap seemed like a good piece of business for Cincinnati after 2023, with Mahle limited to nine starts in his Twins tenure and the infielders looking like key cogs for the Reds. Outside of Steer’s league-average contributions the past couple of seasons, it’s largely ended up as a wash for both sides.
Higgins hasn’t appeared in the big leagues since 2022 with the Cubs. He was decent in part-time work with Chicago, delivering a 99 wRC+ with six home runs across 74 games. After bouncing to the Diamondbacks and then back to the Cubs, Higgins landed with the Reds on a minor league deal ahead of the 2024 season. He’s provided subpar offensive numbers over the past two years at Triple-A. The 32-year-old will serve as the backup to Tyler Stephenson while Trevino is sidelined.
Photo courtesy of Paul Rutherford, Imagn Images