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Orioles To Activate Kyle Bradish

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The Orioles will reinstate right-hander Kyle Bradish from the 60-day injured list to start tomorrow’s game, per a club announcement. It’ll be the 28-year-old righty’s first time taking a big league mound since undergoing Tommy John surgery last June. Baltimore has a full 40-man roster but could open up a space by transferring righty Brandon Young to the 60-day injured list, if it’s been determined that his current hamstring strain won’t allow him to make it back to the mound this year. The O’s have also claimed several players off waivers since the trade deadline and could DFA anyone from that group again if there’s still hope that Young can return for a brief look in September.

Selected by the Angels in the fourth round of the 2018 draft, Bradish came to the O’s by way of the Dylan Bundy trade — one of the first deals made by general manager Mike Elias upon taking control of the team’s baseball operations. He debuted with 23 starts of 4.90 ERA for the 2022 Orioles but was a surprise breakout star in 2023. That season, Bradish made 30 starts and logged a terrific 2.83 ERA with a 25% strikeout rate, 6.6% walk rate, 49.2% ground-ball rate and 0.75 HR/9 — all considerably better than the league average rates.

Bradish has thrown only 39 1/3 big league innings since that time, however. He opened the 2024 season on the injured list due to a UCL sprain and was recommended for a rest-and-rehab approach rather than immediate surgery. For awhile, it looked as though he’d made the right call. Bradish was activated for his 2024 debut on May 2 and remained in the rotation until mid-June. He started eight games and posted a 2.75 ERA with quality rate stats before returning to the injured list due to renewed elbow discomfort. This time around, Bradish underwent surgery just five days after making his final start of the ’24 season.

When he’s activated, Bradish will have missed more than 14 months due to his Tommy John/internal brace procedure. He’s tossed 22 innings of minor league rehab work so far and seen mixed results along the way. He tossed five shutout innings with nine punchouts in his Aug. 14 outing against the Marlins’ top affiliate but was roughed up for three runs in 4 2/3 innings versus the White Sox’ top club last time out. Overall, Bradish has a 4.91 ERA in his rehab stint.

The Orioles have played better since early in the summer, but the colossal hole in which they dug themselves with an awful April/May performance ultimately proved insurmountable. They’re still 10 games under .500 (60-70) and sit last place in the American League East.

While they may not have much to play for in terms of postseason aspirations, there’s still plenty of benefit to getting Bradish back on the big league mound and seeing how he looks. Doing so will give the organization a better sense of how much he can be expected to contribute next year, and it’ll give Bradish the opportunity to end a largely lost season on a high note while building confidence for 2026. Plus, the more innings he throws this year, the less stark the uptick in workload will be next season.

Bradish is being paid $2.35MM this season in his first year of arbitration eligibility as a Super Two player. He’ll be due a small raise for the 2026 campaign and is under club control for three additional years, through 2028. A healthy Bradish would go a long way toward stabilizing the 2026 rotation, where Dean Kremer and the resurgent Trevor Rogers are the only real locks. Bradish joins Young, former top prospect Cade Povich and fellow UCL rehabber Tyler Wells as candidates for next year’s staff, but the O’s will once again enter the offseason in need of bolstering the starting rotation.

White Sox Release Josh Rojas

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The White Sox released veteran infielder Josh Rojas following last week’s DFA, per the team’s transaction log at MLB.com. If and when Rojas clears release waivers, he’ll become a free agent who can sign with any team. A new club would owe him only the prorated league minimum for any time on its big league roster. The ChiSox will remain on the hook for the rest of the 31-year-old’s $3.5MM salary.

Signed to a one-year deal this past offseason, Rojas has had some past success in Arizona and Seattle but was hoping for a rebound at the plate after a pair of down seasons. He’s a steady defender at both second base and third base who hit .266/.345/.401 with the Diamondbacks in 2021-22 but was more of a glove-first, multi-position infielder with the M’s in 2023-24.

Rojas’ hopeful return to form with the South Siders never materialized. He missed two months with a fractured big toe and hasn’t shown his typical range or mobility in the field upon returning. He’s also struggled at the plate. Rojas took 211 turns at the plate with the Sox and slashed just .180/.252/.259. His average sprint speed, as measured by Statcast, fell from an already slightly below-average 27 ft/sec in 2024 to 26.2 ft/sec in 2025, landing him in the 21st percentile of big league position players.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see any player see reduced speed, mobility and/or offensive production in the wake of a notable fracture in his foot. Unfortunately for Rojas, he’s suffered all three, and it’s now been three seasons since he last turned in a better-than-average offensive performance.

Recent struggles notwithstanding, Rojas is an experienced infielder who can handle multiple positions and, as recently as last year, was worth about two wins above replacement per both FanGraphs (1.9) and Baseball-Reference (2.2). A contending club isn’t going to look at him as a late-season savior, but playoff hopefuls in need of some infield depth could certainly take a minor league flier once he’s officially a free agent.

Rojas is technically controllable through the 2026 season via arbitration, but it’d take a pretty glaring turnaround — in short order — for a team to sign him, add him to the big league roster and then tender him a contract for the ’26 campaign. It’s far likelier, however, that Rojas will be a free agent this offseason and find a minor league deal with an eye toward better health and production next year.

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.

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.

Angels Place Victor Mederos, Carson Fulmer On 15-Day IL

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The Angels announced that right-handers Victor Mederos and Carson Fulmer have been placed on the 15-day injured list.  Fulmer is dealing with inflammation in his throwing elbow, while Mederos has right shoulder inflammation.  Righty Chase Silseth was called up from Triple-A to take one roster spot, and right-hander Jose Soriano was activated from the team’s restricted list in the other corresponding move.  (Soriano was already on the paternity list and was moved to the restricted list for an additional day off.)

Both Mederos and Fulmer were roughed up during yesterday’s 12-1 loss to the Cubs, as each pitcher was charged with six earned runs.  Mederos started the game and allowed four hits and two walks in his four-inning outing, plus his fastball lost four miles of velocity from his first inning to his last.

Beyond the damage on the scoresheet, Mederos said he felt some shoulder fatigue after the game, and the result is today’s IL placement.  Mederos told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register that he’ll be underdoing an MRI to determine the extent of the problem.

Now in his third MLB season, Mederos has yet to find much consistency, as he has an 8.53 ERA in 25 1/3 innings and 12 appearances (all with the Angels).  His last three outings have been his first three big league starts, as the Halos gave him a look as a starter after posting some solid numbers with Triple-A Salt Lake.  Somewhat curiously, Mederos has struggled in the majors and at the lower minor league levels but he has a 3.43 ERA in 97 career innings in Salt Lake, even pitching within the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

The MRI results will determine Mederos’ immediate fate, yet even if the scans come back clean, the timing of the IL placement could mean that Mederos’ 2025 season is over.  Any lingering shoulder soreness might lead the Angels to simply shut Mederos down, and the same is true of Fulmer and his elbow issue.

Fulmer had a 3.06 ERA in his first 17 2/3 innings for Los Angeles this season, but things have gone south in the form of a 10.03 ERA over Fulmer’s last 11 2/3 frames.  That tough stretch includes a nightmarish performance yesterday, as Fulmer gave up six runs on seven hits and a walk in just 1 1/3 IP against the Cubs.  Fulmer said his elbow started bothering him during the appearance, and he’ll undergo testing today.

Beginning the season on a minor league deal with the Pirates, Fulmer was cut loose in June and rejoined the Angels on a minors contract, with a selection to the active roster coming in July.  All of Fulmer’s MLB time in the last three seasons has come in a Halos uniform, with a 4.43 ERA to show for his 126 career innings in Anaheim.

Padres Place Jackson Merrill On 10-Day Injured List

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

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

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

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

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

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

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