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Mets Activate Sean Manaea From 60-Day Injured List

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The Mets have activated left-hander Sean Manaea from the 60-day injured list for his season debut. Right-hander Austin Warren was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move, and the Mets already had a vacant 40-man spot for Manaea to take over.

Manaea, 33, has been sidelined all season by an oblique strain and a loose body in his left elbow. He’s now back and ready to resume pitching for a Mets club that’s in a tight battle with the Phillies over control for the NL East, though as noted by MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo he’s slated to pitch in relief of Clay Holmes in his return to the mound today before shifting into a rotation role in the future. The lefty’s rehab starts this season have left something to be desired, as he’s pitched to a 6.27 ERA in 18 2/3 innings of work. Even so, his return should be a major boost for the Mets rotation given that he was their major expenditure on the starting pitching market this past offseason.

That three-year, $75MM guarantee from the Mets is more than justified by his performance last year. The veteran lefty delivered a sterling performance in his first season with New York, where he pitched to a 3.47 ERA in 181 2/3 innings of work while making 32 starts and striking out 24.9% of his opponents. Manaea’s return means that the Mets’ on-paper starting rotation entering the 2025 campaign will be fully healthy for the first time when they return from the All-Star break, as Kodai Senga and Frankie Montas have both recently returned from their IL stints of their own that kept them sidelined for much of the first half.

That trio joins Clay Holmes and David Peterson to round out the Mets’ rotation, and now that the group is fully healthy the club’s need for additional starting pitching help is greatly reduced. Even so, the losses of Griffin Canning, Paul Blackburn, and Tylor Megill to the injured list mean that the Mets are likely to be in the market for some sort of starting pitching help, whether it’s a front-of-the-rotation arm who allows them to utilize a six-man rotation or a depth starter who can swing between the bullpen and rotation as needed. There figures to be plenty of demand for starting pitching, however, and with other clubs like the Cubs, Astros, and Blue Jays likely to be very aggressive on that front it could behoove the Mets to look more towards other areas of the roster as they look for upgrades this trade season, so long as they’re confident in the health of their current group of starters.

As for Warren, the 29-year-old righty has a 1.69 ERA in four appearances for the Mets this season. He’s pitched for the Angels and Giants as well across his five seasons in the majors, and has totaled a 3.00 ERA in 54 innings of work since making his debut back in 2021. He’ll head back to the minor leagues, where he has a career 3.98 ERA and a 26.1% strikeout rate in five seasons of work at Triple-A, and wait for his next opportunity.

Rays Reportedly Open To Offers On Taj Bradley

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The Rays are routinely one of the league’s most creative teams, and a report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale this morning suggests that they figure to remain flexible this summer even after being aggressive to add right-hander Bryan Baker to their bullpen in a trade with the Orioles last week. Tampa currently boasts a 50-46 record and is just half a game out of the final AL Wild Card spot, but Nightengale suggests that isn’t going to stop them from listening to offers on young right-hander Taj Bradley.

On the surface, a contending club listening to offers on a starting pitcher who’s just 24 years old and remains under team control for four-and-a-half seasons would be hard to believe—even for a small-market club that frequently trades players well before free agency. The Rays aren’t a typical club, however. Tampa has never shied away from making controversial or surprising trades, as seen just last year when they shipped out third baseman Isaac Paredes with three-and-a-half years of team control remaining on his deal.

That’s one year less than Bradley currently has, but Paredes was a far more established player who had already made it to the All-Star game previously in his career. Bradley, by contrast, has largely pitched like a back-of-the-rotation starter in his career with a 4.70 ERA in 346 1/3 innings despite his status as a former top propsect. The right-hander has never posted even an average ERA+, having topped out at 97 last year, and while he entered 2025 with a tantalizing 27.3% strikeout rate during his time in the majors the whiffs have dropped off significantly this season to leave him striking out just 20.4% of his opponents.

All of that could make now a decent time for the Rays to listen to offers on the right-hander. He’d surely have more trade value in the offseason if he managed to put it all together and dominate down the stretch, but if Bradley’s performance doesn’t improve then his value will only drop from here as he gets older and further away from those high-strikeout seasons he opened his career with. Given the fact that virtually every contender is in need of starting pitching help at this point, if the Rays are one of the few teams willing to dangle a cost-controlled young starter with long-term team control it’s not hard to imagine them recouping significant value for both 2025 and the future by dealing Bradley now.

The Rays don’t exactly have a surplus of rotation depth, with no surefire starters waiting in the wings at Triple-A in the event of an injury or trade. With that being said, however, Tampa does have Shane McClanahan on a rehab assignment with an eye towards returning at some point in the second half. They’d be down an arm in the meantime if they dealt Bradley, but the club has been very comfortable with getting creative to piece together innings with multi-inning relievers and swing men in the past. Joe Boyle, Connor Seabold, and Joe Rock are all on the 40-man roster and could be tasked with handling some of the innings vacated by a hypothetical Bradley trade, to say nothing of non-roster pieces like Logan Workman.

If the Rays were to shop Bradley, there would surely be plenty of interest. The Padres and Astros stand out as surefire contenders who need starting pitching help this summer but may not have the budget to stomach the salary of a veteran player. Bradley could also be of interest to some clubs looking to sell. The Diamondbacks, Braves, Twins, Orioles, Nationals, and Guardians are all clubs that seem like potential or likely sellers this season with near-term postseason aspirations who could benefit from adding a controllable rotation piece like Bradley, and each has pieces that could surely improve the Rays if they decide to push in for the playoffs this year.

Braves Select Wander Suero

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The Braves announced this morning that they’ve selected the contract of right-hander Wander Suero. To make room for Suero on the 40-man and active rosters, right-hander Michael Petersen was designated for assignment while right-hander Daysbel Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A.

Suero, 33, is being called up to pitch in his seventh major league season. He made his big league debut with the Nationals back in 2018 and enjoyed a solid three-year run where he pitched to a 4.10 ERA (108 ERA+) with a 3.20 FIP and a 26.1% strikeout rate across 142 2/3 innings of work from 2018 to 2020. That stretch included a D.C.’s 2019 World Series championship, for which Suero was on the postseason roster and made three scoreless appearances during the World Series. Unfortunately, the good times came to an abrupt halt in 2021 as he turned in a brutal 6.33 ERA with a FIP of 5.80 in 45 appearances.

It was a bad enough performance that he was non-tendered by Washington during the 2021-22 offseason, and in the years since then Suero has largely been relegated to work in the minor leagues. He’s pitched for the Angels, Dodgers, Astros, and Braves in the upper minors over the past four seasons, and though he made it to the majors in both Los Angeles and Houston he sports a lackluster 7.88 ERA across six appearances. Despite that lackluster recent track record, Suero has looked nothing short of excellent at Triple-A Gwinnett for the Braves this year with a 1.50 ERA in 36 innings to go along with a 33.6% strikeout rate. He’ll now get the opportunity to show himself to be a capable big league relief arm once again in a Braves bullpen that could certainly use reinforcements, especially ahead of a trade deadline where rental arms Raisel Iglesias and Pierce Johnson could be dangled.

Making room for Suero on the roster is Petersen, who has made four appearances for the Braves this year. The 31-year-old made his MLB debut last year and pitched for the Dodgers and Marlins before joining Atlanta. He has a 5.47 ERA in 26 1/3 innings of work over the past two seasons to go with a career 2.84 ERA at the Triple-A level. It’s a solid enough resume that, when combined with the fact that Petersen has minor league options remaining, it wouldn’t be a shock if he winds up plucked off waivers by a rival club. Atlanta will have one week to either trade Petersen or attempt to pass him through waivers. If he goes unclaimed, they’ll have the opportunity to outright him to the minor leagues as non-roster depth. Hernandez, meanwhile has been nothing short of excellent for the Braves over the past two seasons with a 2.25 ERA and 3.10 FIP, but has struggled to stay on the big league roster due to being one of only a few bullpen arms at Atlanta’s disposal with minor league options remaining. He’ll surely be back up with the big league club at some point this season.

White Sox Acquire Blake Sabol

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The White Sox have acquired catcher Blake Sabol from the Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations, according to an announcement from the Worcester WooSox. Sabol was outrighted off Boston’s 40-man roster earlier this month, so no corresponding transaction was necessary for Chicago to acquire him.

Sabol, 27, has now been traded for the second time in seven months. Acquired by the Red Sox from the Giants back in January, the former Rule 5 pick appeared in just eight games for Boston this year. He hit a paltry .125/.167/.188 in that limited time and didn’t perform much better at Triple-A Worcester, where he batted .167 with a .281 on-base percentage and slugged .299. That weak performance was enough to convince the Red Sox to risk losing Sabol on waivers when they designated him for assignment earlier this month, but he cleared waivers successfully and was outrighted to Triple-A.

Now that he no longer requires a dedicated 40-man roster spot, it seems the White Sox had interest in him as a depth option. The combination of Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, and Korey Lee leave Chicago fairly well set up in terms of catching options on the 40-man roster, but the addition of a non-roster veteran like Sabol could be helpful given the youth of that trio. If two of those three young catchers need more seasoning in the minors at some point, Sabol could step in to help fill the gap at the big league level. The same could be said for the possibility of injury; one look at the Orioles this year shows you can never have too much catching depth.

It’s also worth noting that Sabol has had at least some level of offensive success in the majors before. While 2025 has been disastrous for him so far, Sabol did enter the year with a .243/.313/.392 slash line at the big league level across 121 games with the Giants. That’s a roughly league average showing, and it’s not impossible to imagine that his numbers could improve if he stopped spitting time between catching and the outfield and focused on one position full-time, particularly given the fact that Sabol remains in his prime.

Sabol is theoretically controllable until after the 2030 season, though it must be noted that he’ll be eligible to elect free agency following the 2025 season unless the White Sox add him back to their 40-man roster. Even so, that potential for longer-term team control gives the acquisition of Sabol more upside than the typical depth addition. As for the Red Sox, the emergence of Omar Narvaez has more or less solved their issues behind the plate, as he and Connor Wong have managed to form a formidable tandem. Seby Zavala is likely the next man up on the catching depth chart for Boston, and that figured to be the case even before Sabol’s departure.

Orioles Designate Corbin Martin For Assignment

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The Orioles announced this morning that they have recalled left-hander Grant Wolfram to the major league roster. Right-hander Corbin Martin was designated for assignment to make room for Wolfram on the club’s active roster. Baltimore’s 40-man roster now stands at 39 players.

Martin, 29, was a second-round pick by the Astros back in 2017 and received some attention as a top-100 prospect prior to the 2019 season. He underwent Tommy John surgery during the first half that year, and early in his recovery found himself traded to the Diamondbacks on the day of the trade deadline as part of the Zack Greinke blockbuster alongside Josh Rojas, Seth Beer, and JB Bukauskas. Martin didn’t return to a mound until 2021, and once he did so the results left much to be desired. He surrendered a 10.69 ERA in 16 innings of work during his first season with the Diamondbacks at the big league level, and while he showed some signs of improvement during his age-26 season in 2022 he suffered a number of additional injuries.

That includes a lat tear in his shoulder that required surgery and cost him his 2023 campaign. Martin was ultimately designated for assignment by the Snakes in early 2024, and after a brief stint in the Brewers’ minor league system last year he found himself claimed off waivers by the Orioles last May. He pitched at Triple-A for Baltimore’s Norfolk affiliate last year and was eventually removed from the 40-man roster, but remained with the organization and was brought back up to the majors earlier this month. This latest stint in the majors proved to be a brief one, as he remained on the roster for less than two weeks and made just one appearance. The appearance was an impressive one, however, as he struck out two and allowed just one hit in 1 1/3 innings of work against the Rangers.

Going forward, the Orioles will have one week to either work out a trade involving Martin or attempt to pass him through waivers. Should he clear waivers successfully, he would have the opportunity to either accept and outright assignment to the minor leagues or elect free agency in search of a better opportunity elsewhere. It wouldn’t be a shock to see some team take a chance on him now that he’s healthy, though his 5.29 ERA at Triple-A this year still raises some questions about his effectiveness even after his strong return to the majors earlier this month. As for Wolfram, the rookie made his big league debut with the Orioles earlier this year and has a 31.3% strikeout rate in three appearances at the big league level so far this season. With Keegan Akin on the injured list, Wolfram’s return to the bullpen should take some pressure off of fellow lefty Gregory Soto going forward.

Royals Receiving Interest In Catching Prospects

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The Royals have had a tough season. They’re 46-50, buried in their division by 13 games, and currently sit 4.5 games out of a Wild Card spot with a negative run differential and ace Cole Ragans on the injured list. They don’t exactly look like the likeliest buyers with the trade deadline less than three weeks away, but The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal writes that the front office is getting “consistent interest” from rival executives regarding top catching prospects Blake Mitchell, Carter Jensen, and Ramon Ramirez.

Mitchell, 21 next month, was the eighth-overall pick in the 2023 draft. He’s a consensus top-100 prospect in the sport who’s even more well-regarded by some outlets, though he’s gotten into just 14 games this year due to hand and wrist injuries. Jensen, 22, was a third-rounder back in 2021 and has split the 2025 season between Double- and Triple-A with a .286/.356/.462 slash line overall. In his first 13 games since being promoted to Omaha, Jensen has already crushed six homers and four doubles. As for Ramirez, the 20-year-old is currently on the injured list but signed with the club out of Venezuela and made his pro debut back in 2023. This year, he’s slashed .252/.366/.472 in 44 games at the Single-A level.

It’s an impressive crop of catching talent, and it’s not hard to see why some clubs would be intrigued by adding any of these youngsters to their farm system. Teams like the Nationals, Padres, Rays, Rangers, Twins, Phillies, Reds, and Guardians all have catching tandems with room for improvement in the near future, whether that’s due to an existing pair of catchers that could use an upgrade or an established option that figures to hit free agency within the next year or two. With so many teams that could stand to upgrade at catcher, either now or in the next few years, it’s not hard to imagine the Royals being able to bring back a controllable piece like the Phillies did when they traded Logan O’Hoppe to land Brandon Marsh at the 2022 trade deadline.

Of course, it can’t be ignored that the Royals could use some more certainty behind the plate themselves. Salvador Perez is a World Series champion and franchise legend, but he’s also been a replacement level piece in his age-35 season and it could be hard to justify picking up the $13.5MM club option on his services for 2026 rather than paying him a $2MM buyout. Freddy Fermin has been a solid partner to Perez behind the plate in recent years but has never had more than 368 plate appearances in a season and could be miscast as a regular.

There’s clearly some uncertainty behind the plate in Kansas City for the first time in a long time, and it would be understandable if that made the Royals hesitant to trade from their crop of catching talent. While that group could quickly turn into a surplus of catching talent in the coming years, one need look no further than MJ Melendez to see how quickly even a well-regarded catching prospect can flame out in the majors. There’s little reason for the Royals to rush into trading any of their catching prospects now unless they get a deal they’re pleased with; after all, it wasn’t long ago that the Blue Jays were viewed as overflowing with legitimate catching options but they waited until all four of Alejandro Kirk, Danny Jansen, Reese McGuire, and Gabriel Moreno were either in the majors or at Triple-A to start parting with that talent behind the plate.

Still, the idea of trading one of their catching prospects for a more immediate impact talent at another position of need on the roster has merit. Kansas City has received below-average offensive production from second base, DH, and all three outfield spots this year. A controllable bat that fills one of those holes could help the Royals not only try to get back into the playoff race this year, but help fortify the team and maximize the club’s current window while players like Ragans and Bobby Witt Jr. remain under team control. If another team was willing to dangle such a player for one of the club’s prospects, especially one further from the majors like Mitchell or Ramirez, that could be difficult to turn down.

J.C. Escarra Drawing Trade Attention

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30-year-old backstop J.C. Escarra has been a pleasant surprise for the Yankees this year since emerging as the club’s primary backup to Austin Wells. In 36 games this year, the journeyman who spent the 2022 and ’23 seasons outside of affiliate ball has slashed a respectable .215/.312/.354 (89 wRC+) with elite pitch framing numbers. While Escarra has been a below-average hitter overall, he’s sporting impressive plate discipline numbers with a strikeout rate of just 14.0% against a phenomenal 11.8% walk rate. Escarra’s 36-game showing in the majors has been enough to grab the attention of some rival clubs, according to a report from the New York Post’s Joel Sherman.

Sherman writes that Yankees GM Brian Cashman was receiving calls regarding Escarra dating all the way back to last year’s trade deadline, a time when the journeyman backstop had spent less than a season back in affiliated ball and had been at the Triple-A level in the Yankees’ system for less than two weeks. That combination of interest and the possibility the fact that the Yankees have begun giving Ben Rice reps behind the plate in games was enough to lead Sherman to suggest the Yankees could consider listening to offers on Escarra this summer, though that appears to be largely speculative on Sherman’s part.

Regardless of whether New York is interested in parting with their backup this summer, the fact that teams have interest in his services is interesting. Given the fact that Escarra made his big league debut earlier this year, he has five years of team control remaining after this season and wouldn’t be eligible for arbitration until the 2028 campaign. That could make him a strong fit for a number of catching-needy clubs, both those in contention and those with longer playoff timelines.

The Padres could certainly stand to get more out of their catching tandem and are known to be looking for upgrades in the middle of a win-now season, but on the other end of the spectrum the Nationals have the worst catching tandem in the majors and could view a gifted framer like Escarra as a perfect complement to Keibert Ruiz long-term. The Twins stand out as a team on the bubble of playoff contention that could be a speculative fit for Escarra’s services, as well. Christian Vazquez has not only been among the worst hitters in baseball this year but is ticketed for free agency following the 2025 campaign, meaning that a controllable catcher like Escarra could not only improve Minnesota for 2025 but also fill a long-term need for the club.

It’s hard to say exactly how much the Yankees could expect to get in return for Escarra, but given the club’s many needs this summer it’s not hard to imagine them finding some sort of match. A third baseman figures to be a priority, and options like Willi Castro and Amed Rosario could theoretically be had from the Twins and Nationals respectively. Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan could bolster the club’s flagging bullpen down the stretch, and while it could be difficult for a pair of contenders like the Yankees and Padres to match up on the trade market perhaps the Padres have a depth starter like Matt Waldron or Kyle Hart who could interest the Yankees.

Of course, all of this speculation is predicated on the idea that the Yankees would be open to carrying Rice as their primary backup behind the plate for the stretch run. Rice has enjoyed a proper breakout season at the dish this year with a 122 wRC+ and even stronger underlying batted ball data, but he’s made just 11 appearances behind the plate this year, including only four starts and two complete games. Without much additional catching depth available to the Yankees in the lower minors, trading Escarra would be a major vote of confidence in Rice as a player capable of handling the defensive duties of a big league backup.

Cristian Javier Begins Rehab Assignment

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Right-hander Cristian Javier took a big step towards returning to the Astros rotation today when he began a rehab assignment, as relayed by Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Javier threw 1 1/3 innings in the Florida Complex League today, and manager Joe Espada told reporters (including Kawahara) that Javier “came out feeling really good” after a 35-pitch outing where he touched 95 mph with his fastball.

That Javier is back on the mound after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June of 2024 is encouraging news for an Astros club in desperate need of pitching reinforcements. Breakout ace Hunter Brown and the ever-reliable Framber Valdez have been good enough this year to paper over a number of issues, but Lance McCullers Jr. has a 6.48 ERA in ten starts this year. Relying on him to start playoff games would be a tough pill to swallow, and rookies Colton Gordon and Brandon Walter aren’t much more reliable despite Walter in particular putting together a strong effort so far.

Javier has a career 3.59 ERA in the major leagues, but the Astros would surely take even the career-worst 4.56 he posted during the 2023 season if it meant adding some much-needed depth to their rotation. Kawahara writes that the Astros are “optimistic” that the right-hander will be able to return at some point in the second half to chip in for the club’s latest playoff push, but it’s not exactly clear when or in what role Javier will be expected to participate. Typically, a pitcher’s rehab assignment can only last for a maximum of 30 days. That would normally suggest Javier should rejoin the big league club at some point in early-to-mid August, but pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery can receive up to three ten-day extensions on their rehab time for a maximum of 60 days.

That means it wouldn’t be outlandish to see Javier continue rehabbing into mid-September, and that’s before even considering the possibility of a setback. Without a more firm timetable for the right-hander’s return, it’s hard to know how much Houston is expecting to be able to count on the righty in the second half. Fortunately for the Astros, Javier isn’t the only pitcher on the mend. Luis Garcia is still on his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in May of 2023 after repeated shutdowns due to continued soreness in his elbow, but began a rehab assignment of his this past Monday. Spencer Arrighetti, meanwhile, has been sidelined since April with a thumb fracture. A rehab assignment could be in sight for him as well, but Kawahara relays (per Espada) that he’ll need “a couple” of sessions against live hitters before taking that step.

All of those impending returns from key arms should help the Astros down the stretch, but with so much uncertainty about that trio’s timeline it’s hard to imagine it being enough to convince the Astros not to search aggressively for rotation upgrades prior to the trade deadline on July 31. Last year, the club surrendered significant capital to acquire a top rental in the form of southpaw Yusei Kikuchi. Barring a surprise injury to Brown or Valdez, they may not need to be quite as aggressive this time around but should still at least be in the market for some type of rotation depth. Pirates southpaw Andrew Heaney, Nationals righty Michael Soroka, and White Sox right-hander Aaron Civale are among a number of veteran rentals who aren’t likely to be quite as expensive as some of the summer’s top names.

Multiple Teams Showing Interest In DJ LeMahieu

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It’s been just two days since the Yankees officially released veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu, but that hasn’t stopped him from attempting to get back onto the field. Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported earlier today that LeMahieu was looking to sign with a team to finish out the 2025 season, and has subsequently reported that multiple teams are showing interest in the veteran’s services. There’s no indication that a deal is close at this time and it’s unclear whether that interest is in adding LeMahieu on a big league deal or a minor league pact, but Morosi adds that LeMahieu being available before trade season picks up in earnest could work in his favor as he searches for a new club.

Just one day shy of his 37th birthday, LeMahieu’s numbers have been passable if unexciting this year. He slashed .266/.338/.336 (94 wRC+) with underlying metrics to match in 142 plate appearances across 45 games for the Yankees this year prior to his DFA while playing second base exclusively. His Fielding Run Value of 0 and Outs Above Average of -1 this season suggest his defense at the keystone is just a tick below average at this point in his career, though that’s a far cry from the Gold Glove caliber defense he was capable of in his younger days. Still, the combination of slightly below average offense and defense should be enough to make him an attractive candidate for a part-time or bench role with a team in need of help on the infield.

LeMahieu would be more attractive as a role player for a contending club if he was capable of providing substantial versatility, but there are questions about his ability to handle third base at this point in his career. As Bryan Hoch of MLB.com noted following the Yankees’ decision to part ways with the veteran, LeMahieu expressed during this past offseason concerns about his ability to handle the physical demands of third base and expressed a preference for remaining on the right side of the infield in 2025. Morosi suggested that LeMahieu would be best suited to play for a team that would be able to work him in at some combination of second base, first base, and DH, which could indicate that concerns about his ability to play the hot corner remain.

Given LeMahieu’s significant injury struggles in recent years, it would be understandable if he wasn’t a realistic third option at third at this point. On the other hand, manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including Hoch) that LeMahieu had expressed a willingness to resume workouts at third base if the Yankees requested he return to the position. If LeMahieu can prove himself capable of handling third base, that would surely help his market. Teams like Cubs and Reds have players entrenched at second base currently but wide open playing time available at the hot corner. LeMahieu would surely be of interest to those clubs if he could handle occasional time at third base, but would not make nearly as much sense if he’s limited to the right side of the infield.

Even if LeMahieu remains unable to handle the hot corner, there should still be several teams that would benefit from his services. The Royals are currently relying on Nick Loftin at the keystone on a semi-regular basis, while Luis Rengifo might benefit from someone to help him shoulder the load at second for the Angels after a tough first half that’s left him as one of the least effective qualified hitters in baseball this year. The Astros, Giants, and A’s are among a handful of other clubs who have struggled to get production at second base this year, but each has recently installed new options at the position who could be preferable to LeMahieu: Houston has promoted top prospect Brice Matthews, while both West Sacramento’s temporary ball club has just welcomed Zack Gelof back from the injured list while San Francisco did the same with Casey Schmitt.

Rafael Devers Suffering From Disk Injury In Lower Back

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After being traded from the Red Sox to the Giants in a shocking June blockbuster, Rafael Devers hasn’t quite looked like himself in recent weeks. At least some of that downturn in productivity can likely be attributed to injury, as Janie McCauley of the Associated Press writes that Devers is facing a disk injury in his lower back that has hampered him during his time in San Francisco. Manager Bob Melvin discussed Devers’s status with reporters (including McCauley) yesterday and suggested that the club is hopeful their new superstar will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list thanks to the impending time off associated with the All-Star break.

Aside from that impending opportunity to rest up for the second half, Devers began taking anti-inflammatory medication to help combat the symptoms and underwent an MRI exam on Thursday as he continues to play through the issue. Melvin suggested that the issue bothers Devers the most when he’s running the bases, though he acknowledged that the injury was “probably a little bit” of a problem for the slugger at the plate as well. The manager went on to suggest that his back injury is the reason Devers has remained entrenched as the club’s DH rather than moving to first base, where he has not only agreed to play for San Francisco but also begun working out before games in preparation for the move.

The news that Devers isn’t fully healthy sheds some additional light on his performance so far with his new team. It’s likely hard for Giants fans to not be a bit disappointed in their recently-acquired star’s performance so far given that he’s hit just .220/.350/.354 (104 wRC+) in his first 23 games as a Giant. That’s already a sample size of 100 plate appearances, but it’s easier to dismiss those numbers as an outlier and believe that better days are ahead given the possibility that he’ll be able to produce more like his usual self if he can rest up and get healthy. Additionally, Melvin’s comments suggest that Devers playing through injury is the reason they’ve been reluctant to deploy him at first base rather than any struggles adapting to the new position in drills or resistance from Devers himself to the move.

While a physical explanation for Devers’s slump offers reason for optimism that he’ll bounce back when fully healthy, it’s fair to wonder whether or not the All-Star break will actually be enough time for him to shake the injury. Back issues are hardly uncommon for sluggers as they age. Mike Trout, Kris Bryant, and Miguel Cabrera are among a number of star players who have had their careers impacted by back problems at varying levels as they aged, and injuries of that sort can often be nagging and become a matter of pain tolerance. While Devers is still just 28 years old, he’s often battled through day-to-day injuries to other areas of his body in the past: shoulder, hamstring, knee, and groin issues have cropped up at various points the slugger’s time in the majors.

While that aforementioned trio are known for their struggles remaining healthy later in their careers, a large number of hitters deal with back problems at one point or another but go on to stay healthy in the future and avoid ongoing issues. It’s a situation worth monitoring for the Giants, who have Devers locked up for eight seasons after this one, but there’s little reason to automatically assume this will be a long-term problem for him throughout his time in San Francisco at this point. In the short-term, the Giants will continue relying on a combination of Dominic Smith and Wilmer Flores at first base while Devers heals up and gets ready to take over the position.

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