Osuna Gone

The Astros sent their former closer down to the minors earlier this month. On Monday they traded him and added a guy they hope is a long-term solution for the ninth inning.

The defending World Series champions acquired Roberto Osuna from the Blue Jays on the eve of the trade deadline and sent Ken Giles and pitching prospects David Paulino and Hector Perez to Toronto. Osuna is still serving a 75-game suspension for domestic violence but will be eligible to return on Sunday.

Osuna’s off-the-field behavior is another conversation, but Houston should be getting an elite closer for the stretch run of the regular season and playoffs. The 23-year-old has posted a 2.87 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 253/40 K/BB ratio over 223 relief innings in his major league career. He also boasts a 1.04 ERA and 16/1 K/BB ratio across 17 1/3 career postseason frames. Osuna might be eased into closing situations initially but should have the job in short order. Hector Rondon will move back into a setup role.

Osuna is still facing domestic assault charges for an alleged crime against his girlfriend. Major League Baseball has the authority to levy further discipline should new information related to the case come out and they deem it worthy of suspension.

The Blue Jays lost a closer in Osuna but gained one in Giles. The volatile reliever has had numerous blowups this season – from both a performance and emotional standpoint – that pushed his ERA up to 4.99 and helped lead to a demotion. However, he also boasts a 31/3 K/BB ratio over 30 2/3 innings this season and a 2.79 ERA with 367 strikeouts over 274 2/3 innings in his career.

Manager John Gibbons has already said that Giles will get an opportunity to be the team’s closer. How soon exactly that happens isn’t known, but it shouldn’t take long. Giles needs to be scooped up in leagues where he was dropped.



Harper on the Block?

We’ve already had numerous trades go down in the days before Tuesday’s 4PM ET deadline and we’re sure to get plenty more consummated in the hours leading up to it. Will one of them involve a six-time All-Star and former MVP?

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported Monday that the Nationals have let it be known that Bryce Harper “is indeed available via trade.” The Indians are one team that’s reportedly asked the Nats about Harper, although there undoubtedly will be more in the mix if Washington is serious about trading him.

Of course, there’s a big difference between shopping a player and just being willing to listen to offers. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has indicated that this situation certainly falls into the latter category, as he writes that the Nationals are simply sending out “feelers” on Harper, “seeing if someone wants to go crazy,” he was told by a rival executive.

Will the Nats be able to find a team willing to “go crazy” enough to make it worth trading their best position player when they still haven’t ruled out a postseason run? It’s possible, although the returns on rental players in recent years have largely been underwhelming and unless the Nationals get a special package they’ll probably just hang on to their star outfielder.

If the Nationals do wind up trading Harper – likely for pitching help – it means that Michael Taylor would go back to being the club’s regular center fielder. Taylor has almost been a top-50 fantasy outfielder this season, largely due to his 24 stolen bases. However, he’s been marginalized since Juan Soto’s emergence and the return of Adam Eaton from the DL last month. Such a move could also potentially open the door for Victor Robles at some point if Taylor falters. Robles is back in action at Triple-A Syracuse after missing three months with a hyperextended elbow.

Cueto, Martinez Headed Back to DL

Two teams on the outskirts of the playoff hunt have each lost a big-time pitcher and at least one of the absences will be lengthy.

Johnny Cueto was diagnosed with a right elbow sprain back in early May, but he and the Giants chose the rest and rehab route and he rejoined their rotation earlier this month. However, things didn’t go well, as he posted a 6.86 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over four starts and admitted to being sore while showing decreased velocity in an outing Sunday.

Cueto was placed on the disabled list Monday. While Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that there’s “nothing definitive” yet, he conceded that “it's fair to say there's quite a possibility he'll have surgery.”

The surgery the skipper is referring to is Tommy John surgery, and given that Cueto wouldn’t have the operation at least until August, it seems likely that it would knock him out until the 2020 season in all likelihood. Cueto will be 34 going into that campaign and is under contract through 2021 with a club option for 2022. Chris Stratton will replace him in the Giants’ rotation.

Carlos Martinez returned from the DL Monday after missing a week and a half with a strained oblique, but he’s headed back there after lasting just 4 2/3 frames versus the Rockies before being pulled with another injury. A subsequent MRI revealed that he’s dealing with a mild right shoulder strain.

While “mild” is relatively encouraging, this is the second DL stint Martinez has required this season because of a shoulder-related issue. He missed nearly a month of action with a strained lat. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Cardinals hold their ace out for a lengthy period of time, perhaps even for the remainder of the season.

The Cards do have viable options to slide into the rotation in Martinez’s place. Daniel Poncedeleon and Austin Gomber both flirted with no hitters last week before being moved to the bullpen. Gomber would seem to be the likelier option to take Martinez’s spot and would be worth deep-league consideration. There’s also Dakota Hudson, who has had two scoreless relief appearances since being promoted last Friday. Michael Wacha (oblique) and Adam Wainwright (elbow) are also eventual options, although neither of them are close to being ready.


American League Quick Hits: The Red Sox acquired Ian Kinsler from the Angels for relievers Williams Jerez and Ty Buttrey … Jose Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs, a steal and a walk in Monday's loss to Twins … Shin-Soo Choo went 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs and four RBI to lead the Rangers to a win over the Diamondbacks on Monday … Making his first start off the DL, James Paxton fired seven scoreless innings and fanned eight batters to lead the Mariners to a win over the Astros on Monday … David Price yielded just one run on eight hits over eight innings while taking a no-decision in Monday's win over the Phillies … Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times has reported that the Rays have asked teams interested in Chris Archer to submit their final trade offers … MLB.com's TR Sullivan has reported that the Rangers "don't see Adrian Beltre going anywhere" … Matt Joyce (back) visited the doctor Monday after suffering a setback over the weekend … The Yankees acquired Lance Lynn and cash considerations from the Twins for Tyler Austin and pitching prospect Jose Rijo … The Mariners acquired Zach Duke from the Twins for Chase De Jong and infield prospect Ryan Costello … The Mariners acquired Adam Warren from the Yankees for international signing bonus pool money …

National League Quick Hits: The Pirates acquired Keone Kela from the Rangers for Taylor Hearn and a player to be named later … The Braves acquired Adam Duvall from the Reds for Lucas Sims, Matt Wisler and Preston Tucker … Craig Mish of SiriusXM has reported that the Marlins are not expected to trade J.T. Realmuto … ESPN's Buster Olney has reported that the Mets will not trade Jacob deGrom or Noah Syndergaard prior to Tuesday's deadline … Braves pitching prospect Kolby Allard is expected to be called up to make his major league debut Tuesday against the Marlins … MLB.com's Jon Morosi has reported that the Yankees, Phillies and Indians "have varying levels of interest" in Andrew McCutchen … Nolan Arenado went 2-for-5 with a grand slam in Monday's loss to the Cardinals … Aaron Nola allowed just one run on five hits over eight innings while taking a no-decision in Monday's 13-inning loss to the Red Sox … Jon Heyman of Fancred has reported that the Yankees, Indians and Mariners are interested in Cameron Maybin … DJ LeMahieu (oblique) could be activated from the disabled list as soon as Thursday … Ross Stripling is expected to be sidelined for 10-12 days after being placed on the disabled list with right big toe inflammation … Rockies manager Bud Black said Monday that Chad Bettis (finger) could return as a reliever … David Peralta (shoulder) didn’t start Monday but was available off the bench

Eloy's a coming

Eloy Jimenez

A reminder that this is strictly a list for 2018. Several of these prospects are among the best in baseball, but for the purpose of this series, it’s just measuring potential impact for the coming season.

Without further ado, here’s the top 10 fantasy prospects for the remainder of the 2018 season.

1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 3B, Toronto Blue Jays

2018 stats: 65 G, .401/.448/.668, 14 HR, 3 SB, 22 BB, 28 SO at short-season Gulf Coast, High-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire. Now residing in Buffalo,

Triple AAA

Vlad's numbers went down this week in average and on-base percentage, but that's really only because at this point, it's pretty hard for them to go up.  He's hitting .359 over his last 10 games, and he has homers in back-to-back games before going on the temporary inactive list to watch his father get inducted into the Hall of Fame. It's probably not as cool as seeing your dad get into Cooperstown, but Vlad also received more good news: He's getting promoted to Triple-A, starting this week. Assuming he hits at this level like he has in the others, it should be a short stay, but should is different than would. Nevertheless, it's a great step towards getting Vlad Jr. in a Blue Jay uniform.

2. Eloy Jimenez, OF, Chicago White Sox

2018 stats: 78 G, .338/.385/.599 17 HR, 0 SB, 24 BB, 49 SO at Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte.

This is starting to become a waste. Jimenez is as hot as it gets and he now has his season average in the International League up to .383. He's 19-for-38 over his last 10 games, and he's hit four homers in that time frame. The White Sox brass recently said that they're not going to call up Jimenez until he checks all those boxes. Outside of something involving cash, tanking, or concerns over his defense (the last one probably has a little to do with it, but Jimenez is a perfectly competent defender), I have no idea what else he can possibly do. He should have been up weeks ago. I'm confident he'll be up before the end of August.

3. Francisco Mejia, C, San Diego Padres

2018 stats: 84 G, .281/.331/.425, 7 HR, 0 SB, 20 BB, 62 SO at Triple-A Columbus., Now residing in El Paso, Texas, San Diego's Triple AAA, home.

Mejia has performed admirably since his trade to the Padres, hitting .333 over five games with a double and a couple of walks. His season line isn't overwhelmingly impressive, but when you consider how poorly he started out, those numbers become much more impressive for the 22-year-old backstop. It's just a question of when Mejia gets called up, but considering he's already on the 40-man roster -- and considering the cost the Padres gave up to get him -- it should be soon.

4. Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox

2018 stats: 20 G, 99 1/3 IP, 4.26 ERA, 7 HR, 58 BB, 135 SO at Triple-A Charlotte.

Last week, I joked that Kopech was a "strike throwing machine." Truth be told, he kinda has been over his last three starts. After walking just one each in his previous start, Kopech walked none in his last appearance, and he struck out for while allowing only two runs. Kopech is clearly repeating his delivery well right now, and when you combine that with two plus-plus pitches -- along with a solid third -- you get one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. He's good.

5. Kolby Allard, LHP, Atlanta Braves

2018 stats: 18 G, 109.1 IP, 2.80 ERA, 6 HR, 33 BB, 102 87 at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Allard is reportedly going to make his big league debut on Tuesday against the Marlins, and there's a good chance the 20-year-old will pitch well against the not-so-good Miami club. Allard doesn't have elite stuff, but he locates his arsenal for strikes, and he has two plus secondary pitches in his curveball and change. We will occasionally see pitchers that rely on command struggle early because of nerves/fear of getting beaten, but assuming Allard is ready for the moment, he can help. It also could be a one start thing, but he's worth an add if you're looking for a quality start.

6. Peter Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

2018 stats: 101 G, .272/.395/.528, 24 HR, 0 SB, 62 BB, 95 SO at Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Las Vegas.

The bad news: Alonso hasn't homered in six games, which seems like an eternity for someone who has as much power from the right side as he does. The good news: Alonso is starting to see the hits drop, as he's hitting .308 over his last 10 games, and he's drawn five walks while "only" striking out nine times in that time frame. Alonso is still just hitting .206 since his promotion to Triple-A, but that's about .30 points higher than it was two weeks ago. Even at first base, he has the potential to offer big offensive potential for fantasy clubs.

7. Justus Sheffield, LHP, New York Yankees

2018 stats: 18 G, 96.1 IP, 2.34 ERA, 3 HR, 40 BB, 102 SO at Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

There's good news and bad news with Sheffield as well, but like with Alonso, the good outweighs the bad. He's now gone five straight starts without allowing more than a run, including a 5 2/3 inning effort against the Triple-A Gwinnett lineup on Saturday. The bad news? Sheffield isn't missing very many bats in the process. He's struck out no more than eight in his last 10 starts, and in his last two he has seven. Combined. The 22-year-old southpaw is clearly capable of missing bats, so we'll just blame this on lineups being aggressive against Sheffield. He should get a chance to pitch with the Yankees before the end of 2018.

8. Victor Robles, OF, Washington Nationals

2018 stats: 19 G, .288/.425/.373, 1 HR, 9 SB, 11 BB, 8 SO at short-season Gulf Coast, short-season Auburn and Triple-A Syracuse.

Welcome back, Mr. Robles. It's good to see a familiar face. Robles missed two-plus months after hyperextending his left elbow, but he's back in the International League, and he's doing what he's done since he signed with Washington in 2013: Hit. The 21-year-old has a plus hit tool, top-of-the-scales speed, and he also has sneaky power from the right side that he's beginning to tap into. He's also a terrific defender, which is something Washington is going to keep in mind. The Washington outfield is obviously full right now, but if there's a trade, an injury, or something unforeseen, he's ready to go, and he's a must-add in fantasy. If you have room on your bench, he's a potentially excellent speculative add.

9. Alex Verdugo, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

2018 stats: 67 G, .349/.396/.506, 8 HR, 4 SB, 21 BB, 38 SO at Triple-A Oklahoma City; 14 G, .280/.345/.440, 1 HR, 0 SB, 5 BB, 7 SO at Los Angeles.

Verdugo heads back down to Oklahoma City with Yasiel Puig off the disabled list, which is a bit of a bummer since he was performing well with the Dodgers.  There's only so much room in the inn, however, which is why I haven't had Verdugo high on these lists despite the fact that he's as talented as all but the top three. The good news is Los Angeles knows Verdugo is ready to go, and the Dodgers are not exactly a beacon of health. If there's an injury -- particularly to an outfielder -- Verdugo should get a call up, and his advanced hit tool gives him a strong chance to matter in fantasy.

10. Mitch Keller, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

2018 stats: 19 G, 107.2 IP, 3.68 ERA, 9 HR, 44 BB, 102 SO at Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis.

I considered giving this spot to Brendan Rodgers even before he was promoted to Triple-A, and even more after it was announced. Ultimately, though, I think that Rodgers has a tougher path to the majors than Keller does. Keller hasn't been great since his promotion, but he's pitched much better as of late, showing the hard, sinking fastball and a strong curveball with a competent change here and there for good measure. Keller's talent competes with the best starting pitching prospects in baseball, and I think Pittsburgh will give him a chance to pitch for them before the season ends. Rodgers has the higher upside, but Keller has the higher floor while offering upside as well.

Just missed: Brendan Rodgers, SS, Colorado Rockies; Luiz Gohara, LHP, Atlanta Braves; Ryan Mountcastle, 3B, Baltimore Orioles; Keston Hiura, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers; Luis Urias, SS, San Diego Padres

Vlad gets bumped up to Triple A

Jordan Romano and his New Hampshire Fisher Cats teammates were huddled in their home dugout months ago wondering how far Vladimir Guerrero Jr., could hit a baseball.
They got their answer in a May 7 game when Guerrero launched a home run deep to left field, clanging the ball off the Hilton Garden Inn beyond the outfield fence for his first multi-homer game of his double-A career.

"His first at bat he had laced [a homer] to centre field and we were talking like: 'if he hits it as hard as he hits that but gets a little more air out of it, he's going to hit the hotel,"' Romano said in a phone interview with The Canadian Press. "And sure enough, two at-bats later he hits a home run off the hotel.

"It was insane. We'd never seen that in a game before.

"Every time he gets up to the plate we expect something crazy to happen and more often than not it does," Romano added. "He hits homers off the hotel, he smokes the ball every time he hits it. Every at bat you make sure to watch because you never know what he's going to do next."
Romano, a right-handed pitcher from Markham, Ont., and a 10th-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2014, had a front row seat to the Vlad Jr. show at double-A this season.
He'll have to keep tabs on the Blue Jays No. 1 prospect from afar when Guerrero reports to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday in a promotion that comes as a surprise to no one.
The 19-year-old has torn through double-A, even after missing a month of the season with a knee injury, batting .403 with a .449 on-base percentage and .671 slugging percentage through 60 games.
The son of Hall of Famer and former Montreal Expos star Vladimir Guerrero — Vlad Jr. was in Cooperstown, N.Y., this weekend for his father's induction ceremony before reporting to Buffalo — has 14 homers, 19 doubles and 61 runs batted in.

But for all the success Guerrero has shown at the plate, Romano said he's been more intrigued by the youngster's attitude.

"Of course what he does on the baseball field, what he's done to the pitchers in this league, I've never seen it done before and there's nothing like it. But the thing that impresses me most about him is he's 19, he has a huge spotlight on him, and just the way that he handles it so well," Romano said.
"You kinda forget how young he is. He's very mature. He's a really good teammate which is something you don't expect from a 19-year-old kid, but he supports all his guys, it's big."
Guerrero was one of a handful of top young prospects on a double-A team that also featured Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio.

Romano called the Fisher Cats "definitely the most talented team" he's ever been a part of, and the one that's garnered the most media coverage with large outlets like MLB Network, Sports Illustrated and ESPN all showing up to interview New Hampshire's top stars.
And while Guerrero and others have been enjoying double-A success, Romano is having a stellar year of his own in his third full season as a starter.
The 25-year-old, who added a change-up to his arsenal last year, is 10-4 and has a 3.40 earned-run average with 101 strikeouts and just 36 walks over 19 starts (111 1/3 innings) at New Hampshire. He was also just named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Week for July 16-22.
"I think the key for me has really been staying aggressive," Romano said. "Attacking hitters, throwing a lot of strikes, not giving away free passes.

"The change-up didn't really click last year. I tried a couple different grips, this and that, but never really had a feel for the pitch. This year it's been effective for me, it's a really good weapon."
Romano, who also had a start in triple-A this season, counts himself lucky to have never faced Guerrero, not even in an intrasq

Jordan Romano and his New Hampshire Fisher Cats teammates were huddled in their home dugout months ago wondering how far Vladimir Guerrero Jr., could hit a baseball.
They got their answer in a May 7 game when Guerrero launched a home run deep to left field, clanging the ball off the Hilton Garden Inn beyond the outfield fence for his first multi-homer game of his double-A career.
"His first at bat he had laced [a homer] to centre field and we were talking like: 'if he hits it as hard as he hits that but gets a little more air out of it, he's going to hit the hotel,"' Romano said in a phone interview with The Canadian Press. "And sure enough, two at-bats later he hits a home run off the hotel.
"It was insane. We'd never seen that in a game before.

Uber-prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is now one step from the majors, having been promoted from Double-A to Triple-A on Saturday. The 19-year-old third baseman tore through Double-A pitching in 266 PAs this season, hitting .402/.449/.671 with 14 home runs and nearly as many walks (21) as strikeouts (27) prior to his promotion. Both Baseball America and MLB.com regard Guerrero as the game’s best prospect.

Cueto's Concerns

Johnny Cueto has made four underwhelming, largely forgettable starts since coming off the disabled list July 5.

When he makes his fifth is suddenly TBD.

Cueto was candid with reporters after Saturday's start against the Brewers -- a four-inning, eight-hit, four-run outing -- saying he still experiences pain in his right pitching elbow with every pitch.



“I keep telling you guys and keep telling myself I’m fine, but in reality I’m not,” he told reporters after the game.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy voiced concern about the right-hander.

“I’ve got to be honest, sure, there’s concern there," Bochy said Saturday.

Cueto will meet with team doctors on Sunday, after which more should be known about the pain and his outlook. Bochy indicated Saturday that Cueto is likely to miss at least his next start due to the situation.

It's no coincidence that Cueto only recently returned from a two-month-plus stay on the disabled list for a sprained right elbow, the same elbow that is once again giving him problems. That time, Cueto rehabbed the injury.

The hope is certainly that this time -- if it is related to the elbow -- he can do the same, instead of undergoing surgery to fix whatever the issue might be. But that's all conjecture until we know what he's facing. Stay tuned.

Holliday Inks Minors Deal With Rockies

Matt Holliday spent some of the best years of his career in Colorado, where the beer flows like wine.

Now, he's hoping to find the fountain of youth flowing as well.

Holliday signed a minor league deal, pending a physical, with the Rockies on Saturday, the same organization that drafted him and which he led to a National League pennant in 2007.

"I always enjoyed my time in Colorado," Holliday told Thomas Harding of MLB.com. "Even during the 10 years that I've been gone I always kept in touch with a lot of the people and players. I've always had an affection for the organization. I've always thought if I had the chance to go back, it would be real special."

Holliday is expected to undergo a physical Sunday before reporting to Grand Junction, the Rockies' rookie-level club. He'll get up to speed there before moving to Triple-A Albuquerque to start playing in games.

What he's got left is anybody's guess. The 38-year-old remained in pristine physical shape until the end, but he struggled last year with the Yankees, batting .231/.316/.432 in 105 games. He was unable to catch on anywhere this past offseason, instead taking a job as an analyst with MLB Network Radio.

Also unclear is the utility Holliday could provide the Rockies. Injuries have struck outfielder David Dahl, but the Gerardo Parra-Charlie Blackmon-Carlos Gonzalez outfield, with Ian Desmond at first base, has served the club well for most of the year.

The front office should shed more light on the motivation for the signing, and the club's plan for the veteran, once it becomes official Sunday.

Altuve Goes on DL For First Time In Career

There's a first time for everything.

And for all-everything second baseman Jose Altuve, there's a first time on the disabled list. That day came Saturday, when Altuve was placed on the 10-day DL with right knee discomfort.

"Basic things, like walking and to go down the stairs, it feels good," Altuve said after Saturday's game. "I haven't done anything more than that. Like I said, the doctor came, checked on me, and he said it was better to get it done.

"If they think it's better to go on the DL for the team and for me, in order to come back healthy and strong, we've got to go there and do it," Altuve added.

Altuve hadn't played since he left Wednesday's game with the discomfort, so he's eligible to return late next week. The team made his stint retroactive to Thursday, further suggesting his first time won't be a long time on the shelf.

National League Quick Hits: Noah Syndergaard (illness) is on track to return from the disabled list Wednesday. Syndergaard has a rare case of hand, foot and mouth disease that forced him on the disabled list July 22, but it sounds like the ailment won't hold him down for too long. The Mets have a day game Wednesday against the Nationals. Syndergaard this year has a 2.89 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 83/15 K/BB ratio over 74 2/3 innings of work ... Cardinals acquired LHP Chasen Shreve and RHP Giovanny Gallegos from the Yankees for 1B Luke Voit and international signing bonus pool money. With Zach Britton now in New York, Shreve became an expendable member of the Yanks' bullpen. The return -- a minor league first baseman and bonus pool money, although it wasn't disclosed how much -- still feels a little light for a reliever who's held down a spot in a very good bullpen, but there's certainly room for interpretation. Shreve holds a 4.26 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 46/18 K/BB ratio through 38 innings of work this year ... Travis Shaw started at second base and batted fifth for the Brewers in Saturday's game against the Giants. The action at the keystone was the first of Shaw's major league career, and he made it through without incident. The move was part of the Brewers' willingness to acquire Mike Moustakas from the Royals on Friday, adding a power bat to their lineup without losing Shaw's production. How it goes defensive will be a work in progress, likely. Shaw is hitting .243/.341/.462 with 19 homers and 59 RBI this season ... Pirates recalled OF Austin Meadows from Triple-A Indianapolis. Meadows was demoted in mid-July for lack of playing time -- a healthy outfield of Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco was producing, pushing Meadows to the bench -- but a hamstring injury to Dickerson has opened the door for Meadows' return. He should get regular playing time in Dickerson's absence, too, although Jose Osuna was also recalled Saturday, and he can also man a corner outfield spot when needed. The 23-year-old Meadows hit .298/.333/.477 in his first go-round with the club ... Marcell Ozuna went 3-for-4 with a grand slam to help the Cardinals best the Cubs 6-2 on Saturday. Jose Quintana got himself into trouble in the first inning, walking in a run, ahead of Ozuna stepping to the dish. The 27-year-old compounded Quintana's issues by launching a full count breaking ball over the left-center wall to extend the Cards' lead. The homer was Ozuna's first since June 16, somehow, giving him 11 on the year. It's been a forgettable first year in St. Louis for the outfielder, who's hitting just .269/.312/.384 overall in his new digs.

American League Quick Hits: Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Rafael Devers will likely be placed on the disabled list for a hamstring injury. "Looks that way," Cora said after Saturday's game, during which the third baseman strained his left hamstring on a bunt early in the game and felt it tightening while running the bases in the ninth inning. He'll be re-evaluated Sunday, but it sounds as though he's headed for the shelf. Circle back around Sunday for an update ... Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports that the Padres have continued to have discussions with the Rays regarding right-hander Chris Archer. Passan notes that the two sides have made some progress towards a deal, but the Padres seem to still be balking at the high asking price. Later Saturday it was reported by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times that the club was to the point of assessing offers for the right-hander. It certainly seems like a question of when, and to whom, Archer is dealt, and less a question of if ... Rougned Odor went 5-for-5 with two solo home runs -- one of the inside-the-park variety -- three runs scored and a double in Saturday's 7-3 Astros. He's up to nine home runs on the year, now, with his RBI tally creeping up to 30. After a dreadful stat to the season, Odor's finally started to put it together and is now the owner of a .270/.343/.437 triple-slash in 263 at-bats ... Trey Mancini went 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored as the Orioles trounced the Rays on Saturday. He thumped a two-run dinger off starter Ryne Stanek in the second inning and singled three times in the ballgame. It was the first four-hit game of the outfielder's career. He had a great game today but it has not been a pretty season for Mancini, who is slashing just .229/.302/.377 with 13 homers and 29 RBI in 398 plate appearances ... Joey Rickard went 3-for-4 with a home run, five RBI and three runs scored as the Orioles took the Rays out behind the woodshed for an 11-2 beating on Saturday. The big game boosted his line to .214/.281/.410 with six homers and 18 RBI on the season ... Leury Garcia hit a three-run triple as part of a five-run eighth inning, and the White Sox came back to best the Blue Jays 9-5 on Saturday. After the Sox had taken the lead earlier in the frame, Garcia stepped to the dish with the sacks jacked looking to add on. He did just that, slapping a ball down the left field line that bounded into the corner and allowed all three runs to score. Garcia finished 2-for-4 with four RBI in the contest. The versatile 27-year-old has quietly been a very good regular for the Sox, batting .286/.314/.410 with four homers and 10 steals in 66 games.

KD is Rockin' and the Judge is disabled

Perhaps you’ve noticed… it’s hot outside. Baseballs love to fly in balmy weather. Sure enough, the last week of action featured some spectacular feats of power. We’ll discuss those in a moment. On the seasonal stage, J.D. Martinez joined Jose Ramirez in the 30 home run club. Nineteen more players have 20 or more homers. A full 121 sluggers are on pace to reach the 20 home run plateau. It’s power time in Major League Baseball.

Shall we dive right in?

Weekly Leaders

Rhys Hoskins: 6 HR
Khris Davis: 6 HR
Jonathan Schoop: 5 HR
Eugenio Suarez: 5 HR

In addition to these standout performances, Yasmani Grandal, Yonder Alonso, and Maikel Franco popped four home runs apiece. Franco probably looks like the outlier of the group – Grandal and Alonso are known to go on binges. Franco is actually in the midst of a very successful month, but I pin this on weak opponents. I found no changes to his peripherals. Regression is coming. While players occasionally improve without any change to their peripherals, I can’t think of any examples off the top of my head. Almost always, you’ll find some sign of change in batted ball type, quality, direction, swinging strike rate, or plate discipline. Be wary buying high.

If any Phillie can be bought with confidence, it’s Hoskins. After a brief stint on the disabled list in early June, he turned his season around. He’s batting .293/.378/.605 over his last 193 plate appearances. Notably, he’s trimmed his strikeout rate by closing the up-and-away hole opposing pitchers were exploiting. As we learned last year, his low swinging strike rate, 49 percent fly ball rate, and superior plate discipline can produce epic home run totals along with a healthy OBP.

Prior to this week, Davis was slumping – so much so that he fell off the top 10 projected home run leaderboard. He hit just one home run in 124 plate appearances between June 15 and July 21. Davis bounced back in a big way, launching six taters over a four game span. He’s now back to a 41 home run projection for the season. Over recent seasons, nobody has been better at producing multi-homer games.

Schoop’s miserable season has taken a turn for the better. In 87 plate appearances since July 4, he’s walloped eight home runs while batting .384/.379/.744. He’s currently riding a five-day homer streak. You might have noticed he has zero walks over the period. His breakout 2017 season coincided with a more patient approach. Granted, he was still among the most aggressive swingers in the league, but his swing rate was far below career norms. This year, he’s bounced back to the extreme aggressiveness he showed prior to 2017. He’ll never help owners in OBP leagues, although he does seem to be making healthier contact. There’s a chance for a playable batting average with loads of power.

Suarez was in the power spotlight a couple weeks ago. He’s also homered on five straight days. His hot week coincides with a long home stand at Great American Ballpark. While Suarez is a high quality hitter and a natural 20 home run threat in any venue, his home park definitely adds to his production. With 24 home runs, only an injury will prevent him from setting a new career high.


My Top 10 Projected Home Run Leaders

J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox: 31 HR, 47 HR projected
Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians: 30 HR, 44 HR projected
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels: 28 HR, 42 HR projected
Khris Davis, Oakland Athletics: 27 HR, 41 HR projected
Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies: 26 HR, 41 HR projected
Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians: 27 HR, 40 HR projected
Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers: 25 HR, 40 HR projected
Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees, 23 HR, 40 HR projected
Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox: 25 HR, 39 HR projected
Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners: 23 HR, 38 HR projected

Aaron Judge will miss the next three weeks or so after getting hit on the wrist with a pitch. It’s a relatively minor injury, but any wrist issue has the potential to sap power and bat control. The best case scenario has him taking about 150 more plate appearances this season. With 26 homers in the bank, he still has an outside chance to reach the 40 homer plateau – it’s just no longer likely.

Jesus Aguilar and Bryce Harper also project for 38 home runs. Only a few of the top sluggers improved their season-long projection over the last week. Most are trending in the wrong direction. This was always to be expected. As I’ve repeatedly pointed out, only four players reached 40 home runs last season. When the dust settles, we’ll probably have a similar total this year.

Disabled

***Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs (left shoulder discomfort)
***Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds (shoulder subluxation – out for season)
***Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers (groin strain)
***Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants (hyperextended knee)
***Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets (calcified heels – out for season)
***Clint Frazier, New York Yankees (post-concussion syndrome)
***Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (chip fracture in right wrist)
Scott Schebler, Cincinnati Reds (shoulder sprain)
Nomar Mazara, Texas Rangers (sprained thumb)
Todd Frazier, New York Mets (back soreness)
Avisail Garcia, Chicago White Sox (right hamstring strain)
Zack Cozart, Los Angeles Angels (torn labrum – out for season)
Carlos Correa, Houston Astros (back tightness)
Lonnie Chisenhall, Cleveland Indians (calf strain)
Jay Bruce, New York Mets (right hip strain)
Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees (groin strain)
Jorge Soler, Kansas City Royals (fractured foot)
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (ruptured biceps tendon – out for season)
Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays (calf strain)
Franchy Cordero, San Diego Padres (forearm strain)
Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers (TJS – out for season)


It was a busy week on the injury front. Eric Thames, Gleyber Torres, Mike Zunino, Albert Pujols, and Evan Longoria all returned to action. Yasiel Puig is due back today. Correa and Schebler are mere days from a activation.

Seven sluggers landed on the disabled list. Winker and Cespedes are out for the season. Winker hadn’t posted big power numbers yet, but he was mid-breakout. As we discussed, Judge is out after getting hit by a pitch on the wrist. His most obvious replacement, Frazier, is dealing with headaches. Belt, Turner, and Bryant aren’t expected to miss much more than the minimum.

Power Spotlight

Today’s spotlight will focus on an established power hitter. Every week, dozens of people ask me if it’s time to cut Michael Conforto. The 25-year-old lefty is batting a painfully disappointing .230/.353/.403 on the season. However, it was always obvious he rushed back from a serious shoulder injury. Even if the injury itself didn’t slow his early production, rust, subtle mechanical changes, and other issues could have been a factor.

Since mid-June, Conforto looks more like his normal self. He’s hitting .258/.372/.467 over the span. Even more recently, he’s red hot - .385/.452/.808 with three home runs in 31 plate appearances after the All Star Break. Obviously that’s a tiny sample and thus can be considered fluky. However, everything fits the narrative of a player finally recovering from a major injury. And we know from past experience that he can be this good.

Based on the frequency I’m asked about cutting Conforto, it’s safe to assume that many of his owners are dissatisfied. He may even be languishing on your waiver wire. A challenge trade involving a steady but unspectacular player – think David Peralta – could be all that’s needed to acquire him. In OBP and/or keeper formats, this is an especially good time to push for a swap. Owners in redraft leagues using batting average should be coy about their interest. The way I do this is by asking about a high visibility player like Jose Altuve. I’ll make an offer I know they won’t accept and pop Conforto on as the throw-in. If they want to dump him, they’ll send a counteroffer. Many of my most lopsided trade wins come via these sorts of counteroffers

The Moose is again on the loose

As we draw closer to Tuesday’s non-waiver trade deadline, trade talks have intensified around the league. After a wild day of action on Thursday that saw the Yankees pry JA Happ away from the Blue Jays and the Cubs bolster their rotation by picking up Cole Hamels from the Rangers, Friday didn’t disappoint either.

The Diamondbacks struck first, acquiring hard-hitting infielder Eduardo Escobar from the Twins for a package of three prospects. Escobar, a free agent at season’s end, should provide a major boost for the Snakes. He’ll provide coverage at second base, shortstop and third base, though he may spend most of his time in the near-term at the hot corner with Jake Lamb heading to the disabled list with a shoulder injury.

Escobar was having quite the season for the Twins, slashing 274/.338/.514 with 15 home runs, 63 RBI and a league-leading 37 doubles. His fantasy value will only improve moving to a loaded Diamondbacks’ lineup and a home ballpark that is far more hitter-friendly than Target Field.

Escobar should also get mad props for his farewell, posting this touching tribute to the fans in Minnesota to Twitter:

As far as the other side of the deal, the Twins seem to have gotten a decent return for a player who was likely to walk away for nothing but a compensatory pick after the season ended. They acquire three low-level minor leaguers in the trade: Outfielders Gabriel Maciel and Ernie De La Trinidad as well as right-hander Jhoan Duran.

Maciel was ranked as the 11th best prospect in the Diamondbacks’ organization according to MLB.com. The 19-year-old Brazilian outfielder hit .287/.362/.333 with one homer, 16 RBI and 14 stolen bases over 68 games in his first exposure at Class-A Kane County.

Duran, ranked as the 19th best prospect in the Arizona system, is an intriguing young arm with a plus fastball and a power curveball, but like many minor league hurlers has struggled to develop a quality third offering. The 20-year-old compiled a 4.73 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 71/28 K/BB ratio across 64 ⅔ innings in 15 starts at Class-A Kane County this season.

De La Trinidad, 22, wasn’t ranked among the Diamondbacks’ top 30 prospects. While old for the level, he has enjoyed a nice season at Class-A Kane County, batting .311/.403/.442 with eight homers, 56 RBI and six steals in 91 games.

The Diamondbacks weren’t the only National League club upgrading their infield on Friday. The Phillies sent minor league right-hander Franklyn Kilome to the Mets in exchange for Asdrubal Cabrera.

Cabrera, an impending free agent at season's end, is expected to see time at both shortstop and third base for the Phillies. The 32-year-old is having a terrific season, slashing .277/.329/.488 with 18 homers and 58 RBI. His fantasy outlook should only improve moving to a more hitter-friendly home ballpark with a much better and deeper surrounding cast.

In return for a few months of Cabrera, the Phillies were willing to give up Franklyn Kilome. The  22-year-old right-hander, entered the season ranked as the 68th best prospect in all of baseball according to Baseball Prospectus. He has had a rough go of it at Double-A this season though, posting a 4.24 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 83/51 K/BB ratio across 102 innings. He’s still raw, but he’s a very talented young arm with a ton of upside, and a nice return for the Mets given the situation.

The Astros were also buyers on Friday, acquiring right-handed reliever Ryan Pressly from the Twins in exchange for a pair of prospects.

The 29-year-old right-hander has pitched well for the Twins this season, compiling a 3.40 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 69/19 K/BB ratio across 47 2/3 innings. He'll provide manager A.J. Hinch with a nice leverage option in front of closer Hector Rondon. Pressly is also under team control through the 2019 season, as he'll enter his final season of arbitration this winter.

In return, the Twins did very well for themselves, landing a pair of legitimate prospects in the deal. Jorge Alcala, ranked as the 10th best prospect in a stacked Astros' system, owns a 3.29 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 82/35 K/BB ratio over 79 1/3 innings between High-A Buies Creek and Double-A Corpus Christi this season.

The Twins also get 19-year-old outfielder Gilberto Celestino, ranked as the 15th best prospect in the Astros’ system. He had raked to the tune of .317/.383/.476 with four homers, 21 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 33 games at Low-A Tri City before a recent promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi.

And just when you thought the day was done, the Brewers dropped the hammer. Jeffrey Flanagan reported late Friday night that the Brewers had agreed to a deal with the Royals to acquire third baseman Mike Moustakas in exchange for Brett Phillips and Jorge Lopez.

The Brewers had been in the market for an offensive upgrade in the middle infield, but after watching Manny Machado, Eduardo Escobar and Asdrubal Cabrera head elsewhere they decided to pivot to Moustakas. In doing so, he’ll take over as the team’s everyday third baseman while Travis Shaw will slide over to cover second base.

Shaw has taken reps at the position recently, and the team must feel confident in how well he has handled them in order to pull the trigger on this deal, because Shaw has never logged a professional inning at the position.

Moustakas does lengthen an already deep and powerful Brewers' lineup though and gets to be reunited with longtime former teammate Lorenzo Cain. His fantasy value gets a huge boost with this deal, as the Brewers' lineup and the offensive environment of his new home ballpark trump what he has been dealing with in Kansas City.

It’s also a tremendous uptick to the fantasy value of Brett Phillips. Buried on the depth chart behind an extremely crowded and talented outfield in Milwaukee, the 24-year-old should get an opportunity to shine in Kansas City. He has a bit of power and a bit of speed and should be a worthwhile addition in AL-only and deeper mixed leagues, provided the Royals actually bring hi up right away and let him take his lumps at the big league level.

The Royals also add a nice potential bullpen arm in the deal in Jorge Lopez. The 25-year-old right-hander did a nice job in 10 appearances out of the Brewers' bullpen this season, posting a 2.75 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 15/13 K/BB ratio over 19 2/3 innings. He could immediately join the Royals' bullpen and has the type of arm that could ascend to a high-leverage role if he pitches well.

We’re Going Streaking

Eugenio Suarez accomplished something mighty impressive on Friday, homering for the fifth consecutive game as the Reds topped the Phillies 6-3.

That mark ties the Reds' franchise record for consecutive games with a home run, joining seven others. It was most recently accomplished by Jay Bruce during the 2016 season.

Suarez has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2018 season thus far, slashing a monstrous .305/.389/.588 with 24 homers and a National League-leading 79 RBI. Not bad for a guy who was drafted around pick 185 on average in fantasy drafts this past spring.

Suarez wasn’t the only player in the league accomplishing the same thing on Friday night though. In Baltimore, Jonathan Schoop did the exact same thing, leaving the yard for the fifth straight game as the Orioles walloped the Rays 15-5.

Schoop entered the month of July hitting a ghastly 197/.242/.345 with just eight homers and 21 RBI in his first 61 games. Since the calendar flipped though, he has hit .378 (34-for-90) with eight homers and 16 RBI in 21 games.

If he was cut loose by any fantasy owners after his miserable start to the season and is still hanging around on the waiver wire, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t pounce immediately.

As impressive as the five-game homer streaks that Suarez and Schoop have compiled, i believe they pale in comparison to what Nationals’ rookie Juan Soto is doing.

The 19-year-old phenom crushed his 13th home run of the season in the Nationals’ victory over the Marlins. It’s the third straight game that Soto has homered in. That’s the longest such streak by any teenager in the history of Major League Baseball.

He’s pretty good.

Here’s a few other names to put what he’s doing in historical context: Tony Conigliaro (24), Bryce Harper (22), Mel Ott (19), Phil Cavarretta (17), Ken Griffey Jr. (16). That’s the entire list of players in MLB history who have hit more home runs as a teenager than Soto has in his 241 plate appearances.

With another two months to go, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him wind up on top of that list. Soto also tripled and singled on Friday, raising his season slash to an absurd .315/.423/.581 to go with 13 homers, 36 RBI and a pair of stolen bases. This from a guy who played eight games at Double-A before springboarding to the show.

Happ - Y Together

Talk about last-minute shopping. Last year the Yankees made their big splash—a blockbuster trade for A’s ace Sonny Gray—with barely an hour to spare before the 4 PM ET trade deadline on July 31. If you wait until the last minute, it only takes a minute, right?

Well this year, the Yankees weren’t waiting. Two days after bolstering their pen with the addition of long-time Orioles closer Zach Britton, the Bronx Bombers added to their starting rotation by poaching veteran left-hander J.A. Happ from the division-rival Blue Jays. All it cost them was Triple-A outfielder Billy McKinney and jack-of-all-trades Brandon Drury. It was a heist.

Not to take anything away from Happ, but compared to the elaborate pyrotechnics the Yankees usually pull off at the trade deadline, this move feels strangely conservative. New York boasts a treasure trove of young talent—Justus Sheffield, Estevan Florial, Jonathan Loaisiga and Albert Abreu all rank among MLB.com’s Top 100 prospects. Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar would also qualify as enticing trade chips. Yet instead of going for the jugular (New York’s front office has championed a “win-now” philosophy since the days of George Steinbrenner) by landing a Chris Archer or Jacob deGrom, New York settled for a light-throwing 35-year-old with an ERA north of four. The Yankees did well not to sacrifice their farm system for what figures to be a three-month rental, but is Happ really the pitcher to put New York over the top?

Happ has been, throughout his career, an above-average major league starter. His resume includes a 20-win season in 2016, an All-Star nod this year (his first), a sup-four ERA over 10 postseason appearances and, excluding a recent blow dealt by Mookie Betts, has a decent track record against the Red Sox (2.98 ERA in 19 lifetime appearances). Those are all positive traits and Happ’s familiarity with the AL East should serve him well as the Yankees close out the regular season. But Happ has never put a team on his back before and that might be what it takes to navigate a difficult American League playoff landscape featuring loaded rotations in Houston, Cleveland and to a lesser extent Boston (Chris Sale might be the best arm in baseball right now, but nobody fears David Price, not even a little).



Of course, with the way teams employ pitchers now, especially during postseason play, it might not matter. Bullpens reign supreme in October and the Yankees have one of the best. Adding Britton, a crafty sinker-baller who chews lefties up and spits them out, to a bullpen already featuring the game’s hardest thrower (Aroldis Chapman) and perennial All-Star Dellin Betances, seems almost unfair. Given New York’s insane bullpen depth (Jonathan Holder, Chad Green and David Robertson are no slouches), the Yankees can probably get by in the playoffs with their starters only lasting five or six innings. And let’s not forget the strength of New York’s star-studded offense, which is on pace for 262 homers. That would rank as the second-highest total in major league history.

To be fair, Happ may have been the best the Yankees could do without giving up a foundation piece like Andujar or Gleyber Torres. Compared to past seasons, this year’s trade market has been shockingly thin on starting pitchers. Most of the players floated around in trade talks this summer—Happ, Michael Fulmer, Nathan Eovaldi, Cole Hamels (we’ll get to him in a minute), Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler to name a handful—fit the profile of competent, mid-range starters, but none of them are true aces. The Justin Verlanders and Yu Darvishes of the world just aren’t out there this year.

Trading Drury, who was scarcely used during his time in New York, seemed like a good move at the time, but now the Yankees are probably regretting it. That’s because Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ towering right fielder, went down with a chip fracture in his right wrist after being struck by a pitch Thursday against Kansas City. Judge tried to tough it out by staying in the game and even managed a single in his next at-bat, but he eventually left for X-rays and was soon sent to the hospital for an MRI.

The diagnosis wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but the Yankees will still be without the reigning AL Rookie of the Year for at least the next three weeks. Calling up Clint Frazier to spell Judge in the outfield would be a no-brainer under normal circumstances, but he’s also on the shelf right now with a concussion. Had the Yankees held on to Drury instead of shipping him off to Canada, he probably would have seen regular at-bats. As it stands now, Giancarlo Stanton, who splits time between the outfield and DH, will likely serve as the Yankees’ every-day right-fielder.

Obviously, it didn’t hurt them against the Royals on Thursday night—New York cruised to a stress-free 7-2 win in their series opener. But losing Judge and Gary Sanchez (groin) for an extended period could spell trouble for the Bombers down the line as they try to hang with Boston in a tight AL East race. One wonders if Judge’s injury will prompt the always-active Yankees to pursue yet another trade ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

As I alluded to earlier, Happ wasn’t the only trade domino to fall on Thursday. Though the deal is still pending an “exchange of medical information,” it appears Cole Hamels is headed to the Windy City, where he will soon be a member of the Chicago Cubs. We’ll know for sure later today, but the Rangers are reportedly getting back two pitchers including minor league right-hander Rollie Lacy, who had been pitching at High-A Myrtle Beach. The Cubs are also expected to take on about $4 million of Hamels’ remaining salary with Texas covering the rest. It’s not a big return, but at least the Rangers got something back for Hamels, who was probably a goner after this year anyway (his contract includes a club option for 2019, though Texas could have bought him out for $6 million).

This continues the rebuilding movement the Rangers set in motion last year when they traded Yu Darvish (now Hamels’ teammate in Chicago) to the Dodgers for three prospects including promising outfielder Willie Calhoun. Even after dealing Hamels to the Cubs, the Rangers aren’t done selling. They’ve been fielding offers for closer Keone Kela along with left-handed relievers Alex Claudio and Jake Diekman. History has shown that it’s better to tear it all apart than be stuck in the middle with nowhere to go, so don’t be surprised if the Rangers blow it up by moving as many pieces as possible by Tuesday at 4 PM ET.

At this stage of his career, it’s debatable whether Hamels can be a true difference-maker for a contending team. Hamels certainly has the requisite postseason experience (he won World Series MVP honors with the Phillies in 2008) and has always had success at Wrigley Field (1.76 ERA in six career starts), where he once threw a no-hitter. However, he’s also served up 23 homers this year (third-most in the majors) and has pitched to a disastrous 10.23 ERA over his last five outings. That doesn’t bode well for the left-hander, though he should benefit from a change of scenery after spending the last three seasons at Globe Life Park, one of the more hitter-friendly venues in all of baseball (as Hamels’ drastic home/road splits would attest to). And even if the move to Wrigley doesn’t rejuvenate him, the 34-year-old should still be a noticeable upgrade on maddening right-hander Tyler Chatwood, who leads the majors with 85 walks this season.

AL Quick Hits: Sonny Gray took a ball off his thumb in Thursday’s start against the Royals and went for X-rays after the game. Despite the injury, the Yankees right-hander still expects to make his next start Wednesday versus Baltimore … The Astros acquired Martin Maldonado from the Angels on Thursday in exchange for left-hander Patrick Sandoval and $250,000 in international slot money. Maldonado will help out at catcher while Brian McCann continues his recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery … According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, the Red Sox have checked in on Angels relievers ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline. Blake Parker and Justin Anderson have both been attracting interest … Jonathan Schoop continued his torrid hot streak with another big night (2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI) Thursday against the Rays. The Orioles second baseman has now homered in four straight games. That brings his season total to 15.

NL Quick Hits: Stephen Strasburg was placed on the disabled list with a pinched nerve in his neck. An MRI on Strasburg’s shoulder came back clean, though the right-hander still plans on seeing a neurologist … Soreness prevented Daniel Murphy from starting Thursday’s game against Miami. He contributed a pinch-hit double later in the game as the Nationals cruised to a decisive 10-3 victory … The Braves are reportedly considering a trade for Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman. The former World Baseball Classic MVP has had a rough year, producing a sluggish 5.42 ERA over 13 starts … Brandon Belt was sent to the disabled list with a hyperextended left knee. He was also diagnosed with a bone bruise, which will sideline him from baseball activities for the next five days. Meanwhile Belt’s teammate Evan Longoria returned to action Thursday after missing the previous six weeks with a broken hand. He went 2-for-4 in the Giants’ loss to Milwaukee … Jake Lamb left Thursday’s game against the Cubs with a left shoulder contusion and will be evaluated on Friday. The Cubs won that game on a walk-off home run by Anthony Rizzo, who tallied his 600th career RBI in the victory … Kris Bryant landed on the DL with left shoulder inflammation and is headed for an MRI. Shoulder issues have hampered the former NL MVP for most of the past month … The Brewers bolstered their pen Thursday by acquiring Joakim Soria from Chicago in exchange for lefty Kodi Medeiros and right-hander Wilber Perez. Soria has been working as the White Sox’s closer but will occupy a setup role ahead of ninth-inning man Corey Knebel in Milwaukee … Orlando Arcia returned to the majors Thursday following a month-long stint in Triple-A. Unfortunately, the Brewers shortstop went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts against the Giants … The Brewers are showing trade interest in Reds starter Matt Harvey. The Dark Knight has fared somewhat better since arriving in Cincinnati earlier this year, though he’s coming off a miserable outing Sunday against Pittsburgh (3 2/3 IP, 8 H, 8 ER) … Mets manager Mickey Callaway expects Todd Frazier to begin a rehab assignment within a “couple of days.” He’s been nursing a strained rib cage since before the All-Star break. Meanwhile Noah Syndergaard, who was recently diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth disease, is expected to return when the Mets travel to Washington next week … Jonny Venters is going back to where it all started. The left-handed reliever will return to his old stomping grounds in Atlanta after being acquired from Tampa Bay on Thursday. The 33-year-old returned to MLB this year following a six-year absence. Venters has undergone three Tommy John surgeries through the course of his career … Reds outfielder Jesse Winker is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his injured right shoulder. The 24-year-old hit an impressive .299 with seven homers and 43 RBI over 281 at-bats this season.

Eovaldi's Vanishing Act

Less than 24 hours after the New York Yankees gave up a trio of prospects, including highly-touted righty Dillon Tate, to acquire Zach Britton from the Orioles, the Red Sox responded with their own AL East rental agreement, picking up right-handed starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi from the Tampa Rays in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Jalen Beeks.

On a surface level it’s a straight one-for-one swap that lacks the polarizing prospects, personalities and intrigue of a midsummer blockbuster. However, it’s an attractive trade for both sides given their respective contention windows. In Eovaldi, the Red Sox pick up a finished product, a hard-throwing righty who averages 97 miles per hour on his fastball. The 28-year-old heads up to Boston with a lengthy injury history, but he’s shown a propensity to fill up the strike zone and provides them with much-needed starting pitching depth now that Eduardo Rodriguez is on the shelf with an ankle injury. It also means that Rick Porcello is no longer the only righty in the rotation.

Eovaldi, who will be a free agent this offseason, has pitched well in 10 starts since returning from arthroscopic elbow surgery on March 30, posting a 4.26 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 53/8 K/BB ratio over 57 innings of work (10 starts) in Tampa Bay this season. Not only has he displayed pinpoint control, but he’s also made a significant change to his arsenal recently. According to Brooks Baseball’s PITCHf/x date, he’s increased his cutter usage from just seven percent in 2016 to over 28 percent in 2018. According to the PITCHf/x leaderboards at Baseball Prospectus, Eovaldi’s cutter boasts the highest average velocity (93.3 miles per hour) of any major-league starter this season.

Eovaldi may not be long for the Red Sox rotation. President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters that he will join the rotation immediately, but “could be a guy that can slip into the bullpen as time goes on.” Given his blazing fastball, ability to provide multiple innings in relief, and the Red Sox’ lack of quality set-up options behind Craig Kimbrel, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Eovaldi coming on in the middle innings once the postseason rolls around.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tampa Bay did extremely well in this deal, turning a pure rental into a potential long-term, cost-controlled, backend rotation piece in Beeks. The 24-year-old has been roughed up in two starts at the major-league level, allowing nine earned runs on 11 hits and four walks over 6 1/3 innings. However, he’s dominated at Triple-A Pawtucket, going 5-5 with a 2.89 ERA and 117/25 K/BB ratio in 87 1/3 frames. He should get an opportunity in the Rays rotation at some point in the second half and is an interesting name to keep on your radar in deeper mixed leagues moving forward.

Rockies Acquire Seung Hwan Oh

According to Robert Murray of The Athletic, the Blue Jays agreed to trade reliever Seung Hwan Oh to the Rockies on Wednesday night. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet and Jon Morosi of MLB Network had previously reported that Toronto was closing in on a deal involving the veteran right-hander. The 36-year-old signed as a free agent for a meager $2.5 million in February and has posted a stellar 2.68 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 55/10 K/BB ratio over 48 innings of work this season.

“The Final Boss” joins the Rockies bullpen less than 24 hours after their closer, Wade Davis, melted down in spectacular fashion, allowing five runs in the 10th inning of an 8-2 loss to the Astros on Tuesday. Davis remains firmly entrenched as their stopper for now, but Oh’s addition adds another in-house insurance option for manager Bud Black to turn to in a high-leverage situation over the next two-plus months. The perplexing aspect of this deal centers around the unbelievable fact that the Rockies felt the need to add pieces to their relief core after spending lavishly on their bullpen this offseason.

Here’s an oversimplification: It’s too early in the life cycle of multi-year contracts to declare the decision by the Rockies (and a number of other major-league front offices) to heavily invest in proven relievers last offseason as a complete failure. However, Craig Edwards of FanGraphs noted on June 28, “For roughly $135 million in salary this season, the biggest free-agent relievers of the offseason are currently on pace for three wins.” That’s not great. We don’t know the exact details of the Blue Jays’ return just yet, but it’s a bad sign that the Rockies had to burn additional assets to acquire help at the back-end of their pen after forking over a combined $106 million in guaranteed money for the trio comprising Jake McGee, Bryan Shaw and the aforementioned Davis just a few months ago.

Meanwhile, Ryan Tepera will remain the closer in Toronto for the immediate future. However, Roberto Osuna is reportedly eligible to return August 5 after serving a 75-game suspension for violating MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy.  He’s also been the subject of several trade rumors in recent weeks. Regardless of how this situation shakes out in the coming weeks, fantasy owners should attempt to avoid the Blue Jays’ closer quagmire entirely, if possible.

It Was All A Dream

If you close your eyes, you can see it clearly. Andrew Benintendi and J.D. Martinez went back-to-back off Orioles starter Dylan Bundy in the first inning. It was Martinez’s league-leading 32nd home run and his third round-tripper in the last two games. Mookie Betts belted a three-run homer, his 25th of the year, to increase the lead and David Price was cruising on the mound. These events really happened. Except, they didn’t end up counting for fantasy owners. After a two-hour and 33-minute rain delay, and the Red Sox leading 5-0 in the top of the second inning, the umpires made the decision to postpone the game on Wednesday. Unfortunately, fantasy owners lose all of the stats from this game.

It’s not the umpires’ fault. It was a bizarre situation and they absolutely made the correct call given the circumstances and the bleak radar trends in Baltimore. The bigger issue here is why the Orioles elected to start the game in the first place, especially given the ominous forecast leading up to game time. To be clear, the decision to start a game rests with the home team. Once a game begins, it’s in the hands of the umpires to decide to enter a rain delay and restart, suspend or postpone a game. A game doesn’t become official until the fifth inning. According to Sean McAdam of Boston Sports Journal, the Red Sox were “livid with handling of weather/postponement.”

Can you blame them? Not only did the decision to start the game prevent Boston from traveling home hours earlier, but it also forced them to waste an outing from Price. The Red Sox are back in action hosting the Twins in Fenway Park, while the Orioles will take on the Rays in Camden Yards on Thursday night. All indications are that this game will most likely be rescheduled for August 13, a mutual off-day for the two teams.


American League Quick Hits

Jose Altuve left Wednesday's game with the Rockies with discomfort in his right knee but is hopeful that he will be able to play on Friday. ... Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that the Padres aren't willing to include Fernando Tatis Jr. or MacKenzie Gore in a deal for Chris Archer. ... Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Wednesday that Gary Sanchez (groin) likely won't be ready to return until late August or early September. ... Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported that the Yankees are "heavily in the mix" for lefty J.A. Happ. … TR Sullivan of MLB.com reported that teams still have interest in acquiring Cole Hamels before the July 31 trade deadline. ... Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the Blue Jays have shown interest in Brandon Drury. ... The Yankees activated Gleyber Torres from the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday. … Khris Davis hit a pair of home runs and racked up five RBI in the A’s 6-5 win over the Rangers. ... Mike Trout went 3-for-4, homered twice, and drove in four runs in the Angels’ lopsided win over the White Sox. ... Brad Hand earned his first save with the Indians, recording the final four outs in a 4-0 win over the Pirates. … Trevor Bauer struck out 10 batters over seven scoreless innings in that victory. ... Edwin Diaz notched his major league-leading 38th save in the Mariners’ win over San Francisco on Wednesday. ... Kevin Kiermaier ripped a two-run homer, his third of the season, in the Rays 3-2 win over the Yankees. ... Sergio Romo recorded two outs in the eighth and ninth innings to net his 12th save in that victory. ... John Hicks reached base four times to lead the Tigers past the Royals. … Whit Merrifield collected two hits and stole his 19th base in the loss. ...  Mitch Garver went 4-for-6 with five RBI as the Twins beat the Blue Jays 12-6 in 11 innings. ... Ervin Santana allowed three runs on seven hits over five innings in a no-decision in his season debut in that contest. ... Justin Smoak reached base four times in six plate appearances in the loss. ... Shin-Soo Choo went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the Rangers loss to the Athletics. ... Byron Buxton (hand) reported no discomfort Wednesday after taking a full round of batting practice on Tuesday and is likely to be activated from the disabled list at Triple-A Rochester on Thursday. ... Wilson Ramos (hamstring) is scheduled to catch live batting practice on Saturday. ... Clint Frazier (concussion) hit in a batting cage and rode a stationary bike on Wednesday. He was diagnosed with post-concussion migraines by a specialist on Monday.

National League Quick Hits:

Yoenis Cespedes announced Wednesday morning that he will undergo season-ending surgery on both of his heels. He’s expected to miss the next 8-10 months. ... Diamondbacks acquired Matt Andriese from the Rays in exchange for Brian Shaffer and Michael Perez. ... Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters after Wednesday's game that he’s unsure if Javier Baez (knee) will be available on Thursday. … He also said it's possible Kris Bryant (shoulder) will need another DL stint after sitting out a second straight game with renewed discomfort in his left shoulder. ... Starling Marte is day-to-day after being diagnosed with a contusion on his left hand. ... Jesse Winker (shoulder) could be placed on the 10-day disabled list after missing his second straight game Wednesday with lingering discomfort in his right shoulder. … Brandon Belt left Wednesday's game against the Mariners with a hyperextended left knee. ... Yu Darvish (elbow) will throw another bullpen session this weekend. ... Brandon Morrow said Wednesday that he feels like he's "going in the right direction" in his recovery from a biceps injury. ... Charlie Blackmon hit a walk-off home run, his 20th of the season, to lead the Rockies over the Astros 3-2. … Jon Gray allowed just one hit and two runs (one earned) over seven innings of work in that win. ... Tanner Roark struck out a season-high 11 batters over eight shutout innings to defeat the Brewers. ... Bryce Harper blasted a three-run home run, his 25th of the season, in that victory. ... Yadier Molina went 3-for-5 and slugged his 14th homer in a losing effort against the Reds. ... Anthony Swarzak pitched two scoreless innings to pick up his second save in a Mets win over the Padres. ... Seranthony Dominguez walked a pair of batters but picked up a four-out save against the Dodgers. ... Scott Kingery hit his first home run since June 29 in that win. ... Robbie Ray limited the Cubs to one run and struck out six over seven innings but settled for a no-decision in the D-backs 2-1 loss. ... A.J. Pollock went deep for his 13th home run of the year in that contest. ... Pedro Strop worked a scoreless ninth inning against Arizona to earn his fourth save. ... Scott Schebler (shoulder) went 1-for-3 with a walk in his first game on a minor league rehab assignment for Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. ... Corey Oswalt jammed his hand while swinging the bat on Wednesday afternoon against the Padres. ... Matt Albers (shoulder) will rejoin the Brewers this weekend in San Francisco. … Andre Ethier officially announced his retirement on Wednesday. He played 12 years for the Dodgers, hitting .285 with 162 homers in 1,455 career games.