A Yank in Cheap Clothing

For the first time since July 1989, the Orioles and Yankees have completed an in-season trade that didn’t involve international signing money. That last player-for-player deal from 29 years ago sent right-hander John Hayban to New York and outfielder Stan Jefferson to Baltimore.

This one certainly looks a lot more impactful.

Zach Britton is officially a member of the Yankees’ league-best bullpen, with pitching prospects Dillon Tate, Josh Rogers, and Cody Carroll becoming members of the Orioles organization in return.

It’s a pretty nice haul for the rebuilding O’s. Tate is a former top-five pick who has posted strong ERAs in the upper minors, Rogers is a left-hander with good sinking stuff and the ability to become a useful back-end major league starter, and Carroll is one of the more MLB-ready relief prospects in the sport.

But for the here and now, this is all about Britton donning the pinstripes and joining a New York relief corps that already ranks first in the majors in combined ERA (2.75) and strikeouts -- 448 in 349 2/3 innings. He’ll work in a setup role for the Yankees, which obviously torpedoes his fantasy value, but man is that bullpen going to be tough on opposing teams down the stretch and into the postseason.

Britton missed the first 10 weeks of the 2018 campaign after rupturing his right Achilles tendon during an offseason workout and he looked a little shakier than normal upon his return in June, but the 30-year-old left-hander had rattled off eight straight scoreless appearances for the Orioles and he boasts a 1.72 ERA over his last 262 innings dating back to the beginning of the 2014 season.

Brad Brach will reclaim closer duties in Baltimore until he too is inevitably traded.

Sanchez Back On Disabled List

Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez seemed to be loafing it behind the plate and on the basepaths during Monday night’s loss to the Rays and he drew a ton of criticism for that perceived lack of hustle from members of the national and New York media. As it turns out, he’s actually just hurt.

Sanchez officially landed on the 10-day disabled list on Tuesday afternoon after an MRI revealed a reaggravation of the right groin strain that cost him the final three weeks of the first half.

This time the groin injury figures to keep Sanchez sidelined through the middle of August.

It’s been a hugely frustrating 2018 campaign for Sanchez, and for fantasy owners who spent a ton of fantasy capital on him this spring. It seemed like a good bet that he would be the top performer at fantasy baseball’s shallowest position, but right now he ranks eighth among all catchers, behind Evan Gattis, J.T. Realmuto, Yasmani Grandal, Wilson Ramos, Willson Contreras, Yadier Molina, and Buster Posey.

Sanchez has slugged 14 home runs and tallied 42 RBI in 66 games, but the 25-year-old backstop is batting just .188 with a .283 on-base percentage across 279 total plate appearances.

And these lingering groin issues continue to carve into his opportunity to right the ship.

Austin Romine will again fill in behind the plate for the Yankees, with Kyle Higashioka backing him up. Romine has performed well this season in limited action, slashing .264/.322/.473 with six home runs and 26 RBI over 42 games. He probably deserves another look in two-catcher formats.

Rangers Demote DeShields

Delino DeShields opened the 2018 campaign as the Rangers’ everyday center fielder and leadoff man, and he carried quite a bit of preseason fantasy appeal in that role after registering a .714 OPS with 29 stolen bases and 75 runs scored over 120 games in 2017.

But he was dropped to the ninth spot in the Texas lineup by the beginning of June and the Rangers finally decided to option him to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday afternoon.

DeShields, 25, has batted just .204/.300/.270 across 322 plate appearances this year, making him one of the least-productive regulars in the major leagues -- at least at the plate. He has played good defense in center and tallied 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts, but the out-of-contention Rangers wanted to shake things up and will hope that a short stay at the Triple-A level might provide a jumpstart for his career.

Carlos Tocci is expected to serve as the Rangers’ primary center fielder in the meantime. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored on Tuesday night against the Athletics, but the 22-year-old has batted .143/.234/.190 over his first 48 major league plate appearances -- Tuesday’s numbers included -- and he holds a .265/.317/.337 career slash line in the minors. There’s no fantasy upside here.

National League Quick Hits: Mets placed outfielder Yoenis Cespedes on the 10-day disabled list with dual heel injuries … Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday that there is no update on Brandon Morrow's biceps injury … Bryce Harper did not start Tuesday night’s game against the Brewers due to a stomach bug … Phillies pitching prospect Ranger Suarez will make his major league debut in a start Thursday against the Reds … Kris Bryant is expected to miss at least two games due to renewed discomfort in his left shoulder … Ozzie Albies (hamstring) was held out of the Braves' lineup again on Tuesday … J.T. Realmuto homered and knocked in four runs as the Marlins topped the Braves on Tuesday afternoon … Carlos Martinez (oblique) could return to the Cardinals' starting rotation on Monday … Jesse Winker was out of the Reds' starting lineup on Tuesday because of a sore right shoulder … Yasiel Puig (oblique) is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Saturday … Austin Gomber took a no-hitter into the seventh inning but had to settle for a no-decision Tuesday in the Cardinals' extra-innings win over the Reds … Yu Darvish (elbow) threw a 16-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday afternoon … Clay Buchholz limited the Cubs to one run over 6 2/3 innings Tuesday in the Diamondbacks’ victory … Hyun-Jin Ryu (groin) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week … Evan Longoria (hand, arm) is now on track to rejoin the Giants over the weekend … Javier Baez was icing his knee following Tuesday night's loss to the Diamondbacks … Todd Frazier (ribs) is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment soon … Lorenzo Cain went 4-for-5 and scored the winning run on Tyler Saladino's sac fly as the Brewers edged the Nationals in 10 innings Tuesday … Corey Dickerson left Tuesday night's game against the Indians with left hamstring discomfort … Jeff Samardzija (shoulder) remains in shutdown mode … Joe Panik (groin) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Sacramento … J.P. Crawford (hand) will travel to the Phillies' spring training complex in Clearwater, Florida later this week to ramp up his workouts … Derek Holland will start for the Giants on Wednesday against the Mariners … German Marquez (paternity) is due to return to the Rockies' starting rotation Sunday versus the Athletics … Pedro Baez (biceps) will rejoin the Dodgers on Thursday in Atlanta … Dodgers reliever Tom Koehler underwent season-ending surgery on his right shoulder … Jerad Eickhoff (shoulder, wrist) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Saturday in Florida … Marlins placed outfielder Garrett Cooper on the 10-day disabled list with right wrist inflammation … Rockies placed reliever Chris Rusin on the 10-day disabled list with left plantar fasciitis.

American League Quick Hits: Mariners manager Scott Servais expressed optimism Tuesday that James Paxton (back) will be ready in 5-6 days … Masahiro Tanaka pitched a three-hitter for his third career shutout Tuesday against the Rays … Jose Berrios was on point Tuesday, yielding just four hits and a walk while fanning nine over seven shutout innings in the Twins’ win over the Blue Jays … Carlos Correa (back) hit off a tee, ran, and played catch on Tuesday … Roberto Osuna's rehab assignment has been shifted to Triple-A Buffalo … Khris Davis slugged a three-run home run in the 10th inning of the Athletics' big comeback victory over the Rangers on Tuesday … J.D. Martinez smashed a solo home run and a two-run shot Tuesday in Baltimore … Kendall Graveman will undergo Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery on Monday in Dallas … Gleyber Torres (hip) drew a walk and scored two runs in his final minor league rehab game Tuesday with High-A Tampa … Carlos Rodon carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning on Tuesday night against the Angels … Twins activated right-hander Ervin Santana (finger) for his season debut Wednesday in Toronto … Jonathan Schoop homered in his third straight game Tuesday against the Red Sox … Wily Peralta notched his fifth save despite allowing a run in the ninth Tuesday against the Tigers … Jake Faria (oblique) is slated to make at least one more rehab start at Triple-A Durham … Brandon Drury suffered a bruised left hand when he got hit by a pitch in the fifth inning Tuesday night at Tampa Bay … Elvis Andrus ripped his first career grand slam and drove in five runs Tuesday against the Athletics … Brian McCann (knee) played catch and did cardio work on Tuesday … Drew Pomeranz wasn’t sharp in his return from the disabled list Tuesday, permitting four runs over 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Orioles … Marco Estrada (glute) left his rehab start at Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday due to a right middle finger blister … Burch Smith picked up his first victory since 2013 by allowing two runs and one hit over 6 1/3 innings Tuesday against the Tigers … Willie Calhoun smacked his first home run for the Rangers this season in Tuesday's loss to the Athletics … Addison Reed (elbow) threw live batting practice without issue on Tuesday … Adeiny Hechavarria (oblique) remained out of the Rays' starting lineup on Tuesday … Jonny Venters (hamstring) made a one-inning rehab appearance Tuesday with High-A Charlotte … Indians claimed outfielder Johnny Field off waivers from the Rays; optioned him to Triple-A Columbus … Twins designated utilityman Taylor Motter for assignment.