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    Justin Steele (elbow) to ramp up throwing progression

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    CHC Starting Pitcher #35
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    Justin Steele (elbow) has been cleared to ramp up his throwing progression.

    Cubs manager Craig Counsell reaffirmed that Steele will return as a reliever given the lack of time remaining on the calendar to sufficiently ramp up as a traditional starter. The 30-year-old was given clearance to progress to throwing off a bullpen mound in early August as he continues working his way back from a flexor strain that he suffered in April while rehabbing from last year’s Tommy John surgery. He has a chance to make it back to Chicago as a reliever in time for their September playoff push.
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    It’s unclear how the Red Sox are going to handle the situation since they’re ostensibly locked into the second Wild Card spot heading into the playoffs next week. Patrick Sandoval was scheduled to start Sunday’s season finale and will presumably get the ball on Saturday instead, weather permitting. Jake Bennett, Payton Tolle and Brayan Bello are also in the mix to pitch as well. It’ll be Matthew Boyd and David Peterson most getting the ball for the Cubs during the twin bill with Justin Steele (elbow) in the mix to return from the injured list this weekend. There are a ton of variables that fantasy managers need to monitor with Boston facing inclement weather from roughly Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.
  • CHC Starting Pitcher #35
    Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters Steele will have at least one additional rehab outing for Triple-A Iowa next week before the club makes a decision on his status. The 31-year-old figures to pitch in relief for the Cubs since he won’t be built up enough from a workload standpoint to operate as a traditional starter.
  • CHC Starting Pitcher #35
    It seems both the Cubs and Steele came to the conclusion that he won’t get built up enough to help as a starter in the postseason, so he is attempting to come back as a relief weapon. His four-seamer was sitting at 89.3 mph, so that’s not ideal. We’ll see if he can make it back before the end of the season.
  • CHC Starting Pitcher #35
    Steele looked sharp from a velocity standpoint during his 36-pitch rehab debut earlier this week. The 31-year-old southpaw is likely ticketed for a multi-inning relief role, if he makes it back to Chicago before the postseason. He’s unlikely to make any sort of fantasy impact, but it’s worth noting that he should have a relatively normal offseason and return to the Cubs’ rotation next spring.
  • CHC Starting Pitcher #35
    Chicago has left the door open for Steele to return, most likely as a reliever, at some point before the regular season concludes. The 31-year-old southpaw averaged his usual 90.3 mph on his four-seam fastball during the 36-pitch outing. He’s coming off elbow surgery and hasn’t pitched in the majors since the 2025 season. He’ll need a couple additional rehab outings before he’s a realistic option for the Cubs.
  • CHC Starting Pitcher #35
    Steele is attempting to make it back to Chicago as a reliever for the postseason after suffering a flexor strain a couple months ago that delayed his return from last year’s elbow surgery. The 31-year-old lefty can be ignored in fantasy leagues, but his return should provide a lift for the Cubs in the postseason. He’s going to need at least a week or two of rehab appearances before he’s an option for Chicago’s bullpen.
  • CHC Starting Pitcher #35
    Steele underwent elbow surgery in April of 2025 and then dealt with a flexor strain earlier this season, which is why he still has not pitched this season. The left-hander has begun facing hitters this week, which means it’s highly unlikely that he will return as a starter. Cubs manager Craig Counsell even said, “We’re not going to skip steps. He rightfully should be (focused on returning this season), but we have a lot of steps to go before we get there.” There likely won’t be much fantasy value with Steele this season, but his pitching in relief would be beneficial for the Cubs and be nice for fantasy managers to see before 2027 drafts.
  • CHC Starting Pitcher #35
    Steele is expected to pitch in relief once he makes it back to Chicago at some point in the final month of the season. The 31-year-old former top-of-the-rotation southpaw suffered a flexor strain earlier this season while working his way back from last year’s Tommy John surgery. He’ll need to get through at least one additional live batting practice session before heading out on a rehab assignment.
  • CHC Starting Pitcher #35
    Levine mentions that Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Steele could “help in the pen at some late summer point.” Steele is working back from elbow surgery and a setback he suffered earlier in May, so the team is clearly being cautious with him. While he may pitch innings for the Cubs later this summer, it no longer seems like he needs to be stashed in redraft fantasy leagues.
  • CHC Starting Pitcher #35
    It was Steele’s first throwing session since suffering a setback when he was diagnosed with a flexor strain in late April that delayed his throwing progression. The 30-year-old lefty is roughly 14 months removed from Tommy John surgery and figures to make it back to Chicago’s rotation mix at some point in the second half. There should be a clearer return timetable once he progresses to facing hitters and is close to embarking on a minor league rehab assignment. It seems unlikely he’ll make it back before August.

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    Padres signed OF Cal Stevenson to a minor league contract.

    The 30-year-old outfielder spent the 2026 season in the Tigers’ organization where he slashed .264/.410/.456 with nine homers, 33 RBI and seven stolen bases in 330 plate appearances at Triple-A Toledo. He’ll add extra outfield depth for the Friars.
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    Angels re-signed LHP Sammy Peralta to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

    Peralta made 16 appearances at the MLB level between the Angels and Rockies in 2026, posting a miserable 6.65 ERA, 1.87 WHIP and a 23/9 K/BB ratio over 23 frames. It’ll take a strong showing in Cactus League action for him to crack the Halos’ Opening Day bullpen.
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    Angels and C Tyler Heineman avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.2375 million contract.

    The 35-year-old backstop will remain with the Angels in a backup role heading into the 2027 campaign. Heineman slashed just .175/.223/.220 with one homer and 10 RBI in 200 plate appearances between the Blue Jays and Angels in 2026.
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    Anthony Santander publicly apologized Friday for since-deleted Islamophobic social media posts.

    Santander shared anti-Muslim videos following the U.S. election last week before eventually taking them down. The Blue Jays released a statement Thursday condemning all forms of hate. Most assume the Jays would like to rid themselves of Santander at this point, though he still has $49 million left on the five-year deal he signed after hitting 44 homers for the Orioles in 2024. He’s since played in just 54 games in 2025 and none in 2026 because of shoulder issues. Even if the Jays are willing to eat the contract, it makes financial sense to wait until after the lockout ends, since any missed games next season would lead to a corresponding reduction of his $16.5 million salary.
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    According to Kevin Barral of Fish on First, the Marlins have expressed interest in free agent southpaw Patrick Sandoval.

    The Marlins are in the market for arms that could fill out the backend of their rotation or provide quality depth. When right, Sandoval should be able to do that, be he had very inconsistent results in his first action back from Tommy John surgery — posting a 1-7 record, 5.12 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and a 73/32 K/BB ratio across 70 1/3 innings in his 15 appearances.
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    Bruce Levine of 670 The Score in Chicago reports that both the Cubs and White Sox have expressed interest in Japanese right-hander Kaima Taira.

    Both teams met with agent Scott Boras during the general manager’s meetings to discuss the 26-year-old hurler. The Padres are also known to have expressed interest in his services. With the potential lockout looming, it doesn’t sound like Nippon Professional Baseball is going to change the posting rules at all, so any player that has been posted for MLB teams will need to sign before the lockout or return to their clubs in Japan. Expect the interest to really heat up here in the coming days.
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    Rangers re-signed INF Max Wagner to a minor league contract.

    Wagner got a $1.9 million bonus from the Orioles as the 42nd overall pick in the 2022 draft, but Baltimore gave up on him after he hit .218/.301/.339 in Double-A in 2025. The Rangers signed him in April, and he put up a much-improved .249/.337/.523 line with 21 homers in 85 games in Double-A at age 25 last season. If he can do that again in Triple-A next year, he might become a candidate for a major league bench gig.
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    Reds re-signed OF Shane Sasaki to a minor league contract.

    Sasaki, the Rays’ third-round pick in 2019, hit .241/.340/.371 in 53 games for Double-A Chattanooga last season before missing the final 3 1/2 months with an injury. He’ll aim to win a spot on the Triple-A roster when minor league spring training starts.
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    Reds re-signed LHP Ben Wereski to a minor league contract.

    Wereski, 28, had a 4.42 ERA in 12 starts between Double- and Triple-A after being plucked out of indy ball last season. He’s probably just Triple-A depth, but there’s the chance he’ll be needed to come up and make a start or two next season.
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    Reds re-signed RHP Trevor Kuncl to a minor league contract.

    Kuncl will compete to retain his spot in the Triple-A Louisville pen after posting a 5.40 ERA and a 42/29 K/BB in 37 1/3 innings for the Bats last season.