Esmerlyn Valdez (hand) exits after hit-by-pitch

Because of Tampa Bay’s budget or lack thereof, there were immediate trade rumblings involving Rasmussen after the Rays exercised his $20 million club option for 2027. Topkin reports that the Rays intend to hang onto the 31-year-old as their ace for the upcoming season.

The hope was that Blalock might be able to establish himself as a fifth starter or at least a middle reliever away from Colorado, but he had a 5.56 ERA in 110 innings for Triple-A Jacksonville and was limited to just four relief appearances for the Marlins, giving up seven runs in 11 1/3 innings. The timing of his release could indicate that a move to Asia is in his future.

Mendoza, 26, was terrific for Double-A Springfield in 2025 (.275/.390/.452) and for Triple-A Memphis (.291/.380/.437) last season, but it hasn’t gotten him any prospect hype or a trip to the majors. He’s decided to stick around with the Cardinals anyway, and there’s the chance he could see some time at third base in St. Louis if things break right next year.

The Cubs still haven’t announced the decision, even though it was supposed to be made Monday. However, it doesn’t alter their roster at all. Assad made $1.8 million last season in his first year of arbitration, and he should make $2.5 million to $3 million next year after posting a 3.63 ERA in 11 starts and 17 relief appearances in 2026. He can also now say goodbye to Iowa for good, since he’s out of options. The Cubs sent him down four times last season.

There’s no reason to think the MLBPA will be any more amenable to a cap that starts in 2028 than one that starts in 2027, but this definitely clears the way for a busy November ahead of the expected December lockout. It appears that 2027 will be played under essentially 2026 conditions, assuming that it gets played at all. MLB has also agreed to a number of other changes, as long as the MLBPA does go along with their cap/floor system. Among them are a higher minimum salary, the elimination of the qualifying offer, earlier free agency for players over 30 with five years of service time, reducing the number of times a player can be option in a year from five to four and creating the ability to option to the minors players picked in the Rule 5 draft (they’re normally required to stay on the major league roster).

It sounds like Bell, who used to manage the Reds, might want to return to an on-field role. Bell had been involved in player development and oversaw the Jays’ mental performance department.

Uceta, who had a 3.79 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 76 innings out of the Rays pen in 2025, was supposed to be a closer candidate last season. Instead, he missed the entire year after coming down with a sore shoulder in spring training, and now it sounds like he’s out until at least June next year.

The 6-foot-8 Petit, who had a 2.44 ERA in 66 1/3 innings between Double- and Triple-A in 2025, was the first pick in last year’s Rule 5 draft, but he tore his UCL in March and required Tommy John surgery. The Rockies have decided against putting him back on their 40-man and he cleared waivers, so now he’s back with the Tigers. Assuming they decline to add him to their 40-man later this month, he’ll again be Rule 5 eligible.

Rivera was designated for assignment on Monday so the Red Sox could get down to their 40-man roster limit. It makes some sense that the Cardinals would want him, since Chaim Bloom used to be the chief baseball officer in Boston and still has connections to personnel there. Rivera is a 23-year-old with a big fastball, but he will now be on his third organization and has yet to establish consistent production. It’s not a bad gamble for the Cardinals to take. Garcia is an 18-year-old right-hander who pitched to a 4.40 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 39/10 K/BB ratio in 43 innings in the Dominican Summer League this year.

Kanzler has spent the past three seasons as the Cubs’ director of player development. The 36-year-old was a 20th-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in the 2013 MLB Draft and played three seasons in the minors, primarily as a center fielder. Kanzler is the 22nd manager in Mariners’ franchise history and will be the second-youngest manager in the Majors behind 34-year-old Nationals manager Blake Butera, who was 33 at the time he was hired.