MLB Player News

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol told reporters Contreras is likely to miss upwards of 10 weeks, rather than the 6-8 week timetable the veteran backstop provided earlier this week. The 31-year-old figures to be on the shelf until sometime right around the All-Star break in mid-July.

Wendzel did not appear in the last homestand and is just 2-for-29 in 17 games with the Rangers this season. He will return to a .314/.419/.657 slash line at Triple-A with three home runs in nine games. His defensive versatility will likely put him in line for another call-up later in the season.

Cavalli is the Nationals’ number five prospect and has been sidelined since last spring after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He was up to 98 mph with his fastball in live batting practice sessions, so now he will start what figures to be a lengthy rehab assignment. As we know, command is usually one of the last things to come back after Tommy John surgery, so while Cavalli’s velocity is nice to see, it will be more important to see how he can command his arsenal against hitters over the next few starts. If all goes well, he could push to be back in the Nationals’ rotation by the end of the summer.

The 30-year-old has come off the IL and immediately stepped into an everyday role, which is interesting since he’s slashing .224/.255/.367 with a 27.5 percent strikeout rate in 13 games this season. It’s a lost season for the White Sox and Mendick is not on fantasy radars.

The move was rumored on Sunday and is now official. The 28-year-old has a 4.86 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and a 13/6 K/BB ratio across 16 2/3 innings with the White Sox this season. He will most likely find a minor-league deal somewhere else and try to work his way back into a big-league rotation.

Leone will return to a 6.75 ERA in 14 2/3 innings on the season. He’s not on the fantasy radar and is probably on shaky ground with the White Sox as well. Brad Keller was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Jansen has been one of the Blue Jays’ best hitters, slashing .313/.384/.625 on the season with four home runs in 21 games. However, he also only has 12 runs scored and just seven RBI while being buried in the back third of the lineup. A bump up to second would be huge for his fantasy value if it sticks. Jansen has also started four of the last five games behind the plate as he continues to push for near full-time playing time.

This will be the second time that the 27-year-old has served as the 27th man this season. He’s thrown 2/3 scoreless innings with the Padres so far this year, striking out both batters he faced. He’ll be sent back to Triple-A El Paso when the game is over.

In his Monday newsletter, Wilson mentioned that “all looked good” with Garcia’s MRI and that “Garcia could be available Tuesday in the opener against the Phillies.” That’s a huge sigh of relief for both the Rangers and fantasy managers. It’s not for certain that Garcia will actually be in the lineup on Tuesday, but it sounds like the slugging outfielder will avoid the IL and not miss many more games, if he misses any at all.

Peraza was placed on the IL with a shoulder strain during spring training, which gave Oswaldo Cabrera the chance to compete for a starting job. The Yankees also traded for Jon Berti, so the infield has gotten a bit crowded. Peraza will try to get his timing back at Triple-A, but there doesn’t appear to be any path for him to make it back to the big leagues unless there’s an injury to any of the players ahead of him.

The 30-year-old right-hander refused his outright assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett from the Braves and will instead peddle his wares on the open market. Stephens posted a 2.70 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and a 2/1 K/BB ratio over 3 1/3 innings in three appearances at the big league level this season.