MLB Player News

No word yet on the signing bonus for the 29th overall selection from July’s draft, but he’s in Arizona on Saturday and will be introduced there. Caldwell was one of the fastest and best defensive prep outfielders in this year’s draft class, which absolutely fits the mold of the type of player that the Diamondbacks have had a lot of success in developing. He’s at least a few years away from being an option at the big league level.

Mateo aggravated his surgically repaired elbow in a collision with Heston Kjerstad on May 31 and has been on the IL since June 10. He might be able to come off the injured list next week.

O’Neill went 1-for-3 for high-A Aberdeen on Sunday in his first game after an 11-day break in his rehab from a shoulder injury. He could return this weekend if all goes well.

Dunning had a 4.47 ERA in 46 1/3 innings as a starter for Round Rock. It looks like he could make a spot start Tuesday against the Orioles, assuming that he’s not needed in relief tonight (and he probably won’t be, given that the Rangers used only one reliever Sunday and just sent him down to make room for Dunning).

Boushley has amassed a 5.04 ERA in 30 1/3 innings during his three stints in the Rangers pen this season. The league has a 52% hard-hit rate and a 12% barrel rate against him.

Since hitting .373/.409/.678 in his first 20 games this season, Misner had come in at .145/.213/.203 in 51 games. That’s more like his minor league track record said he’d hit, though those early exit velocity numbers were really impressive. Chandler Simpson is coming back up as his replacement and figures to get all of Misner’s playing time and probably a little more.

Kameron Misner was sent down to open up a spot, so the Rays are picking offensive over defense for once. Simpson was hitting .366/.416/.465 with 11 steals in 16 games since being demoted. He figures to start against right-handers, probably mostly in left field but maybe occasionally in center, and he’ll be worth using in mixed leagues.

After being away from the team over the weekend, Verlander will start on normal rest Tuesday against the Marlins.

Fitzgerald, who was batting .230/.289/.320 in 200 plate appearances, finally began losing some time at second base last week, though he started the last two games against the Red Sox and helped the Giants win yesterday with a successful squeeze bunt. It’s a little surprising to see him get sent down now, but it did figure that the Giants would turn to Casey Schmitt at second base following Matt Chapman’s return. Brett Wisely and Christian Koss could platoon until then.

Wow. It definitely seems like the right move, but we’re shocked the Reds did it. After all, Candelario’s three-year, $45 million contract is only just reaching the midway point. Candelario was bad in hitting .225/.279/.429 last season and far worse in opening this year at .113/.198/.213 in 91 plate appearances before going on the IL with a lumbar strain. He’d since played 17 games on a rehab assignment and hit .211/.318/.333 in the 15 of those that took place in Triple-A. The Reds could have brought him back and plugged him into the lineup with neither Spencer Steer nor Christian Encarnacion-Strand playing very well at the moment, but there wasn’t any reason to believe he’d be an upgrade. He’ll go unclaimed on waivers and become a free agent, at which point maybe the Red Sox or Mariners would be interested in giving him a look. A return to the Nationals might also be an option; he excelled there in 2023, and both Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell will be very much available in trade.

We jumped the gun earlier in reporting this as a minor league deal; it turns out Lovelady is going right on to the major league roster. But far more importantly.... Dicky? Dicky Lovelady? Maybe it’s honor of pitching for R.A.'s old team. Lovelady, 29, has a 5.26 ERA in 110 career major league relief appearances.