MLB Player News

The deal is official. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that Kim turned down multi-year offers elsewhere to return to Atlanta, where he’ll serve as the club’s starting shortstop — pushing versatile Mauricio Dubón to a utility role — before re-entering free agency next winter in pursuit of a larger payday. The 30-year-old middle infielder, who turned down a $16 million player option last month to hit the open market, posted an underwhelming .234/.304/.345 slash line with five homers and six steals across 191 plate appearances split between the Rays and Braves this past season after working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. From a career-arc standpoint, Atlanta represents about as clean a runway as Kim could ask for to rebuild long-term value, offering everyday reps on a competitive roster without the immediate pressure of a long-term commitment. From a fantasy perspective, though, the bar at shortstop remains high enough that he profiles as more of a deeper mixed-league option with power/speed combo ceiling upside heading into next spring.

Neck stiffness from trying to hear what Dalton Rushing is saying about him behind his back. Smith was going to sit out one game in favor of Rushing this weekend anyway. Now it’ll be tonight’s, rather than Sunday’s.

Glasnow, who last pitched in a game exactly one month ago, has again been shut down of late, but he’s waiting on approval to resume building up. At this point, a return right after the All-Star break is probably the best that should be hoped for.

Frasso had the ability to opt out of his contract, so the Dodgers added him to their 40-man to keep him around. He has a 4.85 ERA, 24 strikeouts and 10 walks in 13 innings for Oklahoma City. The control might not be there to turn him into a reliable reliever, but the 39 percent K rate demands some patience. The move will use up his last option year (assuming that he isn’t quickly recalled and kept on the roster for the rest of the season).

The Yankees obviously didn’t have much warning about this or they wouldn’t have sent down J.C. Escarra after Friday’s game. In fact, Aaron Boone was asked about Wells during his pregame availability tonight and said nothing about it. Escarra figures to face righties, with Ali Sánchez getting the call against lefties, until Wells returns.

The Yankees could have saved themselves (and us!) a couple of transactions if they weren’t in such a hurry to demote Escarra after last night’s game. He figures to be the team’s primary catcher against righties until Austin Wells returns.

After nearly two weeks off to rest his troublesome lower left leg, Schanuel will return as the Angels’ primary first baseman. He was hitting .262/.313/.387 with four homers in 208 plate appearances before landing on the injured list. He still might prove to be a fringy mixed league option if he’s now closer to 100 percent physically than he’s been previously this year.

This was a good Littell game. He located his fastball well at the top of the zone all afternoon and let his splitter dive low and below it. Plus, all five of his pitches forced at least one swing-and-miss. Also, credit to the Nationals for yanking Littell when they did and not letting him face Corbin Carroll for a third time after they rallied in the prior inning. He’s scheduled to face the Mariners at home next time out.

Soler’s hip irritation has morphed into a more concerning injury. The Angels will likely rotate DHs in his absence, with Mike Trout and Jo Adell both likely to see some time there. That would open up outfield starts for Jose Siri.

It seems like an odd move to put an injured Campero back on the 40-man roster, but the Angels must have their reasons. Campero, 28, hit .202/.272/.346 in 114 plate appearances for the Angels between 2024 and ’25. He was at .287/.375/.455 in 44 games for Rocket City before getting hurt last week.

Martinez had already been back in Triple-A since mid-May, but this takes him off the 40-man. He went 1-for-3 in a brief stint with the Angels while Logan O’Hoppe was on the IL.