MLB Player News

Weiss referred to this as “spring training” for Murphy, so don’t expect it to be a short rehab assignment. The goal is to get him “a couple dozen at-bats,” which could mean double-digit games, and he also will not play in back-to-back games from the start. That means it could be late May before we see Murphy back with the Braves. That will cut into Drake Baldwin’s playing time a little bit, but Murphy should be the clear backup at this point.

Hoffman was instrumental in Toronto’s playoff success last year, but found himself out of the closer role with the emergence of Louis Varland, who ironically came over from the Twins at last year’s deadline. The 33-year-old should bolster Minnesota’s relief corps as they attempt to make a playoff push in the final two months.

White bolsters Boston’s bench mix and should get some chances against left-handed starters over the final two months. The 32-year-old has been a key role player for Atlanta over the last two years.

Atlanta has had trouble filling innings out of their bullpen for months, which Uberstine should help address. The 27-year-old didn’t have a path to helping the Red Sox given their rotation depth, but he should get some chances with the Braves over the final two months. He made one relief appearance for Boston back in early April.

Zeferjahn has been a lights-out reliever for the Angels since showcasing improved control over the last few weeks. The 28-year-old could easily wind up getting a look in Chicago’s closing mix while Daniel Palencia remains sidelined.

Ballesteros got off to a phenomenal start to the year before an extended cold spell earned him a ticket back to the minors by mid-June. The 22-year-old is an interesting hitting prospect and a worthwhile gamble for the Angels as they attempt to figure out their next steps as a franchise.

The trade is now official. Varsho will pack up and switch clubhouses with the Blue Jays in Houston for Monday’s series opener. He figures to be in the lineup for the Astros against his former club. The 30-year-old remains a phenomenal defensive center fielder, but he’s traded some over-the-fence pop to cut back on strikeouts this year. He’s posted seven homers and nine steals in 365 plate appearances across 99 games this season.

Arrighetti is more of a long-term addition for the Blue Jays as they pivot away from contending in the current year without embarking on a full-scale teardown. The 26-year-old righty is on the shelf with right foot nerve irritation.

The Red Sox sure are burning a lot of talent here. Miller is quite good and under control for three years after this one, but giving up a long-term regular for a left-handed reliever is quite a loss of value. Mayer is currently on the shelf with an arm injury and might not be much of a factor this year, but he should be the Giants’ second baseman next year and he remains very much an option at short if the club could find a taker for Willy Adames. Miller’s fantasy value disappears with the deal, since he won’t be a candidate for saves in Boston. With the Giants shedding both he and Caleb Kilian, Dylan Smith is probably their favorite for saves at the moment.

Left-hander Henry LaLane will be part of the return, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. This doesn’t seem great for Ramos. He might play regularly for now, but if things work out for the Yankees, he’ll finish the season starting primarily against lefties. It’ll be interesting to see if the team sends down Jasson Domínguez here (assuming he’s not in the trade) or maybe gives up on Amed Rosario. Ramos’s departure will leave the Giants even more punchless for now, but as a bad defensive corner outfielder probably best utilized as a DH, he didn’t seem like a long-term fit alongside Rafael Devers and Bryce Eldridge.

The blockbuster trade deadline deal is now official. Boston gave up a massive haul, including three of their top five prospects, according to Baseball America. Rutschman is currently on the injured list with left wrist inflammation and won’t be ready to contribute for a couple weeks. There’s a chance he’s ready to start a minor league rehab assignment later this week. The 28-year-old former top-overall pick from the 2019 draft topped 19 homers in consecutive seasons from 2023-2024 before missing time with injury each of the last two years. He fills a glaring need behind the plate for the Red Sox, especially since he won’t reach free agency until 2028. However, there’s a decent chance that surrendering a high-level pitching prospect like Eyanson to a division-rival ultimately comes back to haunt them.