July 15, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers outfield prospect
Braylon Payne was named Carolina League Player of the Week for his performance from July 7-13. The Brewers' ninth-ranked prospect went 6-for-14 (.429) with a double, two home runs, four RBI, four runs scored, and a stolen base in four games for Single-A Carolina. The 2024 first-rounder is riding a 10-game hit streak that includes six multi-hit efforts, during which time he's slashing .432/.553/.784. For the season, the 18-year-old is hitting .261 with a .373 OBP thanks to a strong 15.4 percent walk rate, along with seven home runs and 22 steals through 54 games for the Mudcats. He's got plenty of time to bring his current strikeout rate of 27.8 percent down, and the 70-grade speed could make him a valuable fantasy asset down the road.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 15, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Alek Manoah (elbow) battled poor command in his first minor-league rehab start on Monday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. Manoah only went one-third of an inning and allowed four runs (three earned) on one hit while walking two and striking out one. He threw only 10 of his 22 pitches for strikes, and his four-seam fastball sat around 93-94 mph. The 27-year-old was limited to only five games for the Blue Jays last year before undergoing UCL reconstruction. In his 24 1/3 innings, he had a respectable 3.70 ERA. Manoah is likely to spend the full 30 days on his rehab assignment, but he could return to the big leagues in mid-to-late August. He was the runner-up in the American League Cy Young voting in 2022 before struggling mightily in 2023 while being sent to the minors. It's anyone's guess as to how he'll fare with Toronto late this season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Sportsnet.ca
July 15, 2025
Texas Rangers right-hander
Jon Gray (forearm) allowed an earned run on six hits while walking none and striking out two in three innings on Monday in a minor-league rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. A rainout over the weekend forced the 33-year-old to skip making his second rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock. He should head to Round Rock after this outing, and he's expected to make at least a couple more rehab starts before the Rangers consider activating him from the 60-day injured list. Gray has yet to pitch in the big leagues in 2025 due to a fractured forearm that he suffered in spring training on March 14. He also missed some time in 2024 with groin and foot injuries and finished with a disappointing 4.47 ERA and 1.31 WHIP while striking out 86 and walking 28 in 23 outings (19 starts). After his strikeout rate dipped below 20% last year, fantasy managers will want to see more.
--Keith HernandezSource: Milb.com
July 15, 2025
The Cleveland Guardians placed right-handed reliever
Paul Sewald (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to July 12) on Tuesday with a right-shoulder strain, according to Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. A corresponding move is to be determined. Sewald went on the IL for the first time this season back in late April with a right posterior deltoid strain, and the 35-year-old veteran had just returned on July 5. He made four appearances out of the Guards bullpen before getting hurt again, allowing an unearned run on one hit while walking two and striking out three in 3 2/3 innings. Sewald will be eligible to return on July 27, but it's a good bet we won't see him until August. It's been an injury-plagued year for Sewald. He currently has a 4.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, two saves and 18 K's in just 15 1/3 innings of work. Whenever he returns, he'll be a late-inning setup option in front of closer
Emmanuel Clase.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com - Tim Stebbins
July 15, 2025
Kansas City Royals outfield prospect
Carson Roccaforte was named Midwest League Player of the Week for the week of July 7-13. The Royals' 21st-ranked prospect went 11-for-23 (.478) with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, five RBI, seven runs scored, and a stolen base in six games for High-A Quad Cities. The left-handed slugger has been swinging a hot bat for longer than a week, though, hitting safely in 11 of his last 12, batting .426 (20-for-47) with five home runs and an unbelievable 1.364 OPS during that time. After this recent hot stretch, the 23-year-old's slash line stands at .241/.365/.478 with 13 home runs and 33 stolen bases. If he can improve on the 30.0 percent strikeout rate while maintaining the 15.9 percent walk rate, a trip to Double-A could happen before the season is out, although he is off of the fantasy radar for now.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 15, 2025
San Francisco Giants first base prospect
Bryce Eldridge (hamstring) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored on Monday in his first rehab game with the ACL Giants. The Giants' top prospect is working his way back from a hamstring strain that has kept him out since June 21. It's not clear how long the rehab assignment will last, but once complete, he'll return to Triple-A, where he was slashing .230/.284/.426 with three home runs in 16 games after earning a promotion from Double-A. The 6-foot-7 slugger is the Giants' first baseman of the future, and although he strikes out quite a bit, dynasty managers should be stashing him away based on his future power potential.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 15, 2025
San Francisco Giants infield prospect Jhonny Level homered in a 3-for-5 day at the plate on Monday, driving in two runs and scoring twice for the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants. He was also caught stealing one time. The Giants' fourth-ranked prospect is faring well in his first stateside professional baseball action, hitting .298 with nine doubles, four triples, and eight home runs (.513 SLG) in 51 Complex League games. He's also posted a better-than-average 12.7 percent walk rate, helping him to a strong .386 OBP, and he's also stolen 14 bases. The switch-hitter can hit for both contact and power, although his speed might be his best tool. But at 18 years old, the young Venezuelan is still several years away from the majors.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB.com
July 15, 2025
Baltimore Orioles first baseman
Ryan Mountcastle (hamstring) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on July 22, according to MLB.com. Mountcastle was diagnosed with a Grade 2 right-hamstring strain and was moved to the 60-day injured list on June 23. Barring a setback on his rehab assignment, he could be activated on July 30 or shortly thereafter. The 28-year-old right-handed hitter has been out since the end of May but should return to regular duties at first base in Baltimore when he's ready. In the meantime, expect
Ryan O'Hearn and
Coby Mayo to continue splitting time at the cold corner for the O's coming out of this week's All-Star break. Mountcastle had been a disappointment for fantasy managers before his hamstring injury, slashing .246/.280/.348 with a weak .628 OPS, only two homers, 15 RBI and 19 runs in 187 at-bats.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July
15,
2025
Los
Angeles
Angels
outfielder
Mike
Trout
is
eyeing
a
return
to
the
outfield
after
the
All-Star
break
and
is
planning
on
resuming
drills
in
the
outfield,
according
to
The
Sporting
Tribune's
Thomas
Murray.
However,
there's
no
read more...
July 15, 2025
Veteran right-handed reliever
David Robertson is throwing for interested clubs this week, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon. Robertson has been a free agent since the end of last season, but he could land with a team looking for help in the bullpen soon. Several teams, including the New York Mets and New York Yankees, have looked into Robertson, according to league sources. Robertson turned 40 in April, but he had a 3.00 ERA with 99 strikeouts and 27 walks with the Texas Rangers in 2024. From 2022-24, he averaged 63 appearances per year with a 2.82 ERA. The former 17th-round pick by the Yankees in 2006 out of Alabama has 177 career saves in 16 MLB seasons and has also pitched for the Marlins, Phillies, Cubs, White Sox, Rays and Rangers. Because of his wealth of experience in high-leverage roles, it's not out of the question for Robertson to become fantasy relevant in the second half.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Will Sammon
July
15,
2025
Left-handed
relief
pitcher
Joe
Mantiply
and
the
Toronto
Blue
Jays
have
agreed
to
terms
on
a
minor-league
deal.
The
34-year-old
veteran
was
knocked
around
this
year,
giving
up
17
runs
on
26
hits
in
just
9
read more...
July 15, 2025
Miami Marlins reliever
Jesus Tinoco (forearm) is continuing a throwing program he started on June 16 and is "close to getting back on the mound," according to MLB.com. The 30-year-old right-hander was placed on the 15-day IL with a right forearm strain in early June. Before the injury, Tinoco had worked 19 1/3 innings with a 5.12 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 10 strikeouts, and four saves. His 3.26 xERA was significantly lower than his actual number, but his putrid 12.5% strikeout rate was also much worse than the 25.9% K rate he posted in 2024. He could get back in the mix for saves in the Marlins bullpen upon his return. Miami has opted for a committee approach led by breakout right-hander
Ronny Henriquez in his absence.
--Will BradySource: MLB.com
July 15, 2025
Left-handed pitcher
Foster Griffin hasn't pitched in the majors since 2022, but he could be one of the most under-the-radar free agents this coming offseason. He split time in 2022 between the Royals and Blue Jays before joining the Yomiuri Giants in the Nippon Professional League. This year, he has posted a 0.75 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 12 games (11 starts). He is 6-0 with a 1.39 FIP and 0.86 WHIP in his 72 innings. Griffin reportedly switched up his arsenal this year, catching the eye of several MLB teams with his strong start to the season, according to Fansided's Robert Murray. Griffin will be a name to watch this offseason as teams look to fortify their rotations, and he could be very productive, despite his non-traditional path through Japan.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Robert Murray
July 15, 2025
According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees are looking to fix their issues at third base with an obvious but effective option -- third baseman
Eugenio Suarez of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Suarez is slashing .250/.320/.569 and leads the NL with 78 RBI. He has crushed 31 home runs this year for Arizona, but his team is still just 47-50 at the break, sitting 11 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and 5.5 games out of a wild-card spot. With so many injuries to their pitching staff, the D-backs are expected to be sellers at the deadline, and Suarez should be one of the best bats on the market. Heyman also mentions Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes and Colorado Rockies third baseman
Ryan McMahon as other potential fits if a deal for Suarez can't be struck.
--Zach ThompsonSource: Jon Heyman
July 15, 2025
The Boston Red Sox may be circling Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher
Charlie Morton as a trade-deadline target, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Fox Sports. The 41-year-old Morton's season-long numbers are unimpressive, as he's posted a 5.18 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with 88 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings (14 starts). However, Morton has turned it on of late. Across seven starts in June and July, Morton is 4-0 with a 2.72 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings. The veteran gives up a significant amount of hard contact on the ground, which has led to an elevated .331 BABIP and will continue to impact his WHIP. However, he still racks up strikeouts and could be in line for more win chances if moved to Boston or any other contender.
--Will BradySource: Fox Sports - Ken Rosenthal
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