July 21, 2025
Washington Nationals pitching prospect Yoel Tejeda Jr. is being promoted to High-A Wilmington after a solid showing at Single-A to begin the year. The Nats' 17th-ranked prospect posted a 3.43 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 16.4 percent K-BB% over 16 starts for Fredericksburg (78 2/3 innings pitched). The 6-foot-8 hurler was proficient at keeping balls in the yard, logging just a 5.2 percent HR/FB% and walked batters at a better-than-average 6.5 percent rate. His tall frame allows his low-90s fastball to seem faster, although his K/9 was only 8.47 in those 16 starts. The 22-year-old right-hander will face stiffer competition at High-A, so it will be interesting to see how he fares, but for now, he is off the dynasty radar.
--Jarod RuppSource: MiLB Central
July 21, 2025
The Chicago Cubs are expected to call up right-hander
Ben Brown from Triple-A Iowa on Monday before their series opener versus the Kansas City Royals, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers. Brown could serve as Chicago's bulk reliever on Monday against KC after opener
Ryan Brasier, who will likely only go one or two innings as the "opener."
Jameson Taillon (calf) remains on the 15-day injured list for the Cubs, but it remains to be seen if the 25-year-old Brown will actually get any opening assignments before Taillon is back with the big-league squad. He was sent to the minors earlier this year after struggling to a 4-6 record, 6.13 ERA (4.10 FIP) and 1.52 WHIP, but he also had 91 strikeouts and 27 walks in 79 1/3 innings over his 16 outings (14 starts). For his strikeout upside alone, Brown might be worth a waiver pickup in NL-only formats.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN Chicago - Jesse Rogers
July 21, 2025
New York Mets right-hander
Jose Butto (illness) is on a minor-league rehab assignment and should return to the big-league bullpen this week, according to The Athletic's Tim Britton. Butto started his rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League last week and has now moved to Triple-A Syracuse. The 27-year-old will probably only need another outing or two down on the farm before being activated from the 15-day injured list. The Venezuelan reliever was pitching well in his fourth season with the Mets before his illness, posting a career-low 2.47 ERA (3.34 FIP), a 1.26 WHIP, one save, 39 strikeouts and 20 walks in 43 2/3 innings pitched. Butto started seven games each for the Mets in 2023 and 2024, so he also has starting experience, but he will most likely stick in the bullpen the remainder of 2025.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Tim Britton
July 21, 2025
New York Mets outfielder
Starling Marte (knee) won't be back as quickly as the team had initially hoped, but The Athletic's Tim Britton says that he should return by the end of July. Marte has taken batting practice, though, so his return isn't all that far off, barring a setback. The 36-year-old veteran has recovered slowly from a knee bruise and will probably serve mostly as the designated hitter when he returns in the second half. Fantasy managers also shouldn't be expecting him to run much after stealing just five bases in 58 games in the first half of the season. Marte has swung the bat well with a .270 average (44-for-163), but he has only four home runs, 20 RBI and 22 runs scored in 188 plate appearances before injuring his knee. Without much speed upside these days, Marte has a much lower fantasy ceiling and floor.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Tim Britton
July 21, 2025
New York Mets first baseman
Pete Alonso (hand) didn't start Sunday's series finale against the Cincinnati Reds due to a right-hand contusion, but he did enter the game in the seventh inning to continue his consecutive games streak. The Athletic's Tim Britton writes that Alonso is expected to start on Monday in the series opener versus the visiting Los Angeles Angels. The 30-year-old All-Star took over for
Mark Vientos late in Sunday's game at first base as a defensive replacement and did not get an a-bat. Alonso is currently leading the league with 26 doubles and is also hitting a strong .275 (102-for-371) with 21 home runs, 77 RBI and 53 runs scored in 100 games played in 2025. However, he's been cold in the month of July to this point, going 9-for-51 (.176) with three homers, two doubles, 12 RBI, nine walks and 13 strikeouts in 15 games.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Tim Britton
July 21, 2025
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander
Alek Manoah (elbow) looked much better in his second minor-league rehab start on Sunday at Single-A Dunedin, giving up one run on three hits while walking none and striking out two in two innings of work. He threw 16 of his 28 pitches for strikes in the outing after going just one-third of an inning in his first rehab start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. The 27-year-old is making progress after having an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow last June, but he'll need at least three more rehab starts before the Jays consider activating him from the 60-day injured list to rejoin the big-league squad. The former first-rounder was an All-Star in 2022 and was third in the American League Cy Young voting before falling apart in 2023 and being demoted to the minors. Manoah won't be guaranteed a rotation spot when he's deemed fully healthy.
--Keith HernandezSource: Dunedin Blue Jays
July 21, 2025
Los Angeles Angels utility man
Chris Taylor (hand) started his minor-league rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Thursday and has gone 4-for-6 with two RBI in two games played so far. Taylor was hit by a pitch on June 9, and X-rays revealed a left-hand fracture. The 34-year-old veteran began the season with the Los Angeles Dodgers but was cut after 10 years with the team while hitting just .200 (7-for-35) in 28 games played. He has only played in 10 games with the Angels since latching on with the team and has gone 6-for-30 (.200) with a home run, three RBI and a stolen base. When Taylor is activated from the 10-day injured list, possibly in late July, he will serve as a utility infielder/outfielder for the Angels the rest of the way in the second half. There's very little fantasy value here because of his high-strikeout rate and limited playing time.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 21, 2025
An MRI exam on Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever
Robert Stephenson (biceps) on June 6 showed an injury after he was pulled three pitches into his May 30 outing. He threw on June 30 but still felt discomfort and was shut down until throwing again on July 7. Stephenson said he's been throwing up to 90 feet as he recover from a stretched nerve in his right biceps, according to MLB.com. The 32-year-old veteran has a ways to go considering he hasn't pitched since May, but he's at least back to building his arm back up and could be an option to rejoin the Angels' bullpen as a late-inning setup man at some point in August, barring another setback. The former first-rounder didn't pitch at all in the big leagues in 2024 and has only made two appearances for the Halos in his first year with the team this season.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
July 21, 2025
The Houston Astros will start right-hander
Colton Gordon and left-hander
Framber Valdez in the first two games of the team's early-week series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Rome notes that Wednesday's starter is still to be determined. Gordon's last appearance came in relief on July 13, but his other 10 outings this season have all come as a starter. In 52 innings, he's 3-2 with a 4.67 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts. Valdez will be making his first start since before the All-Star break. In 121 innings (19 starts) this season, the 31-year-old lefty is 10-4 with a 2.75 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 125 strikeouts. His 25.5% strikeout rate is his best since 2020,
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
July 21, 2025
The New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers have all "checked in" with the Pittsburgh Pirates around third baseman
Ke'Bryan Hayes, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The 28-year-old Hayes is one of MLB's best defenders at the hot corner and is signed through 2029 at a reasonable $7.5 million average annual value. However, Hayes has been one of the worst full-time offensive players in the sport in 2025. In 360 plate appearances, he's slashing .237/.284/.294 with two home runs, 33 RBI, 31 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. A move out of Pittsburgh can only help Hayes, both in terms of counting stats and the chance for a fresh start with a new organization.
--Will BradySource: USA Today - Bob Nightengale
July 21, 2025
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher
Zack Littell is "in play" as a rental starter at the trade deadline, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. While Tampa Bay enters play on Monday just 1.5 games back of the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners for the final American League wild-card spot, Morosi notes that the Rays have shown a willingness to both buy and sell at previous deadlines. The 29-year-old Littell is 8-7 this season with a 3.53 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts in 122 1/3 innings (20 starts). A move out of Tampa Bay could help him with his biggest issue, which is allowing home runs (1.77 HR/9). However, his 86.2% strand rate is unsustainably high, pointing to likely regression wherever he pitches in the season's final months.
--Will BradySource: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
July 21, 2025
The St. Louis Cardinals are planning to hold on to third baseman
Nolan Arenado through the trade deadline, with "no teams showing strong interest in him," according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Arenado previously rejected trades to both the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels, which could be discouraging teams from engaging in trade negotiations with St. Louis. The 34-year-old Arenado is far removed from the player he was at his peak. In 358 plate appearances so far this season, he's slashed .241/.299/.381 with 10 home runs, 42 RBI, and 39 runs scored. His .140 isolated slugging percentage and 4.1% barrel rate both demonstrate his diminished ability to consistently drive the baseball. With two seasons and $37 million remaining for an acquiring team to pay following 2025, there may not be much of a market for Arenado even if he were willing to be moved.
--Will BradySource: USA Today - Bob Nightengale
July 21, 2025
The Washington Nationals are making reliever
Kyle Finnegan, utility man
Amed Rosario, right-hander
Mike Soroka, and first basemen
Nathaniel Lowe and
Josh Bell available at the trade deadline, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Washington is 21 games under .500 entering play on Monday, so they will clearly be in sell-mode over the next couple of weeks. However, it appears from Nightengale's report that they are looking to move their veterans and impending free agents rather than pieces of their young core. Finnegan's trade deadline status could be the most relevant of the players listed above from a fantasy perspective. The 33-year-old has logged 19 saves so far in 2025, but he's also recorded an unimpressive 4.25 ERA and 10.7% K-BB%. It's possible, if not likely, that an acquiring team would view Finnegan as bullpen depth rather than a closer.
--Will BradySource: USA Today - Bob Nightengale
July
21,
2025
The
Atlanta
Braves
are
"letting
teams
know"
that
designated
hitter
Marcell
Ozuna,
closer
Raisel
Iglesias,
and
reliever
Pierce
Johnson
are
on
the
trade
block,
according
to
Bob
Nightengale
of
read more...
July
21,
2025
The
Arizona
Diamondbacks
have
placed
third
baseman
Eugenio
Suarez,
first
baseman
Josh
Naylor,
reliever
Shelby
Miller,
outfielder
Randal
Grichuk,
and
starting
pitchers
read more...
RADIO
