RADIO
Kade Anderson "Definitely in the Mix" for a Rotation Spot
Seattle Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said on Seattle Sports that left-handed pitching prospect Kade Anderson is "definitely in the mix" for a starting-rotation spot at the big-league level, according to Shannon Drayer. Anderson was seventh on the starting depth chart, but after the M's traded veteran right-hander Luis Castillo over the weekend, he's now sixth. Seattle will sit down this week to map out a plan "that makes the most sense for him to impact the big-league team if there is a spot for him to do so." The 22-year-old former third overall pick in 2025 from LSU is the Mariners' top prospect and the No. 5 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, and the odds of him making his major-league debut in August seem increasingly likely. Anderson has looked amazing in 16 starts (82 1/3 innings) at Double-A Arkansas, going 9-1 with a 1.20 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, and 119:12 K:BB. He's already rostered in 22% of Yahoo leagues and could help fantasy managers in mixed leagues to close out the year if he earns a rotation spot in Seattle.
Source: Shannon Drayer
Source: Shannon Drayer
Gabriel Moreno Likely Heading to Paternity List
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno was a late scratch from the team's starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival San Diego Padres to attend the birth of his second child, according to Jack Sommers of Sports Illustrated. Veteran James McCann got the start behind the dish to catch right-hander Brandon Pfaadt and was hitting eighth in the batting order against Padres right-hander Michael King. Fantasy managers should expect Moreno to go on the paternity list on Tuesday and miss the remainder of the series against SD. The 26-year-old Venezuelan backstop is having a fine fifth year in the big leagues in 2026, as he came into Monday's tilt with a .298/.380/.438 slash line, a career-best .818 OPS, eight home runs, 47 RBI, 46 runs scored, and four steals in 85 games and 350 plate appearances. Moreno needs just two homers to set a new career high. He's 0-for-10 to begin August, but Moreno hit .362 (34-for-94) with a .927 OPS, two homers, six doubles, 19 RBI, and 18 runs scored in 25 games in July. Moreno should be back in action for the team's weekend series against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers at home.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Jack Sommers
Source: Sports Illustrated - Jack Sommers
James Wood Headed for MRI After Injuring Side on Monday
Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood (side) injured his left side on a swing in the sixth inning of his team's 6-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, per Mark Zuckerman of Nats Journal. While Wood stayed in the game and took another at-bat after the injury, Zuckerman reports that the 23-year-old is going for an MRI on Tuesday. Wood has been one of the better hitters in baseball in 2026, slashing .265/.393/.535 with 30 home runs, 73 RBI, 100 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases across 535 plate appearances. The young slugger has posted elite contact metrics, logging a 21.1% barrel rate and a 58.2% hard-hit rate. If Wood misses time, Nationals infielders Jose Tena and Andres Chaparro could be in line for more playing time at designated hitter.
Source: Nats Journal - Mark Zuckerman
Source: Nats Journal - Mark Zuckerman
Reds Promote Top Outfield Prospect Hector Rodriguez After Stellar Triple-A Showing
Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall said the team is planning to promote outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez to the big leagues on Tuesday, according to Francys Romero of Beisbol FR. Rodriguez has put together a dominant season at Triple-A Louisville so far in 2026, hitting .274/.347/.533 with 27 home runs, 69 RBI, 72 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 455 plate appearances. The 22-year-old is considered one of the top prospects in the Reds system and has the potential to be a five-category fantasy contributor. He could also be in line for an everyday role in Cincinnati with Reds first baseman/outfielder Spencer Steer (wrist) currently on the injured list due to a wrist injury. In any league where he remains available, Rodriguez profiles as a high-upside waiver wire target.
Source: Beisbol FR - Francys Romero
Source: Beisbol FR - Francys Romero
Emmet Sheehan Optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan has been optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. Following the Dodgers' trade deadline acquisition of superstar left-hander Tarik Skubal, it appears that Sheehan is the odd man out in the Dodgers' rotation. Sheehan has been inconsistent so far in 2026, recording a 4-8 record with a 5.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 108 strikeouts across 95 1/3 innings (20 starts). The 26-year-old's underlying metrics suggest he's been hurt by some poor luck, as he's logged an above-average 18.9% K-BB rate and owns a 3.96 xERA. However, Sheehan's average fastball velocity is down one mile per hour from last season, and he's had major difficulty keeping the ball in the yard, allowing 1.89 HR/9. With Skubal in Los Angeles and Dodgers starters Tyler Glasnow (back) and Blake Snell (elbow) also nearing returns to the team's rotation, Sheehan may not see many more opportunities to contribute in the big leagues in 2026.
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Mickey Moniak Nearing Two-Year Extension With Rockies
The Colorado Rockies and outfielder Mickey Moniak are nearing an agreement on a two-year extension, according to Thomas Harding of Rockies.com. Moniak is under team control with Colorado through the end of 2027, at which point he would have hit free agency. Now, it appears as though the Rockies are locking him in for at least an extra year. Across 278 plate appearances this season, Moniak is hitting .273/.317/.547 with 17 home runs, 47 RBI, 38 runs scored, and one stolen base. The 28-year-old has logged a double-digit barrel rate in three out of the last four years and has emerged as a quality power source for fantasy managers. The lefty-swinging Moniak is mostly deployed in a big-side platoon role in Colorado, which limits his counting stat upside. Still, remaining at the hitter-friendly Coors Field for his home games boosts Moniak's fantasy value.
Source: Rockies.com - Thomas Harding
Source: Rockies.com - Thomas Harding
Twins Add Jeff Hoffman to Bullpen Mix at Trade Deadline
The Minnesota Twins have acquired right-handed reliever Jeff Hoffman from the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. In exchange for Hoffman, Minnesota sent out a trio of prospects in pitchers Dasan Hill and John Klein, as well as infielder Dameury Pena. Hoffman opened 2026 as the closer in Toronto, but early-season struggles led to him being removed from the role. However, the 33-year-old has turned it on over the last two months, allowing just three earned runs while recording 30 strikeouts across 22 1/3 innings since the start of June. For the season overall, Hoffman has posted a stellar 34.9% strikeout rate to go along with six wins, 12 holds, and five saves. In Minnesota, Hoffman could have a chance to re-emerge as a primary ninth-inning option. Particularly in deeper leagues, he profiles as a worthy waiver-wire target for fantasy managers in need of saves.
Source: Sportsnet - Ben Nicholson-Smith
Source: Sportsnet - Ben Nicholson-Smith
Tigers Acquire Top Pitching Prospect Kash Mayfield From Padres
The Detroit Tigers made a major move at the trade deadline, acquiring left-handed pitching prospect Kash Mayfield from the San Diego Padres in exchange for veteran pitcher Casey Mize. Mayfield is at least a year or two away from being able to contribute in the big leagues, as he's just 21 years old and has not yet pitched above High-A. However, the young lefty was considered the number two prospect in the Padres system. He has also posted strong results so far this year at High-A Fort Wayne, recording a 3-1 record with a 3.54 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts across 53 1/3 innings (15 starts). Mayfield needs to improve his command, as he's logged a 10.3% walk rate in 2026. Still, he's posted an impressive 29.0% strikeout rate after posting a 34.1% strikeout rate across 19 Single-A starts in 2025. In dynasty formats, Mayfield remains an appealing pitching asset even after the trade.
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Padres Acquire Casey Mize at Trade Deadline
The San Diego Padres made a move to bolster their rotation at the trade deadline, acquiring starting pitcher Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers. Across 86 2/3 innings (14 starts) this season, Mize has recorded a 4-6 record with a 2.70 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts. The 29-year-old has also logged two separate stints on the injured list due to groin strains, so health is a red flag in his profile. However, when healthy, Mize profiles as a steady innings-eater. He's posted a 19.4% K-BB rate and has limited the long ball, allowing just 0.52 HR/9. To get Mize, San Diego sent out left-handed pitching prospects Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf. With the Padres, Mize profiles as one of San Diego's top arms alongside right-hander Michael King and fellow trade deadline acquisition Robbie Ray.
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Cubs Bolster Bullpen by Acquiring Reliever Ryan Zeferjahn in Trade With Angels
The Chicago Cubs acquired right-handed reliever Ryan Zeferjahn from the Los Angeles Angels on Monday in exchange for catcher Moises Ballesteros and minor-league pitcher Mason McGwire, the son of former big-league legend Mark McGwire, according to Francys Romero. Just when Zeferjahn was becoming a deep-league saves option in Anaheim, the 28-year-old was traded to a contender to help bolster the back end of their bullpen with regular closer Daniel Palencia (elbow) still on the injured list. Zeferjahn is 4-3 with a 3.66 ERA (3.77 FIP), 1.20 WHIP, a career-high four saves, 75 strikeouts, and 32 walks in 51 2/3 innings pitched in 2026 in his third year in the majors. With the last-place Angels, he wasn't a very convincing pickup off the waiver wire in deep fantasy leagues with save opportunities coming his way recently, but Zeferjahn should be more enticing to managers desperate for saves now that he has a shot for ninth-inning work on the North Side in Chicago. The Cubs have been using a closer-by-committee of late, consisting of Jacob Webb, Trent Thornton, and Caleb Thielbar.
Source: Francys Romero
Source: Francys Romero
Astros Bring in Outfielder Daulton Varsho in Trade With Toronto
The Houston Astros acquired center fielder Daulton Varsho from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. The Athletic's Mitch Bannon reports that the Astros sent right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (foot) to the Blue Jays in return for Varsho. The 30-year-old Varsho has been a disappointment at the plate this year in Toronto, but he will immediately bolster the Astros' defense in the outfield. In 333 at-bats in 2026 in his seventh year in the majors (fourth with the Blue Jays), Varsho hit a very mediocre .243/.307/.375 with a .682 OPS, seven home runs, 26 RBI, 39 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 99 games across 365 plate appearances. He will be set to reach free agency at the end of the 2026 season, so he might turn out to be just a rental for Houston's playoff run. The former second-rounder by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee really struggled in July, going 17-for-83 (.205) with a .482 OPS, zero homers, three doubles, four RBI, eight runs scored, two steals, four walks, and 10 strikeouts in 24 games. Houston will be hoping that Varsho can be better than that at the plate going forward.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Diamondbacks Acquire Lars Nootbaar From the Cardinals
The Arizona Diamondbacks added outfield depth at Monday's Aug. 3 trade deadline by acquiring outfielder Lars Nootbaar from the St. Louis Cardinals, according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo and Alden Gonzalez. Nootbaar will head to the National League West after hitting just .234/.333/.354 with a .688 OPS, three home runs, 16 RBI, 22 runs scored, and a stolen base in 48 games and 183 plate appearances this year in his sixth season with the Cardinals. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder got a late start to the year after recovering from offseason surgery on both of his heels. Despite not really standing out offensively this year in St. Louis, Nootbaar should have a regular role in the Snakes' outfield because of injuries to all of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (thigh), Tommy Troy (shoulder), and Jordan Lawlar (hamstring). Nootbaar has always teased power/speed upside, but he has not panned out in the big leagues thanks to injuries. He's hitting only .133 (4-for-30) with one of his three homers against lefty pitchers, and Nootbaar could lose playing time as Arizona's outfield gets healthy. Nootbaar is rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
Cubs Acquire Pitcher Clay Holmes From the Mets
The Chicago Cubs acquired right-hander Clay Holmes (leg) and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the New York Mets on Monday in exchange for infielder Jefferson Rojas, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Holmes becomes the third starting pitcher that the Cubbies acquired at this year's trade deadline, joining veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman and lefty Braxton Garrett. The 33-year-old Holmes is still on the 60-day injured list after fracturing his fibula earlier this season, but he could help bolster Chicago's rotation down the stretch, and he could make his Cubs debut sooner rather than later after making his third minor-league rehab start with High-A Brooklyn on Sunday. It will be interesting to see if the Cubs feel that Holmes will be better off working in a relief role (he has plenty of experience doing that), with right-hander Edward Cabrera (hamstring) also nearing his return from the IL. It's hard to gauge Holmes' rest-of-season fantasy outlook because we don't know exactly what his role will be upon joining his new club. Before injuring his leg earlier this year, the two-time All-Star had a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 45:18 K:BB in just nine starts, but the underlying metrics pointed to eventual regression. Taylor, who will be a free agent after the season, will be a platoon bat in Chicago against lefties after sporting a .900 OPS against southpaws with the Mets in 2026.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Yankees Land Outfielder Heliot Ramos From the Giants at the Deadline
The New York Yankees acquired outfielder Heliot Ramos from the San Francisco Giants on Monday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. It's unclear at this time what the Yankees sent to the Giants in exchange. Ramos will bring a much-needed right-handed bat to the Yankees outfield with all of Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton still sidelined with injuries. The 26-year-old Puerto Rican outfielder doesn't exactly bring a strong glove with him to the Bronx, though, and he has hit just .264/.304/.424 with a .728 OPS, nine home runs, 34 RBI, 36 runs scored, and three stolen bases across his 288 at-bats with the Giants this year. Although only two of his nine home runs in 2026 have come against left-handers, he's killed them otherwise, going 19-for-65 (.292) against them with an .835 OPS in 36 games. Another plus for the Yanks is that Ramos is now under team control through the 2029 season. Ramos might not see as much playing time against right-handed pitchers, but he could be more efficient in more of a platoon role against lefties in the Bronx.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Guardians Acquire Lefty Starter Foster Griffin From the Nationals
The Cleveland Guardians acquired left-hander Foster Griffin from the Washington Nationals on Monday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The Athletic's Spencer Nusbaum reports that the Guardians are sending minor-league pitchers Will Dion, Josh Hartle, and Kendeglys Virguez, and outfielder Nick Mitchell to the Nationals. The 31-year-old veteran southpaw will head to the American League Central to bolster Cleveland's starting rotation alongside Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, Joey Cantillo, and Tanner Bibee. Griffin will become a free agent after the 2026 season, so he could end up just being a rental for the rest of this year. The former first-rounder by the Kansas City Royals in 2014 has gone 12-3 this year with a 3.06 ERA (4.09 FIP) and 1.07 WHIP with 116 strikeouts and 30 walks in 22 starts and 129 1/3 innings pitched in his first big-league season since 2022 after spending the last three years playing in Japan. Griffin is currently tied for fourth in baseball with his 12 wins, and he will definitely bolster the Guards' rotation down the stretch. The lefty allowed six earned runs in 5 1/3 innings in a loss to the Atlanta Braves his last time out last Friday, but Griffin had a strong stretch from June 5 through July 19 where he didn't allow more than an earned run in any of his eight starts for the Nats.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
Source: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
