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Luther Burden III the "Clear Front-Runner to be WR1"
Chicago Bears second-year wide receiver Luther Burden III had a few tough catches down the sideline during training camp practice on Monday and is the "clear front-runner to be the WR1" for the Bears this year, according to 247 Sports. The Burden "hype is real." Burden has been the most popular second-year breakout candidate in fantasy circles pretty much all offseason after he came on strong late last year for the Bears. It's a no-brainer because Chicago traded away veteran receiver DJ Moore in the offseason, giving Burden a clear path to more targets and a sizeable role in the passing game in an ascending Bears offense under head coach Ben Johnson. The 22-year-old former second-rounder from the University of Missouri caught 47 of his 60 targets for 652 yards and two touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (five starts) in 2025 as a rookie and has done nothing but draw praise from the coaching staff all offseason. The hype has gotten out, so don't expect Burden to come cheap as a WR2 with upside in upcoming fantasy football drafts. RotoBaller has Burden ranked as the No. 21 fantasy WR for 2026.
Source: 247 Sports
Source: 247 Sports
Mariners Land Taylor Ward in Trade With the Orioles
The Seattle Mariners are acquiring outfielder Taylor Ward from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday in exchange for right-handers Alex Hoppe, Harrison Kreiling, and Brock Moore, a source told Jake Rill of MLB.com. Ward will return to the American League West and give the Mariners some much-needed pop from the right side of the plate as they seek a return to the postseason in 2026. The 32-year-old veteran outfielder hit .246/.383/.346 with a .730 OPS, only seven home runs, 30 RBI, 64 runs scored, four stolen bases, and a league-high 87 walks in 111 games and a league-high 506 plate appearances in his lone season in Baltimore before being dealt. Ward is as patient as they come at the dish (perhaps too patient), and he's been a massive bust for fantasy managers this year after clubbing a career-high 36 home runs and driving in 103 runs in 157 games with the Los Angeles Angels in 2025. The M's are banking on positive regression in the slugging department for Ward in his return to the AL West. Ward's fantasy baseball value shouldn't change all that much with the move to Seattle and pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park.
Source: MLB.com - Jake Rill
Source: MLB.com - Jake Rill
Red Sox Discussing Trade for Adley Rutschman
Even though catcher Adley Rutschman (wrist) is currently on the 10-day injured list with a wrist injury, the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles are discussing him in a trade, sources tell Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Feinsand writes that "there is a feeling that a deal could be completed at some point" at the deadline on Monday, Aug. 3. With the Red Sox now in the thick of the playoff hunt in the American League, they have become buyers at the deadline and are looking to upgrade their catching situation from Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong. The 28-year-old switch-hitting Rutschman has had an injury-plagued and disappointing 2026 season, but the former first overall pick in 2019 from Oregon State University would still be an upgrade over both Narvaez and Wong. Rutschman is currently hitting .251/.331/.433 with a .764 OPS, eight home runs, 47 RBI, and 30 runs scored in his 247 at-bats. If Rutschman is traded, Samuel Basallo (shoulder), who is also on the IL, would become Baltimore's clear catcher of the future. UPDATE: ESPN's Buster Olney reports the Red Sox and O's "have a deal arranged" for Rutschman.
Source: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
Source: MLB.com - Mark Feinsand
Guardians Acquiring Jo Adell From the Angels
The Cleveland Guardians are acquiring outfielder Jo Adell from the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports that the Angels will receive minor-league catcher Jacob Cozart in exchange. The rebuild continues for the struggling Angels, as they've also traded catcher Logan O'Hoppe and right-hander Jose Soriano. The 27-year-old Adell will give the Guardians some more thump in their lineup. In his seventh year in the majors with the Halos, the right-handed slugger has hit .239/.287/.395 with a .682 OPS, 16 home runs, 62 RBI, 46 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 111 games across 456 plate appearances. Adell has been somewhat of a disappointment for fantasy managers in 2026 after he hit a career-high 37 long balls and drove in 98 runs in 152 games for the Angels a season ago. The move to Cleveland won't really be all that much of a fantasy boost, as the Guards rank dead-last in baseball with a .680 OPS, and Adell's swing-and-miss ways won't suddenly be cured by the move.
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Kenny Pickett to Start Hall of Fame Game Against Cardinals
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said on Monday that quarterback Kenny Pickett will start the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday, Aug. 6, against the Arizona Cardinals, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. No clear-cut starters will play in the game for the Panthers. Now that veteran Andy Dalton is no longer in Carolina, Pickett is the favorite to serve as Bryce Young's backup in 2026 in his first year with the team. The 28-year-old former 20th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 from the University of Pittsburgh is with his third different team in the last three years, having spent 2024 with the Philadelphia Eagles and 2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders. Pickett played in 11 games (three starts) the last two seasons and threw for only 479 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions with the Eagles and Raiders in a backup role. He will only become an option in the deepest of superflex leagues in 2026 if he's forced into the starting role if Young goes down with an injury.
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Notre Dame-USC Rivalry Renewed Beginning in 2030
Notre Dame and USC have agreed to a four-year series beginning in 2030 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, USC Football announced on X. The two sides have met 96 times since 1926, including every year since 1946 (except the 2020 COVID-19-shortened season). The two storied programs will not square off in 2026, 2027, 2028, or 2029 due to scheduling conflicts. While it's a shame the series is being paused, it's great news that one of the sport's best rivalries will be renewed at the start of the next decade. In an era of realignment and crowded conferences, this is a big win for college football. The Irish are riding a three-game winning streak against the Trojans and lead the all-time series 36-30-3.
Source: USC Football
Source: USC Football
Rangers Have Spoken to Teams About Nathan Eovaldi
The Texas Rangers have spoken to teams about right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, according to the MLB Network's Jon Morosi. However, Eovaldi has a full no-trade clause, and he's under contract for $24 million next season, which could make any potential trade by Monday's Aug. 3 deadline hard to pull off. Eovaldi being moved on Monday doesn't make a whole lot of sense for the reasons listed above, and because the Rangers are still in the thick of the playoff hunt in the American League, just 2.5 games behind the Astros in the AL West and 1.5 games out of the final wild-card spot in the AL. The Rangers are going to need the 36-year-old veteran starting pitcher if they are going to get into the postseason this year. In his 15th year in the big leagues, Eovaldi has gone 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA (4.30 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 135 strikeouts and 30 walks in 127 1/3 innings pitched across his 21 starts. The two-time All-Star has managed to stay healthy for the most part, and he still has a useful 25.3% strikeout rate and 5.6% walk rate to make him relevant in all fantasy baseball leagues. UPDATE: In addition to Eovaldi, the Rangers are discussing left-handers MacKenzie Gore and Jacob Latz with other teams at the deadline, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Alec Burleson a Trade Candidate at the Deadline?
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman/outfielder Alec Burleson is one of "the most popular controllable bats on the trade market," a source told Jon Morosi of the MLB Network. There is still time for Burleson to get traded before Monday's Aug. 3 deadline, but it remains to be seen if a contending team will offer the Cardinals enough to get something done. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger is under team control for two more years after 2026, which makes him pretty attractive, especially since he goes into Monday's action with a .284/.347/.458 slash line, .805 OPS, 15 home runs, 71 RBI, 57 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 111 games and 472 plate appearances in 2026 in his fifth year in the majors with the Cardinals. Burleson needs only seven more home runs to set a new career high in that department, and his .805 OPS is a career best. The former second-rounder from East Carolina University hit .293 (31-for-106) with a .751 OPS in 28 games in July, but he's batting just .194 (26-for-134) with two of his 15 homers on the year against left-handers, and his future is likely as a full-time DH.
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Ian Seymour an Intriguing Waiver Pickup for Monday's Matchup
It's unclear if Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Ian Seymour will make many more starts this year after the club acquired right-handed starter Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets on Sunday, but Seymour has been solid in more of a traditional starting role of late and will face the Colorado Rockies at hitter-friendly Coors Field on Monday. The 27-year-old southpaw has only appeared as a traditional starter in seven of his 36 outings for the Rays in 2026 in his second year in the league, but six of those starts have come since the beginning of June. In six outings (four starts) in July, Seymour allowed 15 runs (14 earned) with eight walks, 38 strikeouts, and three wins for the Rays. The former second-rounder in 2020 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is 7-3 in 2026 with a 4.37 ERA (4.02 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 90 strikeouts and 28 walks in 78 1/3 innings pitched. Seymour is attractive in deeper fantasy formats for his 27.9% strikeout rate. He'll be facing a Rockies team on Monday that ranks fifth in MLB in OPS, but also a team that is in the top 10 in strikeouts. Start Seymour at your own risk.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Caleb Durbin a Big Part of Boston's Turnaround
Boston Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin hit just .228 (65-for-285) with a .686 OPS, nine home runs, 39 RBI, 10 steals, and 38 runs scored in 87 games and 317 plate appearances during the first half of the season. He has only one home run in 17 games since the All-Star break in mid-July, but he's gone 19-for-60 (.317) at the plate with an .806 OPS as the Red Sox have gone on a run to put themselves firmly in the mix for a playoff spot during the stretch run. Overall, the 26-year-old is hitting .243/.313/.394 with a .708 OPS, 10 home runs, 45 RBI, 12 steals, and 50 runs scored in 104 games across 388 plate appearances this year in his first season in Boston and just his second year in the major leagues. Durbin has definitely hit the ball better so far in the second half, but beneath the hood, his quality of contact doesn't necessarily project an extended strong run to close out the season. Durbin has never profiled as a big power bat, and he has a .233 expected batting average and .284 xwOBA (current wOBA of .313). Speed is Durbin's most endearing quality, and he'll continue to be an everyday player for the BoSox. He's rostered in 39% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Uros Medic Gets First-Round TKO Win
Uros Medic extended his win streak by finishing Daniel Rodriguez via first-round TKO in the main event of UFC Belgrade on Saturday. Medic, who delivered the most memorable performance in front of his fellow Serbian crowd, needed only 30 seconds to put Rodriguez away. Medic landed a left hand that knocked Rodriguez down, and then he followed up with punches, forcing the referee to stop the fight. In 30 seconds of action, Medic landed 11 significant strikes. This was Medic's fourth consecutive win, and he has now improved to 8-3 in the UFC.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Kyle Karros Gaining Waiver-Wire Steam After Hot July
Colorado Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros recently missed some time due to a biceps injury, but he returned for the first two games of the series over the weekend against the Kansas City Royals. The 24-year-old right-handed hitter should be drawing more attention as a corner-infield option off the waiver wire in deeper fantasy baseball leagues after he hit .293 (22-for-75) with a .918 OPS, four home runs, three doubles, a triple, 12 RBI, 14 runs scored, and a stolen base in 22 games and 88 plate appearances in July. The son of former big-leaguer Eric Karros is now batting .268/.365/.431 with a .797 OPS, nine home runs, 39 RBI, 54 runs scored, and three stolen bases across 313 at-bats in 2026 in his first full season in the major leagues. Although Karros has only one of his nine homers against lefties, he has hit .295 (33-for-112) against them this year. The former fifth-rounder in 2023 from UCLA is hitting just .256 (43-for-168) away from hitter-friendly Coors Field, but five of his nine long balls have come on the road. It has been very encouraging this year to see his strikeout rate drop from 26.3% as a rookie to 21.2% this year, and he's also walking at an increased rate of 12.4%.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Nick Gonzales Drawing Attention After Recent Lengthy Hitting Streak
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales has been drawing more attention on the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues because of his recent hot streak at the plate. Gonzales has gone 0-for-8 so far in two games to begin the month of August, but he ended July on a 15-game hitting streak in which he went 25-for-66 (.379) with two home runs, five doubles, eight RBI, and 11 runs scored in 67 plate appearances. The 27-year-old's hot streak has boosted his overall line in 2026 to .312/.366/.405 with a .771 OPS, six home runs, 50 RBI, 61 runs scored, and five stolen bases across his 407 at-bats in his fourth year in the big leagues with the Bucs. With rookie infielder Konnor Griffin (finger) most likely sidelined until the final month of the regular season, Gonzales should remain locked in as Pittsburgh's primary third baseman, and if he stays hot at the plate, he will continue to be picked up in more leagues. The former first-rounder from New Mexico State University is currently rostered in 57% of Yahoo leagues. He already has a career high in RBI and needs just two more home runs to set a new career high in that category as well.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jan Blachowicz Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz suffered a first-round TKO loss to undefeated prospect Navajo Stirling in the co-main event of UFC Belgrade on Saturday. Blachowicz found early success, bloodying Stirling's nose, but Stirling remained composed and quickly caught the former champion with a straight right hand and knocked him down. Stirling followed up with elbows and punches on the ground, forcing the referee to stop the fight. In 2:56 of action, Blachowicz landed only three significant strikes. Blachowicz hasn't won a fight in over four years and he's now 12-9-2 in the UFC.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Brock Bowers Has Been the Star of Raiders Training Camp
After an injury-hampered 2025 campaign, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers has appeared healthy through the opening days of training camp, with The Athletic's Sam Warren calling him the star of camp, while pointing out that he has made "at least one big play in each practice, and seemingly in every team period." Warren also notes, "He's had his way with every defender he's gone up against." Bowers broke the rookie reception record with 112 catches in 2024, and he recorded 103 yards in the opening game of his second season, but a knee injury sustained in that contest slowed him for much of the year and kept him in and out of the lineup. Now, seemingly ready to dominate again, Bowers is RotoBaller's TE1 and offers a rare positional advantage that makes him worth spending up for in 2026 drafts.
Source: Sam Warren
Source: Sam Warren
Ryan Zeferjahn Continues to Emerge in Angels Bullpen
Los Angeles Angels right-handed reliever Ryan Zeferjahn continues to emerge at the back end of the team's bullpen in the second half of the season after picking up his fourth save of the year in the team's 3-0 win over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Zeferjahn allowed two hits, no walks, and struck out four in his 1 2/3 innings of work in the series finale at Angel Stadium. The 28-year-old former third-rounder by the Boston Red Sox in 2019 from the University of Kansas is 4-3 on the year with a 3.66 ERA (3.77 FIP) and 1.20 WHIP with 75 strikeouts and 32 walks in 51 2/3 innings out of the bullpen in his third year in the majors with the Halos. In 11 outings (12 1/3 innings pitched) since the beginning of July, Zeferjahn has allowed only three earned runs with two walks, 21 strikeouts, two saves, and three holds for the Angels. With Ben Joyce still on the injured list, Zeferjahn has become manager Kurt Suzuki's primary closer of late, giving him waiver-wire appeal in deeper fantasy leagues for managers who are desperate for saves. Zeferjahn is rostered in only 3% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bryson Stott Moving to Third Base
The Philadelphia Phillies acquired All-Star infielder Luis Arraez from the San Francisco Giants on Monday, causing a shakeup on the Phillies' infield going forward, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Arraez will continue to play second base in Philly, and the team's first choice appears to be to move Bryson Stott to third base and Alec Bohm to first base. The domino effect means that first baseman Bryce Harper will be moving back to right field. The 28-year-old Stott already has eligibility in Yahoo leagues at second base and shortstop, so now he'll gain third-base eligibility to close out the 2026 season and for next year, which will definitely be a boost to his fantasy profile. The former first-rounder in 2019 from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is currently hitting a modest .252/.317/.407 with a .723 OPS, eight home runs, 50 RBI, 46 runs scored, and 19 steals in 106 games and 409 plate appearances in 2026 in his fifth year in the big leagues with the Phillies. Stott has minimal power and on-base skills, but he's useful for infield depth in deeper fantasy leagues for his speed and positional versatility. He's rostered in exactly half of Yahoo leagues.
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Source: New York Post - Jon Heyman
Navajo Stirling Extends Win Streak
Undefeated prospect Navajo Stirling extended his win streak by defeating former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz via first-round TKO in the co-main event of UFC Belgrade on Saturday. Stirling landed a powerful right hand on Blachowicz that sent him to the canvas, and then finished the former champion with a series of strikes from the top position. In 2:56 of action, Stirling landed 35 significant strikes. With the win, Stirling improved to 6-0 in the UFC.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Jalen Tolbert Goes Down During 1-on-1s
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jalen Tolbert appeared to sustain an injury during one-on-one sessions of Monday's training camp practice, with beat reporter Omar Kelly writing that "he won't get off one knee." Tolbert signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins this offseason after four seasons with the Cowboys, and in one of the league's most wide-open receiver rooms, the opportunity is there to earn a primary role and top his career-best 49 receptions and 610 yards from 2024. He has been wearing a protective sleeve through the early days of camp, with Kelly drawing attention to it even before he went down, but should he miss any time, the Dolphins would become a candidate to add a veteran free agent. Along with Tolbert, the current depth chart is topped by Malik Washington and Tutu Atwell, with the team selecting receivers Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell, and Kevin Coleman Jr. in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Source: Omar Kelly
Source: Omar Kelly
Bryce Harper Expected to Move to the Outfield
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper is expected to move back to the outfield to make room for recently acquired infielder Luis Arraez, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Alec Bohm is set to move to first base, with Bryson Stott moving from second to third. Harper will move back to right field, a position he hasn't played since 2022. For fantasy purposes, it will definitely put more strain on the 33-year-old veteran physically, but he will also be gaining outfield eligibility to close out the 2026 season and for next year. The two-time MVP and nine-time All-Star heads into the new week slashing .255/.360/.497 on the year with an .858 OPS, 23 home runs, 66 RBI, 67 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 112 games across 472 plate appearances in his eighth year with the Phillies. Fantasy managers are hoping the move to the outfield will help Harper get back on track offensively, as he hit just .172 (15-for-87) with a .625 OPS, two homers, six doubles, a triple, 11 RBI, nine runs, 14 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 24 games in July, easily his worst month of the season so far.
Source: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
Source: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
Andrew Armstrong Getting First-Team Reps for Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs training camp has been impacted early by injuries at the wide receiver position, and with Xavier Worthy and Cyrus Allen not practicing on Monday, 2025 undrafted free agent Andrew Armstrong received first-team reps during 11-on-11s, according to beat reporter Jesse Newell. After a productive collegiate career with Texas A&M-Commerce and Arkansas, Armstrong spent training camp of his rookie year with the Miami Dolphins, but was released as part of the team's final roster cuts. He spent about a week in December on the Lions practice squad before again being released and signing a reserve/future contract with the Chiefs in January. While not likely the role Kansas City had in mind for him at the time of the signing, the elevated opportunity could provide Armstrong with a chance to make the team's initial 53-man roster, and he will be a player to watch when the Chiefs open their preseason schedule with an August 15 matchup with the Rams.
Source: Jesse Newell
Source: Jesse Newell
David Njoku Helping to Unlock Chargers Offense
The Los Angeles Chargers' new-look offense is thriving in the early days of training camp, and one of the reasons, as pointed out by Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, is the addition of tight end David Njoku and the improvements made to the position as a whole. Veteran Charlie Kolar was an early free agent signing, and as expected, he has been used primarily as an inline blocking tight end throughout the early days of training camp. With Njoku signing later in the process, there were questions about how his usage would impact second-year player Oronde Gadsden II, and Breer mentions that the former first-round pick of the Browns was brought in to play the F or "move" tight end position. A split between Njoku and Gadsden in that role could make both difficult to consistently trust for fantasy production, making any information coming out of camp all the more important. While that situation has pushed the veteran down to TE24 by current ADP, Gadsden is going around TE18, still in a range where some of the other available options appear to provide more certainty but a lower ceiling.
Source: Albert Breer
Source: Albert Breer
Marcin Tybura Loses Third Fight in a Row
Marcin Tybura suffered a unanimous-decision loss to Aleksandar Rakic on the main card of UFC Belgrade on Saturday. The fight was uneventful, to say the least, and Rakic dictated the tempo, while Tybura was too slow to catch up. Tybura had an uninspiring performance, and Rakic outpointed him for three rounds. In 15 minutes of action, Tybura landed 33 significant strikes. With the loss, Tybura dropped to 27-12 as a pro and is now 14-11 in the UFC.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Fernando Mendoza "Living in the Building"
After months of intense scouting, the Las Vegas Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the early returns have been exactly what the team both hoped for and expected, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, who reports that the 22-year-old has been "living in the building as a tireless, football-obsessed worker." Mendoza is still working primarily with the second-team offense behind presumed early-season starter Kirk Cousins, but Breer points out both his ability to bounce back from bad plays and his natural feel for picking up the unblocked defender as veteran-like traits that could soon see him folding in more with the ones. How soon Mendoza takes over as a full-time starter will likely come down to his own readiness and how prepared the team is to support him, but early signs indicate that he is more than capable of handling his own end, making him a worthwhile third quarterback target in deep bench superflex leagues.
Source: Albert Breer
Source: Albert Breer
Aleksandar Rakic Gets Back In The Win Column
Aleksandar Rakic made a successful heavyweight debut, defeating Marcin Tybura via unanimous decision on the main card of UFC Belgrade on Saturday. Not only that, but Rakic also snapped a four-fight losing streak by beating Tybura. It wasn't the most exciting fight, but Rakic used his speed and movement to control the fight and soundly beat Tybura. In 15 minutes of action, Rakic landed 71 significant strikes. With the win, Rakic improved to 15-6 and is now 7-5 in the UFC.
Source: UFC
Source: UFC
Patriots Still Looking to Move Kayshon Boutte
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was one of the team's most impactful players in 2025 and has been a standout to begin training camp, but that has not quieted speculation of a potential roster move, with beat reporter Alex Barth noting that his request for a trade remains open, and the team is still looking for a potential suitor. Boutte opened camp red-hot, credited by the team beat as the best offensive player through the first three practices of summer, but as expected, that baton has since been passed to Drake Maye and A.J. Brown, with Romeo Doubs and Kyle Williams also showing up more regularly in recent practices. After a number of lean years, receiver has become arguably the Patriots' deepest position group, with seven players currently on the roster who saw at least 128 snaps in 2025, and three-receiver sets have consisted mostly of Brown, Doubs, and DeMario Douglas out of the slot. While Boutte continues to show up and make plays whenever his number is called, an injury anywhere around the league could change his situation in an instant, and he remains an intriguing dart-throw selection at the end of 2026 drafts.
Source: Alex Barth
Source: Alex Barth
Top Prospect Arjun Nimmala Shipped to Angels in Major Trade
The Toronto Blue Jays are trading top infield prospect Arjun Nimmala, along with outfielder Eddie Micheletti and right-handed pitcher Angel Rivero, to acquire starting pitcher Jose Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. Nimmala is the clear top return in this package for the Angels. Per MLB.com, the shortstop currently sits as the No. 46 overall prospect in the sport and was the No. 2-ranked prospect in the Toronto system ahead of the trade. In 2026, the former 20th overall selection has split most of his time between High-A and Double-A. After logging 23 games at High-A, Nimmala was given the green light to join Double-A New Hampshire, where he has posted a sharp .279/.355/.451 line with nine doubles, four home runs and four stolen bases. Dynasty managers should keep a close eye on Nimmala's progression as he should contend for an early call-up to Triple-A in 2027, which could open the door for a second-half MLB debut.
Source: Jeff Passan
Source: Jeff Passan
JC French Leading Cincinnati Quarterback Battle Entering Fall Practice
Georgia Southern transfer JC French is viewed as the leader in the quarterback competition against Samaj Jones entering preseason practice, according to ESPN's Pete Nakos. French arrived at the program this spring after throwing for over 5,800 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions in two full seasons as a starter. Jones is a former three-star recruit out of Pennsylvania and has seven career passing attempts to his name two years removed from high school. Replacing Brendan Sorsby figures to be a tall task for the Bearcats, but French appears to be in line to lead that effort after separating himself from Jones in spring practice. Head coach Scott Satterfield enters the 2026 campaign on the hot seat, so French's play will largely determine the future of the program. Cincinnati opens the season on September 5 against ACC foe Boston College.
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Source: Pete Nakos - On3
Phillies Trade No. 9-Ranked Prospect Ramon Marquez to San Francisco
The Philadelphia Phillies traded their No. 9-ranked prospect in their system, pitcher Ramon Marquez (per MLB Pipeline), as the headliner piece in the deal that brought Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian to Philadelphia. Marquez is just 20 years old but has flashed high-end upside in the lower levels of their minor leagues. This season, the right-hander opened the campaign with Low-A Clearwater, where he posted a 1.86 ERA with a sharp 0.97 WHIP across 29 innings of work. He fanned 47 batters with only 10 walks. He has since carried this production into High-A, where he has made six starts (30 innings) and held a strong 1.50 ERA with an even lower 0.67 WHIP. During this stint, Marquez has totaled 46 strikeouts with just nine walks. While he remains several seasons away from his MLB debut, he is a name to keep a close eye on as he could emerge as a high-end asset in San Francisco.
Source: Jayson Stark
Source: Jayson Stark
Trey Benson Absent from Practice
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson, who has been working primarily with the second-team offense as he works his way back from the torn meniscus that ended his 2025 season, was not spotted during Sunday's practice. The third-year back was not mentioned as an expected absence when head coach Mike LaFleur addressed the media before practice, and he is not a player who can afford to fall any further behind, already battling for a roster spot in a crowded room featuring roster locks Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier, as well as veteran James Conner. The Cardinals open up preseason action with the Hall of Fame Game on August 6, and Benson's participation will need to be monitored, as he may need to prove himself during in-game action to earn a spot on the team.
Source: Theo Mackie - The Arizona Republic
Source: Theo Mackie - The Arizona Republic
