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Mariners Trade Luis Castillo to the White Sox
Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Seranthony Dominguez, Nolan Jones, and Boston Smith, according to Jeff Passan on ESPN. Castillo will head to Chicago to bolster the team's starting rotation as the White Sox make a playoff push. The 31-year-old struggled in his previous start against the Dodgers, allowing five runs on 11 hits across five innings. He didn't record a win in July and owned an ugly 5.48 ERA. Hopefully, the move to Chicago will help Castillo turn things around this season. He owns a (3-9) record along with a 5.06 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and an 86:32 K:BB across 99 2/3 innings. Chicago hopes to get the version of Castillo who posted a 3.50 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP from 2023-2025. It's unclear when Castillo will make his debut with the White Sox, but the change of scenery should only help him rebound from what is the worst season of his career so far.
Source: Jeff Passan of ESPN
Source: Jeff Passan of ESPN
Tarik Skubal Traded to Dodgers for Three Prospects
The Detroit Tigers have finalized a trade to send their ace pitcher Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for three prospects - outfielder Zyhir Hope, pitcher River Ryan, and pitcher Brady Smith, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Hope is considered to be one of the top prospects in all of baseball, with big long-term fantasy upside, and is currently ranked #14 on Eric Cross's most recent dynasty fantasy baseball prospect rankings. He is currently in Double-A and sporting a .293/.369/.530 line with 23 home runs, 18 steals, and 87 RBI across 372 at-bats.
Source: Jeff Passan - ESPN
Source: Jeff Passan - ESPN
Lane Thomas, Bailey Falter Get Traded to the Braves
Kansas City Royals outfielder Lane Thomas and left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter were traded to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. There is no return package for the Royals yet, but that should be announced shortly. This season, Thomas is slashing .230/.325/.392 with 10 home runs, 37 RBI, and seven stolen bases across 96 games. He doesn't have great stats, but he excels against left-handed pitching. Thomas remains a deep league option, but a move to a better lineup in Atlanta should help his fantasy value. As for Falter, he owns a 13.97 ERA across five appearances this season. He's unlikely to be fantasy relevant unless the Braves work their magic on him.
Source: Mark Feinsand
Source: Mark Feinsand
Zyhir Hope is Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielders Zyhir Hope and Kendall George have been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Saturday's game with Double-A Tulsa, according to Jon Heyman of the MLB Network. There is no injury reason given for their absence, so the assumption is that both players could be part of an upcoming blockbuster trade. Hope is considered one of the best outfield prospects in the league and is currently ranked as the No. 25 prospect in baseball. George is a former first-round pick who offers good upside with the bat as well. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for more updates on this situation in the coming days.
Source: Jon Heyman
Source: Jon Heyman
Luis Arraez Gets Scratched on Saturday
San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez (cramping) was scratched ahead of Saturday's game against the San Diego Padres. Arraez was forced to leave Friday's contest due to cramping. He'll be held out of the lineup here due to the same issue. The Giants are likely going to be careful with Arraez, with the trade deadline only a few days away. The 29-year-old is expected to be traded, with the Rays, Red Sox, and Yankees reportedly showing interest. This season, Arraez is slashing .328/.364/.446 with four home runs, 43 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 104 games. It wouldn't be shocking to see the Giants hold him out of the lineup until they likely trade him on Monday.
Source: mlb.com
Source: mlb.com
Red Sox Trade Discussions for Elly De La Cruz Stalled Out
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz is reportedly on the trade block ahead of Monday's trade deadline. The Boston Red Sox attempted to make a deal for De La Cruz, but the two sides couldn't agree on a deal. According to Sean McAdam, the Reds wanted young major leaguers in exchange for De La Cruz. The Red Sox were unwilling to move their young MLB talent and would rather trade from within their farm system. It doesn't sound like a deal is going to happen between the two, but it wouldn't be shocking to see the Red Sox add another bat before the deadline is over.
Source: Sean McAdam
Source: Sean McAdam
Roch Cholowsky Gets Assigned to High-A Winston-Salem
Chicago White Sox shortstop Roch Cholowsky has been assigned to High-A Winston-Salem. Cholowsky was the first overall pick during last month's draft. The 21-year-old is universally regarded as the most polished collegiate shortstop of the last decade. If everything goes right, Cholowsky shouldn't need much time in the minor leagues. There is speculation that Cholowsky could be ready for the big leagues as early as sometime next season. The White Sox aren't going to rush him, but Cholowsky's ability with the bat might force their hand sooner rather than later.
Source: Milb Central
Source: Milb Central
Ryan O'Hearn Out 6-8 Weeks With Quadriceps Strain
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed first baseman/outfielder Ryan O'Hearn (quadriceps) on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a strained left quadriceps muscle that is expected to keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks, according to Jason Mackey. O'Hearn injured his quad while running to first base on Friday, and the injury could keep him out for the remainder of the 2026 season. It's a really tough break for the 33-year-old left-handed slugger, who was in the midst of the best year of his MLB career. If O'Hearn doesn't play again for Pittsburgh this year, he'll finish with a .270/.334/.454 slash line, a .788 OPS, a career-high-tying 17 home runs, 69 RBI, 54 runs scored, and a stolen base in 96 games across 398 plate appearances. Fantasy managers in single-year leagues should not feel the need to hold O'Hearn on their rosters because of the high likelihood he won't play again this year. Rookie Rafael Flores Jr., who is coming off the concussion injured list, and Jacob Gonzalez could split playing time at first base for the Bucs going forward with O'Hearn on the shelf.
Source: Jason Mackey
Source: Jason Mackey
Jose Soriano Scratched From Saturday's Start With Trade Deadline Approaching
The Los Angeles Angels announced that right-hander Jose Soriano has been scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers with Monday's trade deadline right around the corner. "Today, Jose Soriano will not make his scheduled start. With the trade deadline on Monday and the uncertainty of the next 48 hours, we decided to take a prudent approach and see where these next few days lead us," baseball operations consultant John Mozeliak said in a statement. Left-hander Brent Suter will open Saturday's bullpen game against the Brew Crew. Both Soriano and left-hander Reid Detmers could be traded by the Halos this weekend, with the team looking at a potential full rebuild after another dismal season in 2026. The 27-year-old Soriano was looking like one of the best pitchers in baseball early this year before coming back to Earth quickly, and he currently sits with a 9-6 record, career-low 3.29 ERA (3.79 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 127 strikeouts and a league-high 57 walks in 123 innings and 22 starts. Soriano's volatile command makes him a boom/bust fantasy starting pitcher, but his overall value should be boosted if he's traded to a contender this weekend.
Source: Angels PR
Source: Angels PR
Mariners Listening to Offers on Randy Arozarena
The Seattle Mariners are listening to offers for outfielder Randy Arozarena, according to Adam Jude and Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. Arozarena is set to be a free agent at the end of the season, and trade talks are expected to "intensify" leading up to the MLB trade deadline on August 3. Seattle is also listening to offers for pitchers George Kirby, Emerson Hancock, and Luis Castillo. The Mariners are sellers and are expected to move Arozarena by the deadline. He has been hitting well over his last 12 games, slashing .277/.358/.426 with three home runs, five RBI, eight runs, and a stolen base. Overall, the 31-year-old is slashing .280/.375/.447 with 13 homers and 20 steals over 440 plate appearances this season. Arozarena's fantasy value could take a bump if he gets moved to a better offense. Still, regardless of where the veteran is traded to, he should continue to be a multi-category contributor for fantasy managers.
Source: Seattle Times
Source: Seattle Times
George Kirby Could Be Moved Before the Trade Deadline
Seattle Mariners right-hander George Kirby could be moved before the August 3 trade deadline, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Multiple teams have engaged the Mariners on a potential deal for Kirby. The Mariners are also listening to offers for starters Emerson Hancock and Luis Castillo. Kirby owns a 3.98 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 107 strikeouts across 120 innings. The 28-year-old was rocked for seven earned runs, serving up four long balls across just four innings in his last start on Monday. Before that start, Kirby posted a 1.73 ERA in his previous four starts before Monday's implosion. His fantasy value might change a little if he's traded but should remain a viable starter regardless of where he lands. Kirby is scheduled to start on Sunday against the Twins, but the Mariners could hold him back until after the MLB deadline. Stay tuned.
Source: Jeff Passan of ESPN
Source: Jeff Passan of ESPN
Justin Steele Preparing to Throw on Saturday
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (elbow) is set to take a significant step forward in his recovery on Saturday, as he plans to complete a light workout before throwing approximately 20 pitches from flat ground. The 31-year-old has been sidelined for the entire season while recovering from UCL revision surgery, although he did experience a setback during his rehab. Still, he has progressed from throwing plyometric balls as recently as last month to now preparing to throw from flat ground, making this an important milestone in his recovery. Given his current stage of rehab, the amount of work he still has ahead of him, and the limited time remaining in the season, the clock is ticking on his chances of returning in time to make any meaningful fantasy impact. In fact, there is a possibility that he returns as a reliever rather than a starter, which would further diminish his fantasy relevance. That said, a return in any capacity before the end of the season would be a significant development for Steele as he heads into the postseason and the offseason, making him an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Daniel Palencia to Throw Live Bullpen on Saturday
Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Daniel Palencia (elbow) is set to throw a live bullpen session on Saturday after completing multiple bullpen sessions over the past week. Manager Craig Counsell noted that if the 26-year-old reliever feels good coming out of the live session, he could be in line to begin a minor league rehab assignment shortly afterward. If everything goes according to plan and he avoids any setbacks, there is a chance he could return to the Cubs by the middle of August, giving the team its top reliever back to close out games for the final six weeks of the season. Palencia has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, but when healthy, he has been highly effective, recording 25 saves over the past two seasons.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Spencer Schwellenbach Aiming to Return in September
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow) has been successfully throwing bullpen sessions at the team's Spring Training complex and will continue to do so next week. His velocity has yet to reach the level it did last year, when he averaged 97.1 mph on his fastball, but neither he nor the team is concerned about that. In fact, Schwellenbach believes that once he begins pitching in games, his velocity will return to where it was last season when he was healthy. As it stands, he will fly back to Florida to continue his recovery, with the hope of beginning a rehab assignment in late August. Given that timeline, there is a window for him to return to the Braves in time for the final two to three weeks of the season. It is also worth mentioning that it has yet to be determined whether he will return as a starter or in a relief role. Despite his limited projected availability and the possibility of a role change, his fantasy relevance is still notable, since his upside is high enough to warrant a stash in most fantasy leagues, especially since his return could coincide with the fantasy baseball playoffs.
Source: Mark Bowman
Source: Mark Bowman
Tyler Glasnow Will Start a Rehab Assignment on Tuesday
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow (back) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday with Class-A Ontario. It was announced that he is expected to throw approximately two innings, as this will be the first of multiple rehab appearances while he works his way back from the lower back spasms that have sidelined him since the beginning of March. He began his recovery by slowly ramping up his throwing program in mid-June. Since then, his progress has accelerated, and he is now ready to embark on the final stage of his recovery. He will likely need at least three rehab starts before being ready to rejoin the Dodgers' rotation. Before his injury, the 32-year-old posted a 2.72 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP while recording 49 strikeouts across 39.2 innings. He figures to slot back into the rotation once fully healthy and is worth stashing in all fantasy leagues in anticipation of near-elite production down the stretch.
Source: Katie Woo
Source: Katie Woo
