RADIO
Padres Considering Trading Mason Miller
ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that the San Diego Padres are considering trading right-handed closer Mason Miller, less than a year after giving up one of the top prospects in baseball in shortstop Leo De Vries, to acquire him. The Padres would love to attach shortstop Xander Bogaerts' contract to any trade, which would severely limit the return for Miller, but Passan doesn't think any team will want to take Bogaerts. There will be plenty of teams in on Miller if SD is serious about moving him since the flamethrowing righty is a game-changer in the ninth inning. Passan lists the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Tampa Bay Rays as the best fits if Miller is actually dealt. If the Padres don't turn things around soon -- they sit 13.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and 2.5 games out of the final NL wild-card spot with four teams in front of them -- Miller could be an ex-Padre by Aug. 3. Miller has been one of the most dominant relievers of all time in 2026, sporting a 101.3 mph fastball with a nasty slider that have helped him generate an absurd 48.4% strikeout rate in his 40 2/3 innings this year.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Pitching Prospect Kohl Drake Called Up to Start Against A's
The Arizona Diamondbacks are calling up left-handed pitching prospect Kohl Drake from Triple-A Reno to make the start against the visiting Athletics in what will be his major-league debut, manager Torey Lovullo told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. Drake was called up as an emergency option in June, but he did not get into a game. The 26-year-old southpaw, who is considered the team's No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has been up and down for the Aces in 2026, posting an elevated 6.92 ERA and a 4.47 career ERA in the minors. Drake has had an elevated 10% walk rate in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but he's allowed two earned runs in 8 2/3 innings in his last two starts for Reno, including five shutout innings on July 3. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound lefty features a five-pitch mix of a four-seam fastball, cutter, changeup, curveball, and slider. Drake could have a shot to stick as the No. 5 starter for the D-backs if he shows well on Tuesday, given all the injuries currently plaguing the team's rotation, but for now, fantasy managers in single-year leagues can keep him as a watch candidate.
Source: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
Source: Arizona Sports - Alex Weiner
Corbin Carroll Expected to Return on Tuesday
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (elbow) is expected to return to the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the visiting Athletics and right-hander Jack Perkins after missing Monday's series opener with a hyperextended right elbow that he suffered on a missed swing in Sunday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports. The 25-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has apparently avoided a serious injury and should avoid a stint on the injured list after getting hurt over the weekend. The former 16th overall pick in 2019 is a must-start in all fantasy formats when he's active, and he is currently hitting .250/.344/.480 with an .824 OPS, 14 homers, 47 RBI, 55 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases across his 356 at-bats in 2026. If Carroll returns on Tuesday, he'll be looking to turn things around in July, as he's gone just 6-for-51 (.118) with a .485 OPS, one homer, three doubles, four RBI, seven runs, one stolen base, nine walks, and 18 strikeouts in 14 games during the month.
Source: Arizona Sports - John Gambadoro
Source: Arizona Sports - John Gambadoro
Max Fried Expected to Rejoin the Rotation Next Week
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told Talkin' Yanks that left-hander Max Fried (elbow) will throw 60 pitches in a minor-league rehab start on Wednesday and is expected to come off the 60-day injured list to rejoin the starting rotation next week against the Chicago White Sox. The 32-year-old southpaw has been on the shelf since mid-May due to a bone bruise in his left elbow, but his return is right around the corner, and he should be rostered in all fantasy baseball leagues as a potential difference-maker for the remainder of the second half of the season. A return against the White Sox next week isn't the ideal first matchup back off the IL, but Fried has been a must-start since joining the Yankees last year. In 10 starts (61 2/3 innings) before his elbow injury, he went 4-3 with a 3.21 ERA (2.71 FIP) and 1.00 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 19 walks for the Yanks. The White Sox rank 12th in baseball with a .732 OPS, but they're also in the top 10 in strikeouts. Fried should be put back in starting fantasy lineups when he's activated next week, barring a setback in his rehab outing on Wednesday.
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Source: Talkin' Yanks
Dominic Canzone a High-Upside Power Bat to Prioritize on the Waiver Wire
Across 267 plate appearances in 2026, Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone is hitting .261/.333/.513 with 15 home runs, 40 RBI, 34 runs scored, and one stolen base. The lefty-swinger opened the year in a big-side platoon role, but he's logged a .910 OPS so far this season against southpaws and has begun to move into more of a true everyday role. Canzone's underlying batted-ball metrics are elite, as he's logged a 14.6% barrel rate and a 48.6% hard-hit rate. The 28-year-old also owns a solid plate approach, limiting his strikeout rate to a manageable 20.6% while drawing walks in 9.0% of his plate appearances. In leagues where he remains available, Canzone profiles as a must-add power bat to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Petey Halpin Hits First Two Big-League Homers on Monday
Cleveland Guardians outfielder Petey Halpin had a night to remember in Monday's 13-4 victory over the division-rival Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field, going 3-for-5 at the plate out of the nine-hole with his first two major-league home runs, a double, three RBI, and three runs scored to raise his average to .222 and his OPS to .618 on the year. The 24-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is now slashing just .222/.243/.375 with two homers, four RBI, 12 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 34 games and 76 plate appearances for the Guards in 2026 after debuting for six games in the majors a year ago. In his 40 total games in Cleveland, dating back to 2025, Halpin has gone 18-for-78 (.231) with two homers, four RBI, four steals, and 17 runs scored in 84 plate appearances. The former third-round pick in 2020 will most likely head back to Triple-A Columbus for more minor-league seasoning once outfielder Angel Martinez (foot) returns from the injured list soon. Halpin isn't rostered in any Yahoo leagues and isn't recommended as a waiver-wire pickup after his first two MLB homers on Monday.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Rhys Hoskins Hits Two Solo Home Runs Against Twins
Cleveland Guardians first baseman Rhys Hoskins and the Guardians feasted on the Minnesota Twins' pitching in Monday night's 13-4 rout over the division rivals at Progressive Field. Hoskins went 2-for-5 as the designated hitter with two solo home runs and a strikeout. The 33-year-old right-handed slugger has gone 5-for-22 with four solo home runs in his last six games, but he has still gone 5-for-30 (.167) with an .852 OPS, four RBI, five runs scored, a stolen base, five walks, and 13 strikeouts in 11 games and 35 plate appearances so far in July. Overall, Hoskins has continued to struggle at the plate in his first year in Cleveland, slashing .182/.314/.387 with a .701 OPS, 11 home runs, 33 RBI, 30 runs scored, and a stolen base in 79 games and 274 plate appearances. He continues to take his walks, sporting a 15.3% walk rate, but it has been mitigated by a career-high 31.8% strikeout rate in his ninth year in the big leagues. Hoskins just hasn't been the same since tearing his ACL with the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2023, and fantasy managers shouldn't latch on due to his recent power surge.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Luke Keaschall a High-Floor Depth Option to Target on the Waiver Wire
Across 366 plate appearances in 2026, Minnesota Twins second baseman/outfielder Luke Keaschall is hitting .263/.352/.352 with four home runs, 28 RBI, 49 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. With his 3.0% barrel rate and 27.9% hard-hit rate, Keaschall is highly unlikely to provide value in the power categories for fantasy managers. However, the 23-year-old limits swing-and-miss (15.0% strikeout rate) and gets on base (9.8% walk rate). His ability to make contact gives him a safe batting average floor, and he's a threat to reach 20 stolen bases while consistently scoring runs. Keaschall has also shown an ability to play the outfield, which helps keep his bat in the Twins lineup and provides him with multi-positional eligibility for fantasy managers. Keaschall may not offer a ton of upside, but he profiles as a useful depth piece for deeper-league managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Merrill Kelly Re-Emerging as a Deep-League Starting Pitcher Streamer
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly has struggled overall in 2026, recording a 7-8 record with a 5.20 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts across 98 2/3 innings (17 starts). The 37-year-old's strikeout rate has plummeted to 14.4%, by far the worst mark of his eight-season MLB career. However, Kelly has shown signs of a turnaround in recent outings. Across his last three starts, the right-hander has allowed just four earned runs while logging 15 strikeouts and two wins across 17 innings pitched. Home runs have been a major issue so far this season for Kelly, as he's allowed 1.92 HR/9. If that mark can regress closer to his career rate of 1.23 HR/9 in the second half of the season, Kelly could be a viable streamer option in the right matchups. His profile carries risk, but Kelly could be re-emerging as a waiver wire target for deeper-league fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kerry Carpenter Battling Heel Injury, Still Worth Targeting on the Waiver Wire?
Across 246 plate appearances in 2026, Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (heel) is hitting .206/.279/.427 with 13 home runs, 36 RBI, and 26 runs scored. It's been a disappointing season overall for Carpenter, who has seen his strikeout rate spike to a career-worst 29.7% and his batting average fall well below his career mark of .258. The 28-year-old was also removed from the Tigers' loss to the Chicago Cubs on Monday due to heel discomfort, which he had reportedly been trying to play through for the last several games. Still, if Carpenter can avoid a trip to the injured list, he remains an intriguing power bat for fantasy managers to monitor. The lefty swinger has never logged a barrel rate below 10.0% in any of his five big-league seasons, and he hit 26 home runs in just 464 plate appearances in 2025. Pending further updates on his current heel issue, Carpenter could be worth a low-cost waiver-wire addition for his power upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kaelen Culpepper's Injury Concerns Make 2026 Debut Unlikely
Minnesota Twins shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper (glute) is currently on the seven-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul with a glute strain but has put together a nice season so far. The injury is unfortunate because Culpepper had racked up 14 homers, 43 RBI, 54 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases all while hitting .272. He had amassed all those stats in just 250 at-bats this year. The right-handed hitting infielder is the Twins' No. 2 overall prospect. Culpepper, in his age-23 season, is producing at a high rate, but will likely need time to overcome his injury concerns. Because of that, 2027 looks like the more likely timeline for his big league debut. A high-upside target in dynasty leagues, fantasy managers this season should wait to see if he can return to full health in the second half of the season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Henry Bolte Emerging as a Speed Threat with Upside on the Waiver Wire
Across 213 plate appearances since being promoted to the big leagues in mid-May, Athletics outfielder Henry Bolte is hitting .258/.336/.344 with three home runs, 17 RBI, 18 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. The 22-year-old's power upside is limited by his tendency to hit the ball on the ground, as his average launch angle is 1.5 degrees and he's posted a 64.6% ground ball rate. However, Bolte's ability to make solid contact (45.5% hard-hit rate) and his speed have allowed him to log a .354 batting average on balls in play, which has helped him overcome his elevated 27.2% strikeout rate. If Bolte can continue to get on base at a steady clip, he should be a major speed asset for fantasy managers. Across 114 minor league games in 2025, Bolte swiped 44 bags. In leagues where he's not already rostered, Bolte profiles as an emerging speed source with upside for fantasy managers to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Orioles Listening to Offers for Adley Rutschman
The Baltimore Orioles are "certainly listening" to offers for catcher Adley Rutschman (wrist), according to Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan of ESPN. Rutschman was placed on the 10-day injured list on Monday due to left wrist inflammation, which could impact his trade market. However, the 28-year-old should return this season and is also under team control through 2027, so an acquiring team would likely view him as more than just a rental. Across 284 plate appearances this season, Rutschman is hitting .251/.331/.433 with eight home runs, 47 RBI, and 30 runs scored. He's logged the highest hard-hit rate (42.0%) of his career and also owns a stellar plate approach, posting a 10.6% walk rate and a 14,1% strikeout rate. Health is an issue for the switch-hitting catcher, as this most recent trip to the IL will be his third separate stint in 2026. Still, he profiles as a starting fantasy catcher when he's on the field.
Source: ESPN - Kiley McDaniel, Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN - Kiley McDaniel, Jeff Passan
Casey Mize Expected to Make his Next Start
Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize (groin, wrist) left his start early on July 19 after taking a comebacker off his left hand/wrist area while also suffering a mild aggravation of his groin injury. Mize felt fine throwing on Monday, though, and will do his normal pre-start routine with the expectation that he will make his next scheduled start, according to MLB.com. Barring a setback, the 29-year-old is lined up to face the Kansas City Royals this Sunday. The former first overall pick from Auburn University in 2018 is having the best year of his career in 2026 with a 2.79 ERA (2.62 FIP) and 1.03 WHIP with 82 strikeouts and 19 walks in 80 2/3 innings across 15 starts. Mize has dealt with injuries, but when he's been available, he's been consistent for fantasy managers and the Tigers. He has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last four starts with two wins, five walks, and 24 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings in that span. If Mize is officially cleared to start on Sunday, he'll be a strong streaming option against the division-rival Royals.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Hector Rodriguez Finding Power Stroke at Triple-A
Cincinnati Reds outfield prospect Hector Rodriguez has been a consistent power source at Triple-A Louisville this season with 24 homers and 61 RBI, 67 runs scored, and a .280 batting average. The 22-year-old left-handed hitter has been steady all season and could force his power bat to a big league promotion. Rodriguez is the Reds' No. 4 overall prospect and has had at least five homers in each calendar month this season. He doesn't profile as a big, intimidating presence in the batter's box at just 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, but he excels with his bat speed and has translated that to power numbers in the minors this season. Rodriguez makes for a nice speculative add in deep leagues this season as he continues to mash at Triple-A. This could be the year for his big league debut, and he could reward fantasy managers for taking a shot on him.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
