11 mins agoPer Mike Puma of the New York Post, the New York Mets are open to adding a left-handed bat at the trade deadline and have had discussions with the San Francisco Giants about outfielder Michael Conforto. The lefty played with the Mets for seven season before joining the Giants in 2023. Only three Mets are hitting for a wRC+ above 100 from the left side of the plate (Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, DJ Stewart). Conforto's 103 wRC+ would help stabilize an already pretty solid Mets outfield if a deal was to be struck. The Giants have been rumored to have made Conforto "available" so a reunion could be considered very plausible. Fantasy managers should continue to start Conforto in their lineups regardless of where he ends up but his .833 career OPS at Citi Field should be appealing compared to his season long .713 OPS in 2024.Source: Mike Puma
1 hour agoFree-agent first baseman Jose Abreu will most likely not play for the remainder of the 2024 season, according to sources. It's believed that Abreu will take a break, and if conditions are right, he'll try to return in 2025 if he's given another opportunity with a big-league organization. The former American League MVP fell off a cliff this year and was released by the Houston Astros after hitting a miserable .124/.167/.195 with two home runs, seven RBI and 10 runs scored in 35 games played. The 37-year-old probably doesn't have much left, but he'll see if another team will give him an opportunity as a right-handed veteran bat next year. If this is the end for the Cuban slugger, he'll finish his MLB career with a .283/.345/.488 slash line with an .833 OPS, 263 home runs and 960 RBI in 1,446 games over 11 seasons in the league.Source: MLB.com - Francys Romero
1 hour agoAfter acquiring right-handed reliever Yimi Garcia from the Toronto Blue Jays earlier on Friday, the Seattle Mariners traded right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek to the New York Mets on Friday in exchange for minor-league outfielder Rhylan Thomas, according to a league source. Thomas was listed by MLB Pipeline as New York's No. 30 prospect. The 33-year-old Stanek heads to the Big Apple after struggling of late, and the veteran reliever now holds a 4.38 ERA (4.02 FIP), a 1.33 WHIP, a career-high seven saves and a 44:17 K:BB in 39 innings over 46 appearances out of Seattle's bullpen this year. Since June 30, Stanek has a 9.45 ERA, six walks, eight K's, three holds and two blown saves in 6 2/3 innings pitched. In New York, he'll work alongside Phil Maton as a late-inning setup man in front of closer Edwin Diaz.Source: The Athletic - Will Sammon
1 hour agoSan Francisco Giants right-hander Keaton Winn (elbow) will have season-ending surgery on Monday and will have an ulnar-nerve transposition. Winn has been on the injured list since June with a nerve issue in his right elbow and he'll now be forced to miss the rest of the 2024 campaign. Because of the nature of his surgery, there's a good chance that the 26-year-old won't be ready for the start of spring training next year or the 2025 regular season. Before his right-elbow injury cropped up, Winn went 3-8 with a rough 7.16 ERA (4.82 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 20 walks in 55 1/3 innings over 12 starts in his second year in the big leagues with the Gigantes. Anyone that was holding onto him in deep NL-only leagues can now let go.Source: San Francisco Chronicle - Shayna Rubin
2 hours agoKansas City Royals third base prospect Brennon McNair had a nice day at the plate on Thursday as he went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, two RBI, and a walk. However, in his past eight games prior to Thursday, he tallied only one hit across 29 plate appearances. Through his second look at Single-A ball this summer, the 11th-round pick has struggled with a .207/.325/.389 line. Last summer, in a similar 63-game stint at Single-A, he held a .191/.313/.293 line. McNair remains outside of the top-30 prospects in Kansas City on MLB.com and could once again open next season at Single-A if he continues to remain inconsistent.Source: MiLB.com
2 hours agoSan Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (hip, shoulder) will throw five innings in a minor-league rehab start for Single-A San Jose on Friday night, and if all goes well, he will return to make his 2024 debut for the Giants on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics. Cobb will essentially be replacing right-hander Jordan Hicks, who will make his last start of the year on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies before moving to the bullpen to protect his workload. The 36-year-old Cobb started the year on the injured list after having offseason hip surgery and then suffered a setback with his right shoulder along the way, keeping him out for the entire first half. Cobb has limited fantasy upside with a 19.9% career strikeout rate but could be a worthwhile deep-league streaming option in the right matchups when he returns to San Fran's starting rotation.Source: NBC Sports Bay Area - Alex Pavlovic
2 hours agoThe Tampa Bay Rays continue to make moves and acquired right-hander Cole Sulser from the New York Mets on Friday in exchange for cash considerations. Sulser has been optioned to Triple-A Durham. The Rays got things started by dealing outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night and also sent right-hander Zach Eflin to the division-rival Baltimore Orioles on Friday. The move for the 34-year-old Sulser is the most insignificant of the trio of moves after the Mets designated him for assignment earlier this week. He allowed five earned runs in just 4 2/3 relief innings in New York in 2024 and has a 4.06 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP and 15 career saves in his six years in the majors with five different teams. Sulser made his big-league debut with the Rays in 2019 after being drafted by Cleveland in the 25th round back in 2013 out of Dartmouth. He's not on the fantasy radar.Source: Bally Sports Florida - Tricia Whitaker
2 hours agoPhiladelphia Phillies outfield prospect Raylin Heredia went 2-for-4 with a triple, a long ball, and a season-high five RBI on Thursday evening. Heredia has held a strong .262/.328/.505 slash line with five home runs, three doubles, four triples, 23 RBI, and six stolen bases since June 11. The 20-year-old got a small taste of Single-A ball last summer and has continued to produce solid numbers in his second look. Heredia could push for promotion to Single-A in the coming weeks if he continues this hot stretch.Source: MiLB.com
2 hours agoThe Tampa Bay Rays acquired infield/outfield prospect Mac Horvath, right-hander Jackson Baumeister and outfielder Matthew Etzel from the division-rival Baltimore Orioles on Friday in exchange for right-hander Zach Eflin, according to sources. Horvath, who was Baltimore's No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was a second-round pick last year out of North Carolina. The 23-year-old has hit .233/.328/.417 with nine home runs, 19 doubles, two triples, 41 RBI and 26 stolen bases in 317 trips to the plate over 71 games for High-A Aberdeen in his first full pro season in the minors. There's raw power in the 6-foot, 195-pounder's bat in addition to high-end speed. Horvath can play the middle infield and also has appeared as an outfield, which made him attractive to the Rays, who place a high emphasis on versatility. He's at least several years away from a potential MLB debut in Tampa.Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
2 hours agoAtlanta Braves third base prospect Sabin Ceballos went 2-for-5 with a double and a stolen base on Thursday evening. This was his second consecutive game swiping a bag and third time in his past four games. The Oregon product has tallied nine stolen bases this summer in his first full season of pro ball, as he logged only 14 games last summer across the Rookie League and Single-A. Ceballos has performed well in the batter's box this season, holding a .263/.358/.362 line with three home runs and 28 RBI. Ceballos is considered the 17th-best prospect in the Atlanta system and remains several seasons away from his major league debut.Source: MiLB.com
2 hours agoSeattle Mariners right-handed reliever Gregory Santos (knee) underwent an MRI exam that "came back OK," according to manager Scott Servais. It sounds like Santos will avoid a trip to the injured list and could potentially be available out of the bullpen as soon as Saturday on the road in Chicago against the White Sox. Santos will go through pre-game exercises on Friday to test his right knee after he hurt it in the eighth inning of Wednesday's loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The 24-year-old Dominican began the year on the IL in his first year in Seattle and has pitched just four innings in 2024, allowing three earned runs on four hits. It's been a disappointing year in Seattle so far, which is partly why the M's went out and acquired reliever Yimi Garcia on Friday from the Toronto Blue Jays.Source: MLB.com - Daniel Kramer
2 hours agoDetroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday as he continues to rehab from a left-hamstring strain that he suffered in late June. Saturday's session will be Mize's first time throwing off a mound since he hurt his hammy, and he'll likely need another bullpen before being cleared to face live hitters again. The 27-year-old former first overall pick in 2018 out of Auburn will also probably need a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining Detroit's starting rotation, so he's likely at least several weeks away from returning. In his first time in the majors since 2022, Mize has gone 2-6 this year with a 4.23 ERA (3.67 FIP) and 1.45 WHIP with a 58:21 K:BB in 16 starts (78 2/3 frames). His 16.8% strikeout rate has left a lot to be desire in fantasy circles in his first year back from injury.Source: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
2 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers outfield prospect Luis Lara continued his hot streak on Thursday, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI, and a walk. Since July 4, the eighth-ranked prospect in the Milwaukee system has held a strong .321/.371/.536 slash line with two home runs, four doubles, seven RBI, and four swiped bags. After posting a season-low .202 average and .264 on-base percentage in June, the 19-year-old has clearly begun to turn things around and get himself back on track. Lara got a small taste of High-A ball last summer and held a .290/.351/.377 line. However, this summer in a much larger 75-game stint, he holds a .248/.321/.330 line. Even though he has struggled at the plate at times, he is still showcasing elite speed with 26 total stolen bases. The switch-hitting outfielder should make a case to see time in Double-A next season.Source: MiLB.com
2 hours agoDetroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows (hamstring) is scheduled to complete another baserunning session on Saturday and expects to begin a minor-league rehab assignment soon. Meadows continues to complete baseball activities daily as he recovers from a right-hamstring strain that he suffered in early July. The 24-year-old had his first baserunning session on Wednesday and should be cleared to begin a rehab assignment early next week if he avoids a setback with his hamstring on Saturday. The former second-round pick in 2018 has hit just .191/.298/.335 with six homers, 18 RBI and 12 steals in 72 big-league games since making his MLB debut in 2023, but his power/speed combination from the left side will make him attractive in at least deep-mixed leagues when he returns if he's playing regularly for Detroit.Source: Detroit Free Press - Evan Petzold
2 hours agoAtlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (hamstring) feels confident that he can return by Aug. 14, when he's eligible to come off the 60-day injured list. Harris is making slow progress from a left-hamstring strain that put him on the 15-day injured list on June 15. The Braves moved him to the 60-day IL on Wednesday because of his slow recovery. In addition to missing extended time in 2024, the 23-year-old has been a disappointment offensively for the Braves, slashing .250/.295/.358 with a career-low .653 OPS, only five home runs, 20 RBI and eight stolen bases in 67 games played. With Harris injured and Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) out for the season, Atlanta has been hurting for outfield production. Harris deserves to be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues until he can return in mid-August. Until that happens, Jarred Kelenic will continue to start in center field regularly.Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano