MLB Player News
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Matt Mervis 1B | MIA
Marlins' Matt Mervis: Returns from MiLB IL
Mervis (oblique) was activated from the 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Mervis missed just over three weeks while recovering from an oblique strain. He's been solid in five games since his return, going 5-for-16 with two home runs, three RBI, one stolen base and four runs scored.
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Juan Morillo RP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Juan Morillo: Returned to Triple-A
Morillo was optioned to Triple-A Reno following Sunday's game against the Angels.
Morillo got roughed up in Saturday's appearance, surrendering four runs on five hits while striking out one over one inning of work, which seems to have led to his demotion. Arizona has yet to make a corresponding move.
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Noah Davis RP | MIN
Twins' Noah Davis: Traded to Twins
The Twins acquired Davis from the Dodgers on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Davis had been designated for assignment by the Dodgers following a nightmarish relief outing that saw him surrender 10 runs while recording four outs. He's posted an 8.95 ERA across 23 outings at the big-league level covering parts of four seasons. Davis has been assigned to Triple-A St. Paul.
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Jesus Tinoco RP | MIA
Marlins' Jesus Tinoco: Close to mound work
The Marlins announced July 7 that Tinoco (forearm) is continuing to make progress with his throwing program and could soon be cleared to throw bullpen sessions, MLB.com reports.
Tinoco was able to resume playing catch just over a week after he was placed on the injured list June 6 due to a right forearm strain, but the Marlins have been bringing the right-hander along slowly in his recovery. As a one- or two-inning reliever, Tinoco won't require an extended rehab assignment, but since he has yet to get back on a mound, he shouldn't be expected to return from the IL until late July at the soonest.
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Oneil Cruz CF | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Makes pinch-hit appearance
Cruz (hip) provided an infield single in a pinch-hit appearance during Sunday's 2-1 win over the Twins.
The Pirates held Cruz out of the lineup for their final game before the All-Star break after he exited late in Saturday's 12-4 loss due to a hip flexor injury, but manager Don Kelly's decision to turn to the 26-year-old in the top of the ninth inning for a pinch-hit appearance suggests that his health isn't a major concern. Cruz remains in line to participate in Monday's Home Run Derby and should return to the Pittsburgh lineup when the team returns to action Friday against the White Sox.
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Carson Spiers SP | CIN
Reds' Carson Spiers: Goes 3.2 scoreless in rehab start
Spiers (shoulder) struck out five and gave up one hit and four walks over 3.2 scoreless innings in his rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.
Though Spiers kept Columbus off the board during his start, he spotted just 39 of his 72 pitches for strikes in the outing, which was the third of his rehab assignment. On the shelf since April 20 due to a right shoulder impingement, Spiers appears to be close to fully stretched out at this point, but the Reds don't seem to have an opening for him in the big-league rotation. Spiers could be activated from the 60-day injured list coming out of the All-Star break to serve as a long-relief option for the big club, or the Reds could option him to Triple-A if they want to keep him in a starting role.
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Drew Rasmussen SP | TB
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Set for normal start after break
Rasmussen is expected to handle a typical starter's workload when he makes his next turn through the rotation July 22 versus the White Sox in Tampa, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
In an effort to keep his season-long workload under 150 innings after he underwent his third major right elbow surgery in July 2023, Rasmussen was limited to three, two and two innings in his final three starts prior to the All-Star break. In the latter two outings, the Rays deployed Joe Boyle in bulk relief behind him, but Rasmussen looks like he'll be in line for a standalone start in his first appearance of the second half. With Rasmussen sitting at 91.1 innings on the season, the Rays are still likely to manage his workload to some degree over the next two and a half months, but he should remain usable in most fantasy leagues so long as he's covering around five or six frames in his starts. Rasmussen owns a modest 21.7 percent strikeout rate for the season but has provided an excellent 2.86 ERA and 1.03 WHIP while gathering seven wins through 19 outings.
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Manuel Rodriguez RP | TB
Rays' Manuel Rodriguez: Meeting with doctor on tap
Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Rodriguez (forearm) has returned to Tampa and is scheduled to meet with a doctor Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Initially placed on the injured list June 11 due to a right forearm strain, Rodriguez was pulled from his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Friday after he experienced right elbow soreness and noticed a stark decline in velocity. The Rays will likely decide on a treatment plan for Rodriguez once he meets with a doctor, but as a result of the setback, he won't be on track to return from the IL coming out of the All-Star break.
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Grant Hartwig RP | NYM
Grant Hartwig: Signs with Japanese team
The Mets released Hartwig on June 27.
Per Will Sammon of The Athletic, Hartwig was released so that he could sign a contract with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The 27-year-old has made 32 relief appearances at the big-league level, holding a 5.14 ERA and 34:19 K:BB over 42 innings.
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Shane McClanahan SP | TB
Rays' Shane McClanahan: Strikes out three in rehab start
McClanahan (triceps) struck out three batters and allowed one earned run on four hits and no walks over 1.2 innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Durham on Sunday.
After kicking off his rehab assignment Tuesday with a one-inning outing in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, McClanahan moved up to the Rays' top affiliate for his second outing. The 28-year-old southpaw needed 36 pitches just to record five outs, but he made use of all four of his offerings and averaged 94 miles per hour with his fastball. McClanahan will stick around with Durham and will likely make at least two more rehab starts before the Rays consider bringing him back from the 60-day injured list. He hasn't pitched in a game in the majors since Aug. 2, 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery later that year and then being shut down this spring due to left triceps nerve irritation.