0:00:00

To make room on the 40-man roster for newly signed infielder Nick Senzel, the Chicago White Sox designated infielder Danny Mendick for assignment and optioned infielder Lenyn Sosa to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday. With Yoan Moncada (groin) out for the majority of the first half of the season, Mendick saw increased playing time on the short side of a platoon at the hot corner in Chicago and hit just .197 (26-for-132) with three home runs, eight RBI and six stolen bases. Sosa, 24, wasn't a whole lot better in limited at-bats in the first half, slashing .237/.274/.350 with four home runs, 15 RBI and three stolen bases in 177 at-bats as a utility infielder. Senzel, a former first-round pick, has more upside than either Mendick or Sosa and will be given a shot at the hot corner in Chicago to open the second half of the season, at least until Moncada returns from his injury.

From RotoBaller

Former Tampa Bay Rays star third baseman Evan Longoria has yet to officially retire from professional baseball, but he admitted last weekend that he's unlikely to play again. "One of the only things I haven't accomplished is winning a World Series," said Longoria. "So if you said I would go hit .080 for the rest of the season, but the team would win the World Series, then I'd [continue playing.] But that's probably about the only thing I'd want to do." The 38-year-old three-time All-Star played in 74 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks last year and came up just short of a World Series ring last fall. He hit just .223/295/.422 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI in 237 regular-season plate appearances. If the former first-rounder doesn't return to an MLB diamond, he'll finish his 16-year career with a .264/.333/.471 slash line, an .804 OPS, 342 home runs, 1,159 RBI and 58 stolen bases in 1,986 regular-season contests.

From RotoBaller

The New York Mets claimed left-handed reliever Alex Young off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday and assigned him to Triple-A Syracuse. In a corresponding move, the team designated pitcher Tyler Jay for assignment. The 30-year-old Young had a 3.86 ERA in a full season for the Cincinnati Reds last year and has been very good at Triple-A Louisville and Triple-A Sacramento in 2024, posting a 2.19 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 23 strikeouts and eight walks in 24 2/3 relief innings on the farm. The veteran southpaw landed with the Giants organization in the trade that sent outfielder Austin Slater to Cincinnati in early July. Young will operate as left-handed relief depth for the Mets in the minors and isn't on the fantasy radar at all.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Braves right-hander Huascar Ynoa (elbow) appeared in a game on Tuesday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League for the first time since April and allowed an earned run on two hits while walking none and striking out none in two innings of work. Ynoa is recovering from a stress reaction in his right elbow and will likely need the full 30 days on his rehab assignment before he becomes an option for the Braves' major-league pitching staff. The 26-year-old is currently on the 60-day injured list and will likely be ticketed for Triple-A Gwinnett once his rehab assignment concludes. The Dominican hurler hasn't appeared in the big leagues since 2022 for Atlanta and holds a career 5.22 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with a 24.4% strikeout rate in 122 1/3 innings over 31 appearances (24 starts) since debuting in 2019.

From RotoBaller

Texas Rangers right-hander Tyler Mahle (elbow) looked good in his third minor-league rehab start on Monday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, going 2 2/3 scoreless innings with one hit allowed, one walk and five strikeouts. In his three rehab starts to date, Mahle has thrown 6 2/3 scoreless innings while walking only one and fanning eight. The results have been great, but the 29-year-old has yet to throw three full innings and still has a ways to go on the rehab trail as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery in May of last year. He will probably need at least two or three more starts in the minors before he becomes a realistic option to make his 2024 debut for the Rangers in the second half. Before injuring his right elbow in 2023, Mahle was looking solid for the Twins and will be worth a look in at least deep-mixed leagues as starting depth when he's nearing a return.

From RotoBaller

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) picked up the victory on Tuesday in his second minor-league rehab appearance in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League when he allowed an earned run on two hits while walking none and striking out none. Graterol is likely to make a few more appearances in the minors before potentially coming off the injured list to join the Dodgers' bullpen for the first time all season. The 25-year-old reliever hasn't pitched yet in the big leagues in 2024 due to right-shoulder inflammation that first cropped up in spring training. The Venezuelan hurler went 4-2 with a career-best 1.20 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, a career-high seven saves, a career-high 48 strikeouts and 12 walks in 67 1/3 innings for LA in 2023 and could become a key late-inning, high-leverage weapon for the Dodgers down the stretch and in the postseason once he returns.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (hip, shoulder) went 3 1/3 innings on Monday in his fourth minor-league rehab start in the Arizona Complex League and allowed one earned run on three hits while walking two and striking out three. Cobb has fanned 16 and walked only four in 11 1/3 innings on his rehab assignment in the rookie-level ACL and with Single-A San Jose so far, but he's likely to need several more rehab outings to get his arm built up more before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list. The 36-year-old veteran had offseason hip surgery and then suffered a setback with his right shoulder, which is why he's yet to pitch for the Giants in 2024. Cobb should have a rotation spot waiting for him in the second half when he returns and will be worth a look then in deeper fantasy leagues as a streaming option after making his first All-Star squad with San Fran in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Left-hander Dallas Keuchel has cleared waivers and has elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers recently acquired Keuchel in a trade and used him for four spot starts before cutting him last weekend. The former Cy Young winner allowed 10 earned runs on 23 hits (three home runs) while striking out 11 and walking eight in 16 2/3 innings over his four starts for the Brew Crew and now once again finds himself looking for work on the open market. Since 2022, Keuchel has pitched in the big leagues for five different teams and hasn't been effective, recording a 7.59 ERA and 1.90 WHIP with 81 strikeouts and 57 walks in 115 innings pitched. Even if he lands with another team in the second half of the season, at best, he'll be a volatile deep-league streaming option in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Pittsburgh Pirates impressive rookie right-hander Paul Skenes became just the fifth rookie ever to start the All-Star game on Tuesday, and the first to do so since 1995. The 22-year-old had a scoreless first inning while flashing triple-digit velocity and maxing out at 100.1 mph. He tallied a game-high-tying four swings and misses. Skenes retired Steven Kwan on a pop out and Gunnar Henderson on a ground out before walking Juan Soto and getting Aaron Judge to roll over on a ground out to third base to end the inning. Last year's first overall pick out of LSU has special stuff and is going to be one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball for years to come. He's already 6-0 in his first big-league season with a stingy 1.90 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 89 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings over his first 11 starts with the Pirates.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd (elbow) was sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday to the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Boyd was signed by Cleveland in June and is on the 15-day injured list as he recovers from Tommy John surgery that he had in June of last year. It's good news that the veteran 33-year-old southpaw is now embarking on a rehab assignment, but he's still probably a month away from being an option for the big-league roster. It's unclear what role the Guardians envision for Boyd when he's healthy, but 160 of his 174 appearances in the big leagues over the last nine seasons have come in a starting role. He went 5-5 with a 5.45 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 25 walks in 15 starts for the Tigers in 2023 before having Tommy John surgery. Boyd is unlikely to be much of a fantasy option in mixed leagues the rest of the way in 2024.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco Giants left-hander Ethan Small (oblique) was sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday at the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Small hasn't been able to pitch in the big leagues at all this year due to a Grade 2 right-oblique strain that he suffered in spring training, but he's working his way back and is now ready to appear in game action in the minors. The 27-year-old southpaw is probably going to need a full 30 days on his rehab assignment because of his long layoff, and even when he's healthy, there's no guarantee that he'll be pitching meaningful innings for the Giants in the big leagues. Small made his big-league debut with the Brewers in 2022 and has an 8.71 ERA and 2.61 WHIP with 13 K's and 10 walks in just 10 1/3 innings in parts of two seasons in Milwaukee the last two years.

From RotoBaller

New York Yankees outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez (oblique) is still on the mend from an injury suffered about a month ago. Yankees manager Aaron Boone initially announced an eight-week timetable for the slugger with his right oblique injury and speaking last week, Boone said Dominguez still has a ways to go before returning. The 21-year-old has impressed at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when healthy this season, hitting .389 in nine games. But it has been mostly a lost season for the Dominican due to various injuries. He could push for a promotion late in the season once healthy and remains a big part of the Yankees' future plans.

From RotoBaller

Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Jackson Jobe (hamstring) is dialing things up at Double-A Erie after missing some time with a hamstring injury. The right-handed flamethrower has thrown 10 innings in two starts in July with 16 strikeouts, four walks, and just an earned run on five hits. The 21-year-old is the top pitching prospect in the minors at the moment and is showing why. With Paul Skenes dominating the big leagues and earning an All-Star Game start, Jobe is the best young pitching prospect to stash in dynasty leagues. He should earn a Triple-A promotion by the end of this season and potentially a big-league look, though next year might be more likely for an MLB debut.

From RotoBaller

With the Miami Marlins likely to sell at the trade deadline, right-handed starting pitching prospect Max Meyer could be called up to join the rotation during the second half of the season. The 25-year-old struggled initially at Triple-A Jacksonville after being demoted early this season. But he has turned things around nicely lately, with a 0.57 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in three July starts. The Marlins' No. 3 overall prospect should fit nicely in the team's rotation given another opportunity. He is certainly a pitcher to watch in the second half of the season.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Rays left-handed starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs (elbow) is ramping up for a return to the big leagues after working his way back from Tommy John surgery. Springs has three appearances of at least four innings during July for Triple-A Durham. He is inching closer to making his way back to the Tampa Bay rotation. The 31-year-old had a breakout 2022 campaign, going 9-5 with a 2.46 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He was injured in his third start during the 2023 season. It is never easy to predict how a pitcher will fare post-Tommy John, but Springs was in the midst of a career renaissance with the Rays prior to the injury.

From RotoBaller

Tampa Bay Rays third base prospect Junior Caminero (quadriceps) is 4-for-17 during his rehab stint for the FCL Rays. Three of his four hits have been home runs and he's recorded five RBI. Caminero could be ready to return to Triple-A Durham once the team returns from their All-Star break. Once he gets back into action with Durham he could make a quick progression to the major leagues. He just needs to demonstrate that he is back to full health and a big-league debut could be on the way. Caminero is arguably the prospect to stash in the second half of the season.

From RotoBaller

The Chicago Cubs acquired minor-league right-hander Jesus Tinoco from the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations. In a corresponding move, the Cubs optioned reliever Daniel Palencia to Triple-A Iowa. The 29-year-old Tinoco has a 4.58 ERA in 57 career major-league games, including nine games with the Texas Rangers in 2024. In his 10 innings pitched out of the bullpen with Texas, he gave up nine earned runs on 11 hits (two homers) while walking seven and striking out nine. At Triple-A Omaha for the Royals, he posted a 4.05 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with a save, 10 strikeouts and one walk in just 6 2/3 innings. Tinoco has a career 4.58 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with one save and an 18.1% strikeout rate in his five major-league seasons. He'll operate as relief depth for the Cubbies and isn't anywhere near the fantasy radar.

From RotoBaller

Free-agent infielder/outfielder Nick Senzel signed a major-league deal with the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Senzel was recently released by the Washington Nationals after being designated for assignment and going unclaimed on waivers. The 29-year-old former second overall pick in 2016 out of Tennessee by the Cincinnati Reds didn't pan out as the Nationals' third baseman in the first half of the 2024 season, slashing just .209/.303/.359 with a .663 OPS, seven home runs, 18 RBI, 25 runs scored and 53 strikeouts in 235 trips to the plate in 64 games in his sixth year in the big leagues. Senzel will now get an opportunity with the worst team in baseball and could get a shot at the hot corner in the Windy City, at least until Yoan Moncada (groin) returns from the injured list. Senzel also has experience as an outfielder, though, so he could get some playing time there as well.

From RotoBaller

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray (elbow) looked fantastic in his ninth rehab start Sunday with Single-A San Jose. Ray pitched five scoreless innings, striking out nine hitters while working up to 74 pitches. The 32-year-old has looked good overall while recovering from his May 2023 Tommy John surgery, pitching with San Jose, Triple-A Sacramento, and the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Ray was a standout fantasy pitcher in 2021 and 2022 and could be poised to join the Giants sometime shortly after the All-Star break, so he should be on fantasy managers' radars in all leagues at this time.

From RotoBaller

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase ensured an American League win in Tuesday's 5-3 All-Star Game against the National League. Clase came on to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by two. He struck out Pete Alonso for the first out and got Elly De La Cruz to ground out for the second out. He allowed a single to Jackson Merrill but struck out Bryan Reynolds to end the game. The 26-year-old has now been to three All-Star games and has served as a top fantasy closer throughout his career. He has converted 29 of 32 save opportunities this season with a minuscule 0.81 ERA, a 0.68 WHIP, and a 23.8% strikeout rate.

From RotoBaller