The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired 2 players to be named later from the Toronto Blue Jays for RHP Joakim Soria.
Soria, 37, was in his first season with the D-backs (2021).
Pirates Acquire Pitchers Bryse Wilson and Ricky Devito From Atlanta
The Pittsburgh Pirates today acquired right-handed pitchers Bryse Wilson and Ricky DeVito from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for pitcher Richard Rodriguez.
Wilson has split the 2021 season between Atlanta and Triple-A Gwinnett. He has gone 2-3 with a 4.83 (31.2ip/17er) and 21 strikeouts in seven starts with Atlanta this season and 5-2 with a 4.23 ERA (55.1ip/26er) and 42 strikeouts in 10 appearances (nine starts) with Gwinnett.
The 23-year-old Wilson made his Major League debut 20 years, 243 days old, on August 20, 2018, at Pittsburgh, where he was the youngest pitcher in the Majors at the time. He was a member of Atlanta’s Opening Day roster in 2019 while also having three separate stints with the Braves in 2020. During last year’s playoffs, he limited the Dodgers to one run on one hit in 6.0 innings in Game Four of the National League Championship Series to become just the second rookie pitcher in baseball history to start his postseason debut and allow no more than one hit in at least 6.0 innings.
The 22-year-old DeVito has gone 0-3 with a 2.66 ERA (20.1ip/6er), 27 strikeouts and .232 batting average against in five appearances (five starts) this season with High-A Rome prior to being placed on the injured list on June 9. During his first professional season in 2019, he went a combined 1-2 with a 3.44 ERA (36.2ip/14er) and 35 strikeouts in 12 appearances (eight starts) between the Gulf Coast League Braves, Rome and Danville. He took home Danville’s Pitcher-of-the-Year honors posting a 3.32 ERA (19.0ip/7er) in seven appearances (four starts).
A’s Acquire C Gomes and IF Harrison from Washington for Three Minor Leaguers
A’s Send RHPs Guasch and Shuman and C Millas to the Nationals
OAKLAND, Calif. – The Oakland A’s have acquired catcher Yan Gomes, infielder/outfielder Josh Harrison and cash considerations from the Washington Nationals for minor league right-handed pitchers Richard Guasch and Seth Shuman and minor league catcher Drew Millas, the club announced today.
Gomes is batting .271 with nine home runs and 35 RBI in 63 games with Washington. He has thrown out 16-of-44 (36.4%) attempted base stealers and is tied for second in the majors in most caught stealing. The 34-year-old right-handed hitter is batting .340 with runners in scoring position, .333 in July and .365 against left-handed hitters. Gomes is a .248 career hitter with 112 home runs and 399 RBI in 842 games in 10 seasons in the majors with Toronto (2012), Cleveland (2013-18) and Washington (2019-21). He was a National League All-Star in 2018, a Silver Slugger in 2014 and has played in the postseason five times, including 2019 for the World Series Champion Nationals.
Harrison is batting .294 with 23 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 38 RBI in 90 games with Washington. He is tied for fifth in the National League in hit by pitches (12), ranks sixth in plate appearances per strikeout (7.18) and tied for 10th in doubles. The 34-year-old right-handed hitter is batting .304 with runners in scoring position and .412 since the All-Star Break. Harrison has started 61 games at second base, 12 in left field, eight at third base, two in center field and one in right field and has played every position except catcher in his career. He is a .275 career hitter with 62 home runs and 329 RBI in 1,001 games in 11 seasons with Pittsburgh (2011-18), Detroit (2019) and Washington (2020-21). Harrison was an NL All-Star for the Pirates in 2014 and 17.
Guasch is 1-4 with a 4.67 ERA in 13 games, nine starts, for High-A Lansing. He has 68 strikeouts in 54.0 innings but has also walked 29. The native of Cuba signed with the A’s on July 13, 2018 and is 2-8 with a 3.89 ERA in 39 games, 25 starts, in three seasons in the A’s farm system.
Millas was the A’s seventh round selection in the 2019 First-Year Player draft and made his professional debut this year at High-A Lansing. He is hitting .255 with three home runs, 28 RBI, 41 walks (.372 on-base percentage) and 10 stolen bases in 59 games.
Shuman is also pitching for High-A Lansing and is 2-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 13 games, 11 starts. He has 62 strikeouts in 56.0 innings and has surrendered just four home runs. Shuman was the A’s sixth round pick in 2019 and is 2-6 with a 2.31 ERA in 24 games, 19 starts, in two seasons.
Royals Acquire Rhp Kasey Kalich From Atlanta For Jorge Soler
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Royals announced today that they have acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Kasey Kalich from the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Jorge Soler. Kalich will be assigned to Quad Cities (A+).
Kalich, 23, was Atlanta’s fourth-round selection in 2019 out of Texas A&M University. He’s spent the 2021 season with Rome (A+), pitching to a 3.26 ERA (11 ER in 30.1 IP) over 20 appearances and has recorded 35 strikeouts (10.38 K/9). He’s gone 5-for-5 in his save opportunities this season. In his first professional season (2019), the right-hander went 1-1 with a 1.25 ERA (3 ER in 21.2 IP), with 24 strikeouts (9.97 K/9).
Soler, 29, was hitting .192 with 13 homers and 37 RBI for the Royals this season. He set the franchise record with 48 home runs in 2019, also setting career highs in hits (156), doubles (33), RBI (117), walks (73) and runs scored (95) that season. He was originally acquired by the Royals on December 7, 2016 from the Chicago Cubs.
Following the trade, the Royals have 38 players on their Major League Reserve List.
Cubs acquire outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong from New York Mets for INF Javier Báez, RHP Trevor Williams and a cash consideration
WASHINGTON D.C. – The Chicago Cubs today acquired outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong from the New York Mets for infielder Javier Báez, right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams and a cash consideration.
Crow-Armstrong, 19, is ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the Mets organization by MLB.com. New York’s first round selection (19th overall) in the 2020 draft, Crow-Armstrong played six games this season with Single-A St. Lucie, hitting .417 (10-for-24) with two doubles, four RBI, two stolen bases and seven walks compared to six strikeouts prior to suffering a right shoulder injury in May.
The six-foot left-handed hitter out of Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles played for the gold-medal-winning team 18-and-Under USA Team in the 2018 Pan American Championships. He was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 20 prospect heading into the 2020 Draft.
Báez, 28, departs the Cubs having hit .262 (754-for-2,873) with 151 doubles, 19 triples, 140 home runs and 443 RBI in 815 games since making his major league debut in 2014. Originally selected by Chicago in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2011 draft out of Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville, Fla., Báez this season hit .248 (83-for-335) with nine doubles, two triples, 22 home runs and 65 RBI in 91 games for the Cubs.
Báez started the 2018 All-Star Game at second base for the N.L. squad then started the 2019 Midsummer Classic at shortstop, becoming the first player in major league history to start the All-Star Game at second base and shortstop in consecutive seasons. He was named the 2016 NLCS co-MVP with Jon Lester, won a Silver Slugger award in 2018 and in 2020 earned his first N.L. Gold Glove award.
Williams, 29, signed with the Cubs this offseason and has gone 4-2 with a 5.06 ERA (33 ER/58.2 IP) in 13 games (12 starts) for Chicago. In all or part of six seasons with the Pirates (2016-20) and Cubs, Williams is 35-39 with one complete game, one shutout and a 4.49 ERA (296 ER/593.1 IP) in 119 major league games (106 starts).
Astros acquire Phil Maton from Indians
Houston sends Straw to Cleveland in exchange for Maton and minor league catcher Diaz
HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Astros have acquired RHP Phil Maton and minor league C Yainer Diaz from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for OF Myles Straw. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager James Click.
Maton, 28, has gone 2-0 with a 4.57 ERA (21ER/41.1IP) in 38 appearances for the Indians this season. He has struck out 61 hitters in his 41.1 innings for a 13.28 strikeouts per 9.0 ratio, which ranks sixth in the American League (min. 40 IP). Originally a 20th-round pick by the Padres in 2015, Maton debuted in San Diego in 2017 and has made 182 career appearances in his five Major League seasons with the Padres (2017-19) and Indians (2019-21).
Diaz, 22, has played his entire 2021 season at Class A Lynchburg, hitting .314 (75×239) with 19 doubles, five homers, 50 RBI and an .821 OPS in 61 games. The right-handed hitting catcher has played in the Indians minor league system his entire career (2017-21) and has appeared in 198 career minor league games, compiling a .326 lifetime batting average.
Straw, 26, hit .262 (85×325) with 34 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 98 games for the Astros this season. Originally a 12th-round pick of the club in 2015, Straw has spent parts of the last four seasons (2018-21) in Houston, combining to appear in 196 total games.
White Sox acquire eight-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel from Chicago Cubs in exchange for Codi Heuer and Nick Madrigal
CHICAGO – The Chicago White Sox have acquired All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for right-handed pitcher Codi Heuer and second baseman Nick Madrigal.
Kimbrel, 33, is 2-3 with a 0.49 ERA (2 ER/36.2 IP), 64 strikeouts (15.71 per 9.0 IP), 23 saves and a 0.71 WHIP over 39 appearances this season, his third with the Cubs. He leads National League relievers in WHIP, strikeouts per 9.0 IP and opponents average (.106) and is tied for third in saves.
Kimbrel, an eight-time All-Star, is 33-27 with a 2.07 ERA (139 ER/605.1 IP), 990 strikeouts (14.72 per 9.0 IP) and 371 saves in 622 games over 12 major-league seasons with Atlanta (2010-14), San Diego (2015), Boston (2016-18) and the Cubs (2019-21). He ranks second among relievers in major-league history behind Aroldis Chapman in strikeouts per 9.0 IP, third in WHIP (0.94) and ninth in saves.
“We viewed Craig as the premier relief pitcher available at this trade deadline, and so we knew the cost would be steep in terms of parting with young talent,” said Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager. “But we recognize the special opportunity that currently exists and our team, our clubhouse and our fans deserve to know we will do everything we can to reach the postseason and win meaningful games in October.”
Kimbrel, 6-foot and 215 pounds, has 20 games of postseason experience, posting a 3.68 ERA (10 ER/22.0 IP) with 27 strikeouts and seven saves in seven chances. He won a World Series with Boston in 2018.
Heuer, 25, is 4-1 with a 5.12 ERA (22 ER/38.2 IP), 13 holds and 39 strikeouts in 40 relief appearances this season, his second with the White Sox. He originally was selected by Chicago in the sixth round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Wichita State.
Madrigal, 24, hit .305 (61-200) with 10 doubles, four triples, two homers, 21 RBI and 30 runs scored in 54 games this season before suffering a season-ending proximal right hamstring tear while running to first base on June 9. Madrigal entered the season rated by both Baseball America and MLB.com as the No. 3 prospect in the Sox system.
Dodgers claim catcher Chad Wallach
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed catcher Chad Wallach off waivers from the Miami Marlins.
Wallach, 29, was designated for assignment on July 24 after appearing in 22 games for the Marlins this season. On the campaign, he hit .200 (12-for-60) with two doubles, one triple and six RBI. In a Major League career that spans parts of five seasons with Cincinnati (2017) and Miami (2018-21), he is a career .207 hitter with three homers and 20 RBI. He was originally drafted by the Marlins in fifth round of the 2013 First Year Player Draft by the Miami Marlins out of Cal State Fullerton.
Cleveland announces a series of roster moves
CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Indians today announced the following transactions relative to the 2021 Major League roster:
Recalled INF OWEN MILLER (#6) from AAA Columbus.
Placed 1B BOBBY BRADLEY on the Bereavement List (1-to-3 days)
Traded RHP PHIL MATON & C YAINER DIAZ to the Houston Astros in exchange for OF MYLES STRAW.
Traded OF JORDAN LUPLOW & RHP DJ JOHNSON to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for RHP PEYTON BATTENFIELD.
Traded OF EDDIE ROSARIO and cash considerations to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for INF PABLO SANDOVAL.
Miller, 24, has spent the majority of the 2021 season with AAA Columbus, batting .297 (54-for-182) with 12 doubles, 7 home runs and 22 RBI in 48 games (.374/.489/.863). He has made starts at five different positions at Triple-A (21 2B; 8 1B; 7 3B; 4SS; 1 OF; 6 DH). During his previous three stints with Cleveland, he has batted .106 (5-for-47) with a 2B, RBI in 18 games. Owen was with the club, May 23-June 14 and was the 27th player for doubleheaders on June 30 and July 7.
Straw, 26, has spent the entire season with the Astros, batting .262 (85-for-325) with 13 doubles, 2 HR and 34 RBI in 98 games. He has also scored 44 runs, is tied for second in the American League with 17 steals in 22 attempts and has not committed an error over his 96 games in center field. He is currently second among AL centerfielders with 234 putouts. The right-handed hitting, Bradenton, FL native was Houston’s 12th round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft out of St. John’s River State College and debuted with the Astros in 2018. Over his 196 Major League games he owns a .256 average (134-for-524) with 21 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 50 RBI and 33 steals.
Battenfield, 23, has split the 2021 season between High-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery, going 5-0 with a 2.14 ERA in 14 games/12 starts (67.1IP, 42H, 16ER, 12BB, 95SO, 12.7SO/9.0IP, .171 avg). He is currently ranked as Tampa’s 29th-best prospect in their Player Development system according to MLB.com. He was Houston’s 9th round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma St. & was acquired by TB in January 2020 in exchange for RHP Austin Pruitt. He owns a career Minor League ERA of 1.94 (23ER/106.2IP) over 28 G/17 GS since 2019 (did not pitch in ’20).
Luplow, 27, has been on the Injured List since May 28 with a left ankle sprain, which he originally injured in Arizona during February workouts. For the year with Cleveland, he has hit .173 (17-for-98) with 5 2B, 7 HR and 20 RBI in 36 games (.331/.439/.769). Johnson, 31, has spent most of the season at AAA Columbus, posting a mark of 1-2 with 6 saves and a 3.32 in 21 relief outings (21.2IP, 24H, 8ER, 11BB, 35K).
Red Sox Acquire Left-Handed Pitcher Austin Davis From Pittsburgh Pirates
Boston Sends Infielder/Outfielder Michael Chavis to Pirates
The Boston Red Sox today acquired left-handed pitcher Austin Davis from the Pittsburgh Pirates, in exchange for infielder/outfielder Michael Chavis.
Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.
Davis, 28, has made 65 major league relief appearances with the Philadelphia Phillies (2018-20) and Pirates (2020-21), posting a 5.65 ERA (45 ER/71.2 IP) with 78 strikeouts. This season, the left-hander has pitched in 10 games with Pittsburgh and in 13 at the minor league level, recording a 2.65 ERA (5 ER/17.0 IP), a 0.82 WHIP, and a .148 opponent batting average between Low-A Bradenton (two games) and Triple-A Indianapolis (11 games). Born in Scottsdale, AZ, Davis was selected by the Phillies in the 12th round of the 2014 June Draft.
Chavis, 25, is batting .190 (15-for-79) with four doubles, one triple, two home runs, and six RBI in 31 games for the Red Sox this season, making 14 starts at second base and five at first base. Selected by Boston in the first round (26th overall) of the 2014 June Draft, he has played in 168 games with the club since making his major league debut in 2019. The Georgia native has hit .234 (134-for-572) with 25 home runs and 83 RBI for the Red Sox, making 69 starts at first base, 61 at second base, 11 in left field, and two at third base.
