This Date in Baseball - Andy Pettitte passes Whitey Ford for the most Ks in Yankees history, 1,957
1910 — Comiskey Park — then known as White Sox Park — held its first major league game, with the St. Louis Browns beating Chicago 2-0.
1917 — Fred Toney of the Cincinnati Reds pitched complete-game victories in a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Toney threw a three-hitter in each game for 4-1 and 5-1 wins, setting a record for the fewest hits allowed in a doubleheader by a pitcher.
1920 — Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators defeated the Boston Red Sox 1-0 at Fenway Park with the season's only no-hitter.
1925 — Hack Wilson of the New York Giants hit two home runs in the third inning of a 16-7 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in the second game of a doubleheader. Wilson also doubled twice during the game.
1941 — Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees singled off Boston's Jack Wilson in the fourth inning, tying Willie Keeler's hitting streak of 44 games.
1951 — Bob Feller of the Indians pitched his third career no-hitter, beating the Detroit Tigers 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader at Cleveland.
1990 — Andy Hawkins of the New York Yankees pitched the sixth no-hitter in the majors this season and the third in less than 48 hours, but lost 4-0 to the Chicago White Sox on two outfield errors in the eighth inning.
1997 — Detroit's Bobby Higginson homered in the first inning against the New York Mets, tying a major league record by homering in four consecutive at-bats over two games. Higginson, who struck out looking in his next at-bat, became the 23rd player since 1900 to accomplish the feat and the fourth Tiger.
2009 — One run was enough for a victory for three National League teams, the first time in 33 years there were three 1-0 games in one league on the same day. The Mets, Dodgers and Reds came away with 1-0 victories. The last time there were three 1-0 games in one league was Sept. 1, 1976, in the NL.
2009 — Hanley Ramirez extended his RBI streak to 10 games in the Florida Marlins' 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals. Ramirez hit a two-run double in the third inning to become the first shortstop in NL history with an RBI streak of double-digit games.
2013 — Andy Pettitte passes Whitey Ford for the most strikeouts in New York Yankees history when he records his 1,957th in the Yankees' 10 - 4 win over the Twins. The win goes to reliever Joba Chamberlain, his first of the year, as he benefits from a three-run outburst off reliever Jared Burton in the 8th. The Yankees then add four runs in the top of the 9th as they end a five-game losing streak.
2014 — The Cleveland Indians executed an unorthodox triple play in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers that required two video replay reviews to sort out. With runners on first and third, Adrian Gonzalez lifted a fly ball to left fielder Michael Brantley, who threw out Dee Gordon at the plate. Catcher Yan Gomes then fired to second baseman Jason Kipnis for the tag on Yasiel Puig as he slid headfirst. Cleveland manager Terry Francona challenged the original safe call at second and got the play overturned after a replay delay that lasted 1 minute, 29 seconds. Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly then challenged the call at the plate, but that call stood after another wait of 1 minute, 34 seconds. Cleveland went on to a 10-3 win.
2015 — Carlos Carrasco came within one strike of throwing the Cleveland Indians' first no-hitter since 1981, giving up an RBI single to Joey Butler over leaping second baseman Jason Kipnis' glove in an 8-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
2019 — Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs is found dead in his hotel room a few hour before the team's scheduled game with the Texas Rangers. Police confirm that no foul play is suspected.
2021 — The results of the vote for starters at the 2021 All-Star Game are announced and youth is well represented as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads all players for most votes received, and other brash youngsters such as Fernando Tatis Jr., Shohei Ohtani, Rafael Devers, Adam Frazier, Teoscar Hernandez and Jesse Winker join him as first-timers voted in by fans, while Ronald Acuna is a second-timer at 23. It's veterans like Salvador Perez and Mike Trout - who is injured and likely to miss the game - who stand out in this group.
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USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Contact is king? Strikeouts down in MLB as teams adjust to baseball's new era
WASHINGTON — There may never be another season in Major League Baseball like 2019, when there were more balls flying out of ballparks – and more swings and misses - than any time in the game's history. And Gleyber Torres was one of the cool kids. In his first full season in the big leagues, Torres ripped 38 home runs in 138 games, a power output accompanied by 129 strikeouts. Never mind that Torres struck out 21.4% of the time: He was a two-time All-Star at 22, an MVP vote recipient, about to become shortstop of the New York Yankees and headed, by all appearances, toward superstardom. Yet even then, he knew something had to change. 'I hit a lot of home runs,' Torres, now a Detroit Tiger, tells USA TODAY Sports, 'but I struck out a lot. From my first year in the big leagues, I had a lot of conversations with the hitting coaches there. They always tell me, 'Strike two, put the ball in play.' I worked on my (two-strike approach) every year. 'Last year, in the second half, I had a really good approach, saw the ball very well. I really believe in my eyes to control the strike zone. I know how important it is some days to walk and put myself on base for the guy behind me. 'So far, I really, really believe in my plan and go to home plate and do what I can do.' He's not the only one. While strikeouts remain a scourge to the old school eye, it may be safe to declare that the era of bottomless whiffs is over. Major league teams are striking out 8.26 times per game, the lowest rate since 2017 and a 6% decrease from 2019. That season featured the highest K rate of all time (8.61 per team game) accompanied by the most home runs – 6,776 – in major league history. The offensive environment was an outlier for many reasons – including a juiced baseball – but it also marks the symbolic apex of the game's 'three true outcomes' era, when a home run, walk or strikeout ruled the sport, with three punchouts deemed the cost of doing business for one jog around the bases. Six years later, are we in the middle of a course correction? 'It's in the process of swinging back,' says Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell. 'I think we've given pitchers a ton of credit for improving. It was a conversation four or five years ago that (pitchers') velocity has improved. I think hitters now have calibrated themselves to that. 'And training them better. That's improved contact. And probably stopped giving at-bats to people who can't make contact. So, decision-makers had to adjust a little bit, too.' There's endless examples of both player and franchise realizing that selling out for power isn't necessarily in their best interests. Gleyber Torres stats on the rise: 'I want to put the ball in play' Torres is a prime case: In 2018 and 2019, his first two seasons, he hit 24 and 38 home runs, with strikeout rates of 25.2 and 21.4%. By 2024, he was 27, about to hit the free agent market and struggling at the halfway point, with a .215/.294/.333 slash line and a 24% strikeout rate. Yet he managed to make myriad mid-season adjustments, all of which trimmed his K rate down to 17.2% and the results followed: A .298/.365/.421 second half and a stellar postseason, resulting in a one-year, $15 million deal with the Tigers. Come spring training, he continued tweaking his approach and embraced a greater dedication to game-planning, heeding the counsel of Tigers hitting coaches Michael Brdar, Lance Zawadski, and Keith Beauregard and, as Torres put it, 'go to the plate with my plan and try to put a little more focus on whatever I do before the game.' The approach has paid off: Torres has just 40 strikeouts in 311 plate appearances, a 12.9% strikeout rate well below the league average of 21.9%, and nearly half his whiff rate in his rookie season. And his offensive profile has never looked healthier: Torres is on track for 17 homers, two more than he hit his final season in New York, but he's headed toward career highs in OBP – his .386 mark is 39 points better than his previous best – and adjusted OPS (134). While Torres was a vaunted prospect and instant All-Star, curbing whiffs can be a matter of survival for others. 'I hate striking out. Don't like striking out. I want to put the ball in play,' says Baltimore Orioles slugger Ryan O'Hearn, who went from waiver claim to potential All-Star. 'I want to make things happen. I want to make the other team make plays. I know what it's like to play against teams that don't strike out a whole lot, and it puts stress on the infielders. 'Can't get any hits unless you put the ball in play, right?' Nor can you get off the bench. O'Hearn, 31, only once played more than 100 games in five seasons with Kansas City, striking out 99 times in 105 games in 2019. In December 2022, the Royals designated him for assignment, with a .293 career OBP and annual strikeout rates that ranged from 24.1% to 28%. The Orioles gave him new life, unlocking several mechanical cleanups that, he said, 'helped me make contact more consistently. Less swing and miss in the zone. 'Once I realized I could put in play a lot more consistently, it definitely became a conscious thing and I didn't want to strike out a lot.' The results have been startling: O'Hearn hacked his K rate exactly in half from 28% in 2021 to 2023's 14%. This year, he's struck out just 46 times in 71 games and should win the All-Star Game fan balloting at designated hitter. It's well-deserved: O'Hearn is batting .295 with an .854 OPS (144 adjusted) and 11 homers. His newfound aversion to Ks is a big reason why. 'Mentally, it's definitely changed a lot for me the past few years,' he says. 'I know it's a big league defense and there's really good defenders out there. But if you strike out, it's a lot easier to kill an inning, for a pitcher stroll through a game when a team strikes out a lot. Low stress on the defenders. 'I don't want that. Even if it's 0-2, weak contact, I don't care. You might get a hit. You might get lucky.' The perfect offense Power pays, and that will always be the case in the big leagues. The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are 1-2 in both home runs and OPS, befitting the coastal behemoths who handsomely compensate Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, respectively. Yet the Yankees are fourth in strikeouts and the Dodgers rank 17th, a moderate vulnerability that can be greater exposed in a postseason environment. How, then, does a club generate an ideal concoction of power, patience and putting the ball in play? Ask the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are lurking just behind the Dodgers and Yankees with a .776 team OPS, and trail only the Dodgers and Chicago Cubs in runs scored. And they're fifth in home runs. But strikeouts? Just three teams whiff less often than Arizona, which has a 20.1% K rate; the Yankees rank 23rd at 23.1%. And the Diamondbacks hardly give up pop to get the ball in play: They rank eighth in hard-hit rate, with 42.3% of their balls at least 95 mph off the bat. It's no accident. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo says he and hitting coach Joe Mather are in alignment on their core offensive values: Putting the ball in play hard up the middle. Mather, Lovullo says, even keeps a running tab on how many balls reach their personal baseline of effectiveness: At least 90 mph on a line, with a launch angle between five and 25 degrees, equals success. 'I'm tired of people just going out there and striking out,' says Lovullo. 'It turned into a home run or strikeout league. I feel like if we get ahead of that and have an approach like the [David] Fletcher kid when he was in Anaheim, we'll be good. 'Fletcher got no love in this game, and I'm like, every team needs three or four of those guys. If we can have three or four of those guys with some slug, we're going to put up some runs.' Fletcher's career K rate was 9.5%, though he never managed to produce a league-average OPS over a full season. These D-backs don't have that problem. All-Star shortstop Geraldo Perdomo's strikeout rate has been vanishing a little more every year, now down to 11.7%. He pairs that with a .357 OBP and 115 adjusted OPS, along with such a strong situational feel that Lovullo says he can tell Perdomo, 'I need at least a five-pitch at-bat here,' and he will execute. 'I've always had really good eyes and make contact with no power,' says Perdomo. 'As I get older, I think it's a reason I'm hitting the ball harder. I feel proud. I don't want to strike out, and the most important thing I can do is putting the ball in play, and now that I'm getting some power, I feel like I can just drive the ball with more intensity. 'I'm not looking for a certain pitch, but if there's a good pitch that's close to me, I just try to drive the ball.'' While Arizona's pitching has dragged the club back toward the .500 mark, almost every contender has a contact fiend that tenderizes the opposing pitcher while also doing damage. For the Cubs, it is Nico Hoerner, who has just 22 strikeouts this season – a beyond elite 6.7% K percentage – while managing a .721 OPS despite just three home runs. He plays his role perfectly in the Cubs offense, haunting pitchers and defenses while enabling the lineup's aircraft carriers – Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch – to take their wallops. 'He's got the perfect approach with runners in scoring position: There's gonna be contact,' Counsell says of Hoerner, who's already amassed 3.3 WAR this season. 'It's really hard to strike him out. It's his elite skill. 'The ability to make contact is not an exciting trait as a hitter, but it's a valuable trait. It leads to runs getting scored.' And while the Tampa Bay Rays have shaved just 2% off their team K rate year-over-year, the addition of rookies Jake Mangum (13.4%) and speed merchant Chandler Simpson (9.6%) have given them a dynamic offensive attack. It's a decidedly postmodern look, one that might've seemed out of place in a pre-pandemic baseball world. And heck, it's not like the home run has vanished across the majors – the rate of 1.11 per team game is still 11th all-time. Perhaps what we're seeing is a generation of players realizing it's OK not to get too big at the plate, especially in an era where pitchers throw harder and nastier stuff with each subsequent season. And that the occasional shelving of the A swing can promote good habits and A+ outcomes for the team. 'It's understanding who you are as a hitter and fortunately for us, I feel like we have a bunch of guys who understand their strengths when they walk up to the plate,' says Ryas manager Kevin Cash. 'And right now, they're doing a good job putting that to use. 'Today's pitchers and today's hitters are very special, very talented. And what they do to counter each other year-to-year, game-to-game, at-bat to at-bat - you're seeing a really good product on the field.' The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
MLB execs predict Alcantara, Naylor and other players most likely to be traded at deadline
With just 30 days until the MLB trade deadline, 25 of the 30 teams are still within striking distance of postseason position, and so much could change between now and July 31. So I decided to poll decision-makers in major-league front offices to get their opinions on the trade market, including the key players who they think have the best chance to be traded at this year's deadline. Advertisement I surveyed more than 40 executives — mostly presidents of baseball operations and general managers — and asked them to name the best starting pitcher, reliever and position player they think will be traded this month. The execs were granted anonymity so they could answer candidly, as well as asked not to include any of their own players. Their responses were illuminating. Some answers were expected, but others were truly surprising. However, what really stood out was the number of teams that didn't really know where this year's trade market is headed. Said one National League president of baseball operations: 'I have no clue. Can't make sense of (it) at all. That will obviously change over the next month, but it's really tough to read now, as most teams are saying they are looking to buy.' An American League general manager told me, 'We are all waiting for teams to decide if they're going to sell, but it might take until close to the deadline for teams like the Diamondbacks, Orioles, Red Sox, Guardians and Angels to make that call.' What twists and turns lie ahead? The answers I received offer some possibilities — and clues. Here are the starting pitchers, relievers and position players who were mentioned the most, the players the execs felt are most likely to be dealt at the trade deadline, along with my thoughts on them. Alcantara was the player mentioned the most overall — by far. That was fascinating to me because he's 4-8 with a 6.98 ERA and I doubt the Marlins would get the requisite value for him if they traded him now. Instead, they could wait until the offseason to cash-in, perhaps after he's had a strong August and September. However, several execs pointed to the fact that he pitched better in June and seems to be healthy and getting closer to top form. Advertisement Here's how one GM put it: Max Fried and Corbin Burnes each got more than $200 million in free agency, yet an acquiring team would get Alcantara for three postseasons at a much lower cost. So it makes sense for some teams to try to trade for an ace now, as it would be a lot less expensive than trying to sign a starter like Dylan Cease or Michael King in free agency this winter. Alcantara, 29, is in his first season since Tommy John surgery, and after a poor start, has allowed three runs or less in four of his past five outings. He is making $17.3 million this year, will make the same next year and has a $21 million team option for 2027. The Marlins will have to get a significant prospect package in return to trade him now, because if they don't get the right offer or if Alcantara falters, they can always wait until the offseason or the 2026 trade deadline. Most execs believe he will be moved at this deadline though. A lot of teams have called Pittsburgh to inquire about Keller. The Pirates need offense and realize they're going to have to trade from their starting rotation to acquire young, impact bats. Keller, 29, has a 3.90 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 17 starts. He's signed through the 2028 season at an average annual salary of about $18 million. The Cubs and Mets are among the possible landing spots for Keller. Kelly, 36, is an impending free agent who grew up in Arizona and would prefer to finish his career as a Diamondback. However, as one GM told me, the D-Backs can trade him at the deadline as a rental and then re-sign him in the offseason. That would allow Arizona to improve its farm system with a solid prospect or two as the return. Kelly is 7-4 this year with a 3.49 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 17 starts. He's struck out 100 in 98 innings. His 2025 salary is just $7 million. Advertisement Heaney, 34, has a 4.16 ERA over 17 starts. The veteran lefty is a quality back-of-the-rotation inning-eater who could especially help a contending team that's been dealing with rotation injuries, such as the Mets. Eflin was just placed on the injured list (back discomfort), which will be a red flag at the trade deadline. It's his second time on the IL this season. How he recovers and pitches between now and the end of the month will likely determine if he gets moved. He will be a free agent after this season and is making $18 million. Eflin, 31, is 6-5 with a 5.95 ERA over 12 starts. Gallen is not having the free-agent walk year he wanted, going 6-9 with a 5.45 ERA over 18 starts. But he has three top-10 finishes in the NL Cy Young Award voting in his career, including the third-most votes in 2023, and a 3.53 ERA over 160 starts. His secondary pitches have not been as crisp this season and his average fastball is down a half mile an hour. Meanwhile, his walk and home run rates have increased while his strikeout rate has fallen. Maybe he'd benefit from a change of scenery. A trade could help him finish the season strong and boost his free agent value. Cabrera is under control through the 2028 season and is arbitration-eligible next year. He has a 3.41 ERA over 14 starts with 75 strikeouts over 71 1/3 innings. In his last seven starts, he's 3-1 with a 1.46 ERA and 42 strikeouts to 16 walks. The key for Cabrera, 27, has been the improved command and control of all his pitches. (He has averaged 3.79 walks per nine innings, but that's down from 4.67 last year and 5.96 the year before.) Cabrera is in his prime and has multiple years of control, both of which increase his trade value. The Marlins are not looking to move him, but if they can 'win' a trade, they'd have to consider it. The execs overwhelmingly picked Chapman as the reliever most likely to be traded in July. The 37-year-old is having a banner season, posting a 1.32 ERA over 37 appearances with 14 saves and 50 strikeouts in 34 innings. He would be a difference-maker in any bullpen. Two years ago, Chapman was traded from the Royals to the Rangers in a late-June deadline deal for lefty Cole Ragans and a minor-league outfielder. Advertisement The Pirates have made everyone apart from Paul Skenes and Andrew McCutchen available at this year's deadline. Bednar and Santana are 'all but gone,' according to one GM, and 'could be packaged together.' Bednar has been much better after a poor 2024 season, logging a 2.73 ERA with 12 saves over 33 appearances. Santana has a 1.50 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and five saves over 36 games. Bednar, 30, and Santana, 29, are both controllable and arbitration-eligible in 2026. The Orioles claim they're not going to sell and instead will try to buy pitching. However, their best play might be to trade Bautista for multiple young starting pitching prospects to quickly reboot for the 2026 season. Bautista has tallied 16 saves with a 2.73 ERA over 30 appearances in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. He's struck out 43 in 29 2/3 innings. He is under team control through 2027, which increases his trade value significantly. The A's received plenty of trade offers for Miller over the past couple of years, but they've always shied away. However, this year could be different if they plan to keep him in the closer role. One NL GM told me, 'I think the A's would be foolish to hold on to him if they're not going to convert him into a starter, especially with the trade return they could get for him now.' Miller has converted 17 saves of 20 save opportunities with a 4.55 ERA and 52 strikeouts over 31 2/3 innings. He's averaged 100.9 mph on his fastball for a second consecutive year, and batters are hitting just .122 against his wipeout slider. There are multiple teams that would love to trade for Miller and transition him to starting as they believe he could develop into an ace. Miller, 26, is under team control through 2029, so the return in a trade for him would have to be massive. The Cardinals are in the NL Central and NL wild-card races and appear closer to being a buyer than a seller. However, Helsley is eligible for free agency this offseason and St. Louis could decide trading him at the deadline for future assets makes more sense than keeping him. How the team performs in July will determine if Helsley is dealt, according to one AL GM who has talked with the Cardinals. Advertisement Helsley, 30, has a 3.41 ERA over 29 appearances and 16 saves. Batters are hitting just .077 against his wipeout slider, although they've been teeing off on his 99 mph four-seamer, hitting .429 against that pitch. Clase's name kept coming up in the survey, which surprised me as he's considered one of the top closers in the game. He's also under team control through the 2028 season. Clase, 27, has a 3.28 ERA over 37 appearances and 18 saves this year. The Guardians, who rank 26th in runs, need more offense. Perhaps they'd be willing to make a buyer-to-buyer type of trade to give up a lock-down leverage reliever for a middle-of-the-order impact bat to address this weakness. Duran, 27, is under team control through the 2027 season. He's having an excellent season with a 1.69 ERA over 39 games, 12 saves, and 42 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings. Jax, 30, is controllable through 2027 and has a 4.08 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 35 1/3 innings. In his breakout 2024 season, he logged a 2.03 ERA over 72 appearances. The Twins are faltering but I was surprised that both of these relievers were mentioned by execs. Wishful thinking by some contending teams? The Diamondbacks say they will be buyers at the trade deadline with acquiring pitching the priority. However, opposing teams believe they'll be sellers, or at least open to trading their impending free-agent bats for more pitching; one of those hitters, Naylor, was mentioned more than any other position player by execs in our poll. Naylor, 28, is slashing .304/.359/.471 with 10 home runs and 53 RBIs. Last season he mashed 31 home runs with 108 RBIs for Cleveland. Several teams, including the Mariners, Rangers, Giants, Reds and Red Sox, need a power bat like Naylor. If the Orioles become sellers, O'Hearn could end up being the trade deadline headliner for Baltimore. A soon-to-be free agent, he is slashing .295/.383/.473 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs in 244 at-bats, which is similar to Naylor's season, as are his most-likely landing spots. O'Hearn's best position is DH, but he can play first base and left field as well. The 31-year-old is making only $8 million this year, which enhances his trade value. Advertisement Robert just went on the IL with a hamstring injury, and he's arguably having the worst year of his career as he's batting .185 with a 64 OPS+, though he's stolen 22 bases and played solid defense in center field. So … why is he on this list? Several execs don't think Robert will be traded at this year's deadline, instead believing that the White Sox will wait until the offseason, hoping he plays better in August and September and regains his trade value. However, a few believe he'll get traded anyway because of the low supply of power bats and outfielders at the deadline, along with teams understanding what a change of scenery could mean for him. He is making $15 million this year and has $20 million team options for 2026 and 2027. Robert's career-highs include 38 home runs in 2023 and 23 stolen bases in 2024. He won a Gold Glove Award in 2020. He hasn't had any lineup protection over the last couple of years and some teams question his desire and mental toughness. Suárez has had a tremendous first half, belting 26 home runs with 69 RBIs, so his value is high despite being an impending free agent. Arizona could swap him in a buyer-to-buyer type of trade for a starting pitcher or impact reliever. The Diamondbacks' top prospect, Jordan Lawlar, could replace Suárez, 33, at the hot corner if he's traded. A reunion with the Mariners or a deal with the Yankees, who could then move Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second base, would make a lot of sense. Mullins, 30, is an impending free agent who could be available on the thin outfield market. He is having a down year, batting just .214 with a 99 OPS+, but does have 12 homers and eight stolen bases and remains an elite defensive center fielder. A trade sending Mullins and Bautista to the Phillies could be a great fit for Philadelphia, which would have to give Baltimore a strong prospect package to make that hypothetical deal work. I was surprised by how many front office executives mentioned Duran. It makes me think the Red Sox may have decided Wilyer Abreu will play right field and Roman Anthony will play left going forward. Duran, 28, is under team control through 2028. Last year he led the majors in doubles (48) and triples (14) and had 21 homers, 75 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. This year he is slashing .253/.313/.410 with 20 doubles and a league-leading nine triples. He has been linked with the Padres and Phillies in trade talks. Reynolds, 30, is under team control through 2031 at a salary of approximately $15 million per season, which should be considered market value. This year he is slashing .240/.305/.397 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs. He has hit between 24 and 27 home runs each of the past four seasons while averaging just over 3.0 bWAR per year. He's a consistent player who can play either outfield corner. The Pirates are looking for younger bats in return. Advertisement The Angels insist they're buyers, but come the deadline, I expect them to not make the same mistakes they've made in the past as they should be sellers; if not, a buyer-to-buyer trade involving Ward would still make sense. Ward, 31, is hitting .217 with a .292 on-base percentage but has mashed 20 homers and driven in 57 runs. He is under team control through 2026. A trade to the Royals would make a lot of sense. García is under team control through next year and is hitting .231 with an 89 OPS+. If he doesn't pick it up in July and the Rangers don't start playing better, Texas could decide to move on from him. García, 32, making $9.25 million this year and is arbitration-eligible next year. He's an above-average defender in right field with a rifle for an arm. Offensively, he ranks in the 94th percentile in average exit velocity and in the 85th percentile in hard-hit rate. However, his overall production continues to decline as his home runs have fallen from 39 in 2023 to 25 last year to 10 so far this year. Abreu was mentioned because some teams would prefer him over Duran in a trade due to his elite defense. He also has an additional year of control (through 2029). However, I get the impression Boston's preference is to trade Duran over him unless the return for Abreu was much better. Abreu, 26, is batting .256 with 16 home runs and a 125 OPS+. He will again be in contention to win the Gold Glove Award for AL right fielders. This shocked me, but multiple teams mentioned Kwan, who has won three consecutive Gold Glove awards and is having another nice season. Kwan is slashing .296/.359/.418 (118 OPS+) with six home runs, 18 doubles and 11 stolen bases in 12 attempts. Kwan, 27, is under team control through 2027 and is arbitration-eligible going forward. Perhaps the Guardians would consider dealing him for a more impactful power bat. Rengifo, 28, is one of the more sought-after Angels because of his positional flexibility and the way he plays the game. He can play second, short and third and will be a free agent after this season. Last year he slashed .300/.347/.417 with 13 doubles and 24 stolen bases. However, this year he's batting just .233 with nine doubles, and he's been caught stealing five times in seven attempts. There's been some buzz about Rengifo as a possible trade target for the Yankees. Advertisement This was another shocking name to me, but some execs believe the Red Sox could move on from Bregman at the trade deadline if they can't extend him by then. Bregman and his agent, Scott Boras, have told the Red Sox they are open to signing a long-term extension now. But if the two sides can't work out a deal, don't be surprised if Boston trades him to either the Tigers or Mariners at the trade deadline. Bregman, 31, is on the IL with a strained right quad but has slashed .299/.385/.553 with 11 home runs in 197 at-bats this season. He has two $41.7 million options remaining on his contract but can opt out after this season or next. He would bring valuable postseason experience and production (19 homers in 99 playoff games) to an acquiring team. The Castellanos rumors just never go away, and for that reason alone, multiple GMs think there's a chance he could get moved if Philadelphia can find a better right-field option. Castellanos, 33, is hitting .282 with 10 home runs and a 111 OPS+. He's a well-below average outfielder and is signed through 2026 at $20 million per year, so Philadelphia would have to pay down his contract to move him. (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic. Jasen Vinlove, David J. Griffin / Getty Images)
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Guardians aim to break 5-game skid, take on the Cubs
Cleveland Guardians (40-43, second in the AL Central) vs. Chicago Cubs (50-35, first in the NL Central) Chicago; Wednesday, 8:05 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Guardians: Tanner Bibee (4-8, 3.80 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 82 strikeouts); Cubs: Shota Imanaga (4-2, 2.54 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 37 strikeouts) Advertisement BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cubs -158, Guardians +133; over/under is 7 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Guardians head into the matchup against the Chicago Cubs after losing five games in a row. Chicago has a 50-35 record overall and a 26-15 record in home games. Cubs hitters have a collective .326 on-base percentage, the sixth-best percentage in the majors. Cleveland is 40-43 overall and 20-23 on the road. The Guardians are 24-6 in games when they scored at least five runs. The matchup Wednesday is the second time these teams meet this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Tucker has 18 doubles, four triples and 17 home runs for the Cubs. Michael Busch is 14 for 34 with three home runs over the last 10 games. Advertisement Jose Ramirez leads the Guardians with 13 home runs while slugging .493. Steven Kwan is 11 for 41 with four doubles, a triple and two RBIs over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 5-5, .277 batting average, 5.02 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs Guardians: 3-7, .188 batting average, 4.96 ERA, outscored by 26 runs INJURIES: Cubs: Miguel Amaya: 10-Day IL (oblique), Eli Morgan: 60-Day IL (elbow), Javier Assad: 60-Day IL (oblique), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow) Guardians: Gabriel Arias: 10-Day IL (ankle), Will Brennan: 60-Day IL (forearm), Andrew Walters: 60-Day IL (lat), Ben Lively: 60-Day IL (forearm), Paul Sewald: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Shane Bieber: 60-Day IL (elbow), Trevor Stephan: 60-Day IL (elbow), John Means: 60-Day IL (elbow), Sam Hentges: 60-Day IL (shoulder) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
