The Weekly Rundown: 7/16/23 - 7/22/23
Let the trades begin.
Good morning and Happy Sunday!
The Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline is fast approaching. There were some minor moves made over the last week, but the real action is likely to come before the next rundown is released. To make sure you don’t miss a thing, subscribe below to get future rundowns delivered to your e-mail inbox every Sunday.
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Now let’s jump into this week’s rumor-filled rundown.
Shintar-O’s
The most notable move of the week was the Baltimore Orioles acquiring Japanese hard-throwing righty Shintaro Fujinami from the Oakland A’s for minor league left-hander Easton Lucas.
Oakland originally signed Fujinami over the offseason. He’s in the midst of his rookie campaign after playing for the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball from 2013 to 2022.
It’s been a challenging introduction to The Show for Fujinami. In 34 appearances (seven starts) with the A’s this season, he went 5-8 with an 8.57 ERA across 49 1/3 innings. However, most of that damage was done in April and May. He posted a 3.20 ERA over his last 18 appearances with the A’s.
Fujinami goes from one of the worst teams of all time to a team that has a shot to make a deep postseason run. The Orioles currently own the top spot in the AL East standings and if they improve the pitching staff at the deadline, they’ll be favored to make a deep postseason run. Adding Fujinami to the bullpen is a solid start.
Kiss Of Death
This isn’t what the Yankees had in mind when they inked left-hander Carlos Rodon to a six-year, $162M contract in the offseason.
Rodon missed the first few months of the campaign due to a forearm strain followed by a back injury. He finally made his Yankees debut on July 7, but it’s been a rough start to his career in Yankee pinstripes.
On Wednesday, Rodon allowed six runs on four hits and five walks in 4 1/3 innings against the Angels. The game was in Anaheim, but there were enough Yankees fans in attendance for Rodon to hear some loud boos as he walked off the mound.
Rodon responded by blowing a kiss to the fans who were chirping him.
“I guess it was the best reaction I could give, but better not to give a reaction I guess,” Rodon told reporters. “Just one of those things I was frustrated and better to blow a kiss or not do anything at all. It was just a frustrating outing, that’s for sure. And I showed it there in the second early.
“I didn’t really play mind to what exactly was said. A fan was angry — as they should be. I’m angry too, I was just angry with myself and blew a kiss, unfortunately.”
Rodon owns an 0-3 record with a 7.36 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP through his first three Yankees starts. He has yet to go further than 5 1/3 innings.
Consider it the “Kiss Of Death” for the Yankees’ season. They’re currently last in the AL East with seven losses over their last 10 games.
Tough Break
Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic’s emotions got the best of him after striking out in the ninth inning on Friday. The 24-year-old outfielder, who was in the midst of a solid bounce-back season, fractured his left foot after kicking a water cooler in frustration.
He broke down in tears while speaking to reporters about the incident.
“I made a mistake. I let the emotions get the best of me there,” he said. “I just feel terrible, especially for the guys,” Kelenic said. “I just let the emotions get the best of me and I just let them down and take full responsibility for it. It’s on me. It just can’t happen.”
The injury comes at a terrible time for a Seattle club that’s currently 4.5 games out of the final wild card spot. At this point, it’s a safe bet that the Mariners will be trade deadline sellers.
The IL
Josh Donaldson, 3B/DH, New York Yankees
Donaldson was transferred to the 60-day injured list with a grade 3 calf strain.
Shane Bieber, RHP, Cleveland Guardians
Bieber is on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation and shut down for two weeks.
Kevin Newman, INF, Cincinnati Reds
Newman is on the 10-day IL with gastritis.
Wade Miley, LHP, Milwaukee Brewers
Miley was placed on the 15-day IL with discomfort in his left elbow.
Cedric Mullins, OF, Baltimore Orioles
Mullins hit the 10-day IL with a right adductor groin strain.
Zach Davies, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Davis was placed on the 15-day IL due to lower back inflammation.
Brandon Crawford, SS, San Francisco Giants
Crawford was put on the 10-day IL because of left knee inflammation.
Starling Marte, OF, New York Mets
Marte was placed on the 10-day IL because of migraines.
Jarred Kelenic, OF, Seattle Mariners
Kelenic was placed on the 10-day IL with a left foot fracture.
Francisco Mejia, C, Tampa Bay Rays
Mejia is on the 10-day IL with a left knee MCL sprain.
Jose Trevino, C, New York Yankees
Trevino will miss the rest of the season due to a right wrist tear.
Taylor Walls, INF, Tampa Bay Rays
Walls was placed on the 10-day IL with an oblique strain.
AJ Pollock, OF, Seattle Mariners
Pollock was placed on the 10-day IL with a hamstring
Corey Seager, SS, Texas Rangers
Seager is on the 10-day IL with a right thumb sprain.
Dominant On The Bump
Kyle Bradish, Baltimore Orioles
7.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 8 K, 1 BB vs. Miami Marlins
Max Scherzer, New York Mets
7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 3 BB vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees
6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 11 K, 1 BB vs. Colorado Rockies
Justin Verlander, New York Mets
8.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 1 BB vs. Chicago White Sox
Nick Pivetta, Boston Red Sox
6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 13 K, 2 BB vs. Oakland Athletics
Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee Brewers
8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 10 K, 1 BB vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Andrew Abbott, Cincinnati Reds
8.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 2 BB vs. San Francisco Giants
George Kirby, Seattle Mariners
7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 10 K, 0 BB vs. Minnesota Twins
Zach Eflin, Tampa Bay Rays
7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 8 K, 1 BB vs. Baltimore Orioles
Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians
7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 8 K, 1 BB vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Big Bombs
Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker crushed three homers against the A’s.
Reds rookie Matt McClain recorded the first grand slam of his career vs. the Diamondbacks.
Padres star Juan Soto hit two mammoth homers vs. the Tigers.
Pirates rookie Henry Davis became the first player to hit two homers in the same game off Shohei Ohtani.
The Reds went back-to-back-to-back.
Marcus Semien recorded his 200th career homer.
Web Gem Of The Week
Bryce Harper made his first career start at first base and it didn’t take long for him to make the highlight reel.
Welcome To The Show
Reds prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s first career hit was his first career homer, a three-run go-ahead blast vs. the Giants.
Pirates prospect Endy Rodriguez collected his first big-league hit.
Pirates top pitching prospect Quinn Priester made his MLB debut vs. the Guardians on Monday and was hit around. The 22-year-old righty allowed seven runs on seven hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings.
Brewers prospect Sal Frelick made his big-league debut on Saturday. The Boston College product made two incredible catches and went 3-for3 at the plate with 2 RBIs.
Quick Takeaways
The battle atop the AL East is going to be a blast to watch over the final two months. The Rays have slipped in recent weeks while the Orioles have stayed consistent, resulting in Baltimore overtaking Tampa in the standings. It’s also worth noting that Toronto has sneaked into the conversation and is only 5.5 games back with plenty of baseball left to be played.
As of today, the Reds would miss the playoffs. The D’backs, Giants, and Phillies have the three NL wild card spots. That can’t happen. This young Reds team has been the most exciting part of the 2023 MLB season. We need them playing in October. That is all.
The Angels are now only four games out of the final wild card spot after winning their last four games. That probably means they aren’t parting ways with Shohei Ohtani at the deadline. That’s a real shame, because it’d be fun to watch the two-way superstar play for a legitimate contender down the stretch. This Angels team will eventually regret not getting a haul for Ohtani when they had the chance.
Current trade deadline buyers: Rays, Orioles, Blue Jays, Twins, Astros, Rangers, Braves, Marlins, Phillies, Brewers, Reds, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Giants.
Current trade deadline sellers: White Sox, Tigers, Royals, Athletics, Mets, Nationals, Cubs, Pirates, Cardinals, Rockies.
Current trade deadline “we’ll figure it out over the next week” clubs: Red Sox, Yankees, Angels, Mariners, Guardians, Padres.
Rapid Fire
Phillies top pitching prospect Andrew Painter will undergo Tommy John surgery.
The Padres designated veteran second baseman Rougned Odor for assignment.
The Rays designated right-hander Yonny Chirinos for assignment.
The Cardinals DFA’d reliever Ryan Tepera, who they signed earlier in the week.
The Pirates DFA’d and later released their 2018 first-round draft pick Travis Swaggerty. Swaggerty has been battling intense migraines since November.
The Braves signed veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud to a one-year, $8 million extension through the 2024 season that includes an $8M club option for the ’25 season.
The Blue Jays acquired left-hander Génesis Cabrera from the Cardinals for minor league catcher Sammy Hernandez.
Rob Manfred is likely to be reelected for this third term as MLB commissioner, per several reports.
The Rumor Mill
The Blue Jays, Rays, and Astros are among the teams interested in Cubs ace Marcus Stroman, per reports. Stroman owns a 3.09 ERA through 21 starts with Chicago this year.
Another trade chip for the Cubbies: Cody Bellinger. The Astros reportedly have shown interest in the former MVP, who is enjoying a resurgent season in Chicago. He’s slashing .317/.371/.542 with 13 homers and 37 RBIs in 66 games.
Here’s another Astros and Rays rumor: both clubs reportedly have inquired about Tigers starter Michael Lorenzen. The righty is a strong trade chip for Detroit as he earned an All-Star nod earlier this month and has thrown 21 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings. In 17 starts this season, Lorenzen has a 3.49 ERA and 1.09 WHIP.
The Diamondbacks are among the teams that have shown interest in White Sox starter Lucas Giolito. Arizona currently sits three games behind the NL West-leading Dodgers and owns the top NL wild card spot. Here’s what D’backs GM Mike Hazen had to say about the club’s deadline plans.
“There’s a difference between being aggressive and reckless,” Hazen said. “We’re not going to be reckless. We’ll be aggressive, even ultra-aggressive, but I feel like being reckless does not serve anyone’s interests, this year’s team or in the future.”
The Mets are poised to be sellers at the deadline as their season continues to spiral. Veteran pitcher Jose Quintana and outfielder Mark Canha are drawing trade interest, per reports. Look for co-aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer to be on the block as well. Slugger Pete Alonso is off-limits, however, according to SNY.
Speaking of Verlander, the Giants are among the teams interested in the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, per Jon Morosi.
The disappointing Cardinals should be one of the most active sellers at the deadline, but don’t expect them to part ways with guys like Nolan Arenado or Paul Goldschmidt. According to The Athletic, St. Louis doesn’t plan to part ways with any of its stars.
That’s all for now. Have a great week!