MLB Player News

While Verdugo started each of the team’s last two games against left-handed starters, he’ll get a breather with tough southpaw Chris Sale taking the hill for the Braves on Friday night. Verdugo is enjoying a solid season for the Bombers’, slashing .254/.309/.413 with nine homers and 41 RBI through his first 74 ballgames. Jahmai Jones will start in his place in left field and bat fifth for the Yankees on Friday evening in the Bronx.

Smith is taking the roster spot of LaMonte Wade Jr. after he was designated for assignment. The former first-round pick and top prospect opted out of his deal with the Yankees on Monday, and he was slashing .255/.333/..448 prior to that decision. He’ll likely just be a bench option with the Giants in 2025.

Wade has been dealing with a hand injury, but the GIants are removing him from the 40-man roster rather than playing him on the injured list. The 31-year-old will almost assuredly see interest on the waiver wire based on previous success, but he’s been awful in 2025 with a line of 167/.275/.271 and just a single home run. Dominic Smith was signed to a one-year deal to take Wade’s place on the roster.

Littell is pitching fine this year with a 3.86 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 48/11 K/BB ratio in 74 2/3 innings, but he’ll be a free agent in the off-season, so the Rays will likely try and get something back for him. It helps that Shane McClanahan (nerve issue) will likely return to the rotation in late July, and the Rays also have Joe Boyle and Ian Seymour ready to go at Triple-A.

Lowe only has one more year of team control, but it’s an $11.6 million team option for 2026 that the Rays may not be inclined to pay. However, that price is not a steep one for bigger budget teams. Lowe has 11 home runs and a .720 OPS in 55 games this year and continues to produce against right-handed pitching. He could be an intriguing second baseman or DH for a contending team.

Martinez signed a qualifying offer in the off-season, so he will be owed just $7 million over the final two months of the season. The 34-year-old has a 3.89 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 47/15 K/BB ratio in 69 1/3 innings for the Reds this season and could be a solid upgrade for a contender at the end of their rotation.

Hayes is still owed $36 million over four more seasons, while Reynolds is owed $76 million over five more years. Neither contract is too pricey for a contender to take on. Even though Hayes hasn’t broken out like many people expected, he makes only $7 million per season and still plays strong defense at third base. That could entice a team like the Yankees, who could shift Jazz Chisholm back to second base. Similarly, $15 million per year for Reynolds is not a steep price to pay, especially since the 30-year-old has started to turn it around of late. Given their years of control remaining, some team would need to part with some prospects of note to land either player.