MLB Player News

LeBlanc spent most of 2023 in Triple-A for the Angels, hitting .254/.379/.437 with 12 home runs and a 16.4 percent walk rate in 98 games. A former fourth-round pick by the Rangers, LeBlanc has slashed .254/.330/.412 in 197 big league games and will serve as veteran organizational depth in Atlanta.

Luis Mey was sent down Thursday to open up a spot for Maxwell, who will be making his major league debut three years after the Reds drafted him in the sixth round out of Georgia Tech. Maxwell had a 3.17 ERA and a 59/32 K/BB in 49 2/3 innings out of the pen for Louisville. He averages 99 mph with his fastball, but poor control has always been an issue, and it would take some sort of breakthrough there to turn him into a quality late-game reliever.

Gibaut recently had labrum surgery that is surely going to cost him the rest of the year. The 31-year-old had a 4.62 ERA in 25 relief appearances for the Reds this season.

The long-term agreement, which kicks in next season, includes a club option for 2034 and maxes out at $88.5 million. Universally regarded as one of the game’s elite prospects, Basallo arrived in the majors last week and projects as a middle-of-the-order run producer. The 21-year-old prodigy will open his career with some run behind the plate, but a long-term move to first base feels inevitable to reduce injury risk. With top-of-the-scale raw power, the ability to consistently generate hard contact, and respectable plate skills, he profiles as a top-tier fantasy catcher for 2026 and beyond.

Fantasy managers are probably wondering why Caglianone hasn’t been brought back to the big leagues since he’s torn the cover off the ball during his minor league rehab assignment. The 22-year-old power-hitter should return at some point shortly, but the Royals are trying to give him some extra time to rebuild his confidence after hitting some serious turbulence in his first exposure to big-league pitching. The power upside makes him a worthwhile stash in deeper mixed leagues, but he’s more of a work in progress at the moment than an immediate fantasy star.

Kim kicked off a rehab assignment earlier this week as he works his way back from left shoulder bursitis. It’s a bit unclear what type of role he’ll have with the Dodgers once he’s ready to return, but he figures to come off the bench as a multi-position utility specialist.

Alvarez appears ready to return to Houston’s lineup after scalding three hits, including a pair of doubles, in his second minor league rehab contest at the Double-A level. Astros general manager Dana Brown said last weekend that the 28-year-old slugger could potentially return this upcoming weekend against Orioles in Baltimore. That seems highly likely after another impressive performance at the dish in the minors. He’s been on the shelf since early May recovering from a fracture in his right hand. He’ll provide an immediate injection of life to Houston’s offense, which has been scuffling of late and recently went 31 consecutive innings without scoring a run earlier this week during three straight losses.

López was pulled after throwing exactly 45 pitches, hitting his target goal, during his rehab debut. The 29-year-old upper-echelon fantasy starter last pitched in the big leagues on June 3 against the Athletics. He averaged a crisp 94.1 mph on his four-seam fastball and piled up two strikeouts in the process. He’s working his way back from a Grade 2 teres major strain in his right shoulder and will need at least one or two additional tune-up outings to build up his pitch count and stamina before returning to Minnesota’s rotation.

Rotoworld’s top-ranked dynasty prospect heading into the home stretch of the 2025 campaign, Griffin has shown zero signs of slowing down in his professional debut. The 19-year-old phenom collected three hits in his third game at the Double-A level to notch his 18th contest with a least three hits this season. He’s recorded a stratospheric .331/.410/.517 triple-slash line with 41 extra-base hits and 60 stolen bases across three minor league level this season. It’s not out of the question that he could ascend to the majors at some point during the 2026 campaign.

The top-overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Bazzana has quietly put himself in the mix for a late-season call-up to Cleveland, reaching base safely in seven of eight contests since arriving at the Triple-A level. The 22-year-old second baseman would provide a jolt for the Guardians if they decide to give him a taste of the majors at some point during the final five weeks. He’s probably not a fantasy superstar, but he does a little bit of everything well and will be eligible at one of the weakest position groups in the landscape.

Willits — the top-overall pick in July’s draft — made quite an impression in his pro debut, reaching base in four of his five plate appearances. The 17-year-old prodigy is the type of fantasy prospect that will require some projection and growth to envision him making a serious impact down the road since he’s a couple hyperspace jumps from being close to the big leagues. It will take some time for him to develop, but the skills are clearly there for Willits to eventually arrive as a formidable fantasy contributor.