[Cross]

That was another gut punch, Yadi is the worst.

[EmpireMaker]

Reds right fielder Nick Castellanos revealed tonight in an Instagram Live appearance with Jomboy Media’s Chris Rose that a CT scan earlier today revealed a microfracture in his ailing right wrist (video link). Castellanos, who was hit by a pitch on the wrist last Friday, said he tried to play through the pain for a few games but will need to “take a couple days and see where I’m at.” He added that he’s unable to swing a bat at the moment.
It’s important to note that Castellanos didn’t provide any sort of outlook beyond taking a couple of days to rest and reevaluate. There’s no sense in speculating how much time he’ll miss beyond that initial down period, but even an absence of a few days is a tough blow for the Reds, given the current state of their roster and the context of the NL Central.
Cincinnati is already without slugger Mike Moustakas and is down three of its top relievers: Tejay Antone, Michael Lorenzen and Lucas Sims. The Reds have also dropped five of their first six games coming out of the All-Star break, including a three-game sweep at the hands of the division-leading Brewers.
The Reds are still very much alive in the postseason hunt, sitting six back of a Wild Card spot and six and a half games back of the Brewers in the division. But they’re also one of many teams whose deadline trajectory could be determined by their play over the next week, which magnifies the importance of even a brief absence from their best hitter.
Castellanos has been an absolute monster this season, batting .329/.383/.582 with 18 home runs, 29 doubles and a triple in 368 plate appearances. He’s vital to the team’s chances in the coming days, and if the club were to ultimately pivot and look to sell some veterans, he’d have been an in-demand player himself, given his ability to opt out of his contract at season’s end. Castellanos is in the second season of a four-year, $64MM contract with Cincinnati but can forgo the final two years and $34MM on that deal and return to the open market this winter.
However long Castellanos is down, the Reds can turn to Aristides Aquino and Shogo Akiyama to help cover in right field. They’re also sending the injured Nick Senzel out on a minor league rehab assignment this week, so he could be an option to help out before long. Manager David Bell told reporters today (Twitter link via Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer) that Senzel will see time both at center field and shortstop during his rehab stint.

[jrgum3]

That was another gut punch, Yadi is the worst.

He's so clutch. After all these years it doesn't matter the situation that guy scares you if you're the opposing team in big moments with the game on the line.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

That was another gut punch, Yadi is the worst.

One step closer to the fire sale...

[Otters27]

Thinking about doing the overs again across the board

[stevenash]

One step closer to the fire sale...

You're enjoying this, aren't you?

[Chi_archie]

I can't wait for all the deals go down

[JMobile]

What a comeback from the Giants. Geez

[JAKEPEAVY21]

You're enjoying this, aren't you?

I was almost laughed off the forum for thinking the Cubs would trade Bryant...

[yisman]

I think Nelson Cruz is being dealt to TB

[stevenash]

I think Nelson Cruz is being dealt to TB

I was just reading about the top ten trade possibilities.

Baez, Kimbrel, Bryant, Max....

[jrgum3]

I think Nelson Cruz is being dealt to TB

Did not see this one coming although maybe I should have. The Twins are out of it and need to start rebuilding. Didn't anticipate them dealing Nellie Cruz though because I hadn't heard his name mentioned in trade talks. I always loved Cruz ability to mash and I think he'll help the Rays in the race with the Red Sox.

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Did not see this one coming although maybe I should have. The Twins are out of it and need to start rebuilding. Didn't anticipate them dealing Nellie Cruz though because I hadn't heard his name mentioned in trade talks. I always loved Cruz ability to mash and I think he'll help the Rays in the race with the Red Sox.

That would be a big pickup for TB to add some thunder to the lineup.

[Stallion]

TB solidifying there roster.

[BigSpoon]

Nice move by the Rays.

[Cross]

Nelson Cruz is a large man. 41 years old and still crushing bombs.

[jrgum3]

That would be a big pickup for TB to add some thunder to the lineup.

They needed some pop in their lineup. Good addition to a club that's already one of the best teams in the AL. This will only make them better for the stretch run.

[jrgum3]

Unbelievable game in LA tonight. The Dodgers probably felt screwed by the umpires and as a Giant fan I can admit I feel fortunate that the Giants walked away with a win tonight. The umps were bad tonight but they were bad both ways. Ruf would've probably walked if they correctly called the 2-0 pitch a ball instead of a strike when it was a good 3 inches off the plate. The check swing with 2 strikes was probably a swing but I feel like that was a makeup call and it never would've come to that if the home plate umpire could've called balls and strikes correctly because Ruf would've walked on 5 pitches.

[EmpireMaker]

With just over a week before the trade deadline, the Rays have made a big move in acquiring slugger Nelson Cruz from the Twins as part of a four-player swap. Cruz and minor league righty Calvin Faucher will head to Tampa, while Minnesota will pick up right-handers Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman.
With the Twins in the midst of a nightmare season, Cruz became a natural trade chip, as the 41-year-old slugger can be a free agent this winter. Cruz re-signed with Minnesota last offseason on a one-year, $13MM contract, and Cruz has roughly $4.87MM remaining in owed salary.
There was no announcement made of cash considerations being involved, so it appears as though the Rays will be taking on all of Cruz’s remaining salary. This is no small matter for a Rays team that always has an eye on the budget, and even with Cruz now in the fold, the club’s payroll is still under the $67MM threshold. Tampa Bay can (and likely will) make other moves before the July 30 deadline that could move some other dollars off the books, but as it stands, the Cruz deal is a sign that Rays ownership is willing to stretch a bit financially to bolster a team that looks like a contender to return to the World Series.
Despite Cruz’s age and seeming lack of defensive value, his bat has remained so dangerous that even some National League teams were reportedly including him in trade considerations, with an eye towards deploying Cruz in the outfield for the first time since 2018. While the Rays’ penchant for roster maximization could lead to Cruz getting at least a bit of time in the outfield, it’s a very safe bet that he’ll slot in as Tampa’s new everyday DH, bringing some big-time pop to a lineup that is solid overall but middle-of-the-pack in terms of power.
Austin Meadows had received the bulk of Tampa’s DH at-bats, though Meadows now looks to move into the outfield mix with Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier, Brandon Lowe, and (when he returns from the IL) Manuel Margot. Lowe can also be utilized at second base, and between any other injuries or even trades that might emerge, the Rays shouldn’t have much issue in finding enough playing time to keep everyone fresh and ready for another postseason push.
Cruz will suit up for the sixth different team over what has been a very impressive 17-year career. Named to his seventh All-Star team just this season, Cruz is showing no signs of slowing down, hitting .294/.370/.537 with 19 homers over 346 plate appearances in 2021. This production is actually a dropoff from the .308/.394/.626 slash line he posted over 735 PA for Minnesota in 2019-20, but “decline phase” doesn’t really seem like an applicable description.
Neither Ryan and Strotman are in the upper crust of Tampa prospects, though MLB Pipeline did have them solidly ranked (Ryan 10th, Strotman 17th) on their list of the Rays’ best minor league talents. Both are starting pitchers with solid performances at Triple-A this season, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see their make their Major League debuts before 2021 is finished. Since the Twins are looking to return to contention next year, landing two big league-ready arms will help their rotation depth, considering Michael Pineda and J.A. Happ are both free agents this winter (and either could be moved before July 30.
Ryan is 25 years old and was a seventh-round pick for the Rays in the 2018 draft. He cracked Baseball America’s top 100 list (at 98th) prior to the 2020 season, and Ryan has continued his rise up the ladder by posting a 3.63 ERA over 57 innings at Triple-A Durham this year. At all levels, Ryan has been great at missing bats (36.65% strikeout rate over 217 minor league IP) and avoiding walks (6.05% walk rate), thanks in large part to an excellent four-seamer. MLB Pipeline’s scouting report isn’t as enamored with his other pitchers, but Ryan’s slider did merit a 55 grade on their 20-80 scouting scale.
The 24-year-old Strotman was a fourth-rounder in the 2017 draft, though his pro career has been limited to 179 innings thanks to the canceled 2020 minor league season and a Tommy John surgery that kept him out of action for big chunks of the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. The Rays saw enough from Strotman that they added him to their 40-man roster last winter to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, and Strotman has looked solid in posting a 3.39 ERA over 58 1/3 Triple-A innings this year. His walks have increased as he has moved up the minor league ladder, topping out at an unimpressive 13.15% walk rate at Triple-A this year. Pipeline notes that command has been a strength for Strotman in the past, however, and the right-hander’s fastball, cutter, and slider are all ranked as above-average to plus pitches.
Faucher is the other name in the deal, a 25-year-old righty who has struggled in his first taste of Double-A baseball, posting a 7.04 ERA with six homers and 24 walks in 30 2/3 innings this season. After consistently posting big strikeout numbers earlier in his minor league career and in college (at UC Irvine), the hard-throwing Faucher has continued that trend with a 27.63% strikeout rate amidst his difficulties this season.

[stevenash]

Nelson Cruz is a large man. 41 years old and still crushing bombs.

This comes as a surprise to nobody really.
We were just waiting as to when it would happen.

Baez is next, but to who?

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Snell finally had a decent start last night

[Chi_archie]

Snell finally had a decent start last night

he looked good

[Otters27]

Jansen two blown saves in 24 hours

[EmpireMaker]

The Cleveland Guardians play the TB Rays today.

[Cross]

Guardians will take a little getting used to.

[jrgum3]

Guardians will take a little getting used to.

Yeah I think the name sucks. I would've went with Cleveland Spiders but I guess that's already been used in the past. I just think they could've done better than Guardians.

[EmpireMaker]

To some, the Rays recent trade of Rich Hill to the Mets may have seemed incongruous with their plans for contention, but this is how the Rays do business: players play for the present, front office plays for the future. GM Erik Neander suggested it was simply a matter of coming up on having too many guys for the rotation, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). He didn’t shut down the idea of upgrading the rotation, however, suggesting they weren’t in love with Hill’s output projections for this season. For now, Luis Patino and Chris Archer will soon round out the rotation, pending another deal in the coming days. Elsewhere in the AL East…

• Red Sox southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez was removed from his start in the second inning today with what’s being reported as “migraine symptoms,” per Steve Hewitt of the Boston Herald and others (via Twitter). Rodriguez has a 5.19 ERA in 95 1/3 innings this season, though a 3.51 FIP and 21.9 percent strikeout-to-walk rate suggests his performance has been quite a bit better. He threw just 25 pitches in today’s outing.
• The Yankees were also dealt a potential blow today as Gary Sanchez was removed from the game with back spasms. The Yankees are already without backup Kyle Higashioka, who will remain on the COVID-related injured list at least until next week, per Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). Rob Brantly would be the stand-in, should Sanchez need further days off.
• Orioles Rule 5 pick Tyler Wells was placed on the 10-day injured list today with right wrist tendonitis, per the team. His placement was backdated to July 20th, however, and the O’s don’t expect him to be out for longer than the minimum ten days, per The Athletic’s Dan Connolly (via Twitter).

[JAKEPEAVY21]

Padres win and Dodgers and Giants lose...a rarity these days

[Chi_archie]

Padres win and Dodgers and Giants lose...a rarity these days

full moon

[Otters27]

Padres win and Dodgers and Giants lose...a rarity these days

Very hard to make up ground in the NL West

[Stallion]

The Guardians is a terrible name.

[stevenash]

All the National League pennant races are decided already except who wins the NL East Division.
The three teams in the NL West all have a 80 percent chance or greater mathematically of reaching the playoffs.
Brewers, just about the same percentage to win the central.

[Mr KLC]

Alex Bregman will “probably not” rejoin the Astros during their upcoming road trip, Dusty Baker said.

[Mr KLC]

Earlier today, the
@Yankees
outrighted RHP Asher Wojciechowski off the Major League roster and onto the roster of Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

[JMobile]

Gausman is falling off against the Pirates