Mega Thread MLB season 2025

[Dixie Flatline]

The Baltimore Orioles are in the midst of a disappointing season, and it appears that they are now listening to offers on movable pieces, including RHP Felix Bautista and LHP Trevor Rogers. A trade of either player is, at this stage, considered unlikely with both under team control beyond the 2025 season (Rogers to the end of 2026 and Bautista to the end of 2027, through arbitration).

Rosenthal: What I’m hearing about the MLB trade deadline with two weeks to go

The dinged-up Dodgers may look to add bullpen help while the O's, White Sox and Rays consider various courses of action.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a trade sending RHP Dane Dunning from Arlington to Atlanta in exchange for minor league reliever Jose Ruiz and cash. The Braves have designated RHP Jesse Chavez for assignment to fit Dunning on their 40-man roster. Ruiz was not on the Braves' 40-man roster so this opens a spot on the Rangers' 40-man roster.

The Rangers are effectively dumping salary, with Dunning going backwards after he pitched 172 2/3 innings of 3.70 ERA baseball in 2023 but slumping to a 5.31 ERA in 95 innings last season. Dunning was tendered a contract by the Rangers, but had to take a paycut in order to ensure he remained with Texas. However, his Spring Training results of 10 earned runs in 11 innings saw him waived at the end of Spring Training, but no other team came in for him, so he has spent most of the season in Triple-A. In five MLB appearances this year (all out of the bullpen), Dunning has given up four earned runs in 10 2/3 innings.

 

[rumply]

 

[ImCheatingToWin]

We're witnessing the arrival of a truly special player in Nick Kurtz

13 home runs 31 ribbies .317 average and a 1.517 ops last 28 games

 

[Big Unit 30]

Commanding win over Boston that gives the Cubs a series win and me a porterhouse on my mate who lost the bet
Shota is a gun

 

[RPCB]

Commanding win over Boston that gives the Cubs a series win and me a porterhouse on my mate who lost the bet
Shota is a gun

It would be nice if the Dodgers could get their shit together, at least for today and tomorrow.

 

[Big Unit 30]

It would be nice if the Dodgers could get their shit together, at least for today and tomorrow.

Mil have been unstoppable the past month.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

We're witnessing the arrival of a truly special player in Nick Kurtz

13 home runs 31 ribbies .317 average and a 1.517 ops last 28 games

Shades of Jason Giambi in how Kurtz hits. Jacob Wilson is slowing down and is in danger of being overtaken by Kurtz for AL rookie of the year (as well as by Cam Smith).

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement with RHP David Robertson on a major league contract. Robertson, who is self-represented in contract negotiations, did not sign with a team over the winter but has stayed in shape and has been holding throwing sessions for interested clubs recently. Robertson will earn a pro-rated $16 million salary for the season, which comes out to just a tad over $6 million.

This is the third time that Robertson will appear for the Phillies (once the deal becomes official). He signed a free agent deal with the Phillies before the 2019 season started, but that was not productive for either the Phillies or Robertson, since Robertson required Tommy John surgery and only pitched 6 2/3 innings in total. The Phillies traded for Robertson in a 2022 trade that sent RHP Ben Brown

50

Ben Brown

Age

33

Ht

200cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.7

3star

K

7.7

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.2

3star

G

2.2

5star

D

7.9

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

1.6

1star

M

3.7

4star

T

0.9

2star

G

1.0

4star

D

8.0

2star

K

4.6

2star

HB

3.4

3star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.2

4star

to the Cubs, and Robertson was good for the Phillies in their 2022 playoff run.

Robertson excelled in a set-up role with the Rangers in 2024, pitching 72 innings for a 3.00 ERA, a 33.4% strikeout rate, a 9.1% walk rate, two saves and 34 holds.

The Phillies will hope that Robertson can help out a bullpen that heavily relies on Matt Strahm, Tanner Banks and Orion Kerkering. After losing Jeff Hoffman to the Blue Jays, the Phillies added Jordan Romano and Joe Ross to their bullpen, but neither have been particularly effective, with Romano putting up a 7.08 ERA and Ross a 5.31 ERA so far this season.

Given that Robertson has not thrown in a game at all this year, it's likely that once the deal becomes official, he will be sent on an optional assignment in the minor leagues, and he will likely be joined next month by LHP Jose Alvarado after he completes his 80-game suspension for PED usage (Alvarado will be ineligible for the postseason should the Phillies make it that far).

Phillies reach agreement with veteran right-handed reliever David Robertson: Sources

Robertson, 40, owns a career 2.91 ERA over 16 years in the majors, including two with the Phillies.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking for bullpen assistance after they lost RHP Evan Phillips, RHP Michael Kopech and RHP Blake Treinen to injury. The Dodgers have asked the Guardians regarding RHP Emmanuel Clase, the Pirates concerning RHP David Bednar, the Cardinals on RHP Ryan Helsley and the Orioles on RHP Felix Bautista.

This is despite the fact that the Dodgers signed LHP Tanner Scott and RHP Kirby Yates before the start of the season. Neither Scott nor Yates have met expectations, however, and Yates also spent time on the IL with a hamstring strain. Despite their high-priced signings, the Dodgers currently rank 24th in the majors by ERA (4.38 ERA) and that has risen to 5.28 ERA in the last month.

18 biggest questions for MLB second half: Trade deadline targets, can Tigers win it all?

The Detroit Tigers have the best record in baseball. Can they win their first World Series title in more than 40 years?

www.usatoday.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

One reliever that is unlikely to be on the move by the trade deadline is the Athletics' Mason Miller. The Athletics have long since forfeited any expectation that they will be in the postseason this year, so they are open for business, but according to reporters, Miller is not available in trade talks. This could change if the Athletics are "blown away" by an offer for Miller, but there is no immediate requirement for the Athletics to trade Miller, given that he remains under team control to 2029, and he is yet to reach salary arbitration.

Miller made his debut as a starter in 2023 for the Athletics, but after suffering a series of injuries in 2023, was converted into a closer in 2024. Over 134 career innings, Miller has a 3.22 ERA and a 37.5% strikeout rate, powered in part by an average fastball velocity that exceeds 100mph as well as a wipeout slider that averages 87.2mph. However, like many relievers who throw gas, Miller can have trouble finding the zone, with a walk rate of 12% in 2025.

18 biggest questions for MLB second half: Trade deadline targets, can Tigers win it all?

The Detroit Tigers have the best record in baseball. Can they win their first World Series title in more than 40 years?

www.usatoday.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Veteran free agent reliever, RHP Daniel Bard, has called it quits on his comeback bid, and has decided to retire. Bard signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners earlier in the summer and had allowed two runs on six hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings, with nine strikeouts.

Bard made his MLB debut back in 2009 with the Red Sox (the team who drafted him in 2006) and he pitched 197 innings between 2009-2011, for a 2.88 ERA and 27% strikeout rate, that helped him pick up 79 holds and five saves. In 2012, the Red Sox tried Bard in the starting rotation, but it was evident that he was better as a reliever than as a starter, as he allowed a 5.30 ERA in 54 1/3 innings across 10 starts, with more walks (36) than strikeouts (34), plus eight hit batters. The Red Sox ended the experiment and moved him back into the bullpen later in 2012.

His command issues continued into 2013 and it was eventually discovered that he had been suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome. He underwent an operation to correct the issue in 2014 and was released by the Red Sox. He cycled through minor league contracts with the Rangers, Cubs, Pirates, Cardinals and Mets, and Bard was ready to retire by 2017 and move into a non-playing role with the Diamondbacks in 2017, serving as a "player mentor/mental skills coach".

The time away from the game rekindled his desire to pitch, and ahead of the 2020 season, he signed a minor league contract with the Rockies and earned the Comeback Player of the Year award for the National League in the COVID-shortened season. He pitched 24 2/3 innings for Colorado and put up a 3.65 ERA with a 25.5% strikeout rate, 9.4% walk rate, six saves and two holds. After the surgery to correct the thoracic outlet syndrome, he raised his average fastball velocity from 93-94mph to 97.3mph. Bard had a poor 2021 season, but came back with a career-best season in 2022 when he saved 34 games and had a 1.79 ERA. The Rockies could have traded Bard at the 2022 deadline, but chose to give Bard a two-year, $19 million contract extension instead.

However, the magic dust appeared to have worn off and he had a poor 2023 before missing all of 2024 with rehabilitation to a pair of surgeries to repair a torn meniscus and a torn flexor tendon.

All up, Bard managed to pitch in parts of five seasons with the Red Sox and four seasons with the Rockies, for a total of 457 1/3 innings, 66 saves, 91 holds and a 3.74 career ERA.

 

[Jatz]

The Mets have the second worst record in MLB since the beginning of June.

We're now also losing 4-0 to the Angels at home.

That cliff sure came up quickly...

 

[Dixie Flatline]

After managing just three innings in his most recent start yesterday against the Twins, RHP German Marquez of the Rockies obtained an MRI on his shoulder, according to reports. The Rockies have not yet put their veteran starter on the IL, and have described the issue as "shoulder inflammation" but are waiting on more information from the imaging.

Marquez told reporters after the game against the Twins that the issue first arose from his last appearance before the All-Star break, in which he pitched six innings with one earned run and eight strikeouts against the Reds. He had hoped that the discomfort he felt during that game would resolve itself over the break, but that did not happen, and he is considering (in conjunction with the Rockies' training staff) skipping his next scheduled start in the hope that the issue settles down.

Marquez is an impending free agent at the end of the season, so would be a likely trade target for a team in need of starting pitching, notwithstanding his inflated ERA of 5.67 across 20 starts (which includes a higher road ERA - 5.95 - than at home - 5.31).

However, Marquez has been an above average starter for the Rockies before he had Tommy John surgery in 2023, and his last six weeks suggest that he was turning a corner with his pitching, putting up a 2.97 ERA in June (albeit with six unearned runs given up in his 18 June start).

If Marquez needs a stint on the IL, then he would not be available until after the trade deadline next week. Marquez is on a $10 million salary for 2025, with a bonus of $1 million payable if he is traded, plus incentives based on the number of innings pitched ($2 million each time he manages 140 innings, 150 innings and 160 innings, although he has only 98 1/3 innings in 2025 and faces a potential stint on the sidelines).

Márquez dealing with shoulder tightness; could miss next start

DENVER – Rockies right-handed pitcher Germán Márquez took time off during the All-Star break, but the right shoulder tightness that set in at the end of his last start of the first half never subsided.

www.mlb.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Los Angeles Dodgers designated veteran right-handed reliever Lou Trivino for assignment to open an active roster spot for Edgardo Henriquez, whom the Dodgers recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

The Dodgers signed Trivino to a minor league contract in May and called him up a week later. He spent approximately two months on the active roster and pitched reasonably well out of the bullpen, with a below average 15.7% strikeout rate, but only allowing a 3.76 ERA across 26 1/3 innings.

Trivino pitched on three straight days for the Dodgers on the weekend as they were swept by the Brewers, and was predictably hit reasonably hard by Milwaukee. On Friday, he allowed two hits and a walk and only got two outs, and he then gave up a homerun on Saturday, and on Sunday, he allowed consecutive hits to Eric Haase and Jackson Chourio, struck out William Contreras, then walked Andrew Vaughn.

The Dodgers now have five days to work out a trade for Trivino, but the more likely outcome is that he will decline an outright assignment or simply be released. Trivino pitched briefly for the Giants earlier in the season and has a combined 4.42 ERA across 38 2/3 innings.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Another veteran reliever is now a free agent, with RHP Jesse Chavez electing free agency rather than accept an assignment outright to Triple-A Gwinnett by the Braves. Chavez has been on and off the Braves roster all season, as he has signed three minor league deals with Atlanta during the course of the 2025 season. The Braves have called him up when they needed an extra arm out of the bullpen, then cut him when no longer required. He was most recently designated for assignment when the Braves acquired RHP Dane Dunning from the Rangers.

Chavez has pitched eight innings for the Braves in four appearances.

Depending on how the Braves approach the trade deadline, should he re-sign with the Braves, it's likely that he'll stick more permanently in Brian Snitker's bullpen. The Braves are not in playoff contention this year, so will likely move closer Raisel Iglesias as he is a free agent at the end of the season, while Rafael Montero, Pierce Johnson and Aaron Bummer could all be traded.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The St Louis Cardinals have reportedly put RHP Erick Fedde on the trade block ahead of the deadline. The Cardinals are on the fringes of the playoff race, but that is not expected to impact their decision to trade Fedde by the deadline. According to reports from before the All-Star break, the Cardinals expect that RHP Michael McGreevy is ready for a starting rotation job in the majors, but is currently blocked by the existing starters, with Fedde, Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, Andre Pallante and Matthew Liberatore each having made at least 18 starts this season so far. This has limited McGreevy to spot starts whenever an incumbent has required extra rest (including today's game, where McGreevy is stepping in for Liberatore).

Across 15 starts at Triple-A, McGreevy has managed a 3.72 ERA, 25.5% strikeout rate, 4.9% walk rate and a 53.8% ground ball rate.

The Cardinals were swept by the Diamondbacks over the weekend after the All-Star break, but are only 3.5 games outside a playoff spot and are limited in their ability to trade veterans. Both Sonny Gray and Miles Mikolas have full no-trade clauses in their contracts, while Pallante and Liberatore are both young and under team control for an extended period of time. Fedde is an impending free agent and in his 30s, so would not be part of the Cardinals' plans moving forward.

Cardinals face fork in the road after D-backs sweep them and trade deadline looms

St. Louis remains in contention by the definition of the word, but there are few signs it can string together a competitive second half.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Detroit Tigers are set to give pitching prospect Troy Melton his first taste of MLB action tomorrow when he takes the mound for his first start. The Tigers will need to make moves on the 40-man and active rosters to select him to the big leagues.

Melton was selected by the Tigers in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, and he has motored steadily through the minor leagues, throwing a combined 273 minor league innings over 66 games (63 starts) for a 3.63 ERA, a 28.1% strikeout rate and a 6.5% walk rate. In 2025, he has pitched 75 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A for a 2.99 ERA, with an increased strikeout rate of 32.4% and a similar walk rate of 6.4%.

Jason Beck (@jasonbeck.bsky.social)

Troy Melton will start Wednesday for Tigers, making his MLB debut.

bsky.app

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Seattle Mariners announced that they have selected the contract of LHP Brandyn Garcia. The Mariners optioned RHP Juan Burgos to Triple-A Tacoma to open an active roster spot for Garcia. Garcia takes the last vacant spot on the Mariners' 40-man roster.

The Mariners drafted Garcia in the 11th round of the 2023 draft, and initially used him as a starter in the minor leagues, as he pitched 116 innings in 2024 with a 2.25 ERA, 27% strikeout rate, 9.5% walk rate and a 53.4% ground ball rate. The Mariners have used him as a reliever in 2025, thanks to concerns regarding his control and the fact he only uses two pitches (sinker and slider). Between Double-A and Triple-A, Garcia has thrown 33 1/3 innings with a 3.51 ERA. His walk rate was high (11.4%), but has been countered by a 28.2% strikeout rate, and a 55.4% ground ball rate.

 

[ImCheatingToWin]

Shades of Jason Giambi in how Kurtz hits. Jacob Wilson is slowing down and is in danger of being overtaken by Kurtz for AL rookie of the year (as well as by Cam Smith).

#19 home run on the season a double and a walk Semien robbed him of an rbi single in the 7th

I got him at $50 on TAB, Points bet and ladbrokes for ROY early in the season

 

[RPCB]

Five pitch inning for Jon Berti makes him by far the best Cubs reliever today. **** Baseball is weird.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The MRI on the throwing shoulder of RHP German Marquez was completed overnight (Australian time) and revealed no structural damage to his shoulder, although inflammation of the biceps was detected. Nonetheless, the Rockies are going to play it safe with Marquez and place him on the IL, with Tanner Gordon expected to fill in for Marquez in his next scheduled start.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The Athletics have placed OF Denzel Clarke and INF Max Muncy on the 10-day IL and have called up OF Colby Thomas and OF Carlos Cortes to replace Clarke and Muncy on the active roster. Both players were already on the 40-man roster for the Athletics, so no 40-man roster moves were required. The Athletics did not disclose details regarding the nature of the injuries or the length of their expected absences. Clarke has a right adductor strain while Muncy has a fracture in his right hand, courtesy of a hit-by-pitch from Jack Leiter yesterday in the Athletics' loss to the Rangers.

Cortes had been called up to the 40-man roster last week, but was immediately optioned back to Triple-A, and once he enters a game for the Athletics, he will be making his MLB debut. He has had to be patient for the call to the majors, having been drafted by the Mets in 2018 and advancing to Triple-A with the New York Mets before becoming a minor league free agent at the end of the 2024 season and signing a minor league contract with the Athletics. Although playing in a hitter-friendly league, Cortes has mashed to the tune of 17 home runs in 314 plate appearances, and has a wRC+ of 139, suggesting that he is hitting 39% better than league average in Triple-A.

Cortes does have some experience in the infield, but has generally only played outfield in recent years. It is likely that the Athletics will use Cortes off the bench at some stage, with the Athletics naming Lawrence Butler as their starting centre fielder for today's game against the Rangers, with Tyler Soderstrom in left field and Colby Thomas in right field. The Athletics shifted Miguel Andujar to third base and relegated Gio Urshela to the bench.

 

[RPCB]

So great when the “holy cow, this player is SO OLD” is only three years older than you. I wonder if Rich Hill is still trying to win a World Series.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Bazzana missed two months of the season with an oblique injury. I don't think he's going to be in Double-A for long.