The Braves were unable to acquire any starting pitching, but they were successful in their pursuit of bullpen help after acquiring Detroit Tigers closer Shane Greene and San Francisco Giants reliever Mark Melancon.

The club acquired Greene in exchange for minor league prospects Joey Wentz and Travis Demeritte, while they sent prospect Tristan Beck to San Francisco in exchange for Melancon.

While the Braves’ bullpen is one of baseball’s ten best in terms of ERA, the team has struggled closing games lately and preventing opposing runs from scoring after their starters leave the game. July was a terrible month for Atlanta’s ‘pen, as it posted the third-worst mark in baseball with a 5.76 earned run average.

Greene ranks second in baseball for relievers with a 1.18 ERA this season, and he’s also saved 22 games. He appeared in the All-Star Game with the American League squad. Melancon has been reliable for the Giants, posting a 3.50 ERA in 43 outings.

Combined with their Tuesday trade for former Rangers reliever Chris Martin, Atlanta feels good about its 6.5 game division lead over the Nationals and Phillies as well as their chances in the playoffs come October.

The post Braves Add All-Star Relievers Shane Greene and Mark Melancon to Upgrade Bullpen appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Cubs shipped Minor League pitching prospects Paul Richan and Alex Lange to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for the slugging outfielder. Surprisingly, the Cubs weren’t forced to give up any of their top ten prospects in exchange for one of the game’s better right-handed power bats. It is worth remembering, however, that Castellanos is set to become a free agent after this season, making him a rental bat for the Cubs.

Castellanos hasn’t had his best season in 2019, but he’s still been solid. The South Florida native has batted .273 this season with 11 home runs and 37 RBI. He certainly hasn’t been helped by the cavernous Comerica Park where he played his home games nor by his team’s lack of offensive punch.

The Cubs were also drawn to Castellanos by his ability to play multiple positions in the field. While he is primarily a corner outfield, he also has the ability to play the corner infield positions in a pinch.

The Cubs hope that Castellanos’ bat will help lead them to an NL Central title this season.

The post Cubs Make Deal For Tigers OF Nicholas Castellanos appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Atlanta’s move for Martin is a straight-up swap with the NL East leaders sending left-handed pitcher Kolby Allard to the Texas Rangers.

Despite ranking eighth in the Majors with a 4.15 bullpen ERA, it has become clear in recent weeks that the Braves are looking for bullpen help after key arms such as Anthony Swarzak and Luke Jackson have struggled.

Martin should provide just that for the Braves as a powerful right-handed arm that strikes out plenty of batters and allows few walks. Not only has he recorded a quality 3.08 ERA this season, he’s also put up a fantastic 43:4 strikeout to walk ratio in 38 innings of work this season.

The Arlington, Texas native leaves his hometown franchise after joining the Rangers back in 2018. He’s had quite a journeyman career, spending time with the Rockies and Yankees as well as in Japan.

Now, the Braves, who hold a 5.5 game lead over the Washington Nationals in the NL East, will count on Martin to give their bullpen a sorely-needed upgrade. He could even get the opportunity to serve as Atlanta’s closer, making him their most depended-upon bullpen arm.

The post Braves Bolster Bullpen With Trade For RP Chris Martin appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Brewers traded minor league reliever Cody Ponce in order to acquire Jordan Lyles. This isn’t the righty starter’s first stint with the Brew Crew, as Lyles also spent the 2018 season pitching for Milwaukee.

The Brewers’ rotation is currently struggling with several injuries, as starters Brandon Woodruff, Jhoulys Chacín, and Jimmy Nelson are sidelined. Woodruff and Chacín’s statuses for the rest of the season are in question as they attempt to recover from oblique strains, while Nelson has a right elbow fluid accumulation issue that the Brewers haven’t established a timetable for.

The Pirates, currently in the midst of a nine-game skid that has left them without any chance of making this year’s playoffs, decided to sell Lyles in order to acquire a potential piece for their bullpen of the future.

Lyles hasn’t been good for the Pirates this season, allowing a 5.36 ERA and a boatload of home runs. It’s possible that the Brewers think that they can help him to make some adjustments to get him back to his 2018 form, when he posted an ERA just over 4 and helped the Brewers to an NL Central crown.

Lyles is expected to jump immediately into the team’s rotation.

The post Brewers Acquire SP Jordan Lyles From Pirates appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The 28-year-old righty surrendered 8 runs (7 earned) in 4.1 innings of work on the mound before letting his frustrations out in a unique way.

As Cleveland manager Terry Francona walked out to the pitcher’s mound to remove Bauer from the game, the eccentric righty took the game ball and chucked it over the center-field fence at Kaufmann Stadium.

Second baseman Mike Freeman visibly flinched as he caught a glimpse of the missle of a throw go sailing past his head. Needless to say, when Francona reached the mound, he expressed displeasure with Bauer’s actions.

Cleveland went on to lose the game 9-6, falling to two games behind the Minnesota Twins in the tight AL Central race.

After the game in the post-game media availability session, Bauer apologized for his actions.

Bauer has been solid in 2019, posting a 3.79 ERA in 24 starts, but has appeared frustrated at times after being unable to replicate the success of his breakout 2018, in which he posted a minuscule 2.21 mark.

The eccentric righty has been the subject of trade rumors approaching Wednesday’s deadline, and it will be interesting to see how Sunday’s blowup affects his market.

The post Indians Pitcher Trevor Bauer Launches Ball Over Outfield Fence After Bad Outing appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

What many didn’t expect, however, was that the team would look to deal young superstar starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard before July 31st. That appears to be a reality, however, with multiple outlets reporting on the franchise’s preference to trade away one of their top arms.

Syndergaard, a notorious free spirit, took to social media to poke fun at the rumors linking him to a possible deal.

It hasn’t immediately become clear on which teams are the most likely destinations for the 26-year-old, but according to ESPN baseball insider Buster Olney, the Mets are proactively looking to make a deal.

Syndergaard has been considered one of baseball’s top young starting pitchers since making his big league debut back in 2015. He made the NL All-Star team in his second season, and has been excellent ever since. The only red flag on his track record is a Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss most of the 2017 season.

The Texas native owns a career 3.21 ERA in 106 starts, and has averaged more than a strikeout per inning.

He could become one of the best players traded at this year’s deadline and the Mets could alter their franchise with a potential trade of the righty.

The post Sources: Mets Looking to Deal SP Noah Syndergaard appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The slugging outfielder was once considered one of baseball’s top prospects before making his debut with the Rangers in April of 2016. While he has shown promise during his first four seasons in the Major Leagues, he hasn’t yet quite lived up to the hype.

While Mazara has played in 91 games with Texas this season, the franchise has apparently cooled on their former top prospect. A disappointing season in which the right fielder has hit .255 with 14 home runs and a paltry .307 on-base percentage hasn’t helped the outfielder’s cause.

However, it appears that plenty of teams will be interested if Texas does, in fact, decide to cut bait on the Dominican outfielder. He could be an interesting reclamation project for a team that’s looking to add young talent. It’s worth remembering that Mazara is still only 24-years-old and has plenty of skill.

The Rangers could be one of the most active teams at the deadline, with starting pitcher Mike Minor and Mazara supposedly on the trading block. It’ll be worth tuning in over the next few days to see if they’re able to make any moves.

The post Rangers OF Nomar Mazara Drawing Trade Interest appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The A’s acquired veteran starting pitcher Homer Bailey in a trade with the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

The A’s sent minor league infielder Kevin Merrell back to the Royals in exchange for the new member of their starting rotation.

2019 has been a bounce-back year for Bailey, who has improved greatly on his dreadful season last year with the Reds. He’s posted a 4.80 ERA in 90 innings pitched, striking out 81 batters.

The 33-year-old isn’t a top-tier starting pitcher as he was during his early day with Cincinnati, but he is expected to be a reliable, stabilizing presence in Oakland’s rotation down the stretch. Many believe that his numbers will improve due to the pitcher-friendly nature of the A’s home stadium and the team’s excellent defense.

Bailey has also improved in recent months, posting a 3.30 ERA over his last eight starts.

The right-hander is expected to make his starting pitching debut with Oakland on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners.

The post Oakland A’s Add SP Homer Bailey in Trade with Royals appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to reports, it appears that one of the players that the Giants will look to move before the July 31st trade deadline is franchise icon Madison Bumgarner.

Bumgarner, who is in the final season of his current contract, could be acquired as a short-term “rental” by several contending teams that are looking to upgrade their starting pitching in preparation for the playoffs.

The surly lefty is one of the most decorated players in the history of the Giants franchise. He has compiled a 115-90 record with a career 3.10 ERA and 1,706 strikeouts during his time in SF.

In addition, Bumgarner is one of the best playoff pitchers of all time. He was named the World Series MVP in 2014 after a sensational series against the Kansas City Royals and is the owner of a stunning 0.25 career ERA in three career World Series appearances.

This postseason pedigree makes Bumgarner an even more attractive option despite his 2019 struggles. It has been reported that the Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, and the Houston Astros are potential destinations for the left-hander.

The Giants will have until July 31st to trade Bumgarner in a non-waiver deal.

The post Reports: San Francisco Giants Looking to Trade SP Madison Bumgarner appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Braves were unable to acquire any starting pitching, but they were successful in their pursuit of bullpen help after acquiring Detroit Tigers closer Shane Greene and San Francisco Giants reliever Mark Melancon.

The club acquired Greene in exchange for minor league prospects Joey Wentz and Travis Demeritte, while they sent prospect Tristan Beck to San Francisco in exchange for Melancon.

While the Braves’ bullpen is one of baseball’s ten best in terms of ERA, the team has struggled closing games lately and preventing opposing runs from scoring after their starters leave the game. July was a terrible month for Atlanta’s ‘pen, as it posted the third-worst mark in baseball with a 5.76 earned run average.

Greene ranks second in baseball for relievers with a 1.18 ERA this season, and he’s also saved 22 games. He appeared in the All-Star Game with the American League squad. Melancon has been reliable for the Giants, posting a 3.50 ERA in 43 outings.

Combined with their Tuesday trade for former Rangers reliever Chris Martin, Atlanta feels good about its 6.5 game division lead over the Nationals and Phillies as well as their chances in the playoffs come October.

The post Braves Add All-Star Relievers Shane Greene and Mark Melancon to Upgrade Bullpen appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Cubs shipped Minor League pitching prospects Paul Richan and Alex Lange to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for the slugging outfielder. Surprisingly, the Cubs weren’t forced to give up any of their top ten prospects in exchange for one of the game’s better right-handed power bats. It is worth remembering, however, that Castellanos is set to become a free agent after this season, making him a rental bat for the Cubs.

Castellanos hasn’t had his best season in 2019, but he’s still been solid. The South Florida native has batted .273 this season with 11 home runs and 37 RBI. He certainly hasn’t been helped by the cavernous Comerica Park where he played his home games nor by his team’s lack of offensive punch.

The Cubs were also drawn to Castellanos by his ability to play multiple positions in the field. While he is primarily a corner outfield, he also has the ability to play the corner infield positions in a pinch.

The Cubs hope that Castellanos’ bat will help lead them to an NL Central title this season.

The post Cubs Make Deal For Tigers OF Nicholas Castellanos appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Atlanta’s move for Martin is a straight-up swap with the NL East leaders sending left-handed pitcher Kolby Allard to the Texas Rangers.

Despite ranking eighth in the Majors with a 4.15 bullpen ERA, it has become clear in recent weeks that the Braves are looking for bullpen help after key arms such as Anthony Swarzak and Luke Jackson have struggled.

Martin should provide just that for the Braves as a powerful right-handed arm that strikes out plenty of batters and allows few walks. Not only has he recorded a quality 3.08 ERA this season, he’s also put up a fantastic 43:4 strikeout to walk ratio in 38 innings of work this season.

The Arlington, Texas native leaves his hometown franchise after joining the Rangers back in 2018. He’s had quite a journeyman career, spending time with the Rockies and Yankees as well as in Japan.

Now, the Braves, who hold a 5.5 game lead over the Washington Nationals in the NL East, will count on Martin to give their bullpen a sorely-needed upgrade. He could even get the opportunity to serve as Atlanta’s closer, making him their most depended-upon bullpen arm.

The post Braves Bolster Bullpen With Trade For RP Chris Martin appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Brewers traded minor league reliever Cody Ponce in order to acquire Jordan Lyles. This isn’t the righty starter’s first stint with the Brew Crew, as Lyles also spent the 2018 season pitching for Milwaukee.

The Brewers’ rotation is currently struggling with several injuries, as starters Brandon Woodruff, Jhoulys Chacín, and Jimmy Nelson are sidelined. Woodruff and Chacín’s statuses for the rest of the season are in question as they attempt to recover from oblique strains, while Nelson has a right elbow fluid accumulation issue that the Brewers haven’t established a timetable for.

The Pirates, currently in the midst of a nine-game skid that has left them without any chance of making this year’s playoffs, decided to sell Lyles in order to acquire a potential piece for their bullpen of the future.

Lyles hasn’t been good for the Pirates this season, allowing a 5.36 ERA and a boatload of home runs. It’s possible that the Brewers think that they can help him to make some adjustments to get him back to his 2018 form, when he posted an ERA just over 4 and helped the Brewers to an NL Central crown.

Lyles is expected to jump immediately into the team’s rotation.

The post Brewers Acquire SP Jordan Lyles From Pirates appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The 28-year-old righty surrendered 8 runs (7 earned) in 4.1 innings of work on the mound before letting his frustrations out in a unique way.

As Cleveland manager Terry Francona walked out to the pitcher’s mound to remove Bauer from the game, the eccentric righty took the game ball and chucked it over the center-field fence at Kaufmann Stadium.

Second baseman Mike Freeman visibly flinched as he caught a glimpse of the missle of a throw go sailing past his head. Needless to say, when Francona reached the mound, he expressed displeasure with Bauer’s actions.

Cleveland went on to lose the game 9-6, falling to two games behind the Minnesota Twins in the tight AL Central race.

After the game in the post-game media availability session, Bauer apologized for his actions.

Bauer has been solid in 2019, posting a 3.79 ERA in 24 starts, but has appeared frustrated at times after being unable to replicate the success of his breakout 2018, in which he posted a minuscule 2.21 mark.

The eccentric righty has been the subject of trade rumors approaching Wednesday’s deadline, and it will be interesting to see how Sunday’s blowup affects his market.

The post Indians Pitcher Trevor Bauer Launches Ball Over Outfield Fence After Bad Outing appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

What many didn’t expect, however, was that the team would look to deal young superstar starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard before July 31st. That appears to be a reality, however, with multiple outlets reporting on the franchise’s preference to trade away one of their top arms.

Syndergaard, a notorious free spirit, took to social media to poke fun at the rumors linking him to a possible deal.

It hasn’t immediately become clear on which teams are the most likely destinations for the 26-year-old, but according to ESPN baseball insider Buster Olney, the Mets are proactively looking to make a deal.

Syndergaard has been considered one of baseball’s top young starting pitchers since making his big league debut back in 2015. He made the NL All-Star team in his second season, and has been excellent ever since. The only red flag on his track record is a Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss most of the 2017 season.

The Texas native owns a career 3.21 ERA in 106 starts, and has averaged more than a strikeout per inning.

He could become one of the best players traded at this year’s deadline and the Mets could alter their franchise with a potential trade of the righty.

The post Sources: Mets Looking to Deal SP Noah Syndergaard appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The slugging outfielder was once considered one of baseball’s top prospects before making his debut with the Rangers in April of 2016. While he has shown promise during his first four seasons in the Major Leagues, he hasn’t yet quite lived up to the hype.

While Mazara has played in 91 games with Texas this season, the franchise has apparently cooled on their former top prospect. A disappointing season in which the right fielder has hit .255 with 14 home runs and a paltry .307 on-base percentage hasn’t helped the outfielder’s cause.

However, it appears that plenty of teams will be interested if Texas does, in fact, decide to cut bait on the Dominican outfielder. He could be an interesting reclamation project for a team that’s looking to add young talent. It’s worth remembering that Mazara is still only 24-years-old and has plenty of skill.

The Rangers could be one of the most active teams at the deadline, with starting pitcher Mike Minor and Mazara supposedly on the trading block. It’ll be worth tuning in over the next few days to see if they’re able to make any moves.

The post Rangers OF Nomar Mazara Drawing Trade Interest appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The A’s acquired veteran starting pitcher Homer Bailey in a trade with the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

The A’s sent minor league infielder Kevin Merrell back to the Royals in exchange for the new member of their starting rotation.

2019 has been a bounce-back year for Bailey, who has improved greatly on his dreadful season last year with the Reds. He’s posted a 4.80 ERA in 90 innings pitched, striking out 81 batters.

The 33-year-old isn’t a top-tier starting pitcher as he was during his early day with Cincinnati, but he is expected to be a reliable, stabilizing presence in Oakland’s rotation down the stretch. Many believe that his numbers will improve due to the pitcher-friendly nature of the A’s home stadium and the team’s excellent defense.

Bailey has also improved in recent months, posting a 3.30 ERA over his last eight starts.

The right-hander is expected to make his starting pitching debut with Oakland on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners.

The post Oakland A’s Add SP Homer Bailey in Trade with Royals appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to reports, it appears that one of the players that the Giants will look to move before the July 31st trade deadline is franchise icon Madison Bumgarner.

Bumgarner, who is in the final season of his current contract, could be acquired as a short-term “rental” by several contending teams that are looking to upgrade their starting pitching in preparation for the playoffs.

The surly lefty is one of the most decorated players in the history of the Giants franchise. He has compiled a 115-90 record with a career 3.10 ERA and 1,706 strikeouts during his time in SF.

In addition, Bumgarner is one of the best playoff pitchers of all time. He was named the World Series MVP in 2014 after a sensational series against the Kansas City Royals and is the owner of a stunning 0.25 career ERA in three career World Series appearances.

This postseason pedigree makes Bumgarner an even more attractive option despite his 2019 struggles. It has been reported that the Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, and the Houston Astros are potential destinations for the left-hander.

The Giants will have until July 31st to trade Bumgarner in a non-waiver deal.

The post Reports: San Francisco Giants Looking to Trade SP Madison Bumgarner appeared first on yoursportspot.com.