The Minnesota Twins have acquired outfielder Alan Roden and left-hander Kendry Rojas from the Toronto Blue Jays for righty Louis Varland and first baseman Ty France. Now 25 years old, Roden entered the pro ranks as a second-round pick of the Blue Jays in 2022. He made his debut in the majors at the beginning of this season and yo-yoed between Toronto and Triple-A Buffalo before Thursday's trade. Roden hit a meek .202/.283/.306 with one home run in 113 plate appearances with the Blue Jays this year. He was far more successful in Buffalo, where he slashed an excellent .331/.423/.496 with three homers, 18 RBI, 25 runs scored, and four stolen bases in 142 trips to the plate. It's unclear if Roden will report to the majors with the Twins, but they may have room for another outfielder with Harrison Bader now a Philadelphia Phillie and Byron Buxton (rib) on the 10-day injured list.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired outfielder Alex Call from the Washington Nationals for right-hander Sean Paul Linan and righty Eriq Swan. The Dodgers are adding another versatile player in the 30-year-old Call, who has at least 85 games of experience at all three outfield positions. The right-handed Call is also a capable hitter, particularly against southpaws. Call has slashed .274/.371/.386 with three homers, 26 RBI, 30 runs scored, and a stolen base across 237 plate appearances this year. He has a .314/.359/.443 line versus lefties. While Call looks like a nice bench pickup for the Dodgers, he doesn't move the needle from a fantasy perspective.

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Cincinnati Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said that with the addition of right-hander Zack Littell to the starting rotation, right-hander Nick Martinez will move to the bullpen. Littell, Martinez and rookie Chase Burns all give the Reds depth and versatility down the stretch with the ability to pitch in multiple roles. All but two of Martinez's 24 appearances for the Reds this year have been in a starting role, and he's gone 9-9 with a 4.61 ERA (4.09 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 93 strikeouts and 31 walks in 127 innings pitched. After the addition of Littell and with Hunter Greene (groin) nearing a return from the IL, there's a good chance we never see Martinez in a starting role the rest of the year in Cincy. Although his strikeout rate should improve in relief, there's not much to like about the 34-year-old outside a starting role with his 17.8% K rate in 2025.

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Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles (shoulder) hit on the field on Wednesday before the team's game against the Athletics for the first time since suffering a small fracture in the humeral head of his shoulder injury on April 6. Robles was making loud contact and said he felt around "80 percent" as he works his way back from the 60-day injured list. He is also doing light defensive work and throwing at 150 feet, but he hasn't reached the point of diving or sliding. "I feel really good," Robles said. The Mariners have been targeting a September return for the 28-year-old, leaving him little time to make an impact in fantasy the rest of 2025. Because of how long he's been sidelined, he'll need a lengthier minor-league rehab assignment. With Luke Raley (back) now on the IL, the M's are rolling with a platoon in right field between Dominic Canzone and Dylan Moore.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (hamstring) is expected to land on the injured list with his hamstring strain, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge, who was acquired from the San Diego Padres on Thursday, will join the team in Washington for their series against the Nationals this weekend, according to general manager Matt Arnold. It's not ideal, but the good news for Chourio's fantasy managers is that the Brewers are practicing an abundance of caution and don't expect a long absence. In the meantime, expect Sal Frelick to shift to center, opening up playing time in right for Blake Perkins. The 21-year-old Chourio is one of the best power/speed outfield threats in the game, so he should remain stashed in all fantasy formats. The Venezuelan is hitting .276 (123-for-445) on the year with 17 homers, 67 RBI, 71 runs and 18 stolen bases.

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Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (calf) will get a day or two to rest while dealing with calf soreness, according to manager Bruce Bochy. Jung is out of the starting lineup for Thursday's contest against the division-rival Seattle Mariners and should also be out on Friday. Josh Smith is starting at third and is hitting leadoff against M's right-hander George Kirby, while Rowdy Tellez is playing first base and hitting eighth. It appears to be a minor injury for the 27-year-old Jung for now, but knowing his injury history, don't be surprised if this turns into an IL stint. The power-hitting corner infielder was sent to the minors in early July after struggling at the plate, but since he's returned on July 21, he's looked like a new hitter, going 11-for-30 (.367) with two home runs and five RBI in nine games. Jung isn't going to help with average, but he showed in 2023 that he has 30-homer power if he can stay healthy for an entire season.

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The Tampa Bay Rays said that rookie outfielder Chandler Simpson (finger) was removed from the game on Thursday against the New York Yankees with a left index-finger sprain, per the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin. The Rays are considering Simpson as day-to-day. They didn't get such good news on All-Star first baseman Jonathan Aranda (wrist), who was also injured in the game, as they are hoping he can join them in September for the final month of the season. Fantasy managers will want to check back to see if Simpson returns to the lineup for Friday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The most likely candidate to see extra playing time in center if Simpson's injury lingers is Jonny DeLuca. Simpson, 24, has made an immediate impact in fantasy in his first 227 MLB at-bats, entering Thursday's game with an even .300 average and 32 stolen bases.

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Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (wrist) said that X-rays came back negative on his left wrist, but he is going to miss time, and the team is hoping that he'll be able to return in September, according to Ryan Bass of Bally Sports. Aranda will get a second opinion on the wrist he injured in Thursday's game against the New York Yankees on Friday. The good news is that the 27-year-old All-Star won't miss the rest of the season, but the bad news is that he's going to miss at least one of the final two months for fantasy managers. It's been a breakout year for Aranda in his fourth year in the majors, as he went into Thursday's game slashing .315/.393/.478 with an .871 OPS, 12 home runs, 53 RBI and 53 runs in 102 games. Aranda's injury should mean more playing time for Christopher Morel, either at first or DH.

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The Los Angeles Angels acquired infielder Oswald Peraza from the New York Yankees on Thursday in exchange for minor-league outfielder Wilberson De Pena and bonus-pool money, according to Jack Curry of YES Network. The Yankees had no more use for Peraza after recently acquiring Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies to play third base in the Bronx. The 25-year-old Venezuelan will most likely settle into a utility infield role in Anaheim as well, which shouldn't change his fantasy value all that much with the move. Until rookie Christian Moore is able to return from his injury, there's a chance the Angels use Peraza at second base or on days they want to give Yoan Moncada a break at third base. Peraza has just a .190 average in four big-league seasons and was hitting .152 (24-for-158) with three homers and 13 RBI in limited playing time with the Yanks this year.

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The Milwaukee Brewers acquired left-hander Jordan Montgomery (elbow) and right-handed reliever Shelby Miller from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. It's unclear what the Brewers sent Arizona in return. Montgomery hasn't pitched at all in 2025 and won't pitch the rest of the way, either, with his new team after having Tommy John surgery on his left UCL earlier this year. The 32-year-old southpaw helped the Texas Rangers win a World Series title in the fall of 2023 but them fell apart in the desert with the Snakes the following year to the tune of a 6.23 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 117 innings. There were no promising signs that season as his strikeout rate plummeted, his walk rate rose and he was hit hard often. There's no guarantee Montgomery pitches in Milwaukee before he becomes a free agent next winter.

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The Chicago Cubs have acquired left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. Well, Rogers had a great run in Pittsburgh that lasted basically one day. The veteran left-hander was acquired by Pittsburgh in the Ke'Bryan Hayes trade with the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. A day later, Rogers is headed to the North Side of Chicago in exchange for outfielder Ivan Brethowr. Rogers holds a 2.45 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, and a 34/19 K/BB ratio across 40 appearances this season. He figures to pitch in a high-leverage role for Chicago, but is unlikely to have fantasy value due to lack of save chances.

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The Minnesota Twins acquired right-hander Taj Bradley from the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday at the MLB trade deadline in exchange for right-handed reliever Griffin Jax, per Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Bradley will head to Minnesota after recently being demoted to Triple-A. Before being sent down, the 24-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2018 struggled for the Rays to a 6-6 record, 4.61 ERA (4.19 FIP) and a 1.28 WHIP with 95 strikeouts and 44 walks in 111 1/3 innings pitched over his 21 starts. The Twins will now be looking to turn around one of the Rays' previous top prospects after he posted a 4.70 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 378:130 K:BB in his first three years in the big leagues. In his lone start with Triple-A Durham, he tossed seven shutout innings with three K's. With Pablo Lopez, Bailey Ober and David Festa all on the IL, Bradley has a decent shot at returning to the big leagues in Minnesota's starting rotation.

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The San Diego Padres acquired left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow) from the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, a source told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. It's unclear what the Padres sent the Brewers in return. It's unclear how much Cortes will be able to provide for the Padres this year, considering he's started just two games and is currently on the 60-day injured list with a left-elbow flexor strain. However, the 30-year-old veteran southpaw could be ready to return to the big leagues in August and give the Padres more length in either their starting rotation or as a long-relief arm out of their bullpen. For fantasy purposes, it's unlikely that Cortes is going to provide much in the final two months of the season, even if he returns in August. He also struggled in his two starts with Milwaukee, allowing eight earned runs, five homers and seven walks in eight innings.

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Minnesota Twins reliever Louis Varland and infielder Ty France were traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. In exchange, the Twins will receive outfielder Alan Roden and left-hander Kendry Rojas. This isn't a blockbuster move, but the Jays will bulk up their depth for a postseason run. This season, France is slashing .251/.320/.357 with six home runs and 44 RBI in 101 games this season. His value will likely take a dip considering he'll probably play a part-time role in Toronto. As for Varland, he has a 2.02 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 47/13 K/BB ratio across 49 innings this season. He'll probably pitch in high-leverage situations, but unlikely to see consistent save chances. Both Roden and Rojas figure to continue playing in the minor leagues with their switch to Minnesota.

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San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski was traded to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. The return for the Giants wasn't announced, but it's unlikely to be huge considering Yastrzemski is on an expiring deal. This season, Yastrzemski is slashing .231/.330/.355 with eight home runs and 28 RBI with six steals in 96 games with the Giants. He figures to play against right-handed pitching while Jac Caglianone (hamstring) remains sidelined. Yastrzemski is unlikely to see much of a change in fantasy value.

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Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Adrian Houser was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday. In exchange, the South Siders will receive corner infielder Curtis Mead from the Rays. Houser had an outstanding run for the White Sox during his short stint with the team. He posted a 2.10 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 11 starts. The Rays bulk up their starting rotation with Shane McClanahan (triceps) nearing his return. Mead is a former top prospect that should get a real chance to play on the rebuilding White Sox. This looks like a smart move by both sides, but probably means Taj Bradley remains in the minors.

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The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired right-hander Shelby Miller from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Miller is currently on the 15-day injured list with a forearm injury. However, the right-hander recently began participating in bullpen sessions, suggesting he is nearing a return. Before his injury, Miller was enjoying a productive campaign in the desert. Through 36 1/3 innings of work, Miller has posted an impressive 1.98 ERA with a strong 0.96 WHIP. Miller has also seen occasional save opportunities as well, with both A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez on the injured list. Under the hood, he has generated a 77th percentile xERA with a strong 30.9% K rate. In Milwaukee, fantasy managers should expect Miller to operate as a top setup man alongside Abner Uribe. Trevor Megill should continue to see the bulk of the save opportunities.

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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May was traded to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. In exchange, the Dodgers will receive 2024 first-round pick James Tibbs III who was acquired in the Rafael Devers deal. May posted a 4.85 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 97/43 K/BB ratio across 19 appearances with the Dodgers this season. The team planned to shift him to the bullpen before trading him. It's uncertain if the Red Sox will use him as a starter or reliever. If he heads to the bullpen, May will see his fantasy value take a significant hit. Fantasy managers should stay tuned to see what the Red Sox plans are for him.

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The Detroit Tigers are acquiring right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton from the Baltimore Orioles. After a rough start to the season, the 41-year-old has been a reliable starting pitcher over the past few months. In his first 31 2/3 innings this season, Morton posted a 9.38 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP and was even demoted to a long relief role. However, over his next 69 2/3 innings of work, Morton would post a solid 3.62 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. During this stretch, Morton struck out 73 hitters and allowed only 26 walks. However, the 41-year-old sits below the average marks in xERA and xBA, which suggests he could face some regression during the final weeks of the campaign. Fantasy managers should expect Morton to slot in as the No. 5 option in the Detroit rotation, which will likely push Troy Melton to the bullpen or back to Triple-A.

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Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter was traded to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday. This isn't a blockbuster move, but Falter does add solid depth to the Royals rotation. The southpaw currently holds a 3.73 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 70/39 K/BB ratio across 22 starts this season. Falter has been hot recently, allowing one earned run in each of his last two starts. He figures to be a back-end starter and a low-end streaming option with his shift to the American League. In exchange, the Pirates received reliever Evan Sisk from Kansas City.

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