Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Juan Morillo was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Monday. The Diamondbacks have suffered numerous bullpen injuries this season. Despite this, the 26-year-old flamethrower was sent down after posting a 4.94 ERA with a 1.72 WHIP and a 23.0% strikeout rate in his first 27 1/3 innings pitched at the big-league level. He was effective at Triple-A for 7 1/3 innings at the beginning of the season, so he will try to engrain that success for a larger sample to earn another shot at the big leagues.

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While he did not win, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz drew plenty of attention in Monday's T-Mobile Home Run Derby in Atlanta. The 26-year-old, who is known for impacting the ball harder than almost anyone, led the first round with 21 HR. This included a 513-foot blast hit at 118 MPH. The shot tied the record for the longest homer hit in the Derby outside of Coors Field. He matched up against eventual winner Cal Raleigh in the semifinals and fell 18-13. Even so, Cruz hit plenty of baseballs very hard and very far, breaking the Pirates' franchise record for most home runs in the Derby. In the context of everyday games, Cruz has had a middling season. He has accumulated plenty of counting stats with 16 HR, 49 runs scored, 37 RBI, and 29 stolen bases, but has managed a pedestrian .212/.319/.414 slash line in 360 plate appearances. Fantasy managers may be willing to live with his lower batting averages given his electrifying power-speed combination, and he has plenty of room to regress in the second half.

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Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh continued his elite power surge on Monday, taking home the trophy in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby in Atlanta. With his dad as the pitcher and his younger brother as the catcher, Raleigh became the first catcher and switch-hitter to win the Derby. The 28-year-old barely made it out of the first round, tying with Brent Rooker for the fourth spot with 17 HR but advancing due to his longest homer being one inch farther than Rooker's. He then defeated Oneil Cruz in the semifinals with 13 HR, and bested Junior Caminero in the finals with 18 HR. It seems fitting that Raleigh would win, as he is having a career season and leads baseball with 38 HR. He will head into the second half with a .259/.376/.634 slash line, 65 runs scored, 82 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 417 plate appearances.

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Arizona Diamondbacks catching prospect Adrian Del Castillo had a big day at the plate on Sunday for Triple-A Reno, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two home runs, and six RBI. The D-backs' sixth-ranked prospect came off of the IL at the beginning of July after missing a couple of weeks with a back injury, but also got a late start to the season as a result of a shoulder injury suffered in the spring, so has logged just 14 games in Reno thus far in 2025. The 25-year-old is hitting .288 with four home runs during his limited action, and his OBP comes in at .386 thanks to a strong 14.3 percent walk rate. The left-handed hitting backstop made his MLB debut last year with solid results, slashing .313/.368/.525 with four home runs, 19 RBI, and 12 runs scored in 25 games, although a 32.2 percent strikeout rate could limit his upside. Either way, Gabriel Moreno is nearing a return, but if another opportunity opens up with the big league club, expect Del Castillo to be given another shot, and he could be a worthwhile add in deeper leagues given his batting average, power, and RBI potential.

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San Francisco Giants first base prospect Bryce Eldridge (hamstring) was sent on a minor league rehab assignment on Monday with the team's Arizona Complex League affiliate. The Giants' top-ranked prospect suffered a moderate right hamstring strain and hasn't played in a game since June 21. The 6-foot-7 slugger began the year at Double-A and hit .280 with seven home runs and a .350 OBP, which was enough to earn a promotion to Triple-A. In 16 games at Sacramento, the former first-round draft pick has gone deep three times, but is hitting just .230 with a 31.3 percent strikeout rate and a below-average 7.5 percent walk rate. If he can get on a roll when he returns, a September call-up could be in the cards, otherwise, look for the JMU product to make his MLB debut next year.

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Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Ryan Ward earned Pacific Coast League Player of the Week honors for the week of July 7-13. The 27-year-old went 9-for-21 (.429) with four doubles, a triple, and one home run, along with six RBI, four runs scored, and a 6:3 BB:K in six games for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The left-handed slugger is up to a .309/.399/.597 slash line for the season, and his 108 hits, 24 home runs, and 82 RBI lead all minor leaguers. He's always had big power, but through 261 games at Triple-A prior to this year, he registered a 26.1 percent strikeout rate. However, this season he has cut that down to a better-than-average 20.0 percent, complemented by a strong 13.1 percent walk rate. If he gets the call to the majors, the power potential and offensive environment could make him an intriguing waiver add in very deep and NL-only leagues.

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Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter allowed three earned runs on six hits, including two home runs, but did not walk a batter and struck out four in five innings for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday. The Phils' top prospect (MLB No. 9) began the year with a 3.18 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, a 20.5 percent K-BB%, and a 0.95 HR/9 through his first eight starts (28 1/3 IP), but over his last eight starts (38 2/3 IP), the righty has posted a 6.05 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, a 15.2 percent K-BB%, and a 2.33 HR/9. Hopefully he's just working on some things, and these are the growing pains of life in Triple-A, as the 6-foot-7 hurler was expected to make his major league debut this season. That still might happen for the former first-rounder, and if he lives up to expectations, then he should remain a stash candidate for those in need of pitching help in deep and NL-only leagues.

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New York Yankees outfieldprospect Spencer Jones belted his seventh Triple-A home run for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a 1-for-4 day at the plate on Sunday. The Yankees' second-ranked prospect has flourished since being promoted in late June, slashing .362/.426/.776 through 14 games at Triple-A. The 24-year-old is slashing .296/.399/.639 with 23 home runs and 16 steals on the season, and could push for a second-half call-up to the majors. If he gets the call, he could provide fantasy managers with some power numbers, but with a history of elevated strikeout rates, expectations should be tempered whenever the 6-foot-7 slugger does debut.

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The Minnesota Twins acquired right-hander Noah Davis from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in exchange for cash considerations, according to The Athletic's Dan Hayes. Davis will report to Triple-A St. Paul. The 28-year-old former 11th-round selection in 2018 by the Cincinnati Reds out of UC Santa Barbara appeared in five games in relief for L.A. this year and gave up 14 runs (13 earned) on 10 hits while walking five and striking out eight in six innings. The 28-year-old was designated for assignment after surrendering 10 runs in just 1 1/3 frames on July 4 against the Houston Astros. Davis has been hit around at the major-league level in his 57 1/3 innings, going 0-5 with a rough 8.95 ERA and 2.01 WHIP with 51 strikeouts and 28 walks over 23 appearances (six starts). He is nowhere near the fantasy radar and isn't a lock to pitch for the Twins the rest of the year.

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San Francisco Giants right-hander Justin Verlander enters this week's All-Star break with an 0-7 record, 4.70 ERA (4.16 FIP) and a 1.42 WHIP with 67 strikeouts and 26 walks in 76 2/3 innings over his 15 starts in his first year with the team. The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner is the first starting pitcher to enter the All-Star break with at least 65 strikeouts and no wins. He is stuck on 262 career wins and is now looking very unlikely to reach the 300-win milestone. Although Verlander hasn't been terrible by any means and he could have a much better second half, it's clear that he's no longer the fantasy ace that he once was. Verlander currently is in the 35th percentile in strikeout rate, 58th percentile in whiff rate and 60th percentile in hard-hit rate. His xERA of 4.82 goes to show that he's become much too hittable.

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Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara might not be traded this summer if he continues to struggle, writes USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale. It's been a disaster for Alcantara, who missed all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 29-year-old two-time All-Star and former National League Cy Young winner has given up 19 earned runs in his last 18 innings pitched for a 9.50 ERA going into this week's All-Star break. All in all, Alcantara has gone 4-9 for the Fish with a career-worst 7.22 ERA (4.59 FIP) and 1.48 WHIP with 71 strikeouts and 37 walks in 91 innings over his 18 starts. His 73 earned runs allowed are a league high. Alcantara had a stretch in June that suggested he might be getting over the hump before really struggling of late. Contending teams looking for starting arms may be hesitant to trade young assets for him at the July 31 trade deadline.

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Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (ribs) said he has done light hitting, fielding and running, but he's unclear of a specific timetable for his return, according to the Houston Chronicle's Matt Kawahara. "I don't have an idea yet. But we're moving in the right direction. I'm very happy with the progress we're making, so we'll see what happens," Pena said. The Astros aren't expecting the 27-year-old to return immediately for the second half of the season this Friday, but Pena is recovering nicely from a small rib fracture and should be back early in the second half, potentially before the end of July. The Dominican infielder is having a breakout 2025 season with a .322 average (102-for-317) with 11 homers, 40 RBI, 48 runs and 15 stolen bases, and he should be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues. Mauricio Dubon will continue to start at the 6 until Pena recovers.

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Free-agent left-hander Julio Urias' suspension is set to end this Wednesday, and his agent, Scott Boras, said his client "still has every intention to continue his career." Urias is the only player in MLB history that has been suspended twice for violating the league's policy on domestic violence and sexual assault. It's believed that multiple teams have checked in on Urias, but it's unclear if any team would be willing to add him. Boras said Urias has not pitched in 2025 and would need time to work into major-league shape, so he'd most likely be offered a minor-league deal by an organization that is interested in taking a chance on the Mexican southpaw. The 28-year-old last pitched in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023, going 11-8 with a 4.60 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 117 strikeouts and 24 walks in 117 1/3 innings in 21 starts.

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Chicago White Sox right-hander Adrian Houser has become a viable trade chip this summer before the July 31 deadline, as he's gone 5-2 with a nice 1.56 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB in 57 2/3 innings over his nine starts since joining the Pale Hose. Houser has a chip on his shoulder after being released by four different teams since last July. The 32-year-old spent the 2024 season with the New York Mets but finished with a 1-5 record, career-high 5.84 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 45:32 K:BB in 69 1/3 frames over 23 appearances (seven starts). Although Houser has only 39 strikeouts in his 57 2/3 innings in Chicago this year, he could be an attractive trade piece for a contending team looking to round out its starting rotation for the second half of the season. Houser would certainly be more intriguing as a fantasy streamer if he were to land with a contender.

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USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale writes that the Tampa Bay Rays are listening to offers for right-handed starter Taj Bradley and are officially open for business after acquiring reliever Bryan Baker from the Baltimore Orioles recently. The Rays really limped to the All-Star break and are now sitting at 50-47, in fourth place in the American League East and 5.5 games out of first place. Once one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball, the 24-year-old Bradley has not lived up to expectations in his first three years in the majors with the Rays. He's currently sporting a 5-6 record with a 4.60 ERA (4.14 FIP), 1.27 WHIP and 89:40 K:BB in 103 2/3 innings over his 19 starts. Bradley's strikeout rate sits in just the 37th percentile, while his whiff rate is in the 27th percentile, and his hard-hit rate is in the 65th percentile. Perhaps a change of scenery would do him some good.

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Barring a dramatic winning streak after this week's All-Star break, USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale writes that the Baltimore Orioles are expected to trade right-handers Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano. Additionally, right-hander Zach Eflin (back) will immediately become trade bait for contending teams in search of pitching help when he makes his return from the injured list to open the second half of the season. Eflin has been out since late June due to back discomfort, but he could attract interest around the league if he can prove he's fully healthy when he returns before the July 31 trade deadline. The Orioles have been one of the most disappointing stories so far in 2025 and currently sit last in the American League East with a 43-52 record (11.5 games out of first) going into this week's All-Star break.

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The Atlanta Braves are making designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, closer Raisel Iglesias and a few others available before the July 31 trade deadline, according to USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale. However, the Braves don't have any intentions of trading any player under a multi-year contract, at least not until the offseason. Ozuna has 10-and-5 rights, which essentially gives him a full no-trade clause and allows him to reject any potential deal. Atlanta has dealt with all kinds of injuries to key players this year and have not been able to recover after a horrendous start in 2025, as they enter the All-Star break this week with a 42-53 record and in fourth place in the National League West (12.5 games out of first place). The 34-year-old Ozuna does have two homers in his last four games, but he also has a .577 OPS since the start of June as his power fades after hitting 79 homer the previous two seasons.

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General managers around baseball think that the Toronto Blue Jays could be one of the most aggressive teams at this year's trade deadline since this could be their best chance for a World Series run since 1993. USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale reports that the Blue Jays are searching for a front-line starting pitcher and have show interest in Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen. The 29-year-old Gallen hasn't looked like a front-line starter in 2025, going 7-10 with a 5.40 ERA (4.79 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with 110 strikeouts and 45 walks in 115 innings over a league-high 20 starts in 2025, but he'd surely have a place in Toronto' rotation if he were to join the club via trade. Gallen has given up at least five runs in three of his last five outings and looks far from the All-Star he was in 2023. If he were to land in Toronto, things wouldn't get easier for him in the second half.

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USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale reports that the Seattle Mariners have interest in reuniting with Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez after they traded him to Arizona back in November of 2023. Nightengale also reports that Seattle has interest in D-backs first baseman Josh Naylor as they look to boost their offense in the second half of the season. Suarez spent both 2022 and 2023 with the M's and he led the league in strikeouts both years while combining to hit .234/.327/.423 with a .751 OPS, 53 home runs and 183 RBI in 312 games. The 33-year-old right-handed slugger made his second All-Star squad in 2025 and is having one of the finest years in his 12 seasons in the big leagues with 31 homers and a league-leading 78 RBI through the first half. Suarez, who will be a free agent in the winter, will be one of the most sought-after power bats this summer.

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USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale writes that the Philadelphia Phillies have been extensively scouting Minnesota Twins relievers Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax and are hoping to acquire at least one of them by the July 31 trade deadline. Nightengale adds that the Twins are drawing strong interest from the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds. Duran is having a bounce-back season in 2025 after posting a career-worst 3.64 ERA for the Twins last year. The 27-year-old hard-throwing right-hander has successfully converted each of his last five save chances and enters the All-Star break sporting a career-low 1.66 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, 15 saves, 49 strikeouts and 16 walks in 43 1/3 innings pitched. The Phillies are currently mixing and matching save chances with Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering, but if they acquired Duran, he'd be the unquestioned primary closer.

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