MLB Player News

Wednesday, July 21

• 07/21/10 - 6:41PM ETCarlos Gonzalez : Aggravates Finger Injury

  Gonzalez left Wednesday's game after aggravating his left index finger injury, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports.

  Ryan Spilborghs took over in center field for the Rockies. We'll await further evaluation on Gonzalez before making any assessments about his availability beyond considering him "day-to-day" at this time.

• 07/21/10 - 4:20PM ETSkip Schumaker : Back in Business

  Schumaker, who missed Tuesday's game with a sore left wrist, is in Wednesday's starting lineup.

  He'll bat sixth behind Colby Rasmus. Schu is just 7-for-35 in 12 July games, with a poor .596 OPS.

• 07/21/10 - 3:41PM ETJayson Werth : Could be Moved

  The Phillies have been talking to several teams about trading Werth, ESPN.com reports.

  The Phillies won't move Werth unless they get exactly what they want back in a deal. The team doesn't need to move him, but with Domonic Brown ready at Triple-A, the Phillies could move Werth in order to pick up pitching help. Tampa Bay has reportedly expressed interest in Werth and the Phillies have asked for Wade Davis or B.J. Upton back in any deal. It seems unlikely the Rays would give up either to rent Werth for two months without also getting younger players they could control in the deal as well. The Red Sox, Yankees and Giants are also believed to be interested in Werth.

• 07/21/10 - 3:26PM ETPedro Martinez : Reportedly Won't Pitch This Year

  Martinez will not pitch this season, according to the Boston Herald.

  A source close to Martinez confirmed the news but said Pedro was open to pitching in 2011. Martinez, who will turn 39 in October, decided that he was enjoying the time off with his family this summer too much to embark on a comeback for the second season in a row, according to the source.

• 07/21/10 - 3:22PM ETRoy Oswalt : Phillies in Mix?

  The Phillies and Astros are reportedly in talks to bring Oswalt (ankle) to the Phillies, David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News reports.

  Oswalt said he has yet to be approached by the Astros. "I don't know anything about it," Oswalt said. "Saw it on TV this morning ... Until (the Astros) come up to me, there's really nothing I can do." The deal could potentially be a three-way trade that would also send Jayson Werth to Tampa Bay. ESPN.com is reporting that Oswalt is asking the Phillies, or any team that acquires him, to guarantee his $16 million option in 2012 before he would approve a trade. The Phillies are balking at that request.

• 07/21/10 - 2:48PM ETFred Lewis : Sore Ankle

  Lewis left Wednesday's game with a sore right ankle, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.

  Lewis had X-rays done on his ankle and according to Bastian, nothing serious was found, so we'll consider the Jays' left fielder day-to-day.

• 07/21/10 - 12:41PM ETScott Rolen : (Hamstring) Still Sidelined

  Rolen (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nats, the Reds' official site reports.

  So far the team has refrained from putting him on the DL, and they opted to send down Micah Owings when they needed to add a reliever rather than create the roster slot by DL'ing Rolen.

• 07/21/10 - 9:36AM ETNate Robertson : Designated for Assignment

  Robertson has been designated for assignment, the Palm Beach Post reports.

  So much for leaving him in the rotation until the Marlins can trade him. Chris Volstad is the most likely candidate to take Robertson's next turn on Sunday, but Sean West may also be an option.

• 07/21/10 - 9:04AM ETMichael Bourn : Not in Wednesday's Lineup

  Bourn is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs, MLB.com's Alyson Footer reports.

  The Astros are looking to test Jason Bourgeois with more at-bats, and Bourn hasn't been doing much to dissuade them, hitting just .196 in July. Bourgeois will start Wednesday.

• 07/21/10 - 8:58AM ETDavid Eckstein : (Calf) Headed for DL

  The Padres placed Eckstein (calf) on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, the team's official site reports.

  Eckstein missed about a week with a calf injury before the All-Star break, and this is apparently an aggravation of that same injury.

• 07/21/10 - 8:55AM ETJustin Morneau : (Concussion) Making Progress

  Morneau (concussion) met with Dr. Steven Morgan of the Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology on Tuesday, but GM Bill Smith would only say that the results of the exam showed Morneau is making progress, the team's official web site reports.

  Morneau will not accompany the Twins on the team's next road trip to Baltimore, but that was expected before the exam. While there wasn't much information coming out of the exam, at least there wasn't any negative news. Still, there seems to be no timetable for Morneau's return.

• 07/21/10 - 8:55AM ETWill Venable : (Back) Activated from DL

  The Padres activated Venable (back) from the disabled list Wednesday, the team's official site reports.

  Venable is hitting just .238 this season, but he was really starting to heat up before suffering his back injury, hitting .310 with four homers and 13 RBI in the 15 games before his injury.

• 07/21/10 - 8:41AM ETJoe Mauer : Sitting Out Wednesday

  Mauer is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Indians, the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Joe Christensen reports.

  With the short turnaround time between Tuesday's night game and Wednesday's afternoon tilt, the Twins elected to rest Mauer and roll with Drew Butera.

• 07/21/10 - 7:50AM ETMike Gonzalez : (Shoulder) Activated from DL

  As expected, the Orioles activated Gonzalez (shoulder) from the disabled list Wednesday, the Baltimore Sun reports.

  Gonzalez won't step back into the closer's role immediately, but the Orioles badly needed some fresh arms after calling on the bullpen for 7.2 innings Tuesday night. He could move back into the ninth-inning role soon if he pitches well.

• 07/21/10 - 7:39AM ETCarl Crawford : (Groin) Hopes to Return Friday

  Crawford (testicular contusion) will not be in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles, the St. Petersburg Times' Marc Topkin reports.

  After taking a pickoff throw to the groin on Tuesday night, he'll rest on Wednesday and have Thursday's off day to recover as well. He could return to the lineup Friday.

Tuesday, July 20

• 07/20/10 - 8:32PM ETJamie Moyer : (Elbow) Probable DL Stint

  Manager Charlie Manuel said Moyer will probably head to the DL after suffering a left elbow strain in Tuesday's game, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

  We won't know for sure if Moyer will head to the DL until he heads back to Philadelphia for some tests, but the team trainers compared his injury to the one J.A. Happ sustained earlier in the year (which forced him to the DL). If that is the case, then Moyer could be out until September. Happ will be recalled to make a start this weekend, and the Phillies could pull a trade to fill the other hole in their rotation (vacated by Kyle Kendrick earlier in the day).

• 07/20/10 - 5:20PM ETManny Ramirez : Expected to Miss Three Weeks

  The Dodgers expect Ramirez (calf) to miss three weeks, Helene Elliot of the Los Angeles Times reports.

  That timetable would put his return sometime in the August 8-12 range. Xavier Paul and Garrett Anderson could fill in in the outfield until then, and the Dodgers should add an extra outfielder to the roster Wednesday.

• 07/20/10 - 4:27PM ETCarl Crawford : Leaves With Groin Injury

  Crawford left in the first inning of Tuesday's game after taking a pickoff throw to the groin, the Tampa Tribune reports.

  An injury we wouldn't wish on our worst enemies. The Rays juggled their lineup in a way that allowed Jason Bartlett to enter the game at short. Consider Crawford day-to-day for now, and pick up a bag of frozen peas in his honor.

• 07/20/10 - 3:35PM ETDallas Braden : (Elbow) Comes Off DL

  The A's activated Braden (elbow) from the 15-day DL on Tuesday. He'll start on Tuesday night against the Red Sox.

  Before heading to the DL, Braden had been on a fairly long tailspin dating back to his perfect game, going 0-5 with a 4.31 ERA in eight starts.

• 07/20/10 - 3:29PM ETFelipe Paulino : Mild Rotator Cuff Strain

  Paulino was diagnosed Tuesday with a mild rotator cuff strain and will be out about four weeks, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports.

  Paulino suffered a setback last week and will now have his return date pushed back to mid-August. He's been out since the last week of June.

• 07/20/10 - 3:19PM ETTodd Helton : (Back) May Not be Activated Wednesday

  The Rockies may not activate Helton (back) on Wednesday as originally expected, the Denver Post's Troy Renck reports.

  The Rockies would like to ease Helton back into action, and facing the gauntlet of Ricky Nolasco (Wednesday), Josh Johnson (Thursday) and Roy Halladay (Friday) isn't anybody's idea of easy. Colorado may wait until Saturday in Philadelphia to activate Helton.

• 07/20/10 - 2:49PM ETBrian Roberts : Not Quite Ready

  Roberts (back) will not be activated in time for this weekend's series against the Twins, MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli reports.

  He'll play in a couple more rehab games this week, take Thursday off, then be reevaluated after that. If everything looks good, he could be activated Monday, but he will be eased back into action whenever he does get activated.

• 07/20/10 - 2:29PM ETDexter Fowler : (Knee) Back in Business

  Fowler (knee) is back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reports.

  Fowler was spotted icing his knee Monday, but the soreness wasn't anything severe enough to keep him out more than one day. He's back in his usual leadoff spot.

• 07/20/10 - 2:28PM ETAsdrubal Cabrera : (Forearm) Activated Tuesday

  The Indians activated Cabrera (forearm) on Tuesday, MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince reports.

  Cabrera was not expected to come off the disabled list until Friday, but he went 5-for-14 in four rehab games to convince the Indians he was ready. Cabrera will bat leadoff on Tuesday, so feel free to get him back in your lineup.

• 07/20/10 - 2:22PM ETJonny Venters : Will Appeal Suspension

  Venters will appeal his four-game suspension, MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports.

  Venters will be available to pitch until the appeal is heard and the league rules on whether to shorten the suspension. Atlanta hosts San Diego on Tuesday.

• 07/20/10 - 2:12PM ETTyler Colvin : Expanded Role

  Colvin, who hit a home run on Monday, has not only solidified a near everyday role in the past few weeks, but the club also committed to batting him in the leadoff role for the foreseeable future, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

  The Cubs have decided to trust their offense to their top two youngsters, Colvin and Starlin Castro, who will bat first and second, respectively. Colvin's value this season has come from his power (13 home runs) and thus seems a little out of place in his new role, as he only holds a .318 OBP.

• 07/20/10 - 1:57PM ETNate McLouth : (Concussion) Slated to Return Wednesday

  McLouth (concussion) will be activated from the DL on Wednesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

  The Braves wanted to take a look at him during batting practice on Tuesday. With Gregor Blanco reportedly the player to be sent to Triple-A, it looks like McLouth will get regular playing time in center field along with Melky Cabrera.

• 07/20/10 - 1:15PM ETYunel Escobar : Day-to-Day with Bruised Hand

  Escobar is day-to-day with a bruised hand, the Canadian Press' Shi Davidi reports.

  Fortunately, X-rays were negative for any fracture, so Escobar shouldn't miss much time. He's unlikely to play Tuesday against the Royals, however.

Monday, July 19

• 07/19/10 - 4:07PM ETJustin Morneau : (Concussion) Visit to Specialist on Tap

  Morneau (concussion) will see a specialist Tuesday, MLB.com's Kelly Thesier reports.

  Morneau continues to deal with his concussion symptoms and as a result, likely won't travel with the Twins this weekend.

• 07/19/10 - 1:14PM ETScott Rolen : Slowed by Flu/Hamstring Issue

  Besides the flu, Rolen is evidently dealing with a right hamstring issue, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

  The report adds that Rolen had a cortisone shot, so it looks like he'll remain day-to-day beyond Monday.

• 07/19/10 - 12:29PM ETAndrew McCutchen : (Shoulder) Not in Lineup Monday

  McCutchen (shoulder) isn't in Monday's lineup, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

  Jose Tabata will move from left field to center, with Lastings Milledge in left and Ryan Church in right. McCutchen is considered day-to-day, so be sure to check the Pirates' lineup again on Tuesday if he's part of your fantasy team.

• 07/19/10 - 12:29PM ETEmilio Bonifacio : Will Fill in for Coghlan

  Bonifacio will continue to start in left field and hit leadoff while Chris Coghlan is out with a sore back, the Miami Herald reports.

  Interim manager Edwin Rodriguez, like so many managers before him, is confusing speed with a useful leadoff skill set. Bonifacio might have some short term fantasy value, but he and his .303 career OBP will have to reach first base before he can steal second.

• 07/19/10 - 8:56AM ETMike Pelfrey : Will Make Monday's Start

  Pelfrey (neck) said he felt great in his side session on Sunday and is ready for Monday's start against the Diamondbacks, Steve Popper of the Bergen Record reports.

  Pelfrey has only made five starts against the Diamondbacks in his career, but he is 0-4 with a 5.22 ERA against them. Considering his track record and his injury, it might be best to leave him on the bench on Monday.

• 07/19/10 - 8:23AM ETTroy Tulowitzki : Could Begin Rehab Assignment This Week

  Tulowitzki (wrist) will accompany the team to Florida and could be headed for a rehab assignment within a few days, the team's official site reports.

  "There's a possibility I could be leaving from there," Tulowitzki said. "Get a couple of more days of BP under my belt, see how I respond and go from there." The Rockies want to see him regain confidence in his power stroke before plugging him back into the lineup.

• 07/19/10 - 7:04AM ETNate McLouth : Expected to Return on Tuesday

  McLouth (concussion) is expected to be activated from the DL on Tuesday, the team's official web site reports. He's hitting .258 with one home run in seven games for Triple-A Gwinnett during a rehab stint.

  The report adds that Gregor Blanco will be sent to Triple-A, which is a surprise since he's hit .310 with a .394 OBP since he was called up. It looks like McLouth will get regular playing time in center field along with Melky Cabrera as a result.