MLB Player News

Vargas is hitting .308/.384/.504 across 60 games for Double-A Tulsa, bringing his composite minor-league line for the year to .310/.377/.515 with 19 homers and eight steals in 97 games.

Most remarkable has been the growth of Vargas' plate discipline since being promoted from High-A, where he put up a 9:32 BB:K in 37 contests. In Double-A, he's now sporting a remarkable 29:41 mark; that's just a 15.3 percent strikeout rate. Vargas didn't enter the season with a lot of helium, but following the Dodgers' blockbuster deadline trade, he's arguably the team's top prospect all of a sudden. At the major-league level, the 21-year-old is blocked at third base by Justin Turner (who's under contract for one more year), but he's not an especially good defender there anyway. Vargas has played a little at first and second base this year, and it wouldn't be surprising if the team moves him to one of those positions on a more permanent basis. With his defensive development seemingly lagging behind his bat, Vargas may well spend a good chunk of next year in the minors working on his fielding.

Gorman has collected multiple hits nine times in his last 18 games for Triple-A Memphis, a span in which he's batted .358/.427/.612 with four homers, 13 RBI and 15 runs.

He's picked up a couple four-hit efforts in that span. Most impressively, though, Gorman has noticeably cut down on the strikeouts this year; after whiffing at a 29.0 percent clip across his minor-league career prior to this season, he's at a trim 19.3 percent this year -- and it hasn't cost him any power production. The 21-year-old's future in St. Louis may be at second base rather than third due to the presence of Nolan Arenado, but this season has erased many of the doubts about Gorman's bat -- and there's untapped upside here yet, as Gorman's game power still hasn't caught up with his raw ability.

Chavis went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in Tuesday's 4-2 win over Arizona.

One game after making his team debut, Chavis moved up from seventh to the leadoff spot in the lineup. He also showed off his versatility, moving from second base to first base. With general manager Ben Cherington looking for more power sources, Chavis figures to see more playing time and is off to a good start.

Frazier is not starting Tuesday against the Dodgers.

Frazier will sit for the second time in four games with the Dodgers sending lefty Julio Urias to the mound. Ha-Seong Kim gets the nod at the keystone.

Marte is not starting Tuesday against Pittsburgh.

Marte enters the day with a hot bat, having gone 8-for-16 with three doubles, a homer and four RBI across the last four games. He'll get a rest Tuesday as Daulton Varsho mans center field.

Chavis went 0-for-4 in his debut for the Pirates on Monday.

He batted seventh and played second base. The former top prospect is looking for a fresh start in a new organization after slashing .234/.291/.413 with 25 homers in 622 plate appearances over parts of three years with Boston. Interestingly, current Pirates general manager Ben Cherington drafted the 26-year-old in the first round of the 2014 draft while serving as the Red Sox's GM. With second baseman Rodolfo Castro sent back to Double-A, Chavis figures to see playing time over the next week. The only other new face who could get his first shot at second base this year is Tucupita Marcano.

Hoerner was confirmed to have not re-injured his oblique Monday and will resume baseball activities soon, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Hoerner has missed nearly a month with an oblique strain. He was pulled from his first rehab game Sunday, though the Cubs called his removal precautionary, and it turns out that he didn't actually suffer a significant setback. He should resume a rehab assignment soon, though exactly when remains unclear. The rebuilding Cubs have no need to rush him, as they're likely primarily concerned with his long-term health given their place in the standings.

Chavis will be recalled by the Pirates ahead of Monday's game against the Diamondbacks, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic

Chavis was traded from the Red Sox to the Pirates at the end of July, and he slashed .246/.316/.536 with five home runs, five doubles, 12 runs, 12 RBI and a stolen base across 17 games at Triple-A Indianapolis. The 26-year-old will start at second base in Monday's series opener against Arizona.

Trejo was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday.

Trejo's latest stint on the active roster lasted just six days. He got into two games, going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. Rio Ruiz was recalled to take his place on the roster.

Hoerner was removed Sunday from his rehab game with High-A South Bend after experiencing increased tension along with right oblique, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Hoerner began his third rehab stint of the season Sunday but played only two full innings before pulling himself out of the contest during his third-inning at-bat after an awkward swing. According to the Cubs, Hoerner's removal is being described as precautionary, but he'll be reassessed Monday before the team determines whether he'll need to be shut down again. If and when Hoerner makes it back from the 10-day injured list, the Cubs plan to give him a trial as their everyday shortstop now that Javier Baez is with the Mets, per Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com.