MLB Player News

Bell went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 8-2 loss to the Royals.

Bell provided one of Minnesota's few bright spots, taking Steven Cruz deep for a solo homer in the eighth inning. The blast was his 14th of the season and snapped a 21-game homer drought. While the power returned Tuesday, Bell has been relatively quiet since the All-Star break, batting .241 with three RBI and five runs scored across 15 games.

The Mets outrighted Melendez to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.

Melendez was designated for assignment Sunday. He lost his roster spot after hitting for an OPS of .665 in 144 plate appearances for the Mets.

The Cubs optioned Alcantara to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.

Alcantara hit his first MLB home run after being called up from Triple-A on Monday, but he'll now head back to the minors in order to make room for new addition Tyrone Taylor. Alcantara has gone just 5-for-21 in the big leagues this season but owns a .905 OPS through 273 plate appearances at Iowa.

Eldridge isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers due to a bruised left thumb, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Eldridge said he suffered the bruise after getting jammed a couple of times last week, and the injury also helps to explain why he was absent from Monday's lineup. He'll be available to serve as a pinch runner Tuesday and is expected to return to the starting nine in Wednesday's series finale. In the meantime, Buddy Kennedy will serve as San Francisco's DH and bat sixth.

The Red Sox optioned Gonzalez to Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Chris Henrique of BostonSportsJournal.com reports

Gonzalez will head back to the minors to help make room on the active roster for the additions Boston made prior to Monday's trade deadline. The 29-year-old utility man has seen his production take a hit this season, slashing just .185/.264/.308 with seven RBI and seven runs scored in 73 plate appearances with Boston.

Ballesteros will start at designated hitter and bat sixth in Tuesday's game against the Orioles.

Ballesteros was acquired from the Cubs in a trade Monday and will be thrown right into the lineup. That the left-handed-hitting Ballesteros is getting a start versus a lefty in Cade Povich is an encouraging sign that the Angels plan to give him everyday reps down the stretch. Ballesteros is a career .249/.328/.408 hitter with a 10.8 percent walk rate and 19.9 percent strikeout so far in the majors.

The Orioles acquired Hinds from the Marlins for cash considerations Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.

Between stops in the big leagues with the Reds and Marlins this season, Hinds has gone just 4-for-35 (.114 average) at the dish. The 25-year-old could get a look with Baltimore later this season, but for now, he'll play regularly at Norfolk.

Stanton (calf) took swings against Carlos Rodon (elbow) on Monday, MLB.com reports.

Stanton has been swinging a bat for some time, but that doesn't necessarily gauge where he's at in his recovery from a strained right calf. Still, standing in against Rodon suggests that the slugger is making progress, and he could log more live at-bats Tuesday versus recovering hurler Clarke Schmidt (elbow). Stanton also did some jogging in the Yankee Stadium outfield Monday, and the hope remains that he'll be ready for activation off the IL before the end of August.

Alcantara went 1-for-1 with a walk and a two-run home run in Monday's 10-5 win over the Dodgers.

Alcantara was recalled from Triple-A Iowa earlier in the day, and he wasted no time getting comfortable in the majors as he posted his first ever home run with the Cubs. The 24-year-old may not have a path to everyday playing time at the moment, but the offensive potential is there whenever he is in the lineup. Alcantara was raking against Triple-A pitching, and he's worth keeping an eye on in case he gets hot in the short term for Chicago.

Eldridge is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers.

Right-hander Cal Quantrill is on the bump for the Rangers, but the left-handed-hitting Eldridge will get a breather nonetheless. Nate Furman will pick up a start at designated hitter in place of Eldridge, who slashed .220/.315/.385 with five home runs, one stolen base, 10 RBI and 14 runs while he was a part of the lineup for each of the Giants' last 29 games.