MLB Player News

Bautista is the presumptive closer for Baltimore after Jorge Lopez was traded to the Twins on Tuesday, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

A 27-year-old rookie, Bautista has emerged as one of manager Brandon Hyde's top arms, posting a 1.66 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 56:14 K:BB through 43.1 innings this season. Bautista is tied for second on the team in holds and has recorded only one save since mid-May, but the overwhelming dominance Bautista has shown with his 98-plus-mph heater makes him the most likely candidate to step into the ninth-inning role. Bautista told Silver through an interpreter that closing big-league games would be "a dream come true, something I've always dreamt of."

The Blue Jays will call up Gage from Triple-A Buffalo prior to Tuesday's game in Tampa Bay, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Gage has a 2.16 ERA at Triple-A since his July 4 demotion. He was effective with Toronto prior to being sent down, posting a 1.38 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 13 innings. The Blue Jays will likely limit his usage to lower-leverage spots in relief while he's up with the big club.

The Guardians acquired Hamilton from the Twins on Tuesday in exchange for catcher Sandy Leon.

Neither player was on the 40-man roster, so Hamilton and Leon will merely swap spots with the respective Triple-A affiliates of their new organizations. Hamilton had previously made one appearance out of the big-league bullpen June 4 in Toronto, when he joined the roster as a replacement player. Over 28.2 innings at Triple-A St. Paul this season, he produced a 2.20 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 36:8 K:BB.

The Rangers recalled Sborz from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Sborz replaces Matt Bush, who was traded to Milwaukee on Monday. Although he's pitched well with a 1.61 ERA at Triple-A this season, Sborz has a 7.94 mark in 11.1 big-league innings and doesn't figure to be entrusted with many important innings out of the Rangers' bullpen.

The Blue Jays designated Banda for assignment Monday.

Toronto traded for Anthony Bass and Zach Pop to fortify the bullpen, so Banda was expendable. Banda had a 5.88 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 26 innings through 30 appearances.

The Blue Jays acquired Pop and Anthony Bass from the Marlins in exchange for minor-league infielder Jordan Groshans on Tuesday, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports.

Pop has a 3.60 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB in 20 innings of relief this season for the Marlins. Four of the eight earned runs he's yielded came in one appearance July 25, so he's been effective for the most part. Saves will be hard to come by as long as Jordan Romano is healthy and pitching well, but Pop should see ample opportunities for holds while working in the middle innings going forward.

The Blue Jays acquired Bass and right-hander Zach Pop from the Marlins on Tuesday in exchange for infielder Jordan Groshans, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Bass arrives in Toronto in the midst of an exceptional 20-appearance run in which he submitted an 0.46 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB in 19.2 innings while gathering six holds. Though he won't be a threat to Jordan Romano's role as the Blue Jays' closer, Bass should provide an upgrade over the team's existing setup options. He'll also be more than a rental piece for the Blue Jays, as his contract contains an affordable $3 million team option for 2023.

Hentges (3-2) pitched a perfect 11th inning with one strikeout to earn the win Monday over the Diamondbacks.

Hentges extended his scoreless streak to 5.2 innings over his last five appearances with the clean frame, and Amed Rosario hit a walkoff single for the win. After a rough stretch in late June and early July, Hentges appears to have gotten himself back on track. He owns a 3.55 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 41:14 K:BB in 38 innings as a middle reliever this year.

Akin recorded his second save of the season in Monday's 7-2 win over the Rangers, giving up one run on two hits over three innings while striking out three.

Aside from a solo shot by Nick Solak, Akin was in control over the final third of the game. The southpaw has thrived in a long-relief role this season, posting a 2.43 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 50:13 K:BB over 59.1 innings while adding two wins and two holds to his saves total.

The Orioles recalled Vespi from Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.

He'll fill the opening on the 26-man active roster that was created when closer Jorge Lopez was dealt to Minnesota earlier Tuesday for four minor-league pitchers. The departure of Lopez should pave the way for Felix Bautista to take over as the Orioles' closer, while Vespi is expected to settle into a middle-relief role while he's up with the big club. Over his previous 14 appearances with Baltimore spanning 16.1 innings, Vespi has generated a 4.41 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB.