MLB Player News

Sborz was reinstated from the paternity list Friday.

Sborz had been away from the team since Tuesday. He'll return to a team that just traded closer Ian Kennedy to the Phillies, so he'll have the chance to compete for saves down the stretch, though his 4.46 ERA is hardly closer material.

Reed was designated for assignment Friday, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

Reed was claimed off waivers from the Dodgers on Sunday but will wind up back on waivers less than a week later. The 28-year-old allowed two earned runs in 5.1 innings for Los Angeles in his first taste of big-league action in early July.

Abreu was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.

Abreu was tagged for six runs without recording an out Thursday against the Rays and will return to the minors. It was by far the worst performance in the majors this year for the 25-year-old, who had previously given up only three earned runs in 14.1 innings.

Snead was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.

Snead made his first two big-league appearances in the last two days, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings while striking out three and allowing two hits. Brad Hand, acquired from the Nationals on Thursday, was added to the roster in a corresponding move.

Nittoli was outrighted to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.

Nittoli has made just a single career big-league appearance, allowing two runs in a single inning of work back in late June. Unsurprisingly the 30-year-old went unclaimed on waivers, so he'll remain in an organizational depth role.

Mills was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.

Mills appeared in eight games for the Mariners in May and didn't look particularly good, allowing 10 runs in 8.1 innings of work. He's been far better in 24.2 frames for Triple-A Tacoma, cruising to a 2.92 ERA and 0.91 WHIP.

Robles (illness) was acquired by Boston from Minnesota in exchange for Alex Scherff on Friday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Robles hasn't pitched since Tuesday, when he surrendered four runs before exiting with dizziness and lightheadedness, but he's apparently healthy enough to pass a physical. The 30-year-old was in the closer's mix with the Twins but is unlikely to see those chances for the Red Sox with a 4.91 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 43:24 K:BB in 45 appearances this year.

Maton was acquired by Houston from Cleveland on Friday in exchange for outfielder Myles Straw, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Maton struggled over the first couple months of the season for Cleveland, but he's pitched well since mid-June with a 2.04 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB across 17.2 innings. The 28-year-old could see occasional high-leverage spots for the Astros but should primarily work in middle relief.

Howard (finger), Josh Gessner and Kevin Gowdy were traded from the Phillies to the Rangers in exchange for Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Howard has been a dominant pitcher in the minors, posting a 1.85 ERA and a 34.7 percent strikeout rate in 30 starts across the last four years. He hasn't come close to replicating that thus far in the majors, with his strikeout rate dropping to 22.5 percent and his ERA spiking to 5.81, though that comes in a small sample of just 52.2 innings.

Hendriks will have to share his closer role with the newly acquired Craig Kimbrel down the stretch, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Henriks looked like one of the safest closers around, as he's coming off back-to-back seasons with an ERA of 1.80 or below and owns a well-supported 2.58 ERA this season to go with his 25 saves, the second-highest total in the league. Kimbrel appears to be just as strong of a weapon, however, as he's bounced back from a couple of surprisingly poor seasons and is back in peak form, cruising to an 0.49 ERA and 46.7 percent strikeout rate, both of which represent the top marks among qualified relievers. For now, the White Sox intend to give both pitchers save opportunities, though the exact split between the two may take some time to become clear.