MLB Player News

The Mets designated Flexen for assignment Monday after acquiring him from the Mariners.

Along with Flexen, the Mets acquired right-hander Trevor Gott from Seattle in exchange for lefty Zach Muckenhirn, but Gott is the main asset in the deal from the Mets' standpoint. The Mets will absorb the approximately $4 million remaining on Flexen's contract, and though he won't be added to the 40-man roster, the organization is presumably hoping that he'll pass through waivers and help bolster the rotation at Triple-A Syracuse. Flexen owns an ugly 7.71 ERA and 1.86 WHIP in 42 frames with Seattle in 2023, but between the prior two seasons, the 29-year-old right-hander amassed a 3.66 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 317.1 innings and 53 starts. Perhaps a change of scenery will help the soft-tossing Flexen stumble upon a better pitch mix or a mechanical tweak that could allow him to resurface as useful rotation depth for the big club in the latter portion of the season.

Matz will start for the Cardinals on Wednesday in Miami, Isaac Azout of SBNation.com reports.

The Cards needed a spot starter following a doubleheader over the weekend. Matz has posted a 1.98 ERA since being demoted to the bullpen a month ago, which includes 6.2 scoreless frames over his last two appearances. That was preceded by a 5.72 ERA in 10 starts, though, making him a poor streaming option especially since he won't be ready for a full workload.

The Nationals reinstated Corbin (personal) from the bereavement list Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Corbin was away from the Nationals for the entire series with the Phillies this past weekend, but he wasn't scheduled to pitch at any point during the three-game set after he made his most recent start last Wednesday in Seattle. He's already been confirmed to make his return to the Washington rotation Tuesday versus the Reds at Nationals Park.

The Mets acquired Flexen and right-hander Trevor Gott from the Mariners on Monday in exchange for left-hander Zach Muckenhirn, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Flexen will be returning to the organization where he started his professional career after he was drafted out of high school in 2012. Though he had been a serviceable back-end rotation option for most of his prior two seasons in Seattle, Flexen has struggled mightily both as a starter and reliever thus far in 2023, pitching to a 7.71 ERA and 1.86 WHIP over 42 innings before the Mariners designated him for assignment last week. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets will cover the approximately $4 million remaining on the $8 million in salary Flexen is due for the rest of the season, hoping that the return to Queens can help the 29-year-old re-emerge as useful starting depth. He'll most likely work in long relief initially.

Bielak will be available in relief Monday versus the Rangers but is an option to start Tuesday against the Rockies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Bielak was recalled earlier Monday following a brief stint back in the minors. J.P. France is on turn to start Tuesday and remains an option, as well, but he could get pushed back a day depending on whether Framber Valdez (ankle) is ready.

Urquidy (shoulder) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Urquidy has thrown off the mound a few times without issue and is now ready to face hitters for the first time since going down with right shoulder inflammation back in early May. He's eligible for activation at the start of the second half but presumably will require multiple rehab starts before rejoining Houston's rotation.

The Padres promoted Snelling from Single-A Lake Elsinore to High-A Fort Wayne on Tuesday.

Snelling made his High-A debut Sunday, striking out four Lake County batters over five innings while giving up two earned runs on four hits and two walks. Prior to receiving the bump up to Fort Wayne, Snelling had been one of the most dominant pitchers in the California League, logging a 1.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 59:13 K:BB in 51.2 innings.

The Twins promoted Raya from High-A Cedar Rapids to Double-A Wichita on Monday.

Raya will make the jump to Double-A after he churned out a 2.94 ERA and 0.93 WHIP while striking out 29.5 percent of the batters he faced. In an effort to manage the 20-year-old's workload, the Twins have limited Raya to 3-to-4-inning starts for most of the season. That trend is expected to continue in Wichita.

Gore (finger) is slated to start Thursday's game against the Reds at Nationals Park.

Gore failed to escape the third inning and was lit up for seven earned runs on six hits and three walks in his most recent start against the Phillies on Saturday, revealing afterward that he dealt with a blister on his left middle finger. The southpaw didn't express any concern about the abrasion forcing him to miss his next start, and the Nationals seemingly aren't worried either. Gore will look to bounce back Thursday from his disastrous outing last week, which caused his ERA to jump from 3.89 to 4.48.

The Astros recalled Bielak from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Bielak will return to Houston as a replacement for Shawn Dubin, who had previously been called up from Sugar Land on June 18 to fill Bielak's spot on the 26-man active roster. Though he made just one start for Sugar Land during his brief time in the minors, Bielak showed well in that June 24 outing, covering six innings while allowing one earned run on five hits and one walk. Bielak looks poised to re-enter the Houston rotation the next time the team requires a fifth starter Friday versus the Mariners, though he could be needed as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday against the Rockies in the event Framber Valdez needs more time to recover from an ankle injury.