MLB Player News

The Rays agreed to a minor-league contract with Slater on Monday, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

The veteran outfielder elected free agency after being designated for assignment by Tampa Bay in mid-June, but he'll rejoin the organization on another minor-league deal. Slater played in just seven games with the Rays and went 6-for-22 (.273 average) with two doubles and three steals. He also had stints with the Marlins and Mets early in the season, and he combined to post a .518 OPS in 21 contests between those two clubs.

Ullola pitched two scoreless innings in Monday's loss against the Twins, allowing two hits while striking out four.

It was an impressive major-league debut from the 24-year-old Ullola, who relied heavily on his fastball that averaged 95.2 MPH. After shifting to a relief role earlier this year, Ullola posted a 2.70 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 10 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land. Ullola should continue to work in lower-leverage spots for the time being, though his strikeout rate does afford him some intrigue as a late-inning prospect.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said in an appearance on Jomboy Media's "Talkin' Yanks" podcast that Bellinger will be out of the lineup Tuesday against the Tigers.

Bellinger has gone just 2-for-27 at the plate across his last eight contests, so the Yankees will give him a breather as Detroit sends ace Tarik Skubal to the mound. The ongoing slump has dropped Bellinger's season OPS below .800 for the first time since May 1.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday on the "Talkin' Yanks" podcast by Jomboy Media that McMahon (illness) will play a rehab game with Double-A Somerset on Wednesday before being activated from the 10-day injured list Friday.

McMahon is coming back from a throat and ear infection but will be back when his 10 days are up. The Yankees have used a combination of Jose Caballero and Amed Rosario at third base since McMahon went down, but McMahon should net most of the starts at the hot corner versus righties upon his activation.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday on the "Talkin' Yanks" podcast by Jomboy Media that Grisham (hamstring) will play a rehab game with Double-A Somerset on Wednesday before being activated from the 10-day injured list Friday.

Grisham has been shelved since mid-June with a right hamstring strain. He will be given one rehab game to knock some rust off before returning to the Yankees' lineup ahead of the weekend series against the Twins, barring any setbacks. Once reinstated, Grisham will serve as the team's primary center fielder.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on the "Talkin' Yanks" podcast by Jomboy Media that Chisholm (head) will not be in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Tigers.

Chisholm was forced from Monday's contest after taking an elbow to the head from teammate Jasson Dominguez while the two were chasing a popup. He was placed in concussion protocol and is still being evaluated. Boone added he hopes Chisholm will be available off the bench Tuesday, though the skipper is still waiting on an update from the team's medical staff.

The Yankees recalled Cruz from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.

Yerry De Los Santos was previously optioned in a corresponding roster move. Cruz impressed in an earlier stint with the big club, logging 2.1 scoreless frames with a 3:0 K:BB. The 26-year-old boasts a 3.18 ERA and 37:13 K:BB across 28.1 innings this season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Blanco (elbow) struck out two and allowed two hits and two walks over 3.1 scoreless innings Thursday in a rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi.

On the comeback trail after undergoing Tommy John surgery with an internal brace last June, Blanco has delivered a pair of strong performances to begin his rehab assignment. After tossing three scoreless frames in his first start in the rookie-level Florida Complex League on June 19, Blanco jumped up a few levels for his second outing and again held the opposition scoreless while building up to 50 pitches (31 strikes). Blanco should be able to get in at least two more rehab starts before the All-Star break, after which the Astros will assess whether he's worthy of a spot in their crowded rotation. The right-hander has a minor-league option remaining, so once he's activated from the 60-day injured list, the Astros could send Blanco to Triple-A Sugar Land to stay stretched out as a starter if they don't have room for him in the big-league rotation.

McCullers (shoulder) struck out four and allowed two hits and no walks over three scoreless innings in a rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Sugar Land.

Pitching in a game for the first time since May 13 after being sent to the injured list due to a right rotator cuff impingement, McCullers delivered an encouraging performance. He mixed in five different offerings in the 42-pitch appearance, averaging 90.9 mph with his sinker while displaying strong control. McCullers had issued 22 free passes in 39.1 innings with the Astros prior to landing on the shelf, so keeping his walks in check in his subsequent rehab outings will be imperative if he hopes to reclaim a spot in a crowded Houston rotation once he returns from the 15-day IL. In addition to their current five starters, the Astros are expected to bring Cristian Javier (shoulder) back from the 60-day IL later this week, and Ronel Blanco (elbow) is also in the midst of a rehab assignment and could be an option for the rotation around the same time McCullers is ready for activation.

Javier (shoulder) struck out four and scattered three hits and two walks over six scoreless innings Saturday in a rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land.

Making the fifth start of his rehab assignment and his fourth in a row with Sugar Land, Javier turned in a brilliant performance while building up to 85 pitches (52 strikes). Though he averaged 91.8 mph with his four-seam fastball -- down a full tick from his average in three starts with Houston before landing on the shelf -- Javier was still able to make bats miss, as he induced six whiffs on that pitch and along five whiffs on his changeup. Javier will likely return from the 60-day injured list to make a start this weekend against the Rays in Houston, sliding into the rotation spot vacated by Kai-Wei Teng, who was demoted to Triple-A last weekend.