MLB Player News

The Blue Jays acquired Stephan and Josh Smith from the Rangers on Monday in exchange for Adam Macko, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Stephan has made 19 starts and two relief appearances for Triple-A Round Rock in 2026, collecting a 5.44 ERA and 97:31 K:BB over 101 frames. The 24-year-old will likely join the rotation at Triple-A Buffalo.

The Blue Jays acquired Smith and right-hander Josh Stephan from the Rangers on Monday in exchange for left-hander Adam Macko, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Smith was sent to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday after the Rangers had been prioritizing Ezequiel Duran and Nicky Lopez ahead of him as utility options, but the versatile 28-year-old should have a better chance at earning a larger role in Toronto. Though he's mustered a lowly .571 OPS in 154 plate appearances at the big-league level in 2026, the left-handed-hitting Smith has held his own against right-handed pitching over parts of five seasons in the majors, slashing .239/.330/.355 (98 wRC+) across 470 contests. Smith, who is under club control through 2028, will join the big club in Houston ahead of Monday's series opener versus the Astros.

The Rangers acquired Macko from the Blue Jays on Monday in exchange for Josh Smith and Josh Stephan, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Macko has made a full-time move to the bullpen this season, posting a 4.91 ERA and 23:10 K:BB over 22 innings for the Blue Jays and a 4.07 ERA and 29:11 K:BB across 24.1 frames with Triple-A Buffalo. The 25-year-old had been optioned to the minors last week, but it's unclear whether the Ranger intend to put him on the big-league roster or send him to Triple-A Round Rock.

The Red Sox and Orioles "have a deal arranged" for Rutschman (wrist), Buster Olney of ESPN reports.

Olney adds that the potential trade still needs Boston's final approval before it goes through. Rutschman is currently on the 10-day injured list due to left wrist inflammation, so the Red Sox must pore over the catcher's medicals before signing off on a trade. The switch-hitting catcher resumed hitting this past weekend and could be ready to start a rehab assignment during the upcoming week. Rutschman has had a nice bounce-back season, slashing .251/.331/.433 with eight home runs while playing his usual stellar defense. He's under team control through the end of the 2027 season.

The Guardians designated Brito for assignment Monday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

A spot on the 40-man roster needed to be freed for the arrival of Jo Adell. Brito posted just a .505 OPS in 15 games for the Guardians earlier this season and has slashed just .237/.351/.394 with nine homers this year at Triple-A Columbus. However, Brito is only 24 and boasts a career .373 on-base percentage in the minors. There will likely be interest in the infielder on waivers.

The White Sox acquired Doyle from the Rockies on Monday in exchange for right-hander Mason Adams and infielder Carlos Vielma, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

According to Rosenthal, both teams are reviewing the medicals of all players involved in the deal before completing the trade, but barring any snags, Doyle will head to Chicago, where he should settle in as a fourth outfielder. Since supplying a .763 OPS with 23 home runs and 30 steals in 149 games for the Rockies in 2024, Doyle's offensive production has taken a major step back over the past two seasons while his strikeout rate has climbed. That said, the two-time Gold Glove Award winner still provides strong defense in center field, and his right-handedness will bring more balance to a Chicago outfield that features three left-handed bats in Sam Antonacci, Tristan Peters and Andrew Benintendi.

The Orioles acquired Moore and right-handers Alex Hoppe and Harrison Kreiling from the Mariners on Monday in exchange for outfielder Taylor Ward, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

The right-handed reliever has split the 2026 season between the High-A and Double-A levels, logging a 3.72 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 67:20 K:BB in 38.2 innings. Though his excellent 42.1 percent strikeout rate would normally make him a relief prospect worth tracking, Moore's stellar production comes with the caveat that he turned 26 in May and is much older than most of his peers at Double-A.

The Orioles acquired Kreiling and right-handers Alex Hoppe and Brock Moore from the Mariners on Monday in exchange for outfielder Taylor Ward, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Kreiling, 24, has spent most of the season on the injured list at Single-A Inland Empire but was cleared to debut for the affiliate last week after completing a three-appearance rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. The right-hander has performed well since returning to action in July, logging a 1.69 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and 16:1 K:BB in 10.2 innings between the two minor-league stops. He'll most likely join the Orioles' Carolina League affiliate in Delmarva.

The Mariners acquired Ward from the Orioles on Monday in exchange for Alex Hoppe, Brock Moore and Harrison Kreiling, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Ward has clubbed only seven home runs this season after going deep a career-high 36 times in 2025, but he's remained a productive hitter thanks in large part to an 83:103 BB:K. The 32-year-old is making $12.18 million this season and is an impending free agent.

The Orioles acquired Hoppe and right-handers Harrison Kreiling and Brock Moore from the Mariners on Monday in exchange for outfielder Taylor Ward, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Hoppe is the only big-league-ready arm the Orioles will receive in the deal, as Kreiling and Moore haven't pitched above the Single-A and Double-A levels, respectively. A 27-year-old righty, Hoppe reached the majors for the first time in April and compiled a 5.79 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB in 28 innings while working mostly in middle relief for Seattle. He'll likely slot into a similar role in the Baltimore bullpen.