MLB Player News

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Baez (ankle) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Lakeland on Tuesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

Baez has been on the shelf since late April due to a right ankle sprain, and though he's taken longer than anticipated to heal up from the injury, he's now reached the final stage of his lengthy recovery process. Prior to being deactivated, Baez produced a .677 OPS across 82 plate appearances with Detroit. He's likely to see reps at both shortstop and center field during his rehab assignment before coming off the 60-day injured list.

Story (sports hernia) told reporters Monday that "sometime in August is in play" for him to embark on a rehab assignment, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Story underwent surgery for a sports hernia in late May and has been on the 60-day injured list since early June. He's been cleared to take part in full baseball activities, and the good news for the veteran shortstop is that he is getting closer to on-field action in minor-league games. Story would likely need a rather lengthy rehab stint, given the amount of time he's been sidelined for, but it looks like he could be back with the Red Sox by mid-to-late August.

Kiner-Falefa (forearm) has been cleared to start his hitting progression with dry swings, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Healy relays that Kiner-Falefa is still "weeks away" from returning from the 10-day injured list, but the good news for the veteran infielder is that he has been given the green light to take the next step in his recovery program. He has not played since June 18 while recovering from a stress reaction in his left forearm.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Monday that Stanton (calf) has "no timeline" to start a minor-league rehab assignment, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Stanton has been sidelined by a right calf strain since April 24. He resumed running right before the All-Star break after receiving a PRP injection, but the veteran slugger has not progressed enough in his recovery to embark on a rehab assignment. The Yankees should have a better sense of Stanton's return timeline once he's cleared to play in minor-league games.

Vazquez will travel to join the Orioles' taxi squad for their weekday series against the Red Sox, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.

Vazquez will give the Orioles a little bit of extra infield depth in Boston. He's spent most of this season with Triple-A Norfolk, where he has a .576 OPS with four steals, two homers and nine RBI across 115 plate appearances. Vazquez appeared in 36 regular-season games for the Orioles last year and slashed .160/.208/.240 with two steals, one homer and three RBI over 53 plate appearances.

Mayer (forearm) has been cleared to start his hitting progression with dry swings, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Healey notes that Mayer is "still weeks away" from returning to major-league action. However, it's a step in the right direction for Mayer, who has been sidelined by a stress reaction in his left forearm since June 25. The Red Sox should have a more clear idea of Mayer's return timeline once he's cleared to embark on a rehab assignment.

Isbel (foot) is slated to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

Isbel is ready to take a significant step in his recovery program for a Grade 3 tear of the left plantar fascia, which caused him to go on the IL in mid-June. How his foot reacts to in-game activities will ultimately determine when he'll be ready to return to major-league action. Prior to his foot injury, Isbel was slashing .244/.298/.354 with five steals, three home runs and 11 RBI across 183 plate appearances.

The Tigers optioned Valencia to Triple-A Toledo following Sunday's game against the Orioles.

Valencia was recalled from Triple-A shortly before the All-Star break to provide catching depth behind Dillon Dingler, but the former will head back to Toledo after Gleyber Torres (oblique) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. Valencia did well at the plate during his short major-league stint, going 5-for-12 (.417) with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored.

The Tigers reinstated Torres (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Torres needed a month-long stint on the IL due to a left oblique strain. He was cleared to embark on a rehab assignment during the All-Star break, and he's progressed enough in his recovery to return to the majors, meaning both Zach McKinstry and Hao-Yu Lee will see less time at the keystone. Catcher Eduardo Valencia was optioned to Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move.

Cowser is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.

Cowser will join fellow left-handed hitters Samuel Basallo (shoulder), Dylan Beavers and Jackson Holliday on the bench while the Red Sox send southpaw Payton Tolle to the bump for the series opener. Leody Taveras will draw the start in center field Monday in place of Cowser, who went 1-for-10 with one walk and one stolen base during the Orioles' three-game sweep of the Astros over the weekend.