MLB Player News

The Brewers traded Ragsdale and Alexander Frias to the Cardinals on Monday in exchange for Dustin May and JoJo Romero, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Ragsdale has been one of the breakout prospects of the year, particularly since mid-June. In 36 games since June 17, Ragsdale is slashing .333/.459/.783 with 17 home runs, nine doubles, nine steals, an 18.2 percent walk rate and a 24.7 percent strikeout rate. A seventh-round pick in 2025 out of Boston College, Ragsdale not only controls the strike zone, but 76.7 percent of his balls in play at Double-A were either line drives or flyballs. On the season, he has 19 home runs and 31 steals (on 34 attempts) in 86 games across High-A and Double-A.

The Mets acquired Stafura from the Pirates on Monday in exchange for right-hander Luke Weaver and cash considerations, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.

Stafura will be on the move for the second trade deadline in a row, after the Pirates previously acquired him last July as part of the deal that sent third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes to Cincinnati. A 21-year-old shortstop, Stafura possess good range at the position but may need to eventually move down the positional spectrum to second base or center field. Stafura had been enjoying a strong season at the plate for High-A Greensboro, mashing 19 home runs and going 16-for-17 on stolen-base attempts while slashing .301/.365/.656 over 211 plate appearances.

The Brewers traded Frias and Josiah Ragsdale to the Cardinals on Monday in exchange for Dustin May and JoJo Romero, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Frias is the latest Brewers international signee to break out in a big way, as he has already registered elite exit velocities as an 18-year-old with a projectable 6-foot-2, 177-pound frame. The lefty-hitting Frias won't turn 19 until March and slashed .342/.427/.553 with eight home runs, 19 steals and a 17.6 percent strikeout rate in 60 games across the Arizona Complex League and Single-A. It's worth noting that he was significantly more productive in complex ball (189 wRC+) than after his promotion to the Carolina League (93 wRC+), but his upside is undeniable. His 20 percent strikeout rate at Single-A hasn't been a problem, but his 57.3 percent groundball rate is a poor mark.

The Cubs acquired Zeferjahn from the Angels on Monday in exchange for catcher Moises Ballesteros and right-hander Mason McGwire, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Zeferjahn will bolster a Cubs bullpen that desperately needed help. Given the current complexion of the Cubs' relief crew, Zeferjahn could serve as the closer, though the Cubs could make further additions leading up Monday's deadline. Additionally, Daniel Palencia (elbow) appears to be close to beginning a rehab assignment and moving toward an eventual return from the injured list. Zeferjahn holds a 3.66 ERA and 75:32 K:BB over 51.2 innings for the Angels this season, logging four saves along the way. He's under team control through 2030.

The Marlins acquired Long and right-hander Jace Beck from the Cubs on Monday in exchange for left-hander Braxton Garrett, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Long had been blocked off at the Triple-A level while in the Cubs organization for the past couple seasons, but he's also seen a decline in his performance (108 wRC+) in 2026 compared to 2025 (131 wRC+). A righty-hitting first baseman and left fielder, Long is slashing .283/.364/.455 with 12 home runs and a 21.2 percent strikeout rate in 99 games as a 24-year-old.

The Cubs acquired Garrett from the Marlins on Monday in exchange for first baseman Jonathon Long and right-hander Jace Beck, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Garrett becomes the second starting pitcher the Cubs have acquired in the less than 24 hours, after Chicago previously swung a deal for Kevin Gausman on Sunday. Though Gausman will immediately settle into a starting role with the Cubs, Garrett will be optioned to Triple-A Iowa to begin his time in the organization. After missing the entire 2025 campaign while recovering from UCL revision surgery with an internal brace, Garrett has enjoyed sound health this season but wasn't able to carve out a role at the big-league level with the Marlins. The 28-year-old southpaw made just two appearances in Miami and had instead been making regular starts at Triple-A Jacksonville, where he submitted a 2.98 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 88:32 K:BB across 81.2 innings.

The Brewers acquired Romero (abdomen) and Dustin May from the Cardinals on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Romero has been shelved since mid-July following an emergency appendectomy, but he's expected to be ready to return in mid-August. The southpaw has authored a 3.35 ERA and 43:16 K:BB over 43 innings this season and is an impending free agent.

The Brewers acquired May and JoJo Romero (abdomen) from the Cardinals on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

May has turned in a nice 2026 campaign, collecting a 4.38 ERA and 106:35 K:BB over 109 innings covering 21 starts for the Cardinals. The right-hander is earning $12.5 million this season and is an impending free agent.

The Pirates acquired Weaver and cash considerations from the Mets on Monday in exchange for shortstop Sammy Stafura, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

Weaver receives a potentially big boost in fantasy value with a move to Pittsburgh, where he could be the favorite to serve as the Pirates' closer. The righty reliever has posted a 1.84 ERA and 45:11 K:BB over 44 innings this season for the Mets. Weaver is under contract for 2027 as well, with a salary of $12.5 million.

The Cubs acquired Detmers from the Angels on Monday, Michael Cerami of Bleacher Report reports.

The Cubs previously traded for Kevin Gausman and have further bolstered their rotation with the addition of Detmers, who has logged a 4.03 ERA and 145:38 K:BB across 125 innings covering 22 outings for the Angels this season. The 27-year-old left-hander will be under team control through the end of the 2028 campaign.