MLB Player News

The Marlins have acquired infielder Enrique Hernandez from the Astros in a deal that just beat the trade deadline Thursday, according to numerous reports.

Hernandez appeared in 24 games for the Astros this season, hitting .284/.348/.420 in 81 at-bats. He was hitting .337/.380/.508 in Triple-A Oklahoma City this season as well. 

Third baseman Yangervis Solarte continued to rake since joining the Padres with another big game Tuesday in a victory over St. Louis.

Solarte homered in the seventh inning and scored two runs. He has eight hits, including two taters, in 28 at-bats since the trade that brought him to San Diego from the Yankees.

The return of Jedd Gyorko to the lineup has forced Yangervis Solarte to move from second to third base for the first time for the Padres. Solarte is playing that corner position Monday in Atlanta.

Solarte has been tearing it up at the plate since the trade that brought him from the Yankees. He has seven hits in 21 at-bats with five runs scored, one home run and one RBI in each of the five games he's played.

Padres infielder Yangervis Solarte clubbed his first home run with his new team Sunday.

In the third inning, Solarte smashed an 84 mph slider from Mike Minor out to left. Solarte added a single later in the game. He finished 2 for 5, with one run scored and one RBI. 

The Nationals recalled infielder Zach Walters from Triple-A Syracuse Wednesday, and are putting him in the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds.

According to the Washington Post, Walters is likely to see a majority of the playing time at second base against right-handed pitchers as part of a platoon with Danny Espinosa. Walters hit 12 of his 15 home runs in Triple-A from the left side of the plate.  

The trade that brought Yangervis Solarte from the Yankees to the Padres Tuesday assures at least one thing: The 27-year-old utility player play every day again. Between Jedd Gyorko's plantar fasciitis, Everth Cabrera's strained hamstring and, of course, Chase Headley's sudden departure, the Padres have openings all across their infield.

Though Solarte hadn't completely disappeared from the lineup in his final weeks with the Yankees, he sat too often to have any chance of overcoming his midsummer slump -- which, by the way, has lasted only 18 games. Granted, he's gone 4 for 51 (.078) during those 18 games, but the lack of repetition certainly hasn't helped. When inexperienced players see fewer pitches, they tend to get worse rather than better. Solarte hasn't had a chance to work through this slump. The Yankees pulled the plug on him too quickly.

He'll get that chance with the Padres, and because of that, I wouldn't rule out him making an impact in the second half. Throughout his slump, he has continued to make contact at a high rate, striking out just nine times in those 18 games, and players who do that typically hit for a high batting average. When the Yankees sent Solarte down for five games in the middle of the slump (giving him those consistent at-bats he lacked in the majors), he went 12 for 20 (.600). The ability is still there.

That's not to say I'm rushing to pick Solarte back up. It's probably unnecessary outside the deepest of leagues. But if he shows signs of life, I'll be ready.

The Yankees have acquired third baseman Chase Headley from the Padres Tuesday, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Headley has struggled this season, hitting just .229/.296/.355 in 77 games, though he has been hot lately. Though he has just one home run in the month of July, he is hitting .323 with a .785 OPS in the month, his best so far.

The Padres will reportedly receive infielder Yangervis Solarte and pitching prospect Rafael De Paula from the Yankees, while sending $1 million in cash to the Yankees. Solarte has slowed down from a hot start and is hitting just .254/.337/.381 this season, while DePaula has a 4.15 ERA in 89 innings for Class A Tampa this season. 

Matt Williams could be giving Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa a glimpse of his immediate future. He has been benched for the second game of the Saturday doubleheader after sitting out the first. Espinosa could make the pine his permanent spot upon the return of Bryce Harper to the lineup.

Espinosa had started 25 of the previous 27 games.

Struggling Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa could be the odd man out of the starting lineup when Bryce Harper returns off the disabled list, the Washington Post has speculated.

His presence would push Ryan Zimmerman back to third base and move Anthony Rendon to second, thereby benching Espinosa. Espinosa hasn't earned playing time with a .219/.286/.351 stat line and 91 strikeouts that ranks fifth in the major leagues. He is also hitless in his last 16 at-bats.

Nationals manager Matt Williams will not reveal how he'll employ his lineup once Bryce Harper returns, according to The Washington Post. 

Williams had previously outlined a situation where Ryan Zimmerman would shift back to third, pushing Danny Espinosa out of the lineup. Harper is expected to see time at all three outfield spots once he returns, which could give Williams more flexibility. It's unclear if Williams will stick with that plan moving forward, or if he has something else up his sleeve.