MLB Player News

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.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve hit his fourth home run Sunday against the Marlins.

In his first at-bat Altuve took a 91 mph fastball out to left for a left field for a solo shot. The play was reviewed, but the ruling was ultimately upheld. Altuve would also single twice later in the contest. Altuve finished 3 for 4, with one run scored and one RBI. 

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 Astros have promoted second baseman Gregorio Petit from Triple-A Oklahoma City, sources have told MLBDailyDish.com. That necessitates a roster move that has yet to be announced.

The 29-year-old Petit has 54 major league at-bats and has posted a .278 average, but has not played at that level since 2010 with Oakland.

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. 

The Athletics have made Mariners shortstop Nick Franklin a "top target" for acquisition, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Franklin is batting .300 with nine homers and 42 RBI in 63 games at Triple-A Tacoma.

"The question will be whether Seattle - currently in a playoff spot - would want to strengthen a division rival, and whether the A's, fresh off trading top prospects Addison Russell and Billy McKinney, would have enough in the cupboard to land him," the paper said.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve cracked a two-run homer in Sunday's 11-7 win over the White Sox, giving him three homers and 31 RBI this year. Altuve finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored and went 5 for 14 in the weekend series.

He's hitting .336/.373/.443 in 402 at-bats.