MLB Player News

The trade sending Matt Garza to the Texas Rangers has been finalized, Yahoo! Sports reports Monday. The Cubs sent Garza to the Rangers for infielder Mike Olt, minor league pitcher C.J. Edwards, starting pitcher Justin Grimm and a player-to-be-named-later. 

Grimm has the most major-league experience with 22 appearances and 19 starts with the Rangers over the last two seasons. He was 7-7 this year with a 6.37 ERA over 17 starts with 68 strikeouts over 89 innings. Grimm should jump into the Cubs' rotation in Garza's spot. 

Olt has played in 16 big-league games, all came last season. He hit .152 in 33 at-bats with five RBI. The 24-year-old was batting .213 in 65 games with Triple-A Round Rock. 

Edwards, 21, was playing with Class A Hickory but has shown loads of potential. He's 13-5 over two pro seasons with a 1.68 ERA. He has 122 strikeouts with Hickory this season over 18 starts and 93 1/3 innings.  

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez heads into Monday's game at Washington hitless in his last four games (17 at-bats). He also doesn't have a home run or RBI in five games.

Alvarez is batting .233 in 15 July games, which is his lowest average since batting .225 in May. Alvarez had his best month in June, batting .309 with 10 home runs and 24 RBI in 26 games.

Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon heads into Monday's game against the Pirates trying to hit his way out of a slump. Rendon enters play Monday batting .130 (3 for 23) in his last six games.

Rendon's 3-for-23 slide has dropped his average from .303 to .280.

The Nationals finish up an 11-game homestand this week against the Pirates and Mets. Rendon is batting .287 with a .416 slugging percentage in 26 home games. He also has a .100 average (2 for 20) in five games against the Mets.

Rockies rookie third baseman Nolan Arenado is having a rough time in July. He is batting .135 through 16 games and that's on top of his home run drought, which has extended 22 games.

Though, Arenado's two-out single to center field in the sixth inning Sunday against the Cubs led to two runs that clinched a 4-3 win and could provide the rookie with the catalyst to snap his slump. He came into the sixth inning Sunday hitless in 18 at-bats and mired in a 3-for-41 slump.

"I got a pitch to hit and I took the right swing," Arenado said, per The Denver Post. "I have been kind of getting out of my swing approach lately, but luckily I stayed within myself and did the job."

Rockies manager Walt Weiss was encouraged by Arenado's clutch hit.

"It was a huge hit for Nolan," Weiss said. "Nolan doesn't shy away from those pressure at-bats. He likes to be the guy."

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura stole two bases while going 1 for 4 at the plate in his team's 2-0 win over the Marlins Friday. Segura swiped both second and third base after reaching on an infield single in the first inning.

Segura has hit .324/.362/.484 with 11 home runs, 36 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 376 at-bats.

Rangers infield prospect Mike Olt and pitching prospect C.J. Edwards are in play in trade talks for Cubs pitcher Matt Garza, Fox Sports reports. A deal between the teams is reportedly getting closer to completion.

The Cubs have asked teams for final offers for Garza, who has been one of the most discussed names on the trade market this season. While the Rangers appear to be the furthest along in trade talks, other teams are thought to be involved in discussions for Garza.

Phillies third baseman Michael Young's name has come up plenty in trade rumors. His status definitely could have an impact on third-base prospect Cody Asche, who is enjoying a strong campaign for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Asche, who is ranked by MLB.com as the Phillies' ninth-best prospect, is batting .288 with a .453 slugging percentage and .802 OPS in 93 games. He has four triples, 10 home runs, 11 stolen bases, 21 doubles and 56 RBI. He's committed 11 errors and has a .955 fielding percentage.

The Phillies are still trying to decide whether to be sellers at the July 31 trade deadline. If they still want to make a run at the postseason, they would likely keep Young for his veteran presence in the clubhouse. If he is dealt, then it opens the door for Asche's arrival.

Though if Young is dealt, I would personally like to see the Phillies promote Maikel Franco, who is at Double-A Reading. Franco has the higher upside than Asche and is having a monster year. If the Phillies put up the white flag, why not give Franco a taste of the majors before he competes for a roster spot next spring?

Major-league sources said the Rangers are believed to be offering infield prospect Mike Olt as part of a deal to acquire Cubs starting pitcher Matt Garza, reports CSN Chicago. However, Olt has dealt with vision problems in 2013 and several scouts are wary of making Olt the centerpiece to the trade.

It shouldn't be overly surprising Rockies rookie third baseman Nolan Arenado has better numbers at Coors Field than on the road. His numbers on the road took a big hit right before the All-Star break, too, as Arenado hit .125 (4 for 32) with no extra-base hits and one RBI during a 10-game road trip to Arizona, San Diego and Los Angeles.

It should be noted that this was the second, and in some cases a third time, the Diamondbacks, Padres and Dodgers were getting a look at the rookie third baseman, so no doubt they had better scouting reports. It's now up to Arenado, who is batting .244, to turn the table on the opposition and start living up to his immense potential.

Should Fantasy owners give up on the rookie third baseman? Depends on your format. If you can afford to stash Arenado as he experiences the ups and downs of being a rookie, then he's worth a bench spot. If you are in a shallow format, then it's forseeable to envision dropping Arenado as we wait for his breakout run.

The Nationals are getting quality production out of Anthony Rendon and Wilson Ramos at the bottom of the lineup, and they feel it has given them an added advantage, according to MASNsports.com.

"There's no question about it," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "And that creates a lot of opportunities for the guys in the front of the lineup. They've been swinging the heck out of it and (if) we keep them healthy, we'll be fine."

The duo combined to go 4 for 8 (.500) with two home runs, two RBI and one double during Wednesday's 5-1 win at Philadelphia. Rendon is batting .317 with a .460 slugging percentage in 19 games batting seventh, while Ramos -- who hits eighth -- is batting .450 (9 for 20) with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI in six games (five starts) since coming off the disabled list.

"There's really no break one-through-eight," third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said. "It's hard for the opposing pitcher to get through that lineup, and just when you think you have a break, you have guys in the seven-, eight-spot who can hurt you, too."