MLB Player News

The Orioles optioned utility player and designated hitter Danny Valencia back to Triple-A Norfolk Wednesday to clear roster space for the addition of Francisco Rodriguez, MLB.com reports. Valencia, batting .200 overall this season, has been mired in an ugly 0-for-22 slump. 

Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon will make his first major-league start at shortstop Wednesday against the Pirates.

Rendon has primarily been used as a second baseman in the majors, but came up as a third baseman and played some shortstop during spring training. Rendon is hitting .273/.325/.415 in 183 at-bats. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado hit his eighth home run in a loss Tuesday against Kansas City. 

Machado is off to a slow start in the second half, as the home run was his first extra-base hit to go with a .217 average in the first five games. Machado led the league with 39 doubles in the first half, and he could become an even scarier offensive force if some of those doubles turn into home runs down the stretch. He has a .305/.333/.463 line on the season.

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke told MLB.com Tuesday that Logan Schafer will see the bulk of the action in left field following Ryan Braun's suspension. Schafer will hit second, while shortstop Jean Segura will bat third for the Brewers.

"I know Segura doesn't want to hit third every day," said Roenicke. "He told me he's fine with doing it once in a while. He may be hitting third every day. He's handled it well. I like what it does with the lineup. If Schafer is second, I like where it puts [catcher Jonathan] Lucroy fourth and [center fielder Carlos Gomez] fifth. Then it depends on who's hot after that and whether Schafer stays hot in that second spot."

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura doubled Monday against the Padres to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Segura also drove in two runs and scored once.

Segura is batting .361 (13 for 36) with two doubles, two RBI, two walks, six runs and three stolen bases in his last nine games. Segura's longest hitting streak this season was 12 games (June 16-29).

The Cubs will keep recently acquired infield prospect Mike Olt at Triple-A Iowa until he regains his swing, according to MLB Network. Olt, who was acquired in the Matt Garza trade Monday, hit .213 in 65 games for Triple-A Round Rock.

Olt, who was battling vision problems earlier this season, hit .288 with 28 home runs and 82 RBI in 95 games for Double-A Frisco in 2012.

The Cubs and Rangers trade featuring Matt Garza going to Texas and Mike Olt, C.J. Edwards and Justin Grimm going to the Cubs is official, MLB.com reports. The deal also features the Rangers sending two players-to-be-named-later. 

The initial plan for the Rangers is for Garza to start Wednesday against New York. Olt and Grimm were immediately sent to Triple-A Iowa, and Edwards heads to Class A Daytona. 

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.