MLB Player News

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, who has not played in a week due to a rib fracture, remained out of Sunday's lineup against the Padres. The team hopes to avoid putting McCutchen on the disabled list, but it remains a possibility if he doesn't return soon.

Pirates slugger Andrew McCutchen remains out of the lineup Saturday against San Diego with a side issue that has prevented him from playing since Sunday.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton went 1 for 4 with a walk and a solo home run in his team's 2-1 win over the Reds Friday.

Stanton increased his NL-leading home-run total to 28 with the seventh-inning blast. He has homered in back-to-back games while also collecting five home runs in his last nine outings. Stanton owns a .289/.389/.550 line with 28 home runs, 77 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 429 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt will be placed on the seven-day disabled list with recurring concussion symptoms, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Belt missed Thursday's game due to recent headaches and visited a doctor Friday. He'll have to pass concussion tests before he can begin to play in game situations again. Belt has hit .237/.296/.446 with 11 home runs and 24 RBI in 186 at-bats.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was able to swing a bat a few times Friday, but is not in the lineup for the start of a weekend series against the Padres.

McCutchen is still hoping to avoid the disabled list despite missing four games as a result of a rib fracture. 

Though the Marlins are expected to make a "legitimate" long-term offer to outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports some organizational higher-ups are not confident that a deal will get done.

Though Stanton is still two full seasons away from free agency, pressure is mounting on the team to get a deal done. Opposing general managers were told flatly he was not available at the trade deadline, but that tune might have to change if an extension cannot be agreed to. According to the report, Stanton's primary concern at this point is reportedly playing for a contender, something the 55-59 Marlins may not be able to provide.

Stanton made his second All-Star team and has emerged as one of the best all-around hitters in baseball this season. He is hitting .289/.389/.546 while his 27 home runs and 76 RBI lead the National League. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt told reporters he did not have headaches as much as he felt sick, according to the the San Francisco Chronicle. He is expected to be evaluated by a doctor in Kansas City on Friday, leaving his status uncertain for San Francisco's game against the Royals.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper responded to suggestions that he should be demoted by smashing a walkoff home run Thursday to beat the Mets.

Harper slugged a two-run tater to left with one out in the 13th inning. It was his first blast since July 18. He had also singled in the 11th after making four consecutive outs that extended his slump to 4 for 30.

As I wrote back on July 24 and reiterated in this week's Prospects Report, the terms of Jorge Soler's contract are different from most minor-leaguers'. He's already signed through 2020, which should theoretically motivate the Cubs to call him up as soon as they feel he's ready so that they maximize the return on their investment.

And judging by his .286 batting average and 1.078 OPS in 14 games at Triple-A Iowa after putting together a .415 batting average and 1.355 OPS in 22 games at Double-A Tennessee, he's awfully close to ready.

But as CBSSports.com user "H4PPYGILMOR3" points out on Soler's player page, the terms of that contract aren't so straightforward. The 22-year-old can opt out once he's eligible for arbitration, giving his promotion the same financial ramifications as any other prospect's. Our own Jon Heyman reported it back when Soler finalized the deal a little more than two years ago. It's true.

Well, darn.

I'm not sure it changes all that much for Fantasy owners. General manager Jed Hoyer has said the Cubs prefer to stagger their callups, and promoting Soler ahead of Kris Bryant makes sense for a number of reasons. But with this correction, I'm reducing Soler's chances of contributing this year from "all but certain" to "likely."

The optimism that Pirates slugger Andrew McCutchen will avoid the disabled list seems to be waning. Clint Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Thursday that there's "a chance" he escapes that fate.

McCutchen has been out since Sunday with a side injury.