MLB Player News

Mejia (suspension) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Biloxi on Tuesday, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

Mejia has been out since mid-May after violating the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He'll be eligible to return in mid-August, but he'd only made a pair of major-league appearances prior to his ban, so he could remain in the minors once activated.

Atlanta acquired Iglesias from the Angels on Tuesday in exchange for pitchers Jesse Chavez and Tucker Davidson, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

This trade wasn't announced until several minutes after the trade deadline passed, but the two sides must have completed the proper paperwork beforehand, and Iglesias will move forward with Atlanta. Iglesias saved 50 games for the Angels since the start of 2021, but since he's joining a team with an established closer in Kenley Jansen, Iglesias will presumably work in a setup role with his new squad and see his fantasy value take a big hit as a result.

Robertson is far from a lock to secure a true closer role in Philadelphia, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The Phillies have used a committee setup since removing Corey Knebel from the closer role in mid-June, and while Robertson has 151 career saves to his name (including 14 this season), he reportedly wasn't acquired with an eye toward a return to a traditional approach in the final frame. His 2.23 ERA and 30.9 percent strikeout rate would certainly make him a fine fit for the role should the Phillies choose to deploy him that way, though Seranthony Dominguez beats both of those marks (1.67 ERA, 31.5 percent strikeout rate) and has merely been a committee member, so Robertson may wind up being used in a similar fashion. Zolecki even suggests that it will be Dominguez and Brad Hand who remain at the head of the committee, with Robertson potentially no higher than third in line for saves.

Szapucki was traded from the Mets to the Giants on Tuesday along with J.D. Davis, Nick Zwack and Carson Seymour in exchange for Darin Ruf, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

A lefty who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019, Szapucki's 65.1 total innings this season are his highest mark in a pro season to date, so it's safe to say he does not have the durability to be a starter. At 26 years old and with a 3.38 ERA and 87 strikeouts at Triple-A, he could be ready to help the Giants' bullpen in short order.

The Giants acquired Stryffeler from the Mariners on Tuesday in exchange for catcher Curt Casali (oblique) and Matthew Boyd (elbow), Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Casali was on an expiring deal and not a part of the Giants' short- or long-term plan, so the Giants opted to cash him out for Stryffeler, a 26-year-old right-handed pitching prospect. Stryffeler was promoted to Triple-A Tacoma on Monday after he turned in a 2.27 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while recording 14 saves and striking out 57 over 35.2 innings for Double-A Arkansas. He'll likely report to the Giants' Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento.

The Cubs acquired Robertson from the Phillies on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Ben Brown, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Robertson will rejoin the team he signed a two-year deal with back in 2019. He's had a couple rocky outings since the start of July -- including his last one -- but he saved 14 games for the Cubs and owns a 2.23 ERA and 1.04 WHIP on the season, so he's sure to provide a boost to the back end of the Phillies' bullpen. Seranthony Dominguez and Brad Hand are likely to move into setup roles to clear the way for Robertson to serve as the Phillies' primary option in save situations.

The Pirates recalled Holderman from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Holderman will be moving up to Pittsburgh after the team had an opening on its 26-man active roster and in its bullpen following Monday's trade that sent Chris Stratton to St. Louis. Since being acquired from the Mets on July 22, Holderman has pitched exclusively for the Pirates' Triple-A club.

The Padres recalled Knehr from Triple-A El Paso in advance of his scheduled start in the second game of Tuesday's doublheader with the Rockies in San Diego.

As expected, Knehr joins the Padres to make his fourth appearance and first start of 2022. Though he has yet to allow a run in 8.1 innings in the majors in 2022, he's been far less effective over a larger sample of action at Triple-A. In 23 appearances for El Paso spanning 67 innings, Knehr has submitted a 6.85 ERA and 1.64 WHIP.

The Phillies claimed Vasquez (ankle) off waivers from Toronto on Tuesday and optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Before landing on the Blue Jays' 15-day injured list in early June due to a right ankle sprain, Vasquez posted an 8.10 ERA in 6.2 innings of relief for the Blue Jays. He's now healthy again after making three appearances during a minor-league rehab assignment, but the Blue Jays didn't have a spot for him on the 40-man roster. The 28-year-old will find a new home in Philadelphia, but he'll first have to prove himself at Triple-A before getting a call back to the majors.

The Rockies recalled Blach from Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday.

The left-hander was demoted July 17 despite allowing just one run in 6.1 innings across his last three big-league appearances. Overall, Blach has a 5.73 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 18 games (one start) for Colorado this season and figures to see some middle-relief work going forward.