MLB Player News

The Cubs signed Fleming to a minor-league contract Monday, Lance Brozdowski of the Marquee Sports Network reports.

Fleming made one relief appearance for the Blue Jays earlier this season and held a 3.08 ERA and 51:11 K:BB over 64.1 frames with Triple-A Buffalo. He was released Sunday after exercising an opt-out clause in his minor-league deal. The Cubs' pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, so Fleming could get an opportunity with the big club sooner rather than later.

The Cardinals recalled Graceffo from Triple-A Memphis on Monday, Dani Wexelman of Cardinals.tv reports.

Graceffo was just optioned to Memphis last Friday and did not make an appearance during his brief stint with the team's top minor-league affiliate. The righty will provide a fresh bullpen arm as the Cardinals open up a five-game series against the rival Brewers on Monday.

The Cardinals placed Rajcic on the 15-day injured list Monday with a right elbow injury.

Manager Oliver Marmol revealed that Rajcic felt elbow soreness after his last appearance Friday, and he's being sent for a second opinion before a more specific diagnosis is revealed, per Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat. The rookie reliever has yielded five runs with an 8:6 K:BB over nine innings out of the Cardinals' bullpen since being called up last month.

The Nationals recalled Henry from Triple-A Rochester on Monday.

Washington optioned right-hander Eddy Yean to Triple-A following Sunday's 11-5 loss to Pittsburgh to clear a spot on the active roster and in the bullpen for Henry. The 26-year-old righty has previously made 10 appearances for Washington this season, logging a 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB in 12 innings.

Winn (elbow) allowed one hit and one walk in one scoreless inning during Single-A San Jose's 7-2 win over Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday.

Winn began his rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League before quickly advancing to Single-A. He allowed a single and a walk to the first two batters he faced Sunday, though he managed to escape the inning without giving up a run and threw 11 of his 17 pitches for strikes. Per Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News, Giants manager Tony Vitello said Sunday that Winn is close to returning to the big leagues, leaving the door open for a potential return before the All-Star break.

Atlanta designated Carrasco for assignment Monday.

The transaction comes one day after Carrasco was knocked around for five runs over two innings in a loss to the Mets. Carrasco has wound up back in the organization and eventually the majors several times this season after being removed from Atlanta's 40-man roster, and it's possible that will happen again.

Holmes (fibula) might begin a rehab assignment in the second half of July, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander has been sidelined since May 15 after taking a 111 mph comebacker off his leg. Holmes was having a career-best season as a starting pitcher when he was injured, posting a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB through 52.2 innings, and if he can get back on a mound within the next few weeks, he could be an enticing trade target for a contender as a rental -- Holmes has a $12 million player option on his contract he'll almost certainly decline.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Dotel (lat) will make another rehab appearance with a minor-league affiliate Tuesday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Dotel tossed a scoreless frame for Double-A Altoona during the first appearance of his rehab assignment June 27, but he hasn't pitched since. The right-hander doesn't appear to have suffered a setback in his recovery from a lat strain, as the Pirates opted to have him throw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Friday, per MLB.com. Dotel will now head back to the minors Tuesday for what could be a final tune-up outing before he returns from the 15-day injured list.

Soto (5-2) allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out two across two innings to earn the win Sunday against the Nationals.

Soto entered the game in the seventh inning to face lefties Luis Garcia and CJ Abrams, and he managed to retire both hitters. Soto then returned for the eighth inning and served up a solo home run to Dylan Crews, marking the sixth time in his last 10 outings that he's given up an earned run. Soto has now made three consecutive appearances before the ninth inning and hasn't collected a save since June 16. However, Carmen Mlodzinski is the only Pirates pitcher to record a save in that span, and that save came in a non-traditional spot.

Miller picked up the save in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Dodgers. He struck out one over a perfect inning.

Miller made quick work of the Dodgers, retiring the side in order to secure a save and snap the Padres' eight-game losing streak. The club's struggles have limited the fireballing right-hander's opportunities to pick up saves of late, as Sunday's save was his first since June 22. Across 36.2 innings this season, Miller owns a 0.98 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 67:13 K:BB while converting all 22 of his save opportunities. Miller's 22 saves are tied with Riley O'Brien for the National League lead, while only Bryan Baker (23) and Cade Smith (26) have more across MLB.