MLB Player News

Ferrer is likely to be part of the ninth-inning mix for the Nationals with Kyle Finnegan having been traded to the Tigers, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The 25-year-old southpaw boasts a power sinker that's averaged 97.4 mph this season and a changeup with a 42.7 percent whiff rate, but Ferrer's actual ratios don't match the scouting report, as he has a 4.78 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and meager 20.1 percent strikeout rate over 52.2 innings in 2025. If the Nats determine he isn't closer material, right-handers Cole Henry and Zach Brzykcy could get save chances instead, and a committee approach might be the most likely scenario unless someone seizes the closing role.

Atlanta optioned Dunning to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.

The right-hander surrendered five runs without recording an out Thursday against the Reds and is being demoted in favor of Austin Cox. In four appearances since being acquired by Atlanta, Dunning has given up nine runs with a 6:2 K:BB over 5.2 innings.

Atlanta recalled Cox from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.

The left-hander has spent the past couple weeks in the minors but is back with Atlanta ahead of Friday's game in Cincinnati. Cox has made six MLB appearances this year and has allowed two earned runs with an 11:1 K:BB over eight innings.

The Cubs optioned Hollowell to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The right-hander was called up by Chicago on Tuesday and will head back to Triple-A to clear roster space for the club's trade deadline additions. Hollowell fired a scoreless inning Tuesday and has given up just one earned run across 7.1 frames in the majors this season.

Kinley gave up two hits and a walk in a scoreless seventh inning during Thursday's extra-inning win over the Reds. He struck out one.

Making his debut for Atlanta after being acquired from Colorado on Wednesday, Kinley was brought in with the game tied 3-3 and nearly made a mess of things, loading the bases with one out before getting Spencer Steer to pop out and fanning Jake Fraley. With closer Raisel Iglesias surprisingly still on the roster after the trade deadline, Kinley will be on the fringes of high-leverage work for his new club while Pierce Johnson and Dylan Lee continue to handle setup duties.

Johnson (2-3) picked up the win in Thursday's 12-11 extra-inning victory over the Reds, striking out one in 1.1 perfect relief innings.

The right-hander was viewed as a potential closer candidate for the final two months of the season if Raisel Iglesias got dealt, but with Iglesias still in Atlanta after the trade deadline, Johnson will remain in a setup role. He put an impressive July in the books during which he posted a 0.75 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB over 12 innings while notching one win and three holds in 12 appearances.

Iglesias earned the save in Thursday's 12-11 win over the Reds in 10 innings. He struck out one in a scoreless inning.

Iglesias was seen as a likely trade candidate, though he ultimately remained with Atlanta following Thursday's deadline. Brought in to protect a one-run lead in the 10th inning, Iglesias set the Reds down in order, locking down his 13th save in 18 chances this season. After a shaky start to the year, Iglesias has now held opponents scoreless in 19 of his last 21 appearances. His ERA sits at 4.74 with a 1.15 WHIP and 48:10 K:BB across 43.2 innings.

Vrieling was traded from the Yankees to the Giants on Thursday along with Jesus Rodriguez and Parks Harber in exchange for Camilo Doval, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

Vrieling has a 4.50 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 42:18 K:BB in 46 innings across 12 appearances at Double-A. The 24-year-old righty has a good curveball and cutter and may fit better in the bullpen long term.

The Brewers acquired Miller (forearm) and left-hander Jordan Montgomery (elbow) from the Diamondbacks on Thursday in exchange for a player to be named late, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Miller has been on the shelf since July 7 with a strained right forearm, but after turning in a 1.98 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 36.1 innings with Arizona, he'll most likely take on a high-leverage role in Milwaukee's bullpen once healthy. However, after notching 10 saves for Arizona prior to getting hurt, Miller is unlikely to be in line for many ninth-inning chances in Milwaukee while Trevor Megill has performed as one of the top closers in baseball this season. Miller recently resumed throwing bullpen sessions and should soon face hitters again before likely heading out on a brief minor-league rehab assignment prior to being activated from the 15-day injured list.

Hales was traded from the Rangers to the Cardinals on Thursday along with Mason Molina and international bonus pool money in exchange for Phil Maton, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

A pure reliever, Hales has had flashes of looking like a future late-inning arm, but he has struggled to prevent runs this year in the upper minors. The 23-year-old righty has a 7.64 ERA and 3.88 xFIP in 33 innings, primarily at Double-A, so he has been pretty unlucky while logging a 40:14 K:BB and five saves.