MLB Player News

Ortiz (illness) has been cleared to start Tuesday for Double-A Biloxi.

Ortiz had been running a fever over the weekend, which prompted Biloxi to scratch him from his scheduled turn Sunday. After a couple days off to recover, it sounds like the right-hander is feeling healthy again, so the illness isn't something that should hinder him the rest of the way. Ortiz has compiled a 3.57 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 72:31 K:BB over 80.2 innings in the Southern League this season.

Pivetta (4-6) tossed six innings of one-run ball in Monday's win over the Braves, allowing three hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Pivetta was sharp in this one, throwing 69 percent of his pitches for strikes while delivering his first quality start in the last five tries. He allowed an RBI groundout following a triple in the fifth, but the rookie was able to escape that inning before completing the sixth as well. Pivetta had allowed 17 earned runs over his previous 16.1 innings, so this was a nice way to bounce back as the calendar flips to August. He still owns a bloated 5.42 ERA, but he's flashed promising ability at times; however, owners aren't going to want to roll him out when he makes his next start at Coors Field against the Rockies on Saturday.

Neris allowed a run on one hit and one walk in an inning of work to earn his 10th save of the season Monday against the Braves.

Neris hit one batter and walked the next with one out before Nick Markakis lined an RBI single to right. He then buckled down to get Kurt Suzuki, however, nailing down the save -- his first since July 18 -- after racking up wins in each of his previous two appearances. Neris had allowed just one earned run in his previous nine outings and owns a solid 3.12 ERA on the season, though it's been a bit of a rocky run.

Hand was not dealt prior to Monday's non-waiver trade deadline.

The Padres ended up hanging on to their dominant lefty after not receiving the return they hoped for in the trade market. This news means that Hand and his sparkling 2.00 ERA will continue to close games out in San Diego for the remainder of the season. While a trade through waivers is still possible, it's highly unlikely, given the fact that other clubs would surely place claims on the 27-year-old and his affordable contract ($1.4 million plus two years of control), which would effectively block any potential move.

Cordero was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Monday, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports.

Cordero was ousted from the 40-man roster to clear room for Brandon Kintzler, who was acquired from the Twins on Monday. The 25-year-old struggled to a 6.54 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in 42.2 innings with Double-A Harrisburg this season, so there's a good chance he'll slip through waivers untouched and return to Double-A.

Sims will be called up to start Tuesday against the Dodgers, David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Aaron Blair flopped in his brief audition following Jaime Garcia's departure, and now it's Sims' turn to get a look. A first-round pick in 2012 (21st overall), he endured some growing pains during his rise up the ladder, but Sims has posted a 3.75 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 132:36 K:BB in 115.1 innings with Triple-A Gwinnett this season. Home runs have been a problem (19 allowed this year), and he will face a tough test in his major-league debut, but Sims is worth a speculative add right away in most NL-only and deep mixed leagues.

Estevez was returned to Triple-A Albuquerque following Sunday's doubleheader with the Nationals.

The Rockies brought Estevez in from the minor-league ranks to serve as their 26th man in the twin bill, but the right-handed bullpen arm ended up going unused. He'll continue serving as organizational relief depth now that he's back in Triple-A, where he's provided solid work this season, turning in a 1.78 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 25.1 innings.

Hernandez was traded to the Diamondbacks on Monday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Luis Madero, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.

The veteran reliever has put together a career year with the Angels this season, producing a 2.23 ERA and a 37:8 K:BB in 36.1 innings pitched. Hernandez should see plenty of high-leverage innings in his new home, although save opportunities may be hard to come by with Fernando Rodney and Archie Bradley likely ahead of him in the pecking order for ninth-inning duties.

Bowman notched his 19th hold in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks, getting one out to close out the seventh inning.

Bowman drew the tough assignment of facing Paul Goldschmidt with a man on second and two out, but he was eventually able to elicit an inning-ending groundout from the All-Star first baseman after eight pitches. Suddenly one of the Cardinals' most crucial bullpen arms, Bowman has strung together three straight scoreless efforts after being charged with back-to-back blown saves July 22 and 25. The two runs he surrendered in those appearances are the only ones on his ledger in July, a month during which he's generated a 2.00 ERA across nine frames.

The Red Sox traded Callahan, Stephen Nogosek and Gerson Bautista to the Mets for Addison Reed on Monday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Callahan held a 4.03 ERA with four saves and a nice 11.2 K/9 (albeit with a 4.0 BB/9) across 22 games for Triple-A Pawtucket. The right-hander is the closest of the three prospects to the majors, and he could conceivably get called up at some point this season. Expect him to report to the Mets' affiliate in Las Vegas once the trade is made official.