MLB Player News

The Dodgers optioned Hurt to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday.

Hurt will head back to the minors after he was summoned from Oklahoma City to serve as the 27th man for the Dodgers' doubleheader with the Yankees on Sunday. The right-hander struck out a batter and allowed no hits and two walks over two scoreless innings out of the bullpen in the Dodgers' 2-1 loss in the second game of the day.

The Phillies optioned Rangel to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Reliever Alex McFarlane was recalled from Double-A Reading in a corresponding move, but the Phillies will eventually need to add a new fifth starter to the mix following Rangel's demotion. The right-hander was sent back to the minors after he was torched for five runs on seven hits and three walks over four innings in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Mets. Over six appearances (three starts) with the big club this season, Rangel has gone 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.59 WHIP across 23.1 frames.

The Rockies acquired Frasso and Landyn Vidourek from the Dodgers on Monday in exchange for Seth Halvorsen (shoulder), Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Frasso has moved to the bullpen this season at Triple-A Oklahoma City and turned in a 4.74 ERA and 40:17 K:BB over 24.2 innings. The 27-year-old was added to the 40-man roster by the Dodgers in June but has yet to make his major-league debut. Frasso could get an opportunity with the Rockies sooner rather than later.

The Dodgers acquired Halvorsen (shoulder) from the Rockies on Monday in exchange for Nick Frasso and Landyn Vidourek, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Halvorsen is currently on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, but he began a rehab assignment Sunday. Per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Dodgers intend to assign Halvorsen to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Halvorsen is one of the hardest-throwing relievers in baseball with an average four-seamer velocity of 98.8 mph, but he's struggled to gain traction at the big-league level with a 4.31 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 66:38 K:BB over 71 innings. The Dodgers will try to coax more out of the 26-year-old.

Triple-A Reno transferred Hoffmann from its 7-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday while he recovers from an undisclosed injury.

After the Diamondbacks optioned Hoffmann to Triple-A on April 29, he submitted a 6.07 ERA and 1.95 WHIP across 13.1 innings over 12 relief appearances for Reno before landing on the shelf. With his move to the 60-day IL, Hoffmann won't be eligible to return to action for Reno until early August.

The Cubs announced July 5 that Miller (elbow) has resumed a throwing program in Arizona, MLB.com reports.

Chicago isn't completely ruling Miller out from returning from the 60-day injured list in September, but his main focus is getting back to full health for the start of the 2027 campaign after undergoing surgery last October to repair a torn right UCL and flexor tendon. Back in February, Miller signed a two-year, $2.5 million contract with the Cubs that includes a club option for 2028.

Manager Craig Counsell said July 8 that Harvey (triceps/shoulder) has resumed a throwing program at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, but the right-hander remains without a clear timeline for a return from the 60-day injured list, MLB.com reports.

Harvey initially landed on the injured list April 12 due to right triceps inflammation, then suffered a setback in early May, when he was diagnosed with a stress reaction near his triceps and shoulder. After an extended shutdown period, the 31-year-old is beginning to ramp up again, but the Cubs are likely to ease him along cautiously in his throwing program. He's likely at least a month away from rejoining the Chicago bullpen, and a clearer target date probably won't be available until he heads out on a rehab assignment.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Brown (neck) has begun to increase his activity and has taken part in workouts with plyometric balls, MLB.com reports.

Counsell added that Brown is considered "asymptomatic" as he recovers from a stress reaction with his neck, an injury that sent him to the shelf June 24. Though Brown has seemingly made decent progress after being shut down from activity for a few weeks, the Cubs want him to proceed conservatively with his rehab program. He's without an official timeline for a return from the 15-day injured list, and the Cubs likely won't be able to pinpoint a target date for Brown until he starts throwing off a mound and facing hitters.

Vesia struck out all three batters he faced on 10 pitches in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Yankees.

Vesia entered in the seventh inning and got the job done emphatically, striking out Ben Rice, Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger -- all of whom have been in at least one All-Star Game -- on 10 pitches. Five of the lefty reliever's 10 strikes were whiffs, and the only ball he threw was on an 0-2 slider to Goldschmidt. Vesia has been dominant despite a touch of wildness over his past 16 appearances, posting a 0.75 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB over 12 innings during that span. He's been Los Angeles' top setup man this year, leading the club with 16 holds while adding three saves, one win, a 2.14 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP and a 48:22 K:BB with no homers allowed across 33.2 frames spanning 44 outings.

Holmes (fibula) is tentatively scheduled to make his first minor-league rehab start Thursday, MLB.com reports.

Holmes had been slated to begin his rehab assignment this past Saturday with High-A Brooklyn, but as a result of rainy conditions, he instead opted for a 45-pitch bullpen session. The right-hander will look to build on that pitch count Thursday, and if all goes well, he could make his return from the 60-day injured list as soon as July 28. Holmes likely won't be stretched out enough to handle a typical starter's workload immediately upon his activation, but the Mets may be eager to showcase him to potential suitors ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.