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Spencer Howard SP | CLE
Guardians' Spencer Howard: Traded to Cleveland
The Guardians acquired Howard from the Giants on Friday in exchange for cash considerations.
The right-hander had been designated for assignment by the Giants after holding a 5.63 ERA over seven appearances -- including two starts -- in 2024. Howard doesn't have any minor-league options left, so he will go directly onto the Guardians' 26-man active roster and will presumably work in a long-relief role.
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Jacob Bosiokovic RP | MIN
Cardinals' Jacob Bosiokovic: Sent back to minors
The Cardinals optioned Bosiokovic to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.
Bosiokovic's first stint in the big leagues lasted less than a week, and he did not make an appearance. He's being replaced on the roster and in the bullpen by Chris Roycroft.
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Scott Effross RP | DET
Yankees' Scott Effross: Logs fifth rehab outing
Effross (back) tossed a scoreless inning for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, allowing one walk and striking out one batter.
The appearance was Effross's fifth in a rehab stint that began June 19. The righty reliever is working his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in October of 2022 as well as back surgery that took place last December. Effross has tallied a 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 8:1 K:BB over 6.1 frames in his rehab assignment thus far and is expected to be ready to return to the big-league bullpen after the All-Star break.
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Andrew Wantz RP | CHC
Angels' Andrew Wantz: Shifted to 60-day IL
Wantz (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day IL on Friday.
The move will free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Keston Hiura, who'll also join the active roster Friday. Wantz was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with elbow inflammation, and there hasn't been any further updates on the injury. He won't be eligible for reinstatement until the end of August.
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Luis Ortiz SP | CLE
Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Works in relief Tuesday
Ortiz struck out four and allowed one run on three hits and no walks over two innings out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to the Cardinals.
Ortiz had covered six innings while striking out seven batters -- both season highs -- while serving as a starter in his previous appearance June 26 in Cincinnati, but the Pirates seem to have moved him back to the bullpen following Martin Perez's return from the injured list. The Pirates have since placed another starter in Jared Jones (lat) on the IL, but Quinn Priester (lat) could be on track to return from the IL to fill Jones' open rotation spot, which next comes up Sunday versus the Mets. Ortiz would be a candidate to start Sunday if the Pirates insead elect to have Priester make another rehab start in the minors before coming off the IL.
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Spencer Bivens RP | SF
Giants' Spencer Bivens: Likely to work in bulk relief
Bivens is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Erik Miller in Friday's game against the Guardians, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Bivens tossed five innings of one-run ball in his first MLB start in his most recent appearance this past Sunday against the Dodgers, but he'll be available out of the bullpen for what's essentially his second turn through the rotation. The right-hander will most likely shift into a more traditional bullpen role after Friday, as the Giants should get one or both of Kyle Harrison (ankle) or Blake Snell (groin) back from the injured list by next week.
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Raymond Kerr RP | ATL
Braves' Ray Kerr: Moved to 60-day IL
Atlanta transferred Kerr (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of outfielder Eli White. Kerr is out for 2024 and perhaps all of 2025 after having Tommy John surgery last month.
