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.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that Uceta has yet to resume throwing and will meet with a doctor to have his nagging right shoulder injury examined, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Uceta has been limited to four rehab appearances due to a right shoulder strain and has remained shut down since he suffered a setback in late May. It's unclear whether surgery to address the injury is a possibility, but even if a procedure isn't on the table, Uceta is nowhere close to being ready to pitch in a game.

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.

The Rays recalled Roycroft from Triple-A Durham on Monday.

Tampa Bay optioned right-hander Mason Englert to Triple-A to open up a spot on the active roster for Roycroft, who will join the big club for the first time since being acquired via trade with St. Louis on June 23. Roycroft owns a 5.02 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB in 28.2 innings at the Triple-A level this season and will likely be limited to a low-leverage relief role while he's up with the Rays.

The Rays optioned Englert to Triple-A Durham on Monday.

Englert will head back to Triple-A after he was summoned from Durham on Sunday to make a spot start while the Rays looked to give the five members of their rotation an extra day of rest. The right-hander was excellent in the Rays' 2-0 loss to the Astros, striking out a career-high nine batters while permitting two runs on five hits and one walk across 5.2 innings. The Rays will open their second-half schedule July 17 with 11 games in a 10-day period, and Englert looks like a good bet to be recalled to make at least one start during that stretch.

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.

Sands (forearm) threw a bullpen session June 27, MLB.com reports.

Sands reportedly came away encouraged from that throwing session, but the Twins haven't confirmed whether the right-hander has gotten in any mound work in the week since. The 28-year-old reliever has been on the shelf since May 2 due to a mild forearm strain and still looks to be at least a few weeks away from making his return from the 15-day injured list.