MLB Player News

The Red Sox recalled Murphy from Triple-A Worcester on Friday.

Murphy was just optioned Wednesday but is eligible to be recalled since he's replacing an injured player in Brennan Bernardino (lat). He'll give manager Alex Cora a left-handed relief option.

The Orioles optioned Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday.

He's being sent down to accommodate the return of Tyler O'Neill (wrist). Johnson had made just two starts since being recalled three weeks ago and had yet to start a game in September.

The Orioles activated O'Neill (wrist) from the 10-day injured list Friday.

O'Neill missed the last five-plus weeks with right wrist inflammation but is ready to go after playing three rehab games and homering in his final rehab contest Wednesday at Triple-A Norfolk. Jeremiah Jackson has played well in right field in O'Neill's stead and could become the Orioles' regular third baseman now that O'Neill is back in the fold.

Bazzana was removed from Thursday's game at Triple-A Columbus due to left oblique soreness, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

It's not being called a strain at this juncture, but even if the injury is deemed minor, there's a good chance it will end the top prospect's season. Bazzana had been heating up lately with Columbus, posting a 1.163 OPS with four home runs over nine September contests. The 23-year-old missed a chunk of time earlier this season with a right oblique strain.

Sandlin has a 6.75 ERA, 1.92 WHIP and 18:12 K:BB in 21.1 innings across 13 appearances for Triple-A Worcester.

Sandlin, who moved to the bullpen after getting promoted from Double-A Portland on July 29, has touched triple digits with his fastball in the past and averaged 97.7 mph while touching 99 mph with the pitch in his most recent appearance Thursday. He leans on his 92-mph cutter and two distinct sliders as his secondaries, with the sliders getting better results than the cutter. Sandlin's stock was trending up after he logged a 3.61 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 17.5 K-BB% in 82.1 innings across 17 appearances at Double-A, but his control has abandoned him, perhaps in part due to the balls and strikes challenge system at Triple-A. Over his last six appearances, Sandlin has struck out six and walked seven over 9.2 innings, so he's unlikely to get a call to the major-league bullpen this year. Sandlin will presumably open 2026 in the Triple-A rotation, but his future may be in relief.

Winokur slashed .226/.304/.388 with 17 home runs, 26 steals, an 8.3 percent walk rate and a 24.8 percent strikeout rate in 122 games for High-A Cedar Rapids.

Winokur split his age-20 season between shortstop and center field, which highlights his athleticism and upside. His slash line doesn't jump off the page, but he was almost a league average hitter (97 wRC+) despite being young for the level and getting bad luck on balls in play (.275 BABIP). The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Winokur cut his strikeout rate from 28 percent at Single-A in 2024 while producing an identical walk rate against better competition. Winokur is still a free swinger and refinement will be needed in the coming years, but he retains monster power potential and has stolen 49 bases over the past two years. Even after a full year in the Midwest League, Winokur will head to the Arizona Fall League to cap his 2025 season.

Lowe is absent from the lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs.

The left-handed-hitting Lowe has been playing against most lefties, but he'll take a seat in this one as the Cubs send southpaw Matthew Boyd to the bump. Jake Mangum will shift over to right field and Everson Pereira will patrol center field in Friday's series opener.

Lowe is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Cubs.

It's the first day off since Aug. 4 for Lowe, who went 1-for-12 with six strikeouts during this week's series versus the White Sox. Richie Palacios will play second base and bat seventh for the Rays.

Smith slashed .308/.379/.500 with four home runs, 10 steals, a 10.3 percent walk rate and a 26.4 percent strikeout rate in his final 20 games for High-A Bowling Green.

On the season, Smith slashed .237/.331/.388 with 14 home runs, 41 steals, an 11.5 percent walk rate and a 31.2 percent strikeout rate in 102 games for the Hot Rods. The righty-hitting outfielder will play in the Arizona Fall League this year before heading to Double-A next year for his age-21/22 season. Smith's production was down from what he did last year at Single-A, but he was still 13 percent better than the average Sally League hitter while being two years younger than the average player in the league. He primarily played center field and had an 87.2 percent success rate stealing bases, so Smith has several ways to impact the game in a positive way. Strikeouts are a bigger problem for Smith than they appeared to be before the season, but he still showed plenty of power/speed potential while getting on base at a passable clip.

The Astros will call up Cole from Triple-A Sugar Land prior to Friday's game in Atlanta, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Cole has had a nice season between Double-A Corpus Christi and Sugar Land, slashing .279/.377/.539 with 19 home runs and 18 steals over 97 contests. The 25-year-old is capable of playing all three outfield spots, though he wouldn't seem to have a clear path to playing time. Cole will be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game.