MLB Player News

The White Sox acquired Peoples, infielder Curtis Mead and right-hander Duncan Davitt from the Rays on Thursday in exchange for right-hander Adrian Houser, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Peoples, 24, converted from the rotation to the bullpen this season in the Rays system. He had a 2.65 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 39:20 K:BB in 37.1 innings over 35 appearances at Triple-A Durham.

Pepiot (6-9) took the loss Thursday against the Yankees, allowing seven runs on six hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out four.

Pepiot struggled from the jump Thursday, giving up three runs in the first inning, capped by a 432-foot, two-run Giancarlo Stanton homer, before giving up a three-run blast to Ben Rice in the second. It's the first time in six starts that Pepiot's failed to make it through six innings, though he's posted a subpar 5.80 ERA over his last seven outings. Overall, the right-hander sports a 3.80 ERA through 23 starts (130.1 innings) with a 1.18 WHIP and 128:45 K:BB this year.

The Tigers acquired Morton from the Orioles on Thursday in exchange for left-hander Micah Ashman, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The Orioles will unload Morton after he put up a 5.42 ERA and 1.56 WHIP over 101.1 innings across 23 appearances (17 starts). Despite the overall struggles as a starter, the 41-year-old could stick in the rotation for Detroit since he has a 3.88 ERA in his past 11 outings.

The Twins acquired Rojas and Alan Roden from the Blue Jays on Thursday in exchange for Louis Varland and Ty France, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Rojas was one of Toronto's top pitching prospects and helped the organization to acquire some help at the deadline. The 22-year-old has seen action across four minor-league levels this season and has a 3.46 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 62:9 K:BB across 41.2 innings. He's made just four appearances at Double-A and one at Triple-A, so he'll likely need more time in the upper minors before making his MLB debut.

Roden and Kendry Rojas were acquired by the Twins on Thursday in exchange for Louis Varland and Ty France, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Roden struggled in his first taste of the majors this year with a .589 OPS in 113 plate appearances, and he's now been sent to Minnesota with Toronto strengthening its bullpen. The 25-year-old has a .331/.423/.496 slash line with three homers and four stolen bases in 32 games at the Triple-A level this season, and he could have a clearer path to playing time with a Twins team that just offloaded much of its MLB roster.

Rodriguez was traded from the Yankees to the Giants on Thursday along with Parks Harber and Trystan Vrieling in exchange for Camilo Doval, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

Rodriguez is essentially a big-league ready catching option, albeit one with limited power and a slight frame. The 5-foot-10 Rodriguez is slashing .317/.409/.430 with five home runs, 16 steals, a 12.7 percent walk rate and a 15.2 percent strikeout rate in 78 games at Triple-A. His speed and hit tool could make him useful in deeper leagues, especially if he finds his way into a large role, although that doesn't seem likely barring a Patrick Bailey injury. Rodriguez is also capable of playing third base and has started 19 games there this year at Triple-A.

The White Sox acquired Mead and right-handers Duncan Davitt and Ben Peoples from the Rays on Thursday in exchange for right-hander Adrian Houser, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

The Rays optioned Mead to Triple-A Durham shortly before the All-Star break, but he should quickly earn a look in the big leagues while he moves over to a last-place White Sox squad that's lacking in infielder talent. The 24-year-old is capable of playing first base, third base and second base and slashed .226/.318/.339 with three home runs and four steals over 132 plate appearances for Tampa Bay prior to his demotion.

Doval was traded from the Giants to the Yankees on Thursday in exchange for Jesus Rodriguez, Parks Harber and Trystan Vrieling, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.

Doval had been the Giants' closer for the past couple months, but he hadn't recorded a save since July 11. Now that he joins a loaded Yankees bullpen, Doval will likely have to settle for opportunities in the seventh and eighth innings.

The Rays acquired Houser from the White Sox on Thursday in exchange for infielder Curtis Mead, right-hander Duncan Davitt and right-hander Ben Peoples, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

A scrap-heap pickup for the White Sox in mid-May, Houser was extremely effective during his 11-start run with the White Sox, turning in a 2.10 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 68.2 innings. He'll now head to Tampa to round out the rotation, though he might be at risk of moving to the bullpen once Shane McClanahan (triceps) is cleared to return from the injured list.

The Blue Jays acquired France and Louis Varland from the Twins on Thursday in exchange for Alan Roden and Kendry Rojas, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

France has been more of a part-time lineup presence for the Twins lately, but the organization still found a way to offload him at the deadline. The 31-year-old has a .251/.320/.357 slash line in 101 games this season and isn't likely to have a significant role with the first-place Blue Jays.