MLB Player News

The Pirates received Brethowr from the Cubs in exchange for Taylor Rogers on Thursday, Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic reports.

Brethowr hit for just a .527 OPS in his first season in the minors with Single-A Myrtle Beach last year. He's followed that up with .700 OPS this season for High-A South Bend. If the outfielder stays at the High-A level for the Pirates, he will join High-A Greensboro.

The Pirates acquired Moss and Evan Sisk from the Royals on Thursday in exchange for Bailey Falter, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Moss had a .917 OPS at the Single-A level in his first taste of professional ball in 2024, and he has a .270/.372/.418 slash line in 92 games at the High-A level this year. The 22-year-old isn't a significant prospect but will provide organizational depth at first base for the Pirates.

The Pirates acquired Sisk and Callan Moss from the Royals on Thursday in exchange for Bailey Falter, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Sisk has spent most of the campaign at the Triple-A level, though he did make his MLB debut for the Royals earlier this year and gave up one earned run with an 11:5 K:BB across 5.1 innings. He'll have a clearer path to the big-league bullpen in Pittsburgh.

The Brewers acquired Lockridge from the Padres on Thursday in exchange for left-hander Nestor Cortes (elbow), infielder Jorge Quintana and cash, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Lockridge has slashed .282/.402/.462 through 99 plate appearances at Triple-A El Paso this season but hasn't found nearly the same success in the big leagues, as he sported just a .519 OPS through 47 games with the Padres. The 28-year-old will likely report to Triple-A Nashville with his new organization, though a promotion to Milwaukee could be in the forecast if Jackson Chourio (hamstring) needs to go on the injured list.

The Padres acquired Cortes (elbow), infielder Jorge Quintana and cash from the Brewers on Thursday in exchange for outfielder Brandon Lockridge, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Cortes had been on the Brewers' 60-day injured list due to a left elbow flexor strain, but he should be ready to rejoin the big leagues after completing a four-start rehab assignment and building up to 5.2 innings and 93 pitches in his most recent outing for Triple-A Nashville on July 24. However, with the Milwaukee rotation fully stocked at the big-league level and the team having viable starting arms on hand at the Triple-A level in right-handers Chad Patrick, Logan Henderson and Tobias Myers, Cortes was deemed an expendable piece. He'll have a better chance at earning a full-time rotation spot in San Diego, where he could step in to replace right-hander Randy Vasquez as the team's No. 5 starter. Both Vasquez and Cortes could be in danger of moving to the bullpen when Michael King (shoulder) returns from the injured list, however.

The Diamondbacks acquired Bratt, left-hander Kohl Drake and right-hander David Hagaman from the Rangers on Thursday exchange for right-hander Merrill Kelly, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

A 22-year-old lefty with excellent control, Bratt has a 3.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 106:16 K:BB in 90.2 innings at Double-A Frisco this season. His 4.3 percent walk rate is the third-best mark among qualified Double-A pitchers, and while his fastball typically sits in the lower 90s, he has a full repertoire and could make the big leagues as a No. 3 or No. 4 starter.

The Diamondbacks acquired Drake, left-hander Mitch Bratt and right-hander David Hagaman from the Rangers on Thursday in exchange for right-hander Merrill Kelly, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Drake and Bratt are both high-quality pitching prospects, with Drake recently getting promoted to Triple-A Round Rock after logging a 2.44 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 70 strikeouts in 55.1 innings at Double-A Frisco. He has predictably been less successful thus far in the Pacific Coast League, where he has a 5.19 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 17.1 innings through four appearances. Drake could be a factor in Arizona's rotation in 2026.

The Cubs acquired Castro from the Twins on Thursday in exchange for right-handers Sam Armstrong and Ryan Gallagher, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

The switch-hitting Castro will likely play all over the infield and outfield for the Cubs, serving as an injury fill-in or as a lineup replacement when a regular needs a day off or is slumping. The move to Chicago could result in less playing time than he received in Minnesota, where Castro slashed .245/.335/.407 with 10 home runs and nine steals in 86 games.

The Dodgers traded Swan along with Sean Paul Linan to the Nationals on Thursday in exchange for Alex Call, Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Swan has spent the entire season with High-A Great Lakes, where he put up a 4.43 ERA with a 77:46 K:BB in 69.0 innings across 16 games. While not great, the righty has been able to lower his ERA, which was 5.16 when he pitched in Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2024.

Linan was traded from the Dodgers to the Nationals on Thursday along with Eriq Swan in exchange for Alex Call, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Linan put up silly numbers at Single-A to start the year (1.21 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 50 strikeouts in 29.2 innings) and has been excellent after a promotion to High-A, where he has a 2.65 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 37.1 innings. Linan's changeup is easily his best pitch, and he could run into more trouble in the upper levels.