MLB Player News
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Nolan Arenado 3B | ARI
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado: To be asked about trade preference
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Monday that he will approach Arenado in the week leading up to the trade deadline to ask for the third baseman's preference if a trade possibility surfaces, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Arenado has a full no-trade clause and used it to shut down a potential trade to the Astros over the offseason. It's uncertain what the 34-year-old's appetite is for waiving the clause at the trade deadline, nor is it clear what level interest there will be in Arenado from contenders. Arenado has had a fine year defensively at third base but further regressed at the plate, slashing only .241/.299/.381. He's owed $42 million over the next two seasons, with the Rockies being responsible for $5 million of that.
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Caleb Durbin 3B | BOS
Brewers' Caleb Durbin: Not in lineup Monday
Durbin is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners.
Anthony Seigler will bat eighth and make the start at third base against Seattle right-hander George Kirby. Durbin has started 11 of the Brewers' last 13 games and is slashing .264/.350/.382 with five home runs, 35 RBI, 35 runs scored, nine stolen bases and a 20:26 BB:K across 285 plate appearances this season.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Needs additional time to recover
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Moreno's recent CT scan showed his fractured right index finger hasn't completely healed, and the catcher will likely need another couple weeks to recover before resuming full baseball activities, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
The hope was Moreno's scans would show enough improvement for him to resume baseball work, but that's not the case. He's been on the shelf since June 19 and remains on the 60-day injured list, which ensures he won't rejoin the Diamondbacks until at least mid-August. Jose Herrera and James McCann are likely to continue sharing the catching duties in Moreno's absence.
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Nacho Alvarez Jr. 3B | ATL
Braves' Nacho Alvarez: Getting regular run at third base
Alvarez will start at third base and bat seventh in Monday's game against the Giants.
He'll pick up his sixth consecutive start at the hot corner after going 4-for-18 with a double, a walk and two runs since being called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on July 12. Though his production has been underwhelming thus far, Alvarez nonetheless appears on track to retain a regular spot in the Atlanta infield while Austin Riley (abdomen) is on the injured list.
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Freddie Freeman 1B | LAD
Dodgers' Freddie Freeman: Back in lineup Monday
Freeman (wrist) is starting at first base and batting fourth against the Twins on Monday.
Freeman exited in the sixth inning of Sunday's loss to the Brewers after he was hit by a pitch. He's avoided a serious injury and won't need to miss any additional action. Freeman is slashing .292/.365/.471 with 10 home runs, 49 RBI, 47 runs scored, one stolen base and a 35:84 BB:K across 367 trips to the plate this season. He also leads the league with 26 doubles.
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German Marquez SP | SD
Rockies' German Marquez: Undergoing MRI on shoulder
Marquez will undergo an MRI on his right shoulder Monday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Marquez left Sunday's start against the Twins after yielding three runs on four hits and four walks across three innings of work. He struck out two and also surrendered his 13th home run of the season. Marquez was lifted after 58 pitches, admitting he couldn't fully extend at the end of his pitches, citing shoulder tightness. There's a chance the Rockies will skip Marquez's next scheduled start. His name has been thrown around in trade rumors ahead of next week's trade deadline.
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Mookie Betts SS | LAD
Dodgers' Mookie Betts: Remains in leadoff spot Monday
Betts is starting at shortstop and batting leadoff Monday against the Twins.
Betts was placed in the leadoff spot for the first time since June of last season on Sunday against the Brewers and went 1-for-5 with one run scored. Manager Dave Roberts is sticking with Betts atop the order, as the reeling Dodgers look for something to jumpstart the offense. With Betts in the top spot, Shohei Ohtani is again batting second. Betts has underwhelmed during his age-32 campaign, slashing .240/.310/.374 with 11 home runs, 45 RBI, 57 runs scored, six stolen bases and a 36:45 BB:K across 400 plate appearances.
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Pete Crow-Armstrong CF | CHC
Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Dealing with bruised knee
Crow-Armstrong is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals due to a bruised right knee, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Manager Craig Counsell relayed that Crow-Armstrong sustained the injury during a slide in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Red Sox. While the first-time All-Star is getting the night off in the series opener, Counsell expressed hope that Crow-Armstrong will return to the lineup Tuesday, per Ryan Herrera of MLB.com. Seiya Suzuki will pick up a start in center field Monday in place of Crow-Armstrong.
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Gordon Graceffo RP | STL
Cardinals' Gordon Graceffo: Sent back to Triple-A
The Cardinals optioned Graceffo to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.
Michael McGreevy was recalled from Memphis in a corresponding move. Graceffo has pitched in 13 games out of the bullpen for St. Louis this season, registering a 5.11 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 22:5 K:BB across 24.2 innings of relief. His 2.69 FIP suggests he's been a victim of bad luck. Graceffo will likely be back with the Cardinals at some point this summer.