MLB Player News

The Diamondbacks optioned Diaz to Triple-A Reno on Monday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Diaz had three good starts at home and one poor start on the road during his first taste of the big leagues. While the overall impression was a favorable one, Diaz will head back to Reno for now. It's not clear yet how the Diamondbacks plan to fill Diaz's spot in the rotation this weekend, as Merrill Kelly (shoulder) and Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) won't be ready to return from the 60-day injured list.

Walker (finger) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Reading on Wednesday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Walker has been sidelined since late June with a blister and inflammation in his right index finger, but he's finally ready to test things out in a game setting. The right-hander could potentially be ready to return next week if things go well Wednesday, although with the amount of time he's missed, it's possible he'll be asked to make an additional rehab start.

Allard will make another start this weekend in Seattle, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Allard allowed three earned runs with one strikeout over four innings in a start Sunday versus the Guardians. With Taijuan Walker (finger) not quite ready to return, Allard will be needed for one more start, which is likely to come either on Friday or Saturday.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Alvarez is absent from Monday's lineup versus the Twins due to left shoulder soreness, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Mendoz said Alvarez will be available off the bench, though he would prefer to give his top catcher the full day off before returning him to the lineup Tuesday. Luis Torrens will draw the start behind the dish Monday.

Estevez, when asked Monday what his role with the Phillies would be, responded, "I'm down for whatever, man," Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Estevez was acquired in a trade with the Angels on Saturday, with pitching prospects George Klassen and Samuel Aldegheri going the other way. Estevez saved 20 games and produced a 2.38 ERA and 0.74 WHIP prior to the move, but his new manager Rob Thomson typically preferred a committee approach. Estevez may well be ahead of both Jose Alvarado (13 saves) and Jeff Hoffman (nine saves) on the closer depth chart, but his share of the ninth inning will likely be smaller than it was in Los Angeles.

Darvish (personal/elbow) remains without a clear timetable for his return, though the Padres remain optimistic that the right-hander will rejoin the club at some point later this season, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Darvish has been on the restricted list for the last three-plus weeks while dealing with an unspecified personal issue. His timetable to rejoin the Padres is open-ended, and given that he hasn't done any throwing in a month, it will take him awhile to be built back up. Darvish initially went on the injured list back in early June with a strained groin and more recently dealt with an elbow issue, but he was trending in a good direction health-wise before going on the restricted list.

Rojas is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.

Rojas is on the bench for a third straight game, with the Phillies facing off against right-handed starting pitchers on two of those occasions. He appears to have moved into a fourth-outfielder role following the recent acquisition of Austin Hays. Rojas can provide value off the bench for the Phillies as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch runner, but it'll be difficult to extract much fantasy utility from him while he's not getting regular starting opportunities.

The Phillies optioned Rucker to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

He'll give up his spot on the 26-man active roster and in the Philadelphia bullpen to right-hander Carlos Estevez, whom the Phillies acquired from the Angels over the weekend. Rucker has spent most of the season recovering from a right hand arterial vasospasm, but the Phillies brought him back from the 60-day injured list Friday. The righty didn't end up making any appearances out of the bullpen over the weekend in the Phillies' series with the Guardians, however.

The Marlins claimed Hensley from the Astros on Monday.

Hensley hit just .177/.273/.274in 46 games with Houston from 2022 through 2023 and has spent all of 2024 at Triple-A Sugar Land, where he's slashed .234/.352/.376 with seven home runs and 17 stolen bases over 81 contests. He can play all over the infield and outfield, giving Miami some utility depth. Expect him to stick around at the Triple-A level initially and join the Marlins' affiliate in Jacksonville.

The Dodgers acquired Kopech, right-hander Oliver Gonzalez and utility player Tommy Edman (wrist) on Monday in the three-team trade involving the White Sox and Cardinals, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. The White Sox received infielder/outfielder Miguel Vargas, infielders Alexander Albertus (undisclosed) and Jeral Perez and a player to be named later or cash considerations, while the Cardinals acquired Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Kopech has offered a mixed bag in a full-time move to relief in 2024, striking out 59 across 43.2 innings but also walking 24 and posting a 4.74 ERA. The Dodgers will hope to fix his control and home-run issues, and if they can, he has the potential to be a dominant late-inning weapon. Kopech is also under team control for 2025. John Brebbia should be the favorite for saves in the White Sox's bullpen for now, though he could also be traded ahead of Tuesday's deadline.