MLB Player News

The Cubs optioned Dean to Triple-A Iowa on Monday.

After being promoted from Iowa on June 19, Dean logged just 10 plate appearances, with the Cubs mainly using him as a pinch runner or late-inning defensive replacement. Kevin Alcantara was called up from Triple-A to replace Dean on the Chicago bench.

The Cubs recalled Alcantara from Triple-A Iowa on Monday. He'll start in left field and bat ninth in the series opener versus the Dodgers.

Just over a week after being sent to Iowa, Alcantara will join the big-league roster as a replacement for Justin Dean, who was optioned to Triple-A. Alcantara has seen limited opportunities with the Cubs this season but has produced a .271/.363/.542 slash line with 17 home runs over 273 plate appearances at Iowa.

The Phillies acquired Thomas from the Athletics on Monday in exchange for right-hander Seth Johnson.

Thomas owns a .628 OPS with 10 home runs and a 34 percent strikeout rate in 253 big-league plate appearances. The 25-year-old was one of the Athletics' better prospects not long ago, and he's a career .285/.360/.546 hitter in the minors who is under team control through 2031, making him an interesting flier for Philadelphia. Thomas will likely report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley initially, but the right-handed hitter could get some chances with the Phillies versus left-handed pitching down the stretch.

The Dodgers acquired Feduccia and right-hander Jacob Kmatz from the Rays on Monday in exchange for outfielder Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool money.

With Dalton Rushing (elbow) joining Will Smith (neck) on the injured list Monday, the Dodgers brought Feduccia aboard to restore some depth behind the plate. The 29-year-old had been operating in a tandem at catcher with Nick Fortes in Tampa Bay, slashing .234/.306/.340 with two home runs and 14 RBI in 160 plate appearances on the season. While he's up with the Dodgers, the left-handed-hitting Feduccia could occupy the strong side of a loose platoon at catcher with the switch-hitting Eliezer Alfonzo until one of Rushing or Smith returns from the shelf.

The Cardinals acquired Santana, right-hander Daniel Eagen and a player to be named later from the Diamondbacks on Monday in exchange for outfielder Lars Nootbaar.

A 21-year-old lefty reliever, Santana has a 0.57 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 21:6 K:BB and 76.7 percent groundball rate in 15.2 innings across 11 appearances since getting promoted to Double-A in late June. He possesses a solid fastball and slider, and his 10.6 percent walk rate this season is a career-best mark.

The Dodgers placed Rushing on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a mild elbow strain, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Scratched from the lineup ahead of Sunday's loss to the Red Sox due to what the Dodgers had labeled as minor arm irritation, Rushing will wind up on the IL a day later after follow-up tests revealed the elbow strain. The fact that Rushing's injury is being classified as mild bodes well for his chances of avoid an extended absences, but at least for the next week and a half, the Dodgers will be without both of their top two backstops. With Rushing and Will Smith (neck) on the shelf, the Dodgers bolstered their catching depth by acquiring Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt in trades Monday. Feduccia will join the big club and form a catching tandem with Eliezer Alfonzo.

The Cardinals acquired Eagen, left-hander Sandro Santana and a player to be named later from the Diamondbacks on Monday in exchange for outfielder Lars Nootbaar.

Eagen is a better pitcher than his 4.95 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 20 starts at Double-A this season would suggest, as he pitched half his games in Amarillo, one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the minors. On the positive side, Eagen has a strong 29.2 percent strikeout rate and a career-best 9.1 percent walk rate. The 6-foot-4 righty has been particularly effective over his last four starts, logging a 2.45 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in 22 innings.

The Marlins acquired Vodnik from the Rockies on Monday in exchange for Connor Norby and Aiden May, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports.

Vodnik has logged a 5.25 ERA and 26:19 K:BB over 36 frames this season for the Rockies. The 26-year-old is a hard thrower and boasts a career 54.3 percent groundball rate, but a 16 percent strikeout rate in 2026 is disheartening. Vodnik could get a chance to fill in a leverage role in the Miami bullpen, though Pete Fairbanks should remain the team's closer.

Pittsburgh recalled Eisert from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

After being optioned to Indianapolis last Wednesday, Eisert will rejoin the Pirates less than a week later with Mitch Keller (arm) going on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Over 32 appearances in the majors this season between stops with the White Sox and Pirates, the left-handed reliever owns a 6.29 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 40:12 K:BB across 34.1 innings.

Basabe (forearm) will start at second base and bat seventh in Monday's game versus the Rangers.

Basabe was lifted from Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Padres after being hit on the left forearm by a pitch, but he's back in the lineup a day later. He'll be making his third consecutive start and has gone 3-for-9 with a pair of home runs early on in his stint with the Giants. With the Giants trading away Luis Arraez and Heliot Ramos ahead of Monday's deadline, Basabe could get the chance to play on at least a semi-regular basis in the short term.