MLB Trade Recap 2019

The Los Angeles Angels have acquired catcher Max Stassi from the Houston Astros in exchange for minor-league outfielders Rainier Rivas and Raider Uceta.

Stassi, who has played in parts of seven seasons with the Astros, is batting .167 with a home run and three RBIs in 31 games this season. General manager Billy Eppler said the move was more about adding catching depth and Stassi’s strength behind the plate. According to MLB Statcast, Stassi is the second-best pitch framer in the AL with a 54.1% strike rate.

Catcher Dustin Garneau was designated for assignment before Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers.

In landing Puig and Reyes, who have 49 combined homers this season, the Indians plugged a power gap in their lineup.

FILE – In this June 26, 2019, file photo, San Diego Padres’ Franmil Reyes follows through on a two run home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth inning of a baseball game, in Baltimore. The Indians bulked up for the playoff race by trading temperamental starter Trevor Bauer before the deadline to Cincinnati in a three-team deal they hope can help them run down the Minnesota Twins. Cleveland, which trails the AL Central by three games but leads the wild-card race, sent Bauer to the Reds for slugger Yasiel Puig and left-hander Scott Moss. The Indians also acquired outfielder Franmil Reyes, lefty Logan Allen and infield prospect Victor Nova from the San Diego Padres, who acquired outfielder Taylor Trammel from the Reds.(AP Photo/Gail Burton, File)

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5:55 p.m.

Mike Minor will make his scheduled start for the Rangers after the trade deadline passed with the All-Star lefty still in Texas.

Hunter Pence, the All-Star designated hitter, is also still with his hometown team and in the lineup Wednesday night when Minor and the Rangers play the Seattle Mariners, an AL West rival that traded three pitchers Wednesday.

FILE – In this July 6, 2019, file photo, Cincinnati Reds’ Yasiel Puig, left, follows through on a two-run home run off Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber during the first inning of a baseball game, in Cincinnati. The Indians bulked up for the playoff race by trading temperamental starter Trevor Bauer before the deadline to Cincinnati in a three-team deal they hope can help them run down the Minnesota Twins. Cleveland, which trails the AL Central by three games but leads the wild-card race, sent Bauer to the Reds for slugger Yasiel Puig and left-hander Scott Moss. The Indians also acquired outfielder Franmil Reyes, lefty Logan Allen and infield prospect Victor Nova from the San Diego Padres, who acquired outfielder Taylor Trammel from the Reds.(AP Photo/Gary Landers, File)

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5:45 p.m.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired right-hander Mike Leake from the Seattle Mariners for a minor leaguer.

Seattle will receive infielder Jose Caballero in the trade.

The deal came on the same day Arizona sent ace Zack Greinke to Houston for four prospects.

The 31-year-old Leake went 9-8 with a 4.40 ERA in 22 starts with the Mariners this season. He has played 10 big-league seasons, with stops in Cincinnati, San Francisco, and St. Louis.

Leake was traded to Seattle from St. Louis for Rayder Ascanio in 2017.

“There were a couple of things that got close later today that I thought might come to fruition, but ultimately it didn’t line up for one side or the other,” Daniels said, without getting into specifics.

Arizona Diamondbacks’ Zack Greinke delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Wednesday, July 31, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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5:40 p.m.

The Giants have traded former closer Mark Melancon to the Atlanta Braves for right-handed reliever Daniel Winkler and a minor league pitcher.

Melancon signed a $62 million, four-year contract with San Francisco in December 2016 but didn’t emerge as the dominant closer he had been in part because of injuries. He had just 15 saves in his two-plus seasons with the Giants.

In addition, San Francisco sent right-handed reliever Sam Dyson to the Twins and kept 2014 World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner.

The 34-year-old right-hander is 4-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 43 appearances and 46 1/3 innings this season.

When the Giants acquired him, Melancon had saved at least 30 games in three straight seasons, recording a majors-best 51 in 2015. He went 47 for 51 in save opportunities in 75 relief appearances last season with Pittsburgh and Washington,

Winkler is 3-1 with a 4.98 ERA in 27 appearances this season. The Giants also received Class A pitcher Tristan Beck.

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5:25 p.m.

The Chicago Cubs acquired outfielder Nicholas Castellanos from the Detroit Tigers for two minor league pitchers.

The 27-year-old Castellanos hit .273 with 11 home runs and 37 RBIs for Detroit this season. He’s played third base and in the outfield during his career and has been considered a liability defensively, but Castellanos gives Chicago a productive bat against left-handed pitching.

Detroit received right-handers Paul Richan and Alex Lange.

Castellanos is tied for the major league lead with 37 doubles. He has a .347 average and a 1.026 OPS this year in 72 at-bats against lefties.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels says his team, which has dropped a game under .500, explored a lot of different options.

Detroit Tigers’ Nicholas Castellanos, right, hugs farewell to Jordy Mercer in the dugout, after Castellanos is traded to the Chicago Cubs, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, July 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

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5:20 p.m.

Milwaukee has acquired left-hander Drew Pomeranz and righty Ray Black from the San Francisco Giants for infield prospect Mauricio Dubon.

Also Wednesday, San Francisco obtained second baseman Scooter Gennett from the Reds for a player to be named. Cincinnati will send cash to the Giants to cover part of Gennett’s $9,775,000 salary.

Until the Giants recently began winning, there had been speculation for months that left-handed ace Madison Bumgarner — the 2014 World Series MVP — would be on the trading block, but he is staying put as San Francisco (54-53) tries to contend in manager Bruce Bochy’s final season before retirement.

The Brewers were looking to add pitching depth given a decision was expected Tuesday on whether left-hander Gio Gonzalez would need a stint on the injured list after he left his start last Friday against the Cubs with tightness in his pitching shoulder. Pomeranz can work as a starter or reliever.

Milwaukee acquired right-hander Jordan Lyles from the Pirates on Monday to boost the rotation.

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5:15 p.m.

The Atlanta Braves have acquired closer Shane Greene from the Detroit Tigers for two minor leaguers.

The 30-year-old Greene went 0-2 with a 1.18 ERA and 22 saves this season for the rebuilding Tigers. Now he’ll have a chance to help Atlanta’s bullpen. The NL East leaders also added reliever Chris Martin this week in a trade with Texas.

Detroit receives left-hander Joey Wentz and outfielder Travis Demeritte from the Braves.

Luke Jackson has 17 saves for the Braves this year but has a 3.96 ERA. Atlanta blew a three-run lead in the late innings at Washington on Wednesday before recovering to win in the 10.

Greene was mostly a starter in his first two big-league seasons but has pitched almost exclusively in relief since 2016. He had 32 saves but a 5.12 ERA in 2018. This season has been much more successful for the right-hander.

FILE – In this July 13, 2019, file photo, Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer delivers in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, in Cleveland. The Indians bulked up for the playoff race by trading temperamental starter Trevor Bauer before the deadline to Cincinnati in a three-team deal they hope can help them run down the Minnesota Twins. Cleveland, which trails the AL Central by three games but leads the wild-card race, sent Bauer to the Reds for slugger Yasiel Puig and left-hander Scott Moss. The Indians also acquired outfielder Franmil Reyes, lefty Logan Allen and infield prospect Victor Nova from the San Diego Padres, who acquired outfielder Taylor Trammel from the Reds. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)

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4:55 p.m.

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired right-handers Trevor Richards and Nick Anderson from the Miami Marlins.

The Rays sent to Miami right-hander Ryne Stanek and minor league outfielder Jesus Sanchez.

Richards, who recently lost his spot in the Marlins’ rotation, is 3-12 this year with an ERA of 4.50. Anderson has a 3.92 ERA in 45 games of relief this year.

Stanek has been used mostly as an opener by the Rays this year, and he has a 3.40 ERA in 41 games. Sanchez, a 21-year-old left-handed hitter, is batting .275 with Double-A Montgomery.

The Rays also sent reliever Adam Kolarek to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Niko Hulsizer, a Class A outfielder.

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4:35 p.m.

The Los Angeles Dodgers added infielder Jedd Gyorko, acquiring him from the St. Louis Cardinals for left-hander Tony Cingrani and minor league righty Jeffry Abreu. The Dodgers also receive international cap space and cash considerations.

The 30-year-old Gyorko has been on the injured list since June 8 with back and right wrist issues. He’s hitting .196 on the season.

Cingrani is also out following left shoulder surgery and hasn’t pitched this season.

The Dodgers entered the day with a 70-39 record, easily the best mark in the National League.

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4:15 p.m.

The Washington Nationals tried to upgrade their bullpen, acquiring relievers Roenis Elias and Hunter Strickland from Seattle and Daniel Hudson in a trade with Toronto.

The Mariners received a trio of minor league pitchers from the Nationals — left-handers Taylor Guilbeau and Aaron Fletcher and right-hander Elvis Alvarado. Washington sent minor league right-hander Kyle Johnston to Toronto for Hudson, who can become a free agent at the end of the season.

Elias has been Seattle’s primary closer for the majority of the season after Strickland suffered a lat strain in the opening week and missed several months. Strickland has appeared in just four major league games this season.

Elias has appeared in 44 games and was 4-2 with a 4.40 ERA and 14 saves for Seattle.

The 32-year-old Hudson went 6-3 with a 3.00 ERA and two saves in 45 games for the Blue Jays.

Seattle Mariners closing pitcher Roenis Elias throws against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, July 24, 2019, in Seattle. Elias earned the save and the Mariners won 5-3. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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4:10 p.m.

The Yankees got a pitcher at the deadline — for one of their Class A affiliates.

New York acquired left-hander Alfredo Garcia from the Colorado Rockies for right-handed reliever Joseph Harvey in a deal announced shortly after the 4 p.m. deadline to make deals.

The Yankees have been seeking pitching upgrades for the big league club. Garcia won’t be that, at least not this year. The 20-year-old is 2-9 with a 6.28 ERA in Class A. He’s struck out 103 in 90 1/3 innings.

Harvey pitched 10 innings out of New York’s bullpen this year as a rookie, posting a 4.50 ERA.

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3:50 p.m.

The Philadelphia Phillies bolstered their outfield by acquiring veteran Corey Dickerson from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash and a player to be named.

Dickerson, who could become a free agent at the end of the season, hit .317 with four home runs and 25 RBIs for the Pirates. The 30-year-old missed most of the first half of the season with a strained throwing shoulder.

The Pirates acquired Dickerson from Tampa Bay on the eve of the 2018 regular season. Dickerson responded by hitting .300 with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs. He also won his first career Gold Glove for his play in left field.

Pittsburgh’s fade from contention after the All-Star break and the rise of young outfielder Bryan Reynolds in Dickerson’s absence made him expendable for a team now looking toward 2020 and beyond.

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Corey Dickerson sits in the dugout during the bottom of the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 24, 2019. The Cardinals won 14-8. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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3:25 p.m.

The playoff-contending Oakland Athletics have acquired starter Tanner Roark from the Cincinnati Reds, filling out a rotation that also could have left-hander Sean Manaea back soon.

Oakland dealt outfield prospect Jameson Hannah to Cincinnati. The Reds are sending Oakland $2.1 million to offset much of the $3,225,806 remaining in Roark’s $10 million salaries.

The A’s began the day a half-game out of the second AL wild-card spot.

Roark lasted a season-low 3 1/3 innings during Cincinnati’s 11-4 loss to the Pirates on Tuesday. He is 6-7 in 21 starts with a 4.24 ERA and can become a free agent after the season.

Manaea struck out eight in six innings of a rehab start at Triple-A this week. He’s likely to get one more rehab start before being activated. He had shoulder surgery last September.

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3:10 p.m.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired rookie right-hander Zac Gallen from the Miami Marlins for minor league shortstop Jazz Chisholm.

Gallen, who turns 24 on Saturday, is 1-3 with a 2.72 ERA in seven starts since making his major league debut June 20. Gallen pitched at North Carolina and was a third-round draft choice by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016

Chisholm, 21, was rated the Diamondbacks’ No. 1 prospect by MLB.com. He batted .204 with 18 homers and 13 stolen bases this season for Double-A Jackson. The native of the Bahamas is a career .253 hitter in the minors with 53 homers in 292 games since 2016.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Zac Gallen delivers during the second inning of the team’s baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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2:55 p.m.

Martin Maldonado is on the move for the second time this month.

The Houston Astros acquired the veteran catcher from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Tony Kemp. The Cubs got Maldonado from the Kansas City Royals earlier in July.

The 32-year-old Maldonado has started 74 games behind the plate this year. He also spent time in Houston last year, playing 41 games for the Astros.

The 27-year-old Kemp was designated for assignment Friday. He hit .227 in 66 games for the Astros this year.
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12:55 p.m.

The Milwaukee Brewers have traded slumping slugger Jes Aguilar to the Tampa Bay Rays, a person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press.

The Brewers are getting right-handed reliever Jake Faria, according to multiple reports.

Aguilar was an All-Star last year, hitting 35 home runs with 108 RBIs for the NL Central champion Brewers. But the 29-year-old first baseman got off to a slow start this season and eventually lost playing time.

Aguilar is hitting .225 with eight homers and 34 RBIs this year.

The 26-year-old Faria has a 2.70 ERA in seven games for Tampa Bay.

” AP Baseball Writer Ben Walker reported from New York.

Milwaukee Brewers’ Jesus Aguilar hits a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Monday, July 22, 2019, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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12:30 p.m.

The Texas Rangers have acquired right-hander Nate Jones from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for minor league pitchers Joe Jarneski and Ray Castro.

Chicago will send the Rangers $750,000 as part of the deal to cover part of the $1.5 million remaining in the $4.65 million salaries for Jones, who is on the injured list after surgery to repair a flexor mass tear in his right forearm. He is not expected to pitch again this season.

Texas also will get $1 million in international signing bonus pool allotment for 2019-20.

Jones had a 3.48 ERA in 13 relief appearances this season before going on the injured list April 27. His contract includes a $3.75 million club option for 2020 with a $1.25 million buyout.

The 19-year-old Jarneski is in the Arizona League, and the 22-year-old Castro in the Dominican Summer League.

FILE – In this June 18, 2019, file photo, San Diego Padres starting pitcher Logan Allen works against a Milwaukee Brewers batter during the second inning of a baseball game, in San Diego. The Indians bulked up for the playoff race by trading temperamental starter Trevor Bauer before the deadline to Cincinnati in a three-team deal they hope can help them run down the Minnesota Twins. Cleveland, which trails the AL Central by three games but leads the wild-card race, sent Bauer to the Reds for slugger Yasiel Puig and left-hander Scott Moss. The Indians also acquired outfielder Franmil Reyes, lefty Logan Allen and infield prospect Victor Nova from the San Diego Padres, who acquired outfielder Taylor Trammel from the Reds.(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

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12:18 p.m.

The Cleveland Indians bulked up for the playoff race by trading temperamental starter Trevor Bauer to Cincinnati in a three-team deal they hope helps them catch the Minnesota Twins.

Cleveland, which trails the AL Central by three games, sent Bauer to the Reds for slugger Yasiel Puig and left-hander Scott Moss. The Indians also acquired outfielder Franmil Reyes, lefty Logan Allen and infield prospect Victor Nova from San Diego. The Padres acquired outfielder Taylor Trammel from the Reds.

Bauer’s exit comes three days after the quirky right-hander angrily threw a ball from the behind mound over the center-field wall in Kansas City. Bauer called the act “childish.” It was a final straw for the Indians, who pulled off the stunning trade to help their playoff push and beyond.