Welcome back to another week of Rumor Roundup, where we dive into all the recent talk, transactions, and trends from around the league, balancing both fantasy baseball implications and real-world baseball analysis through the lens of a front office.
Featured Story
DEFYING ALL ODDS, TARIK SKUBAL IS BACK! Recovering from elbow surgery? A long rehab stint? Shaking the rust off? Rest?! Never heard of it. Skubal, 29, has officially been activated today by the Detroit Tigers just a month after undergoing surgery to remove a loose body out of his left elbow. He owned a 2.12 FIP and 24% K-BB rate through 43.1 innings prior to the injury. Strikeouts were down a few ticks and his stuff wasn’t as crisp, fueling a .220 BAA (still elite but not at the level we’ve seen him pitch to). Perhaps this operation is exactly what he needed to regain some of that feel to retake the throne as MLB’s top arm.
Skubal tossed five scoreless innings allowing just two hits and striking out six batters in his only rehab appearance at the High-A level on June 7th. Obviously the Tigers are welcoming back their ace with open arms… the squad went just 11-24 without their southpaw on the bump every fifth day. Baseball is better when their stars are on the field, and Skubal takes the mound for Detroit today at 4:10pm EST. Be sure to tune in!
Injury Updates
The following players have started or participated in rehab assignments this week:
- LHP Tarik Skubal
- C Cal Raleigh
- OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
- C Alejandro Kirk
- C Yainer Diaz
- RHP Hurston Waldrep
- RHP Kodai Senga
- C Drake Baldwin
The following players have been placed on the IL this week:
- INF J.P. Crawford (right hand contusion)
- INF Vaughn Grissom (left oblique strain)
- OF Brent Rooker (left knee bone bruise)
- INF Miguel Andujar (left hamstring strain)
Finally, the following players have seen their IL status change this week:
- UTL Matt Shaw — activated
- RHP Garrett Whitlock — activated
- RHP Jack Kochanowicz — moved to IL60
- RHP Hurston Waldrep — activated & optioned
- INF Jacob Wilson — activated
- C Alejandro Kirk — activated
- UTL Jordan Lawlar — activated
Recent Transactions
The following players have been DFA’d:
- INF Zack Short
The following players have been claimed or signed via free agency:
- OF James Outman — claimed by Tigers via Twins
The following trades have been executed:
- Rockies acquired INF Richie Martin Jr. via the Rangers in exchange for cash considerations
- White Sox acquired OF Dylan Campbell and INF Jose Colmenares in exchange for OF Derek Hill and future considerations (PTBNL/cash)
Promotions/demotions:
- RHP Luis Mey — demoted
- 1B Trey Mancini — selected contract/promoted
- OF Braden Montgomery — promoted (what a stellar debut!)
- OF Esmerlyn Valdez — promoted
- RHP Luis Curvelo — promoted
- RHP Chase Petty — promoted
- INF Anthony Seigler — optioned
Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter) | Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire
