Latest news with #MiamiMarlins
Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
MLB Insider Expects Seth Lugo Trade; Cubs Listed Potential 'Best Fit'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Kansas City Royals were one of the better storylines in baseball last year. They went from being one of the worst teams in the league to a postseason contender in one season. Now, the Royals have fallen off a bit, currently sitting four games under .500 shortly after the All-Star break. With the team struggling to stay afloat, it should be expected that the front office will trade away some of the team's expiring contracts ahead of the trade deadline, potentially including its ace, Seth Lugo. ESPN's Jeff Passan recently listed the Chicago Cubs as one of the best fits in a trade for Lugo this year. MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 18: Seth Lugo #67 of the Kansas City Royals reatcs after allowing a home run to Jesús Sánchez #7 of the Miami Marlins in the game against the Kansas City Royals... MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 18: Seth Lugo #67 of the Kansas City Royals reatcs after allowing a home run to Jesús Sánchez #7 of the Miami Marlins in the game against the Kansas City Royals at loanDepot park on July 18, 2025 in Miami, Florida. More Jasen Vinlove/"Lugo has posted mid-3.00s or lower ERAs for five seasons despite having below-average fastball velocity and good-not-great strikeout rates," Passan wrote. "His ability to strand runners and limit hard contact comes in part thanks to his nine different pitches. With a Nathan Eovaldi-type contract awaiting Lugo in free agency, Kansas City could opt to move him, especially if Cole Ragans' injured shoulder doesn't improve." The Cubs have struggled with pitching depth for months now. It's very likely their front office will go all in at the trade deadline with starting pitching being high on their list of priorities. Adding Lugo would be the kind of move to expect out of the Cubs. While going out and getting Sandy Alcántara has been the biggest rumor surrounding Chicago, adding Lugo might be the smarter idea. Lugo was incredible last season and has been solid again this year. He holds a sub-3.00 ERA with an impressive 1.09 WHIP. The righty is the exact kind of pitcher the Cubs need to add to their roster in the coming weeks. More MLB: Could Tigers $66 Million Reunion With Hottest Hitter In Baseball Be In Cards?
Newsweek
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Orioles Reportedly Focusing On Expiring Contracts To Not Jeopardize Future
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Baltimore Orioles are in last place in the American League and well out of contention to return to the playoffs. The O's have reportedly set their focus on their expiring contracts this trade season as they look to rebound next year, per MLB Network Radio. Orioles general manager Mike Elias told the network that the team is focusing on its rental options rather than its controllable assets. BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 13: Cedric Mullins #31 of the Baltimore Orioles takes a swing during a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 13, 2025 in Baltimore,... BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 13: Cedric Mullins #31 of the Baltimore Orioles takes a swing during a baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 13, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. More Photo byThe Orioles have a couple of arms and bats that will be up on contenders' minds as July comes to a close. Oufielder Cedric Mullins and All-Star first baseman Ryan O'Hearn are the two most valuable hitters that the team can trade, given the restrictions that Elias has given himself. O'Hearn has had a resurgent season and earned the nod as the starting designated hitter for the American League in the All-Star Game last week. O'Hearn was hitting .282 with 12 home runs entering Monday and is on track to set career highs in multiple offensive categories. Mullins started the season off with a scorching March and April but cooled off significantly before seeing a small spike in production during July. Mullins has smacked 13 home runs this season and was looking to break the 30-homer mark for the first time since his breakout 2021 season. Mullins' defense is one of his bigger assets, and with contenders looking for outfielders, he could be on his way out of town before the trade deadline. Along with starters Charlie Morton and Zach Eflin, the Orioles have plenty of rental players at their disposal to trade off and retool for next season. More MLB: Twins Predicted To Cut Ties With Former Gold Glove Outfielder
Miami Herald
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Marlins play their best ‘brand of baseball' in tight 2-1 loss to Padres
It's the second half of the season, and for a team still fighting to reach the .500 mark, there's 'a lot of sense of urgency with every game,' Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. So, dropping Monday's series opener 2-1 to the San Diego Padres at loanDepot park certainly stung. But it was hard for the Marlins to find much fault in their performance. The result wasn't what they wanted — but the 'brand of baseball,' as McCullough likes to say, was the kind that's fueled their recent surge. Starter Eury Pérez allowed only two earned runs in five innings pitched — both in the second inning. Josh Simpson and Tyler Phillips each tossed two shutout innings in relief. 'They threw great,' McCullough said. 'Both those guys had a couple of really efficient innings to keep us in a position where we had a chance to come back and potentially win.' Kyle Stowers swatted his 22nd home run of the season — an MLB-best 12th since June 22. He now has eight homers in July, putting him four shy of Giancarlo Stanton's club record set in 2017. And the Marlins' offense, which otherwise didn't score, banged out nine hits. 'I liked what we did offensively today,' McCullough said. 'We scattered some hits. … Offensively, our approach was very sound. Unfortunately, the [double-play] ball Gus hits to third [in the third inning] was right on the screws. That's how things go. 'If we continue to take at-bats of that quality and that nature, that puts you in a good position to be able to create innings and score runs.' In the third inning, Jesús Sánchez was doubled off second after Agustín Ramírez lined a hard-hit ball to third baseman Manny Machado off starter Randy Vásquez. Then in the eighth, Sánchez grounded into a double play after Xavier Edwards led off with an infield single. The Padres grabbed the lead in the second inning when Jackson Merrill singled to right, scoring Xander Bogaerts, who had led off with a double to center. Martin Maldonado followed with an RBI double down the left-field line to make it 2-0. That was all Pérez gave up while striking out five and walking two. He threw 87 pitches, 52 for strikes. 'This is the first time I've faced this lineup and this is an incredible lineup — they're very talented,' Pérez said via team interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. 'So you've got to compete all the time and try your best, try to work around the zone and try to get as few pitches as you can to get the outs.' 'Just another solid outing,' McCullough said. 'I thought he really made some nice adjustments the last few innings. Had a good heater again, and I was really happy with the breaking ball and secondary stuff he threw tonight. His ability to utilize his entire repertoire tonight, especially as the outing wore on, is a great sign.' ▪ During Sandy Alcantara's on-field bullpen session pregame in preparation for Wednesday's start, McCullough stood in the batter's box without taking a swing. 'It looks a lot faster than it used to in my younger days,' McCullough quipped. 'I did not want to take a hack and risk straining my oblique. And the embarrassment of swinging and missing.' On a more serious note, McCullough explained his presence in the box. 'I do that sometimes,' he said. 'You get a bit of a visual, provide a different level of feedback, just see how it's coming in and also get in there and chat with [catcher] Nick [Fortes] as it's going on [about] what he's seeing. Instead of standing back behind there, get in and see what it looks like coming forward.' ▪ Outfielder Derek Hill, who injured his finger in the batting cage Saturday, was not in the lineup again, but came in to pinch-run for Liam Hicks in the ninth.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Could Trade to Dodgers Be Secret Recipe to Return Ace to 'Former Glory'?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Los Angeles Dodgers came into the season with seemingly the best pitching staff in baseball, but injuries have destroyed most of the top arms. Los Angeles' pitching staff is barely averaging four innings per start at this point. ESPN's Jeff Passan recently suggested the Dodgers would be one of the best fits in a trade for Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara ahead of the upcoming trade deadline. MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 18: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches against the Kansas City Royals d1i at loanDepot park on July 18, 2025 in Miami, Florida. MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 18: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins pitches against the Kansas City Royals d1i at loanDepot park on July 18, 2025 in Miami, Florida."Alcantara was arguably the best pitcher in baseball in 2022, winning the NL Cy Young unanimously. He was more solid than spectacular in 2023 and missed 2024 with Tommy John surgery," Passan wrote. "He has been tinkering this season to try to get his pitch mix and locations right in hopes of regaining his former glory. His 7.14 ERA is unsightly, and with the Marlins still valuing him as a top starter, they could hold on to him until the winter, when teams such as the Baltimore Orioles would be more inclined to acquire him and the final two years of his contract." The Dodgers are certainly the level of aggressive it would take to land a star like Alcántara. The righty also has a few years of affordable team control left on his deal, which would fit perfectly with the Dodgers' payroll. The Marlins need to trade him before he drops his trade value any further. Trading him now would almost certainly net at least one star prospect in return. If the Marlins hunt a trade with the Dodgers, they could pursue former top prospects Bobby Miller and James Outman as well as talented prospects like Justin Wrobleski and plenty of others. Either way, the Dodgers are the right level of aggressive and desperate to make a deal like this come to life this month. More MLB: Shocking Deadline Deal? MLB Insider Links Phillies To All-Star Outfielder
Newsweek
a day ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Sandy Alcántara Blockbuster? Cubs Trade Rumors Reaching New Peak
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Chicago Cubs came into the season needing to add some talent and depth to their pitching rotation. Following a few injuries, including a crushing elbow injury to Justin Steele, the Cubs' biggest roster hole has gotten even worse. They've been linked to Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara as the solution to all their problems for a few months now, but no deal has come to fruition. ESPN's Jeff Passan also linked the Cubs to Alcántara in a potential blockbuster trade that would give Chicago the controllable pitcher it needs. MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 18: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins looks on against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning of the game at loanDepot park on July 18, 2025 in Miami,... MIAMI, FLORIDA - JULY 18: Sandy Alcantara #22 of the Miami Marlins looks on against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning of the game at loanDepot park on July 18, 2025 in Miami, Florida. More"Alcántara was arguably the best pitcher in baseball in 2022, winning the NL Cy Young unanimously. He was more solid than spectacular in 2023 and missed 2024 with Tommy John surgery," Passan wrote. "He has been tinkering this season to try to get his pitch mix and locations right in hopes of regaining his former glory. His 7.14 ERA is unsightly, and with the Marlins still valuing him as a top starter, they could hold on to him until the winter, when teams such as the Baltimore Orioles would be more inclined to acquire him and the final two years of his contract." The Cubs are the clear top landing spot for Alcántara. They have top prospect Owen Caissie, who could be the headliner in the return to Miami. The front office in Chicago has also been quite aggressive over the last few months, so it wouldn't be shocking to see the team pull off another blockbuster deal. The World Series window is wide open for the Cubs this year. If they're going to win it all, this might be their best shot. Acquiring Alcántara would be a huge move for the team right now, but it would give them a potential ace for the next few years, too. More MLB: Shocking Deadline Deal? MLB Insider Links Phillies To All-Star Outfielder
