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Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson exited Aug. 17’s game against the New York Yankees with a thumb injury. However, he’s ready to return.

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Donaldson Active vs. Indians

Sunday, Aug. 21

The Blue Jays announced Donaldson is in the starting lineup against Cleveland.

Donaldson Providing Another Consistent Year at the Plate

Donaldson is having another MVP-caliber season with a .289/.399/.556 slash line and 28 home runs with 6.2 wins above replacement, per FanGraphs.

In addition to being one of the most consistent third basemen in MLB over the past few years, Donaldson has been durable. He appeared in 158 games in each season from 2013 to 2015.

And before Aug. 17’s injury, Donaldson showed few signs of bucking the trend. He played through a strained calf in April and a jammed thumb in June. Otherwise, his health hasn’t presented Toronto with many problems.

As a whole, the Blue Jays have climbed back into the thick of the American League East race. They enter play on Sunday with a 70-53 record, 2.5 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles and 0.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the division. 

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The Atlanta Braves found a taker for struggling shortstop Erick Aybar.

The Detroit Tigers announced Tuesday they traded for the 32-year-old, with Mike Aviles and Kade Scivicque going to Atlanta.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s David O’Brien thought the deal was an example of Braves general manager John Coppolella‘s determination:

Atlanta acquired Aybar in the offseason in the Andrelton Simmons trade. The move seemed somewhat odd since the Braves were and still are in a long-term rebuild. They’ve parted ways with almost every one of their best veteran assets.

In all likelihood, Coppolella either expected the team would be better than it is now or thought he’d be able to flip Aybar at the deadline for a profit.

Instead, Atlanta has the worst record in the league (44-74), and Aybar is in the midst of the worst season of his MLB career. He’s batting .242 with two home runs, 26 RBI and a .293 on-base percentage. According to FanGraphs, his minus-1.2 WAR is fifth-worst among position players with at least 250 plate appearances.

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal spoke to an MLB executive who said on July 24 the Braves were “aggressively shopping” Aybar along with a few other players. Showing a desire to offload Aybar didn’t mean doing so would be easy for Atlanta, though.

The market for his services wasn’t going to be fevered, especially for a player who is potentially a rental for less than half of a season. The Tigers need to expect an immediate return on their investment. Given Aybar‘s struggles, that’s far from a certainty.

Still, there’s reason to hope Aybar could turn things around. He was an All-Star in 2014, and while expecting him to reach those heights again is unrealistic, some level of improvement could be anticipated.

Here’s a look at his offensive and defensive numbers from the past five years, per FanGraphs:

It’s not as if the free-agent market is flush with talent at shortstop. In that regard, trading for Aybar is a better way for the Tigers to bolster their middle infield depth for the stretch run. The team also placed starting shortstop Jose Iglesias on the 15-day disabled list Friday.

Detroit didn’t pay a high price in order to get Aybar, so there isn’t a whole lot of risk in the deal. Anything positive he delivers will be a pleasant surprise. At the very least, he’s an upgrade over Aviles in the infield.

This trade won’t shake up the MLB landscape, but it could help the Tigers as they look to secure a playoff spot in 2016.

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The Cincinnati Reds announced center fielder Billy Hamilton exited Monday’s game against the Miami Marlins after suffering a right knee contusion. It’s unclear when he will return.

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Hamilton Out vs. Marlins

Tuesday, Aug. 16

Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reported Hamilton will not be in the starting lineup against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

Hamilton One of MLB’s Most Dangerous Base Stealers When Healthy

Injuries have been a problem for Hamilton in 2015 and 2016. He played in just 114 games a year ago, and a couple of issues have limited his playing time this year. A thumb injury dogged the 25-year-old in the spring, and then he suffered a concussion while sliding into third base in a June 8 game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

It looked as though Hamilton was headed for the disabled list again June 29 after an Anthony Rizzo fly ball deflected off the glove of teammate Adam Duvall and into his head:

While durability remains a concern for Hamilton, he has shown improvement at the plate from a year ago. His average has climbed from .226 in 2015 to .264 in 2016. His on-base percentage (.318) also represents an improvement from last year (.274).

In addition, few players in the league can go from second base to home plate on a passed ball:

This is a lost season for the Reds, who have committed to a long-term rebuild. In that sense, losing Hamilton—even for a prolonged stretch of games—won’t affect Cincinnati much. Manager Bryan Price will likely look to Tyler Holt to replace him in center field until Hamilton is healthy enough to return.

However, the timing of the injury is a bummer considering the progress Hamilton has shown of late. 

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Starling Marte left Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to back discomfort but is ready to return to action.

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Marte Active vs. Giants

Monday, Aug. 15

Adam Berry of MLB.com noted Marte is starting in left field and batting fifth against San Francisco.

Marte Is Valuable Piece for Pirates’ Playoff Push

The 27-year-old continues delivering at the plate and in the field for Pittsburgh. In 107 games, he’s batting .316 with seven home runs and 39 RBI. According to FanGraphs, his 3.3 WAR is highest on the team among qualified position players.

While the Pirates have no shot at catching the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central, Pittsburgh currently sits 1.5 games out of the NL’s second wild-card spot.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday exited Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs after being hit on his right hand by a pitch in the 10th inning. He was placed on the disabled list on Saturday, and it’s unclear when he’ll return to the field. 

Continue for updates.

Holliday Placed on DL

Saturday, Aug. 13 

The Cardinals announced they recalled pitcher Luke Weaver from Triple-A Memphis to take Holliday’s spot on the active roster. 

Holliday Comments on Injury

Friday, Aug. 12 

Holliday discussed the nature of his injury after Thursday’s game:

Holliday Breaks Thumb

Thursday, Aug. 11

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Holliday suffered a fractured thumb and was headed back to St. Louis for further evaluation. 

Veteran Holliday Still Among League’s Best Sluggers 

Even at 36 years old, Holliday continues to show plenty of power at the plate. Through 106 games, he has 19 home runs, 60 RBI and a .451 slugging percentage. However, Holliday is getting on base at the lowest rate of his career. His .315 on-base percentage is 67 points below his career average.

Holliday was on the receiving end of one of the scariest moments this year. On July 21, he took a 95 mph fastball to the face from San Diego Padres starting pitcher Andrew Cashner:

Despite that hit-by-pitch, the Cardinals put him in the starting lineup the next day.

St. Louis will hope Holliday’s thumb injury proves to be minor, because the timing was not ideal. The Cardinals need his bat in the lineup as they prepare for the stretch run.

After Chicago’s 4-3 win Thursday, the Cubs are 13 games ahead of the Cardinals in the National League Central and are likely going to take the division. That leaves the wild card as the Cardinals’ best chance at reaching the postseason. In a tight NL wild-card race, St. Louis can’t afford to surrender any ground.

Especially with the team struggling mightily this year, the Cardinals need to be able to count on their outfield to deliver at the plate, and Holliday’s absence would make that difficult.

Manager Mike Matheny will likely have to use Tommy Pham or Jeremy Hazelbaker in left field while Holliday recovers.

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Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli left Aug. 10’s game against the San Diego Padres after suffering a wrist injury. However, he’s ready to return.

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Cervelli Active vs. Dodgers

Saturday, Aug. 13

The Pirates announced Cervelli will start Saturday against Los Angeles and bat seventh.

Cervelli Crucial to Pirates Offense, Pitching

Cervelli was a pleasant surprise for the Pirates in 2015. He had big shoes to fill, with Russell Martin leaving for the Toronto Blue Jays, and exceeded expectations. The 30-year-old batted .295 with seven home runs and 43 RBI.

FanGraphs ranked Cervelli second among qualified catchers in WAR (3.8), one spot ahead of Martin (3.5).

Despite the fact that he had played only one full season with the team, the Pirates thought enough of Cervelli to offer him a three-year extension worth $31 million.

This year hasn’t gone according to plan, however. Cervelli suffered a hand injury June 10 against the St. Louis Cardinals:

The Pirates announced he had broken a hamate bone in his left hand, which required surgery.

Since he has already missed a significant chunk of the 2016 season, it’s good to see Cervelli avoid a serious injury this time around for Pittsburgh.

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The Houston Astros are reportedly cutting their losses on outfielder Carlos Gomez.

According to Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle, Gomez confirmed the team designated him for assignment Wednesday night. The Astros then made it official, announcing right-hander Jandel Gustave will take Gomez’s spot on the 25-man roster.

“It’s not a secret that I’m not doing my job, and I’m really disappointed in myself,” Gomez said, per MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart.

He also spoke positively about the Astros, per Kaplan: “I know I didn’t do my best. I wish the best to them. They have a great team and organization.”

In one of the biggest deals at the trade deadline last year, Houston acquired Gomez and right-hander Mike Fiers from the Milwaukee Brewers. It was an aggressive move for the Astros, who were contending ahead of schedule.

A little over a year later, Gomez has been a massive disappointment. An All-Star in 2013 and 2014, the 30-year-old has the third-worst WAR (-0.4) on the team this year among position players with at least 100 plate appearances, per FanGraphs. To say he isn’t the player he was with the Brewers would be a understatement:

MLB Network’s Brian Kenny didn’t disagree with Houston’s decision to DFA the veteran outfielder:

The New York Mets originally had a deal in place for Gomez last July, but health concerns led the Mets to pull out of the trade according to the Journal Sentinel‘s Tom Haudricourt. MLB.com’s Mike Petriello figures those who pushed New York to cancel the deal are looking better and better:

Despite his struggles, Gomez is likely to have some interest throughout the league. A contending team could see him as a high-risk, high-reward signing for the stretch run.

Only two years ago, Gomez finished 16th in the National League MVP voting. While he may never be that player again, he could still have a few more solid offensive seasons ahead as long as he can stay healthy.

Gomez’s departure will almost certainly mean Jake Marisnick becomes the full-time center fielder in Houston, with Preston Tucker the likeliest candidate to take over for Marisnick in left.

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A series of Snapchat videos has gotten Yasiel Puig in trouble with the front office of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“We are aware of what Yasiel posted on social media last night, and while we are disappointed in his and some of our players’ judgment, this is a matter we will address internally,” Dodgers president Andrew Friedman said, per the Southern California News Group’s J.P. Hoornstra.

Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan provided a link to the clips. (Warning: Link contains NSFW language):

Beyond some crude language and gestures, the video isn’t all that offensive. Puig and his Oklahoma City Dodgers teammates were partying during a road trip in Des Moines, Iowa.

But given his current situation, the Dodgers are likely expecting Puig to be on his best behavior. The 25-year-old hasn’t played well, and the Los Angeles Times‘ Andy McCullough reported off-field issues played a role in his demotion to the team’s Triple-A affiliate:

But [general manager Farhan Zaidi] acknowledged that Puig’s behavior was a factor. The organization did not portray Puig as an irreconcilable malcontent, crippling the club with his personality. The issues were smaller and subtler, a series of minor indiscretions that piled up.

Despite his ubiquitous Twitter hashtag, Puig sometimes showed up late to meetings. He displayed only intermittent interest in the work necessary to avoid injury. [Manager Dave Roberts] acknowledged Puig lacked consistency in his habits. “Yasiel has to continue to grow,” he said.

As Will Carroll of FanDuel argued, the Dodgers are in a tough place with Puig:

The non-waiver trade deadline has already passed, so that’s not an option if the team is to the point where it sees no future for Puig.

Los Angeles could potentially release the Cuban outfielder. He’s signed through the next two years for a combined $14 million.

Of course, should the Dodgers let him go outright, he’d have no trouble finding a new home. Another team would be more than willing to gamble on Puig in hopes he’d return to his 2013 or 2014 self.

Most likely, the Dodgers will call Puig back up to the majors within the next few weeks. If his behavior or his performance doesn’t drastically improve by the end of the season, Zaidi and Friedman will have the opportunity to shop him around to other teams in the winter and spring.

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New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda remains on the disabled list with a back injury.

Continue for updates.

Duda Out for at Least 30 More Days

Wednesday, August 3

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported that Duda suffered a setback in his recovery from a back injury:

Duda led the Mets in home runs for the second year in a row in 2015. His .486 slugging percentage was the highest of his career, as he hit 27 homers, 33 extra-base hits and drove in 73 runs. The 30-year-old also played in just 135 games, making his production more impressive.

Duda hasn’t slugged at the same rate in 2016, though injuries have hampered his season. He has seven home runs and 19 RBI in 145 plate appearances.

Despite his slight drop-off offensively, the lack of an ideal replacement presents a major problem for the Mets in the event the left-handed slugger misses the rest of the season. James Loney has played decently in place of Duda at first base, hitting .284 with six home runs and 21 RBI.

And the recent addition of Jay Bruce will bolster the middle of the lineup, especially considering the Mets are now without their two starters at the infield corners to open the season, Duda and David Wright. Jose Reyes, Asdrubal Cabrera and Juan Lagares are also on the disabled list, leaving the Mets fairly thin in their everyday lineup at the moment.

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Cleveland Indians catcher Chris Gimenez doesn’t hold any ill will toward Jonathan Lucroy, but that won’t stop Gimenez and his teammates from using the two-time All-Star to motivate them in the stretch run.

The Indians had a deal worked out to acquire Lucroy from the Milwaukee Brewers, but he exercised his no-trade clause and vetoed the agreement. Gimenez was disappointed Cleveland couldn’t land the talented backstop, per Cleveland.com’s Zack Meisel:

Even though he plays my position, he’s definitely an upgrade. It’d be ridiculous to say that he wasn’t. He definitely could’ve helped. At the same time, we feel pretty strongly about the guys we have here, too. Unfortunately, he chose not to be a part of it.

Hopefully, we can win the World Series and we’ll be laughing at him.

Lucroy, who eventually landed with the Texas Rangers, wasn’t the final piece of the puzzle for the Indians, but he unquestionably would have addressed their biggest issue. According to FanGraphs, Cleveland’s catchers have accumulated a league-worst minus-1.1 WAR. Yan Gomes’ shoulder injury further exacerbates the problem.

Sports Illustrated‘s Joe Sheehan tweeted about what could’ve been:

Even without Lucroy, the Indians still have the highest World Series odds (16.7 percent) of any American League team, per Baseball Prospectus. Trading for Andrew Miller also gives Cleveland an elite reliever to complement Cody Allen in the late innings of close games.

If the baseball gods have any sense of humor, the Rangers and Indians will meet at some point in the postseason.

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