MLB Baseball 3 Days

Last updated: July 26, 2026, 8:31 AM ET

Injury Bug Continues to Bite as Teams Shuffle Rosters

The injury bug continued to spread across MLB this past week, forcing several teams to make significant roster adjustments. The Los Angeles Dodgers are exercising caution with Shohei Ohtani, with manager Dave Roberts noting a "little bit of regression" after his last bullpen session, leading to him skipping his scheduled Saturday session. Roberts indicated he doesn't expect Ohtani back in the rotation next week and that the team will not rush his return. The Mets placed All-Star Juan Soto on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain, a significant blow to their lineup. Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung was also placed on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Wednesday, with a left calf strain, prompting the recall of infielder Josh Smith from Triple-A. Minnesota Twins right-hander Mike Paredes was scratched from his start Saturday due to a left oblique strain just minutes before the game. The Houston Astros placed starter Luis Arrighetti on the 15-day injured list with nerve irritation in his right foot and recalled Bryan King. The Athletics placed right-hander J.T. Ginn on the 15-day IL with a blister on his pitching hand. Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. landed on the injured list for the first time in his career with lower back tightness. The Guardians activated outfielder Angel Martinez from the 10-day IL and reliever Tim Herrin from the 15-day IL. Brewers infielder David Hamilton has been activated from the injured list after recovering from a left hamstring strain. Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. was a potential returnee from the IL for Atlanta's series starting Friday.

Player Milestones and Trade Activity Highlight Week

While injuries dominated headlines, several players reached significant milestones and teams engaged in trade activity. Salvador Perez continued his march up the Royals' all-time home run list, hitting his 318th career homer Saturday to break George Brett's franchise record. Perez had tied Brett's record with his 317th homer on Wednesday. The Red Sox and Nationals swapped young players, with Boston acquiring infielder Curtis Mead for left-hander Connelly Early. The Red Sox are also expected to activate left-hander Ranger Suarez from the injured list to start Sunday's series finale. The Pirates acquired reliever Ron Marinaccio from San Diego to bolster their bullpen. The Athletics reinstated slugger Nick Kurtz from the 10-day IL and slotted him into the lineup as the designated hitter. Injured pitcher Clay Holmes is reportedly available in trade talks for the Mets.

Off-Field Developments and Future Outlook

Off-field developments included a significant investment in the Athletics and a potential shift in draft policy. Harbinger Sports Partners, an investment group including Mark Cuban, has purchased a minority stake in the Athletics ahead of their planned move to Las Vegas in 2028. MLB proposed cutting the draft to 12 rounds and reducing amateur signing bonuses, moves the MLBPA has called to preserve the current system. Marlins minor leaguer Eiver Mosquera has been suspended for 80 games following a positive test for boldenone. Tarik Skubal expressed his desire to finish the season with the Tigers and win the World Series. Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the projected allocation of the 2026 Major League Baseball pre-arbitration bonus pool. Rintaro Sasaki chose to sign with the Marlins, citing the quickest path to the major leagues. Yankees shortstop José Caballero was charged with a pitch clock violation that led to a strikeout and the ejection of hitting coach James Rowson. Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro missed a game for a personal matter. The Dodgers were honored at the White House by President Donald Trump. ESPN's Week 17 forecaster provides previews and rankings for the upcoming week. Trade deadline farm system reports for all 30 teams are available. Discussions continue on a new CBA, salary cap, and other key issues. Dylan Beavers delivered his third career walk-off hit for the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night.