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The Toronto Blue Jays are off today and will start a series tomorrow on the road against the Los Angeles Angels. The Blue Jays are coming off a tough series loss this weekend to the Cleveland Guardians, in which they were outscored 13-12. They are 4-6 in their last ten games, averaging 3.3 runs per game while allowing 5.2 runs per game. Today, they made a flurry of roster moves as they announced the signings of right-handed pitchers Spencer Turnbull and Jose Urena. To make room on the roster, they transferred pitchers Max Scherzer and Erik Swanson from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. They also optioned left-handed pitcher Josh Walker to Triple-A Buffalo.
Spencer Turnbull
Turnbull spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies. He made 17 appearances with seven of those coming as starts, going 3-0 with a 2.65 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and 58 strikeouts in 54.1 innings. Turnbull also made one appearance at Triple-A for the Phillies, going two innings, giving up two runs on two hits. He walked one and struck out two.
Jose Urena
Urena made one appearance for the Mets this season. He went three innings, giving up five runs on seven hits. Urena walked one and struck out three. He made three starts at Triple-A Syracuse, going 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, and eight strikeouts in 9.1 innings.
Max Scherzer
Scherzer is dealing with right thumb inflammation. He’s been out since March 29th when he left his Blue Jays debut. He lasted just three innings, giving up two runs on three hits. Scherzer didn’t issue a walk and struck out one.
Erik Swanson
Swanson has been out as he’s dealing with median nerve entrapment. He’s been dealing with it since Spring Training. Last season, in 45 games with the Blue Jays, he went 2-2 with a 5.03 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. In the minors last season, he made 19 appearances, going 1-1 with a 10.70 ERA, a 2.32 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.
Josh Walker
Walker, in three appearances, posted a 7.20 ERA, a 2.00 WHIP, and eight strikeouts in five innings. He made six appearances at Triple-A Buffalo, posting a 2.57 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP, and ten strikeouts in seven innings.
More must-reads:
- Mets' slide continues with arguably their worst loss of the season
- Astros get pitching help just in the nick of time
- The 'MLB active hits leaders' quiz
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Cubs Have Another Breakout Hitting Prospect Rising Fast In Farm System Thanks To Consistent Bat
The Chicago Cubs have been dazzled by the progress of the bat of Moisés Ballesteros, who earned a call-up at 21 years old earlier this season. Turns out there is another Venezuelan prospect with similar credentials right behind him at Double-A Knoxville. Pedro Ramirez isn’t talked about as much in the Cubs’ system right now. As the Cubs’ system is among the best in baseball and features several highly respected hitters, it’s not unexpected to see the 21-year-old Ramirez get lost in the shuffle. Well, that’s changing. Recently, MLB Pipeline highlighted a breakthrough prospect for each team, one that was lightly thought of at the start of the season but has since broken through and risen quickly up each team’s Top 30 rankings. Ramirez was the selection for the Cubs, as he has risen to No. 7 this season. Pedro Ramirez’s Breakthrough Season Ramirez signed for $75,000 in 2021 as an international free agent, the same year his countryman, Ballesteros, signed a $1.2 million deal. While Ballesteros has risen quickly due to his power profile, Ramirez has had a steadier development, highlighted by a consistent slash since he started playing pro baseball in 2021. With Double-A Knoxville this season he has slashed .272/.344/.380 with seven home runs and 50 RBI. That’s what the Cubs organization has come to expect from the switch-hitting infielder, who can play second base and third base. In five seasons of minor league baseball, he’s finished a season batted .300 or better twice and has never had a slash line worse than the .266/.358/.404 he posted in 2023, which was his year with a full-season affiliate at Class-A Myrtle Beach. He may not have a lot of power, but he makes great contact, avoids strikeouts — he’s never had more than 100 in a season — and draws close to 50 walks per season. Those are the kind of number that help earn a player like Ramirez a shot at a Major League job, likely as a utility player to start. Cubs Top 10 Prospects Ramirez isn’t the only Cubs prospect to keep an eye on as the organization features several high-level prospects that are ready for the Major League, including No. 1 prospect and outfielder Owen Caissie per Pipeline. Caissie was the object of great speculation at the trade deadline, but the Cubs hung on to him and he remains at Triple-A Iowa waiting for either an injury or 2026 to make a full MLB debut. He could be a selection for a September call-up when rosters expand. Right behind him is Ballesteros, who made his MLB debut earlier this year and is back at Iowa. Shortstop Jefferson Rojas is No. 3 in the system and is playing at Double-A Knoxville. He can also play second base, but the Cubs are set at both positions with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner, respectively. Another coveted trade piece, outfielder Kevin Alcántara, is No. 4 and playing at Iowa. Pitcher Jaxon Wiggins is ranked No. 5 and is also playing at Knoxville. He is another highly regarded prospect that could be ready next year. The highly versatile Jonathan Long, who can play both corner positions and outfield and is playing at Iowa, is No. 6. After Ramirez, right-handed pitcher Brandon Birdsell is No. 8 and pitching at Iowa, while No. 9 prospect and infielder James Triantos is also at Iowa. Middle infielder Cristian Hernandez, who is playing for High-A South Bend, rounds out the Top 10.
Packers' Josh Jacobs speaks out on Matt LaFleur’s unclear plan
There is no denying who the alpha is in the Green Bay Packers running back room. After burning rubber for 1,329 rushing yards to go with 15 rushing touchdowns on 301 carries in the 2024 NFL season, Jacobs is expected to carry most of the load again in the Packers’ ground attack in 2025. Besides being a reliable and effective weapon on offense for the Packers, Jacobs was also durable in his first season with the team, having appeared in all of Green Bay’s 17 games in the regular season and in the lone contest in the NFL playoffs. Look for the 27-year-old former Alabama Crimson Tide star running back to be there starting in the backfield along with quarterback Jordan Love in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL regular season against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. But as for his availability and usage in this coming Saturday’s preseason opener at home versus the New York Jets, it won’t be surprising if he gets zero snaps at all, considering that there’s really nothing important on the line. Jacobs is ready whenever he’s called upon by the Green Bay Packers Jacobs said on Thursday that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has yet to convey a concrete plan for the Jets game. Nevertheless, he’ll be ready. Via Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers’ official website: Jacobs is on board with whatever direction LaFleur and the coaches decide to go but said wouldn’t mind getting “a couple series” to reacclimate to tackling. “We’ll see how it’ll play out,” Jacobs said. “(LaFleur) hasn’t really told us what we’re gonna do. But I think I’ll get a couple hits, get a little feel of it and be cool.” The Packers will also play the Indianapolis Colts on the road in Week 2 of the preseason before meeting the Seattle Seahawks for their final assignment before the regular season starts.
Celtics Seeking Another Blockbuster Trade on $100 Million Scorer
The Celtics need not be in a hurry to get further under the NBA's luxury tax threshold, now that they've successfully navigated the dreaded second apron, unloading stars Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in trades and letting the likes of Luke Kornet and, likely soon, Al Horford walk in free agency. Still, Boston is looking to create as much flexibility as possible this season, with star forward Jayson Tatum out for the year with an Achilles tendon tear and the roster generally depleted all around, as the Celtics begin paying the cost for the contracts team honcho Brad Stevens handed out as they were winning the 2024 NBA championship. That means the chief prize the Celtics got back in making the trade that sent Holiday to the Blazers--Anfernee Simons, the 26-year-old scorer who is in the final year of a four-year, $100 million contract--is still available on the trade market, according to league insider Jake Fischer. Celtics Salary Dumps Continue The Celtics did make one salary-dump trade this week, sending Georges Niang to Utah. Niang was owed $8.2 million for the 2025-26 season, and is now the Jazz's problem. He was sent to Boston in the Porzingis trade. Writes Fischer on The Stein Line substack on Sunday: "The Celtics discussed trading Niang with various teams around the league, sources say, in their continued salary-shaving campaign following the luxury-tax-slashing trades that shipped out Jrue Holiday and Porzingis. "The expectation persists, furthermore, that Boston will continue to invite trade discussion involving Anfernee Simons from now through next season's trade deadline on Feb. 5 at 3 PM ET." Simons averaged 19.3 points per game last season in Portland, and was down somewhat on his 3-point shooting, at 36.3%. Still, he should bounce back, as he is a 38.1% career 3-point shooter, and if he returns to form, his market value will only get that much stronger ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
Red Wings Announce Major Change for Their 100th Season and Fans Are Fired Up
The Red Wings have announced that they are bringing back their iconic 'Hockeytown' logo to center ice at Little Caesars Arena for their 100th year in the NHL. A somewhat familiar look is coming back to center ice at Little Caesars Arena, which has been the home of the Detroit Red Wings since 2017. A special fan polling has resulted in the announcement that the iconic former 'Hockeytown' logo from Joe Louis Arena, their former home, is coming back as part of a new special logo for the team's 100th year. Asia Gholston, Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing for Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, released the following statement. The center ice fan vote, launched in partnership with Meijer, was a great way to get fans involved in Red Wings Centennial right from the start. Through an incredible response to this vote, fans have made it clear they're fired up for what's to come in celebrating 100 years of Hockeytown, which is only possible due to their unwavering support for the Winged Wheel. The Red Wings featured the 'Hockeytown' logo at Joe Louis Arena in 1996, which remained until the building's closure in 2017. The Red Wings then used the same logo in their 1st year at Little Caesars Arena, but since then have just utilized a large team logo. The Red Wings celebrate their 100th year in the NHL The Red Wings were founded in 1926, but are in the midst of the longest drought of postseason hockey in their history. Considering that they've now been around for 100 years, that postseason absence is a surprising statistic. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has started to feel some heat for having not been able to get the team to the postseason in each of his first 6 years on the job.
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