The latest MLB rumors feature a Dodgers prospect that is struggling, a possible Rays move, and the fate on a Cubs-Cody Bellinger extension.
Dodgers may send Miguel Vargas down
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic (subscription required) noted that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Miguel Vargas could be sent down to the minor leagues as he works through early-career struggles. Roberts, however, described the options with Vargas as wide-ranging, saying that all options should be examined to help the struggling young player.
Vargas has primarily been used as a second baseman this season but is batting below .200 with an OPS+ of 80.
After appearing in 18 games last season, Vargas's rookie status is still intact this season as he's appeared in 81 games so far this season.
As the top prospect in the Dodgers system, sending him down would create some holes in the infield that the Dodgers may need to get creative to fill, including using existing players not familiar with infield roles there. The trade market, of course, might be somewhere to look, too, if Los Angeles feels Vargas is unreliable for the remainder of the season.
Vargas has had just over 500 plate appearances at the Triple-A level.
Rays have pitching need and have a target already
According to Marc Tompkins, the Tampa Bay Rays are losing Drew Rasmussen for the remainder of the season, as he's undergoing an InternalBrace installation surgery.
This is the third surgery for Rasmussen who also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016 and 2017,as ESPN points out. He pitched eight games this season to the tune of a 2.62 ERA and 1.052 WHIP. He has been on the 60-day IL since mid-May, and now he'll be out for the season.
The Rays, who were likely already looking for a pitcher, are even more firmly in the competitive market for a pitcher via a signing. Chris Flexen is catching the Rays' eye already according to Topkin, and H/T to MLB Trade Rumors.
Flexen's stat sheet will likely give Rays fans some pause. He has posted a 7-plus ERA and a 1.857 WHIP. He started four games this year, including a 10-hit and 9-hit outing. Flexen was acquired from the Mariners by the Mets and released immediately.
Flexen is still available on the open market and a low-risk signing for a team like the Rays who might need the pitching but feel they can't be competitive in the trade market where plenty of other teams are looking for the same thing.
It would surely be a project for the Rays, but perhaps one worth taking on given the fact that they now know they will be without Rasmussen.
Cody Bellinger extension appearing increasingly unlikely for Cubs
Cody Bellinger and the Chicago Cubs signed a one-year deal that worked for both sides this winter. For the Cubs, it would get them stopgap talent in the outfield with short-term sunk costs and commitment if the former MVP's batting woes continued to be pervasive.
For Bellinger, it gave him a year of certain earnings to rebuild his reputation and prove to himself as well as general managers that he can still hack it.
Prove that he has, with his reputation coming to a season-high this weekend in the Bronx. In an interleague series against the Yankees, Bellinger not only lead the Cubs to their first ever road victory against the Yanks, but he's also gone 2-for-7 with a home run in the first two games.
Ironically, the Yankees are a team that could certainly use Bellinger's defensive presence in the outfield as well as the .298/.353/.493 slash line he's producing this season. Those numbers would rank first, second, and second, respectively among qualified players, if he were on the Yankees. He'd be a runner-up to Aaron Judge in the latter two metrics.
Chicago does not seem overly willing to trade Bellinger, as much as it might seem to make sense to do so, though. The team has repeatedly said they felt they can be more competitive with the team they have, and that may lead to the team holding on to trade chips like Marcus Stroman and Bellinger, both of whom have outs on their contracts after this season.
The other option for both players is an in-season extension. Reportedly, the Cubs aren't interested in extending Stroman, and it seems as though they're uninterested in any more midseason extensions. Ian Happ received an extension early in the season, but since then, the Cubs have not altered any contracts substantially.
Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic pointed out that Bellinger's agent, Scott Boras, is also unlikely to negotiate a midseason extension (subscription required) since Boras encourages his clients to wait for the open market to gain more leverage and power at the bartering table.
Bellinger might be a sought-after player, but the Cubs could very well end up hanging on for dear life to the remainder of his one-year deal. The trade deadline is August 1, and the Cubs will need to decide how likely they feel it is they'll be able to be competitive. If a miss on playoff positioning seems likely, it would figure that Bellinger, sans an extension, should be on the move.
