Padres acquire RHP Hansel Rodriguez from Toronto in exchange for OF Melvin Upton Jr. and cash

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres today announced they have acquired right-handed pitcher Hansel Rodriguez from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. and cash considerations.   Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller made the announcement.

Rodriguez, 19, has gone 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA (11 ER, 32.1 IP) and 26 strikeouts against 11 walks with a .203 opponents batting average in six starts for the Rookie-Level Bluefield Blue Jays. The right-hander was originally signed by Toronto as an international free agent in January 2014 out of the Dominican Republic and made his professional debut in the Blue Jays organization that season. Over parts of three minor league seasons with the Blue Jays (2014-16), he has gone 3-6 with a 4.61 ERA (48 ER, 93.2 IP) and 76 strikeouts against 33 walks with a .252 opponents batting average in 25 total games, 19 starts.

Upton, 31, has hit .256 (88-for-344) with 11 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, 45 RBI and 46 runs scored to go along with 20 stolen bases and a .743 OPS (.304 OBP, .439 SLG) in 92 games for the Padres this season. The outfielder was acquired by the Padres on April 5, 2015 from the Atlanta Braves as part of a six-player transaction. Originally signed by Tampa Bay as a first-round selection (second overall) in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, he has hit .245 (1231-for-5027) with 258 doubles, 31 triples, 160 home runs, 570 RBI and 705 runs scored with 293 stolen bases in 1,412 career games played for Tampa Bay (2004, 2006-12), Atlanta (2013-14) and San Diego (2015-16).

MLB Transactions from July 25, 2016

Chicago White Sox optioned 3B Carlos Sanchez to Charlotte Knights.
Miami Marlins recalled Jarred Cosart from New Orleans Zephyrs.
Chicago White Sox sent LHP Carlos Rodon on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Knights.
St. Louis Cardinals selected the contract of RHP Jerome Williams from Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals transferred RHP Jordan Walden from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Right shoulder strain.
St. Louis Cardinals optioned Mike Mayers to Memphis Redbirds.
Philadelphia Phillies sent OF Aaron Altherr on a rehab assignment to Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
New York Yankees recalled Luis Severino from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Detroit Tigers optioned RHP Buck Farmer to Toledo Mud Hens.
New York Yankees traded LHP Aroldis Chapman to Chicago Cubs for RHP Adam Warren, SS Gleyber Torres, RF Billy McKinney and OF Rashad Crawford.
Milwaukee Brewers placed 3B Will Middlebrooks on the 15-day disabled list. Right lower leg strain.
Milwaukee Brewers recalled Keon Broxton from Colorado Springs Sky Sox.
San Diego Padres recalled Keith Hessler from El Paso Chihuahuas.
San Diego Padres optioned Kevin Quackenbush to El Paso Chihuahuas.
Oakland Athletics recalled Max Muncy from Nashville Sounds.
Oakland Athletics optioned RHP Jesse Hahn to Nashville Sounds.
Toronto Blue Jays activated RF Jose Bautista from the 15-day disabled list.
Toronto Blue Jays designated RF Junior Lake for assignment.
Toronto Blue Jays optioned 1B Chris Colabello to Buffalo Bisons.
Washington Nationals activated LHP Sammy Solis from the 15-day disabled list.
Washington Nationals optioned RHP Lucas Giolito to Syracuse Chiefs.
Colorado Rockies selected the contract of David Dahl from Albuquerque Isotopes.
Colorado Rockies designated LF Brandon Barnes for assignment.
Cleveland Indians sent RHP Zach McAllister on a rehab assignment to Akron RubberDucks.
Philadelphia Phillies placed 2B Andres Blanco on the 15-day disabled list. Fractured left index finger
Philadelphia Phillies recalled Taylor Featherston from Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Houston Astros selected the contract of SS Alex Bregman from Fresno Grizzlies.
Houston Astros designated 2B Danny Worth for assignment.
Arizona Diamondbacks selected the contract of RHP Braden Shipley from Reno Aces.
Arizona Diamondbacks optioned Silvino Bracho to Reno Aces.
Arizona Diamondbacks transferred RHP Rubby De La Rosa from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Right elbow sprain.
LHP Daniel Stumpf returned to Kansas City Royals from Philadelphia Phillies.
Washington Nationals optioned CF Michael Taylor to Syracuse Chiefs.
Los Angeles Dodgers sent RHP Yimi Garcia on a rehab assignment to Tulsa Drillers.

Baseball Capsules (July 26, 2016)

HOUSTON (AP) Austin Romine hit a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning to make a winner of Michael Pineda, and the New York Yankees' bullpen did just fine Monday night without star closer Aroldis Chapman in a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros.

Hours after New York traded Chapman to the Chicago Cubs, All-Star relievers Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller closed out Houston to help the fourth-place Yankees (51-48) move three games above .500 for the first time this season.

Betances struck out the side in the eighth before Miller, back in the ninth-inning role following Chapman's departure, earned his eighth save. The left-hander got Carlos Gomez to ground into a game-ending double play with two on.


Pineda (5-9) pitched seven strong innings to beat Yankees nemesis Dallas Keuchel (6-10), last year's AL Cy Young Award winner.

George Springer hit a leadoff homer and Luis Valbuena had three hits for Houston, which had won four straight. Top prospect Alex Bregman went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in his major league debut.

RANGERS 7, ATHLETICS 6

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Adrian Beltre hit his second home run of the game with two outs in the ninth inning, a two-run shot that rallied Texas past Oakland for its third straight win.

Beltre, who finished with four hits, had two singles in his first three at-bats before hitting a solo homer in the seventh. His game-winning drive came on the first pitch from Ryan Madson (3-4), who had his sixth blown save in 27 opportunities.

Until then, Texas had trailed since Danny Valencia hit a two-run homer for Oakland in the first. All 13 runs in the game were scored with two outs.

Valencia also had the first of three RBI doubles in a three-run third that gave the A's a 5-1 lead.

Ian Desmond hit his 19th homer for the Rangers in the first. Nomar Mazara singled with one out in the ninth.

Jake Diekman (2-1) worked a scoreless inning for the win.

BLUE JAYS 4, PADRES 2

TORONTO (AP) - Aaron Sanchez pitched seven shutout innings to win his 10th consecutive decision, Kevin Pillar had three hits and Toronto beat San Diego.

Sanchez (11-1) became the first Blue Jays pitcher to win 10 straight since Roy Halladay won 15 decisions in a row in 2003. Halladay and Roger Clemens (1998) hold the club record.

Making their first appearance in Toronto, the Padres were held scoreless until Alex Dickerson hit a two-run homer off Bo Schultz in the ninth. Dickerson's drive into the fifth deck extended San Diego's team-record streak of games with at least one home run to 23. The 2006 Atlanta Braves were the last National League team to homer in 23 straight games.

Roberto Osuna replaced Schultz and got two outs for his 21st save.

Sanchez has not lost since April 22 against Oakland, a span of 16 starts.

Colin Rea (5-5) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings.

BREWERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 2

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Martin Maldonado hit a three-run homer and Milwaukee went deep four times, spoiling the major league debut of Arizona pitching prospect Braden Shipley.

Scooter Gennett, Jonathan Villar and pinch-hitter Andy Wilkins also connected for the Brewers. Chase Anderson (5-10) went five innings to beat his former team for his first win since June 8.

Shipley (0-1) was selected 15th overall by the Diamondbacks in the 2013 amateur draft. He doubled and scored in the third but was chased by Maldonado's homer in the sixth.

WHITE SOX 5, CUBS 4

CHICAGO (AP) - Tyler Saladino hit a game-ending RBI single to put a damper on the Cubs' trade for Aroldis Chapman.

J.B. Shuck sparked the winning rally with a leadoff single against Mike Montgomery (3-5), who was acquired in a deal with Seattle last week. Shuck advanced on Dioner Navarro's sacrifice and Saladino followed with a bouncer into center field.

Dan Jennings (4-2) got two outs for the win. The White Sox also got two victories in their last at-bat on Sunday against Detroit.

The Cubs trailed 4-2 before Dexter Fowler and Anthony Rizzo each hit an RBI single in the ninth. They had runners on first and second with two out when Jennings struck out Jason Heyward to escape the threat.

ORIOLES 3, ROCKIES 2

BALTIMORE (AP) - Adam Jones scored the winning run in the 10th inning on a low throw to the plate by pitcher Jordan Lyles, and Baltimore won its fifth straight.

Jones reached on a one-out single off the third-base bag and took third on a single by Jonathan Schoop. Manny Machado followed with a comebacker to Lyles, who fumbled the ball before throwing home. Catcher Nick Hundley caught the ball near the ground and lost the handle while attempting to tag the sliding Jones.

Lyles (2-3) was charged with an error on the play.

Chaz Roe (1-0) worked the 10th for the win.

TIGERS 4, RED SOX 2

BOSTON (AP) - Jose Iglesias hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, Justin Verlander pitched six solid innings and Detroit spoiled Drew Pomeranz's second start with Boston.

Verlander (10-6) allowed one run and five hits and struck out five to pick up the victory. Detroit pulled within 5 1/2 games of idle AL Central-leading Cleveland.

Francisco Rodriguez earned his 28th save.

Pomeranz (8-8), recently acquired from the San Diego Padres, gave up four hits and struck out seven in six innings. Both of the runs he allowed came via Iglesias' homer.

PHILLIES 4, MARLINS 0

MIAMI (AP) - Jeremy Hellickson dominated Miami for a second straight start, throwing six innings of one-hit ball.

Tommy Joseph hit a two-out RBI double in the top of the eighth to break a scoreless tie, and David Hernandez (2-3) pitched an inning in relief to earn the victory in a combined two-hitter.

Hellickson has been the subject of trade rumors, some connecting him to the Marlins.

Miami outfielder Ichiro Suzuki grounded out in his only at-bat - a pinch-hit appearance in the eighth - to remain at 2,996 career hits.

Fernando Rodney (1-3) allowed Joseph's double to left-center field.

ANGELS 6, ROYALS 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Albert Pujols drove in four runs and Hector Santiago won his fifth consecutive start for Los Angeles.

Pujols leads the majors with 26 RBIs in July, including 16 in his past eight games.

Santiago (9-4) is 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA in July. He held the Royals to two runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

Ian Kennedy (6-9) is 0-3 in five starts since a victory June 26.

Rockies' Trevor Story named National League Player of the Week

Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story has been named National League Player of the Week for the week ending July 24th. The announcement was made yesterday on MLB Network.

In seven games last week, Story led the Majors with six home runs, 30 total bases, and a 1.304 slugging percentage, while tying for the lead in RBI (12) and runs (10). The 23-year-old rookie was tied for third among NL hitters with a .478 batting average (11-for-23) and a .571 on-base percentage last week, and he was tied for second in hits. He added four walks and a pair of stolen bases to his weekly totals, helping his club win five of seven contests.

Story capped his stellar weekly performance with a 2-for-4 effort in Sunday's series finale against Atlanta, hitting his 27th home run of the season in a 7-2 victory. The 27 homers are the most by a rookie shortstop in NL history and are the third-most in Major League history behind Cal Ripken Jr.'s 28 (1982) and Nomar Garciaparra's 30 (1997). Story's 27 long balls surpassed Todd Helton (25 in 1998) for the second-most by a rookie in franchise history, trailing only Wilin Rosario (28 in 2012). Story notched his fourth multi-homer game of the season in Saturday's contest while collecting a career-high four hits and five RBI in an 8-4 victory over the Braves. The only other shortstop in franchise history to post as many multi-homer games in a season as Story was Troy Tulowitzki, who also had four in 2010. The right-handed-hitting slugger currently leads the NL in home runs, and his 69 RBI rank fifth. This is his second career Player of the Week honor, having won previously this season for the week of April 4th-10th.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Jedd Gyorko (.393, 7 R, 10 H, 5 HR, 8 RBI, .926, .433 OBP) of the St. Louis Cardinals; Cincinnati's Billy Hamilton (.393, 7 R, 11 H, 8 SB, .414 OBP); Justin Turner (.393, 7 R, 11 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Miami's Christian Yelich (.387, 8 R, 12 H, 3 HR, 6 RBI, .742 SLG, .406 OBP) and Jose Fernandez (1-0, 2.70 ERA, 21 SO, 13.1 IP); and Philadelphia's Zach Eflin (1-0, 0.00 ERA, CG, SHO, 6 SO, 9.0 IP).

In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Trevor Story will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com. 

Red Sox's Hanley Ramirez named American League Player of the Week

Boston Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez has been named the American League Player of the Week for the period ending July 24th. The announcement was made yesterday on MLB Network.

Ramirez batted .333 (7-for-21) with six runs scored, five home runs and 12 RBI over six games to claim his third career Player of the Week Award and first in the AL, last winning in the National League with the Florida Marlins on June 28, 2009. Among his AL counterparts, Hanley finished the period first in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage (1.048), tied for first in extra-base hits (5), second in total bases (22) and tied for third in runs scored.

On Wednesday night against the San Francisco Giants at Fenway Park, the right-handed slugger went 3-for-4 with three home runs and six RBI. The three-homer output tied a Red Sox single-game record, a feat accomplished 28 times by 23 different players. Hanley's teammate and 2016 AL All-Star Mookie Betts was the last player to do so, earlier this season on May 31st at Baltimore. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only other years in which the Red Sox had two three-home run games in the same season were 1957 (both by Hall of Famer Ted Williams) and 1999 (Trot Nixon and Nomar Garciaparra). The three-time NL All-Star set career highs in home runs and RBI in the contest, and became only the seventh player in club history with at least three home runs and six RBI in a game at Fenway Park, joining Williams, Bobby Doerr, Clyde Vollmer, Norm Zauchin, Jack Clark and Garciaparra (twice). Each of Ramirez's three round-trippers came with a runner on base. According to Elias, the last player to hit three homers with at least one man on base in a game was Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers on May 8, 2012 at Baltimore, and the last Red Sox player to accomplish the feat was Hall of Famer Jim Rice on August 29, 1983 at Toronto. Ramirez, a native of the Dominican Republic, finished his award-winning week by going 3-for-7 with two home runs and six RBI over the weekend, establishing a season-high RBI total over any two-game stretch. Boston went 4-2 in the first full week following the 2016 Midsummer Classic and now sits just 1.5 games back of the Baltimore Orioles for the top spot in the competitive AL East.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Hanley's teammate Rick Porcello (2-0, 2.77 ERA, 13.0 IP, 11 SO); Jose Altuve (.560, 14 H, 6 RBI, .593 OBP) and George Springer (.360, 7 R, 3 2B, 7 RBI) of the Houston Astros; Corey Dickerson (.423, 6 R, 11 H, 5 XBH) of the Tampa Bay Rays; Kendall Graveman (2-0, 2.81 ERA, 1 CG, 16.0 IP) and Jake Smolinski (.500, 3 2B, .950 SLG, .565 OBP) of the Oakland Athletics; and Tyler Naquin (.389, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI) of the Cleveland Indians.

In recognition of his American League Player of the Week Award, Hanley Ramirez will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com. 

Cubs acquire Aroldis Chapman from Yankees,

The New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs on Monday reportedly engaged in a trade that sent a popular relief pitcher to Chicago.

The Yankees traded reliever Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs for four players.

The Yankees in return will reportedly recieve 19-year-old shortstop Gleyber Torres, the Cubs' No. 1 prospect and No. 24 overall per MLB Pipeline, outfielder Billy McKinney, right-hander Adam Warren and outfielder Rashad Crawford.

Chapman, 28, is 3-0 with 20 saves and a 2.01 ERA in 31 appearances this season, striking out 44 batters in 31 1/3 innings. He is eligible for free agency after this season, though reports Sunday afternoon indicated the Cubs wished to engage in contract extension talks before agreeing to the trade.

McKinney, 21, came to the Cubs with shortstopAddison Russell in 2014 in the deal that sentJeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the A's. McKinney, who ranks fifth in the Cubs' system and No. 75 overall, is hitting .252 with one home run, 12 doubles and three triples in 88 games for Double-A Tennessee this season. The left-handed hitter is a former first-round Draft pick and profiles as a left fielder in the Majors.

Warren is returning to the Yankees, with whom he began his Major League career before being traded to the Cubs this offseason for Starlin Castro. The right-handed swingman is 3-2 with a 5.91 ERA in 29 appearances this season, including one start. He was in the process of being stretched out at Triple-A Iowa for additional rotation depth.

Crawford, 22, was the Cubs' 11th-round Draft pick in 2012. He is hitting .255 with three homers and eight triples in 83 games with Myrtle Beach.

White Sox suspend top pitcher Chris Sale for 5 days

By the Associated Press.

CHICAGO (AP) – The Chicago White Sox were set to wear throwback uniforms. Chris Sale had other ideas.

The White Sox suspended their ace five days without pay for destroying collared throwback uniforms the team was scheduled to wear.

The team announced the punishment on Sunday after Sale was scratched from his scheduled start and sent home the previous night.

The suspension comes to $250,000 of his $9.15 million salary. He was also fined about $12,700 - the cost of the destroyed jerseys - according to a person familiar with the penalty. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized.

"Obviously we're all extremely disappointed that we have to deal with this issue at this time both from the standpoint of the club as well as Chris' perspective," general manager Rick Hahn said. "It's unfortunate that it has become this level of an issue and potential distraction taking away from what we're trying to accomplish on the field."

Sale was not expected at the ballpark on Sunday. He is eligible to return Thursday against the crosstown Cubs at Wrigley Field, though Hahn would not say if the left-hander would start that game.

The Major League Baseball Players Association declined comment, spokesman Greg Bouris said. Sale could ask the union to file a grievance.

FanRag Sports first reported Sale was protesting the 1976-style jerseys, which were navy and sported unusual collars on a hot and humid night.

Sale then cut up an unknown number of jerseys before the game and was told to leave the stadium. With not enough usable 1976 jerseys available, the White Sox wore white throwback uniforms from the 1983 season.

The incident comes with the White Sox in a tailspin after a 23-10 start and Sale's name circulating in trade rumors.

"The actions or behaviors of the last 24 hours does not change in any aspect, any respect, our belief that Chris Sale can help this club win a championship and win multiple championships," Hahn said. "It does not move the needle one iota in terms of his value to this club, his value to any other club that may be interested in his services or the likelihood of him being moved or kept whatsoever. None of that stuff is impacted at all by these events."

The incident does raise some questions in general about throwback uniforms, how players feel about them and whether they should be forced to wear jerseys that aren't comfortable - particularly starting pitchers.

"If I'm playing with Chris Sale I want him to pitch," Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said. "If he wants to play with no shirt, we play with no shirt. I just want him to pitch."

New York Yankees pitcher Chasen Shreve said: "Pitchers like their stuff. Me, it doesn't bother me, but for him, obviously it does. It's crazy. I don't think I'm that bad."

White Sox pitcher James Shields wouldn't comment on whether players should be made to wear throwback jerseys. But he did say: "I don't really mind the throwbacks. I haven't had any issues with that."

Manager Robin Ventura said players occasionally wearing uniforms they don't like comes with the job.

"But you wear it," he said. "If you want to rip it after, you can rip it up after. I've seen guys rip it up after."

Hahn said throwback uniforms the White Sox wore last season were a bit baggy so the team took measurements in spring training so they would fit the players better. He also mentioned the money the uniforms generate.

"Part of the element of being in position to win a championship is the revenue side of the operation and respect for their reasonable requests to increase revenue," Hahn said.

This wasn't the first flare-up involving the 27-year-old Sale, who is known for his competitive streak and strict training regimen.

He was openly critical of team executive Ken Williams during spring training when he said Drake LaRoche, the son of teammate Adam LaRoche, would no longer be allowed in the clubhouse. Adam LaRoche retired as a result, and Sale hung the LaRoches' jerseys in his locker.

He was also suspended five games by Major League Baseball last season for his role in a brawl at Kansas City that started with a flare-up between teammate Adam Eaton and the Royals' Yordano Ventura. Sale went to the Royals clubhouse after he got tossed and was seen pounding on the door.

Hahn said the punishment was unrelated to previous incidents. He also said the two had a "very candid" meeting in his office with Sale after the pitcher had some exchanges with staff members in the clubhouse and that both "expressed remorse." They spoke again on Sunday.

"At that point last night Chris stood by his actions," Hahn said. "Part of what makes Chris great, part of what makes him elite, is his passion and commitment. We've seen that sometimes spill out from between the white lines. Yesterday was one of those instances and it unfortunately led to events that required discipline."