AROUND THE HORN
Mets: Ace Jacob deGrom finally returns from a string of injuries to make his season debut in Washington. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner has not pitched in the majors since July 7, 2021. The 34-year-old right-hander was sidelined the final three months of last season with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow, then was shut down late in spring training because of a stress reaction in his right scapula.
Yankees: The Yankees acquired Gold Glove-winning CF Harrison Bader from the Cardinals for LHP Jordan Montgomery, a surprising deal aimed at improving defense. A speedy 28-year-old from Bronxville, N.Y., Bader has not played since June 26 because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. When he returns, he likely would play center field in a move that would put Aaron Judge back in right and see Aaron Hicks in left, with Giancarlo Stanton as the designated hitter. The Yankees traded strikeout-prone OF Joey Gallo to the Dodgers earlier Tuesday for minor league RHP Clayton Beeter. Montgomery was 3-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 21 starts but was 0-2 with a 5.36 ERA in his last eight outings. His departure came one day after Frankie Montas was acquired from the A’S to join Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes and Jameson Taillon in the rotation.
Brewers: The Brewers reshaped their bullpen following the departure of four-time All-Star closer Josh Hader by acquiring injured reliever Trevor Rosenthal from the Giants just before the deadline. The Brewers sent minor league OF Tristan Peters to the Giants. Rosenthal hasn’t pitched since 2020 due to a variety of injuries but is hoping to make it back later this season. He signed a $4.5 million, one-year deal with the Giants last month . ... Former All-Star C Jonathan Lucroy says he is retiring, more than a year after playing his last major league game. Lucroy will be inducted into the team’s wall of honor on Saturday. Lucroy played for the Brewers from 2010-16 and was an All-Star in 2014 and 2016.
Twins: The Twins stocked up their sputtering pitching staff, acquiring starter Tyler Mahle from the Reds and reliever Michael Fulmer from the Tigers in separate deals that forced them to surrender several prospects. The 27-year-old Mahle is 5-7 with a 4.40 ERA in 19 starts with 114 strikeouts over 104
⅓ innings for the Reds. Mahle will help shore up a rotation that has been ravaged by injuries, with Bailey Ober, Josh Winder, Chris Paddack, Kenta Maeda and Randy Dobnak all sidelined. The 29-year-old Fulmer has a 3.20 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 39 ⅓ innings for the Tigers.
Blue Jays: The team acquired two-time All-Star 2B Whit Merrifield from the Royals, even though he was unvaccinated against COVID-19 and had to miss the Royals trip to Toronto last month. It’s unclear whether Merrifield, who has primarily played second base but is capable of playing anywhere in the outfield and across the infield, has received or is planning to get the shot required of all players traveling to Canada. In exchange, the Royals received speedy outfielder Samad Taylor and righthander Max Castillo, both of whom could help their big league team immediately.
Braves: The Braves geared up for their title defense by sending former closer Will Smith to the Astros for RHP Jake Odorizzi, and then acquiring reliever Raisel Iglesias from the Angels.