National League notes
NL EAST Atlanta Braves
The Braves reworked their bullpen at the trade deadline by acquiring RHP Shane Greene from the Detroit Tigers, RHP
Mark Melancon from the San Francisco Giants and RHP Chris Martin from the Texas Rangers. Greene became the closer with Melancon as the setup man, but with 183 career saves, Melancon also is suited for that role.
“We feel confident we’re a better club,” general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. “How much better? That’s still hard to say. At the minimum, we feel we made the bullpen a lot stronger.”
Greene gave up four runs in his first two outings, including a decisive three-run homer Aug. 4 against the Cincinnati Reds.
❚ RHP Kevin Gausman, a big trade-deadline acquisition last year, was claimed on waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. He had a 6.19 ERA in 16 starts with the Braves.
Miami Marlins
The Marlins believe they acquired their shortstop of the future when they got Jazz Chisholm from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for RHP Zac Gallen. The 21-year-old Chisholm, a native of the Bahamas, had 18 home runs in 89 games at Class AA Jackson (Tennessee) before the trade.
“I think you can put whatever ceiling you want on him,” president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. “When you talk about his total package and what he brings to the table — his Gold Glove defense, his power from a position that you don’t expect power, his athleticism — the sky’s the limit when you talk about what he’s able to do on a baseball field.”
❚ The Marlins apologized for a tweet that made light of how Australian zookeeper Steve Irwin, TV’s “Crocodile Hunter,” died in 2006. The tweet to the Tampa Bay Rays said “you’re literally the animal that killed Steve Irwin.”
New York Mets
A disappointing first half had the Mets set up to be tradedeadline sellers, but the story changed during a July run in which they went 14-8.
While that still left them three games under .500, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen saw enough (and saw little enough being offered) that he kept RHP Noah Syndergaard and RHP Zack Wheeler and acquired RHP Marcus Stroman, who got a no-decision in his Mets debut.
“This team has earned the right to now go play meaningful games over the course of the next two months,” Van Wagenen said.
❚ 2B Robinson Cano had 10 hits in his last five games when he tore his left hamstring while rounding first base on another hit Aug. 4. Cano strained the quad in the same leg earlier this season.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies spent the first half of the season expecting to get RHP David Robertson back from the injured list. Instead, the reliever with a two-year, $23 million contract had season-ending surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right elbow and still might need Tommy John surgery, which would sideline him for much of next season as well.
“I am pretty frustrated with myself and pretty disappointed because I really wanted to step in and be on this team and help make a difference,” Robertson said.
The Phillies also lost LHP Adam Morgan, who had appeared in 40 games, to a flexor tendon injury that will keep him out indefinitely.
❚ 3B Maikel Franco, once considered a cornerstone of the Phillies’ rebuild, was optioned to Class AAA Lehigh Valley (Allentown, Pennsylvania) when IF Brad Miller was activated from the injured list. That made IF-OF Scott Kingery the regular third baseman.
Washington Nationals
The names might not be the biggest, but the Nationals believe they strengthened their bullpen by adding LHP Roenis
Elias, RHP Hunter Strickland and RHP Daniel Hudson in trade-deadline deals.
Along with RHPs Fernando Rodney, Wander Suero and Tanner Rainey, they give manager Dave Martinez options in front of closer Sean Doolittle.
However, Elias strained his right hamstring running out a ground ball during his first appearance with the Nationals and went on the injured list.
❚ With the Nationals in playoff contention, there was no chance they were going to trade 3B Anthony Rendon, who can be a free agent after the season. Rendon said he likely will test the open market this winter.
NL CENTRAL Chicago Cubs
The Cubs were short-handed in the bullpen and behind the plate when closer Craig Kimbrel (sore right knee) and C
Willson Contreras (strained right hamstring) were placed on the injured list.
Contreras, expected to be out for four weeks, was replaced by Victor Caratini. The loss of Kimbrel was compounded by the fact that RHP Pedro Strop, who has 22 saves over the last two seasons, also was on the IL.
❚ IF/OF Ben Zobrist, on the restricted list since May 8 while dealing with a divorce from his wife, Julianna, began a rehab assignment with low Class A South Bend (Indiana). He is not expected to be a full-time player when he returns.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds pulled a surprise at the trade deadline when they dealt for Cleveland Indians RHP Trevor Bauer despite being all but out of the playoff picture.
Bauer made his Reds debut Aug. 3 and had a no-decision against the Braves at Atlanta. He pitched 42⁄3 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits.
Bauer is under club contractual control through next season before he can become a free agent. He takes the rotation spot of RHP Tanner Roark, who was dealt to the Oakland Athletics and won his debut Aug. 4.
❚ Manager David Bell is scheduled to return to the dugout Aug. 8. Bell was suspended for six games by Major League Baseball for his role in a benches-clearing brawl with the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 31.