Cory Moen

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Outfielder Lane Thomas and left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter are headed to the Atlanta Braves in a trade. Thomas was a popular name in trade rumors over the past few weeks, and it is not surprising to see him moved ahead of Monday's trade deadline. Falter has spent the year between the majors and Triple-A, with 5 appearances, two starts, and 9 ⅔ innings pitched. His results in the majors have not been great, but the Braves will be betting on his upside, as he is under team control for two more years after this season through the arbitration process. Falter was designated for assignment in late May and has spent part of this season on the injured list with elbow inflammation. Thomas is a rental bat who has been the source of many trade rumors over the past few weeks. He does most of his damage against left-handed pitching, with an .800 OPS against left-handed pitching, as opposed to a .719 OPS versus right-handers. He will provide additional depth in the outfield for the Braves and specifically lengthen their lineup versus southpaws. As a team, Atlanta has a .705 OPS against left-handed pitching, so he will provide an upgrade, especially in that area. In return, the Braves are sending LHP Carter Holton and RHP Lucas Braun to Kansas City. Holton was the Braves' second-round pick in 2024 and has pitched this year between the Arizona Complex League and Single-A. He has appeared in 10 games, with eight starts, throwing 41 ⅔ innings and recording 41 strikeouts with 16 walks, posting a 4.32 ERA. Lucas Braun was a sixth round pick by the Braves in 2023 and has pitched this year between Double-A and Triple-A. He has thrown 94 ⅓ innings, with a 3.53 ERA with 82 strikeouts over 19 appearances and 17 starts. Braun was ranked 8th in the Braves system on MLB.com. View full article

The Royals have placed RHP Beck Way on the injured list and recalled RHP Easton McGee. Way, a rookie, has pitched in 19 games with the Royals this year with a 3.86 ERA and 4.95 FIP. He has 21 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings pitched in those 19 games. McGee will make his Royals debut, previously having pitched in the majors for the Rays, Mariners, and Brewers. Over 13 career games at the major league level, he has thrown 26 1/3 innings and has recorded 17 strikeouts with a 3.08 ERA and 3.61 FIP. McGee was acquired two weeks ago from the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations. Since being acquired, he has thrown six innings over three appearances at Triple-A Omaha with seven strikeouts and six runs given up, good for a 9.00 ERA. View full rumor

The Royals have traded OF Kameron Misner to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations. Misner was acquired in November in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. In 18 games at the major league level this year, Misner hit for a slash line of .220/.266/.244 and struck out 17 times in 41 at-bats. He added three stolen bases in four attempts in that time frame as well. He was much better at the Triple-A level, hitting for a .941 OPS with 14 home runs, 16 doubles, and adding 14 stolen bases in 63 games played. Misner is able to play all three outfield positions and will give the Phillies more outfield depth. View full rumor

The Royals have activated Nate Pearson to the major league roster. He was acquired in a trade with the Houston Astros on July 22. The Royals sent RHP Max Martin to Houston to acquire Pearson. Pearson has been decent for Houston, throwing 20 innings with a 3.60 ERA and 4.10 FIP. To make room for Pearson on the major league roster, the Royals have optioned RHP Eli Morgan to Triple-A Omaha. Morgan has bounced back and forth between Triple-A and the Royals roster this year. He's appeared in 16 games and thrown 19 1/3 innings, recording 16 strikeouts with nine walks. In that time, he has a 5.12 ERA and 6.52 FIP. View full rumor

The Royals have acquired RHP Nate Pearson from the Houston Astros. Pearson was designated for assignment on July 19. In return, the Royals have sent prospect RHP Max Martin to Houston. Pearson had had decent results in the majors for the Astros, with a 3.60 ERA and 4.10 FIP over 20 innings pitched. He's appeared in 16 games, with 16 strikeouts and 12 walks in that time. Pearson, a former first-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays (28th overall in 2017), is a six-year vet who is under team control through arbitration through the 2027 season. He's currently making $1.35 million this year, so he is still very affordable for a team looking to add to its bullpen depth. Martin has pitched between Single-A and High-A this year, pitching in 26 games, throwing 40 1/3 innings, recording 36 strikeouts with 13 walks. Martin was a 10th round pick in the 2025 draft. View full rumor

Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list with low back tightness, which has kept him out of a few games recently. This move is retroactive to July 21, so the first day he will be eligible to come off the injured list is July 31. In a corresponding move, the Royals have selected the contract of shortstop Andrew Velazquez. Velazquez last appeared in a major league contest in 2023 with the Angels. He has major league experience every year from 2018-2023 and has played at Triple-A the past few years with the Braves, Yankees, and the Diamondbacks and Royals this year. Across 58 Triple-A games this year, he has hit for a slash line of .270/.333/.370. He's played shortstop, second base, and all three outfield positions this year, so expect to see him at multiple positions when he is on the field. To make room for Velazquez on the 40-man roster, RHP Stephen Kolek was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list. View full rumor

The Royals have signed LHP Aaron Bummer to a minor league deal. Bummer opted out of his minor league deal with the Cubs on July 17. Bummer pitched in the major leagues with the Braves earlier this year without much success. He pitched 15 1/3 innings, giving up 13 earned runs and striking out 13 with 10 walks. Bummer was released by the Braves and signed with the Cubs in late May. He made six appearances in the minor leagues for the Cubs, pitching six innings, during which he gave up four runs on eight hits. Bummer's best season was in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox, where he was worth 2.7 bWAR over 67 2/3 innings pitched. He pitched with the White Sox through 2023 before being traded to Atlanta, where he was until he was released earlier this year. Over his 10-year career, Bummer has a 3.94 ERA and 3.44 FIP over 406 appearances and 397 innings. Bummer has reported to Triple-A Omaha. View full rumor

Agreed. When I saw the DeVaughan pick, I thought it was a long shot to sign him, but I guess you never know. It would make a ton of sense for him to go to college and (potentially) be a higher round pick in the future.