NL Central

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto announced that he will undergo season-ending surgery Friday to repair a rotator cuff tear.

Joey Votto announces that he will undergo season-ending surgery on Friday to repair a torn rotator cuff. pic.twitter.com/OVirCZaB7L

— FanDuel Sports Network Cincinnati (@FanDuelSN_CIN) August 17, 2022

"I don't know how to explain it ... like what exactly happened, but it's been lingering for a while, and I've had a difficult time with it," Votto said.

He clarified that the injury originated in 2015 and that he's played through it. However, Votto noted that it has been particularly painful over the past three to four months.

The 16-year MLB veteran had 11 home runs, 41 RBI, a .205 batting average and a .689 OPS this season.

Votto, who turns 39 years old in September, has played his entire career with the Reds. He's a six-time All-Star who won National League MVP honors in 2010.

Votto last played Tuesday in an 11-4 loss to the Phillies.

The 46-70 Reds are having a lost season that sees them just one game ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates for last in the NL Central. Votto had struggled of late with just two hits in his last 39 plate appearances over nine games.

He deserves a lot of credit for playing through the pain and contributing as much as he could, especially amid a tough campaign, but opting for the season-ending surgery in hopes of alleviating the problem is likely the best course while the Reds play out the string.

This year wasn't his best, but Votto has still been tremendous in Cincinnati. He's finished top-seven in the NL MVP voting six times and earned Gold Glove honors in 2011. He's sported a .926 OPS for his career and hit over .300 in nine seasons.

Without Votto and Mike Moustakas, who is on the 10-day injured list with a calf setback, the Reds can turn to Matt Reynolds or Kyle Farmer to play first. Reynolds played there Wednesday in a 1-0 win over the Phillies.

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Rodolfo Castro has been suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount for violating MLB policy when he took the field with a cellphone.

The phone slipped out of Castro's back pocket when he slid into third base during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 9.

His phone fell out of his pocket mid-game 😭 @BRWalkoff

(via @BALLYSPORTSAZ)https://t.co/yJ5Z00HemX

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 10, 2022

"I don't think there's any professional ballplayer that would ever go out there with any intentions of taking a cellphone," Castro said through an interpreter, via ESPN. "It's horrible it happened to me. Obviously, it was very unintentional."

Per The Athletic, "Castro was in violation of Major League Baseball’s regulation prohibiting electronic devices on the field or in the dugout, except for league-approved iPads."

Castro, 23, made his major league debut in April 2021.

In 27 games this season, he is hitting .239 with a .702 OPS, two home runs and five RBI.

He appealed MLB's decision, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Rodolfo Castro is appealing his one-game suspension. Some executives wondered whether it warranted a longer suspension -- cell phones being potentially excellent vehicles to cheat, this MLB's chance to say: don't. MLB clearly believed Castro's explanation that it was an accident.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 16, 2022

As noted by Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he can play during the appeal.

Castro had just spent two months in Triple-A before getting called back up. The cellphone incident occurred in his first game.

He's played well in his latest stint with a .381 batting average and 1.171 OPS in 22 plate appearances.

The Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs will meet in Dyersville, Iowa, for the second edition of the Field of Dreams game on Thursday, and it's going to be a special day for at least one player.

In a series of tweets on Wednesday night, Red first baseman Joey Votto took the time to share his excitement about playing in the game:

I was raised on this movie. My family had a collection of VHS tapes and one of them was Field of Dreams. I would watch it often. (🚨spoilers ahead)

— Joey Votto (@JoeyVotto) August 10, 2022

My father passed away 14+ years ago. So it is impossible for me not to feel an emotional connection to the moment where Ray asks his father for a catch. One more moment together.

— Joey Votto (@JoeyVotto) August 10, 2022

Getting the opportunity to play a game at the mythical field that sowed the seeds of hope for a Major League Baseball career is a significant moment for me. Couple that with the father/son connection, and this game is an exceptional moment in my life.

— Joey Votto (@JoeyVotto) August 10, 2022

MLB's Field of Dreams game is a tribute to the 1989 film Field of Dreams, which starred Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Amy Madigan and Ray Liotta. It centers around Costner's character making the decision to create a baseball field of his cornfield after a strange voice tells him to.

The 2022 Field of Dreams game is just the second iteration of the event. Last year, the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees participated in the game, with Chicago defeating New York 9-8.

Votto has appeared in 85 games for the Reds this season and is slashing .215/.331/.389 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI. He'll be looking to add to his totals in what is sure to be a fun evening in Iowa on Thursday.

The Chicago Cubs designated veteran shortstop Andrelton Simmons for assignment Saturday after he was taken off the injured list, per Tony Andracki of the Marquee Sports Network.

Simmons had been on the 10-day IL with a left shoulder strain.

Simmons, who signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Cubs ahead of the 2022 season, struggled in Chicago during his brief stint with the team, hitting just .173 with seven RBI, eight runs and a .431 OPS in 34 games.

Andrelton Simmons got paid $285,714 per base in a Cubs uniform. https://t.co/WmD6oXDz9P

— Matt Lindner (@mattlindner) August 6, 2022

With Nico Hoerner taking over at shortstop this season, the 32-year-old Simmons—a four-time Gold Glove award winner at the position—was serving as a second baseman as much as a shortstop when he saw the field.

Add in a number of flexible infielders on the roster, including Patrick Wisdom, Christopher Morel and Zach McKinstry, and the Cubs had a logjam.

Cubs manager David Ross told reporters Saturday:

"There's no room for him, to be honest. Look, he's nothing but a pro, but this year hasn't gone the way any of us expected, starting off hurt with the shoulder. He's never had a shoulder issue in his career and just dealing with that and trying to come back. Phenomenal person, great professional. I'm going to miss him personally."

In his prime, Simmons was a wizard at shortstop who wasn't a top offensive option but also wasn't a slouch (he's slashed .263 /.312 /.366 for his career).

For teams needing an upgrade in the form of a platoon infielder, Simmons could be an intriguing option.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs will compete in London, England for a two-game series in 2023, MLB announced Thursday:

It’s official. The @Cardinals & @Cubs are heading to London for a two-game series June 24-25! 🇬🇧@LondonStadium will host this epic rivalry as part of MLB World Tour: London Series 2023

Who will we see there?👇

Sign up for #LondonSeries pre-sale tickets https://t.co/OIJ82PSRp2 pic.twitter.com/WeiLjWx2XA

— MLB Europe (@MLBEurope) August 4, 2022

The matchup represents a return of regular-season games in England following the 2019 series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees at London Stadium.

Like the last set of games, the 2023 version will feature bitter division rivals and should generate plenty of excitement for both local and international fans.

Each of the Yankees-Red Sox games drew an attendance of more than 59,000, which was the most for any regular-season game since 2003. The Cubs and Cardinals could expect similar numbers as two of the more famous franchises in baseball.

The Cardinals currently rank second in the majors in attendance this season while the Cubs rank seventh despite sitting in last place.

Another thing we can learn from the previous London series is fans should expect a lot of offense. The Yankees won the first game 17-13 and the second 12-8.

While it will be just the second time MLB will be played in Europe, the league has scheduled games worldwide during the international series with games in Japan, Mexico and Australia.

Games were played in London, Tokyo and Monterrey in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic limited travel over the past three years.

The international series is now back, with the World Baseball Classic also set to return in 2023.

The San Diego Padres aren't done making moves just yet.

The Cincinnati Reds announced they traded infielder Brandon Drury to the San Diego Padres for shortstop prospect Victor Acosta ahead of Tuesday's 6 p.m. ET deadline.

Ken Rosenthal and C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic and Robert Murray of FanSided initially reported details of the deal.

Acosta was the sixth-ranked prospect in the Padres' farm system on MLB.com ahead of this move. He is slashing .243/.346/.706 with two home runs, 11 RBI and five stolen bases in 111 minor league at-bats this season.

Yet the headline here is another move by the Padres.

First, they acquired four-time All-Star closer Josh Hader in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. That alone would have been a notable addition as San Diego attempts to close the gap with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West ahead of the playoffs.

However, it then stole headlines with a blockbuster Tuesday when they landed Juan Soto and Josh Bell in a trade with the Washington Nationals. It sent shortstop C.J. Abrams, pitcher MacKenzie Gore, outfielder Robert Hassell III, outfielder James Wood, pitcher Jarlin Susana and first baseman/DH Luke Voit to the Nationals.

Eric Hosmer was included in the initial trade, but Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported he rejected the deal with his no-trade clause. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the Padres eventually traded Hosmer to the Boston Red Sox.

While Drury isn't as big of a name as Soto, Bell or Hader, he is in the middle of a career-best season.

He slashed .274/.335/.520 with 20 home runs and 59 RBI in 92 games as a bright spot for a struggling Reds team. The veteran has also played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets but never hit more than the 16 home runs he launched in his first full season in 2016.

Drury is now in the middle of a playoff race and can play all across the infield for the Padres as they look to mix-and-match their now loaded lineup.

Amid injury concerns for George Springer, the Toronto Blue Jays are seeking to upgrade their outfield prior to the trade deadline.

Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Blue Jays are interested in Chicago Cubs' All-Star Ian Happ in part because of his ability to play center field.

Springer sat out Toronto's win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday with an elbow injury. The four-time All-Star told reporters on July 22 he's "going to have to fight through stuff all year."

The expectation has been Happ and Willson Contreras will be traded by the Cubs prior to Tuesday's 6 p.m. ET deadline. Both players basically said goodbye to fans at Wrigley Field during Chicago's July 26 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates before the team went on a road trip that ends on Friday.

The Cubs have no reason to keep either player since they are in the early stages of rebuilding their farm system. Contreras is eligible for free agency after this season.

Happ could net the team a significant return in a trade by virtue of having one more year of team control in 2023 before he can become a free agent.

Springer has not been placed on the injured list, but the Blue Jays could make him their primary designated hitter to ease some of the burden on his body. He had imaging done on his ailing elbow on July 22.

After sitting out Toronto's first three games following the All-Star break, Springer returned to the lineup on July 26. He sat out two of the team's three games against the Detroit Tigers over the weekend.

Happ has been an incredibly versatile player for the Cubs over the past six seasons. The 27-year-old has started games in left field, center field and DH in 2022. He also has experience playing right field, first base, second base and third base.

In addition to his positional versatility, Happ is having a strong season with the bat. He is hitting .279/.360/.436 with 36 extra-base hits and 46 RBI in 99 games with the Cubs.

The Blue Jays (57-45) are a distant second place in the American League East, 12 games behind the New York Yankees. They do have a three-game advantage over the Tampa Bay Rays for the top wild-card spot.

The San Diego Padres made a bold move to solidify their bullpen by acquiring closer Josh Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday.

The Brewers received a return package featuring closer Taylor Rogers, pitching prospect Robert Gasser, outfielder Esteury Ruiz and reliever Dinelson Lamet in exchange for the All-Star pitcher.

ESPN's Jeff Passan initially reported the deal.

It's a surprise to see the Brewers move on from Hader given that he remains an elite closer and they are competing with the St. Louis Cardinals atop the National League Central. The left-hander also has one more year of team control before hitting free agency after 2023.

Since making his debut in 2017, Hader has established himself as one of the most dominant relievers in Major League Baseball. In 269 games, the 28-year-old has 541 strikeouts, with 161 hits allowed and a 2.48 ERA over 316.1 innings.

Per FanGraphs, Hader's 15.39 strikeouts per nine innings and 44.1 strikeout percentage over the previous six seasons leads all relievers with at least 150 innings pitched. His 9.4 wins above replacement ranks tied for second among relievers during that span.

Hader finished 2021 with a 1.23 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 102 strikeouts in 58.2 innings. The Brewers managed him differently last season than they had in the past. He didn't throw more than one inning in a game all year, including the playoffs.

The Brewers won the NL Central with a 95-67 record but lost in the NLDS to the Atlanta Braves.

Sticking primarily to his one-inning role in 2022, Hader began the year as electric as ever to earn another All-Star selection, although he has been inconsistent as of late. He entered July with a 1.09 ERA but gave up 13 earned runs over the past month to drop his ERA to 4.24 for the season.

An argument for trading Hader now is, it's the best way for Milwaukee to maximize his value by bringing back multiple impact players who will be long-term assets for the organization. The team might be worse in the short term with a potential playoff spot in store this season.

Milwaukee will at least add the Padres' closer in Rogers, who has 28 saves and a 4.35 ERA this season. Gasser is also a quality prospect, rated the team's No. 7 player in the farm system, per MLB.com.

Devin Williams will likely replace Hader as the Brewers' closer. He has 30 consecutive scoreless appearances since May 10.

San Diego adds one of the most dominant relievers in MLB and has him under control for an additional season.

The Padres are doing everything in their power to stay in contention and keep the pressure on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

San Diego is 57-46 despite not having Fernando Tatis Jr. available yet due to a wrist injury.

After acquiring Yu Darvish from the Chicago Cubs and Blake Snell from the Tampa Bay Rays to help their rotation last year, Hader gives the Padres a dominant late-inning reliever to partner with Luis Garcia and Nabil Crismatt.

The Padres have a roster capable of challenging anyone in MLB, and the group looks even more dangerous with Hader coming out of the bullpen late in games.

In the midst of another lost season, the Cincinnati Reds reportedly have a coveted trade piece that is drawing interest from several teams.

Per MLB Network's Jon Morosi, Reds third baseman Brandon Drury "is one of the most popular names in industry trade talks today," with the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves all checking on his availability.

Drury signed a minor league contract with Cincinnati in March and wound up having a breakout year. He is far and away the team's best offensive player, ranking first across the board with a .272 batting average, 19 home runs, 58 RBI and 94 hits. The Athletic's C. Trent Rosecrans wrote that Drury's first-half performance warranted consideration for the All-Star Game.

Since making his major league debut in 2015, Drury has bounced between five different teams. He appears to have found a groove in Cincinnati, but he would be better-served if he joins a contender. Drury's versatility on the infield and his potency at the plate would significantly boost a team chasing a pennant.

The Reds are in fifth place in the NL Central with a 39-61 record entering Sunday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles. Cincinnati has already begun a roster teardown, trading two-time All-Star pitcher Luis Castillo to the Mariners and veteran outfielder Tyler Naquin to the New York Mets. The team is expected to continue making moves.

R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports reported Saturday that the Reds are expected to part ways with Drury prior to Tuesday's trade deadline, as well as pitcher Tyler Mahle. On the verge of missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years, Cincinnati's best course is to acquire assets to build for the future.

Rival executives have gotten the impression that Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds "isn’t going anywhere" ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic had previously reported the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins "have not stopped calling" about Reynolds.

The 27-year-old entered Sunday hitting .254 with a .335 on-base percentage and 15 home runs in 85 games.

Reynolds was even better last season, hitting .302 with 24 home runs and 90 RBI, also leading the league with eight triples. Not only did he earn his first All-Star selection, he got votes for MVP even with the Pirates losing 101 games.

Pittsburgh has struggled again in 2022, entering the day with a 40-61 record with six straight losses. After already trading Daniel Vogelbach, it makes sense for opposing teams to inquire about anyone else the Pirates would be willing to deal.

Reynolds remains an important part of the team's core, however, especially being under team control through at least 2025.

With other exciting young pieces on the roster, including Oneil Cruz and Ke'Bryan Hayes, the Pirates have a bright future.