Mike Gianakos Articles - Page 54

The baseball world suffered a tremendous loss today with the passing of Billy Bean. Bean was the Special Assistant to the Commissioner and MLB’s Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. He died from acute myeloid leukemia at the age of 60, per MLB on X. Bean – not to be confused with the […]

The Cincinnati Reds are in the midst of a frustrating season that will likely result in the team missing the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 years. The primary reason for keeping an eye on the Reds is the electric play of star shortstop Elly De La Cruz who set another franchise record this […]

The Cleveland Guardians have the best record in baseball and lead the extremely competitive AL Central by 3.5 games. However, multiple Guardians pitchers are dealing with injury issues and the team has now lost three straight games. The most impactful injury for Cleveland involves ace Tanner Bibee, who missed his scheduled start last Saturday due […]

Cincinnati Reds’ superstar Elly De La Cruz is having an unforgettable sophomore season. De La Cruz leads MLB in stolen bases and set a franchise record with 45 steals before the All-Star Game. On Monday, De La Cruz set another franchise record when he became the youngest Reds player with four extra-base hits in a […]

After a slow start to the season, the St. Louis Cardinals turned things around and became buyers at the MLB trade deadline. While they remain in the thick of the National League playoff race, the team is just 4-8 over their last 12 games, including today’s shutout loss to the New York Mets. Losing pitcher […]

The Cleveland Guardians have been one of the best teams in baseball this season but desperately needed to improve their starting rotation at the MLB trade deadline. The Guardians addressed their need for starting pitching by bringing in veteran Alex Cobb. Unfortunately, the team could end up regretting that decision. The Guardians lost ace Shane […]

The Texas Rangers have struggled to win consistently this season. However, the defending World Series champs could have a very different look in the second-half of the season. The Rangers got positive injury news earlier today as ace Jacob deGrom is nearing his return to action. Now the team could be getting another starter back […]

The New York Yankees are getting hot at the right time, winning six of their last seven games. And a scorching-hot Aaron Judge is a big reason why the team is holding its own against the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East. Judge is having an all-time great power-hitting season and over the last seven […]

New York Yankees’ destroyer of baseballs Aaron Judge is on a tear at the moment, helping the team battle it out in a tight division race in the AL East. The Yankees are now third in ClutchPoints’ MLB power rankings and Judge is a big reason why. With four home runs and seven RBI in […]

The Texas Rangers are holding onto hope that the team can still turn the season around despite a skid in which Texas lost six of seven games. Rangers’ manager Bruce Bochy attempted to fire the team up after a recent loss. If that didn’t reach the players, perhaps the excitement of ace starter Jacob deGrom’s […]

The Minnesota Twins have suffered their share of injuries this season. Nonetheless, the Twins are a confident team. That confidence has been boosted by the return of hot-hitting third baseman Royce Lewis. The multifaceted third-year player has left a mark on and off the field season. During a postgame interview on Friday, Lewis arrived late […]

The Boston Red Sox pulled out a big victory over the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers on Friday. Despite getting the win, Red Sox’s starting pitcher Kutter Crawford made some ignoble MLB history during the game. Crawford surrendered four home runs to the Rangers in 5.1 innings pitched in his latest start. That helped […]

Kansas City Royals’ God-king Bobby Witt Jr. is having a season for the ages. The superstar shortstop had 44 hits and batted .489 in July, giving Witt Jr. the most hits and highest batting average in a single month since Lou Gehrig in 1930 when the Iron Horse had 55 hits and a .495 average […]

The Cleveland Guardians have the best record in baseball and topped the most recent MLB power rankings. While the team has won six of their last eight games, the Guardians’ starting pitchers have struggled with injuries. Cleveland hopes to have turned a corner on its banged up rotation but the team’s latest injury updates are […]

For teams hoping to land the Oakland Athletics’ Mason Miller at the MLB trade deadline, the standout closer hit the injured list at the worst possible time. Miller landed on the 15-day IL just five days before the trade window officially closed for the 2024 season. Despite the injury, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal is adamant […]

The Los Angeles Dodgers were one of the most active teams at the MLB trade deadline, acquiring six players including pitchers Jack Flaherty and Michael Kopech. As the dust settled with the passing of the deadline, Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts shared some injury news that could have a significant impact on the team’s success this […]

The Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-4 today to remain a half game ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East. Unfortunately for Baltimore, the win appears to have been a Pyrrhic victory as the team lost All-Star infielder Jordan Westburg to injury. Orioles’ manager Brandon Hyde says that Westburg has […]

The New York Yankees were relatively quiet at the MLB trade deadline. While the Yankees upgraded their offense and bullpen, New York did not address first base via trade. That role is currently filled by rookie Ben Rice. However things could get complicated with the return of veteran Anthony Rizzo in August. And fans shouldn’t […]

Despite landing one of the best relief pitchers on the market in Carlos Estevez, the Philadelphia Phillies weren’t done bolstering their bullpen. Just prior to the close of the 2024 MLB trade deadline, the Phillies acquired Tanner Banks in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, per The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. The Phillies will use […]

In a move that should surprise absolutely no one, Los Angeles Angels’ cautionary tale Anthony Rendon has landed on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation, per Angels PR on X. The move is retroactive to July 27. This will be Rendon’s second IL stint of 2024 after he missed two and a half […]

For a moment, the baseball world sat in stunned wonder, staring at a tweet that made very little sense. In what could only be described as a bizarre bit of MLB trade deadline news, the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported on X that the Tampa Bay Rays had acquired JD Davis. The New York […]

The Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees are fighting it out this season for AL East supremacy. However, in addition to the division crown, players on the two teams are also engaged in a close competition for Rookie of the Year honors. And as is the case with the division race, the Orioles currently […]

After bolstering their bullpen with the addition of reliever Nick Mears Saturday, the Milwaukee Brewers have now upgraded their starting rotation. The Brewers have acquired starting pitcher Frankie Montas from the Cincinnati Reds, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan on X. Montas, a nine-year veteran, hasn’t been as effective this season as in years past. However, he […]

The Philadelphia Phillies landed closer Carlos Estevez in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. The deal seemed to cement the Phillies as the most complete team in baseball. Despite this, Philadelphia isn’t done stockpiling bullpen arms, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Phillies remain in the market for relief pitching […]

San Francisco Giants’ starter Blake Snell has had an unusual year. A month ago, there was essentially zero interest around baseball in acquiring the veteran at the MLB trade deadline. But after a red-hot July teams have done a 180 as suddenly adding Snell is considered a genuine needle-mover. Now, it’s the Giants that stand […]

The Detroit Tigers’ starting pitcher Jack Flaherty has been among the top names expected to be moved at this year’s MLB trade deadline. With just a day remaining for teams to deal players, the Tigers have scratched Flaherty from his scheduled start against the Cleveland Guardians this evening “to protect him for a trade,” according […]

If the season ended today the Kansas City Royals would be heading to the postseason with the third American League Wild Card berth. While the team has had some success in 2024, it’s clear the Royals need to add to their roster at the MLB trade deadline. Kansas City hoped to upgrade its outfield by […]

The Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals are competing for the NL Central where the first-place Brewers have a six game lead over St. Louis entering play on Saturday. In addition to the division crown, the two teams are also competing for the services of Chicago White Sox’s pitcher Erick Fedde at the MLB […]

The Philadelphia Phillies have the best record in baseball and a comfortable nine-game lead in the NL East. While the team is loaded with weapons, the Phillies boast one of MLB’s best starting rotations. However, one of those starters will be on the shelf for a couple weeks as Philadelphia has placed Ranger Suarez on […]

The Texas Rangers have turned things around over the last month, going from potential sellers to hopeful buyers at the MLB trade deadline. As the reigning World Series champs inch closer to a .500 record, the team received a positive update on injured starter Jacob deGrom. The 35-year-old ace will join the Rangers in St. […]

The Toronto Blue Jays’ season is spiraling out of control. The Blue Jays’ disappointing campaign hit a new low today with a 13-0 beatdown at the hands of division rivals the Tampa Bay Rays. And the team’s shaky relief pitching was once again a serious problem. Despite being shut out, Blue Jays’ manager John Schneider […]

The NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers lost star left fielder Christian Yelich to the injured list Wednesday. The team feared Yelich’s lower back ailment could cost him the remainder of the 2024 season. After considering his options, Yelich has decided to rehab the injury instead of getting season-ending surgery, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on X. […]

The Seattle Mariners’ once promising season is on the verge of a total collapse. As the team deals with injuries and offensive ineptitude, it is imperative that the Mariners buy aggressively at the MLB trade deadline. If Seattle hopes to reach the playoffs, the team must bring in offensive reinforcements. The Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir […]

The Seattle Mariners desperately need to add to their offense at the MLB trade deadline. The team has been struggling at the plate all season and now with the loss of center fielder Julio Rodriguez (high ankle sprain) and shortstop JP Crawford (fractured finger) to the injured list, the situation is all the more dire. […]

The Seattle Mariners have made a number of transactions in the lead up to the MLB trade deadline. However these moves have not been trades to help the team stave off the Houston Astros in the AL West. The Mariners are dealing with injuries to key players at the worst time possible. Gold Glove shortstop […]

Injured Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Walker Buehler has been beset by injuries since dominating major league batters in his first four seasons. Most recently, Buehler found himself on the 15-day injured list on June 19 with inflammation in his right hip. It’s been a long road back for the pitcher but there could be light […]

Just a game and a half separates the New York Yankees from the first-place Baltimore Orioles as the American League East rivals prepare to battle it out over the second half for the division crown. While both teams are expected to play a major role at the MLB trade deadline, the Yankees recently received some […]

As the MLB trade deadline approaches, the New York Mets are one of several teams without a clear plan for either buying or selling. The team’s most recent acquisition points to a strategy of making smaller depth moves at the deadline as opposed to big blockbuster trades. In an apparent attempt to shore up outfield […]

With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, it remains to be seen how active contending teams will be come July 30. As front offices around the league decide whether to buy or sell – or land somewhere in between – the organizations’ actions are ultimately out of the players’ control. When asked how the team […]