Major League Baseball roundup

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[July 27, 2016]    July 26 (The Sports Xchange) - Toronto agreed to a trade for San Diego Padres outfielder Melvin Upton Jr., who would give the Blue Jays another big bat to squeeze into a crowded lineup.

 

According to MLB Network, Upton's salary will be largely absorbed by the Padres, leaving only $5 million total for the remainder of this season and next on the Blue Jays' tab.

Upton Jr. is having a bounce-back season with the Padres with 16 home runs, 45 RBIs and a team-leading 20 stolen bases. The Blue Jays sent minor-league right-hander Hansel Rodriguez to San Diego.

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Trading Aroldis Chapman is not the start of a wholesale rebuild of the New York Yankees, and general manager Brian Cashman has no plans to release third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

Batting .206 with nine home runs in 58 games this season, Rodriguez has fallen into a platoon and turns 41 on Wednesday with a salary next season of $30 million.

Rodriguez has 696 career home runs. The Yankees are not likely to be able to trade him and releasing him would force the team to pay his full salary.

Meanwhile, Mark Teixeira remains a regular at first base but is playing through pain at a similarly steep price tag north of $25 million.

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Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman was activated from the 15-day disabled list, the team announced. Zimmerman (ribcage) had been sidelined since July 7.

The Nationals also activated left-hander Sammy Solis (knee) from the disabled list, and optioned outfielder Michael Taylor and right-hander Lucas Giolito to Triple-A Syracuse.

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The St. Louis Cardinals placed right-hander Trevor Rosenthal on the 15-day disabled and recalled left-hander Dean Kiekhefer from Triple-A Memphis prior to Tuesday's doubleheader versus the New York Mets.

St. Louis also recalled Sam Tuivailala to serve as the club's 26th man. Rosenthal, who has been nursing right shoulder inflammation, has posted a 2-5 mark with a 5.13 ERA in 40 games this season.

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The Kansas City Royals recalled top prospect Raul A. Mondesi from Triple-A Omaha prior and optioned utility player Whit Merrifield to Omaha.

Mondesi, who is a shortstop, was suspended 50 games on May 10 for violating Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy. The soon-to-be 21-year-old is the No. 1 prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated catcher Eric Fryer from the paternity list, the club announced.

Catcher Elias Diaz was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to open up a roster spot. (Editing by Andrew Both)

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