Armed with the best record in the American League, the Rays are already in a strong position. But on August 13, the club added more depth to an already defensive-minded middle infielder with speedster Jorge Mateo. Plus, 27-year-old Turner Hill will receive his first big-league shot.
Mateo signs with Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays signed Jorge Mateo to a Major League deal.
An MLB veteran who spent time with the Orioles and Braves, Mateo is a plus runner who received a lot of rope at the start of the season with Atlanta. However, with the emergence of Jim Jarvis as a viable Major League shortstop and Mateo’s subpar offensive production, it was a perfect storm for him to be released by the Braves.
Mateo hit .120/.170/.160 with the Braves between June 1 and his eventual release.
Giants select Hill
The Giants selected and promoted outfielder Turner Hill from Triple-A Sacramento.
Hill is one of several Giants prospects — Jonah Cox and Nate Furman fit that bill, too — who is a high-contact hitter and had a strong 2026 in the Minors. Through 97 games over two levels, Hill slashed .352/.426/.530 with nine home runs and 39 extra-base hits, plus 24 stolen bases.
Between July 1 and this writing, Hill’s 12.2% Whiff% was the eighth-lowest (min. 100 swings) among all Triple-A hitters.
Recalls & options
Trei Cruz (Tigers), Jack Brannigan (Pirates), Jesse Scholtens (Rays), Greg Weissert (Red Sox), Kameron Misner (Phillies), Isaac Mattson (Pirates), and Lazaro Estrada (Blue Jays) were recalled from the Minors.
Evan Sisk (Pirates), Michael Grove (Rays), and Carson Williams (Rays) were optioned down to Triple-A.
Other notes
The Twins signed pitcher German Marquez to a Minor League deal. He was released by the Padres earlier this month. Marquez was assigned to Triple-A St. Paul.
Tampa Bay designated Trevor Martin for assignment.
San Francisco claimed ex-Astro Shay Whitcomb off waivers from the Houston Astros.
Edouard Julien, who was designated for assignment by the Rockies several days earlier, was sent outright to Triple-A.
Jonah Bride (Rangers), Lyon Richardson (Brewers), and Jonathan Hernandez (Dodgers) were outrighted to the Minors.
The Mets released infielder Andy Ibanez.
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