Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Texas Will

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Will Venable was the subject of multiple trade rumors leading up to the July 31 trade deadline, but the Padres apparently didn’t find an offer to their liking. 18 days later, they did finally receive one after Venable and his $4.25 million salary cleared waivers.

Venable was traded Tuesday night to the Texas Rangers for minor league catcher Marcus Greene and a player to be named later. He’ll give the Rangers outfield depth while Josh Hamilton works back from a nagging knee injury. Venable has batted just .238/.300/.347 over the last two seasons, but he’s moving from one of the least-hitter-friendly home parks in the majors to one of the friendliest. There could be some increased value here for deep mixed leaguers. Venable, now 32 years old, tallied 22 home runs and 22 stolen bases for the Friars in 2013.

To fill his roster spot, the Padres will recall 24-year-old outfielder Travis Jankowski from Triple-A El Paso. Jankowski, a supplemental first-round pick in 2012 out of Stony Brook University, has hit .335/.413/.425 with 32 stolen bases in 97 games this season between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. He’s an excellent fantasy pickup for his speed alone.

Padres general manager A.J. Preller suggested to Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune that Jankowski will see starter-like playing time down the stretch: “He’s a guy we’re not going to let come up and just sit on the bench,” the San Diego GM said Tuesday.

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That was the biggest fantasy-related story from a busy Tuesday night around baseball. The biggest non-fantasy story is that former Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has been named the new president of baseball operations for the Boston Red Sox. Ben Cherington will step down from his role as the team’s general manager after a short transition period. Cherington guided the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2013, but the last two years have brought major disappointment (and a combined two-year record of 124-157). Dombrowski won four straight American League Central titles with the Tigers from 2011-2014.

Nothing More From Maikel?

Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco had been putting together a strong case for 2015 National League Rookie of the Year honors in a loaded rookie class, but that is probably all over.

The 22-year-old third baseman landed on the disabled list Tuesday with a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist. It’s only a four-week injury, but the Phillies carry the worst record in baseball at 46-73 and certainly won’t rush the kid back. Franco, a consensus top-100 prospect leading into the 2015 season, slashed .277/.340/.490 with 13 home runs, 22 doubles, and 48 RBI in 77 games after his mid-May promotion to the major leagues.

Cesar Hernandez and Andres Blanco figure to share time at the hot corner down the stretch. They’re not fantasy relevant.

Axford Somehow A Closer Again

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and the Rockies sure are desperate.

Colorado manager Walt Weiss said before Tuesday’s game against the Nationals that veteran right-hander John Axford will be inserted back into the club’s ninth-inning role, just about two weeks after Axford was demoted into middle relief.

Axford allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning one week ago against the Mets and he has a hideous 9.75 ERA in 13 appearances since the All-Star break. But saves are saves and the 32-year-old is probably worth grabbing again in mixed fantasy leagues.

Tommy Kahnle nailed down the first two save opportunities he saw after being named the Rockies’ fill-in closer on August 8, but he was lit up for three earned runs by the Mets last Thursday and three runs — two earned — by the Padres on Saturday.

Colorado’s bullpen entered play Tuesday with a 4.83 combined ERA, worst in the major leagues. Then they allowed nine runs in four innings against the Nationals.

National League Quick Hits: Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a radio appearance Tuesday morning that Chase Utley is likely to remain with the Phillies for the rest of the season … Yasiel Puig left Tuesday’s game against the A’s with tightness in his right hamstring … Hunter Pence has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique … Jacob deGrom earned his 12th win on Tuesday night in Baltimore, limiting the Orioles to one run over 7 2/3 innings … Cardinals right fielder Jason Heyward remains day-to-day with tightness in his left hamstring … Mark Melancon allowed two unearned runs in the ninth inning Tuesday versus Arizona, blowing the save opportunity, but the Pirates won in 15 innings … Reds pitching prospect Robert Stephenson has been diagnosed with a right forearm strain … Ichiro Suzuki went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base as the Marlins outlasted the Brewers on Tuesday … James Shields threw six scoreless innings Tuesday against the Braves … Charlie Blackmon was held out of the Rockies’ starting lineup Tuesday due to flu-like symptoms … Melvin Upton Jr. homered and drove in five total runs Tuesday in the Padres’ defeat of the Braves … Marlins starter David Phelps is done for the season after being diagnosed with a stress fracture of the radius bone in his right forearm … Curtis Granderson slugged a pair of solo homers Tuesday in the Mets’ defeat of the Orioles … Raisel Iglesias fired seven shutout innings but the Reds fell in extra innings to the Royals on Tuesday … Mat Latos will be skipped on his next scheduled turn through the Dodgers’ rotation … Giants closer Santiago Casilla struck out two in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save against the Cardinals on Tuesday … Carlos Gonzalez left Tuesday’s game versus the Nationals with right knee inflammation … Mets closer Jeurys Familia earned his 33rd save of the season on Tuesday night against the Orioles.

American League Quick Hits: Astros outfielder George Springer (wrist) has begun taking dry swings with a fungo bat … Mark Teixeira (shin) is not expected to require a stint on the disabled list … Josh Donaldson clubbed a pair of home runs, powering the Blue Jays past the Phillies on Tuesday night … Angels promoted third base prospect Kaleb Cowart from Triple-A Salt Lake … Red Sox left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez held the Indians to a lone run over eight innings of work to earn the win on Tuesday … Alex Rodriguez slugged a go-ahead grand slam Tuesday in the Yankees’ comeback win over the Twins … Twins closer Glen Perkins will fly back to Minneapolis to undergo an MRI on his neck … Jake Odorizzi struck out nine while allowing one run over six innings in a no-decision against the Astros on Tuesday … Mariners left-hander James Paxton (finger) threw 30 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday … Josh Hamilton (knee) is aiming to return to the Rangers’ starting lineup on Thursday in Detroit … Jose Altuve went 3-for-5 with a run scored Tuesday in the Astros’ win over the Rays …  Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman (knee) will throw a 40-pitch simulated game next Monday … Omar Infante was scratched from the Royals’ lineup Tuesday due to back spasms … Indians placed Chris Johnson on the disabled list with a spider bite on his left hand … Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders (knee) has been shut down for the remainder of the 2015 season … Drew Hutchison is expected to return to the Blue Jays’ rotation August 29 against the Tigers … Yankees closer Andrew Miller picked up his 27th save Tuesday night against the Twins … Giovanny Urshela (shoulder) is expected to return to the Indians’ starting lineup Wednesday … Albert Pujols slugged his 33rd home run Tuesday night against the White Sox … Mariners closer Carson Smith struck out one over a scoreless inning against the Rangers on Tuesday to earn his 13th save.

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