Tommy White, a former LSU star and second round draft pick, is getting the call to the big leagues by the A's, even after posting just a 97 wRC+ across 346 plate appearances in the upper minors this season. It's an aggressive move for a guy with those numbers, making you wonder what the front office is seeing to rush him up now.
A's Shaking Things Up (Again)
Oakland is clearly not afraid to make some moves, even if they're head-scratchers. Beyond the Tommy White promotion, which is definitely the talk of the league, the A's also decided to DFA veteran starter Aaron Civale. Talk about a clean slate, right? They're shaking up the roster mid-season, and it feels like they're just throwing darts at a board sometimes. What's the plan here, really?Braves Chillin' During the Break, But Work Continues
Over in Atlanta, it's the official "break" part of the All-Star festivities. We saw Ozzie Albies out there with his family at the Red Carpet Show on Tuesday, July 14, looking sharp. The team doesn't get back on the field until Friday, but that doesn't mean everything grinds to a halt. There are still minor league games, transactions, and a whole lot of draft pick signings happening. The Braves are reportedly tracking 21 draft picks they're working to get under contract. Plus, "Ivan" has been digging into their performance from the first half of July. It's never truly a "break" for these front offices, is it?Mid-Season Trades Heating Up
And speaking of transactions, the Astros pulled off a big one, shipping veteran pitcher Lance McCullers over to the Brewers. That's a huge arm moving teams during the All-Star downtime, a real signal that teams are already positioning themselves for what's next. The All-Star break might mean a few days off for the players, but for the front offices and minor league systems, it's full steam ahead. We'll be watching to see how Tommy White handles the big league pressure for the A's and how the Braves finalize those 21 draft pick signings as they get ready to return to action this Friday. The second half is gonna be wild.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.