New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (back) had his rehab assignment shifted to Double-A Binghamton on July 7, giving fantasy managers a clearer sign of progress after more than two months away. Robert opened the assignment at Triple-A Syracuse on June 30 and went 1-for-10 with one walk and two strikeouts over three games. Before the lumbar spine disc herniation, he hit .224 with two homers, eight RBI, 10 runs, two steals, and a .656 OPS in 24 games for the Mets. Nobody should be adding him because of the 2026 line, and the Mets' outfield does not guarantee full-time at-bats when he returns. The stash appeal is the old power-speed ceiling: 104 homers and 104 steals across 601 career games, including a 38-homer season in 2023 and 33 steals in 2025. RotoBaller has Robert at 41% rostered and as a 15-team league add for Week 15. That makes him an IL-slot/deeper-league stash, not a must-add outfielder.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone has earned a full-time, middle-of-the-order role in Seattle's lineup going forward, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times. "He's earned it," president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is currently hitting .273/.349/.551 with a .900 OPS, 14 home runs, 37 RBI, 32 runs scored, and a stolen base in 205 at-bats in 2026 in his third full season with the M's. He already has a career high in home runs, RBI, and runs scored in 78 games and 232 plate appearances. All four of Canzone's starts against left-handed pitchers have come in the last month, and he's gone 6-for-22 (.273) against southpaws, with two of his 14 home runs on the year. Under the hood, Canzone's xBA of .282 and xwOBA of .383 (wOBA of .384) back up his first-half breakout. He ranks in the 84th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 94th percentile in barrel rate, and the 96th percentile in xSLG. Canzone should be a priority waiver-wire pickup in fantasy leagues for those who need slugging help in the outfield.

New York Yankees first baseman/catcher Ben Rice will participate in this year's Home Run Derby during the All-Star break on Monday, July 13, according to MLB Communications. Rice will try to give the Yankees a record fifth Home Run Derby winner alongside Tino Martinez (1997), Jason Giambi (2002), Robinson Cano (2011), and Aaron Judge (2017). The only other known participant for this year's Derby in the American League is Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero. After breaking out in 2025 in his first full major-league season by hitting 26 home runs and driving in 65 in 138 regular-season games, Rice has backed up the breakout with another phenomenal season, slashing .267/.360/.565 with a .925 OPS, 25 home runs, 57 RBI, 59 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 85 games across 364 plate appearances. The 27-year-old former 12th-rounder in 2021 out of Dartmouth College is proving to be the real deal, but he has been on a skid at the plate since June 22, going 7-for-52 (.135) with three homers, four RBI, four runs, four walks, and 15 strikeouts in his last 14 games over 57 plate appearances.

The Atlanta Braves announced on Tuesday that they optioned right-handed pitching prospect Owen Murphy to Triple-A Gwinnett after he made his major-league debut in Monday's extra-inning loss to the division-rival New York Mets. The Braves' No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit in the 10th inning to take the loss while also walking a hitter and striking out one. Atlanta showed plenty of confidence in the 22-year-old in his first big-league appearance in a high-leverage spot, but he didn't rise to the occasion. Murphy's long-term role is clearly as a starter, but if he resurfaces in the majors again at some point in the second half, he might return to a bullpen role. In his first full season since recovering from Tommy John surgery, Murphy has gone 5-7 with a 4.44 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 92 strikeouts and 38 walks in 16 starts with Double-A Columbus and Gwinnett. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder is still an intriguing hold in dynasty/keeper leagues, but fantasy managers in single-year formats can continue to ignore Murphy for now. Murphy is rostered in just 1% of Yahoo leagues.