The Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball signed Hummel to a one-year contract with a club option for 2027 on Monday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hummel has collected a lowly .163/.268/.275 batting line across 340 plate appearances covering parts of four major-league seasons. The 31-year-old will now try his luck overseas.

Hummel and the Rays agreed on a minor-league contract Sunday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hummel elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Astros earlier this week, but he has quickly found another opportunity with Tampa Bay. The outfielder will likely report to Triple-A Durham, and it's possible that he could earn a promotion to the major-league roster later this year. Hummel has played in 37 games with the Orioles and Astros this year, producing a disappointing .170 average with three home runs, seven RBI, 10 runs scored and a stolen base over 88 at-bats.

Hummel cleared waivers and elected free agency Friday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

EDGE Analysis

Houston dropped Hummel from the 40-man roster earlier this week, and he'll become a free agent rather than report to Triple-A Sugar Land. The outfielder has played 37 MLB games between the Orioles and Astros this season with a .571 OPS in 105 plate appearances.

The Astros designated Hummel for assignment Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

With Houston needing to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Cristian Javier (elbow) to return from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Monday versus Boston, Hummel ended up being the casualty. The 30-year-old had been seeing steady playing time in the corner outfield coming out of the All-Star break, but his opportunities dried up once the Astros added Jesus Sanchez, Carlos Correa and Ramon Urias ahead of the trade deadline. Over 104 plate appearances on the season with Houston, Hummel slashed .172/.301/.276 with three home runs, one stolen base, seven RBI and 10 runs.

Hummel is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox.

EDGE Analysis

Hummel started five of six games last week, but his burst of playing time will fade after Houston acquired Carlos Correa and Jesus Sanchez at the trade deadline and activated Jeremy Pena from the injured list Friday. Hummel's batting just .154 (4-doe-26) since the All-Star break.

Hummel went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run Wednesday against the Nationals.

EDGE Analysis

Hummel has started seven of 13 games since the All-Star break, four of which have come against lefties. He's struggled mightily at the plate since joining the Astros on June 14, with the homer marking only his third extra-base hit across 86 at-bats. Hummel has also hit .174 with a 28.2 percent strikeout rate in that span.

Hummel is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hummel had started in left field in five of the Astros' last six games, but his opportunities could become more limited moving forward after Houston welcomed Jacob Melton (ankle) back from the injured list Monday. Melton will start in center field in his return, and he'll be flanked by Jose Altuve in left and Taylor Trammell in right in the series opener with Washington. Since getting called up from Triple-A Sugar Land on June 14, Hummel is slashing just .150/.292/.225 with a 27.8 percent strikeout rate in 97 plate appearances for Houston.

Hummel will start in left field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

EDGE Analysis

Though he'll be included in the lineup Wednesday while Jose Altuve gets a breather for a day game after a night game, Hummel has faded into more of a part-time role in recent weeks. He's picking up his fourth start in nine games while the likes of Chas McCormick and Taylor Trammell have been prioritized ahead of him in the outfield.

Hummel will start in left field and bat seventh in Thursday's game against the Rockies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

With all of Yordan Alvarez (hand), Pedro Leon (knee), Chas McCormick (oblique), Zach Dezenzo (hand) and Jacob Melton (ankle) stuck on the injured list, Hummel has been able to emerge as a fixture in the Houston outfield of late. He'll pick up his fifth consecutive start in left field Wednesday and his ninth start in the last 10 games overall. Since the Astros called him up from Triple-A Sugar Land on June 14, Hummel has hit .242 with two home runs, three RBI and two additional runs over 15 games.

Hummel went 2-for-3 with a solo home run Tuesday against the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

Humel accounted for the only run of the game while tallying his second home run of the season in the eighth inning. He rarely played upon first being called up, but he has started three of Houston's last four games in left field. Hummel has gone 3-for-9 in that span, though he's had a hard time making consistent contact and has a 43.5 percent strikeout rate across only 23 plate appearances this season.