The trade deadline has come and gone, so there are a lot of transactions to dive into. Rather than the usual review of yesterday’s games, here is a review of yesterday’s trades and their fantasy impact.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Added: Zac Gallen, Mike Leake, Corbin Martin, J.B. Bukauskas, Joshua Rojas, Seth Beer
Lost: Zack Greinke, Jazz Chisholm, John Ryan Murphy, Jose Caballero
Arguably one of the biggest winners of the deadline, the Diamondbacks made some significant moves to improve their team. Trading away their ace pitcher, Greinke, brought them a haul of prospects. Despite sending $24M to the Astros, the deal frees Arizona to spend (or not spend) as they wish. It hurts to lose a young prospect like Chisholm, but getting back a young starter in Gallen was worth the risk.
The fantasy winners are Zac Gallen, who should remain a starter in a pitcher-friendly ballpark, and Adam Jones should continue to occupy a regular outfield role.
Atlanta Braves
Added: John Ryan Murphy, Shane Greene, Mark Melancon, Chris Martin.
Lost: Joey Wentz, Travis Demeritte, Dan Winkler, Tristan Beck, Kolby Allard
Atlanta needed to fortify its bullpen and succeeded. Adding Shane Greene gives them the capital “C” closer they were looking for, at a reasonable price. They also added a former closer in Melancon to lengthen the bullpen and who could step into a closer role, if necessary. Chris Martin was added on Tuesday and should not be overlooked as he provides length and should be available in high-leverage opportunities.
Baltimore Orioles
Added: Elio Prado, Noelberth Romero.
Lost: Andrew Cashner
Baltimore’s deadline moves were done before the deadline when they traded Cashner to Boston. Dan Straily was DFA’d on June 20 and was sent to Triple-A after clearing waivers. The O’s only move yesterday was sending Straily to the Phillies for cash.
Boston Red Sox
Added: Andrew Cashner
Lost: Elio Prado, Noelberth Romero
The Red Sox stood pat on deadline day. Adding Cashner on July 13 provided a veteran innings-eater. With the Sox, Cashner has gone 1-2 with a 6.11 ERA, a 1.64 WHIP, and has a K/9 of 7.64.
Chicago Cubs
Added: Tony Kemp, Nicholas Castellanos, David Phelps, Brad Wieck
Lost: Martin Maldonado, Alex Lange, Paul Richan, Thomas Hatch, Carl Edwards Jr.
The Cubs added depth. Kemp should provide bench speed in a utility outfielder while Castellanos should provide power in the outfield with the ability to play third base. Phelps and Wieck provide length to the bullpen.
Chicago White Sox
Added: Joseph Jarneski, Ray Castro
Lost: Nate Jones
A quiet deadline for the White Sox, acquiring a pair of lottery ticket prospects and international signing bonus money. Jones will not pitch again in 2019 after forearm surgery, but the $1M in bonus money should help Texas land one of their 2019 international signings.
Cincinnati Reds
Added: Trevor Bauer
Lost: Yasiel Puig, Taylor Trammell, Scott Moss, Scooter Gennett, Tanner Roark
The Reds made one of the bigger splashes, acquiring Trevor Bauer from Cleveland. The team was able to move Puig’s expiring contract and get Bauer until the end of 2020. With Bauer joining the rotation, Roark (and his $10M salary) became expendable. Fiftieth overall pick in the 2018 draft, speedy outfielder Jameson Hannah, will join the Reds minors’ system.
In a few years, Trammell may end up being the piece that sticks out. He has star-potential, but is in the midst of a down year. He is ranked by Baseball America as the #41 prospect with power-speed upside, and, if things come together, he could be a premium piece in coming years.
Cleveland Indians
Added: Yasiel Puig, Franmil Reyes, Logan Allen, Scott Moss, Victor Nova
Lost: Trevor Bauer
After throwing a ball into centerfield during a pitching change on Sunday, Trevor Bauer took an earful of wrath from Terry Francona. While Bauer was apologetic, it was no surprise to see him traded. The Indians’ pitching staff has long been an area of strength and this deadline saw them move some of that to shore up their weak outfield. Cleveland becomes home to one of the league’s most colorful players in Puig, but also a player who could have a significant impact in the run to October. Puig slashed .252/.302/.475 in 100 games as a Red, smacking 22 home runs and swiping 14 bags.
Franmil Reyes played 99 games in San Diego and hit 27 home runs slashing .255/.314/.536. He will provide much needed boost in the outfield and should benefit from a DH role in Cleveland. Expect Reyes’ power to be on display for the remainder of the season, and, if this trade is successful, into the playoffs.
Logan Allen provides controllable organizational pitching depth. In his six San Diego starts, Allen has posted a 6.75 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP with an atrocious 4.97 K/9 and a 4.62 BB/9. He was optioned to Triple-A, but could make spot starts as needed.
Colorado Rockies
Added: Joe Harvey
Lost: Alfredo Garcia
The Rockies acquired 27-year-old relief pitcher Joe Harvey in exchange for 20-year-old minor-league pitcher Alfredo Garcia. Harvey will be given an opportunity in Colorado’s bullpen, and Garcia will continue his development in the minors.
Detroit Tigers
Added: Alex Lange, Paul Richan, Joey Wentz, Travis Demeritte
Lost: Nicholas Castellanos, Shane Greene
The Tigers made the moves that they needed to make. Shane Greene moving to Atlanta should allow him to continue to get saves, and his saves chances improve as he moves to a better team. Castellanos is a free agent at year’s end, so the Tigers needed to get something for his power bat. Despite his defensive deficiencies, Castellanos has played 89 games in right field this season, so expect Jason Heyward to lose playing time.
The Tigers add to their farm system during their rebuild. There is some potential that Demeritte will join the Tigers’ outfield (to replace Castellanos) as he has slashed .286/.387/.558 in Triple-A this season, posting a 12.8 BB% and a 26.6 K% in Gwinnett.
Houston Astros
Added: Zach Greinke, Aaron Sanchez, Joe Biagini, Martin Maldonado, Cal Stevenson, Raider Uceta, Rainier Rivas, Andre Scrubb
Lost: Tony Kemp, Derek Fisher, Corbin Martin, J.B. Bukauskas, Joshua Rojas, Seth Beer, Max Stassi, Tyler White.
The Astros used this trade deadline to strengthen their pitching staff and create what might be the most impressive in the major leagues. Greinke as an SP3 is unreal, but adding Sanchez and Biagini gives the Astros even more length in their strong bullpen. Bukauskas and Martin are legit prospects and should contribute in Arizona, but the fact that Houston was able to add Greinke while not moving their top prospect, Kyle Tucker, should be considered a win, especially when they also received $24M in cash to lessen the blow of Greinke’s $70M+ remaining salary.
Expect Aaron Sanchez to shift into a bullpen role. This should be a benefit to him as his ERA the first time through the order is 2.12 and jumps to 7.99 the second time through the order. His 6.07 ERA and 1.69 WHIP should shrink with the improved innings management he should get in Houston.
Kansas City Royals
Added: Dairon Blanco, Ismael Aquino, Mike Montgomery, Kevin Merrell
Lost: Jake Diekman, Terrance Gore, Homer Bailey
Deadline day was silent for the Royals, but they did move some assets in earlier weeks picking up some prospects and taking a shot with five-year veteran Mike Montgomery. He has made three starts with the Royals, giving up 11 earned runs in his 11.1 innings.
Los Angeles Angels
Added: Max Stassi
Lost: Raider Uceta, Rainier Rivas
The Angels traded two prospects for a backup catcher as they look forward to the end of the 2019 season.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Added: Adam Kolarek, Jedd Gyorko, Tyler White
Lost: Niko Hulsizer, Tony Cingrani, Jeffry Abreu, Zac Rosscup, Andre Scrubb, Brock Stewart
A quiet deadline for the National League’s best team. They added bullpen depth in Kolarek, and utility bench depth in Gyorko, while taking a chance on White. The Dodgers’ were unwilling to more their top prospect Gavin Lux, so their deadline did not yield any big names.
Miami Marlins
Added: Jazz Chisholm, Jesus Sanchez, Ryne Stanek, Lewin Diaz
Lost: Zac Gallen, Nick Anderson, Trevor Richards, Sergio Romo, Chris Vallimont
The Marlins made a big splash yesterday moving Zac Gallen for Jazz Chisholm. Gallen has been strong this year coming off two seven-inning starts in his last two games, surrendering just two runs and striking out 17. The trade makes sense for the Marlins as they deal from pitching strength to acquire a highly-touted young prospect with five-tool potential in Chisholm. A rare prospect-for-prospect trade that could benefit both teams.
Milwaukee Brewers
Added: Jake Faria, Drew Pomeranz, Jordan Lyles, Ray Black
Lost: Mauricio Dubon, Jesus Aguilar, Cody Ponce
The Brewers needed pitching and they took steps to bolster their bullpen and their rotation. As one of the top teams in the NL, the Brewers have low-end starting pitching, and while these additions could help their team, they failed to acquire a big-name starter.
Minnesota Twins
Added: Sam Dyson, Sergio Romo, Jeremy Bleich
Lost: Mike Morin, Jaylon Davis, Kai-Wei Teng, Prelander Berroa, Lewin Diaz, Chris Vallimont
The Twins didn’t make any major moves, but did give up a handful of prospects to add depth to their bullpen. Romo and Dyson should help late in games, but the real strength of the Twins’ lineup remains their hitting. Their playoff hopes will depend on putting up more runs and hoping that their bullpen holds on.
New York Mets
Added: Marcus Stroman, Austin Bossart
Lost: Jason Vargas, Anthony Kay, Wilmer Font, Simeon Woods Richardson
The Mets confused everyone when they acquired Marcus Stroman. As a team that looked to be sellers, New York sent a pair of prospects to the Blue Jays for Stroman who is under contract until the end of 2020. What is most surprising is that despite all the rumors, the Mets did not move any soon-to-be free-agents (Todd Frazier and Zack Wheeler). Expect Wheeler to get a qualifying offer and for the Mets to get a compensation pick if he signs elsewhere. Perhaps, this was better than anything they were offered in trade.
New York Yankees
Added: Alfredo Garcia, Terrance Gore
Lost: Joe Harvey
It is surprising that the Yankees didn’t make any major moves before the deadline, but they are a very deep organization as witnessed by their league-best record despite being ravaged with injuries.
Oakland Athletics
Added: Homer Bailey, Tanner Roark, Jake Diekman
Lost: Dairon Blanco, Ismael Aquino, Jameson Hannah, Kevin Merrell
The Athletics made moves to improve their rotation and their bullpen. Their team has been good enough to put up a 61-48 record this season, but their starting pitching has been unimpressive. With most of their talent recovering from injury, Oakland’s addition of Bailey and Roark won’t knock people’s socks off, but it should be helpful, especially if their hitters can continue to perform on both sides of the ball.
Philadelphia Phillies
Added: Jason Vargas, Corey Dickerson, Dan Straily, Jose Pirela, Mike Morin, Blake Parker, Drew Smyly
Lost: Austin Bossart
The Phillies made moves before the deadline, but they didn’t give up very much — just 26-year-old catcher Austin Bossart, and a PTBNL. The rest of the deals were either for cash or were free-agent signings. Vargas should slot into the rotation and Blake Parker should be given a chance in the bullpen despite being jettisoned by Minnesota.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Added: Cody Ponce
Lost: Corey Dickerson, Jordan Lyles
It was a quiet deadline for the Pirates. Rumors swirled around closer Felipe Vasquez, but the return was not to Pittsburgh’s liking with Vasquez signed until the end of 2021 with options until the end of 2023. It was going to take a lot to get a closer with his skills and contract, and the right offer was not presented. Thankfully for his fantasy owners, Vasquez should still get saves with Pittsburgh though they may be few and far between.
San Diego Padres
Added: Taylor Trammell, Carl Edwards Jr.
Lost: Franmil Reyes, Logan Allen, Victor Nova, Jose Pirela, Brad Wieck
The Padres traded some excess pieces for highly-touted prospect Taylor Trammell. Reyes should benefit from a move to Cleveland with regular playing time and a chance at DH appearances. Edwards Jr. should slot into a bullpen role and provide real-life benefit to the Padres.
The real beneficiaries at the deadline are Wil Myers and Hunter Renfroe. With Reyes out of the outfield, Myers and Renfroe should see more regular playing time. Renfroe has been great this year socking 29 home runs, but Myers has struggled immensely this season, but has gone 6-for-15 in his last four games.
San Francisco Giants
Added: Scooter Gennett, Mauricio Dubon, Dan Winkler, Tristan Beck, Jaylon Davis, Kai-Wei Teng, Prelander Berroa, Joe McCarthy
Lost: Sam Dyson, Mark Melancon, Drew Pomeranz, Ray Black, Jacob Lopez
The Giants were in the worst position of any team at the deadline after a post-All-Star Game winning-streak vaulted them into contention. The team was forced from being a seller into buyer, despite having prized assets in Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith. Still, San Francisco managed to add much-needed prospects and move Melancon’s onerous salary.
Seattle Mariners
Added: Aaron Fletcher, Elvis Alvarado, Taylor Guilbeau, Jose Caballero, Daniel Castro
Lost: Hunter Strickland, Roenis Elias, Mike Leake, Kristopher Negron
There can’t be a trade deadline without Jerry Dipoto making a few trades. The rebuild is in full-effect for the Mariners as they moved anything they could for prospects. It has been a rough year for Seattle, and the lean years will continue for the foreseeable future. Speculating on saves is possible, but don’t expect much from what’s left in this ‘pen.
St. Louis Cardinals
Added: Tony Cingrani, Jeffry Abreu, Zac Rosscup
Lost: Jedd Gyorko
Despite making a couple moves, the Cardinals, clearly, didn’t decide on whether or not they are playoff material. It’s strange since they are tied for the lead in the NL Central and have a half-game lead in the Wild Card.
Tampa Bay Rays
Added: Jesus Aguilar, Niko Hulsizer, Trevor Richards, Nick Anderson, Jacob Lopez, Reuben Cardenas, Eric Sogard.
Lost: Jacob Faria, Adam Kolarek, Jesus Sanchez, Ryne Stanek, Joe McCarthy, Ian Gibaut, Hunter Wood, Christian Arroyo,
The Rays added a relief arm in Anderson and a potential starter in Richards. As one of the best analytical teams, expect the Rays to be creative and to get the most out of their new arms.
Adding Jesus Aguilar is somewhat confusing as the Rays already had numerous 1B/DH options with Nate Lowe and Ji-Man Choi. Buying low on Aguilar was too tempting for the Rays, and it would not be surprising if they were to help Aguilar unlock some of what he showed in his breakout 2018 season. Playing time could be an issue, but expect the Rays to platoon as usual.
Texas Rangers
Added: Nate Jones, Kolby Allard
Lost: Joseph Jarneski, Ray Castro, Chris Martin
The Rangers looked to be contenders before the All-Star Game, but went into a tailspin after the break (6-12). They were in position to be sellers, but free-agents Asdrubal Cabrera, Hunter Pence, and Logan Forsythe were not moved. Coveted, and high-achieving pitchers Lance Lynn and Mike Minor also stayed put. Clearly, the Rangers did not get adequate offers. Perhaps, next season’s move into a new stadium has reduced management’s appetite for a tear-down rebuild. Cabrera was DFA’d after yesterday’s game with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Jose Trevino returning to Texas.
Toronto Blue Jays
Added: Derek Fisher, Anthony Kay, Simeon Woods Richardson, Thomas Hatch, Kyle Johnston
Lost: Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, Joe Biagini, Eric Sogard, Daniel Hudson, David Phelps
The Blue Jays were very active trading anything that wasn’t nailed down, seemingly, for whatever they could get. While fans may be underwhelmed by the return for beloved players like Stroman, Sanchez, and Biagini, the hope is that management made targeted acquisitions for players they believe in. Derek Fisher might be the most fantasy-relevant piece. Getting out of a crowded Houston organization should mean regular playing time and there is the chance that Fisher could meet his prospect hype.
Washington Nationals
Added: Hunter Strickland, Roenis Elias, Daniel Hudson
Lost: Aaron Fletcher, Elvis Alvarado, Taylor Guilbeau, Kyle Johnston
Of all the teams that needed a bullpen boost, the Nationals were at the top of the list. Even though they trail the Braves by 6.5 games in the NL East, they are in a Wild Card position with a 57-51 record. Trading away a few prospects to rebuilders for depth in the pen should help the Nats in the stretch run, and should help secure a few more starter wins for their owners. Expect Sean Doolittle to continue to close with a committee of the three (all of whom have saves this season) picking up the occasional save when he is unavailable.
