Lets review the deals that have been completed as the trade deadline approaches for Major League Baseball, and see what fantasy impact they have, if any, on your fantasy baseball roster for the remainder of 2012. I will update this article as more deals are announced in MLB.
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Friday July 20th, 2012
Astros/ Blue Jays
HOUSTON, TX – JULY 20: Brett Myers #39 of the Houston Astros pitches against the of the Washington Nationals in the 7th inning on July 20, 2011 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. Astros won in the bottom of the 11th 3 to 2. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
10 Man Deal (July 20th, 2012)
Astros Sent:
SP – J.A. Happ
RP – Brandon Lyon
RP (Minors) – David Carpenter
Astros Received:
RP – Francisco Cordero
OF – Ben Francisco
4 Minor Leaguer Prospects + 1 Player to be named later
Trade with White Sox (July 21st, 2012)
Astros Sent:
RP – Brett Myers (Closer)
Astros Receive:
RHP – Matt Heidenreich
LHP – Blair Walters + 1 Player to be named later
Analysis: The main fantasy impact in these deals falls on J.A. Happ, Brett Myers, and Francisco Cordero. In deep formats Cordero becomes the immediate add as the Astros’ new closer. He will probably see around 12 saves for the remained of 2012 as the Astros don’t afford their closer many opportunities. J.A. Happ, on the other hand, goes from a Tier 5 to a Tier 4 pitcher. Certainly not a must-add by any stretch of the imagination, he does have decent K/9 rates and could be a risky pickup in two start weeks. Brett Myers should be dropped in most formats where owners count on him being the closer, it looks like Addison Reed will hold on to the job for the White Sox, while Myers will either become a setup man or starter again.
Friday July 20th, 2012
Rockies/Royals
Rockies sent:
SP – Jeremy Guthrie
Rockies received:
SP – Jonathan Sanchez
Analysis: These are two bottom tier starting pitchers, but Guthrie’s stock can only go up from getting out of Coors Field and the dreaded 75 pitch limit. While he shouldn’t be added at this time, there is a chance he could return to respectability with an ERA in the mid 4′s for the K.C. Royals. Jonathan Sanchez knows how to pitch in the NL West, and is another pitcher that could be a decent pickup in a 2 start week. If he has two road games in pitchers ballparks like SD and SF you might want to think about picking him up for a week and then dropping him. Certainly no one expects him to perform well in the thin air of Coors Field.
Monday July 23rd, 2012
Yankees/Mariners
Yankees Send:
RHP D.J. Mitchell
RHP Danny Farquhar
Yankees Receive:
Ichiro Suzuki
Analysis: The Mariners receive two decent prospects out of the Yankees minor league organization, but they won’t be fantasy relevant this season. Ichrio’s value receives a tremendous boost, even if his average stays in the .260′s this season, he will score more runs and have the opportunity for more RBI’s. He is a buy low candidate in most leagues where you may be able to land him for a mid-level talent at this point in the season. Once Nick Swisher returns for the Yankees, Ichiro is expected to be the everyday left fielder.
Monday July 23rd, 2012
Tigers/Marlins
Tigers Send:
RHP Jacob Turner
C Rob Brantly
LHP Brian Flynn
Tigers Receive:
INF Omar Infante
RHP Anibal Sanchez
Analysis: In yet another mega deal, the Tigers acquire Omar Infante and Anibal Sanchez from the Marlins. Infante was already having a decent season for the fish, and figures to slide right into the second base role in Detroit. Ryan Raburn was such a disappointment this season, he doesn’t figure to take much time from Infante. Anibal Sanchez will maintain about the same fantasy relevance with his 3.94 ERA and 110 K in 121 IP , but will have more opportunity for wins pitching for the more potent Tigers in the AL Central. The only fantasy relevant part of the trade that the Marlins acquired was Jacob Turner. While he isn’t on anyone’s radar for the remainder of this season, he figures to be an above average major league pitcher in the very near future. Be sure to keep an eye on him heading into 2013, as he may be ready to have a breakout year in the near future.
Tuesday July 24th, 2012
Red Sox/Indians
Red Sox Send:
UTIL Brent Lillibridge
Red Sox Receive:
RHP Jose De La Torre
Analysis: In one of the more uneventful trades of 2012, the Red Sox and Indians swapped two guys who won’t have any fantasy relevance this season. Even if you play in AL-only leagues, Lillibridge will be splitting time in the lineup and is not an advisable add.
Tuesday July 24th, 2012
Astros/Pirates
Astros Send:
LHP Wandy Rodriguez
Astros Receive:
OF Robbie Grossman
LHP Rudy Owens
LHP Colton Cain
Analysis: The Astros continue to unload every player of value that they feature on their roster, and Wandy Rodriguez is the latest casualty. He makes the move the Pittsburgh, but sadly his value doesn’t increase too much. The Pirates are winning on the strength of solid pitching, not a prolific offense, so Wandy will need to bring his ERA under 3.00 the rest of the way if he wants to go over .500 the rest of the season. While he isn’t a must-add, he is a solid option pitching for a winning team now, and could be a nice pickup in spot starts. The Astros added more organizational depth, and none of the three players they acquired are expected to make a fantasy impact this season.
Tuesday July 24th, 2012
Diamondbacks/Rays
Diamondbacks send:
2B/3B Ryan Roberts
Diamondbacks receive:
INF Tyler Bortnick
Analysis: Ryan Roberts entered the 2012 fantasy baseball season as a late round sleeper that many owners took a chance on after his succesful part time campaign of 2011. By this point of the season he has been dropped in most formats, but this move to the Rays could end up giving him some value down the stretch after all. With Longoria possibly out for the season it remains to be seen how Tampa Bay utilizes Roberts as he can be a utility infielder, or the everyday 3B. Keep an eye on the situation, if Roberts end up finding every day time at 3B he will be an advisable pickup in deeper formats.
Wednesday July 25th, 2012
Dodgers/Marlins
Dodgers send:
RHP Nathan Eovaldi
RHP Scott McGough
Dodgers Receive:
SS/3B Hanley Ramirez
LHP Randy Choate
Analysis: The Dodgers have landed one of the biggest trade pieces of 2012 in Hanley Ramirez. He figures to slot into the 2 or 3 hole in the lineup hitting in front of Kemp and Ethier, which will create one heck of a punch in the middle of their lineup. The problem with Hanley for the last year and a half has been his conistency as his batting average has hovered below the mendoza line of .250. He still has elite power and decent speed, and hopefully this move to LA will revitalize his career. Playing in the pitcher’s ballpark at Chavez Ravine will add its share of challenges, so his value remains about the same as it was when he was with the Marlins. In return, Miami landed 2 decent young pitchers in minor leaguer McGough, and Nate Eovaldi who had pitched well for the Dodgers in his first season in the bigs. Eovaldi was the big piece here, and in fantasy leagues his value remains unchanged, but heading into 2013 he could be a decent sleeper pickup as he figures to be central to the Marlins plans for years to come.
Friday July 27th, 2012
Rockies/Giants
Rockies Send:
Marco Scutaro
Rockies Receive:
INF Charlie Culberson
Analysis: Ouch! All Marco Scutaro owners can’t be feeling too good about this one as Scutaro is heading for a lineup that doesn’t score many runs, and a much less hitter friendly ballpark. If there is any opportunity to trade, now would be the time before his numbers start heading in the wrong direction
Saturday July 28th, 2012
ST LOUIS, MO – OCTOBER 14: Zack Greinke #13 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws apitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during Game Five of the National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium on October 14, 2011 in St Louis, Missouri. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
Angels/ Brewers
Angels Send:
SS Jean Segura
P Johnny Hellweg
P Ariel Pena
Angels Receive:
SP Zack Greinke
Analysis: The Angels and Zack Greinke’s fantasy owners scored big in this deal as he should start winning games immediately in Anaheim. If you have the opportunity to trade for Greinke, do it as there is still plenty of time left for him to add wins and strikeouts to your fantasy stats. For the Brew Crew, they received 2 pitchers that are currently in Double-A and don’t figure to make an impact this season, and a SS in Jean Segura who was the top ranked prospect in the Angels system. If Segura gets consistent playing time he could be a quality pickup in most formats, be sure to keep an eye on that Brewers lineup.
For now, those are the only deals that have been completed. Be sure to check back regularly as I will update this article if and when new trades are announced. Players like Ryan Dempster, Cole Hamels, Zack Greinke, and Matt Garza are all rumored to be on the move, but we won’t know for sure what the changes to their fantasy value will be until the deals are done.
