DFS PLAYBOOK PRO – An exciting offering from the Alarm is the DFS Playbook Pro. I will be doing a daily breakdown of the hitters – Hitting Coach – while Howard Bender looks into the Pitchers (Pitching Coach). You can find the link to the Hitting and Pitching articles under the DFS Playbook pro tab at the top right of the screen.
OTHER LINKS TO BOOKMARK
DODGERS ADD PITCHING
Dodgers receive: Mat Latos and Mike Morse
Marlins receive: Competitive Balance Pick, and three minor leaguers
This deal isn’t official, but it’s being reported by multiple sources so let’s go with it. Though, from Clark Spencer...
"Now hearing the trade is far from complete. Sources telling me it could be falling apart. Total confusion. #marlins"
If the trade happens...
The Dodgers add Latos who I wrote about on Tuesday. Latos has been surging, and it sounds like the Dodgers might still be looking to add another arm (Davis Price and Cole Hamels names are being bandied about).
What does Morse do for the Dodgers? Good question. He’s not playing first over Adrian Gonzalez. Duh. So he will pinch hit and play some outfield. By the way, he is one of the most brutal defenders in baseball in the outfield. As it looks the Dodgers will go with Yasiel Puig, Joe Pederson and Andre Ethier/Carl Crawford. Where does Morse play given that group? Perhaps he was added with the expectations that further deals will be made. Morse has been hurt and horrible hitting .214 with four homers and a .592 OPS over 173 plate appearances anyway.
This deal seems to lock in Justin Bour at first base for the Marlins. The lefty slugger can hit the ball deep with 10 big flies in 198 at-bats, and he hits righties well (.267/.342/.489). Still, he’s more of a mistake hitter than anything else, doesn’t do much against lefties, and with a 49 percent ground ball rate this season he is really living off a pretty high 20 percent HR/F ratio. He’s not likely anything other than a first base option in NL-only leagues.
NATIONALS ADD CLOSER
Nationals receive: Jonathan Papelbon and cash
Phillies receive: Nick Pivetta
Papelbon is out of Philly as he wanted. He will be the 9th inning arm for the Nats now. “Papelbon is our ninth-inning pitcher,” General Manager Mike Rizzo said. Sorry Drew Storen owners. Let’s compare the two hurlers.
Papelbon: 1.59 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 9.1 K.9, 5.0 K.BB, 17 saves in 17 chances
D. Storen: 1.73 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 10.9 K/9, 4.9 K/BB, 29 saves in 31 chances
Clearly Storen has done nothing to lose the 9th inning gig. He’s been one of the best relievers in baseball. Still, he will lose the job torpedoing his fantasy value overnight. “All I’m going to say is obviously I’m aware of the move,” Storen said. “Talked to Mike [Rizzo] about it, talked to my agent. We’ve had some ongoing discussions. Until those have progressed, I’m just going to leave it at that.”
I get the Phillies wanting to boost their bullpen. In this day and age teams ask their starters to go 5-6 innings, and then turn things over to the bullpen. However, I don’t get this move at all. Why bring in another closer? Why bring in a reliever you have to pay gazillions of dollars to? Why not add a cheaper arm to setup for Storen? Perhaps Storen will now be dealt? If he isn’t, I don’t get it. Regardless, this move is a stunner and Storen owners are left to scramble. Maybe they will head to Philly…
Ken Giles takes over the 9th inning for the Phillies. He had a save Tuesday night. In just a couple of days, August 1st, we will release our monthly Player Rankings update. On the year he has a 1.81 ERA and 10.88 K/9 mark, and through 90 big league outings he owns a 1.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 11.76 K/9 rate. He should do just fine in the 9th inning.
I’m a kid. Star Wars was my life. I’m so pumped that we’re closing in on the seventh installment. So excited. come on, don’t make me feel bad about it. It was awkward when that gal found my Yoda stuffed animal in my bedroom though…
ANGELS ADD EVERY OUTFIELDER IN BASEBALL
Matt Joyce has a concussion and will miss some time.
Mike Trout injured his wrist and will miss a few days, though and MRI ruled out anything extensive going on.
The Angels went out and said to heck with all of that, we’re bolstering our lineup in a significant way, and over the last two days have added three outfielders to the mix (especially important given that the Angels left fielders have hit .213 with a .588 OPS this season). "It adds depth," manager Mike Scioscia said. "It's going to give us a little more balance. Our bench is going to have a nice look with guys who can play and match up." Here are the three men.
David DeJesus, who has a HOT wife, he’s also someone who hits righties pretty well with a .285/.362/.441 slash line in his career. He’s been a mess since the calendar flipped to June though (.174/.258/.229).
David Murphy has had a great year for the Indians after a down 2013 and 2014. He is back to being a valuable platoon bat (more on that below). When a righty is on the bump Murphy is batting .297 with a .341 OBP and .432 SLG this season.
Shane Victorino is the most complete player of the three. He’s also always hurt and not performing this season against righties (.190/.250/.206). That’s embarrassing. He’s crushed lefties though (.343/.439/.457) and should be heavily utilized when the Angels face a portsider.
I would guess that DeJesus and Victorino will platoon in left field.
I would guess that Murphy and C.J. Cron will platoon at designated hitter. The team just couldn’t handle it anymore, not with their DH’s hitting .230 with a .698 OPS this season.
Bottom line is that DeJesus, Murphy, Victorino and Cron all see their values diminish slightly with these deals. With all the platoon options here, none is someone you can start in mixed leagues if you only set your lineup once a week. If you can change your lineup each day, have at it.
BRAVES DEALING?
Jason Grilli is out (Achilles).
Sounds like Jim Johnson will be dealt.
Add Arodys Vizcaino now. Immediately like, if you are saves speculating. Arodys has a 1.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP through 10 outings, an d over the course of 31.1 innings in his career he’s had issues with walks (4.60 per nine), but he has oodles of talent and a big arm – his average heater this season is 97 mph.
Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday at 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 7 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).