The 2022 MLB Trade Deadline is in full tilt with tons of MLB trades, roster changes, and big-name players switching teams. Most of these MLB trades at the deadline will have an impact on your fantasy baseball lineups, so it's important to stay up-to-date on the latest moves. With this MLB Trade Deadline Tracker, we provide the fantasy baseball impact on every trade made in Major League Baseball leading up to the August 2nd deadline. When deals are made, we will update them here with everything you need to know about the trade. It could be big-name MLB superstars like Juan Soto, Frankie Montas, Trey Mancini, or Andrew Benintendi changing teams and impacting fantasy baseball rankings. We also have MLB top prospects moving to new organizations in those deals. We’ll break it all down here and then provide the fantasy baseball spin on each trade. What players gained fantasy baseball stock and improved their rest-of-season MLB projections from the deal? What MLB players lost fantasy baseball value from the trade? Who should I be looking at on the fantasy baseball waiver wire? All of that and more will be covered here in the 2022 MLB Trade Deadline Tracker. 

Updated 8/2 @ 5:15pm

 

 

August 2

Padres Acquire Juan Soto from Washington in Blockbuster Deal

 

 

Juan Soto may be having a down year by hitting just .246 on the season, but a .243 BABIP is abnormally low for him, and he still has an impressive .408 OBP thanks to a 20.9 percent walk rate. He has 21 home runs on the year, alongside 62 runs scored and 46 RBI, and now gets to go to San Diego where he’ll have far more protection in the lineup, as well as a vastly improved supporting cast. Soto is a 23-year-old mega star who is under team control through the 2024 season. Will he sign an extension in San Diego? That will be something to watch over the next couple of seasons. San Diego also got Josh Bell, who will provide another valuable weapon in the lineup. Bell may only have 14 home runs on the season, but he’s hitting .301 with a .384 OBP. The Padres just added two legitimate weapons to their lineup that should also be welcoming back Fernando Tatis Jr. in the coming weeks, just in time for the home stretch.

The Nationals got numerous prospects, including Robert Hassell and James Wood who are consensus top prospects in the San Diego organization. In his latest Prospect Report, here’s what Matt Selz had to say about a couple of these prospects: “Hassell is a legit five-tool outfielder who is manhandling High-A Fort Wayne currently. James Wood is a young, interesting outfield prospect who still needs to refine parts of his game. The speed and power are intriguing but he needs to refine his approach at the plate to maximize those skills.”

Beyond those two, we’ve seen MacKenzie Gore look nearly unhittable at times at the big league level, as he posted a 1.50 ERA and 10.69 K/9 across his first eight starts. However, he sputtered a bit after his first start in June, and he’s currently on the injured list with an elbow issue. Fortunately, there was no structural damage reported from his MRI. C.J. Abrams has dominated Triple-A this year, but his success in the minors hasn’t translated to the big league level yet, as he’s hit just .232 with a .270 wOBA this year. However, even at the major league level, his strikeout rate has remained respectable, and he’s still only 21-years-old with a plus hit tool and plus-plus speed. Jarlin Susana is 18 years young, but he was the top ranked pitcher in the 2021-2022 international class. He has a physically imposing frame and the early returns in Rookie Ball have been encouraging. This is a multi-year project for the Nationals, but you can see the appeal with the young right-hander. Luke Voit will head back to Washington in this deal as well, and he could be interesting in Washington, given that he's better away from Petco Park this year, and he's no stranger to barreling up the baseball.

Fantasy Spin: Soto is an elite fantasy asset regardless of what stadium he plays in. Soto and Bell should both enjoy an improved supporting cast, as well as more protection in the lineup, providing more upside for their counting stats. Hassell and Wood immediately upgrade Washington’s farm system, whereas Abrams could get regular playing time down the stretch, so he could be a flier for some stolen bases. The Nationals would be incredibly wise to slow play it with Gore the rest of the way in 2022 to ensure he’s fully ready for 2023.

 

Twins Acquire Tyler Mahle From Cincinnati

 

 

The Twins have been sniffing around the starting pitching market, and they get their guy in Tyler Mahle. He seems to be over a shoulder injury that plagued him last month, and his numbers look impressive since the calendar flipped to June. Since June, he has a 3.20 ERA (3.53 FIP) and a 9.95 K/9. His harnessed his control, and cut down on the walks of late, and the Twins have to love getting him out Great American Ball Park. Well, Mahle may like that as well, as he has a 3.83 ERA on the road this year and 3.74 ERA on the road for his entire career. Love this move for Minnesota, and they will Mahle for all of next year as well.

In return, Cincinnati received three top 30 prospects from the Twins, including Spencer Steer, Steven Hajjar and Christian Encarnacion-Strand. All of them are are appealing for the Reds, especially the hitters in that park, but Encarnacion-Strand’s power has been on full display this year, as he’s slugged 25 home runs and 25 doubles in 87 games across High-A and Double-A ball this year. He has a 1.085 OPS at Double-A already, with five home runs and two doubles in just 54 at-bats. The young corner infielder could be so much fun in Great American Ball Park in the future.

Fantasy Spin: Love this move for Mahle. He gets a park upgrade and has an offense backing him that doesn’t need its home park to boost them up. Mahle’s road numbers in 2022 and for his career have to be exciting for fantasy baseball managers looking for Mahle to continue this successful run he’s on. The Reds could benefit from this trade as soon as 2023 when some of these prospects potentially make their big league appearances, but just like any prospect, only time will tell.

 

San Diego Adds to Lineup, Acquires Brandon Drury 

 

 

This was another one that was easily predicted. Drury hit .249 for his career up to this point, and now in Great American Ball Park, he hits .274 with a 132 wRC+ and 20 home runs in 92 games. As a guy hitting the ball for a non-contending team with an expiring contract, it’s a no-brainer. He’s been far better against lefties this year, hitting .309 against them, compared to just .261 against righties, but what should worry fantasy owners is that his .241 average on the road pales in comparison to his .298 mark at home. Additionally, his .915 OPS at home is far greater than his .771 mark on the road. The Reds got back Victor Acosta in this deal, an 18-year-old shortstop that will need some grooming and seasoning in the minors. He has plus-speed, and packs quite a punch for his frame.

Fantasy Spin: Drury is going to a lineup that now features Manny Machado, Josh Bell, and Juan Soto, not to mention Fernando Tatis Jr. in the coming weeks. Will he be able to maintain his production outside of Great American Ball Park? Do the Padres deploy him only against lefties? I think these are reasonable questions to ask, but his versatility across the infield will maximize his opportunities for playing time in a now loaded lineup.

 

Oft-Injured Matthew Boyd Sent to Mariners

 

 

Boyd hasn’t pitched in 2022 as he is recovering from forearm flexor tendon surgery, but this move by Seattle has more long-term implications in mind. If he comes back healthy, he could serve as nice rotational depth for a talented Mariners squad. Since throwing a career high 185.1 innings back in 2019, Boyd has just 139 innings pitched under his belt. To his credit, prior to getting hurt in 2021, despite a 3-8 record, he had a 3.89 ERA and 4.10 FIP in 15 starts with Detroit.

Fantasy Spin: No fantasy value to be had here, but the effects could be seen for Seattle in 2023.
 

Minnesota Adds Sandy León for Catching Depth

 

With Ryan Jeffers going down with an injury that will sideline him for up to two months, the Twins added Leon for insurance behind the dish. He won’t have much of a fantasy impact, but he’s a defensive-minded catcher and will help fill the defensive void behind the plate. Gary Sánchez will do some catching, but we all know how he is defensively. Ian Hamilton will head to Cleveland and was promptly sent to its Triple-A affiliate.

Fantasy Spin: No real fantasy value here, other than the fact that Leon, and most other catchers, provide a defensive boost over Gary Sánchez, which helps the pitchers.
 

Milwaukee Brewers take flier on Trevor Rosenthal 

 

 

Rosenthal will be hoping to make his 2022 debut in a few weeks, but it’s been a rough go of things for Rosenthal. Rosenthal hasn’t seen a major league mound since 2020, and the Brewers are going to take a flier on Rosenthal contributing to their bullpen before seasons end. Milwaukee wants to have proven arms in the bullpen, and Rosenthal has shown that he is that when healthy.

Fantasy Spin: It’s hard to envision Rosenthal shaking off two years of rust and just reinserting himself as a shutdown reliever down the stretch. While I wish him the best, there’s no fantasy impact here.
 

Mariners trade with Dodgers and land Jake Lamb

 

 

The Mariners send cash considerations, and the Mariners get Jake Lamb. The veteran will be a lefty bat for Seattle, but other than that, what will his impact be? He’s hit just .239 with a 31.2 percent strikeout rate for the Dodgers this season, and outside of his 2016 and 2017 seasons, he doesn’t have much major league success to showcase. He’s always struggled with lefties, so this move seems predicated on the notion that Lamb is a bench bat for the Mariners that can fill in at a couple different spots if needed in a pinch.

Fantasy Impact: Maybe in DFS we’ll get to play Lamb one day, but in seasonal formats, I’m not banking on much from Lamb down the stretch.

 

Minnesota adds bullpen depth with Michael Fulmer 

 

 

The Tigers were destined to move a reliever or two, and Fulmer will stay in the division but head over to Minnesota. Fulmer has been as reliable as they come for Detroit this year, posting two saves, 18 holds, a 3.20 ERA, and 8.92 K/9 across 41 appearances this year. His ground ball rate is down compared to years past, but home runs haven’t bothered him this year, largely in part to a 2.2 percent HR/FB rate and a miniscule 0.9 percent barrel rate.

Sawyer Gipson-Long may not have been a top 30 prospect in the Twins system, but he displayed excellent strikeout numbers in 2021. I mean, 134 strikeouts across 97 innings of work? Impressive. His strikeouts have dissipated a bit this year, and he’s actually under a strikeout per inning through eight appearances at the Double-A level, but a 4.49 ERA and 1.26 WHIP through his minor league career to date is respectable. Gipson-Long was a sixth round pick out of Mercer in the 2019 draft.

Fantasy Spin: Fulmer’s jersey will change, but he’ll be a highly effective reliever that is a few steps removed from a closer role. He’ll get plenty of holds with his new club, while helping your fantasy team’s ratios, but the save department won’t be somewhere that he impacts greatly, barring some injuries.
 

Thor's Hammer Sent to Philadelphia as Phillies Acquire Noah Syndergaard

 

 

I can’t say that this move is too surprising for multiple reasons. Syndergaard is a free agent after this season, and once again, the Angels aren’t competing for anything. The veteran righty may not be the dominant strikeout pitcher he was in his earlier years, but he’s adapted to his new ways, and commands the strike zone, and induces ground balls at a solid clip. He has some pretty gnarly home/road splits this year, and Philadelphia can be rough on pitchers at times, but he spent most of his career in the NL East, so he knows that stadium well, for better or for worse. Philadelphia desperately needed pitching help and Syndergaard will fill that void.

Mickey Moniak and Jadiel Sanchez will head back to Los Angeles. Moniak has struggled immensely at the big league level when given the chance. In 47 career games dating back to 2020, Moniak has a .129 batting average, 39 percent strikeout rate, and 3.6 percent barrel rate. Sanchez is a 21-year-old outfielder who has yet to play above A-Ball, but he was a solid prospect in the Philadelphia system, and he has nine career home runs in 77 games at the minor league level. However, he has gone just 3-for-8 on stolen base attempts, while posting a .303 OBP.

Fantasy Spin: Syndergaard should continue to put up solid numbers and a more potent offensive that doesn’t strikeout 76% of the time will certainly help him. There’s some good offenses in that division that could help his strikeout rate, but what we have seen of Syndergaard is what we can expect moving forward, maybe with a few more homers allowed, but a couple extra wins on his ledger.

 

Cardinals Acquire Jordan Montgomery from the Yankees

 

 

With all the talk about the Yankees being in the starting pitching market, I didn’t expect them to trade away one! Albeit somewhat unspectacular, Montgomery has been steady for the Yankees, making 21 starts and posting a 3.69 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 114.2 innings. His ERA is marginally better away from Yankee Stadium, and he goes to St. Louis, which much like his former team, is rather slick with the glove. Montgomery had been sputtering a bit in July, and in fact, his ERA has risen each month of the season, up to 4.91 in July. Bader is an excellent defender, but is currently on the shelf with a foot issue. When healthy, Bader can provide cheap pop and speed for fantasy baseball managers, and he had 15 stolen bases prior to getting injured this season in just 72 games. Bader is more outfield depth for the Yankees, and can provide late game defense and speed in those important situations.

Fantasy Spin: Montgomery’s move to St. Louis is probably a slight improvement, as he still has a good defense behind him and a potent offense. Once healthy, Bader could get regular at-bats with the Yankees, and that would be a positive for him. The best thing for Bader and his fantasy value down the stretch would be for the Yankees to make him the everyday center fielder, and use his speed and glove as an improvement over Aaron Hicks
 

Mets add Mychal Givens to its Bullpen

 

 

Another Cubs reliever is shipped out and it is Mychal Givens. Givens has been excellent this year, posting a 2.66 ERA and 11.29 K/9 across 40 appearances this year. He has two saves and six holds to his name on the season. After posting a 5.59 ERA in the month of June, Givens fired 11.1 shutout innings in July, posting a 12:4 K/BB ratio in the process. He’s mowed down lefties and righties this year, and the Mets add a much-needed arm to its bullpen for a lower-level prospect.

Fantasy Spin: Givens won’t be closing in games in New York, so his fantasy value is relatively unchanged. He has a better offense to put him in better spots for more holds, but if your league doesn’t value holds, he can provide decent strikeout numbers for those in deeper formats.
 

Royals Trade Whit Merrifield to Blue Jays

 

 

Yes, Toronto! While Merrifield may be having a down fantasy year compared to some of his recent seasons, he’s hitting .240 with six home runs and 15 stolen bases, and now gets to join one of the most potent offenses in Major League Baseball. He should be an every day player for the Blue Jays and Toronto is getting him at a good time, as he’s hitting .268 with a 113 wRC+ over his last 43 at-bats. He makes a ton of contact, doesn’t strike out a ton, and gets to go to a good park, offense, and division.

Kansas City netted Samad Taylor and Max Castillo in return for Merrifield. Taylor has showcased excellent speed throughout the minors, and can hit for an okay batting average. His speed should fit in well with what they like to do there in Kansas City. The power has come on of late in his minor league career, but the speed has always been prevalent. Castillo was effective in nine appearances for Toronto this year, posting a 3.05 ERA and 51.8 percent ground ball rate in nine appearances (2 GS). He’s just 23 years young, and operates primarily with fastball and changeup, of which the former can get into the mid-90s on a good day.

Fantasy Impact: This is a big boost for Merrifield. Even if he doesn’t run as much as he did in Kansas City, his supporting cast is strengthened, and he gets more games in hitter friendly parks, thanks to being in the American League East. He must be getting vaccinated for Toronto to do this, so there shouldn’t be concerns there.

 

Raisel Iglesias Traded to Atlanta at Deadline Buzzer

 

 

After trading Noah Syndergaard, the Angels sent Raisel Iglesias to Atlanta, as the Braves make one final splash before the deadline to boost their late season run. The Braves want to solidify its bullpen, and rightfully so, as Kenley Jansen has missed time this year with an irregular heartbeat and then dealing with a minor back issue. The Braves wanted more insurance for late game work, so they acquired Iglesias. The veteran right-hander has a 4.04 ERA on the year, but his 3.44 xERA, 3.17 FIP, and 3.05 xFIP indicate some better luck could be on the way, but he needs to do himself some favors by inducing more ground balls. His current ground ball rate of 30.2 percent would be his lowest mark since 2019, so it’s no real surprise that the home runs have remained a bit higher than one would like. He did close 16 games this year, and his proven experience in the ninth inning should leave Atlanta feeling much better about it’s bullpen compared to a couple of hours ago. One thing to watch with Iglesias here, is that he does have an 8.36 ERA away from Los Angeles this season, but perhaps the stigma of playing for a contender will recalibrate his mind and focus.

Iglesias is under team control through 2025, and all they gave up was the 38-year-old Jesse Chavez and the 26-year-old Tucker Davidson. The latter could be intriguing, but this seems like an incredibly light return for Iglesias, even with his struggles this season and being 32.

Fantasy Impact: If Kenley Jansen is healthy, he’s closing games, making Iglesias an overpriced setup man in fantasy formats. Should Jansen be out again, Iglesias becomes incredibly valuable, but otherwise, he’s just the next man up in Atlanta.
 

Mariners add Catcher Depth in Curt Casali

 

 

Casali is currently dealing with an oblique issue, but his rehab assignment started a little over one week ago. Once he returns, he will provide some catching depth behind Cal Raleigh as the Mariners load up for the stretch run. Raleigh is their starter, and Casali is a career .227 hitter with a .310 wOBA and 93 wRC+. To acquire Casali, the Mariners sent Michael Stryffeler to San Francisco. Stryffeler is a reliever who could move up quickly, as he’s 26 years old and has a 2.17 ERA across 76 appearances in Double-A. The strikeout numbers there have been excellent, although walks have been an issue. If San Francisco can harness that, he could be a nice middle reliever for them.

Fantasy Spin: No major fantasy value here for 2022.

 

Phillies Acquire Brandon Marsh from Los Angeles

 

 

This is an upside play by Philadelphia. Regardless of what he does at the dish, he provides some much needed defense in the Philadelphia outfield, highlighted by his 91st percentile sprint speed, and 98th percentile outs above average mark on Baseball Savant. Despite hitting just .226 with an astronomically high 36.2 percent strikeout rate, Marsh does have eight home runs and eight stolen bases in 292 at-bats this season. Marsh is just 24-years-old so there’s plenty of room for growth with Marsh, but the strikeouts and whiffs need to be cut down for him to reach his true potential. The Angels have a lack of prospect pedigree behind the dish, but O’Hoppe will help beef that up a bit, seeing as he was Philadelphia’s top catching prospect, per MLB.com. At Double-A this year, he’s hit .275 with an .888 OPS, 15 home runs and six stolen bases. For his minor league career, he’s thrown out nearly 26 percent of would-be base stealers.

Fantasy Spin: Marsh will head to a good hitter’s park, but his glove and defensive prowess will be on display right away for Philadelphia. They should let him operate in the strong side of a platoon in center field, while utilizing his glove as a late-inning defensive replacement if a lefty starts for the opposition.

 

Phillies Add David Robertson 

 

 

Robertson being traded was a no-brainer. A 37-year-old reliever having a great season for a non-contending team and being valued on the trade market means a guaranteed trade, and now we have it. Robertson has a 2.23 ERA and 14 saves across 36 appearances this season, while posting a 30.9 percent strikeout rate and a 48.4 percent ground ball rate. The Phillies needed some bullpen help, and Robertson adds proven closing experience to a bullpen that includes Seranthony Domínguez, Brad Hand, and Corey Knebel. Robertson’s strikeouts took a bit of a downturn in the month of July, but it was still above one per inning, and he had a 3.18 ERA in the month of July. 

The Cubs got back Ben Brown in the deal, who has a 3.08 ERA and 35.4 percent strikeout rate in High-A this year. Furthermore, his 2.84 BB/9 is impressive, and at just 22 years old, he’s a developmental right-hander for the Cubs, and his return to dominance following Tommy John surgery in 2019 is big for Chicago. The hope is that he starts, but another injury or two to that right arm of his may have him destined for the pen.

Fantasy Spin: Robertson very well could step in immediately as the team’s closer. It wouldn’t surprise me at all, but even if it takes a bit of time for him to step in as the ninth-inning alpha, Robertson’s performance this year warrants a spot on your fantasy teams. Regardless, he’s going to a better team, so even if he doesn’t get every single save chance, his fantasy value is still elevated in Philly.

 

Mets Acquire Darin Ruf

 

 

Trades that are cut and dry are the best. Darin Ruf will operate in the smaller side of a platoon as he crushes lefties. At designated hitter, the Mets can now run out Daniel Vogelbach against righties, and Ruf against lefties. Boom, problem solved! Ruf is 36-years-old, so there’s likely not much longevity with him in New York, but he has a specific role down the stretch, and it’s to pummel opposing lefties.

After hitting .288 between 2019-2021, Davis has hit just .238 this season, despite a .345 BABIP. Like 2021, his strikeout rate remained elevated, north of 31 percent to be exact, but the Giants must be intrigued by his increased hard hit rate this year. San Francisco isn’t the most hitter friendly park, but the Giants believe that donning the orange and black, his batted ball metrics will turn around his season. The hard contact he’s made this year is legit, and quite impressive in fact.

Fantasy Spin: Will either player be full time the rest of the way on their new teams? Ruf certainly won’t, given his splits and all the depth that New York has acquired at the deadline. The Giants ride or die with splits, so I’m hard-pressed to think that Davis bucks that trend down the stretch.

 

Blue Jays Take Two Relievers from Miami

 

 

Anthony Bass is a great get for a Toronto team that has a bullpen with a league average ERA coming in at 3.89 (4.20 FIP). Bass, a former Blue Jay, has a 1.41 ERA on the season with a 9.07 K/9 and he has been exceptional at keeping the ball in the park this year (0.20 HR/9). He has allowed just one earned run over his last 20.2 innings of work, while recording one win and six holds. He won’t see a ton of save chances in Toronto, but he may see an occasional one here and there, but his fantasy value skyrockets for those leagues that value holds, as he figures to be one of the more prominent arms in the back end of the Toronto pen. Zach Pop hasn’t been as dominant as Bass, but he’s been serviceable this year, and his 63.1 percent ground ball rate will help mitigate damage that he might incur in the American League East and its stadiums. He’s not your typical swing-and-miss reliever, but for having a lower strikeout rate, he sure does generate a ton of swings out of the zone (42.5 O-Swing%).

Miami nets Jordan Groshans, a first round pick back in 2018 who has reached Triple-A this season. In 67 games at Triple-A, he’s hit .250 with a .644 OPS, one home run, two stolen bases, and eight doubles. He’s underwhelmed a bit this year, especially in terms of hitting the ball with authority, but he has posted respectable walk and strikeout rates in the minors.

Fantasy Spin: While Bass might not carry the elite strikeout numbers desired for a non-closing reliever, he becomes a great asset in holds leagues, as Toronto looks to contend for a playoff spot in the American League. Zach Pop has little to no fantasy value in 2022, nor does Groshans.

 

Dodgers Take a Chance on Joey Gallo

 

 

Joey Gallo’s struggles this year are well documented, and we don’t need to hash into that a ton. Yes, he ranks in the first percentile in xBA, strikeout rate, and whiff rate, but strikeouts have always been a part of his game, even if not to this near-40 percent mark. However, when he does make contact, the top end max velocity is still there, as is his hard hit rate. Gallo needed to get out of New York desperately, and while his .178 average and .719 OPS on the road are far from ideal, but they are better than his home marks. This is a low risk, but potentially high-ish reward for the Dodgers. In a vacuum, Clayton Beeter is a nice return for the Yankees, and despite his 5.75 ERA at Double-A this season, his 88 strikeouts in 51.2 innings of work is impressive. At just 23 years young, Beeter could really develop under New York’s tutelage.

Fantasy Spin: Beeter won’t make a fantasy impact in 2022, but Gallo is an intriguing one if everything flips for him now that he’s out of New York. His power is legit when he makes contact, but strikeouts will always be a part of his game. If Gallo is available in your league, it might not be a bad idea to take a flier on him, and see how his first handful of games go in his new digs.

 

Eric Hosmer Heads to Boston

 

 

This trade is so interesting given the storylines associated with it. Hosmer decided not to waive his no-trade clause in the Juan Soto deal that would have sent him to Washington, and now ends up in Boston. Meanwhile, the Red Sox can’t decide whether they want to buy or sell at the deadline, and they seem to be doing a little two-step on both sides of the hypothetical fence. After a rough June, Hosmer has bounced back in July, hitting .254 with a .704 OPS. In terms of Park Factors at Baseball Savant, Fenway Park is more lucrative compared to Petco Park, and perhaps a more advantageous park will help play up his diminished batted ball metrics. Also, for Boston, San Diego is swallowing a good chunk of Hosmer’s salary, and regardless of what happens at the batter’s box, he is a capable defender that will help the team there. San Diego did get Jay Groome back in the deal, a former first round pick with a career 4.46 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in the minors.

Fantasy Spin: Hosmer gets a park upgrade, but it won’t fix some of his batted ball metrics that are down, most notably barrel rate, exit velocity, and hard hit rate. He may be able to do more with it in Fenway compared to Petco, but I wouldn’t expect a seismic shift in his production the rest of the way. Slight bump? Sure, but temper your expectations and don’t overpay.

 

Minnesota Gets Jorge López from Baltimore

 

 

It was Trey Mancini yesterday, and now it’s Jorge López today. This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, as Lopez is having a breakout season and relievers under team control beyond a year or two have been a hot commodity at the deadline.  From 2015-2021, Lopez posted a 6.04 ERA, 48.1 percent ground ball rate, and 7.64 K/9. This year, he’s 19-for-23 in save opportunities, with a 1.69 ERA, 60 percent ground ball rate, and 10.06 K/9. He’s essentially scrapped his four-seamer for his arsenal, and relies primarily on his sinker, which has generated a 60.3 percent ground ball rate this season. July has been Lopez’s worst month of the year, but he figures to be a big piece of the Minnesota bullpen the rest of the way. While Minnesota likely puts up more save chances than Baltimore the rest of the way, he’ll likely be one of the multiple Twins used in the ninth inning the rest of the way.

While Baltimore got back four pitching prospects in Cade Povich, Yennier Cano, Juan Nunez and Juan Rojas, Povich is the highest-ranked of them all. Povich was a third-round back in the 2021 draft. He boasts good velocity from the left-hand side and he has a 107:26 K/BB ratio in 78.2 innings in High-A this year. Cano has a 9.22 ERA in 10 appearances for the Twins this year, and at 28 years old, he only has 108.1 innings in the minors and those 13.2 innings in the majors under his belt. Nunez has some decent strikeout numbers in his minor league career, but a career 5.05 ERA and 1.49 WHIP are underwhelming, and he’s already 26 with no innings above High-A. Rojas is intriguing at just 18 years young, and his 38:4 K/BB ratio in rookie ball this year is a big improvement upon last year’s marks. He’s years away from a potential debut, but the jump from 2021 to 2022 has been nice.

Fantasy Spin: Lopez will continue to carry solid fantasy value in leagues that value “solds” (saves & holds), but if the league doesn’t value holds, going from the unquestioned closer to a potential timeshare will ding his value a bit. He’ll still boost your team’s ratios, so that shouldn’t be affected by the move. None of Baltimore’s returns from this deal will make a noticeable impact in 2022, but Félix Bautista could become the team's closer, which boosts his value immensely.

August 1

Cardinals and Pirates Strike Deal for José Quintana and Chris Stratton

 

 

 

 

Both teams won on this deal, I’ll come right out and say it. St. Louis gets the pitching help it needs, especially in the rotation as Jack Flaherty and Steven Matz have not been able to stay healthy in 2022. Quintana is having a resurgent 2022 campaign, and is on pace to post a sub-4.00 ERA for the first time since 2016! His 3-5 record on the year is more of an indication of the offense supporting him, but he’s harnessed his control, kept the ball in the year, and continues to induce ground balls at an excellent clip (45% in 2022, 44.3% for his career). He does have a 5.22 ERA on the road this year, compared to a 2.42 ERA at home, so that is something to watch, but he has a far better offense supporting him, which bodes well for wins. Beyond that, the Cardinals are one of the best defensive teams in baseball, if not the best, so the ground ball specialist should enjoy a better field unit behind him. The Cardinals also brought over Chris Stratton, who posted a 3.70 ERA and 10.29 K/9 in 2020 and 2021 for Pittsburgh. He has closing experience, and like Quintana, is a guy who will post a 40+ percent ground ball rate. While the strikeouts haven’t been there for Stratton this year, they could come with some better luck, as he’s generating more swings outside of the zone, and a 12.2 percent swinging strike rate is on par with year’s past when he was striking out over one batter per inning. With team control through next season, he’s a nice arm to add to the pen.

So, how exactly did Pittsburgh also “win” in this trade? Well, Pittsburgh got a top-10 prospect from St. Louis for a starter who posted a 4.51 ERA and 1.35 WHIP from 2017-2021. Quintana is having a bounce back season, but he’s 33-years-old and is set to be a free agent at the end of the year. Stratton is a fine reliever, but even he is a guy with a 4.61 career ERA guy with a 4.68 ERA as a reliever specifically. Johan Oviedo is an ancillary piece in the deal, but he’s only 24 and has pitched well this year. He has a 3.20 ERA and 9.24 K/9. He came up the system as a starter, and Pittsburgh could look to stretch him out, but he has a 2.66 ERA and 9.30 K/9 as a reliever for his career. Nunez is the centerpiece of the return for Pittsburgh, as he was a top-10 prospect in the Cardinals system, and he could debut as early as next season. In Double-A this year, he’s hit 17 home runs in 85 games to go with a .255/.360/.463 slash line. He makes good contact, hasn’t struck out a ton in the minors, and he’s displayed solid power despite hitting a ton of ground balls. If he starts lofting the ball with more regularity, his raw power will shine, and his home run numbers will skyrocket.

Fantasy Spin: Quintana gets a massive boost to his fantasy value, as he immediately slots in the St. Louis rotation and should reap the rewards of an improved offense and defense right away. Stratton’s lack of strikeouts this year saps his fantasy value, and Oviedo is nothing more than a streaming option if Pittsburgh chooses to use him as a starter. St. Louis could regret sending Nunez to Pittsburgh for Quintana and Stratton, perhaps as soon as next season.

 

Matt Bush Heads to Milwaukee

 

 

The Brewers traded Josh Hader to the Padres, but got Taylor Rogers in the deal. Devin Williams becomes the team’s closer, but Milwaukee added Matt Bush here from Texas, almost as if they want to keep the bullpen strong just in case they find themselves at the top of the division moving forward. Bush has a great story, and the first overall pick in the 2004 MLB draft is on pace for the best or second-best season of his entire career. He has a 2.95 ERA (2.33 xERA) through 36.2 innings of work, while posting a career-high 29.8 percent strikeout rate and 67.5 percent first pitch strike rate. He’s been able to get ahead of hitters, and once he’s done that, his fastball, curveball and cutter have stymied the opposition. When he doesn’t miss bats, he is prone to some hard contact (7th percentile avg. exit velocity), but Bush hasn’t allowed an earned run since June 19th, and he’s allowed just three hits over his last 12 innings of work.

Bush’s performance this year and team control for the next two and a half years drove up his price a bit, so Texas was able to get Mark Mathias and Antoine Kelly in the deal. Kelly is the big name in this deal, as he boasts a massive frame at 6-feet-6-inches with an electric fastball headlining his arsenal. In 19 starts at High-A this year, he has 119 strikeouts in 91 innings, while holding batters to a .189 average. He doesn’t turn 23 until December, and Milwaukee has done well with pitching prospects in recent memory. Mathias debuted back in 2020, hitting .278 with a 68 wRC+ in 16 games in 2020. A torn labrum cost him his 2021 season, and in Triple-A this year, he hit .318 with eight homers, and eight stolen bases across 50 games. His versatility across the field is important to note, as he has experience all across the field.

Fantasy Spin: Bush should be a prominent piece in the Milwaukee pen, and while Devin Williams will be the alpha, Bush could be the next man up over Taylor Rogers if Rogers’ struggles continue. In holds leagues, he gets a nice bump, but he’ll need to keep the homers down to avoid blow ups in Milwaukee. Fortunately, despite Texas being more pitcher-friendly and Milwaukee being the opposite, Bush has a lower ERA and home run rate on the road in 2022. Kelly could be a fantasy factor in years to come, but neither he or Mathias are difference makers in 2022.

 

Houston and Atlanta Swap Big League Arms

 

 

 

 

Atlanta wanted a starter, and they got one in Jake Odorizzi, and this move makes a ton of sense for Atlanta. Odorizzi is healthy again, and he’ll serve as an innings eater in the Atlanta rotation. He’s posted a 3.75 ERA in 12 starts this year with Houston, and while his strikeout rate is minimal, he’s induced less hard contact than year’s past, and has missed the sweet spot of many bats. The ballpark difference between the two is negligible, per Baseball Savant, and Atlanta will hope that Odorizzi can eat up innings, and preserve youngsters Kyle Wright and Spencer Strider down the stretch. Houston adds Will Smith to the pen in this deal, a proven southpaw with 76 saves over the last four seasons. Smith’s strikeout rate may be down this year as he’s allowing more contact in the zone, but he’s allowed less hard contact and is on pace to post his highest ground ball rate in the past three seasons. Smith has struggled over his last three innings of work, but in the 13.1 innings prior to that, he was vintage Smith, posting a 1.35 ERA and 11.48 K/9 over 13.1 innings.

Fantasy Spin: Odorizzi goes from one good lineup and park to another, and Smith’s presence in Houston is further from the closing gig than he likely was in Atlanta. In reality, this move makes a bunch of sense for both teams, but in fantasy, it feels like the impact will be minimal at most. The acquisition of Odorizzi does tell us that Atlanta is likely cognizant of preserving Wright and Strider, so their workload is worth monitoring.

 

Atlanta Adds Robbie Grossman to Help OF Depth

 

 

Like last trade deadline, Atlanta figured to be involved with adding some bats, especially once Adam Duvall went down with an injury. Grossman’s stat line is underwhelming at first glance, as he’s hitting just .205 with two home runs, three stolen bases, and a career worst 28.1 percent strikeout rate. However, Atlanta can plug him into the lineup against southpaws, as he’s hitting .364 with a .999 OPS against southpaws this season, not to mention a .435 wOBA and 189 wRC+. Atlanta sent back Kris Anglin in the deal, a young southpaw who was selected in last year’s draft. Anglin is young, and he’ll turn 21 years young in one week, and after pitching well in Rookie ball, he moved up to Single-A, where he has a 5.93 ERA and 1.55 WHIP across 30.1 innings.

Fantasy Spin: Grossman should only see the lineup against left-handed pitching, so in a better lineup, Grossman could be a popular DFS play in the right matchups. In seasonal formats, the loss of at-bats will outweigh the better lineup he finds himself in, so his fantasy value takes a hit. In DFS, however, this could be quite notable.

 

Luke Weaver Heads to Kansas City

 

 

From being the key piece of a massive trade a few years back to, well, being swapped with Emmanuel Rivera today, Luke Weaver has been on quite the ride. He's been pitching out of the pen of late, and in 16.1 innings this season, he has a 7.71 ERA. The optimists will point to his 4.91 xERA, 2.69 FIP, and 3.08 xFIP, but he likely won't get a legitimate shot at starting until next year. He hasn't thrown more than 30 pitches in an outing since June 22, and as a reliever this year, he has a 3.55 ERA and 2.09 FIP. Rivera will head to Arizona, and he's displayed some impressive batted ball metrics at the big league level this year, highlighted by his 91.0 mph average exit velocity and 8.6 percent barrel rate. He doesn't strike out a ton, which is great, but he's been a ground ball machine his entire career, even going back to his rookie ball days. To maximize his power production, he'll need to trade some grounders for line drives and fly balls.

Fantasy Spin: Weaver has been effective as a reliever, so maybe those who need some help in deeper AL-only formats could take a look at Weaver, but you'd have to be pretty desperate for production.

 

White Sox Acquire Jake Diekman from Boston

 

 

Boston continues to wheel and deal this evening! Diekman has 12 holds, one save, and a 29.8 percent strikeout rate this season. However, his already poor command has escaped him further, as his 17.5 percent walk rate is highest mark since 2017. Chicago is hoping that Diekman can break out of this July funk and help the White Sox improve upon its below average ERA out of the pen. Boston got back Reese McGuire in this deal, who figures to replace Christian Vázquez behind the dish. McGuire doesn't strike out a lot, and he doesn't walk a lot, and he doesn't hit much, but he grades out well defensively.

Fantasy Spin: The effects of this move will be felt more in reality than in fantasy. McGuire's lack of impact in the batter's box relegates him to low-end catcher status in deeper two-catcher formats, and Diekman is no more than a flier in deeper AL-only formats for holds.

 

Boston Adds Tommy Pham at Deadline

 

 

Pham is only hitting .238 on the year, but he's provided some fantasy appeal with 11 home runs, 57 runs scored, 39 RBI, and seven stolen bases. This is a weird move for Boston, given that they traded Christian Vázquez, indicating a potential sell-off, but then go get Pham of all people. There are some concerns with Pham, in that he hit just .225 away from Great American Small Park this year, and also, he's hitting just .219 against right-handed pitching. Does Boston play him everyday at a corner outfield spot? Does Jarren Duran lose playing time? Does Pham only face lefties? This move leads to more questions than answers at the moment. In exchange for Pham's services, Cincinnati will receive a player to be named later.

Fantasy Spin: Like I mentioned, this move leads to more questions than answers. However, leaving Great American Ball Park for Fenway park is probably a net negative, and he could find himself on the small side of a potential platoon in the Boston outfield.

 

Christian Vázquez to Houston

 

 

The Astros were one of the more obvious players in the catcher market here at the deadline. Houston has a league-worst .159 batting average and 51 wRC+ from the catching position this year. In a talented lineup, from an offensive standpoint, the catcher spot was the weakest link in the lineup for the Astros this year. In 84 games with Boston this year, Vazquez is hitting .282 with a 111 wRC+ alongside eight home runs, 42 RBI, and 33 runs scored. Per Baseball Savant, Vazquez would have 11 home runs in Houston, and the strong-armed catcher should provide a much-needed boost to the Houston lineup. In return, Houston sent Enmanuel Valdez and Wilyer Abreu, their 28th and 29th ranked prospects per MLB.com, to Boston. Valdez is having an exceptional season, hitting .327 with 21 home runs in 82 games across Double-A and Triple-A. Valdez is the key piece in this return for Boston, but Abreu is no slouch either, as he has 15 home runs and 23 stolen bases at Double-A this year. However, a strikeout rate nearing 33 percent is a bit alarming.

Fantasy Spin: Vazquez will enjoy Houston's home park and will once again have a strong supporting cast around him.

 

Frankie Montas, Lou Trivino Heading to the Yankees

 

 

 

 

The Yankees were going to be heavily invested in the starting pitcher market, and they get Montas from Oakland. Montas has a 3.18 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across 104.2 innings on the year, and the biggest concern with Montas is his health. Prior to the past two seasons, he never eclipsed 100 innings in a season, and he has just one season with more than 20 starts (2021). He already missed some time with shoulder soreness, but he returned strong against the Tigers and Astros. Heading to Yankee Stadium, he’ll need to keep the ball on the ground, as Yankee Stadium plays far different than his previous home park, but overall, a better offense behind him should lead to more wins, health willing. Also, the Yankees acquired Lou Trivino in the deal, who has 10 saves and a 6.47 ERA on the year. He’s been better of late, posting a 3.52 ERA and 11.15 K/9 over his last 15.1 innings. He won’t be closing games in New York, but he should acquire more holds and add veteran experience to the Yankee pen.

For Montas and Trivino, the Athletics got two of New York’s top 10 prospects, per MLB.com. Ken Waldichuk and Luis Medina were the Yankees No. 5 and No. 10 prospects, and also in the deal was their 20th ranked prospect in JP Sears, and No. 21 Cooper Bowman. Matt Selz hyped Waldichuk as the top pitching prospect in the Yankees system and projects him to be a mid-rotation, high strikeout lefty. Waldichuk might be the prized asset in the deal, but Medina’s big time velocity could be electric at the big league level, and if Medina can refine his command, while maintaining his elite arsenal and movement, the Athletics just got two future rotation pieces in this deal. Sears has some big league experience under his belt, and has a 2.05 ERA in seven appearances for the Yankees this season, while Bowman’s prowess in the stolen base department seems to be his calling card.

Fantasy Spin: What Montas and Trivino lose in the ballpark change, they gain in an improved offense backing them, so one would call it a net win, especially for Montas. Trivino figures to record more holds than saves down the stretch, so if your league doesn’t value holds, Trivino’s value takes a bit of a hit. Back in Oakland, Zach Jackson and A.J. Puk seem to be logical candidates for ninth inning work. The development of Waldichuk and Medina loom large in who “wins” this trade, and while it will likely won’t be until 2023 due to service time, there’s a non-zero chance that we see Waldichuk and Medina in the team’s starting rotation before the end of the year.

 

Trey Mancini Headlines Three-Team Deal Between Astros, Rays, and Orioles

 

 

After missing all of the 2020 season, Mancini has returned to being a valuable hitter in the Baltimore lineup. This season, he’s hit 10 home runs with 41 RBI and a .268/.347/.404 slash line. Mancini has been more effective against right-handers this season, posting a .277 average with eight of his 10 home runs coming against them, but for his career, he’s been solid against lefties, despite the numbers this season. He’ll join the Houston lineup and enjoy an improved supporting cast around him, which should most certainly help his counting stats. It’s been a quiet July for Mancini, but a change of scenery should spark some production, especially with his pull-side power in Houston. For right-handed hitters specifically in 2022, Baseball Savant’s Park Factor for home runs was the fourth-lowest in Baltimore, and ninth-highest in Houston. We just might see a power surge from Mancini the rest of the way. Houston also got Jayden Murray in the deal from Tampa Bay, who has made all but one start this year at the Double-A level. He’s posted pretty good numbers throughout the minors, but with just 217 career innings at the minors under his belt, how fast does Houston get him up to the majors? If it is in 2022, it would either be in a relief role or for a spot start.

Jose Siri heads to Tampa Bay in this three-team deal, and while Siri has showcased solid pop and speed through all levels of the minors, it has been more inconsistent at the big league level. In 69 career games in the majors, Siri has seven home runs and nine stolen bases, but a 33.2 percent strikeout rate has kept his average down at .210. He hasn’t walked much in the bigs either, and a 41.4 percent O-Swing rate indicates a lack of discipline to stay in the zone. Siri just 27-years-old, so there’s still time for him to develop as he’s in the theoretical prime of his career, and Tampa Bay has a knack for getting the most out of players. Given his numbers for the year, when he’s up with the team, he’ll likely only face righties, as he’s hitting just .057 with a 46.2 percent strikeout rate against southpaws in 2022.

Baltimore nabbed two solid prospects in this deal. Chayce McDermott was Houston’s 12th ranked prospect and will debut in the bigs in late-2023 at the earliest. If he can get to Double-A by the end of the year, a 2023 debut seems more attainable. This year, he’s showcased excellent strikeout numbers, as he has 59 punch outs in just 34 innings pitched. However, he’s also walked 26 batters in that span. He’ll need to refine his command, but the upside is there for McDermott. Seth Johnson also heads to Baltimore, and he has a career 2.81 ERA in the minors with a 172:47 K/BB ratio in 137.2 innings. His return from Tommy John surgery will be critical for Baltimore. When looking at some of Baltimore’s top prospects, per MLB.com, just five of the top 20 are pitchers, so Johnson and McDermott add to Baltimore’s pitching prospect list.

Fantasy Spin: Mancini gets a massive boost in terms of both ballpark and supporting cast. Jose Siri is a toolsy guy that has a better chance of at-bats in Tampa Bay than in Houston, but his struggles against southpaws will likely prevent him from playing everyday with the Rays. Baltimore adds much needed pitching depth, even if it doesn’t make a fantasy impact in 2022. Overall, massive boost to Mancini’s fantasy value.

 

Josh Hader Heads to San Diego

 

 

It finally happened, in that Milwaukee dealt its star closer. He doesn't become a free agent until 2024, so he figures to headline the San Diego pen for at least the next year and a half. Hader leads the league with 29 saves, but his 4.24 ERA and .306 BABIP are his worst marks over the past half decade. The dominant southpaw opened the year with 17.2 scoreless innings, and while the strikeouts have remained excellent, he has an 8.82 ERA and 31.8 percent HR/FB rate. Even in his best stretches, he lives up in the zone, so home runs are going to be a part of his game, but it's reached a new level of late. Hopefully, a change of scenery will correct Hader moving forward, and when looking at Baseball Savant's park factors, Milwaukee has the fifth-highest mark for homers over the last three years, whereas San Diego comes in at 19th. 

Hader didn't come cheap for San Diego, as they sent over Taylor Rogers, Robert Gasser, Esteury Ruiz, and Dinelson Lamet. Rogers has really struggled as the team's closer this year, but he should occupy a decent role in the back end of the Milwaukee pen. Dinelson Lamet is an uber-talented righty, but he's made just 13 appearances this year, and his extensive injury history likely keeps him as a bullpen arm moving forward. Ruiz is an absolute burner on the base paths, as seen by his 60 stolen bases in 77 games in the minors prior to his call up this season. Gasser should immediately slot in within the Brewers' top-10 prospects, and the young left-hander has displayed excellent command in the minors with plus-strikeout stuff. In 90.1 innings at A+ ball this year, he has an 11.46 K/9 and 2.79 BB/9, while generating a ground ball north of 40 percent.

Fantasy Spin: Despite his recent struggles, Hader will once again pitch for a team that should provide ample save chances down the stretch. Additionally, a park upgrade for Hader should prove to be quite beneficial, especially with his strikeout or fly out approach. Outside of Hader, the biggest winner is someone not even in the trade, which is Hader's former teammate, Devin Williams. Williams now becomes the closer for Milwaukee. With regular playing time, Ruiz could be a nice source of stolen bases down the stretch, and Gasser is still a year plus away from his debut.

 

Yankees Bolster the Pen with Scott Effross

 

 

The price point for Effross might seem rather high, but he's going to be invaluable to New York's success the rest of the way. Given some unfortunate injuries in the pen, New York needed to do something in the later innings, and Effross should be that and more. Despite a meaningless 1-4 record, he's posted one save and 13 holds for the Cubs this year, posting a 50:11 K/BB ratio and 1.07 WHIP across 47 appearances. The 28-year-old is an old-school sidearmer that minimizes hard contact and generates a ton of swings out of the zone. He should rack up the holds with over one strikeout per inning the rest of the way. In return, the Cubs got Hayden Wesneski, who was the Yankees No. 7 prospect per MLB.com, and he should slot in as a top-10 prospect in the Cubs system. The 24-year-old boasts a good frame and solid velocity on the mound, and in Triple-A this year, he's posted a 3.51 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 83:28 K/BB ratio across 19 starts. He could make his Major League debut later this season with the Cubs, but if not, we'll most certainly see him in 2023.

Fantasy Spin: Effross becomes a big-time asset in solds formats, as if he wasn't already, but the New York Yankees figure to be winning more games in the later innings than the Cubs the rest of the way. Wesneski has some appeal in deeper formats, but the Cubs may not be too inclined to call him up by seasons end.

 

Rays Get Bullpen Help with Garrett Cleavinger

 

 

As much as I want to say this move isn't impactful, there's something about the Rays finding gems in trades. Cleavinger uses three pitches in his arsenal, but he also added a curveball into the mix this year, but it's rarely thrown. He was decent for the Dodgers last year, posting a 3.00, but a 1.78 WHIP and 4.82 xERA indicate there might have been quite a bit of luck with his marks last season. He's struggled in the majors to date this year, albeit in a limited sample size, but he's been far better at the minors. However, it's been the same story for Cleavinger, whether it's been in the minors or majors, which has been good strikeout numbers, but some problems with command. Yes, his 14.59 K/9 in the minors this year looks great, but that 5.28 BB/9 is undesirable. Can the Rays work its magic with Cleavinger? Time will tell. On the other end of the deal, German Tapia, an 18-year-old outfielder, will head to the Dodgers. In rookie ball this year, he's hitting an impressive .329 with two home runs, three stolen bases, and 11 RBI in 73 at-bats.

Fantasy Spin: It's possible that the Rays work their magic with Cleavinger, but there won't be much fantasy value to be had, unless the Rays can fix his walk issues over night. Tapia won't be in the majors for quite some time.

 

Braves Acquire Ehire Adrianza from Nationals

 

 

The Braves must have missed him too much that they just had to go get him! Adrianza hit .247 with a .316 wOBA in 109 games for the team last year, and despite struggling in Washington this year, the team decided to bring him back into the mix. Adrianza played all over the field for Atlanta last year, He'll likely serve as a depth piece for the Braves, primarily in the outfield and at second base. In return, the Nationals got Trey Harris, a 26-year-old outfielder who is hitting .238 with two home runs and four stolen bases in Double-A this season. His power has dissipated this year compared to last year, and his ground balls are up slightly, but there is hope for him long term, especially if he gets that power stroke back.

Fantasy Spin: Harris is a non-factor for fantasy purposes in 2022, but Adrianza could see some time at second base until Ozzie Albies return, which should be in the coming weeks. However, a lack of production this year makes him nothing more than a flier in deeper NL-only formats. Robinson Cando was DFA'd in the process of this move.

July 31

Giants Get Dixon Machado from Cubs

 

 

A trade is a trade, so it's exciting to see, although this move doesn't move the needle much for fantasy purposes. Machado was in the KBO the past couple of years, and from 2015-2018 in the majors, he hit .227 with two home runs, and three stolen bases in 172 games. Espinal has displayed nice strikeout numbers in the minors, but he has just two major league innings under his belt. At 30 years old, Espinal doesn't figure to make much of an impact, at least from a fantasy perspective.

Fantasy Spin: There's no notable increases or decreases in the fantasy value for either of these players.

July 30

Rays Add David Peralta from Arizona

 

 

This is a sneaky good move for the Rays. Peralta's 12 home runs this year are nearly as many (13) as he had in 204 games between 2020 and 2021. No one will mistake Peralta for a youthful 24-year-old, but he's made adjustments to his swing and it's worked for him. His launch angle of 16.2 degrees is far away the highest mark of his career and he's shifted his focus to his pull-side and up the middle. He's making harder contact and hitting more fly balls, which has led to the increased power numbers this season. Peralta has an .823 OPS against righties this season, and his presence in the lineup against righties should help a Rays team that has the eighth-lowest OPS (.681) against right-handed pitching in 2022. For the veteran outfielder, Arizona received Christian Cerda, a 19-year-old backstop who will turn 20 this December. He's in rookie ball at the moment, and he has two home runs and five stolen bases with a .315 average in 54 at-bats. He's thrown out 30 percent of base stealers (6-for-20) this year. 

Fantasy Spin: Cerda is years away from making an appearance at the big league level, but the Diamondbacks were never going to get a ton for a 34-year-old outfielder whose contract is up after this season. For a two-month rental, Peralta should be a regular in the Tampa Bay lineup, especially against right-handers, and his newfound approach at the plate should enjoy the ball parks in the American League East. Peralta's fantasy value enjoys a gentle bump with this move to the opposite coast.

Dodgers add Chris Martin to Its Bullpen

 

 

This isn't a move that will make ripples in fantasy baseball, but come playoff time, this is a move we look back on and applaud the Dodgers. Martin has a 4.31 ERA and 11.49 K/9 on the year. However, over his last 11.2 innings of work, he's notched four holds while posting a 3.86 ERA and 13.11 K/9. Despite a 3.86 ERA, his FIP of 2.43 and xFIP of 1.48 look quite good. Also, Martin has displayed impeccable command, as he has just four walks all season long, and his last walk came back on May 26th. The Cubs are selling off everyone, so McKinstry could see regular playing time in Chicago, but he's been pretty bad this year at the major league level. While he does well in the minors, it has translated at the big league level, as he's a career .210 hitter with a 29.5 percent strikeout rate and eight home runs in 74 games.

Fantasy Spin: This is a great move by the Dodgers, and Martin could bolster your fantasy team's ratios in deeper formats. He likely won't see many save opportunities, but he could rack up holds the rest of the way, and his elite K/BB ratio is as good as they come.

Phillies Bolster Infield Defense by Acquiring Edmundo Sosa

 

 

Sosa is hitting just .189 on the year with a 29 percent strikeout rate, but Philadelphia isn't bringing him into town for his prowess in the batter's box. He has good speed, and he's posted an outs above average mark in the 93rd and 85th percentile over the past two seasons. The Cardinals have enough defense to go around, and by sending Sosa to Philly, they clear a path for Paul DeJong upon his return, and add Romero to their pen, a 25-year-old southpaw who has been used sparingly between the majors and minors this year. Dating back to 2020, he's logged 21.2 innings at the big league level, posting a 7.89 ERA and 2.49 HR/9.

Fantasy Spin: This is a move that will play out more impactful in reality than in fantasy, but if anyone wins, it's that Paul DeJong's path to playing time is more clear. He's been limited to just 24 games this season, and we haven't seen him since early May.

July 29

Seattle Mariners acquire Luis Castillo from Cincinnati Reds

 

 

Luis Castillo has made 14 starts this year with a 2.86 ERA (3.20 FIP and 3.39 xFIP) while posting a 90:28 K:BB ratio in 85 innings. Keeping in mind he’s played his home games at Great American Ballpark, the fact he’s given up just .74 HR/9 this year is impressive. Moving to Seattle gives him a massive boost from a pitching perspective as T-Mobile Park is one of the best pitcher parks in the league. He also gets a major defensive upgrade with Seattle being a top-five defensive squad so far this year. Unlike some other starters who are on the market this year, Castillo still has another arbitration year in 2023 before being an unrestricted free agent ahead of 2024, assuming Seattle doesn’t sign him to a long-term deal.

Cincinnati in return, gets three of the Mariners’ top-five prospects including the number one player in Noelvi Marte plus a fourth unranked prospect. Marte is on the cusp of being a top-10 prospect in baseball with four plus-skills and an average hit tool. Edwin Arroyo, a fellow shortstop with Marte, is more in the line of a prototypical middle infielder in terms of skills. He’s got at least average hit, power, and fielding tools with above-average speed and below-average power. He could move to second base and make an interesting double play combo with Marte. Levi Stoudt is a right-handed pitcher who’s two years removed from Tommy John Surgery and features four at-least average pitches. He profiles as more of a number four type starter with perhaps number three starter upside if everything clicks.

Fantasy Impact: Well we touched on it earlier for Castillo that moving from GABP to T-Mobile Park is a huge win for him. He’s perfectly capable of being an ace down the stretch for Seattle with a lot of strikeout potential and should have a shot at a lot more wins. Seattle’s offense is far better than Cincinnati’s as is the defense to help the ratios. The only real offensive threat in the division is Houston, but after their current series in Houston is over, they won’t face them again the rest of the year. For those with any of the prospects in the deal, it’s a big win for guys like Marte and Arroyo. We all know that GABP is a phenomenal hitter’s park and so the pop they’re already displaying will continue to get bolstered by how that park plays. For Stoudt unfortunately it’s a downgrade in a few places. Namely the home park not being kind to hitters but also because the offense around him will be a challenge for the next few years in Cincinnati until all of the prospects pan out.

July 28

New York Mets Acquire Tyler Naquin and Phillip Diehl from Cincinnati

 

 

The Mets have been very active so far this deadline. While they haven’t brought in a big name superstar, they continue to add to their depth and are doing so with guys with advantageous splits. Tyler Naquin will help with depth in the outfield for New York and despite hitting just .246 on the year with a .305 OBP, he’s hitting .264 with a .333 OBP against right-handed pitching. Naquin has struggled away from Great American Ball Park this season, but he’ll continue to hit right-handed pitching well when in the Mets' lineup. We haven’t seen much of Phillip Diehl this year in the bigs and he has just 19 career innings under his belt. He has a career 9.47 ERA, 2.84 HR/9, and is just another arm for the Mets' pen.

Cincinnati is going to play the long game with this deal as Jose Acuna and Hector Rodriguez are just 19 and 18 years old, respectively. Acuna has a career 2.88 ERA with a 55:15 K/BB ratio across 40.2 innings of work, while Rodriguez has hit .321 with six home runs and 18 stolen bases in 70 career games.

Fantasy Impact: Naquin’s fantasy value takes a hit because there’s no clear path to consistent playing time, and he likely figures to be the team’s fourth outfielder. The addition of Daniel Vogelbach also muddies the waters to getting at-bats at the DH spot, and the Mets likely won’t be too inclined to pencil his name on the lineup card against lefties. The supporting cast around him improves, but he’s leaving a good hitter’s park to go somewhere where playing time isn’t guaranteed, so his fantasy value takes a bit of a hit. Diehl is a non-factor and we are years away from seeing either Acuna or Rodriguez in the bigs. Back in Cincinnati, Matt Reynolds (.264/.335/.368, 3 HR, 4 SB) could see some added playing time as a lineup spot has been opened against righties.

July 27

New York Yankees Acquire Andrew Benintendi from Kansas City

 

 

While we’ve seen some trades made, this is the first “big” one or the first domino to fall, some may say. Andrew Benintendi’s production and contract made him a logical trade chip for the Royals and leading up to the trade, he was slashing .320/.387/.398 with three home runs, 40 runs scored, 39 RBI, and four stolen bases. Benintendi has been better in reality than in fantasy, because other than his excellent batting average, a dearth of power and stolen bases from a fantasy perspective has been largely underwhelming. Benintendi’s supporting cast is far better because, literally overnight, he went from hitting third with M.J. Melendez and Whit Merrifield in front of him to leading off with Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo behind him.

All things considered, for a potential half-season rental, the Royals did fairly well in their return for Benintendi. TJ Sikkema and Beck Way were top-25 prospects in the Yankees' system. Chandler Champlain, despite not being ranked inside the Yanks’ top-30 prospects, was a ninth-round pick in 2021 and has an impressive 11.54 K/9 and 2.33 BB/9 through 16 games (15 starts) in A-ball this year. Per MLB’s Prospect Rankings, Way, Sikkema, and Champlain are now the number 12th, 21st, and 30th ranked prospects, respectively, in the Royals' system. 

Fantasy Impact: An improved supporting cast will help Benintendi’s counting stats, so this move is a net positive for him all things considered. He has a .795 career OPS at Yankee Stadium and while the chances for home runs have increased for Benintendi thanks to that short porch in right field, he’s actually pulling the ball at the lowest clip of his career (28.2%). He should benefit from a few extra home runs down the stretch, but I wouldn’t expect a power surge the rest of the way. Overall, Benintendi’s fantasy value increases with this move. Meanwhile, we won’t see any of the Royals’ returns from this deal until 2023 at the earliest.

July 23

Mets Strike Another Deal with Pittsburgh to get Michael Perez

 

 

The Mets must have Pittsburgh on speed dial! Back-to-back days with a trade with the Pirates. While the team eagerly awaits James McCann’s return, they added Perez, who has a .150 batting average on the year with six home runs, 11 RBI and a .527 OPS across 39 games. Perez has a little pop in that bat of his and he was on pace to set a new career-high in home runs this season, but playing time will be harder to come by in New York than in Pittsburgh. The Pirates received cash in this deal after DFA’ing Perez on Friday.

Fantasy Impact: No notable impact.

July 22

Mets Get Daniel Vogelbach from Pittsburgh

 

 

This trade was pretty cut and dry from the Mets’ perspective. Leading up to this deal, the Mets had a .244 batting average against right-handed pitching with a .737 OPS at the first base and DH positions. Vogelbach is a one-trick pony and his one trick is hitting right-handers, and hitting them well. For the 2022 season as a whole, Vogelbach is hitting .264 with a .902 OPS against righties and he’ll be in the lineups against righties, likely hitting just outside of the heart of the order.

Pittsburgh got back Colin Holderman in the deal, a former ninth round pick by the Mets back in the 2016 draft. He logged 17.2 innings for the Mets this year in his first taste of Major League action, and he posted a 2.04 ERA with a 9.17 K/9. Holderman has a long frame and is still just 26 years young, but any impact at the Major League level seems destined for the bullpen.

Fantasy Impact: In seasonal formats, not much fantasy value is to be gained from this move. For MLB DFS purposes, Vogelbach has an improved supporting cast around him when he’s in the lineup against righties.

 


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