The commerce deadline could also be Thursday at 6 p.m. ET, however the offers are already coming in. And whereas we’re more likely to see some workforce set itself on a course for a championship whereas a number of others basically alter their long-term trajectory, chances are high you are largely involved with how the offers have an effect on you. Typical.
Happily, there’s the Commerce Deadline Tracker to cater to your self centeredness. Right here, you will discover quick-hitting evaluation from Chris Towers and myself (Scott White) for all of the strikes that matter to Fantasy Baseball. Remember to bookmark this web page and circle again because the strikes come pouring in. It could possibly be a wild trip.
Littell has by no means been a pitcher who would wow you together with his stuff, however his elite management has made him into an actual asset over the previous couple years and a must-roster Fantasy pitcher this yr. He is among the many most homer-prone pitchers, which you would not anticipate to play effectively at one of the vital homer-prone venues, however then once more, George M. Streinbrenner Discipline additionally counts itself amongst these. Essentially the most curious a part of this deal is that the Reds have a full rotation already, so whether or not it is hitting the brakes on Chase Burns (please no) or shifting Nick Martinez to the bullpen, there might be some collateral injury from this commerce … maybe cleared up by a future commerce? –Scott White
Michael Soroka traded to Cubs
Soroka has been in a continuing state of reinvention over the previous three years, making an attempt to recapture his former glory after a pair of ruptured Achilles tendons. This yr has been probably the most profitable of them to this point, however even it has been a head-scratcher in some ways. Take simply his final three outings. They had been strong sufficient, seeing him permit 4 earned runs over 14 innings with almost a strikeout per for a 2.57 ERA, however his velocity was down 1.5 to 2.5 mph throughout the board. He has strikeout-minus-walk price however a poor swinging-strike price. And relying whether or not you have a look at his ERA (4.87), his xERA (3.32) or his FIP (4.11), you are more likely to come away with a distinct impression. Maybe it is telling {that a} workforce as aggressive because the Cubs noticed match to accumulate him, and his Fantasy prospects in fact go up with the improved supporting forged. I would nonetheless view him as extra of a streamer play than a precedence pickup, although, till I see proof of him stabilizing. –Scott White
A lot for Helsley’s Fantasy worth. The Mets have already got an all-timer closing for them in Edwin Diaz, and whereas Helsley did a reasonably good Diaz impression from 2022 via 2024, he is been extra weak this yr, as you may see from the WHIP particularly. He’ll make a high quality setup man for Diaz, however setup males do not have a lot worth outdoors of holds leagues and are fairly interchangeable even then. To make issues worse, Helsley did not have a transparent understudy in St. Louis, so whereas we’re dropping one surefire saves supply in Fantasy, we’re not essentially gaining one other. The almost definitely candidates to switch Helsley are Phil Maton and JoJo Romero, with Maton having an edge because the right-hander, however as a result of he is an impending free agent, he is very more likely to be moved as effectively. Keep tuned! –Scott White
The Phillies appeared like the obvious touchdown spot for one in every of elite closers, and in Duran they obtained among the best. The 27-year-old has a 2.01 ERA regardless of his strikeout price declining for the fourth season in a row as a result of he stays one of the vital troublesome pitchers in baseball to hit onerous. His xERA sits at 2.68, proper in keeping with his last few seasons due to his potential to generate tons of groundballs, innocent infield pop ups, and basic weak contact. He figures to step in instantly as the highest ninth inning possibility for the Phillies, and whereas Rob Thomson has been identified to play matchups within the late innings, that should not actually affect Duran’s worth for Fantasy – he is by no means been used as a real, ninth-inning-only nearer anyway. His worth ought to maintain regular with the commerce to Philadelphia, whereas each Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering will see a giant decline in worth.
The Minnesota aspect of the deal is far more fascinating, as a result of it would possibly clear a path for Griffin Jax to lastly emerge as a shutdown nearer in his personal proper. Jax has been each bit as efficient as Duran over the previous couple of seasons – do not let the three.91 ERA idiot you, his peripherals are among the many greatest in baseball, nonetheless. He combines elite swing and miss talents with elite management, and can be within the top-five nearer dialogue … if there weren’t at the least an opportunity he was about to get traded, too. Jax has a pair years of membership management left and will fetch a haul in commerce, however the Twins may need been ready the place they dangled each Jax and Duran in commerce talks, took the perfect provide for both of them, and might be pleased to hold on to Jax as their subsequent shutdown nearer. Jax is price including in all leagues the place saves matter, however simply watch out to not go too overboard along with your FAB bids, simply in case we discover out by Thursday afternoon that he is touchdown someplace that may hold him in a setup position.
After which, in fact, there are the prospects. There’s Mick Abel, who matches in with Zebby Matthews and David Festa among the many Twins group of younger pitchers who do not fairly appear to pitch to the obvious high quality of their stuff. He’ll get one other likelihood within the Twins bullpen after stumbling with the Phillies, and there is nonetheless some upside right here if they will discover a number of tweaks that flip the spectacular stuff into missed bats. However he isn’t assured a rotation spot and has quite a bit to show after largely falling on his face with the Phillies.
And the Twins additionally acquired 18-year-old catcher Eduardo Tait within the deal, and he may be the extra fascinating participant within the deal. Tait was the Phillies’ No. 4 prospect getting into the season in accordance with BaseballProspectus.com, whereas FanGraphs.com ranked him No. 5. He was lately promoted to Excessive-A after hitting .251/.322/.436, which is a greater line than you would possibly assume for a catcher who’s, once more, nonetheless simply 18 years outdated for one more month. He is most likely a number of years away from making any form of affect for Fantasy, however he is obtained huge energy potential for his age and place, has proven progress together with his swing selections this season, and could possibly be within the top-100 prospect dialogue for 2026 if he closes out the season effectively — apparently, BaseballProspectus ranked him No. 51 in their midseason update. It is an intriguing profile if he can stick at catcher in the long run – no positive factor, as he has cut up his time almost evenly between catcher and DH this season. –Chris Towers
It is a park improve, and never an insignificant one. If Hayes had performed his total profession at Nice American Ballpark, he would have 59 homers, per Statcast knowledge; in Pittsburgh, he would have 34. In fact, a 40% improve in homers is not particularly significant for a man who has six homers in 196 video games relationship again to the beginning of final season.
And there is the issue with Hayes. He is an elite defender who ought to have some worth to the Reds it doesn’t matter what he does with the bat, however does that matter for Fantasy? Not until the Reds discover a method to repair what has develop into a totally damaged swing. Hayes used to mix fairly good plate self-discipline with wonderful uncooked energy, however he struggled to maximise that energy as a result of he did not elevate the ball constantly, particularly down the left area line. Now, he simply would not actually do something effectively; his strikeout price is a bit of higher than common, however his high quality of contact has tanked, right down to a .330 anticipated wOBA on contact this season, effectively under the league common of .369. There are latent instruments right here ready to be unlocked, and possibly the Reds might be higher geared up to do it. Perhaps a change of surroundings will do it, even.
However given how lengthy it has been since Hayes mattered for Fantasy, even a change of surroundings and an enormous improve in ballpark is not sufficient to push him onto Fantasy radars outdoors of absolutely the deepest leagues.
As for the Pirates, they obtained reliever Taylor Rogers (who could possibly be traded elsewhere by Thursday’s deadline) and shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura, a 20-year-old hitting .262/.393/.411 at Low-A this season. The stroll price is terrific and he has loads of pace (28 steals in 88 video games), however there would not appear to be sufficient energy in his profile to beat his contact points. Even in a best-case situation, he is most likely a number of years away from mattering, and he most likely will not outdoors of very deep Dynasty leagues. –Chris Towers
This deal would not actually matter for Fantasy, aside from what it implies: That the Angels are shopping for heading into the deadline. And that appears to make it a lot much less probably that they will commerce Kenley Jansen by Thursday. That is significant as a result of Reid Detmers regarded effectively positioned to make a big effect for Fantasy if Jansen was out of the image, however now it seems to be like he’ll stay a setup man for the remainder of the season. Get your jokes in a few workforce with a 5.3% likelihood of constructing the playoffs, per FanGraphs.com, truly going for it, however ours is to not cause why. –Chris Towers
Neither participant appears particularly more likely to issue into their new groups’ nearer conditions, although Dominguez could possibly be insurance coverage in case Jeff Hoffman all of the sudden falters. However the fascinating wrinkle here’s what it means for the Orioles‘ bullpen. Felix Bautista was place on the IL with a shoulder harm and it would not sound like it is going to be a minimum-length keep, so issues are fairly broad open in Baltimore proper now. The one save since Bautista’s harm truly went to Soto on Thursday, and Dominguez obtained the ninth inning in a four-run win over the Rockies over the weekend, simply to present a way of how broad open it’s. Yennier Cano has some closing expertise and has been superb previously, however he is struggled to a 4.42 ERA this season, so we’ll see how a lot religion they’ve in him, I suppose. I might wager on Cano being the highest possibility, with Andrew Kittredge additionally a candidate – in the event that they each do not get traded themselves. This may be a stay-away scenario in the meanwhile.
All that being mentioned, the primary save look after all the shuffling went to Corbin Martin, a one-time big-deal pitching prospect who has re-emerged within the Orioles bullpen. He had a 5.29 ERA with mediocre peripherals in Triple-A, so skepticism is warranted, however in case you’re determined for saves and wish to beat the deadline rush, check out him. –Chris Towers
McMahon has been much less a stud in Fantasy than a gentle presence, constantly delivering 20 to 25 residence runs with a not so horrible batting common. The batting common has been nearer to horrible this yr, which solely raises considerations over how a participant together with his already fringe profile can survive away from probably the most hitter pleasant ballpark in baseball. In spite of everything, McMahon is a profession .264 hitter with an .820 OPS at Coors Discipline vs. .216 and .664 all over the place else. Then once more, projecting hitters who depart Colorado isn’t so simple as extrapolating their highway begins. After they’re accustomed to seeing the ball transfer a sure method in a thin-air surroundings, a short lived displacement from that surroundings (like occurring a highway journey) is especially jarring, however a extra everlasting displacement brings a few extra everlasting adjustment.
That is the hope for McMahon as he goes to the Yankees, who, in fact, have one of the vital homer pleasant venues for lefties, however there’s one other drawback. His swing is not geared to make the most of the brief porch in proper area, as demonstrated by the poor pulled air charges all through his profession. Statcast means that if he had performed each recreation at Yankee Stadium, he’d have hit 28 fewer residence runs in his profession. To make issues worse, the Yankees acquired Amed Rosario a day after buying McMahon, and there is some hypothesis that the 2 might platoon transferring ahead. All in all, there are simply too many negatives right here for me to assume McMahon will stay viable in customary dimension leagues. –Scott White
Naylor hadn’t missed a beat together with his transfer from Cleveland to Arizona within the offseason. Certain, he was on tempo for about 20 homers moderately than the 31 he hit in 2024, however with a further 50 factors in batting common. His recreation has all the time required a specific amount of tradeoff between these two numbers. You would possibly fear {that a} transfer to Seattle crushes his Fantasy worth since T-Cellular Park has a repute for suppressing residence runs, however Chase Discipline charges equally in that regard. Naylor clearly made the mandatory adjustment to that venue, truly hitting higher there (.324 batting common and .855 OPS) than on the highway.
T-Cellular Park has its personal distinctive issues, although. A few of the hitters who’ve handed via have complained concerning the batter’s eye, and there isn’t any telling till we see him there whether or not Naylor will suffer from that. I might have moderately him stayed in Arizona, the place he had a greater supporting forged and a few historical past of success already, and the added uncertainty is sufficient for me to drop him behind Cody Bellinger in my rest-of-season rankings (it was already a detailed name). The almost definitely situation, although, is that Naylor continues to carry out about the identical as he already was. –Scott White