Mound Musings: Trade Deadline Repercussions

The nonwaiver trade deadline has come and gone, with a lot of pitchers changing uniforms. Everybody was looking for pitching – not at all surprising given the injuries and subpar performances on the mounds this season – but some of the biggest names on the block didn't move on. Notably, the market for bats was almost nonexistent. Teams focused on pitching, and the asking prices were reportedly astronomical. Let's see how changes in latitudes might impact the arms involved:

Jaime Garcia to New York (AL) via Minnesota:

Sometimes a team can go from a buyer to a seller in a matter of hours. The Twins went out and acquired Garcia from the Braves, but as the team continued to sputter, they opted to trade the injury-plagued lefty to the Yankees after just one start. There is some benefit to throwing left-handed in Yankee Stadium, but any value Garcia might have held in pinstripes, likely diminished with a move just two days later. On the deadline, the Yankees acquired Sonny Gray from Oakland, which probably makes Garcia a fifth starter/insurance policy if they move Jordan Montgomery to the bullpen.

Jeremy Hellickson to Philadelphia:

In the category of, "do you really care?" the Phillies dealt Hellickson to Baltimore for outfielder Hyun Soo Kim and a minor league pitcher. Kim should be a part-timer in Philly, and Hellickson actually could be an improvement in the Orioles' rotation but that's not saying a whole lot. The O's are a marginally better team, but a move to the AL East and facing a DH more than erases that benefit. Probably a fantasy non-factor.

For fantasy purposes, albeit with risk for this season, the pitcher who might be the best piece of the puzzle is the Phillies' Jake Thompson. A second-round pick in 2012, he has some upside and has shown progress with increased confidence in his changeup. He's worth keeping an eye on, but he fits better in a dynasty/keeper format.

Justin Wilson to Chicago (NL):

The Cubs kept the pressure on. After landing starter Jose Quintana, they went out and added a quality lefty for their bullpen. This is one of those deals that helps the MLB team but probably hinders the fantasy team. Wilson had become a fairly reliable source of saves since being named the closer for the Tigers, but his role with the Cubs, at least for the rest of this season, will probably be as a primary set-up man for Wade Davis. For those in keeper leagues, I mention "this year" because there's a chance Wilson could land the closing gig next season if Davis departs following the 2017 season.

Of course, when a team's closer leaves, the door opens for someone else to step into that role. Unfortunately, the poor Tigers really don't have anyone I would really trust. Shane Greene is getting the first shot. The only thing I can say there is he might be a better option – at least today – than Joe Jimenez (I think he might eventually find his way into the endgame) or Bruce Rondon, who has had so many failed chances.

AJ Ramos to New York (NL):

Taking a look at the Flushing Shuffle, the Mets acquired Ramos from the Marlins in a somewhat surprising move. The Mets are only marginally involved in the race for a postseason berth, but they added Ramos, which made Addison Reed expendable. Reed was subsequently dealt to Boston, apparently ending any closer questions. Right? Probably, but perhaps only for a couple of weeks. Regular closer, Jeurys Familia, could be back as soon as mid-August. If fully healthy (and focused), he likely will get a chance to reclaim the job. Keep an eye on Familia's progress. He may not step into the closer's role immediately, but it may just be a matter of time.

So, with Ramos gone, what happens in south Florida? The logical heir to end game duties, Kyle Barraclough, is on the disabled list. With David Phelps also out of the mix, the Marlins have indicated Brad Ziegler will be their primary closer, but that isn't likely to last long past the return of Barraclough. In fact, they have better options right now (perhaps Dustin McGowan or even a committee with lefty Jarlin Garcia).

Addison Reed to Boston:

The Red Sox were probably compelled to add significant bullpen depth to hopefully offset the additions made by the Yankees. While the addition of Reed will be a big boost, he alone won't be enough to match their rival's headlong plunge into pennant fever. From a fantasy perspective, the net results are even worse. He may still collect an occasional save but he's not going to supplant Craig Kimbrel as the primary closer. In leagues that count holds, he'll still have considerable value as he should slot in as the primary eighth inning guy on a team that should accumulate leads to protect.

Sonny Gray to New York (AL):

After what seemed like a long wait, one of the premier starters finally moved. Gray went to the Yankees for a package of three minor league prospects. Interestingly, two of the three, including pitcher James Kaprielian, are on the disabled list. Gray is a blue-chip young pitcher, but, even more so, he comes with a couple of years of team control. He'll immediately slot into the top of the rotation with the still-improving Luis Severino who is creeping closer to ace status. With Masahiro Tanaka, who may be coming around after disappointing early on, I think the Yankees are now the favorites in the AL East. The one concern when a pitcher moves from a smaller media market to the glare of New York is reaction to the intense pressure. I think Gray can handle it.

Yu Darvish to Los Angeles (NL):

The clock on the mantle struck four, and it appeared Darvish was still a member of the Texas Rangers. I was more than a little surprised. Minutes later it was announced he had, in fact, been dealt to the Dodgers. Darvish was coming off his worst career start, but don't be fooled, he's an ace. Unlike Gray, Darvish is technically a rental – two months plus from now, he'll likely be a big-ticket free agent (unless the Dodgers can convince him otherwise). Whether he's just been in a funk or maybe he's been tipping his pitches, I expect a huge stretch run. He moves to the National League, so no more DH and less familiarity, plus it's the Dodgers and pitcher-friendly Chavez Ravine.

Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani to Los Angeles (NL):

For the most part, the pitchers included in these trades are likely to gain or lose some fantasy value. However, I wanted to briefly discuss Watson and Cingrani, even though their fantasy outlook probably won't change much. The Dodgers approached the trade deadline like a true fantasy team – they're in it (understatement), they had a couple of specific needs, and they addressed them. Adding southpaws solid Watson and Cingrani to a bullpen that features arguably the game's best closer, Kenley Jansen, and two top shelf righty set-up guys in Pedro Baez, and Brandon Morrow, (not to mention the arrival of another ace level starter in Darvish), makes them the team in 2017.

Brandon Kintzler to Washington:

The Nationals have been winning in spite of, not because of, their bullpen all season. They tried anyone with a pair of spikes over the first half, and given the guys they had available, the results were dismal. Koda Glover looked promising, but he landed on the disabled list, and the quest continued. They finally went outside and traded for a couple of pretty reliable arms in Sean Doolittle (now closing) and Ryan Madson (his primary set-up man). It was a huge step in the right direction. At the deadline, they tried to ice the cake by acquiring Kintzler from the Twins. While he was relatively successful closing in Minnesota, the extreme ground-baller figures to help bridge to Doolittle with the Nats. He could find his way into saves opportunities if the rather fragile Doolittle has any health issues crop up, but his main objective will be collecting holds for now.

And what happens in Minnesota? Kintzler was miscast as a closer because there simply weren't any good alternatives. It hasn't changed much. Glen Perkins (remember him?) isn't healthy, so the most likely candidate is lefty Taylor Rogers. He has struggled recently, but Tyler Duffy and Ryan Pressly don't exactly offer sterling resumes.

And, on the fringe:

Obviously, there were minor deals that probably won't have a lot of fantasy impact, and at least somewhat surprisingly, there were big names who didn't move. Going into deadline day, there were a handful of top-of-the rotation starters expected to be dealt. The Dodgers pulled the trigger on Darvish at the last minute, and the Yankees did get Gray, easily two of the headline guys, but Justin Verlander, and a few lesser arms like Lance Lynn and Marco Estrada stayed put. One name starter, Francisco Liriano, is projected to pitch out of the Astros' bullpen. It could actually help his performance but he won't be closing, so it hurts his fantasy value. Similarly, the price tags on many of the top tier relievers scared away the suitors. Lefties Zach Britton and Brad Hand were left at the altar, as the frontrunners scrambled to acquire cheaper alternatives.

As mentioned, there were quite a few other relievers dealt at the deadline. For example, the Indians bolstered their already deep pen with experienced set-up man Joe Smith. The Mariners added David Phelps and swingman Erasmo Ramirez, while the Rays picked up Steve Cishek and Dan Jennings. And, the Pirates acquired Joaquin Benoit, while Jeremy Jeffress returned to Milwaukee, and David Hernandez will head to Arizona. These guys might be some help to their major league teams, but in non-hold leagues, they likely have limited fantasy value.

Some Notable Rotation Ramblings: