This article is part of our Transaction Analysis series.
Here's a look at the transactions this week that had the most significant fantasy impact.
Braves
Andrelton Simmons, SS - placed on the 15-day DL (right hand)
Impact: Simmons will be in a cast for four weeks and could be out until September after he injured a finger on his right hand Sunday. The 22-year-old rookie shortstop began the season in the minors but was promoted to the Braves at the beginning of June due to Tyler Pastornicky's offensive and defensive difficulties. Simmons capitalized on the opportunity, as he hit .296 with three home runs and 15 RBI in 33 games. The 22-year-old Pastornicky could get another chance while Simmons is out and has a .248 batting average, one home run and 12 RBI in 45 games. But even if he does earn regular playing time, he is not recommended in most fantasy leagues.
Cubs
Ryan Dempster, RHP - activated from the 15-day DL
Chris Volstad, RHP - optioned to Triple-A Iowa
Impact: Dempster looked sharp Sunday as he picked up a win after missing a few weeks with tightness in his right lat. He was limited to just 63 pitches, but managed to blank the Mets through five innings, while giving up four hits and no walks and striking out four. Several teams have expressed interest in acquiring the 35-year-old righty, and there's a good chance he'll change teams before the July 31 trade deadline. After his start Sunday, he has an 1.99 ERA through
Here's a look at the transactions this week that had the most significant fantasy impact.
Braves
Andrelton Simmons, SS - placed on the 15-day DL (right hand)
Impact: Simmons will be in a cast for four weeks and could be out until September after he injured a finger on his right hand Sunday. The 22-year-old rookie shortstop began the season in the minors but was promoted to the Braves at the beginning of June due to Tyler Pastornicky's offensive and defensive difficulties. Simmons capitalized on the opportunity, as he hit .296 with three home runs and 15 RBI in 33 games. The 22-year-old Pastornicky could get another chance while Simmons is out and has a .248 batting average, one home run and 12 RBI in 45 games. But even if he does earn regular playing time, he is not recommended in most fantasy leagues.
Cubs
Ryan Dempster, RHP - activated from the 15-day DL
Chris Volstad, RHP - optioned to Triple-A Iowa
Impact: Dempster looked sharp Sunday as he picked up a win after missing a few weeks with tightness in his right lat. He was limited to just 63 pitches, but managed to blank the Mets through five innings, while giving up four hits and no walks and striking out four. Several teams have expressed interest in acquiring the 35-year-old righty, and there's a good chance he'll change teams before the July 31 trade deadline. After his start Sunday, he has an 1.99 ERA through 13 starts and has pitched 27 consecutive scoreless innings over his last four starts. Volstad has been a disappointment in his first season with the Cubs, going 0-7 with a 7.94 ERA through nine starts.
Orioles
Nick Markakis, OF - activated from the 15-day DL
Joe Mahoney, IF - optioned to Triple-A Norfolk
Impact: Markakis missed a month and a half with a broken right wrist but will be ready for the start of the second half of the season. Markakis had played in at least 157 games in each of the last five seasons, and the DL stint was the first of his career. The right fielder has seen his batting average dip to .256 this season, though he has managed to hit eight home runs in just 50 games. He should be a reliable fantasy option. Chris Davis played right field while Markakis was out, and should return to one of the corner infield positions. Mahoney appeared in just one game with the O's and went 0-for-3.
Royals
Lorenzo Cain, OF - activated from the 60-day DL
Chris Getz, 2B - activated from the 15-day DL
Irving Falu, IF - optioned to Triple-A Omaha
Nathan Adcock, RHP - optioned to Triple-A Omaha
Impact: Cain ended up missing three months after he injured his left groin during a game in mid-April. He was initially expected to be out for just a couple of weeks, but he tore his left hip flexor while attempting to recover from the groin injury. He returns to a .133 average (2-for-15) but should produce solid enough numbers to give him some value in most fantasy leagues. Jarrod Dyson returns to a backup role after hitting just .245 (51-for-208) with no home runs and 15 stolen bases over the first half of the season. Getz will have to battle Yuniesky Betancourt for playing time at second base after returning from an ankle injury that cost him almost a month of the season. He's hitting .290 with no home runs and eight RBI in 36 games this season. Falu batted .321 in 15 games with KC, while Adcock posted an ERA of 2.67 in 10 appearances (two starts).
Twins
Matt Capps, RHP - activated from the 15-day DL
Kyle Waldrop, RHP - optioned to Triple-A Rochester
Impact: Capps will return to his closing duties in Minnesota immediately, though he has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate as the July 31 deadline approaches. The 28-year-old righty returns to a 3.42 ERA and has converted 14-of-15 save opportunities this season. Glen Perkins and Jared Burton shared the closing duties for the Twins while Capps was on the shelf, saving four games in five chances, while combining for a 2.03 ERA (3 ER in 13.1 IP) over 13 appearances. They will return to setup roles. As long as Capps remains in Minnesota, he should have fantasy value. However, a trade to a team that plans to use him in a setup role would obviously diminish his value. Waldrop posted a 4.50 ERA in four relief appearances with the Twins, while allowing 11 baserunners (seven hits, three walks and a hit batter) in just four innings. He'll probably get another look later this season.
