The deadline delivered some big time moves on Monday, but the fantasy impact hasn’t necessarily matched the names. In fact, the aftermath on the teams the big players are leaving is where the real fantasy impact will be felt in most of these deals. Jeff covered a host of deals earlier today as well, so check that piece out, too.

JUST AFTER I WROTE THAT PARAGRAPH DARVISH WAS DEALT! A professional would just re-write it, but I’m too geeked and eager to see what the Rangers got in return, so we’ll just proceed!

Here are my thoughts on the big moves of the day and the repercussions for all teams involved:

Jonathan Lucroy to COL for a PTBNL

ROCKIES: This is the best thing that could’ve happened to Lucroy in the midst of his nightmare season (66 wRC+) with Texas. He hasn’t been able to get anything going at all this year, but maybe Coors Field can jumpstart him for a strong finish. His strikeout rate is a career-best 10.5%, but does it matter if it’s not strong contact? His 22% Hard contact rate is 12 points of his mark from the last three years and 10 points below his career mark.

A performance this poor makes me wonder if there is a nagging injury (or injuries) that he has tried to play through. Or maybe it’s a poor season that snowballed on itself, especially once he started losing more and more playing to Robinson Chirinos. The move does reinstate Lucroy as a must-own catcher in all formats just because the park could reignite this once-excellent bat.

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The Rays acquire Lucas Duda from the Mets for Drew Smith

Duda’s production per plate appearance is likely to drop with the trade. He’s going to a less prolific offense (4.6 R/g vs 4.8 R/G). Also, his new home park as a tougher park factor especially for home runs. But there is some up side.

His end-of-season production will likely not drop because he’ll get full-time at-bats as the Rays designated hitter. In New York, Duda was going to split time with Jay Bruce at first. Additionally, Dominic Smith would be joining the Mets first base situation at some point. There was just not enough at bats to go around.

So far with the Rays, Duda has played first base with Logan Morrison ailing (heel) but will likely DH once Morrison returns. It seems like Duda will play every day as long as he can stay healthy which could not be said for him as a Met.

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The Grind is back. The Grind is back. For four days. Then it’s going to a mountain country wedding with no internet access.

AGENDA

1. The Deadline Cometh
2. Weather Reports
3. Pitchers to Use and Abuse
4. SaberSim Says…
5. TDG Invitational Returns!

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Episode 284 – Shifting Gears Segue

The latest episode of “Field of Streams” is live!

In this episode, Dylan Higgins and Matthew Dewoskin discuss Dylan’s impending heatwave, Adrian Beltre, Matt’s objection to Dylan’s use of “noon thirty-five,” Melky Cabrera being a Royal again, finally picking Jhoulys Chacin, where Brad Zimmer will go next year, Erasmo Ramirez returning to Seattle, Matt preferring James Shields over Mike Pelfrey, Matt Moore’s struggles with lefties, Delino DeShields not running much in July, Kevin Gausman’s surprising hot streak, and Matt’s musing about a minor annoyance.

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It’s been a forgettable year for Jonathan Lucroy. He has posted the lowest wOBA of his career and despite playing in a historical time for home run power, his ISO has slipped below .100 for the first time since his 2010 debut and HR/FB rate sits at just 6%. His Brls/BBE has dipped to a lowly 2.4%, versus 7.7% last year, so his weak performance doesn’t appear to be a fluke. He has simply lost all semblance of power. Where did it go? Who knows. But if anything could wake up a dead bat, it’s Coors Field!

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This is how I am feeling right now at the trade deadline in regards to my AL and NL only teams:

That was close! pic.twitter.com/GQnJRKsSDQ

— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) July 31, 2017

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The Angels bullpen melted down in epic fashion on Sunday, blowing a 10-4 ninth-inning lead against the Blue Jays. Brooks Pounders started the frame by issuing a walk, a home run, and a double. He was then replaced by Bud Norris, who got one out but surrendered two singles, a walk, and a walk-off grand slam to Steve Pearce. It was the second walk-off grand slam against Norris (the first by Edwin Encarnacion) — and the second hit by Pearce — this week. Over his last 1.1 innings (13 batters faced), Norris has allowed eight earned runs on two grand slams, walked six, and recorded just one strikeout. His overall numbers have ballooned to a 3.89 ERA/3.87 FIP/3.59 xFIP in 41.2 innings. Given Norris’s recent struggles, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Halos look elsewhere for their next save opportunity.

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7/29/17

The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is brought to you by Out of the Park Baseball 18, the best baseball strategy game ever made – available NOW on PC, Mac, and Linux platforms! Go to ootpdevelopments.com to order now and save 10% with the code SLEEPER18!

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Leading Off: Question of the Day

• Who is the biggest name to move this weekend? (5:10)

Notable Transactions/Rumors/Articles/Game Play (6:45)

• Brad Ziegler, not Kyle Barraclough expected to close in MIA
• Brent Suter dominates the Cubs

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Masahiro Tanaka seemed close for a while now with a 3.81 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 60 Ks, and just nine walks in his last eight starts and then then this:

Masahiro Tanaka was masterful tonight. Eight innings of one-run ball and a career-high fourteen strikeouts. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/6BmkCJp8Gu

— Today in the MLB (@TodayintheMLB) July 29, 2017

Tanaka was perfect through five and two-thirds before an Adeiny Hechavarria single broke it up. He wound up going eight innings, allowing just a single run on two hits with a career-high 14 strikeouts.

On the Agenda:

• Salazar Dazzles Again
• Conforto’s Big July
• Parker Bridwell Can’t Lose
• Beltre on the Cusp
• Other News
• Whiff Watch
• WTWT

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The Marlins pulled into the top of the ninth inning with a 7-3 lead against the Reds on Friday night, and even though it was not a save situation, it felt a little odd to see Junichi Tazawa — and not A.J. Ramos — take the mound. It had the feel of an audition for the closer’s role, given that Ramos was likely to be moved at any time. After letting Scott Schebler lead off the inning with a no-doubter blast to right field, Tazawa set the next three Reds down in order.

Shortly after the game, it became apparent why Don Mattingly didn’t call upon Ramos. The Marlins dealt their closer to the Mets in exchange for a couple of prospects: righty Merandy Gonzalez and outfielder Ricardo Cespedes. Before going to Tazawa, Mattingly brought in Dustin McGowan to hold the game at 3-3 in the seventh inning, and in the eighth inning, he summoned Drew Steckenrider to protect the four-run lead built in the bottom of the seventh. With Kyle Barraclough (shoulder) and Nick Wittgren (elbow) on the DL, it would not be surprising to see McGowan and Steckenrider in some future high-leverage situations. However, according to MLB.com, the Marlins are expected to activate Brad Ziegler (back) on Saturday. He will probably present the strongest challenge to Tazawa as the team’s future closer, though Ziegler has been out for more than a month, so he could conceivably start off in some lower-leverage situations upon his return.
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