6 Potential Beneficiaries from the Trade Deadline
The trade deadline is this Friday and could be an absolute banger. It is shaping up to be a seller’s market with a very clear set of buyers and sellers and the latter having some legitimate players to move that could alter the playoff picture substantially. There is understandable excitement related to the players who will be moved, but I want to focus on the holes their departures will open as that can often create some interesting buying opportunities for us in the fantasy realm, often at a discounted price, too. Here are six hitters who could deliver some fantasy upside if a spot opens for them.
Brendan Rodgers/Garrett Hampson | OF/2B, COL – Potential Trade: Trevor Story
Story has to get traded, right? RIGHT?! I would say the Rockies can’t possibly botch it, but we know that’s not true. They’ve shown time and again that they are capable of botching anything. His departure would likely change the fate of two guys (assuming they don’t get a shortstop back in return) as the 2B platoon of Rodgers and Hampson could both become full-timers.
Both are markedly better against lefties, but the extra volume alone can sometimes be enough to drive value, especially for Rockies given their home park. Speaking of, they have a dead even 28-28 home-road split post deadline. Well, technically that’s not 100% true, but I’m thinking more about weekly leagues and standard Sunday pickups so starting next Monday it’s 28-28.
Rodgers has some punch with a decent batting average (5 HR, .263 AVG in 173 PA) while Hampson is a speedster with a bit of pop (13 SB, 6 HR in 330 PA). Rodgers has actually been better on the road (.707 home OPS/.807 road OPS) while Hampson has a devastating split wherein he is unplayable on the road at this point (.873/.490). Rodgers is rostered in about 10% of leagues at Yahoo! and ESPN, Hampson is up around 45%. Neither has much availability in the NFBC at 89% and 97%, respectively, in the 12-team Online Championship and 98% each in the Main Event.
Derek Hill/Daz Cameron | OF, DET – Potential Trade: Robbie Grossman
The Tigers have been one of the surprise teams after a dreadful April, posting a 39-35 record (85-win pace) since May 1st, but obviously the 8-19 start leaves them playing spoiler this year with designs on possibly contending next year. Grossman is 31 years old, but he is slated to make just $5 million next year so the Tigers don’t have to move him at the deadline. That said, they have four OFs age-27 or younger so it would make sense to at least consider moving the veteran outfielder.
Hill has actually played five of six games last week so maybe it would be better to put Victor Reyes as the potential beneficiary, but I chose Hill since he is much more widely available. Cameron is currently on the IL so monitor his status, though I haven’t seen a timetable since he suffered the sprained toe.
Hill has 6 SBs in just 43 MLB PA this year and while I’m certain he won’t continue to run at that pace, he could still be a game-changing speedster with a full-time role. It is a tiny sample, but I am also intrigued by the plate skills he is showing with a 19% K rate and 16% BB rate. That veers quite a bit from his minor league marks of 26% K and 8% BB so we will see how real these gains are as he continues to play for the Tigers. I do like his 9% SwStr rate, down from 14% in AAA.
Cameron has 3 HR and 4 SB in 63 PA with the Tigers this year, but just a .207 AVG and 30% K rate so there is an open question about how good he would be with a full-time role. Strikeouts have regularly been a part of his game, though he had shaved his K rate down to 18% in 85 PA at AAA so far this year. It is worth pointing out that Reyes has a meager 45 wRC+ in 98 PA so the Tigers might be best off using Hill and Cameron (when healthy) if Grossman is traded out.
Both Hill and Cameron are widely available across all formats ranging from the NFBC Main Event to Yahoo!/ESPN.
Andrew Young | INF/OF, ARI – Potential Trade: Kole Calhoun, Eduardo Escobar, and/or David Peralta
First off, you may have heard of him as Andy Young which is how he was referenced when he came over from St. Louis in the Paul Goldschmidt deal. He quietly debuted last year and took a bunch of walks (15%), but did little else (.192/.382/.385) in a mere 34 PA. I imagine his age (27) depresses the excitement that would normally accompany these gaudy minor league numbers, but also the uneven plate skills tamp down the hype as he posted 31% K and 6% BB rates despite his 148 wRC+ at AAA.
The poor plate skills have continued in the majors with 46% K and 7% BB rates in 59 PA with the D’Backs, but 9 of his 12 hits have gone for extra bases including 6 HRs. There are multiple avenues that would afford Young more playing time beyond that of just a short side platoon. If you need power and can afford what might be as low as a .220 AVG, Young can help. He’s available everywhere because he needs some pieces to move to open up real playing time.
Leody Taveras | OF, TEX – Potential Trade: Joey Gallo
Gallo is far from guaranteed to be dealt, but I wanted to highlight Taveras because he could get called back up regardless as David Dahl is toting a meager 61 wRC+ through 209 PA. The Taveras hype train has been loaded up before, but never left the station, though we are still talking about a 22-year-old with plenty of upside.
He has 12 HR and 12 SB at AAA, though only an 87 wRC+ in 289 PA. I love the 25/25 pace, but you can see the flaws with his contact (.239 AVG) and strikeouts (26%). However, he is surging over the last month with a .250/.342/.500 line, 5 HR, 6 SB, and 16% BB rate in 96 PA. All of that despite just a .264 BABIP, too. He still has a 23% K rate in that time, but the trade off is the power that comes from this speedster.
I still really like Taveras for the long-term and I will be keeping a close eye on him awaiting for his return to the majors. He has the skills to put up a Hampson-esque September circa 2019 (5 HR, 9 SB, .903 OPS in 95 PA). He is available everywhere but be ready to pounce once he is back.
Good read but FYI a benefactor is a party who confers a benefit.
We’re talking beneficiaries of benefaction 😉
Yep. Need to be beneficiaries, not benefactors.
Fixed. Ty, y’all. Just a flub.
Feel free to delete my comment.
No, it’s OK. I don’t mind being corrected & I appreciate when y’all help out, especially when it’s polite as you were
My bad
You never read about Pip and Miss Havisham?
Assuming Cron gets dealt (BOS*, CLE, NYY, MIL are obvious targets), that would open time for Connor Joe who has put up very good numbers in the minors since the start of 2018. Always have to give a look at anyone getting regular playing time in Coors.
*EDIT: I just realized that Boston is so desperate that they gave a start at 1B to Franchy Cordero yesterday even though he had never ever played 1B at any level of the minors until making 6 recent starts there in the minors before his recall. He’s back in there today also
While I agree that Story probably gets dealt, they can hold him and take the compensation pick when he rejects the QO. So whatever they get has to be better than the 31st pick in next year’s draft. I assume they will get better than that, but it’s the Rox so who knows. . . .
Nice article. Hate to spoil your dreams but the Tigers won’t be competing next year, either.
Not sure why you think that. Indians and Twins are on a downward trajectory, Royals look farther behind the Tigers, Tigers have been willing to spend in the past and that could make up some space between them and Chicago.
People have been saying that about Cleveland for five years now.
Detroit only spent when their owner was desperate to win before he died
I mean, it’s his son in charge now, but also there hasn’t been any real reason to spend under his tenure. This year will be a big test re: their likelihood to spend as they ascend
Eh, we’ll see. I think they should absolutely go for one of the big SS and maybe add a piece of two of the pen with the core they already have and they can be a fringe contender. Plus, I’m not even really looking for them to be full on contenders next year, but rather to build on what they’ve done this year with Correa added and then in ’23 be legitimate contenders to make big noise. I’m not sure why you think it’s so cut and dried that they can’t compete, though.
I am looking at Jose Miranda. The breakout looks real and the Twins have started moving him around defensively at AAA.
I would keep an eye on Bender in Miami. He’s opened once so far with another potential one this week. In leagues with daily lineup H2H leagues, SP swingmen/closers like him can have a big impact if he can get enough “starts” to qualify before possibly taking over the closer role if Garcia gets traded. Picture prime Carlos Marmol/Scotty Downs from around a decade ago.
Bednar and Bender are my coming up closers for sure. I focused hitters on this one, though
I see the “6 hitters” comment now, reading comprehension was never my strong suit.
I agree with your take on your Tigers – now is the time for them to strike on a great young hitter to build around with their young pitching cheaply controlled over the next 5 or so years.
Not sure if the Indians would trade him within the division, but Jose Ramirez would be perfect for them – then they can sign one of the premium free agent SSs and solidify that MI core and build out from there.
Picking a nit here, but Young plays for Arizona not Texas.
Sorry, I copy-and-pasted the Leodys one for formatting bc I wrote that one first and forgot to change his team.
Dahl has a 109 wRC+ since July 5, and since that date was just days in from a lengthy return from the DL, I suspect he has some string left and had probably extended that by a few weeks post-trade deadline.
That’s a pretty narrow timeframe and comes w/a .444 BABIP, too. I’ve been a Dahl fan in the past and even wanted the Tigers to pursue him this offseason, but he is SO hard to trust.
Even if Gallo stays and Dahl doesn’t get taken out of the lineup, this Curtis Terry guy might not be long for DH and Taveras could earn PT that way. Regardless, I’m keeping tabs on him.
Think we are on the same page; I’m simply saying Dahl’s play the past three weeks probably bought him the first two weeks in August to see if he trends well rather than a more immediate bench spot the start of the month.
I’m of two minds about Curtis Terry. On the one hand, his promotion clearly shows the Rangers are ready to use the balance of the year to replaced weak batters with prospects who have hit well despite lacking a pedigree. On the other, I like Terry as a prospect who never grabbed any attention because of defensive inefficiencies and a slow start as a high school draft choice but someone who since 2018 has showed consistent power + solid plate discipline.
Taveras is an interesting situation. He 2020 numbers were quite reasonable with enough walks and power to offset contact issues to produce nearly league-average production. Perhaps he was pressing in Spring Training and in his brief appearance this year when his plate discipline really progressed; his numbers in AAA this year show a leap in power, more restraint with two strikes but continuing contact issues. If Gallo is traded, he would seen the natural replacement, but I wonder if the Rangers are frustrated by his lack of improvement in contact.
The other Ranger prospect I’m watching for a later call-up is Josh Jung, who is raking in AA, and while injuries cost him most of the first half, he’s a 23-year-old whose clearly the best prospect in the organization with the sort of well-rounded skill set that would ease the transition to Texas. There’s little in his way: Brock and Culberson are mediocre (I’m being generous) place-holders.
Another to watch out for: Luis Garcia, the SS/2B on the Nationals. With Trea Turner and Josh Harrison on the block, he’s next in line for playing time.
In AAA this year, he’s developed unexpected power (.298 ISO!!) compared to his previous high at any level of .113. All the while, he’s the youngest batter in AAA (resumed that mantle when Wander Franco was promoted).
Before he exceeded his rookie eligibility last year, he was regularly in the top 100 prospect lists (even as high as 53 in 2019), so the pedigree is there. If this power surge is real, Garcia could be the next Xander Bogaerts.
Leody Taveras: I guess a .250 AVG and .342 OBP considered as “surging” is all relative.
Yeah, just ignore the .500 SLG, 5 HR, and 6 SB… good point, lol