Jeff will handle the NL and I’ll be running the AL. We’ll be analyzing the big moves throughout the Trade Deadline period and updating these posts through August 1st (the day after the deadline in case we Thursday brings a ton of action we need some time to sort out!) the weekend.
I’ll have my annual Trade Deadline Show with Nick Pollack starting at 3PM CT! My write-ups on today’s trades and their potential fantasy fallout will be sparse until tonight/tomorrow AM. With so many moving pieces, I just don’t want to get caught doing some through write up on some potential winners/losers from a trade only for another trade to completely upend that commentary. (7/31)
I’m updating throughout the day on Friday and into the weekend as things shake out. Please feel free to ask about specific players in the comments. I’m putting together a Winners/Losers kind of board but that won’t be out until the weekend because I want at least one slate of lineups to see how some things shake out. (8/1)
I wonder if this is a one foot in, one foot out situation where they backfilled the bullpen so they can trade Kenley and still be on the fringes of contention. They are only 4 games back in the wildcard as their high-powered offense — I’m not joking, they’re 4th in HRs — has given them juice. (7/31)
Traded for Oswald Peraza (INF) from the Yankees.
The 25-year-old utility infielder brings some depth to the Angels. The one-time top prospect has struggled massively this year, posting a 26 wRC+ in 170 PA. He’ll be on their bench and likely bounce around the diamond giving everyone a day off. (8/1)
Astros
Traded Twine Palmer (RHP) to Orioles for Ramón Urías (INF).
Twine Palmer is an amazing name! I’m watching Twin Peaks for the first time, so my brain dropped the “e” and saw Twin Palmer 😂
Urías jumps right into the 3B spot (until they get Correa later today 😎) with Isaac Paredes out for a substantial period of time. In fact, literally as I write this there is an update on MLB Central that Paredes is out for 6-7 mos. with the torn hamstring! This ends being a bat-for-glove trade as Urías brings an 89 wRC+, compared to Paredes’ 133, but Urías is a former Gold Glove winner who can play all over the infield and morph into a super-utility guy if they do in fact get someone like Correa to replace Paredes’ bat. (7/31)
I love this move for Houston as a long-time fan of Sánchez. He is a strong-side platoon outfielder who made the most of being in Miami, posting a career .812 OPS at LoanDepot Park (jeezus, that name suuucks, lol). I was shocked to learn that Miami’s home park is pretty solid for lefties, posting a 103 Park Factor the last 3 seasons which is tied for 3rd-best with Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia, trailing only Colorado (112) and Boston (108). Houston’s park is tied with a cluster at 101, though it does hold a 9-point edge in HR factor over Miami. That’s not enough to move the needle and expect some sort of surge from Sánchez, but I am eager to see him in the midst of a playoff race. Miami was playing much better of late as an offensive unit, but this is still an undisputed lineup upgrade for him. I’d be looking to pickup Sánchez where available (I imagine he’s not universally rostered in 10s and 12s) in shallower mixed leagues and I think he has real impact potential in AL-Only leagues.
Losing Gusto does cut into their pitching depth a bit as he’d been a solid swingman for them this year. Three Duds account for 20 of his 47 ER this year meaning he’s been mostly good across his 24 outings, including four starts with at least a 60 Game Score (anything 60 and above on Game Score is an unquestionably strong start). George CostanzaJason Alexander is currently penciled into the 5th role right now, though Spencer Arrighetti is on rehab right now. (8/1)
Traded cold hard cash to the Twins for Carlos Correa (*3B*)!
Obviously, Correa is still just a SS for our purposes in fantasy, but he’s agreed to play 3B and will add that eligibility in a couple weeks. The Correa reunion is a fun one. It was part of a maaaassive sell-off in Minnesota and comes at a perfect time for Houston as they were looking for impact bats, but short of prospect capital to trade for top end bats. With Sánchez and Correa, they had an amazing day deepening their lineup, especially with Jeremy Pena slated to return today, too. Correa’s only been a league average-ish bat this year (97 wRC+), but if he can stay healthy I wouldn’t be surprised to see him more in the 115-120 wRC+ range the rest of the way. Non-prospect Matt Mikulski (26 y/o in A+) was also sent to Minnesota. (8/1)
Athletics
Traded Mason Miller (RHP) and JP Sears (LHP) to Padres for Leo DeVries (SS) and a prospect package.
This is obviously a massive deal, but it doesn’t really create any actionable fallout for the A’s. They’ll almost assuredly split their remaining SVs which won’t be plentiful and Sears himself was barely streamable so a replacement isn’t going to be all that appealing. (7/31)
I will say that if San Diego can somehow help Sears with his homers, there is some upside. I liked him as a prospect, but his career 1.6 HR9 and 1.9 mark this year make him a remarkably scary stream in even the best of situations. (8/1)
Traded Miguel Andujar (4C) to Reds for Kenya Huggins (RHP).
Andujar appeared in all four corners for the Athletics this year (1B/3B/LF/RF), spending the bulk of his time at 3B and LF, posting a solid .298/.329/.436 line and 107 wRC+. His playing time evaporates with this move, though, as he’ll likely be limited to some starts versus lefties unless injury opens a spot somehow. He can safely be cut anywhere he was being rostered. (8/1)
Blue Jays
Traded Juaron Watts-Brown (RHP) to Orioles for Seranthony Dominguez (RHP).
Dominguez was traded in the middle of a doubleheader between the Jays and Os which is just amazing. I already love when a guy traded within a series, but in the middle of a DH is next level! Dominguez adds depth to the pen, strengthening the bridge to Jeff Hoffman. Dominguez has been able work around a 14% BB so far this year (3.09 ERA/1.28 WHIP) as he’s difficult to square up (6.6 H/9) and has cut his home run rate drastically from 1.6 the last two seasons to just 0.8 this year. There’s no fantasy relevance here unless something happens to Hoffman. (7/29)
Traded Khal Stephen (RHP) to Guardians for Shane Bieber (RHP).
Huge name but it’s hard to say how impactful he will be this year. He’s returning from TJ and currently 4 starts into his rehab — he’s looked fantastic, but it’s been at RK/A+/AA and is all of 12 IP so far — so they are probably hoping he can give them some innings for final 5-6 weeks of the season and into October, but he’s a maaaaassive wildcard. He’s already been getting stashed in some formats and this trade will only add to the interest.
Stephen ranked 17th in our Jays list back in April. The 2024 2nd rounder has enjoyed a strong pro debut, primarily at A/A+ and he had just made his AA debut prior to the trade. He would almost assuredly move up in a re-rank after his 23% K-BB in 92 IP and landed 5th on MLB.com’s updated list prior to the trade. (7/31)
The chart includes their performance for 2025, their opponent’s wOBA rank versus the pitcher’s handedness from this year so far, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then a note about them. Obviously, there are league sizes beyond those three so it’s essentially a shallow, medium, deep. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. This is for standard 5×5 roto leagues. The thresholds for H2H starts are generally lower, especially in points leagues so I thought there would be more valuable focusing on roto.
WOW! How about today?! That was amazing.
Please forgive me for a commentary-free board tonight, I’m writing up today’s crazyyyy deadline though I unfortunately drew the short straw with the AL as I think the NL had the way more compelling moves from a fantasy perspective (keep an eye on Jakob Marsee in Miami!). The starter market wasn’t that crazy, but I still want to get my rankings updated very soon because while the movement might’ve been minimal at the top, there was plenty in the middle and low tiers.
Guest: how excited are you for McGonigle? can he give good fantasy value in 2026?
1:06
Paul Sporer: Ridiculously excited! With his bat, he can absolutely be a “hit the ground running” kinda guy who delivers right away
1:06
Troy the Tiger: Thoughts on Troy Melton? Is he worth a stash even with two tough starts ahead (PHI, LAA)?
1:06
Paul Sporer: I’m not just picking Tigers questions — I promise!!
1:09
Paul Sporer: I love Melton. His strikeout stuff gives him a solid margin for error. He got roughed up in his MLB debut a bit, but had the 7 Ks and then was absolutely dominant this last time out v. ARI. He’ll have ups and downs like any rookie, but he’s a pickup everywhere right now to see where this goes
The chart includes their performance for 2025, their opponent’s wOBA rank versus the pitcher’s handedness from this year so far, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then a note about them. Obviously, there are league sizes beyond those three so it’s essentially a shallow, medium, deep. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. This is for standard 5×5 roto leagues. The thresholds for H2H starts are generally lower, especially in points leagues so I thought there would be more valuable focusing on roto.
Wednesday morning: Updated Matthews in for MIN and Alexander in for CHW
The chart includes their performance for 2025, their opponent’s wOBA rank versus the pitcher’s handedness from this year so far, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then a note about them. Obviously, there are league sizes beyond those three so it’s essentially a shallow, medium, deep. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. This is for standard 5×5 roto leagues. The thresholds for H2H starts are generally lower, especially in points leagues so I thought there would be more valuable focusing on roto.
You ever have one of those nights where all your late nights just catch up to you and you crash way earlier than normal? I usually get one of those every 4-6 weeks and the most recent one hit last night. I saw Troy Melton’s scintillating performance against the D’Backs and even A.J. Hinch’s interview in the postgame, but that’s about the last thing I remember before crashing on the couch and eventually transferring to the bed hours later. All that to say, that’s why this is massively late and my apologies to those of you who use this for waiver pickups but it should still be useful for those making lineup decisions today (though there is a doubleheader w/TOR-BAL starting in a couple hours).
The chart includes their performance for 2025, their opponent’s wOBA rank versus the pitcher’s handedness from this year so far, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then a note about them. Obviously, there are league sizes beyond those three so it’s essentially a shallow, medium, deep. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. This is for standard 5×5 roto leagues. The thresholds for H2H starts are generally lower, especially in points leagues so I thought there would be more valuable focusing on roto.
The chart includes their performance for 2025, their opponent’s wOBA rank versus the pitcher’s handedness from this year so far, my general start/sit recommendation for 10-team, 12-team, and 15-team (or more) leagues, and then a note about them. Obviously, there are league sizes beyond those three so it’s essentially a shallow, medium, deep. If a pitcher only has an “x” in 15-team, it doesn’t mean there’s no potential use in 10s and 12s, but it’s a much riskier stream for those spots.
These are general recommendations, and your league situation will carry more weight whether you are protecting ratios or chasing counting numbers. This is for standard 5×5 roto leagues. The thresholds for H2H starts are generally lower, especially in points leagues so I thought there would be more valuable focusing on roto.
