Roto Riteup: July 3, 2017

All-Star rosters were announced yesterday and people are mad…

#Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon not on the NL All-Star team is all sorts of wrong. #ASG

— MoiseKapenda Bower (@moisekapenda) July 3, 2017

What an endorsement wow @Dodgers pic.twitter.com/T8V6ijItw5

— J.j. (@realdetective) July 3, 2017

When the only Cubs player named to the #ASG for the World Series champs didn’t even play for the team last year, something is very wrong.

— Lori Higgins (@LoriAHiggins) July 3, 2017

It is 100% nonsense Wood isn’t in. He’s been consistently excellent for weeks now.

— kc1 (@bravemanfan) July 3, 2017

But this was pretty fun:

I know a lot of people hate social media but I just spent the last 30 minutes talking ASG voting with @BMcCarthy32 which is pretty cool

— Justin Mason (@JustinMasonFWFB) July 3, 2017

 

On the Agenda:

1. Trade Rumors

2. Various News and Notes

3. Streaming Pitcher Options

 

Trade Rumors

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Rangers are “open to moving (Jonathan) Lucroy” via trade. This is a bit shocking considering less than a year ago the Rangers gave up Lewis Brinson and Luis Ortiz to acquire Lucroy. Lucroy has slumped mightily in the first half posting a .263/.311/.375 with only four home runs. He has posted career lows in flyball and walks percentages as well as the second worst hard contact percentage of his career. He may just need a change of scenery, but there’s not much to really point to a big second half rebound except that he may be getting a tad bit unlucky in the BABIP department compared to his career average and that the last two seasons he has been better in the second half than in the first.

According to Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Zack Cozart and the Reds have “mutual interest” in a long-term deal to keep the shortstop in Cincinnati. Cozart, who is a free agent at the end of the season, is having a breakout year and was just named to the All-Star team which won him a donkey!

Cozart has been rumored to be one of the Reds biggest trade chips for the upcoming trade deadline, but remaining in Cincy would be beneficial for his power number to stay close to what they have been so far.

 

Various News and Notes

Marcus Semien is on track to return later this week from a wrist injury that has had him on the DL almost the entire season. Semien hit 27 home runs and stole ten bases last year in a breakout season last year for the A’s and was widely talked about as an underrated fantasy asset coming into the season by the Monday-Thursday author of this recurring article. That author is in desperate need of his return to the field and the power speed/combo he provides.

Ryon Healy was forced out of Sunday’s game with back spasms. He is considered day-to-day at this time. Since starting out the season slow, Healy has been a monster at the plate, crushing 16 home runs with a .289 average since the beginning of May. Healy will be prone to slumps due to not walking and the amount he chases pitches out of the zone, but fantasy owners are more likely to benefit from riding the streaks than attempting to sell as his lack of name value and team depresses his trade market.

Ian Desmond left Sunday’s game with leg cramps. He is considered day-to-day at this time. Since returning from the DL after missing almost the entire first month of the season, Desmond has hit .283/.315/.388 with five home runs and stolen ten bases. He is quietly putting together a very nice season in Colorado though fantasy owners may have expected a bit more power and average. The Rockies played two-thirds of their games on the road over the last month, so a June swoon was to be expected. The Rockies do play the majority of their games remaining at home including 13 of the 22 games left in July.

 

Streaming Pitcher Options

A pitcher for today: Alex Meyer vs MIN

I’ve been waiting for the wheels to completely fall off with Meyer, but it hasn’t happened quite yet and he is a much better pitcher at home than on the road. High risk start versus his old team.

A pitcher for tomorrow: None

I was tempted to go with Trevor Cahill or CC Sabathia coming off of the DL, but will play it a bit safe considering Cahill gets the Indians and CC is at home versus Toronto.