The trade deadline has come and gone, and this year was as active as ever. Many players changed teams leading up to the deadline, sending waves of impact through real and fantasy baseball.
We asked our writers about the winners and losers of the trade deadline. Of course, we’re putting a fantasy spin on the question. Let’s take a look at who our writers believe are the biggest winners and losers of the trade deadline in fantasy baseball.
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Which player had their stock boosted the most as the result of a trade?
Chris Archer (SP – PIT)
There were a couple of trades that should provide a boost in offensive production to the teams involved. The Dodgers acquiring Brian Dozier and Manny Machado is one, and the Brewers dealing for Mike Moustakas and Jonathan Schoop would be the other. Fantasy owners of those players should enjoy a bit of a bump as well. My very favorite deal, the one that has me running to the laptop to make an offer in my fantasy leagues, is the Pirates’ acquisition of Chris Archer. His to date numbers don’t look all that good at first glance, but if you dig down a bit you’ll find that he has a 3.62 FIP that’s almost three-quarters of a run lower than his 4.31 ERA, a disparity that clearly shows he’s pitching better than his surface numbers indicate. Another disparity can be found in his strikeout numbers. His overall strikeout rate is actually down a bit this season – 24.7 percent (9.56 K/9) as opposed to his career rate of 25.7 percent (9.7 K/9). Yet, his swinging strike rate is at a career-high 13.6 percent, well above his career mark of 11.7 percent. And his contact numbers are all well within career norms across the board. Yet another disparity can be found in Archer’s BABIP numbers, though. Archer is carrying a lofty .343 BABIP this season, much higher than his career mark of .300, and this has carried his batting average against (BAA) to .270, which dwarfs his .236 BAA. If regression to the mean kicks in for Archer during the second half, we should see more strikeouts, a significant drop in ERA and WHIP and a correction to his lopsided 3-5 Win-Loss record. Fantasy owners should jump all over any opportunity they may have to acquire Chris Archer. If you own him, show them my quick explanation of his regression and bring back a major haul in a trade.
Tim McCullough (@TimsTenz)
Kevin Gausman (SP – ATL)
Believers in Kevin Gausman had their prayers answered on Tuesday with Gausman finally leaving Baltimore and the AL East. Not only is Camden Yards the fourth-best hitters’ park for home runs (per ESPN Park Factors), but the Orioles’ have -81 defensive runs saved (DRS) as a team this season, worst in the majors. SunTrust Park has the lowest home run factor of any major league ballpark this season and the Braves are tied for third in the majors with +43 DRS. Career highs in groundball rate (47%) and swinging strike rate (11.4%) suggest better home run suppression and more strikeouts are on the way for Gausman, who has allowed 1.52 HR/9 with a 7.55 K/9 in 2018. Better players may have been traded this past week, but no one got a better situational upgrade than Kevin Gausman.
Elliott Baas (@elliottbaasbb)
Mike Moustakas (3B – MIL)
Moustakas is moving from perhaps the worst ballpark in the game for a power hitter to one of the best. Not only that, but he joins a lineup that scores plenty of runs so Moose should see a spike in both RBIs and runs over the second half while receiving more opportunities at the dish since teams who score more runs get more plate appearances. He moves from a fringe top 20 fantasy third basemen to nearly a top 12 asset.
Bobby Sylvester (@bobbyfantasypro)
The player that has had their stock boosted the most as a result of a trade is Mike Moustakas. He trades the pitcher’s paradise known as Kauffman Stadium for a short right field porch in Miller Park. Maybe more importantly, he gets to hang out with Lorenzo Cain again, and I’m sure that can only lead to better results. His counting stats should also increase, as he will be surrounded by All-Stars and former All-Stars in that lineup.
Carmen Maiorano (@cmaiorano3)
Cole Hamels (SP – CHC)
Hamels goes from the Ballpark in Arlington to Wrigley Field. When the wind is blowing out at Wrigley, few parks can match the hitter-friendly nature. However, the Texas heat in the summer can make for some long evenings for pitchers. Hamels’ biggest boost is moving from the American League to the National League. Facing a pitcher two to three times a game should at least help his ratios and strikeout rate. The rest of the NL Central outside of the Brewers isn’t scary at all. His first start is Wednesday (today) against the Pirates, then he gets the Royals, the Nationals, the Reds, then the Mets. Of course, that’s if everyone holds serve. It doesn’t get much better than that stretch, so I’m loving this in the short term and hope he carries the momentum into September and beyond.
Max Freeze (@FreezeStats)
Jonathan Villar (2B/OF – BAL)
The deadline deal that brought Jonathan Schoop to Milwaukee sent another Jonathan back the other way. Villar will benefit greatly with the change of scenery. The Brewers were already deep and Villar was essentially lost in the shuffle. He’ll now go to an Orioles squad where he’ll most likely be slotted in at second base everyday and probably also take over Schoop’s vacated second spot in the order. Villar has had a respectable season thus far on limited at-bats and now has a chance to be the productive player fantasy owners were hoping for. Just two seasons removed from his 62-steal campaign, Villar could hit the ground running in Baltimore.
Josh Dalley (@JoshDalley72)
Which player’s fantasy stock took the biggest hit as the result of a trade?
Cesar Hernandez (2B – PHI)
Hernandez is quietly having another exceptional season, but for whatever reason, the Phillies acquired Asdrubal Cabrera which will steal a chunk of starts from Hernandez. It would make sense if Scott Kingery were the one to lose playing time, or even get sent down to the minors as a result of the deal, but it seems the Phillies will be spreading out the “days off.” Hernandez sat in the second game Cabrera played for the Phillies and will likely lose 25% to 35% of his plate appearances moving forward which would make him a borderline start in fantasy.
Bobby Sylvester (@bobbyfantasypro)
Cody Allen (RP – CLE)
I think Cody Allen has the most negative impact as a result of the Brad Hand/Adam Cimber trade. He was not having a great year to begin with, and manager Terry Francona has stated that he and Hand will be used according to matchups. This statement no longer makes him the de facto closer. In fact, Hand has actually been more dominant than Allen over the past three seasons. Since the trade, Allen has pitched the eighth inning twice, mainly because some power righty bats were coming up in the inning. Once Andrew Miller comes back, all bets are off as to how many saves Allen will accumulate the rest of the season.
Carmen Maiorano (@cmaiorano3)
Chris Taylor (2B/SS/OF – LAD)
Chris Taylor is playing on borrowed time with Justin Turner on the disabled list and the acquisitions of Manny Machado and Brian Dozier. Justin Turner is currently on the disabled list with a groin strain but could be activated this weekend, leaving Taylor with nowhere to play. Machado will presumably slide back to shortstop so Turner can play third, and with Dozier entrenched at the keystone and Cody Bellinger playing centerfield, Taylor looks like the odd man out. His .752 OPS is fine enough for a utility man, but the Dodgers have made clear upgrades and Taylor hasn’t been good enough to justify an everyday role. His positional flexibility makes him the ideal utility man down the stretch, but this likely role shift hurts his fantasy value.
Elliott Baas (@elliottbaasbb)
Adam Duvall (OF – ATL)
Moving away from Great American Ballpark in the summer is not great for Duvall. Duvall moves from a place where he was going to get full-time at-bats with the loss of Jesse Winker to a crowded Braves outfield. He now becomes the fourth outfielder behind Ronald Acuna and Nick Markakis. It’s not as though he’s getting a significant upgrade in terms of offensive line up either. Hitting behind Joey Votto, Scooter Gennett and Eugenio Suarez was pretty solid. He also compiled 370 plate appearances to date in Cincinnati. I don’t expect more than two starts a week from Duvall the rest of the season barring an injury. What little value he had is gone. He can remain on the waiver wire.
Max Freeze (@FreezeStats)
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Thanks to our writers for participating! Let us know who your biggest trade deadline winners and losers are at @FantasyPros.
