The San Diego Padres did not mess around over the weekend, making several trade acquisitions well in advance of Monday's deadline. The new member of the Padres that fantasy managers should be most interested in is, of course, right-hander Trevor Rosenthal, but there's no guarantee he becomes the team's primary closer. I think that is likely, however, as left-hander Drew Pomeranz just came off the injured list over the weekend and a cautious workload is plausible for him. Additionally, right-hander Emilio Pagan has looked far from elite this season. Perhaps he's in store for a role much like Nick Anderson's in Tampa Bay, with some saves but overall nice stats.
Rosenthal was elite for the fortunate Royals this season, who turned an afterthought spring signing into a legit trade, even as he stumbled with a few walk-filled outings. The top 10 among relief pitchers on the current ESPN Player Rater looks very different than originally expected, but Rosenthal is right there. He has produced seven saves and 21 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings. How odd that barely a fortnight ago we could reasonably project that the Padres would have a pair of top-10 fantasy relievers in Kirby Yates and Pomeranz -- and now Rosenthal might be their lone solid option.
San Diego also received, through several transactions, Mitch Moreland from the Red Sox, catchers Jason Castro and Austin Nola from the Angels and Mariners, respectively, and relievers Austin Adams and Dan Altavilla from the Mariners. Moreland becomes the team's regular designated hitter, though there remains little reason to expect he'll continue to hit for a 1.176 OPS -- which would be fourth overall in the majors if he had enough plate appearances. Moreland is a career .253 hitter and the most home runs he ever hit in any season is 23. He helps the Padres, and lengthens this lineup, but he is not a fantasy top-10 first baseman.
If choosing between the new backstops in an NL-only format, go with Nola, for he is not only a better hitter than Castro, but he is also eligible at first base, and, in theory, the Padres could use him in left field, where they still have not filled the Tommy Pham injury hole. Nola and Moreland joining this lineup upgrades all the San Diego hitters, really, as if they needed any help for fantasy purposes.
Of all the players moved in San Diego's activeness, Seattle picked up outfield prospect Taylor Trammell, a 22-year-old who was coincidentally dealt at last season's trade deadline as well, moving from the Reds in the Trevor Bauer extravaganza. Trammell struggled to hit for average in 2019 but there is an intriguing power/speed combination lurking. The Mariners are loaded in the outfield with Kyle Lewis perhaps taking home top rookie honors this season, and Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez are among the top outfield prospects in the sport. It hardly changes how fantasy managers should feel about any of them, but it is interesting.
Trade fallout, non-Padres edition
Tommy La Stella is so underrated in points leagues, for he boasts twice as many walks as strikeouts, and modest power. Oakland hitting him second in the order will be nice as well. I have little interest in Franklin Barreto, who is heading to the Angels, but he has some pop.
I doubt the Cardinals would have dealt Jose Martinez to the Rays last year if they knew a full-time DH situation was pending. Now Martinez is a member of the Cubs, where he can, at the very least, handle the DH swings versus lefties. I am sure the Cardinals are pleased. Martinez, however, is not going to get enough playing time for mixed fantasy leagues. One could argue Tampa's Randy Arozarena, with some pop and speed, is more valuable now that Martinez is gone.
Toronto sure needed rotational help and the rejuvenated Taijuan Walker gives them some, but fantasy managers must be careful, even after Walker debuted over the weekend with six shutout innings against the Orioles. Walker has a 3.27 ERA and a 4.45 FIP, the former driven by a .225 BABIP and 81.3% LOB. That ERA is going to rise.
Boston promoted Bobby Dalbec to handle first base with Moreland gone. That's quite interesting, and he homered Sunday in his first game, even though it was not exactly a 500-foot rocket. Rather it was a popup to right field that went out and would not have anywhere else. Dalbec is a "three-true-outcomes" fellow. I could see a 30-homer season in 2021, with perhaps 60-plus walks and 150 whiffs. He is not likely to win a batting title. I think his promotion hurts Michael Chavis, as he just has not hit much this season.
As for the Royals' closing situation, one could offer up Greg Holland, Josh Staumont, Ian Kennedy and even Jesse Hahn as reasonable choices now, and nobody could argue. Holland has 207 career saves and has pitched reasonably well this season, so I think he gets the initial nod. Then again, he could end up elsewhere on Monday, too. Staumont is a walker, but add him for the overall relief numbers, because he really misses bats.
I have no interest in Tommy Milone in Atlanta. You may have noticed how he tried to blow a 10-run lead in Philadelphia on Sunday night. I also have no love for Mychal Givens, now in Colorado. Givens is pretty average, and even if Daniel Bard loses the Rockies' closer role, I think Carlos Estevez is next in line.
Other random MLB news
The Rangers should get shortstop Elvis Andrus back from injury by Tuesday and, yeah, I would activate him in weekly formats. I looked far and wide in one of my leagues for stolen-base assistance and nobody would trade it away for reasonable cost. Andrus runs.
In his fourth start, Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin finally permitted one single run, but he managed to retire only nine hitters while doing so. Thus, he did not win. Again. I wonder what Gonsolin would do in a regular rotation for about 28 other clubs. I still dig Dustin May, his shaggy-haired teammate, but May's K-rate this season leaves much to desire. Has Gonsolin passed him?
Speaking of young hurlers demanding more opportunity, the Yankees feel like they have five better starters than prospect Deivi Garcia, who looked great on Sunday. People are going to add Garcia this week, but he is not there! He is off the roster already!
Do not get too excited, but Pirates first baseman Josh Bell homered twice over the weekend, matching his season total entering the weekend. That is indeed a good sign. He raised his dormant batting average by 28 points. If you were thinking of moving on, as I was, do not.
Sorry about the Austin Voth preseason recommendation. He looks just awful and the Nationals must find someone else.
Good for Gary Sanchez for slugging a pinch-hit grand slam to embarrass the Mets, but he has earned that .134 batting average. I do not think he hits his career .240 mark from here on out.
Bullpen banter
It's scary that Brewers left-hander Josh Hader could walk five hitters in one inning and everyone acts as if it is no big deal, but this really happened! Is he hurt? Was it just a bad day? Hader has still permitted nary a base hit this season! I would ignore this outing, I guess.
Speaking of wild, it is wild that Cubs manager David Ross keeps going to Craig Kimbrel in important spots. His weekend outing was wild, and the final pitch, of the wild variety, lost the game. I think Jeremy Jeffress is all alone for saves there.
Gregory Soto is the new Tigers closer and I think he might keep this role for a while. Detroit is not a good team, but not a Pittsburgh-type team, either. Soto could be like Seattle's Taylor Williams and grab a bunch of saves in relative obscurity.
Rumor has it that the Orioles want young Hunter Harvey to close, and perhaps this happens soon because there is nothing statistically special about Cole Sulser. I might stash Harvey somewhere just in case.
The overall numbers for Giants right-hander Tyler Rogers fail to excite, but there are no earned runs on his ledger over the past 10 outings, which feature enough strikeouts for us to pay attention. He appears to be the closer now.
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