Woah, what a trade deadline. I don’t know about you, but I spent most of my morning and afternoon glued to my phone, refreshing my news feed every few seconds, waiting for the next trade to be announced. Unless you’re a Rockies fan (sorry), Friday was probably an exciting day for you. Star players moving to contenders have our hopes up for October World Series runs, while the selling teams loaded up their farm systems with fresh new talent the fan base can dream on.
The first major trade to be announced on Friday came out of Toronto. The Blue Jays acquired 27-year-old right-hander Jose Berrios from the Minnesota Twins for top prospects Austin Martin -- fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft -- and Simeon Woods Richardson -- second-round pick by the Mets in 2018. Berrios brings a 3.48 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 126 strikeouts over 121 2/3 innings. He’ll be facing stiff competition in the AL East and likely takes a small hit in fantasy value going forward. Still, you have to like the Blue Jays going for it from a real baseball perspective. Ross Stripling seems like the most likely candidate to move to the bullpen.
The Mets made a major move, acquiring slugger Javier Baez from the Cubs in exchange for prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong -- 19th pick in the 2020 draft. Through 361 plate appearances, “El Mago” has a .248/.292/.484 slash line with 22 homers and 13 steals. What he doesn’t bring in batting average, he makes up for with versatility, defensive wizardry, and incredible energy on the diamond. Baez will slot in at shortstop and likely move to second base upon Francisco Lindor’s return from the injured list (oblique).
In the second cross-town trade involving relievers in as many days, the Cubs sent closer Craig Kimbrel to the White Sox in exchange for second baseman Nick Madrigal and right-handed reliever Codi Heuer. The trade gives the White Sox a dynamic duo of Kimbrel and Liam Hendriks. Kimbrel is having a fantastic bounce-back season, posting an 0.49 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts over 36 2/3 innings. While the White Sox might have the best one-two punch in the late innings, both relievers likely take a hit in value for fantasy purposes when it comes to saves. Kimbrel has operated primarily as a closer for most of his career. Meanwhile, Hendriks has shown more versatility in his ability to pitch multiple innings. It’ll just be a situation to watch going forward.
Shortly before the 4:00 PM EST trade deadline, the Giants acquired Kris Bryant from the Cubs in exchange for outfield prospect Alexander Canario and right-handed pitching prospect Caleb Kilian. Bryant was the ideal pickup for the Giants. San Francisco needed a right-handed hitter who can play all over the diamond as Gabe Kapler rarely rolls the same lineup out twice. The 29-year-old former MVP brings a .267/.358/.503 triple-slash with 18 homers and four stolen bases over 374 plate appearances. Bryant will likely play third base and shift to left field when Evan Longoria returns from the injured list. While the park change from Wrigley Field to Oracle Park isn’t ideal, it’s a bit more forgiving to right-handed hitters. And the lineup context likely means more run-producing opportunities.
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Starting Pitchers with an EDGE
Chris Bassitt -- 7 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K vs. Angels
Bassitt was lights out on Friday against the Angels, keeping them off the board over seven innings. He generated 12 whiffs and tossed 63-of-95 pitches for strikes to collect seven strikeouts on the day. The 32-year-old right-hander has a 3.28 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 139 strikeouts over 137 innings. He’ll look to keep it going next week with a start against the Rangers in Oakland.
Wil Crowe -- 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K vs. Phillies
Crowe blanked the Phillies over six innings on Friday despite throwing 53-of-92 pitches for strikes and walking four batters. He allowed just one hit, a leadoff single by Alec Bohm in the second inning. The 26-year-old right-hander will take a 5.40 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and 66 strikeouts over 71 2/3 innings into a start against the Brewers in Milwaukee next week.
Hitters with an EDGE
Manny Machado -- 3-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI vs. Rockies
The Padres scored four runs against the Rockies on Friday. Manny Machado brought them all across the plate with two homers. After knocking a base hit in the fourth inning, he put the Padres on the board with two-run homers in the sixth and eighth innings. That’s four homers in the last five games for the 39-year-old third baseman.
Jose Altuve -- 3-for-6, 2 HR, 3 R, 5 RBI vs. Giants
The smallest man on the field packed the biggest punch against the Giants on Friday. Altuve led the game off with a base hit and scored the first run on a single by Yuli Gurriel. Altuve turned on a shoulder-high fastball and sent it over the left-field wall for a solo shot in the fifth. With the bases loaded in the sixth, he cleared them all with his second homer of the game.
Ryan McMahon -- 3-for-3, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB vs. Padres
There was no keeping McMahon off the bases on Friday. The 26-year-old reached base in all five plate appearances against San Diego. He broke the game open in the first inning with a grand slam off of Ryan Weathers. That one must have felt good, as McMahon hadn’t homered since June 15. He added two singles and two walks, scoring one more run in the fourth.
Priority Pickup
Logan Webb, SP - San Francisco Giants (Available in 75 percent of Yahoo leagues)
Since giving up six runs in a start on May 5, Webb has been on a roll. The 24-year-old right-hander has an excellent 1.54 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts over his last 35 innings. Webb throws a mid-90’s sinker with a changeup to left-handers and a slider he effectively uses against right-handers. That slider has a 47.4 percent whiff rate. He’s also cut the walks down to 7.9 percent and has done a great job of inducing soft contact with an elite 59.4 percent ground ball rate. Anyone showing the ability to keep the ball on the ground, limit walks, and generate whiffs while also producing results has a place on someone’s roster in every league. The widely available young hurler could be a big addition for fantasy managers over the final two months.
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Closing Time
Kyle Finnegan vs. Cubs
1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (2nd save)
It appears Kyle Finnegan has taken control of the closer job since the departure of Brad Hand. Finnegan worked around a leadoff single to close out the game and record his second save in two days for the Nationals. He’s available in 86 percent of Yahoo leagues for teams in need of saves.
Jordan Romano vs. Royals
1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K (9th save)
The Blue Jays had newly acquired Brad Hand pitch the eighth inning. After giving up one run, Toronto went to Romano to close out the game with a three-run lead. He gave up one run on a hit and RBI groundout, striking out one batter in the process on his way to his ninth save of the season.
Cole Sulser vs. Tigers
1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (4th save)
After Detroit scored three runs in the eighth inning to pull within a run, Sulser was summoned in the ninth to secure the win. He pitched a perfect ninth, inducing a groundout, strikeout, and fly-out to earn his fourth save of the season. It’s still a situation that is avoidable in all but the deepest of leagues. Save opportunities will come few and far between, not to mention Sulser isn’t a guarantee to get the next save chance.
Aroldis Chapman vs. Marlins
1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (21st save)
Chapman has seemingly righted the ship after his rough stretch, making a scoreless appearance in eight of his last nine outings. He worked around a hit batter and struck out Magneuris Sierra to end the game and pick up his 21st save of the season. The 33-year-old southpaw has a 3.82 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts over 37 2/3 innings while going 21-of-25 in save chances.
Lou Trivino vs. Angels
1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (17th save)
Trivino worked around a leadoff double by Justin Upton to close out the game and secure his 17th save of the season. With a 1.99 ERA, there’s no reason for the A’s to go to anyone else for saves down the stretch. Trivino is 17-for-19 in save chances this season.
Liam Hendriks vs. Cleveland
1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (26th save)
Two days after blowing a save against the Royals, Hendriks locked down his AL-leading 26th save of the season. He struck out two batters in a perfect inning against Cleveland. Hendriks carries a 2.53 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts over 46 1/3 innings.
Matchup of the Day
Brandon Woodruff (7-5, 2.14) vs. Kyle Muller (2-3, 2.55)
Saturday’s matchup takes up to Atlanta, where the Brewers and Braves face off for game two of a three-game series. Both teams find themselves in the playoff hunt, with the Brewers leading the NL Central by a healthy seven games. They’ll send Brandon Woodruff to the mound. Woodruff has been outstanding, with a 2.14 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 146 strikeouts over 126 innings. The Braves made a slew of moves to improve their team at the deadline as they look to make a run at the NL East. Kyle Muller has had an impressive rookie season so far, posting a 2.55 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts over 24 2/3 innings.
American League Quick Hits: Lourdes Gurriel returned to the Blue Jays lineup on Friday... The Yankees acquired Andre Heaney from the Angels... The Athletics acquired Josh Harrison and Yan Gomes from the Nationals... The Astros traded Myles Straw to Cleveland for Phil Maton... Toronto acquired Joakim Soria from the Diamondbacks... The White sox signed Kyle Crick to a minor league contract... Anthony Santander was activated from the COVID injured list... The Twins acquired John Gant from the Cardinals... The Red Sox acquired Hansel Robles from the Twins... The Blue Jays designated Tyler Chatwood for assignment... The Rays acquired Jordan Luplow from Cleveland... The White Sox optioned Danny Mendick and Ryan Burr to Triple-A... The Twins recalled Griffin Jax from Triple-A... Cleveland recalled INF Owen Miller from Triple-A and placed Bobby Bradley on the bereavement list... The Twins claimed Edgar Garcia off waivers from the Reds... The Orioles claimed Ryan Hartman off waivers from the Astros... The Mariners recalled Wyatt Mills from Triple-A... The Tigers recalled Ian Krol from Triple-A... Jake Meyers was recalled from Triple-A by the Astros...
National League Quick Hits: Corey Seager was activated from the injured list... Jazz Chisholm was activated from the 10-day injured list... The Braves acquired outfielders Eddie Rosario from Cleveland, Adam Duvall from Miami, and Jorge Soler from the Royals... Atlanta acquired Richard Rodriguez from the Pirates for Bryse Wilson and Ricky DeVito... The Phillies acquired Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy from the Rangers... The Phillies acquired Freddy Galvis from the Orioles... Michael Lorenzen was activated from the injured list... Tony Watson was traded to the Giants... Jon Lester was traded to the Cardinals... Starlin Castro was suspended for 30 games by MLB... The Padres acquired RHP Daniel Hudson from the Nationals for RHP Mason Thompson and INF Jordy Barley... The Cardinals acquired J.A. Happ from the Twins for John Gant and Evan Sisk... Jake Marisnick was traded to the Padres... The Pirates recalled Mitch Keller from Triple-A... The Brewers acquired Daniel Norris from the Tigers... Jake Hager was claimed off waivers by the Diamondbacks... The Brewers acquired John Curtiss from the Marlins... The Reds optioned Tony Santillan to Triple-A...
