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MLB Trade Deadline Recap

July 31, 2006 @ 14:30:17

By KFFL Staff
Edited by Cory J. Bonini

Even though the Washington Nationals didn't trade outfielder Alfonso Soriano, and the Baltimore Orioles held on to shortstop Miguel Tejada after a blockbuster was reportedly in the works including Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt, there was quite a bit of activity leading up to baseball's non-waiver deadline. The New York Yankees grabbed outfielder Bobby Abreu along with starter Cory Lidle the day before from the Philadelphia Phillies, and a slew of deals came through on deadline day.

Here, we at KFFL, will break these down for you and help tie the loose ends on players you may or may not know about.

Los Angeles Dodgers acquire 2B Julio Lugo from Tampa Bay Devil Rays for 3B Joel Guzman and OF Sergio Pedroza

Dodgers acquire SP Greg Maddux and $2 million from Chicago Cubs for SS Cesar Izturis

The Dodgers made a big splash by acquiring second baseman Julio Lugo from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and starting pitcher Greg Maddux from the Chicago Cubs. Lugo gives them an excellent player to take over for oft-injured second baseman Jeff Kent.

Lugo was hitting .308 with 12 homers, 27 RBI, 53 runs and 18 steals in 289 at-bats. Don't expect the power to continue, but he should be a good player in runs and steals. Dodger Stadium is a very pitcher-friendly park, but the team loves to run. Look for the tandem of shortstop Rafael Furcal and Lugo to feed off each other as both are accustomed to be among the league leaders in steals; they could steal a ton of bases.

Maddux's move isn't a real big one, as he simply doesn't have the pinpoint control anymore. After going 5-0 with a 1.35 ERA in April, he stands at 9-11 with a 4.69 ERA. The move to Dodger Stadium should help a little bit, but he simply isn't the player we once knew. Izturis is a defensive whiz and despite his hot hitting early last season, he doesn't translate into fantasy realms. Wrigley Field could serve his gap power well, so wait and see.

Guzman could come over and start at third base for Tampa right away. He's a beast at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, having played shortstop until this season. Guzman, 21, was hitting .297 with 11 homers, 55 RBI and nine steals at Triple-A this year. Pedroza, 22, hit .281 with 21 homers and 75 RBI at Low Class A Columbus and is likely a few years away.

Fantasy Advice:

Julio Lugo: Trade, sell high in all formats

Greg Maddux: Sign in all formats

Joel Guzman: Sign in all formats

Cesar Izturis: Wait and see

Dustin Pedroza: Leave on waivers in all formats

New York Mets acquire RP Roberto Hernandez and SP Oliver Perez from the Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Xavier Nady

As the trade deadline approached Monday, July 31, the New York Mets were looking at acquiring starting pitching as opposed to relief pitching, however, with relief pitcher Duaner Sanchez (shoulder) getting into a car accident Monday, ending his season, they had to move quickly.

Hernandez will bring his 15 years of experience and setup help to fill the void left by Sanchez’s departure. He has two saves and a 2.93 ERA in 43 innings pitched this year.

Perez was the Pirates' Opening Day starter this year, and he is something of a reclamation project. There is some confusion as to whether he was traded to the San Diego Padres for reliever Scott Linebrink. That deal apparently fell through. Perez has had a rough year for the Pirates this year and posted a 2-10 record, with a 6.63 ERA before being sent to Triple-A Indianapolis. He is young, 24, and some view him as a potential ace, but he has still struggled after being sent to the minors.

Going to the Pirates is Nady, who is hitting .264 with 14 home runs and 40 RBI in 75 games this season. He will likely step in to play first base after Sean Casey and Craig Wilson were traded. His fantasy value really plummets after batting at the bottom of a great lineup to hitting probably fifth in a poor lineup. He had a lot of RBI opportunities with the Mets, and when he moves up in the order, he won't receive as many good pitches to hit.

Fantasy Advice:

Xavier Nady: Release except in deeper leagues

Roberto Hernandez: Sign in NL-only leagues

Oliver Perez: Leave on waivers in all formats

San Diego Padres acquire infielder Todd Walker from the Chicago Cubs for minor league pitcher Jose Ceda

The San Diego Padres were buyers prior to the non-waiver trade deadline Monday, July 31, acquiring infielder Todd Walker from the Chicago Cubs for 19-year-old minor league pitcher Jose Ceda.

Walker batted .277 with six home runs and 40 RBI along with a .352 on-base percentage in 318 at-bats for the Cubs this season. He should provide a little bit of offense but more importantly brings much needed veteran leadership and versatility to the Padres. Walker will likely fill the void at third base with San Diego, though he also has the ability to play first and second base, as he did with Chicago earlier this season.

Although there is no definite word on what Walker’s role will be, the Padres, who have been looking to bolster the hot corner position for some time leading up to the deadline and tried to acquire Astros third baseman Morgan Ensberg, will likely have Walker play third base. Walker, who should he see everyday action at third with San Diego, is an interesting fantasy name to keep in mind as he could improve on his numbers with the big gaps at PETCO Park, particularly with this being Walker’s contract year. He has been rumored to be traded for years, and now he finally has some closure.

Fantasy Advice:

Todd Walker: Sign in deeper leagues

Jose Ceda: Leave on waivers in all formats

New York Yankees acquired 1B/OF Craig Wilson from the Pittsburgh Pirates for SP Shawn Chacon

The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded 1B/OF Craig Wilson to the New York
Yankees in exchange for starter Shawn Chacon.

Wilson, 29, has been one of fantasy baseball's most versatile players over the last five seasons, having qualified as an outfielder, catcher and first baseman in many leagues. However, in the past two seasons, he has been used exclusively in the outfield and at first base. In 255 at-bats this year, he is hitting .267 with 13 home runs and 41 RBI. He will be a huge upgrade over current Yankees 1B Andy Phillips.

Chacon, 28, was a major disappointment this season for the Yankees as both a starter and a reliever, compiling a 5-3 record, but an ERA of 7.00. Lack of command has been one of his biggest problems, as he has allowed 36 walks, compared to 35 strikeouts, in 63 innings. Given the state of the Pirates' rotation, especially following the trade of Oliver Perez to the New York Mets, expect Chacon to serve as a starter.

Fantasy Advice:

Craig Wilson: Acquire in all formats

Shawn Chacon: Wait and see

Detroit Tigers acquire 1B Sean Casey from the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher Brian Rogers

Casey comes over and helps protect catcher Ivan Rodriguez and outfielder Magglio Ordonez with his left-handed bat between them. He's hitting .296 with three homers and 29 RBI on the year, and he should continue to hit around the .300 mark. Do not expect much power from him at all, especially in the spacious Comerica Park. The big field will allow him to rack up doubles and singles, keeping his batting average high and home runs down. He helps the team on the field, but he won't help your fantasy team in much but batting average.

Rogers, 24, was 3-2 with a 2.39 ERA in 37 relief outings at Double-A Erie. He had 69 strikeouts in 64 innings and could be a good late-inning reliever in a couple of years.

Fantasy Advice:

Sean Casey: Sign in AL-Only leagues

Brian Rogers: Leave on waivers in all formats

Texas Rangers acquired SP Kip Wells from the Pittsburgh Pirates for reliever Jesse Chavez

Wells has been an enigma in his career, and after having surgery to remove a blood clot from his right shoulder, he has gone just 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA. Wells once had a ton of promise, but injuries have kept him from reaching anything close to his potential. At 29, the Rangers are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with Wells.

Chavez, who will be 23 before season's end, was 2-5 with a 4.42 ERA in 38 appearances at Double-A. He recorded 70 strikeouts in 59 innings though, so he could be a nice arm in the bullpen in a couple of years.

Fantasy Advice:

Kip Wells: Leave on waivers in all formats

Jesse Chavez: Leave on waivers in all formats

Kansas City Royals acquire 1B Ryan Shealy and RP Scott Dohmann for RP Jeremy Affeldt and SP Denny Bautista

The soon-to-be 27-year-old Shealy finds himself in his best situation as a pro. The Royals were very high on him, and the 6-foot-5, 250-pound first baseman has good power. He was hitting .284 with 15 homers and 55 RBI at Triple-A, but he has been waiting in the wings behind first baseman Todd Helton for years. Dohmann gives the team an established arm in the bullpen.

Affeldt has never honed his potential both as a starter nor a reliever. He's 4-6 with a 5.91 ERA with 42 walks and 28 strikeouts. It's almost insane for a pitcher with 70 innings under his belt to have nearly twice as many walks as strikeouts. Bautista turns 26 in August, and time is running out on his right arm. He can get it into the high 90s, but he just can't stay away from arm injuries. He has never thrown more than 36 innings in a season.

Fantasy Advice:

Ryan Shealy: Wait and see

Scott Dohmann: Leave on Waivers in all formats

Jeremy Affeldt: Leave on Waivers in all formats

Denny Bautista: Leave on Waivers in all formats

Texas Rangers acquired DH Matt Stairs from the Kansas City Royals for relief pitcher Joselo Diaz.

Stairs comes over to help the Rangers off the bench and help at designated hitter and outfield duty. He was hitting .261 with eight homers and 31 RBI for the Royals this season. His swing has slowed down, and he doesn't connect as often as he used to. So he is not a real viable fantasy option.

Diaz, 26, had 46 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings at Triple-A Oklahoma this season. He has bounced around a bit and doesn’t have a really high ceiling. He could help the Royals' bullpen patch things up for the rest of the season after they traded relievers Elmer Dessens and Mike MacDougal last week.

Fantasy Advice:

Matt Stairs: Leave on waivers in all formats

Joselo Diaz: Leave on waivers in all formats

Cincinnati Reds acquire pitcher Kyle Lohse from the Minnesota Twins for SP Zach Ward

Lohse has been much better in July, as he has a 3.18 ERA in nine outings with 14 strikeouts and only two walks in 17 innings. Lohse is still just 27, and he will fit in the much improved Reds' bullpen. He has a shot at winning a spot in someone's rotation next year. For now, he has no fantasy value.

Ward, 22, is a 6-foot-3, 235-pound starter with good numbers at Single-A Dayton. He was 7-0 with a 2.29 ERA in 20 games (18 starts), and he struck out 95 batters in 114 while allowing just 74 hits. Ward adds to the pile of young talented arms in the Twins' system.

Fantasy Advice:

Kyle Lohse: Leave on waivers in all formats

Zach Ward: Leave on waivers in all formats

St. Louis Cardinals acquired RP Jorge Sosa from the Atlanta Braves for RP Rich Scalamandre

Sosa worked his magic last season after a breath of fresh air away from the Devil Rays by going 13-3 with a 2.55 ERA for the Braves. He flip-flopped this season to a 3-10 record and a 5.46 ERA. He has a good arm and can help the Cardinals' bullpen, but he's pretty similar to Esteban Yan, who was a reclamation project that royally failed a couple seasons ago.

Scalamandre, who turns 26 Aug. 20, was 7-0 between Double-A and Triple-A with 48 strikeouts in just under 50 innings. He's nothing more than Triple-A depth right now.

Fantasy Advice:

Jorge Sosa: Leave on waivers in all formats

Rich Scalamandre: Leave on waivers in all formats

Cincinnati Reds acquired RP Rheal Cormier from the Philadelphia Phillies for SP Justin Germano

Cormier is a much sought-after, left-handed specialist who improves Cincinnati's revamped bullpen. He will not be a factor in fantasy realms.

Germano, soon-to-be 24, is 8-6 with a 3.69 ERA at Triple-A this season and has the chance to be a good innings-eating type of pitcher in the majors. He isn't dynamic, as he has only struck out 67 batters in 117 innings and allowed 124 hits as well.

Fantasy Advice:

Rheal Cormier: Leave on waivers in all formats

Justin Germano: Leave on waivers in all formats