FAAB Week 19: Piecing Together The Trade Deadline Impacts

Well, what a trade deadline, huh? That’s about as close to a full-on video game dynasty draft re-scramble of the league as we can get, with an incredible 58 trades going down since this piece was up last week. If you are a major-league reliever, there’s like a 50/50 chance you have a new employer since last weekend.

Given all of the shuffling in the league’s bullpens, it’s imperative to be reading up on JKJ’s work because there are several very fluid situations throughout the league including Minnesota, Sacramento, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Washington (along with the perpetual churn that’s occurred in Miami all season long). I’ve done my best below to capture those that look to be leading the pack for saves in those locales, but it’s going to evolve rapidly over the next week as we see managers deploy the arms at their disposal.

There are few names that crossed the AL/NL divide for those Only Leagues that I haven’t covered below because they are no-brainer, empty-the-FAAB-coffers type players. The Padres are the main culprit in creating this category, and it includes Mason Miller, Ryan O’Hearn, and Ramon Laureano while Cedric Mullins and Merrill Kelly garner the same attention. These are hard bids to suss out, so if looking for specific advice in your AL- or NL-Only leagues, sound off in the comments for assistance.

Okay, I’ve double- and triple-checked all of the teams for the players, but I am a mere mortal. So here’s to hoping the team designations are all correct…

The stats and roster rates below are updated as of noon central time on 8/1.

As always, if you want advice on specific roster decisions you might have, feel free to leave a comment. You can also find me on BlueSky (@mcouill7.bsky.social).

CATCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Sean Murphy (ATL, 44% CBS Rostership) – Drake Baldwin graduated from consideration this week, finally eclipsing the 50% rostership threshold, making his teammate Murphy the next best option. Although Atlanta has pulled back a bit on the double-barreled backstop lineup, it’s possible the re-inclusion of Marcell Ozuna in the starting lineup this week was a feature for the trade deadline. In July, Murphy rediscovered the swing that made him an All-Star two years ago, slashing .250/.366/.559 with five taters, 15 RBI and 12 runs scored in 82 plate appearances. The Braves have a juicy week of seven games at home against Milwaukee and Miami, making Murphy a prime target for streams in addition to rest-of-season rostering. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Tyler Stephenson (CIN, 45% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ryan Jeffers (MIN, 38% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Francisco Alvarez (NYM, 33% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Kyle Teel (CHW, 21% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Adrian Del Castillo (ARI, 7% CBS Rostership) – Things were tough this past week for Del Castillo, as he hit .150 (3-for-20) with all singles and a 33.3% K-rate. However, that included trips to two pitcher-friendly parks in Detroit and Pittsburgh. This week offers a much softer landing for the former Miami Hurricane and his leftover Arizona teammates after the house clearing at the deadline. The D-backs have one of the better schedules for bats – six games at home, three against San Diego and three against Colorado. I’m expecting some football-level scores in the ARI/COL series given how stripped down and demoralized those teams likely are. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Edgar Quero (CHW, 8% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Liam Hicks (C/1B, MIA, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Freddy Fermin (SDP, 2% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Carter Jensen (KCR, 2% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

INFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Andrew Vaughn (1B, MIL, 35% CBS Rostership) – We probably should have seen this coming from a mile away. If there is one thing the White Sox have proven they are incapable of doing throughout the Chris Getz front-office tenure, it’s teaching a plate approach. Player after player arrives in Chicago and decides to flail wildly at anything near the strike zone thanks to terrible coaching advice. Vaughn was no exception, running a 32.6% out-of-zone-swing rate in his tenure on the Southside. Since arriving in the big leagues with Milwaukee? That rate is now a much more respectable 23.6%. The former first-rounder has also pushed his opposite-field hit-rate down to 13% when that figure was running in the mid-20’s with the Sox, likely because he’s chasing on the outside of the plate less. These are small tweaks that have allowed Vaughn to focus on controlling the zone and uncoiling when he gets a good pitch. His .365/.426/.731 (214 wRC+) slash with the Brew Crew isn’t sustainable, but there is a path to something like a .270 hitter with a 30-homer pace here, aka a viable starting first baseman for fantasy. Good work, White Sox! (5% FAAB)

Jordan Lawlar (2B/3B/SS, ARI, 31% CBS Rostership) – Lawlar was probably the prospect that benefitted the most from the deadline machinations, as third base should be his for the taking in Arizona. The problem is that he’s still shelved with a hamstring injury that took him down June 25. If you have a reserve spot and can wait to see how Lawlar’s hammy injury shapes up in the next week (there is zero news on updates, but we are right in the one month-ish window originally projected as his missed time), you might stumble into a stud for the stretch run. (3% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Ezequiel Tovar (SS, COL, 49% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Tyler Freeman (2B/OF, COL, 34% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Luke Keaschall (2B, MIN, 35% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB) Colt Keith (1B/2B/3B, DET, 42% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Kristian Campbell (2B/OF, BOS, 41% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Ernie Clement (1B/2B/3B/SS, TOR, 39% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Kyle Manzardo (1B, CLE, 34% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Coby Mayo (1B/3B, BAL, 26% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Brooks Lee (2B/3B/SS, MIN, 22% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Luis Rengifo (2B/3B, LAA, 20% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Ryan Mountcastle (1B, BAL, 16% CBS Rostership) – Remember Ryan Mountcastle? He’s disappeared since suffering a major hamstring injury in late May but is now on the precipice of returning. He’s going to be mighty confused about where all his teammates went when he arrives back in Baltimore, but maybe the hope generated from his five-game Triple-A rehab stint with a .421 (8-for-19) average, two taters and six RBI will cheer him up. Baltimore is going to be hot and humid over the last two months of the season, and Mountcastle could be a sneaky power play to snatch up before he officially returns. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: C.J. Kayfus (1B/OF, CLE, 7% CBS Rostership, 3-5% FAAB), Chase Meidroth (2B/SS, CHW, 19% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Lenyn Sosa (1B/2B/3B, CHW, 15% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Warming Bernabel (1B/3B, COL, 7% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Otto Kemp (1B/3B/OF, PHI, 6% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Spencer Horwitz (1B/2B, PIT, 12% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB),Kody Clemens (1B/2B/OF, MIN, 6% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Tyler Locklear (1B, ARI, 11% CBS Rostership) – Locklear will be a popular target in deeper leagues this weekend because he is currently the starting first baseman in Arizona. However, tread with caution, despite the .316/.401/.542 (136 wRC+) slash he’s put up at Triple-A Tacoma, because Pavin Smith (see below in 15-team OFs) is marching towards a return from his oblique injury. Things will be a little crowded as the trio of Locklear, Smith, and Adrian Del Castillo jockey for at-bats at 1B and DH. Locklear has the talent to be something like a .250 hitter with five-ish homers/steals apiece over the last two months, which will play, but don’t invest too heavily given the questions around his role. (5% FAAB)

Darell Hernaiz (3B/SS, ATH, 1% CBS Rostership) – Hernaiz is the “Jacob Wilson at home” option on the infield for the A’s with Wilson finally landed on the IL this week after suffering through the misdiagnosis of his fractured forearm. Prior to his promotion, Hernaiz was slashing .305/.383/.424 with four slams and 12 legs in 445 Triple-A plate appearances. All the projections have him pegged as a .260-ish hitter with little to offer outside of batting average. It’s going to be a while before Wilson returns, I think, as the Athletics want to make sure that fracture is totally healed. Look for Hernaiz to be a volume play with a solid average and handful of steals with this stretch of playing time. (3-5% FAAB)

OUTFIELDERS

10/12 Team Adds

Tyler O’Neill (BAL, 46% CBS Rostership) – Another player, like Mountcastle, likely to benefit from the warm Baltimore air, O’Neill has been on a tear lately. Yes, most of the work (three of his four homers this past week) did come against Colorado pitching, but it could spur the 30-year-old on to one of his patented hot streaks. The Orioles have been semi-platooning O’Neill, but he’ll have to worry about that less with Cedric Mullins and Ramon Laureano no longer roaming the outfield. The projections couldn’t be more clustered around who O’Neill is – a .245 bat with the possibility of 10 homers and a handful of steals down the stretch (or until he suffers another patented soft muscle injury). If wary of O’Neill’s injury history, Beck, Moniak, and Laureano below should all be in full-time roles until the end of the season. (5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Jordan Beck (COL, 45% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Ramon Laureano (SDP, 43% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Mickey Moniak (COL, 34% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Victor Scott II (STL, 45% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jesus Sanchez (HOU, 22% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Pavin Smith (1B/OF, ARI, 15% CBS Rostership) – As noted in the Tyler Locklear blurb above, Pavin Smith is nearing return from his oblique injury while having dibs on the first base role. At minimum, he will serve in a strong-side platoon role, but Arizona has all the incentive in the world to see if Smith can figure out southpaws after a career .223/.297/.302 (67 wRC+) line against them. Pavin’s Statcast page has cooled a bit since the early season but still features enough oomph for him to be an important CI/OF option in deep leagues over the last two months. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Isaac Collins (MIL, 15% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Tommy Pham (PIT, 10% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Andrew Benintendi (CHW, 19% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jake Mangum (TBR, 18% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Mike Tauchman (CHW, 7% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Joey Loperfido (TOR, 6% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Alex Call (LAD, 3% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Luis Matos (SFG, 2% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Daylen Lile (WSN, 2% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Jakob Marsee (MIA, 1% CBS Rostership) – After rolling around this spot as a cheap pickup, inflation is about to hit Marsee’s price harder than an import from Brazil to the US. The Marlins officially announced Marsee is coming up to replace Jesus Sanchez, who was shipped to Houston, as the 24-year-old walks right into a full-time role. He’s put up an incredible line at Triple-A with a .246/.379/.438 slash, 14 homers, and 47 stolen bases. The question will be how the power translates to the majors, but speed doesn’t sleep. If looking for a stolen bases boost, Marsee is the best widely available option. (9-11% in NL-Only, 3-5% FAAB in 15-teamers)

Dylan Beavers (BAL, 5% CBS Rostership) – Nothing official as of yet about Beavers joining the big-league club, but with the O’s 40-man roster sitting at 33 while I write this, the former Cal Golden Bear should be up soon. Just like Marsee, hopefully you invested early because the prices are going to shoot through the roof this weekend. There are plenty of at-bats to go around Baltimore at the corner outfield spots and DH for Beavers to get pretty much a full-time role. He’s conquered Triple-A with a .304/.414/.502 (148 wRC+) slash line, 14 slams, and 22 legs in 83 games, so if he isn’t playing nearly every day in the majors, it will be front-office malpractice (not like Mike Elias isn’t familiar with that though). If Beavers is already hoovered up in your AL-Only league, consider throwing a dart at James Outman, who should be the starting centerfielder in Minnesota while offering power/speed upside with a definitively worse hit tool. (7-9% FAAB in AL-Only, 3% FAAB in 15-teamers)

STARTING PITCHERS

10/12 Team Adds

Michael Soroka (CHC, 43% CBS Rostership) – Soroka walks right into a two-start week with the Cubbies home against Cincy and at St. Louis, marking one of the better available options out there for next week. It will be fascinating to see how Chicago retools the 27-year-old’s pitch mix to coax anything additional out of him. The surface level stats have been rough for Soroka in July with a 5.32 ERA across 22 frames, but under the hood, he’s also had a 3.50 FIP and inflated .339 BABIP while fanning dudes at a 23.0% clip. Now that he’ll play in front of a better defense with a chance at a World Series run, I expect him to be a much more viable starting pitching option rest-of-season. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Landen Roupp (SFG, 49% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Cade Horton (CHC, 46% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Charlie Morton (DET, 41% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Zebby Matthews (MIN, 47% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Jake Irvin (WSN, 45% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Taj Bradley (MIN, 43% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Frankie Montas (NYM, 35% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Kyle Bradish (BAL, 32% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Shane Smith (CHW, 27% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Chris Paddack (DET, 24% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Mike Burrows (PIT, 14% CBS Rostership) – Since entering the Pittsburgh rotation June 29, Burrows has been flying under the fantasy radar (although has been kicking around the Quick Hits here) with a 3.25 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 30:12 K:BB across 27.2 innings while sporting a solid 46.5% groundball rate. That stretch even includes a six-run, 1.1-inning blowup at Minnesota on July 12! And yes, he’s also been winless because… Pirates. So if seeking wins – well, good luck in deep leagues, because things have dried up, just see below – Burrows won’t be the best option. But he’s tossed back-to-back quality starts and is well on his way to securing a 2026 big-league rotation spot. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Luis Morales (ATH, 5% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Joey Cantillo (CLE, 18% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Sean Burke (CHW, 15% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Michael McGreevy (STL, 15% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Ryan Gusto (MIA, 11% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Hunter Barco (PIT, 5% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

Only Team Adds

Dider Fuentes (ATL, 4% CBS Rostership) – The 20-year-old phenom looked sharp in his latest outing at Triple-A, punching out nine with just one walk allowed across five one-run frames against a Memphis squad he saw for the second time in a week. Fuentes was a disaster in his 13-inning MLB debut with a 13.85 ERA, 4.1 BB/9, and 4.1 HR/9, but the three-pitch arsenal is filthy with his fastball (105), slider (117), and cutter (115) all clocking in as above-average pitches according to Stuff+. Stumbles weren’t unexpected for a player still 10 months from drinking booze legally in the States, so the recent well-rounded start gives hope that Fuentes can return to the rotation again soon if he finds a groove. The pickings are slim for NL-Only pitching because Arizona only dealt Merrill Kelly (and the options in Triple-A Reno are not great) and Miami stood pat while the starters crossing the AL/NL border (Zack Littell and JP Sears) are both mid due to a bad home park (Littell) or a temporary rotation spot (Sears). (1-3% FAAB)

Tyler Wells (BAL, 1% CBS Rostership) – Wells looked solid in his first rehab start at Double-A this week, firing two clean innings with one K. The Baltimore rotation is disastrous right now, anchored by the surprising Trevor Rogers and filled out with scrubs. The O’s will likely look to push Wells back to the big leagues before the season wraps in order to justify another offseason in which Mike Elias evades all spending on starting pitchers. (1% FAAB)

RELIEVERS

10/12 Team Adds

Dennis Santana (PIT, 30% CBS Rostership) – You can chalk up last night’s disaster against the Rockies to Coors because Santana is coming off a lights-out July in which he fired a 0.87 ERA and 8.7 K/9 across 10.1 innings while notching a save and three holds. His skills are a tick worse that Randy Rodriguez below because of the muted K-rate, but he’s the de factor closer with a capital “C” in Pittsburgh. (7-9% FAAB)

Randy Rodriguez (SFG, 44% CBS Rostership) – Rodriguez has been the breakout relief arm of 2025, producing some bananas numbers with just a fastball/slider combo – 1.20 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 31.0% K-BB. He’s easily the most talented reliever of this group, but he’s also likely to share save chances with Ryan Walker. If in a dynasty/keeper situation, push heavily for Rodriguez though because this 25-year-old looks to be a saves weapon in San Francisco for several years to come. (5-7% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Robert Garcia (TEX, 44% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Alex Vesia (LAD, 23% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Kirby Yates (LAD, 28% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Grant Taylor (CHW, 21% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Griffin Jax (TBR, 30% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Bryan Abreu (HOU, 27% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Abner Uribe (MIL, 26% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB)

15 Team Adds

Jose Ferrer (WSN, 6% CBS Rostership) – The 25-year-old Ferrer features a semi-Jose Alvardo profile with a 98-mph sinker that pairs with a changeup and slider, all of which clock in at well-above average in the Stuff+ model. The Nats are about to take a beating from their NL East division-mates these next two months, so saves might be kind of rare. But Ferrer, who sports a 3.08 FIP, 1.22 WHIP, 7.5 K/9 (kind of low considering his nasty stuff – maybe he can unlock something?), and 1.9 BB/9 in 52.2 innings, is the best arm in a Washington bullpen that might be the league’s worst. (5% FAAB)

Kevin Ginkel (ARI, 13% CBS Rostership) – Only the strong survive, I guess? Ginkel is the last man standing in the Arizona bullpen that makes sense to roll out in save chances. The 31-year-old has been reliable of late, pitching to a 2.35 ERA with two saves across 7.2 innings in July. (3-5% FAAB)

JoJo Romero (STL, 11% CBS Rostership) – The Cardinals bullpen will be the most fascinating one to watch over the coming days after the two best saves options, Ryan Helsley and Phil Maton, were both dealt at the deadline. Romero would be the logical next choice thanks to a solid 2.04 ERA and 8.9 K/9 over 35.1 innings this season, but he’s also the only southpaw in the St. Louis bullpen. Because of that, expect to more of a closer-by-committee approach employed by manager Oliver Marmol with Riley O’Brien (great velo, lots of Ks, lots of BBs), Kyle Leahy (more of a starter’s pitch mix with five offerings), and other righties (Matt Svanson, Andre Granillo, Gordon Graceffo) popping saves here and there. (3-5% FAAB)

QUICK HITS: Jack Perkins (ATH, 15% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Calvin Faucher (MIA, 12% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Ben Casparius (LAD, 11% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Cole Sands (MIN, 5% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Corbin Martin (BAL, 4% CBS Rostership, 3% FAAB), Michael Kelly (ATH, 1% CBS Rostership, 1% FAAB), Riley O’Brien (STL, 1% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB), Keegan Akin (BAL, 1% CBS Rostership, 1-3% FAAB)