Reacting to Final MLB Trades from Fantasy Baseball Perspective: Jack Flaherty, Bryan De La Cruz, Eloy Jimenez, Josh Bell, Frankie Montas and More

As promised, I’m back to offer up some fantasy baseball reactions to MLB trades that went down on Tuesday, July 30.

This will be the fourth and final installment in this little series. Here’s the story from Monday, the weekend and then some pre-weekend deals. This isn’t all the deals that were made, but instead the ones I believe have the greatest fantasy baseball impact.

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Kevin Kiermaier Swapped for Ryan Yarbrough

The Los Angeles Dodgers got Kiermaier from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Yarbrough.

Yarbrough is likely just a long-relief option, but Kiermaier could earn a decent role in LA. 

In 81 games this season, Kiermaier has a .195 average and .236 on-base percentage. He has seven doubles, four homers and two triples among his 39 total hits, along with 18 RBIs, 24 runs scored, five stolen bases, 10 walks and 66 strikeouts. 

Owned in just 1% of leagues, Kiermaier isn’t a player to add immediately, but instead one to watch in case the change of scenery gets him going.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa Dealt to Pirates

Kiner-Falefa, who is currently on the injured list, was dealt from the Blue Jays to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s expected back in August at some point, and will provide the Pirates with a solid infield bat for the stretch run.

Kiner-Falefa played in 82 games with Toronto this season, posting a .292 average and .338 OBP. He had eight doubles, seven homers, two triples and 75 total knocks, along with 33 RBIs, 32 runs scored, three stolen bases, 13 walks and 37 strikeouts.

He was a fringe standard league fantasy before the injury, and should get a little boost as he’s joining a playoff race. Watch for news of Kiner-Falefa ramping things back up and add him if you are looking for some infield help. He should be rostered in all deeper leagues, and also get some love in standard leagues.

Paul Blackburn Moved to Mets

Blackburn was sent from the Oakland Athletics to the New York Mets. 

He’s 4-2 this season across nine starts, but with just a 4.41 ERA. He has 38 strikeouts over 51 innings pitched. 

Both parks are favorable to pitch in, but the Mets have a better team, so Blackburn should get a little lift from the move. He’s been a low-level streaming option and should be a touch better fantasy option moving forward.

Bryan De La Cruz Joins Pirates

The Miami Marlins sent De La Cruz to the Pirates.

In 105 games with Miami this season, De La Cruz had a .245 average and .289 OBP. He also had 19 doubles and 18 home runs among his 104 total hits, 51 RBIs, 44 runs scored, 25 walks and 118 strikeouts.

Joining the Pirates isn’t a massive boost to his fantasy value, but it is a slight boost one would think. He’s rostered in 51% of leagues, and this move could make him more of a standard league option, so keep a close eye on De La Cruz in his first few games with the team.

Tanner Scott Dealt to Padres

Scott was traded from Miami to the San Diego Padres. 

The Padres already have Robert Suarez for a closer, so Scott is likely going to serve as the top setup guy. That will take away most of his fantasy value, making him rosterable only in deeper leagues or where relievers are rewarded a bit more.

Orioles Land Trevor Rogers

The Baltimore Orioles got another arm for their rotation, landing Rogers from the Marlins.

Rogers has struggled to a 2-9 record and 4.53 ERA across 21 starts this season. He has 85 strikeouts over 105 1/3 innings pitched.

Pitching in Baltimore should help Rogers a bit, as should having a better team around him. He’s been a low-level streamer most of the season, and only gets a slight bump from this move.

Royals Trade for Paul DeJong

This is a pretty low-key deal, but one that could help the Royals in their quest to make the playoffs. DeJong was on the Chicago White Sox previously.

In 102 games this season, DeJong had a .228 average and .275 OBP. He had 14 doubles and 18 home runs among his 77 total knocks, along with 41 RBIs, 38 runs scored, two stolen bases, 14 walks and 112 strikeouts.

DeJong is likely going to slide into a platoon in KC, which will hurt his fantasy value after playing pretty much every day all season. His new ballpark should help him a bit, but if he’s only starting against lefties, his overall fantasy value is still probably going to go down. 

He’s a player to keep tabs on, but not likely to be one that’s rosterable or playable in most leagues.

Baltimore also Lands Eloy Jimenez

The Sox sent Jimenez to the Orioles.

Jimenez has played in 65 games this season, and had a .240 average and .297 OBP with Chicago. He hit nine doubles and five home runs among his 55 total hits, and also had 16 RBIs, 18 runs scored, three stolen bases, 18 walks and 47 strikeouts.

I don’t see Jimenez playing much with all the outfield talent the Orioles have, but he could maybe be a platoon option at an outfield spot or at the designated hitter slot.

Again, if a hitter isn’t going to start regularly, their fantasy value isn’t going to be all that high. He’s rostered in 26% of leagues now, and I expect that to drop over time. 

Diamondbacks Trade for Josh Bell

Another Marlins’ trade was sending Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bell gives the D-Backs some insurance as Christian Walker sits out with an injury.

In 104 games this season, Bell had a .239 average and .305 OBP with Miami. He also had 18 doubles, a triple and 14 home runs among his 95 total knocks. Bell has 49 RBIs, 38 runs scored, 34 walks and 88 strikeouts this season.

Joining Arizona gives Bell a nice fantasy boost, at least while he has regular playing time. He could still start regularly when Walker returns, but if you were going to add Bell, now would be the best time.

He’s rostered in 45% of leagues and should get some standard league waiver wire love now with the D-Backs. 

Padres Swing Deal for Martin Perez

Perez was moved from the Pirates to the Padres. It’s not a huge fantasy baseball move, but is worth mentioning.

In 16 starts this season, Perez is 2-5 with a 5.20 ERA. He has 63 punchouts over 83 innings.

His new home ballpark is more favorable for pitching in, and the team is a slight upgrade, so this move works in Perez’s favor. He’s been a streaming option all season, and remains one in San Diego, but with just a touch more upside in each start.

Dodgers Trade for Jack Flaherty

This was arguably the biggest move of the day and maybe the entire season, with Flaherty moving from the Detroit Tigers to the Dodgers.

In 18 starts this season, Flaherty was 7-5, but with a 2.95 ERA. He had 133 punchouts over 106 2/3 innings.

The new home park is pretty similar to his old one, but his new team is definitely better. Flaherty has been a good starting option all season, and has a chance to be one of the top guys from this point on.

Milwaukee Adds Frankie Montas

Montas moved within the NL Central, going from the Cincinnati Reds to the Milwaukee Brewers.

In 19 starts this season, Montas has a 4-8 record and 5.01 ERA. He has 78 strikeouts in 93 1/3 innings of work.

Montas has had some solid starts this season, but has been too inconsistent to be anything more than a streaming option. He remains that in Milwaukee, but has a bit more favorable home ballpark to pitch in now, and slightly better team around him, so those are positives for Montas’ fantasy value.

Giants Pick Up Mark Canha

Canha moved from Detroit to the San Francisco Giants.

In 93 games with Detroit this season, Canha had a .231 average and .337 OBP. He had 17 doubles and seven homers among his 74 total hits, along with 38 RBIs, 42 runs scored, four stolen bases, 42 walks and 79 strikeouts.

He’s in a worse ballpark to hit in now, and might only be a platoon option against left-handed pitchers. Canha has been a depth option in some deeper fantasy leagues this season, and is worth watching, but likely won’t become a fantasy asset in more than those deep leagues.