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Thunder Dan analyzes the fantasy baseball fallout and summarizes the latest MLB trades from Thurday's deadline. What is the rest-of-season fantasy value for players like Mason Miller, David Bednar, Carlos Correa, and more.
Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline was one of the more memorable deadlines in recent years and capped off a very active week in Major League Baseball.
Some deals are old news by this point, but yesterday's action was fast and furious, and you may have missed a few important moves. If you want to see every deal, then check out our Trade Deadline Updates here, but in this piece, I will highlight the 10 most impactful deals for fantasy purposes.
We are focused on redraft leagues here, so I won't get into the dynasty value of prospects that were dealt on Thursday. Instead, let's focus on the players who will contribute to major league teams for the rest of the season.
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Ten Trade Deadline Deals That Matter
No. 10: Cleveland sends Shane Bieber to Toronto
Toronto was a buyer at the deadline as they continue their surprising surge to the top of the AL East. They needed more pitching, but didn't want to spend up on an expensive option. So the Jays got the former Cleveland ace, Bieber, on the cheap and are hoping that he can return to form when he's ready to return.
It's not clocking to you that Shane Bieber is standing on business 😤 pic.twitter.com/zRxmnXYfIw
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 31, 2025
The addition of Bieber to a rotation that already features veterans Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, and Jose Berrios gives Toronto potentially another impactful arm for the stretch run and the postseason. Bieber has been tearing it up on his rehab assignment, whiffing 21 hitters over 11 innings with a 1.59 ERA through four outings.
He could be ready to return to the majors in a few weeks and is just 46% rostered on Yahoo! Snag him now, while you can, if you need some more depth at starting pitcher.
No. 9: Detroit acquires Charlie Morton from Baltimore
The acquisition of "Uncle Charlie" Morton gives the Tigers an experienced arm for the playoff run and some additional depth for their staff, who will help provide depth en route to a playoff spot.
Morton should enter the rotation alongside the other newest Tiger, Chris Paddack, sending rookie Troy Melton to the bullpen. Reese Olson is on the IL and could return in the postseason to bounce Morton at some point, but for now, the fifth slot is his.
Morton's 5.42 ERA and 1.56 WHIP are tough numbers to stomach for ratios, but he has piled up 101 strikeouts in 101 innings this season between the bullpen and starting in Baltimore. He still has something left in the tank and could be a decent streaming option (20% rostered on Yahoo!).
No. 8: David Bednar is dealt from the Pirates to the Yankees.
This could be the death of Bednar's fantasy value for redraft managers. The Yankees also acquired Giants' closer Camilo Doval and have both Devin Williams and Luke Weaver in the mix for save opportunities. It's tough to imagine Bednar winning out over Doval, who has been a superior pitcher this season, so he's likely heading for a seventh or eighth-inning role.
The real winner here is Dennis Santana, as the Pirates also dealt Taylor Rogers to the Cubs, leaving Santana as the likely closer in Pittsburgh. Santana is just 29% rostered on Yahoo! and has six saves this season, a 1.36 ERA, and a 0.82 WHIP.
No. 7: Camilo Doval is dealt from the Giants to the Yankees.
Doval's fantasy value likely takes a hit here, too, though if I had him on my roster, I would at least hold onto him for a bit to see how the pecking order in the Yankees' bullpen shakes out.
If you had stashed Randy Rodriguez, then rejoice! Rodriguez has been one of the best relief pitchers in baseball this season and should inherit the closer's role in San Francisco, with Ryan Walker likely moving into the setup role. Snag Rodriguez ASAP, he's just 34% rostered on Yahoo!
No. 6: Minnesota sends Griffin Jax to Tampa Bay in exchange for Taj Bradley.
Minnesota dealt the entire backend of their bullpen, with Jax being the final reliever dealt. Cole Sands could suddenly be the closer in Minnesota, while Justin Topa and Kody Funderburk could play key setup roles as well. Keep an eye on that situation as it develops.
Jax slots in behind Pete Fairbanks in Tampa, but could get a chance to close if Fairbanks stumbles at all down the stretch.
Taj Bradley, who had struggled badly enough to get demoted to Triple-A, gets a fresh start with the Twins, who badly need starting pitching after dealing Paddack and having Pablo Lopez and David Festa on the IL. Perhaps the Twins can unlock Bradley's potential.
No. 5: Kyle Finnegan heads from the Nationals to the Tigers
This likely kills Finnegan's value, as it's hard to believe that Detroit would trust him over Will Vest as the primary closer. The Tigers are able to upgrade the backend of their bullpen, and Finnegan could slide into the setup role as Tommy Kahnle has struggled recently.
No. 4: Carlos Correa returns to Houston. The Astros also acquired Jesus Sanchez from Miami.
Correa heads back to Houston, where he played the first seven seasons of his career. Correa has agreed to play third base for Houston, which solves the issue at the hot corner, as Isaac Paredes suffered a hamstring injury.
For Minnesota, this increases job security for young players such as Brooks Lee and Kody Clemens. Luke Keaschall should have a clear path to playing time when he returns as well.
This is my favorite trade of the whole deadline
Jesús Sánchez so far this season:
- Huge gains in plate discipline
- Less Chase, less whiff, attacks right pitches
- Still super elite power
- Three-year high in pulled fly ball rateHe is going to absolutely mash in Houston https://t.co/sK6yIiJpnb pic.twitter.com/41WUb66QUd
— James Schiano (@James_Schiano) July 31, 2025
Jesus Sanchez brings some power from the left side of the plate that Houston needed badly with Yordan Alvarez still out of the lineup. He's just 6% rostered and should be on your radar as a waiver add if he can continue hitting for his new team.
No. 3: Cedric Mullins is going from the Orioles to the Mets.
Mullins is an impact player on both offense and defense for the Mets, who needed another bat in a big way. He ran hot and cold this season, but has a solid track record as a guy with decent power and solid speed. It's a ballpark downgrade for Mullins on offense as Camden Yards was super friendly to left-handed bats, but Mullins could still benefit from hitting behind a strong top-4 at the top of the Mets' lineup.
Jeff McNeil and Starling Marte are affected the most, with McNeil holding onto more value with his ability to play in the infield and fill a utility role.
No. 2: Ryan O'Hearn and Ramon Laureano are being traded to San Diego, and Baltimore piles up prospects.
The Orioles continued their fire sale, sending their starting 1B/DH O'Hearn and outfielder Laureano to San Diego, where both should get a chance to play every day.
O'Hearn has crushed RHP all season, while Laureano has enjoyed a resurgence in Baltimore and can hit lefties incredibly well. The Padres picked up Freddy Fermin from Kansas City, giving them a brand new bottom-of-the-order lineup and some impressive depth that they will need to contend in the NL postseason.
Ryan O’Hearn since coming to Baltimore
Overall: 122 wRC+
RISP: 126 wRC+
High leverage: 144 wRC+dawg+ is strong pic.twitter.com/5SKzrCc7W1
— Giannis Auntiegotapoodle (@TooMuchMortons_) July 31, 2025
For the Orioles, Coby Mayo should be in the lineup every day, and managers have to hope that we finally see him break out with more consistent playing time.
No. 1: Mason Miller and JP Sears are dealt from the Athletics to the Padres.
The Padres made massive waves across the league by making a large volume of trades and acquiring several impact players. They also dealt the number three prospect in all of baseball (SS, Leodalis De Vries) to get Miller, who is not a traditional rental, but has multiple years of team control left.
The San Diego bullpen is now one of the strongest in baseball, but it's unclear whether Miller or Robert Suarez will function as the top closer. That could be frustrating for managers who have either on their roster. The Athletics could now use a closer-by-committee approach, so no reliever jumps off the page as an add for right now.
Sears was having a decent season and got a big ballpark upgrade, leaving Sacramento, but is a guy you can probably leave on waivers unless you're in deep leagues.
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