X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Surplus to Requirements - Minor Trades and Fantasy Implications

For fantasy baseball owners the trading deadline is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, the hope is that players move into better spots on better teams, or at the very least, do not move to worse spots. On the other hand, trades lead to changes, and changes are not always good for players. Closers move to set-up roles, and backups move into starting roles quicker at this points in the season than any other time.  As baseball fans it is exciting, but as owners, perhaps not so much.

So then, what should owners watch for? In most of the big moves, the Zach Britton and Brad Hand trades, the fantasy implications are apparent. What about those minor moves?  The surplus to requirement trades, where a non-contender is trying to get something before losing a piece for nothing?  Those get a bit tricky.

Today’s article looks at two of those moves, with Seung Hwan Oh moving to Colorado and Martin Maldonado moving to Houston to show owners what they should do. First, there is a focus on the major leaguers, and then moving to the prospects going in the deal, the hope is to offer coverage to all types of leagues. Settle in and get those waiver claims ready to go.    

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

On the Move

Seung Hwan Oh to Colorado

The 2018 Rockies planned to be one of the top bullpens in the game, with the offseason additions of Wade Davis and Bryan Shaw, to add to the return of Jake McGee. To date, the Colorado bullpen is second-to-last in the bigs with a 5.26 bullpen ERA. Davis has been good even with a 4.50 ERA and has posted 28 saves and 10.07 K/9 to date. Shaw has been a disappointment with a 6.98 ERA to date, but some of that it tied to sample size and the Coors effect.

So, the new additions have been hit and miss, meaning those moves have not had the desired effect so far. Even with the bullpen issues, the Rockies are still only 1.5 games back in the West and NL Wild Card. If the Rockies can keep playing as well as they have over the past few weeks, this is a team that just might lose another Wild Card game in October.

To help them get there, the Rockies have announced the addition of Oh to the bullpen, and the price is a bit more than expected. First, on Oh. While not the 2016 Rolaids Relief candidate anymore, the 2018 version of the “Final Boss” looks much better than the 2017 version. To date, with Toronto, he has appeared in 48 games posting a 2.68 ERA and 10.53 K/9. Some thought he would be the closer with Roberto Osuna’s absence, but to date, Oh only has two saves. Expect that to be his role in Colorado as well, as Davis is not going to leave the closer role anytime soon.

Oh is a fantasy option in deep leagues, but with the Coors factor, the line should regress, even if still good for real-life ball.  To be more specific, Oh should be the seventh inning guy until Shaw gets everything figured out.  From there? It's up to Bud Black.  

What did the Jays get in return for the former closer? First, Chad Spanberger, the first baseman known for power more than anything is the key piece going back. In fact, he appeared on last week’s “Stat Scouting” piece highlighting lower level hitters to stash, and to see him move was a surprise. Spanbeger fits best in Coors with the bat, and while Toronto is no pitchers park, this seems to be a move that hurts him regarding playing time and park factors. Power, power, and more power, this should play in Toronto and adds to the depth at the position for the Jays. If this trade had happened last week, he would not have been the first base pick in the article, if that helps owners with context.   

The other piece is Forest Wall, a former 2014 first-round pick of Colorado. While perhaps not meeting his prospect ceiling to date, there are encouraging signs to the profile. Although he has slowed since getting the promotion to Double-A, his numbers to start the season at Modesto are worth highlighting. In 47 games at Modesto, Wall was slashing .305/.382/.453, three homers and 20 steals. This seems like another significant loss for the Rockies even with the depressed stats at Hartford, as that speed plays, and the other offensive numbers should make him a regular in center at Coors.  With the second base background and the hope that he sticks in the outfield, this could be an Adam Frazier type with more speed.  

BALLER MOVE: Oh to Colorado hurts his owners if they expected him to be a closer at some points, and if you are in dynasty leagues, these are prospects with good chances at being MLB starters in a few years.  Sell Oh and buy the prospects. 

 

Martin Maldonado to Houston

In all fairness, unless owners were playing in two-catcher or AL-only leagues, Maldonado was not on many radars this season. Unless they read the AL-only picks on this site, as he has made plenty of appearances there. Even after the trade, he looks to be the defensive replacement or at best a regular backup catcher. In Los Angeles, he was the starter, so it will be a step down in roles for him with this move. This means that the expectation is Max Stassi holds the starting role until Brian McCann returns from the DL. He has been the default starter, but this adds a bit of security to the depth at the position.

At the same time, the best Houston fantasy catcher is Even Gattis, who does not even play catcher, so this is a weird move in how it affects fantasy owners. That being said, the risk is that Stassi loses some playing time, and with his offensive production so far, he has emerged as one of the breakout catching options to date. The Astros would not make this trade just to sit him on the bench, so owners should watch lineups for the next week or so. 

For the Angels this means that Jose Briceno will take over the starting role behind the plate, and this is another mixed bag concerning fantasy options. To date, in 18 games with the Angels in 2018, Briceno is slashing .261/.277/.413 with two homers. Not blowing the cover off the ball, but from a catcher that average and slug offer good upside. The hedge to the profile is that in the minors he was never an offensive threat with averages in the .220-.240 range most of his career. That being said, the starting role has value, and owners who are looking for a short-term dart should take a look.

Patrick Sandoval, the player, going back to the Angels, looks to be a steal for this team based on production to date. While only an 11th round pick in 2015, Sandoval has gotten better with every step up the minor league ladder. This season, split between A and High-A ball, Sandoval has started a total of 13 games out of 19 total appearances. His ERA at High-A is 2.74 with a FIP of 2.37, which is even better than the starting ERA, one level lower, which was 2.49. The K rate is good at 10.17 K/9 at the most recent stop, and the walk rate is only 1.57 BB/9. Regarding flipping a defensive catcher, this looks to be a good add for Billy Eppler. For fantasy owners in deep leagues, this is a good addition as there is a path to the majors in Los Angeles that was not there in Houston.   

BALLER MOVE: move on from Maldonado, keep Stassi, and in dynasty leagues add Sandoval.

 

More MLB Prospects Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Josh Naylor

Returning to Diamondbacks Lineup
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Oronde Gadsden

an Active Pass-Catcher This Offseason
Brashard Smith

Speed Could be Put to Use
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Pat Bryant

Off to a Good Start
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs With Islanders for Two Years
Cody Barton

Quickly Becoming a Leader With his New Team
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal With Mammoth
Montaric Brown

has Worked With Starters
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
DET

James van Riemsdyk Joins Red Wings on One-Year Contract
Viktor Arvidsson

Traded to Boston
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Josh Jung

Sent to Triple-A
Jurickson Profar

Officially Reinstated and Hitting in Five-Hole on Wednesday
Spencer Schwellenbach

Going on Injured List With Fractured Elbow
Maxwell Hairston

Facing Sexual-Assault Lawsuit
Tai Felton

Rookie Season Likely to be Spent on Special Teams
LeQuint Allen Jr.

to Have Receiving Role for Jaguars?
Justin Walley

Turning Heads Going into Rookie Season
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
Jamari Thrash

Establishing Himself as Reliable Option
Grayson Murphy

Could Provide Rotational Pass-Rush Depth
Joe Andreessen

in a Good Position to Compete for Backup Job
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Bhayshul Tuten

Needs to Improve Pass Protection
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Brandon Woodruff

Likely to Pitch on Sunday in Miami
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
PHI

Dan Vladar Links Up With Flyers on Two-Year Deal
EDM

Andrew Mangiapane Signs Two-Year Pact With Oilers
SEA

Ryan Lindgren Joins Kraken on Four-Year Contract
PHI

Christian Dvorak Heads to Philadelphia
Logan Stankoven

Signs Long-Term Extension with Hurricanes
NYI

Jonathan Drouin Joins Islanders on Two-Year Contract
NJ

Devils Hand Connor Brown a Four-Year Contract
SJ

John Klingberg Lands in San Jose
William Eklund

Signs Three-Year Extension with Sharks
Will Cuylle

Agrees to Two-Year Contract with Rangers
Zac Gallen

Fans 10 in Tuesday's Win
Hunter Goodman

Hits Two More Homers Tuesday
Josh Hader

Stays Perfect In Save Conversion On Tuesday
Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Shane Baz

Fans 11 Against Athletics
Grant Holmes

Strikes Out 10 in Scoreless Outing
Jeff Green

Signs One-Year Deal to Remain in Houston
T.J. Watt

Trying to Become Highest-Paid Non-QB?
Willson Contreras

Doubtful for Wednesday
George Springer

Clubs Two Homers in Seven-RBI Day
Joshua Palmer

Could be a Sleeper
Los Angeles Lakers

Jake LaRavia Lands with Lakers
Laviska Shenault Jr.

on the Bubble
Orlando Magic

Tyus Jones Signs One-Year Deal With Magic
Raheem Blackshear

to Work Mostly As Special-Teamer
Golden State Warriors

Kevon Looney Heads to New Orleans
Rico Dowdle

Trevor Etienne to Split Carries?
Chuba Hubbard

Should See Majority of Touches in 2025
Milwaukee Bucks

Jericho Sims Staying in Milwaukee
Denver Nuggets

Tim Hardaway Jr. Joins Nuggets
Willson Contreras

Avoids Structural Damage on Hand After HBP
Detroit Pistons

Duncan Robinson Lands With Detroit
Charlotte Hornets

Tre Mann Remaining in Charlotte
Josh Naylor

Scratched From Tuesday's Lineup Against Giants
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
San Francisco Giants

Giants Exercise Bob Melvin's 2026 Option
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Josh Naylor

Back in Action on Tuesday
Yordan Alvarez

Suffers Setback
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Nolan Arenado

Dealing with Finger Sprain
Jacob Wilson

Scratched With Hamstring Soreness
Brandon Woodruff

Ready for Season Debut
Garrett Mitchell

Out for the Rest of the Season
Milwaukee Bucks

Gary Harris Inks Deal With Bucks
Charlotte Hornets

Mason Plumlee Heading Back to Charlotte
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Jakob Poeltl

Agrees to a Contract Extension With Raptors
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Vasilije Micić

Vasilije Micic Dealt to Bucks on Tuesday
Daniel Suarez

and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Pat Connaughton

Traded to Hornets
Atlanta Hawks

Luke Kennard Lands in Atlanta
Breece Hall

Aiming to Prove He is "Still One of the Best in the League"
T.J. Watt

Steelers Not Planning to Trade T.J. Watt
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
Chase Elliott

Ends Winless Skid With Atlanta Victory
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Atlanta Victory
Carson Hocevar

Recovers From Big One to Finish 10th at Atlanta
William Byron

Caught up in Atlanta Big One but Retains Points Lead
Denny Hamlin

Top In-Season Challenge Seed Denny Hamlin Eliminated in Lap 70 Crash
Ty Dillon

Bottom Seed Ty Dillon Upsets Denny Hamlin to Advance in In-Season Challenge
Kyle Larson

Don't Expect Kyle Larson to Win First Drafting Track Race on Saturday
Christopher Bell

Unlikely to Complete Atlanta Sweep
Brad Keselowski

Seeks Another Clutch Win for Hail-Mary Playoff Bid
Chris Buescher

Unlikely to Lead Enough to Have Much DFS Value
Alex Bowman

Qualifies Best Among Non-Fords but Unlikely to Contend at Atlanta
Ryan Preece

Will Probably Run Better Than Usual at Atlanta
Austin Dillon

Consistently Mediocre at Atlanta
Ty Gibbs

Slightly Faster Lately but Unlikely to be a Factor at Atlanta
Erik Jones

a Low-Key Strong DFS Option
Noah Gragson

Could Have DFS Value as One of the Lowest-Qualifying Fords
Riley Herbst

Unlikely to Replicate February Atlanta Finish
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF