Fantasy baseball waiver wire: Trade deadline prep, injury returns
With the All-Star break finally over, fantasy baseball owners can get back to the business of winning a league title.
However, one hurdle that still must be cleared along that pathway is the July 31 trade deadline. We've already seen one major deal go down this week with left-hander Jose Quintana going to the Chicago Cubs.
While we broke down the ramifications of the trade earlier, we didn't quite address the full fantasy impact for this week. Since the trade is really the only thing that's happened since the last free agent pickup period, we'll take a more speculative angle in this week's roundup.
DOUBLE CHECK: Last week's recommendations, including Miguel Montero, many prospects
Suggested bid values based on $100 FAAB (free agent acquisition budget). Feel free to exceed the recommendation if league dynamics or team needs warrant. (All stats through Thursday's games.)
BEST BETS
SP Jose Quintana, Chicago Cubs
($65 NL)
Despite his disappointing start, Quintana should still be owned in all mixed-league formats. Moving to the National League with a better supporting cast and better defense behind him, the left-hander should thrive. Yes, it's still possible a J.D. Martinez, a Yu Darvish or a Sonny Gray could be traded to an NL team over the next few weeks, it's much better to jump on Quintana now -- for both the security of getting someone and the ability to put him in your lineup right away. He's scheduled to make his first start for the Cubs on Sunday at Baltimore.
RP Tommy Kahnle, Chicago White Sox
($18 AL, $10 Mixed)
Kahnle has been quietly outstanding in a setup role this season, posting a 2.65 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and a ridiculous 15.1 K/9 rate. If, as expected, the White Sox continue in sell mode, closer David Robertson seems like a near-lock to be traded -- leaving the closer's job on the South Side wide open for Kahnle now that Nate Jones has undergone season-ending elbow surgery.
1B Garrett Cooper, New York Yankees
($7 AL, $2 Mixed)
The Yankees have a gaping hole at first base, one they may have filled (temporarily) by getting Cooper from the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Cooper was hitting a blistering .366/.428/.652 wit 17 homers and 82 RBI at hitter-friendly Class AAA Colorado Springs, but he was blocked at the major league level by Eric Thames and Jesus Aguilar.
With the Yankees' sizable void at first base following the release of Chris Carter, Cooper will find no such obstacles. Can he hit in the majors? GM Brian Cashman says he'll get a shot ... because he can't do much worse than what they've had. If not, the Yanks still have time to land a veteran in a trade -- possibly Yonder Alonso of Oakland or Jose Abreu of (wait for it ...) the White Sox.
SS Tzu-Wei Lin, Boston Red Sox
($4 AL, $1 Mixed)
The Red Sox have moved on from Pablo Sandoval, releasing the veteran third baseman and eating the remaining $50 million or so left on his contract. The move makes a trade for Todd Frazier of the (guess who?) White Sox a plausible option. In the meantime, Lin seems to have taken over for Deven Marrero as the starter at third. He's hit .385 in eight games this month with six runs scored and a stolen base. Just don't expect any power. If the Red Sox want that, they'll have to make a deal for Frazier.
INJURY UPDATES
The start of the second half also brings the return of several important players from the disabled list.
-- OF Mike Trout has been out since May 29 with a thumb injury, but he'll be back in the Los Angeles Angels lineup on Friday against Tampa Bay.
-- SP Madison Bumgarner is set to resume his spot in the San Francisco Giants rotation on Saturday vs. San Diego after missing almost three months with a shoulder injury he suffered in a dirt bike accident. The lefty tossed six scoreless innings in his last rehab start and should be one of the game's top starting pitchers over the second half. Just don't count on too many wins with the Giants playing as poorly as anyone right now.
-- 1B Chris Davis has missed a month with an oblique injury, but he is expected to be back in the lineup for the Baltimore Orioles' weekend series against the Cubs. Davis is hitting .226 with 14 homers and 26 RBI -- not great numbers, and certainly not as good as what Trey Mancini has put up (.314, 14 HR, 44 RBI) as the O's primary first baseman in Davis' absence. Mancini could see more time in left field, where he played mostly when Davis was healthy, or Davis could end up sitting against left-handers. The O's may have to get creative with Mark Trumbo filling the DH spot most every night.
-- 3B Eduardo Nunez is ready to return to the San Francisco Giants lineup now that his hamstring has healed. He'll reclaim his starting spot, leaving Kelby Tomlinson to platoon with Gorkys Hernandez in left field. Jae-Gyun Hwang likely gets a ticket back to Fresno.
-- OF Matt Holliday should be activated off the New York Yankees' disabled list after dealing with an allergic reaction. Following the release of Chris Carter, Holliday could see some starts at first base in addition to DH.
NOT THIS WEEK
-- OF Starling Marte is eligible to return to the Pittsburgh Pirates after serving his 80-game suspension on Tuesday, July 18. He'll have roughly a dozen rehab games under his belt by then and should be ready to contribute immediately -- especially in the stolen base department.
-- OF David Dahl is playing in rehab games now and could rejoin the Colorado Rockies soon. He hasn't played at all this year due to a rib injury he suffered in spring training.