Here is a link to the 2015 MLB TRADE DEADLINE article.

NOTE: Players listed in order of preference.

HITTERS

Troy Tulowitzki to Blue Jays

The best hitter at one of the toughest positions to fill. In AL-only leagues he is the top target on the board. For more see this Daily Trends report.

Yoenis Cespedes to Mets

My Cespedes write up from the deadline piece. “Cespedes has a nice power bat, but a somewhat less than ideal offensive game. Yoenis is batting .293. Can he hold on to that? The last two seasons he was a .250 hitter with a .285 BABIP. This year his BABIP is .331. His already poor walk rate is down even further this season (4.4 percent) leading to a 0.22 BB/K rate. Not good. His .323 OBP is basically league average. The power is legit though with 18 homers, 61 RBIs and 62 runs scored. Those numbers should continue to be amongst the best in the outfield in baseball. He doesn’t run any more though. He’s been successful on three of seven steal attempts. The Mets’ park (CitiField) ain’t a great place to hit, and that’s not exactly an overly exciting lineup.”

Gerardo Parra to Orioles

Let me quote myself from the deadline piece. “Parra has been nutso good. How good? He’s third in baseball in batting average since April 25th behind only Paul Goldschmidt and Jason Kipnis. He has a current 14-game hitting streak during which time he’s hit .460 with a .720 SLG. Parra was also third amongst NL outfielders in OPS at the time of the deal (.886 behind only Bryce Harper 1.153 and Giancarlo Stanton .952). Don’t really know where this level of contribution is coming from, but it’s been three full months of crushing it. Still, it's exceedingly difficult to imagine him hitting like this over the final two months. Is he really a superstar with the bat in his hands?”

Carlos Gomez to Orioles

His power speed combo has led to an average of 22 homers and 37 steals the past three seasons. He currently has eight homers and seven steals, and reports suggest, though not definitive by any means, that his hip was an issue in the aborted deal to the Mets. In July he has hit .222 with a .395 SLG, terrible numbers, but he is walking leading to a decent .344 OBP. He also drove in 17 runners. Immense talent who has shown little consistency and doesn’t seem to be 100 percent. Parra is a safer add, but if trying to hit the proverbial homer target Gomez.

Jose Reyes to Rockies

A difference making player in NL-only leagues. He’s the top hitter added to the NL after Cespedes, and depending how your roster is constructed he just might be the most valuable addition for many. For more on Reyes see this Daily Trends report.  

Ben Revere to Blue Jays

Revere write up. “In 2013 Revere hit .305. Last year he hit .306. This season he’s batting .298. He stole 49 bags last season and has 24 this season. Revere is batting a robust .320 with a .355 OBP against righties, but he really doesn’t do much at all against lefties (.234/.273/.287). according to Mike Wilner – “Revere would step in to #Bluejays vacant leadoff spot and take over in LF.” At the same time, there's another report suggesting that Revere will hit at the bottom of the order. Hitting at the top of that lineup, Revere would be able to pile up the runs as the leadoff man for the best offense in the game. Hitting at the bottom of the order would certianly limit his outlook a bit. He’s still a stupendous add for runs, batting average and steals in AL-only leagues.”

Jesus Montero, Mariners

He is going to be available in all leagues. He should be added in all leagues. Maybe not 10 team mixed leagues, but pretty much all others. “My hope is to play him as much as possible,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “We need to find out about him and see what he’s got.” Montero was hitting .472 with seven RBIs his last seven games and has brutalized Triple-A pitching all year hitting .346 with 16 homers, 75 RBIs and 64 runs scored in 93 games. A former elite prospect – from 2010-12 he was a top-7 prospect in all of baseball according to Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus – he might finally be ready to reach the heights predicted of him.

Brandon Moss to Cardinals

From Daily Trends on July 30th. “The Cardinals lost Matt Adams (quad). Matt Holliday is hurt and it sounds like he is headed right back to the DL with a strained quad. Mark Reynolds isn’t doing much. They need offense. Is Moss the answer?

Through 94 games Moss is hitting .217 with a .407 SLG. He does have 15 homers and 48 RBIs, decent, but the guy is a pretty deficient slugger right now for a guy who averaged 28 homers and 84 RBIs the last two seasons. His walk rate is the lowest it’s been in four years. His K-rate is a three year high. His .190 Isolated Power is a 4-year low. His 13.3 percent HR/F is a 4-year low. Maybe things will return to “normal” but give the across the board fade I’m not overly hopeful. Still, worth a healthy bid in NL-only leagues for the power.”

Hector Olivera to Braves

Olivera will be given a shot to lock down the Braves third base spot on a full time bases as soon as he proves himself healthy (he’s been dealing with a hamstring issue since mid-June). The club hopes that Oliver will be able to begin a rehab assignment by the end of next week and then it’s just a matter of him getting up to speed. Could be mid-August, more likely late August, before we see him.

Domingo Santana to Brewers

With Parra and Gomez gone, the Brewers need outfielders. Santana is not only an excellent NL-only add if you don’t want to break the bank, but he profiles as a potential mixed league option as well in time (he’s been sent to Triple-A for now). He’s only picked up 39 big league at-bats this season but he’s crushed pitching at Triple-A hitting .320 with 16 homers, 59 RBIs and 62 runs scored in just 75 games.

PITCHERS

Johnny Cueto to Royals

My thoughts on the Cueto deal from the Daily Trends article from July 27th. “Cueto will continue to be a star with the Royals with health being the only concern (he’s a free agent after the 2015 season). The move to the AL hurts a bit, but he also moves to a part that slightly improves his outlook versus the ball yard in Cincy. Seems like a wash to be. Cueto is still an SP1.”

Cole Hamels to Rangers

From the Daily Trends piece from July 30th. “Hamels goes to the AL to pitch in a hitter’s park.

He is working on a 6th season in a row with 200-innings pitched.

His numbers this year are strong: 3.64 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 9.58 K/9, 2.73 BB/9, 1.57 GB/FB

He’s a borderline ace who reminded everyone of that fact during his no-hitter. Slight downgrade for him, but still a rock on the bump.

Phillies take…

Alfaro is a catcher who hits for power. Could hit .300 one day.

Asher, Eickhoff and Thompson are all close to helping in the big leagues.

Harrison’s back is ok at the moment, though he’s only made three starts this season.

No one is exciting for NL-only leagues.

Hamels is worth a huge bid in FAAB in AL-only leagues, though Johnny Cueto would be worth a bit higher bid.

Mike Fiers to Astros

Through 21 starts he owns a 3.89 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. His walk rate is a bit elevated at 3.28 per nine, but he’s also the owner of a 9.23 K/9 mark. The reason I would favor him over Leake, if both were on waivers, would be because of the strikeouts. If you don’t need help in that category then go with Leake.

Mike Leake to the Giants

From the deadline report. ““We’ve followed him since college,” said Giants’ GM Bobby Evans when referring to Leake. “We felt he would slot right in and give us an opportunity to get deeper into games.” Leake becomes a free agent at the end of the year, but he was born in California (San Diego) so the team is hopeful of working something out. As for his skills, Leake is a solid arm. On the year he has a 3.56 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 21 starts. His road ERA this year is 2.28 with a 0.86 WHIP, and there is zero doubt that the move from Cincy to San Francisco should be a huge boost to his outlook as the park in SF is undoubtedly a pitcher’s haven. Leake doesn’t strike guys out with a 5.93 K/9 mark, but his outlook does improve slightly with this move.”

Luis Severino, Yankees

Michael Pineda is hurt. CC Sabathia is terrible. Severino has a huge arm but don’t forget he is only 21 years old. He has been on fire at Triple-A this season going 7-0 with a 1.91 ERA. "He's moved really fast through the system and obviously had a lot of success," GM Brian Cashman said. "So we'll see what the next step for this youngster is." Ranked 17th in the Baseball America mid-season rankings, he could be a huge presence down the stretch though it’s fair to point out that he threw only 113 innings last season and is at 99.1 this year.

Arodys Vizcaino, Braves Closer?

Jim Johnson was dealt. Did you read the Daily Trends piece from July 29th that told you to add Arodys? “Sounds like Jim Johnson will be dealt. Add Arodys Vizcaino now. Immediately like, if you are saves speculating. Arodys has a 1.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP through 10 outings, an d over the course of 31.1 innings in his career he’s had issues with walks (4.60 per nine), but he has oodles of talent and a big arm – his average heater this season is 97 mph.”

Alex Wilson, Tigers Closer?

It seems like Wilson will take over for Joakim Soria who was dealt to the Pirates. Or will he? "People always say they want to assign roles or relief pitchers would like to know their role," manager Brad Ausmus said. "But you've got to earn a role. It's as simple as that. And roles aren't handed out. You've got to earn them. If somebody steps up and shows that they can pitch in a certain slot, we'll put them there. But at this point, I don't know that we've seen that." Wilson is the favorite but don’t go all-in.

J.A. Happ to Pirates

A.J. Burnett is on the shelf so, oh hell, don’t do it. My Happ write-up. “Happ is junktastic. He’s made 21 appearances, 20 starts, with a 6.79 K/9, 2.65 BB/9, 4.64 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. He can start or work out of the pen, but there’s simply no redeeming qualities with his left arm.”

Here's how the bidding went for Tout Wars and LABR from Mastersball