GIANTS ADD NUNEZ

Giants Receive: INF Eduardo Nunez
Twins Receive: LHP Adalberto Mejia

Just yesterday, in this very column, I warned fantasy owners about the impending slowdown of Nunez. I wrote “It would be wise to consider dealing him now before folks start to realize what is going on with Nunez, and what is likely to happen the final two months.”

Obviously the San Francisco Giants don’t read my Daily Trends article.

After writing my article yesterday Nunez went out and pulled an 0-for-5 out of his hat with three strikeouts. That’s three games with three strikeouts, and five with at least two, in his last 10 outings. None of the concerns I expressed Thursday have been lessened with this trade. In fact, they’ve grown as we now have to worry about playing time with Nunez. Here is what we know.

Brandon Belt will play first base.

Brandon Crawford will play shortstop.

Period.

Pretty darn certain, like 95 percent, that Joe Panik will be the second baseman as long as he’s healthy.

That means Nunez best shot at starting will be at third base. However, when Matt Duffy is healthy, he’s currently out with an Achilles issue, one would think he would be giving first shot at playing time at third base. CSN Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic said as much when he reported the following. “Before the deal was announced, general manager Bobby Evans met with Duffy to assure the young third baseman that he is not being replaced after spending over a month on the disabled list with an Achilles strain.” Duffy should be back in a couple of weeks at which time Nunez likely becomes a super sub. “He’ll be used as we would use any utility infielder,” Evans said. “He’ll help with his speed and experience and bat, and it gives us some versatility and flexibility.”

Any way you slice it, this deal is bad news for Nunez value the rest of the way as it appears likely that he will be used here and there but not in any consistent manner – provided the Giants core players stay healthy.

MARLINS ADD CASHNER

Padres Receive: RHP Jarred Cosart, 1B Josh Naylor, RHP Carter Capps, Luis Castilo
Marlins Receive: RHP Andrew Cashner, RHP Colin Rea, RHP
Tayron Guerrero

*According to Ken Rosenthal.

Cashner has long been one of my favorites. The nearly 30 year old starting pitcher has mostly been a failure though in terms of what he has offered in the fantasy game. Last year he went 6-16 with a 4.34 ERA. This year he’s 4-7 with a 4.76 ERA. Everyone is falling all over themselves saying that he’s looked strong his last three starts with 23 strikeouts, three walks and just five runs allowed. Folks pushing that narrative, and remember I’m a big fan so I want to believe, are ignoring the totality of the data. Since the start of last season Cashner has made 47 starts covering 264 innings going 10-23 with a 4.47 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, a 7.91 K/9, 3.27 BB/9 and 1.09 WHIP. Those numbers, honestly, aren’t even league average. Focus on three starts if you want, but do so at your own peril. Again, I’ve long stated by affinity for his skills, but there has been no consistency here from the righty who just cannot seem to get over the hump of being anything other than a quality start arm.

Rea has made 18 starts, 19 appearances, for the Padres with a 5-5 record, 4.98 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. He’s struck out just less than 6.9 batters per nine. Blah. He’s walking 3.99 batters per nine. Terrible. He gets some grounders, his 1.44 GB/FB ratio is solid, but there’s nothing to see here unless you’re desperate in an NL-only league.

Cosart is really the same as Rea, in terms of outlook. Since the start of last season he’s worked 89.1 innings with a 206 record, 4.84 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 5.84 K/9 and 4.94 BB/9. There’s nothing to see here despite what seems like a solid arm.

None of the others involved in the trade is likely to have any kind of impact in 2016.

DFS DIAMONDS

*The following list of players are guys that Ray recommends as daily plays.

CATCHER: Brian McCann blasts Jake Odorizzi, hard in BvP heaven. In 26 plate appearances Brian has three doubles, a triple, three homers and 10 RBI. He’s also batting .522 with a 1.707 OPS. Beach ball he sees.    

FIRST BASE: Joey Votto has two homers and a 1.344 OPS in 25 plate appearances against the fringy Edwin Jackson. Votto is also working on a 12 game hitting streak during which time he’s hitting .500 with four homers, 10 RBI and 15 runs scored.

SECOND BASE: Aaron Hill, not to the level of Paul Goldschmidt, blasts Tim Lincecum into oblivion. In 22 at-bats he’s produced 11 hits, obviously good for a .500 average. He simply has Lincecum’s number.    

THIRD BASE: Evan Longoria has hit .318 with five homers and a .912 OPS in July. He has four homers, 10 RBI and a 1.032 OPS his last 12 games. He’s hit three homers with a .889 OPS against Ivan Nova over 39 plate appearances.   

SHORTSTOP: Francisco Lindor has hit .353 at home with a .957 OPS this season. He takes on Kendall Graveman Friday having gone 3-for-6 against him. Lindor has also produced at least two hits four of seven games and he’s batting .313 with a .804 OPS in July.
  
OUTFIELD: Nelson Cruz has three homers, a 1.309 OPS and .539 wOBA over 31 plate appearances against Jon Lester. He has a .302/.379/.664 line against lefties this season. He is in the lineup despite a foot issue.

OUTFIELD: Melky Cabrera has hit .440 with a homer in 25 at-bats against Ricky Nolasco. He’s also produced a hit in 9-of-10 games helping him to a .329 average in July and .327 since the All-Star game.  

OUTFIELD: Over his last nine games Paulo Orlando has hit .394 with a .412 OBP and .545 SLG. Orlando has also batted .380 with a .904 OPS at night this season and he’s hit .314 against rigthties this season. He faces A.J. Griffin.     

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday, 7 PM EDT and Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 7 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).