Wow, what a trade deadline!  A lot of players changed teams and at least nine starting pitchers this week will have a different uniform (and team) than they pitched for last week.  In most of the trades, the fantasy value of the players traded doesn’t change much.  Kris Bryant, Javy Baez and Anthony Rizzo will produce about the same for their new clubs as they did the Cubs. But closer Craig Kimbrel now finds himself with a shared closer’s job with Liam Hendrix, so lower the value of both players.  Rizzo might benefit from the shorter right field porch in Yankee stadium with some extra home runs. The same should be true for Joey Gallo.  On the downside, some Yankees like Luke Voit, Clint Frazier and Brett Gardner will be losing at bats.

Jose Berrios will be about the same in Toronto as Minnesota except he’ll have more games against the heavy hitting AL East instead of the lighter hitting AL Central, so his ERA might take a dip.

Max Scherzer and Trea Turner (when he comes off the COVID IL) will help the Dodgers as much as your fantasy team.  Scherzer is in a better position to get wins, and Turner will still run wild.  Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy are also in better spots for wins and saves than in Texas.  Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison now find themselves in more of a platoon and utility situation in Oakland.  Andrew Heaney’s situation doesn’t change much now that he’s in pinstripes.  Jon Lester and J.A. Happ are needed to eat innings in St Louis, but other than a change in scenery and pitching coach Mike Maddox’s tutelage, they are still fringe fantasy players.

The Braves brought in Eddie Rosario, Adam Duvall and Jorge Solar to compete with Joc Peterson for Ronald Acuna’s at bats.  I’m not sure any of them are in a better situation to help your fantasy team, though.  Cesar Hernandez will help the White Sox, Eduardo Escobar the Brewers, Kyle Schwarber the Red Sox, but their fantasy value stays the same.

Adam Frazier takes a bit of a hit as a super utility player in San Diego, but with Fernando Tatis back on the IL, he should get regular at bats.  Starling Marte and Nelson Cruz keep their same fantasy value with their new clubs.  Myles Straw will have the everyday centerfield job and leadoff for the Guardians (what a stupid name).  He’ll give you 20 stolen bases from now till the end of the season.

Others who will benefit from all the trades are some rookies that will get a chance to play.  Those that could be worthy of a roster spot on your fantasy team are Angels pitcher Reid

Detmers, a strikeout machine and the Nationals replacement for Scherzer from the Dodgers, Josiah Gray.  His battery mate, catcher Keibert Ruiz, should also see regular playing time.  Luis Garcia should also get regular playing time for the Nationals.  Abraham Toro should see more at bats with the Mariners than the Astros.  Jesus Luzardo (remember him) will get another shot at a rotation spot with the Marlins.  And sometime in August, the Dodgers will have Danny Duffy as a starting pitcher possibility.  Spencer Howard will become a fixture in the Rangers rotation.

The closer carousel took a couple spins with the trade deadline.  As mentioned, both Kimbrel and Hendrix values took a hit as they now share the White Sox closer role.  Diego Castillo takes over as the Mariners closer.  Brad Hand takes the Blue Jays closer job.  Ian Kennedy becomes the Phillies closer, and Ranger Suarez heads to the starting rotation.  Closers that now find themselves in a setup role are Yimi Garcia, Hansel Robles, Joachim Sofia, and Richard Rodriquez (although he could be in a shared situation with Will Smith in Atlanta).  New closers that will try to hold that job are David Bednar in Pittsburgh, Jeffery Springs and/or Andrew Kittridge until Nick Anderson returns in Tampa, Ryan Finnigan for the Nationals, Tyler Clippard for Arizona, Kyle Ryan and/or Codi Heuer till Rowan Wick returns for the Cubs, Spencer Patton in Texas, and Alex Colome in Minnesota.  A better option could be Cole Sulser, who has taken over as the Orioles closer.

Looking at Week 19, three teams have the short straw with only five games; Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego and Oakland. And 13 teams have a seven-game slate while 14 will play six games.

Have a great week!

Charlie Wiegert was the sixth person to be inducted in the Fantasy Sports Hall Of Fame in 2001. He is a founder of CDM Fantasy Sports and Fantasy Sports Trade Association. He has been playing and winning fantasy baseball leagues since 1984. If you have any questions for Charlie, email them to cwiegert@cdmsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GFFantasySports.