Recent Trade

July 26, 2011: The Nationals announced that they have acquired Jonny Gomes and cash considerations from the Reds for outfielder Bill Rhinehart and left-hander Chris Manno. The Nationals have been searching for a CF who can lead off so this trade seems slightly strange to me. Gomes has never played an inning in center nor is he a lead-off hitter.

(Impact: Gomes may be used slightly more than he has been in Cincinnati. He has played in half of the Reds games and is batting just over the Mendoza line. He does have power and some speed but is primarily a platoon/pinch hitter; and by pinch hitter he is awful. He is 0 for 15 with 10Ks in that role. This may take away at-bats from both Lance Nix and Jerry Hairston Jr. but both were fringe candidates for playing time in fantasy anyway.)

July 20, 2011: The Tigers have acquired Wilson Betemit from the Royals for prospects Antonio Cruz and Julio Rodriguez.

(Impacts-Brandon Inge gets sent down if/when he clears waivers. The Tigers stated they were looking for a little offensive help. Well “little” is the key word. Betemit is hitting .281 in just over 200 ABs this season with a horrible K-rate nearing 30%. The career journeyman/platoon/bench player is not worth owning in any league due to his lack of power, speed and contact rate.)

July 19, 2011: The Giants acquired Jeff Keppinger from the Astros for right-handed pitchers Henry Sosa and Jason Stoffel.

(Impacts-Keppinger can play anywhere in the infield but has been a mainstay at 2B for the ‘Stros since returning from a foot injury in May. Hitting over .300 on the year he is a good contact man with little power and no speed.  He has a K-rate of less than 6% and an above average OBP. For SF he will hit lower in the order so actually losing a little value.)

July 13, 2011: The New York Mets traded Francisco Rodriguez to the Milwaukee Brewers for 2 players to be named later from a group of 5 candidates. These players will be moved sometime in September to the Mets.
(Impacts – Francisco Rodriguez loses significant value, he will not close games therefore losing saves. If you are in a Holds league he still has great value. John Axford may occasionally lose a Save but his value remains high. Jason Isringhausen and Bobby Parnell will battle for the Saves in NY, personally I feel Izzy will get the first cal but both are worth owning if you have the space on your roster.)

July 12, 2011: The Toronto Blue Jays traded Juan Rivera to the Los Angeles Dodgers.     (Impacts – Juan Rivera will gain in LF for LA and maybe a look at 1B if he hits and Loney continues to struggle. James Loney will lose a few Abs every week with the arrival of Rivera, and Tony Gwynn Jr become useless. Personally, I would not roster a single one f these players except for in very deep leagues.)