Trades provide boost
THOUGH everyone was well aware the waiver trade deadline was set to pass as the calendar flips to September, few people expected to see the flurry of activity witnessed Thursday night.
The AL West-leading Astros bolstered their roster with the addition of Justin Verlander and Cameron
Maybin, and the Angels added offensive pieces in hope of securing a wild-card spot. Though both teams increased their chances of success this season, fantasy owners were the real winners of the day.
Despite a less-favorable shift in park factors for Verlander, his move to a contending team boosts his fantasy value. He may not be in vintage form, but he is an intense competitor who always seems to elevate his game when the stakes are high.
For Maybin, the move is lateral, though there is some upside. He gets a favorable shift in park factors which could help his power output, and though the Astros aren’t as aggressive on the bases as the Angels were, they still rank in the top 10 in both stolen bases and attempts. Maybin should remain in a time-share, but he is expected to see more at-bats now than he has recently.
In their push for a playoff spot, the Angels also are providing a boost for fantasy owners. They replaced Maybin with a much better player in Justin Upton and also added veteran second baseman Brandon Phillips. Both players leave downtrodden clubs and should find rejuvenation and a fantasy value increase with the excitement of a playoff run.
In addition, their presence in the lineup also bolsters the value of players like Mike Trout, Andrelton
Simmons and Kole Calhoun. When the offense catches fire, it also benefits the pitchers, and if that should lead to more wins and saves, fantasy owners are happy. All eyes may be on the September call-ups, but you may be able to gain an advantage with the forgotten veterans of the AL West.
Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 4-6 p.m.