Those trade engines are fired up early for the July 30 deadline and might just make this entire piece worthless by the time those FAAB runs hit on Sunday night. Hell, just the flurry of moves in the last few days between Randy Arozarena going to Seattle, Austin Hays and Seranthony Dominguez swapping mid-Atlantic locales, and A.J Puk moving to the desert have rendered worthless some takes from this week’s Cards & Categories that covered deadline moves. (However, still check out that pod to get background on how Jeremy and I are approaching moves and overall strategy for this crucial period before the deadline day.)
But don’t fret, there are still plenty of opportunities out there. Just make sure to check MLB Trade Rumors a few times this weekend along with reading this piece, and you’ll be all good. Between this weekend and next, it’s time to also empty out those FAAB budget coffers, especially in zero-dollar bid leagues, as there aren’t likely to be significant moves to leverage post-deadline. With the tightening of the September rosters and near-elimination of the waiver trade process, the July 30 deadline is the last event to shuffle the playing time opportunities league-wide.
So with all those points in mind (I’m also assuming you took a 90-minute break to consume that C&C pod already, obviously listening to it at 1x speed to absorb every bit), let’s see what options await us for not only new opportunities but capitalizing on banking those remaining regular players on the wires.
Since things are going to change so rapidly with trades throughout the weekend, don’t hesitate to hit me with questions on pickups in the comments, Razzballers!
The stats and ownership percentages below are updated as of noon central time on 7/26.
As always, if you want advice on specific roster decisions you might have, feel free to leave a comment. You can also find me on twitter (X) (@mcouill7) and bluesky (@mcouill7.bsky.social).
CATCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Gabriel Moreno (ARI, 44% CBS Ownership) – Moreno is hitting .321 (18-for-56) since the calendar flipped to July and .278 since June 1, all while having nearly equal K and BB-rates on the season. That’s pretty much where I expected his talent level to settle as he swings an above-average (for a catcher) bat and will pace around a .275 average and 15 homers. If still holding a catcher that started hot like David Fry or Ryan Jeffers or even a scuffling veteran like Sean Murphy or Jonah Heim, it’s time to move to Moreno for the stretch run. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Bo Naylor (CLE, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Keibert Ruiz (WSN, 26% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Kyle Higashioka (SDP, 9% CBS Ownership) – In a totally normal Last 30 Days Player Rater littered with Oakland A’s at the top, Higashioka has rated as the third-best catcher for 12-teamers. He’s slashed .302/.351/.679 with six homers and 18 RBI as the Padres backstop continues swinging for the fences. Even with just a five-game slate for San Diego this upcoming week, Higashioka easily remains the best catcher add and can be rostered in 10 or 12-team leagues at this point. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Korey Lee (CHW, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jake Rogers (DET, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Freddy Fermin (KCR, 6% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ben Rortvedt (TBR, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Hunter Goodman (C/OF, COL, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
INFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Josh Bell (1B, MIA, 34% CBS Ownership) – The trade rumors haven’t started circulating Bell’s name much, but maybe because he’s too obvious of a trade candidate? The free-agent-to-be fits on plenty of rosters thanks to his switch-hitting ways, and all of those playoff-contending lineups are surely to help Bell generate more than his current 57 run, 71 RBI pace with the Fish. The towering first baseman has been hot post-All-Star break, slashing .320/.433/.680 with three bombs in 30 plate appearances, and fits perfectly in Houston or the Bronx. Bell could be a sneaky add this weekend if he settles into a nice situation on Tuesday. (1-3% FAAB)
Spencer Horwitz (1B/2B, TOR, 29% CBS Ownership) – Horwitz continues to be criminally underrated, now hitting .304 (21-for-69… nice) with two taters in July while settling in as the two-hole hitter in Toronto. The 26-year-old continues to control the strike zone, sporting nearly equal K and BB-rates (15.8% and 11.6%, respectively) with enough pop in the bat to leverage that plate approach. Given that he should qualify at 1B and 2B everywhere now, he’s a great roster piece to navigate injuries and matchups in leagues of all sizes over the next two months. (3% FAAB)
Xavier Edwards (2B/SS, MIA, 24% CBS Ownership) – I’m so excited this is finally happening. After years of being tantalized by Mr. Slapdick’s speed upside and buried in piles of his rookie cards, Edwards is making the most of his role in Miami, slashing .388/.456/.433 with five steals across 79 July plate appearances. He did run double-digit walk rates often in the minors, so while his current 13.3% clip is inflated, it’s not out-of-bounds for his skillset. If looking to make up ground in steals over the next two months, Edwards is your best opportunity since he’s going to play full-time, so feel free to be more aggressive than this suggestion. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Joey Ortiz (2B/3B, MIL, 44% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Carlos Santana (1B, MIN, 42% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Nick Gonzales (2B, PIT, 42% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Matt Vierling (3B/OF, DET, 41% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Max Schuemann (2B/SS/OF, OAK, 36% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Nolan Schanuel (1B, LAA, 35% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Juan Yepez (1B/OF, WSN, 30% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Brendan Rodgers (2B, COL, 22% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Amed Rosario (2B/3B/SS/OF, TBR, 22% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Wenceel Perez (2B/OF, DET, 20% CBS Ownership) – While Riley Greene and Colt Keith have broken out and settled into their seemingly long-term roles in Detroit, they’ve masked an impressive rookie campaign from Perez. The 24-year-old switch-hitter is regularly in the top half of the Detroit lineup, often leadoff, and is trending towards a 15/15 homer/steal season with a league-average wRC+. He’s pretty much Midwestern Luis Rengifo and should cement his role in the Motor City as a few pieces are shipped out around the deadline. (3% FAAB)
Nacho Alvarez Jr. (2B/SS, ATL, 16% CBS Ownership) – Check out the aforementioned Cards and Categories pod above and listen to B-Don and Grey’s pod from this week for all your Nacho-related news. In short, we love him around here and think he’s a fantastic Ozzie Albies Lite player, making him an add in leagues of all sizes this weekend. (5-7% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Angel Martinez (2B/OF, CLE, 19% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Rowdy Tellez (1B, PIT, 17% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Connor Norby (2B, BAL, 16% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Richie Palacios (2B/OF, TBR, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Curtis Mead (2B/3B, TBR, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ernie Clement (3B/SS, TOR, 5% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Otto Lopez (2B/3B, MIA, 3% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Vidal Brujan (2B/3B/SS/OF, MIA, 2% CBS Ownership) – Take a lot of what I was enthusiastic about with Xavier Edwards above and copy it down here. Brujan looks like he’s a few weeks behind Edwards in terms of finding his path to playing time while offering the added luxury of positional eligibilities everywhere. As the Marlins continue cleaning house, it seems like just a few days before the shuffle turns over a fullish time role for Brujan, in which he can offer maybe 75% of the value of Edwards. (3% FAAB)
Lenyn Sosa (2B/3B, CHW, 2% CBS Ownership) – Maybe Chris Getz played us all when he demoted Sosa back on July 17, which makes his two-week period before recall expire right at the deadline. Once Paul DeJong is sent out in the next few days, Sosa should walk right back into a full-time role on the Southside, where he was hitting .277 (13-for-47) this month before his demotion. (5-7% FAAB)
OUTFIELDERS
10/12 Team Adds
Jo Adell (LAA, 33% CBS Ownership) – We are a measly two steals away from MarmosDad’s bold prediction of a 15/15 season coming true… just ignore his original commentary on that .260 average. (In related news, we are also reaching territory in which my Kyle Freeland take isn’t so bad) Sure, that .194 batting average for Adell right now sticks out like a sore thumb but the 20/20 homer/steal pace along with runs and RBI in the 70’s is found gold. This is a great week to stream Adell as the Angels host six games (in one of the best hitter’s parks around) with three of those coming against a putrid Rockies pitching staff. If you lost Julio Rodriguez or Christian Yelich this week and aren’t in a dogfight for batting average, Adell might currently be your best choice to keep pace in counting categories. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Masataka Yoshida (BOS, 49% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Joc Pederson (ARI, 48% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Brandon Marsh (PHI, 48% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), J.J. Bleday (OAK, 43% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Max Kepler (MIN, 40% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB) Lars Nootbaar (STL, 39% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jacob Young (WSN, 35% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jhonkensy Noel (CLE, 24% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jake Fraley (CIN, 23% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Alek Thomas (ARI, 9% CBS Ownership) – Speaking of those park factors from the Adell blurb, peak where Chase Field has settled this season. It now rates as the third-best regular park for hitters, although it does suppress homers with an 83 park factor for longballs. However, that plays well for Thomas’ game, as he doesn’t possess world-beating power, but just enough pop and speed to pace for about 15/15 homers/steals while playing most of the time in Arizona. Mix in an upcoming stretch of series with vs. WSN, @ PIT, @ CLE, and vs. PHI, you have a solid stretch of decent matchups for Thomas to see if he can keep up his hot post-ASG stretch of .308/.357/.692 in 14 PAs. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Leody Taveras (TEX, 17% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Tommy Pham (CHW, 17% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Luke Raley (1B/OF, SEA, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Garrett Mitchell (MIL, 15% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jesus Sanchez (MIA, 14% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Victor Robles (SEA, 11% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Andrew McCutchen (PIT, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jack Suwinski (PIT, 11% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Matt Wallner (MIN, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Adam Duvall (ATL, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Eddie Rosario (ATL, 3% CBS Ownership) – With Atlanta so banged up and Ramon Laureano entering Brian Snitker’s doghouse, this is prime time for Rosario to shine. The results in his reprise with the Braves have been rough so far, a .178/.204/.333 slash in 50 plate appearances, but a seven-game week at Milwaukee for three before getting to feast on the dregs of the Marlins for four home games presents a great early buying opportunity. Rosario is such a streaky hitter, you never know when the bursts of production will come, but getting four contests against a depleted Miami staff in the peak of Atlanta summer heat feels like the best bet. (3-5% FAAB)
Corey Julks (CHW, 1% CBS Ownership) – Julks is the perfect opportunity to buy before the deadline, as he should be unleashed when Tommy Pham is moved in the next few days. The 28-year-old is a solid gamble to pace for 15/15 homers/steals and hit .230-.240 while pulling off his best 80-percent-of-Pham impression. If desperate for such a category combo player in a 15-teamer or deeper, certainly look to Julks, who should be hitting in the top half of the Sox lineup in a matter of days. (5-7% FAAB)
STARTING PITCHERS
10/12 Team Adds
Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN, 47% CBS Ownership) – It’s time to start swinging for the fences in those roto categories with two-start pitchers. I don’t know about you, but it feels like three or four wins is going to swing 5-6 roto points in most of my leagues, so every possible shot at a dub is crucial. Woods Richardson draws my favorite highly available two-step week with starts in Queens and at home against the feeble White Sox. (5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Lance Lynn (STL, 49% CBS Ownership, 3-5% FAAB), Aaron Civale (MIL, 47% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Miles Mikolas (STL, 45% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Andrew Heaney (TEX, 40% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Luis Ortiz (PIT, 39% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Alec Marsh (KCR, 35% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), David Peterson (NYM, 36% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), River Ryan (LAD, 29% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Yariel Rodriguez (TOR, 28% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Edward Cabrera (MIA, 22% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Ryne Nelson (ARI, 21% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Jake Bloss (HOU, 4% CBS Ownership) – Yes, things have been rough for Bloss thus far, but I mean, surely, you knew the scorching hot Oakland A’s were going to blow him up for four bombs in his last start and avoided him, right? Oh, he was my suggestion here last week? Whoops. I’m continuing to roll with Bloss as he’s got a brilliant two-start week with home outings scheduled against Pittsburgh and Tampa. Once his HR/FB rate, which is currently 23.8%, settles along with more grounders, Bloss should turn into a solid starter down the stretch thanks to a decent 14.5% K-BB rate. (3-5% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: Andre Pallante (STL, 19% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Kyle Freeland (COL, 12% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jonathan Cannon (CHW, 10% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Chayce McDermott (BAL, 10% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Cade Cavalli (WSN, 9% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Justin Wrobleski (LAD, 8% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Tylor Megill (NYM, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), David Festa (MIN, 8% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Randy Vasquez (SDP, 7% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
Only Team Adds
Michael McGreevy (STL, 2% CBS Ownership) – If you read this column last year, you’ll know the name of Michael McGreevy as I spent most of summer 2023 yearning for St. Louis to give this former first-rounder a chance in the rotation. Oddly, his best opportunity might arise this upcoming deadline as the Cards don’t appear keen to use him and his Rule 5 draft consideration comes up in December. The 24-year-old is a back-end starter that can eat innings a la Kyle Gibson and could provide just enough volume in a deeper league to help accrue some much needed league average-ish ERA innings. Hopefully, your NL-Only league allows you to keep players that depart for the AL because McGreevy feels like the perfect thrown-in for an Erick Fedde trade with the White Sox. (1% FAAB)
Ky Bush (CHW, 1% CBS Ownership) – I’m doubling down on anticipating those White Sox rotation shake ups, as Bush is pretty similar to McGreevy – tall, groundball-forward profile, and Rule 5 eligible in December – with slight tweaks (second rounder, southpaw). All of the coming Getz moves in Chicago should free a 40-man spot for Bush to debut on the Southside soon. (1-3% FAAB)
RELIEVERS
10/12 Team Adds
Daniel Hudson (LAD, 47% CBS Ownership) – Hudson looks like the anointed closer in Tinseltown for now as Evan Phillips has been putrid this month, pitching to a 9.39 ERA in 7.2 innings while allowing four homers. I’ll be honest, the Dodgers bullpen is a very fluid situation and likely adds an arm like the next guy to be blurbed here. So keep an eye on all trade rumors regarding Andrew Friedman in the next few days because right now Hudson is worthy of this FAAB bid, but a new acquisition could easily push him back to a solid-middle-reliever type on a dime. (3-5% FAAB)
Yimi Garcia (TOR, 33% CBS Ownership) – Garcia is likely to be moved in the next few days and has plenty of bullpens (Dodgers, Royals, Reds, D-backs?, Orioles?) in which his 2.64 FIP and 12.6 K/9 will make him the best reliever of the bunch. And if he doesn’t move, also fine, because he’s closing in Toronto as long as he’s around because the Blue Jays have no incentive to rush Jordan Romano back this season. (3-5% FAAB) (Editor’s Note: He sure moved, and with Seattle also trading Stanek, I think that leaves Yimi as the guy in Seattle and Chad Green the guy in Toronto. Peep JKJ’s BULLPEN CHART to keep up to date on all the bullpen movement.)
QUICK HITS: Griffin Jax (MIN, 31% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Chad Green (TOR, 25% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), Yennier Cano (BAL, 24% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Jason Adam (TBR, 22% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Hunter Harvey (KCR, 20% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB)
15 Team Adds
Andrew Nardi (MIA, 2% CBS Ownership) – Peter Bendix jumped the gun early on the deadline, dealing A.J. Puk for Deyvison De Los Santos on Thursday. I thought Puk would look fantastic as Miami’s closer but can’t complain about the Marlins for shipping him out to acquire the power-hitting De Los Santos. Tanner Scott is surely the next reliever dealt in South Florida, leaving an open path to saves for the Nard Dawg. Invest this weekend at a lower price before it shoots through the roof post-deadline when it’s clearly evident Nardi is the No. 1 choice for saves in a subpar Miami bullpen. (3% FAAB)
QUICK HITS: A.J. Puk (ARI, 20% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ryan Walker (SFG, 19% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), David Robertson (TEX, 19% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Luke Weaver (NYY, 16% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Jeremiah Estrada (SDP, 14% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Ben Joyce (LAA, 12% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Lucas Erceg (OAK, 6% CBS Ownership, 3% FAAB), John Brebbia (CHW, 4% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB), Shelby Miller (DET, 4% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Porter Hodge (CHC, 2% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Robert Garcia (WSN, 1% CBS Ownership, 1-3% FAAB), Derek Law (WSN, 1% CBS Ownership, 1% FAAB)
