Fantasy waiver wire: Aroldis Chapman, Eduardo Nunez enrich NL-only leagues
Fantasy owners absolutely love the trade deadline. It's the time of year when a pinata full of free talent rains down on AL- and NL-only leagues -- and we all do our best in the scramble to pick up the pieces.
So far, it hasn't disappointed. And because this season's official deadline falls on Monday, Aug. 1, there's still another round of fun coming next week after the 11th hour deals are made.
Suggested Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB) bids are based on a season-long cap of $100. If your team has a specific positional need -- especially this week -- feel free to bid even higher.
And yes, this WILL be updated throughout the weekend.
(Statistics through Thursday’s games except where noted.)
BEST BETS
RP Aroldis Chapman, Chicago Cubs
(NL: $80)
For saves, strikeouts, ERA and WHIP, no one else compares. The Cuban left-hander (1.87 ERA, 21 saves, 12.8 K/9) is at the peak of his game and can make a huge impact in the saves category down the stretch. The only drawback is that the Cubs may be so good they won't need to use him as frequently as fantasy owners might like. But NL-only owners who have the hammer have to use it here.
OF Melvin Upton Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
(AL: $65)
I wrote about Upton when the trade was announced and said it was a negative for his fantasy value. He's not guaranteed to play every day in Toronto, but he'll still be in the lineup enough to warrant a sizable bid in AL-only leagues. After all, he already has 16 homers and 20 steals. Hitting in the middle of the Jays lineup is the best situation of his career. Upton presents a tricky situation for AL-only owners with the most FAAB: Go all-in now ... or wait for someone better to come over from the NL? If you need counting stats, take the plunge.
SS Alex Bregman, Houston Astros
(AL: $55: Mixed: $60)
Here's a rare case where a player should go for more FAAB dollars in mixed formats than in an "only" league. Bregman was probably the top prospect in the minors when he was promoted on Monday. At age 22, he brings a premium hit tool with him after tearing up the minors (.306/.406/.580) this season. The only questions are how long it takes him to adjust to major league pitching -- he's hitless in his first 11 plate appearances -- and how much playing time he'll get with Carlos Correa entrenched at shortstop and Cuban signee Yuliesky Gurriel due to arrive in a week or two.
SS/3B Eduardo Nunez, San Francisco Giants
(NL: $50)
Nunez has been one of this season's biggest overachievers. He's not really as good as he seems, right? And yet he's putting up power and speed numbers that put him on par with Upton. A .296 average, 12 homers, 47 RBI, 27 steals, 49 runs scored ... Nunez's accomplishments in Minnesota might be a little tougher to duplicate with the Giants. And there's the question of playing time with 2B Joe Panik coming back off the disabled list this week and 3B Matt Duffy not too far behind. Nunez is a great addition for the Giants, but this 2016 AL All-Star is likely to disappoint his NL fantasy owners.
OF Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers
(AL: $45; Mixed: $40)
The Rangers held off promoting Gallo until they were certain Prince Fielder wouldn't be back this season. Gallo's 80-grade power has been obvious for a while, but he hasn't had an opportunity to get regular playing time in the majors. He struggled badly with the Rangers last season, hitting .204, but has improved his plate discipline in the minors. His .246/.381/.557 slash line at Class AAA.
REPLACEMENTS
OF Alex Dickerson, San Diego Padres
(NL: $20; Mixed: $15)
Dickerson was already making a move for regular playing time before the Upton trade. Now, he looks entrenched in the Padres outfield -- especially after hitting home runs in four consecutive games. As a prospect, the 26-year-old wasn't heavily hyped but he did hit .382/.425/.622 with 10 homers and 51 RBI at Class AAA El Paso. In 84 at-bats with the Padres, he's continuing to rake with a .286 average and .571 slugging percentage. He's a sneaky acquisition this week for fantasy owners who don't have a lot of FAAB to spend.
SP Tyler Skaggs, Los Angeles Angels
(AL: $20; Mixed: $10)
He was mentioned as a speculative pickup in last week's waiver column, but that was before he was lights-out in his first major league start since 2014. The 24-year-old lefty allowed just three hits in seven shutout innings against the Royals on Tuesday to cap his comeback from Tommy John surgery. Skaggs was outstanding in the minors (1.60 ERA, 0.86 WHIP in 39 1/3 innings), so his performance doesn't look like a fluke. Fantasy owners will get another look at him on Sunday vs. Boston before having to lock in their FAAB bid, but things look promising.
OF David Dahl, Colorado Rockies
(NL: $20; Mixed: $10)
Another player we speculated on last week, Dahl completed his fast track to the majors when he was promoted to Colorado on Monday. He just recently moved up to Class AAA Albuquerque and posted a .484 average and .887 slugging percentage in 62 at-bats. Dahl hit his first big-league homer on Wednesday and is 5-for-15 with a walk and six strikeouts so far. Look for the Rockies to give him regular playing time the rest of the way, especially if they end up trading Charlie Blackmon and/or Carlos Gonzalez by the deadline.
Melancon trade opens up closer's spot in Pittsburgh
NEW: RP Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates
(NL: $18; Mixed: $15)
The only reason not to bid more on the new Pirates closer is the possibility Neftali Feliz could steal a save opportunity here and there. With Mark Melancon supplanting Jonathan Papelbon in Washington after Saturday's trade, Watson will get his first chance to be the main guy in the ninth. He's posted ERAs of 2.39, 1.63, 1.91 and this year 2.66 over the past four seasons. He should be able to handle the job just fine.
SP Lucas Harrell, Texas Rangers
(AL: $8; Mixed: $4)
If you need starting pitching depth as badly as the Rangers do, feel free to pick up the former Atlanta Brave. Harrell has been solid (2-2, 3.38 ERA) and is coming off six shutout innings against Oakland on Tuesday. Now 31, he's never been a strikeout pitcher and he's only fanning 6.4 batters per nine this season so don't expect much moving to a tougher league.
NEW: OF Aaron Altherr, Philadelphia Phillies
(NL: $7; Mixed: $5)
Out all season recovering from a torn tendon sheath in his wrist, Altherr has shown both power and speed in his first two games since being activated. He went 3-for-4 with a home run on Wednesday and stole a base despite going 0-for-4 on Friday. The 25-year-old should see as much playing time as he can handle down the stretch as the Phillies get a look at their younger players.
SPECULATIVE PICKUPS
SP Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Bailey wasn't terribly impressive in his minor league rehab starts, but like Skaggs he's also coming back from Tommy John surgery. He should stick in the Reds rotation as long as he stays healthy.
SS Raul Mondesi, Kansas City Royals
Mondesi made his MLB debut on Tuesday and offers some decent speed (22-for-23 in steal attempts in the minors). He's getting a look at second base and has started three consecutive games.
SP Braden Shipley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Shipley, 24, is considered the top pitching prospect in the D'backs system and was promoted Monday for his first major league start. It didn't go too well as he allowed three homers and six earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. He had a decent 3.70 ERA at hitter-friendly Reno, so he's worth stashing in keeper leagues if you have roster space.