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Today’s Headlines
Trades, Trades, and More Trades
With the deadline approaching this afternoon, Monday was jam-packed with teams making moves. Jeff Passan Day, as it is known around my apartment. Below is a summary of the last 24 hours of activity and a highlight of some of the more interesting fantasy implications.
- Royals acquired Michael Lorenzen from Rangers for prospect Walter Pennington.
- Red Sox acquired Quinn Priester from Pirates for prospect Nick Yorke.
- The Cardinals, White Sox, and Dodgers made a three-way trade that sent Erick Fedde to St. Louis, Tommy Edman, and Michael Kopech to Los Angeles with Chicago netting prospects Miguel Vargas, Alexander Albertus and Jeral Perez.
- The Mariners acquired Justin Turner from the Blue Jays.
- The Guardians acquired Lane Thomas from the Nationals.
- The Astros acquired Yusei Kikuchi from the Blue Jays for Joey Loperfido, Will Wagner, and Jake Bloss.
- The Dodgers acquired Amed Rosario from the Rays.
- The Brewers acquired Frankie Montas from the Reds.
- The Pirates acquired Jaleen Beeks from the Rockies for prospect Luis Peralta, the brother of Freddy Peralta.
- Atlanta acquired Jorge Soler and Luke Jackson from San Fransisco.
Impact: The Royals get the pitching help they need, especially with Cole Ragans blowing past his career high in workload and facing a bit of a recent decline in velocity. There’s plenty of discussion around the three-way deal, many saying the White Sox did not get enough back for what they sent out given the market. Nonetheless, the Cardinals bolster their starters and LA gets help in the bullpen while they wait for Edman’s return. Guardians adding Lane Thomas is great for Thomas as a player, but probably not for fantasy purposes, he will be hitting much lower in the lineup in Cleveland. Yusei Kikuchi commanded a high price, but he might be the best starter traded this year. There’s no promise that Tarik Skubal or Garrett Crochet get moved, and the Astros needed help – Kikuchi has been a bit unlucky and still has great stuff for a lefty. This move should be a boon for Kikuchi in fantasy, he should do well moving from a strong AL East to the weak AL West. The NL Central bolstered their pitching with Montas moving in-division from the Reds and the Pirates adding to their bullpen with Jaleen Beeks. Finally, we should see former World Series MVP Jorge Soler get great opportunities as he returns to Atlanta, they also added a solid arm to the bullpen in Luke Jackson and the move gives Atlanta a much better chance to hold on to the wildcard spot in the National League.
James McCann Plays Through Pitch To Face
(Warning – Blood) Pretty gruesome one to watch, and not for the feint of hart – James McCann took a direct shot to the face on Monday afternoon. There was no missing it, no other games were on as the Orioles and Blue Jays played in the first game of their doubleheader. It was the bottom of the first inning and McCann took a 95mph fastball directly to the face. It didn’t look like the pitch caught even a bit of the helmet as it curled in to catch him beneath the eye and on the side of the nose. McCann was down, bleeding profusely through towels being applied by the medical staff – but still stayed in the game, took his base, and played on.
James McCann is a legend for this. pic.twitter.com/C6FBFVqF9a
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 29, 2024
Record Books Tired Of Paul Skenes Already
He’s at it again. With every time Paul Skenes takes the mound, another milestone in greatness is achieved. It’s an incredible joy to watch Skenes pitch, and within the first batter, you are reminded again of just how dominant he is. With just his 13th start Skenes crossed the 100 strikeout mark, the first pitcher to do so in over a decade and just the second this century. It should also be noted that Masahiro Tanaka was about four years older than Skenes. It is utterly ridiculous that Skenes has done this after being at the college level just last year. We may never see such an ascent again. He is the most dominant pitcher in the league currently.
Paul Skenes is the 6th pitcher with 100+ strikeouts in his 1st 13 career app (since at least 1901), joining:
1995 Hideo Nomo: 119
1998 Kerry Wood: 118
1955 Herb Score: 107
1983 Jose DeLeon: 106
2014 Masahiro Tanaka: 103 https://t.co/sbuSNmLApF— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 30, 2024
White Sox Also Break Record With Loss Streak
Womp womp. Fifteen straight losses for the White Sox. Fifteen! It is such a shame how poorly managed this Chicago team is, from the top to the bottom, the way the organization has been handled recently leaves many on the sidelines thinking they could do a better job if they were handed the controls. This one came in dramatic fashion as Chicago had a lead late at home and still could not hold on against the Royals. The worst part is, they already had a 14-game losing streak this season…
The Chicago White Sox blow their 27th save of the season on Bobby Witt Jr.'s grand slam, and just like that, the White Sox set a franchise record with their 15th consecutive loss.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 30, 2024
Best Moments From Yesterday
Go-Ahead Grand Slam for Bobby Witt Jr.
Sure, it wasn’t a fun time for anyone who’s a fan of the team out of the South Side of Chicago, but the Royals were having fun. Bobby Witt Jr. is going to potentially do the impossible, and make the AL MVP race interesting. A go-ahead grand slam in the late innings of the game is one way to do exactly that. This is just cinema.
BOBBY WITT JR.
GO-AHEAD SLAM 🤯 pic.twitter.com/OwdVAycXLK
— MLB (@MLB) July 30, 2024
Oh yeah, and then he closed out the game with a mean defensive play at short to get the final out. What can’t this kid do?
Bobby Witt Jr. ICE COLD to end the game 🥶 pic.twitter.com/REYj3PfNw5
— MLB (@MLB) July 30, 2024
Double Dinger Night For Aaron Judge
As if not to be outdone, the guy Bobby Witt Jr. is attempting to compete with for the AL MVP hit two home runs in Philly against the best team in the National League. Judge hit the first off Zack Wheeler in the first frame to give the Yankees an early lead and capped off the monumental 14-4 by adding a second slam in the 7th.
Double the dingers, double the fun. @TheJudge44 🫡🫡 pic.twitter.com/A2deb1SXs1
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 30, 2024
At 39 home runs and 99 RBI through the end of July, I’m not sure anyone can catch him – but what a privilege to get to watch the talent level these players are at currently. Baseball is in a great spot.
Pinch Hit Walk-Off Home Run Caps Snakes Comeback
The Diamondbacks were losing eight-to-two when I fell asleep, so imagine my surprise when I woke up to a win for Arizona. The Snakes put on a seven-run show over the final three innings, including a five-run bottom of the ninth to walk off the game. Corbin Caroll – who was not in the starting lineup – entered with a man on and one out and delivered the game-winning slam.
CORBIN CARROLL PINCH-HIT WALKOFF HOME RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/923dqFuPzY
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 30, 2024
Ketel Marte also played an integral part with his own home run in the inning. If Arizona starts to get more production from the young Carroll, they could, once again, put on a late-season Cinderella run.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Christian Walker (ARI) was removed from Monday’s game against the Nationals due to oblique tightness, further testing is needed.
⚾ Francisco Alvarez (NYM) was held from the Mets lineup due to shoulder soreness.
⚾ Ji Hwan Bae (SDP) left from Monday’s action early due to knee discomfort.
⚾ MRI on Reynaldo López’s (ATL) elbow came back clean, he’s considered day to day.
⚾ Trevor Megill (MIL) was placed on the 15-day IL with a lower back injury
⚾ Randy Arozarena (SEA) collided with a wall and was removed from Monday’s game, he’s considered day-to-day and expected to play on Tuesday.
⚾ Jon Gray was placed on the 15-day IL with a groin injury, he is expected to miss up to a month.
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
“feint of hart” would mean a movement a deer makes to fake out an adversary. “faint of heart” however is a bit more appropriate.