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July 30, 2012

Resident Fantasy Genius

Rating the Fantasy Impact of the Weekend's Transactions

by Derek Carty

 Zack Greinke | Brewers to Angels | SP

Don’t let the down arrow sour you too much on Greinke; he’s still very good, just maybe not one of the absolute best fantasy pitchers in baseball anymore.  Moving to the AL generally docks a pitcher 0.50 points of ERA and 0.5 points of K/9, although he does get an upgrade in terms of his park, his offensive support, and his defensive support.  If you’ve been saving your FAAB in an AL-only league, while not a strategy I advise, you’re going to be handsomely rewarded.  Greinke is worth every penny you have left, if that’s what it takes to get him.  If your claims come before tomorrow’s deadline, don’t wait to see who else might be moved; no one better is coming along.

 Marco Estrada | Brewers | SP

With Greinke out of the picture in Milwaukee, there will no longer be a rotation crunch when Shaun Marcum returns from the DL next month.  With the way Michael Fiers has been pitching, it seemed like Estrada would be the odd man out, but no more.  Estrada is much better than his ERA indicates and is a great guy to fill out the back of a fantasy rotation in NL-only leagues.  I’d even be willing to own him in a lot of mixed leagues.

 Mark Rogers, Wily Peralta, Tyler Thornburg, and Manny Parra | Brewers | SP

With Marcum still out, the Brewers have a rotation spot up for grabs, at least in the near-term.  Former fifth-overall pick Rogers got the first crack yesterday and was very impressive: 5 2/3 IP, 2 ER, 7 K, 1 BB.  That should earn him at least one more start, giving him the chance to break away from the competition.  If he struggles, Peralta, Thornburg, and apparently Parra would all be options to replace him.