Jazz Chisholm (2B/OF - NYY) - The Marlins have reportedly sent Chisholm to the Yankees on Saturday in exchange for a 3 prospect package centered around catcher Agustin Ramirez. Chisholm should benefit quite a bit from the move, as not only is he changing home parks to a location that will boost HR totals by about 20% relative to loanDepot Park, but he's also moving from the 29th ranked offense to the #1 run-scoring offense in baseball. Major upgrade here for the Yankees, assuming he will somehow fit into the current 3B slot, and a major production boost is likely for Chisholm as well. Ramirez should also see a bump in value, as he is much more likely to get to the majors this season now with the state of the current Marlins catching corps. Ramirez has 20 HR and 18 SB in 87 games split between AA and AAA, and at age 22 he appears pretty close to major-league ready. I'd expect him up by the time rosters expand at the latest, and he should start for Miami, making him someone to keep an eye on in all formats despite the stronger state of catching overall this season.
Michael King (SP - SD) - King tossed his 5th straight QS on Saturday, dominating the Orioles for 6 1/3 innings to move to 9-6 on the year. I watched most of the outing, and King looked even better than the line would indicate. He only allowed 2 singles and 2 walks with both of his ER scoring after he left the game, and the 9 K's and 15 swinging strikes over 101 pitches were very indicative of the type of stuff that he had on the night. Over his past 5 starts, King has gone 30 2/3 innings and allowed just 16 hits, 6 ER, and 7 walks with 35 K's. The control issues that plagued him earlier in the year appear to be gone, and he's missing bats at a fantastic rate. His EV allowed is among the best in the league, and he has one of the easier August schedules that I can find (COL, @MIA, PIT, MIN, NYM, @TB). For me, he's a clear SP2 in 12-team leagues for the remainder of the season, and a major trade target in all formats.
Tyler Phillips (SP - PHI) - Phillips tossed a complete-game shutout against the suddenly punchless Guardians on Saturday, scattering 4 singles and a walk with 4 strikeouts. His control has been terrific since coming to Philadelphia, but as you'd expect form a guy that didn't reach the majors until his 10th professional season, there's an awful lot of luck involved here. He's been all over the place in the minors, but for the most part he's shown only average bat-missing ability and control with solid GB rates (but quite a few HRs allowed). I feel like this is primarily just a "there's no book on him yet" situation combined with a fairly easy schedule (the Braves, Pirates, and Guardians have all been bottom-10 offenses over the past month, with CLE actually dead last, while the top-ranked A's got to Phillips for 4 runs in 6 innings). The 28th-ranked Mariners are likely up next for him, so I'd keep him active for that outing, and then if your league format allows for it I'd be looking to deal him to a pitching-desperate owner before the deadline next week.
Kevin Gausman (SP - TOR) - Gausman had some of his best velocity of the season on Saturday against the Rangers, and he leveraged that into a complete-game victory while allowing 3 runs on 4 hits with 3 walks and 8 K's. This is pretty clearly not the Gausman that we've seen for the past 4 years, but this is his 3rd QS in the past 4, and he's struck out 26 while going at least 6 innings over those 4 starts. Unfortunately, the schedule gets really difficult again for Gausman over the next few weeks, with a pair of starts against either Baltimore or the Yankees. I'd be hesitant about starting him against either of those powerhouses if you have any other reasonable options. After that though, he's likely going to get a pair of starts against the Angels sandwiched around a home start against the Reds. Gausman should be able to make some hay during the latter half of August, especially if this increased velocity can be maintained....this latest outing was essentially the same type of velo that he showed for the past 4 immensely successful seasons.
Austin Hays (OF - PHI) - Hays was dealt to the Phillies on Friday for Seranthony Dominguez and Cristian Pache. This is a big upgrade for Hays, as he's going from a short-side platoon bat in Baltimore to a full-time player once again with the Phillies, and it should be a bit of a home park upgrade as well, as that newly deepened LF fence in Camden can certainly suppress some RH pull power. Hays is having the worst year of his career, but this could rekindle a bit of the below-average contact, average-plus power that we've seen in the past. Hays hit 9th in his Philly debut, going 1-4 with a run and his 1st SB of the season. Deep leagues only for now, but he could possibly sneak his way into standard league 5th OF status before too long.
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