On July 19, the Chicago White Sox traded former All-Stars Todd Frazier and David Robertson, along with reliever Tommy Kahnle, to the New York Yankees. In return, Chicago received the 29th ranked prospect by MLB.com Blake Rutherford, struggling reliever Tyler Clippard and two prospects: Former first round pick Ian Clarkin and outfielder Tito Polo.
For the Yankees, they are in clear win now mode after moving one of their top five prospects in a deal to bolster both their lineup and bullpen.
On the other hand, the White Sox are continuing their fire sale. According to MLB.com, they now have 10 prospects within the top 100: Yoan Moncada (1), Eloy Jimenez (8), Michael Kopech (11), Luis Robert (23), Lucas Giolito (28), Blake Rutherford (29), Reynaldo Lopez (35), Carson Fulmer (58), Dylan Cease (62) and Zack Collins (67).
Todd Frazier
Frazier, who was surrounded by trade rumors all season, has finally been dealt to the New York Yankees.
Coming off of a 40-home run year in 2016, it is fair to say Frazier has been quite a disappointment this season. The 31-year-old is currently batting .201 with 16 home runs and 44 RBIs.
He will presumably bat in bottom third of the order in New York, which doesn’t bode well for his fantasy value, although his BABIP is a minuscule .209, so some positive regression in his batting average seems inevitable. Also, his discipline at the plate is improved from 2016, as he is striking out less and walking more.
Frazier’s value is trending upward, but not necessarily because of the change in scenery.
David Robertson
The Yankees’ bullpen was in desperate need of a dependable arm, as closer Aroldis Chapman currently has his highest ERA ever with 3.65 while setup man Dellin Betances is walking an astronomical 7.29 batters per nine innings.
Robertson will be a perfect fit in the seventh or eighth inning in between Betances and Chapman. He will also presumably be second in line for save opportunities. The 32-year-old is heading back to New York after departing during free agency in 2014.
If your league only counts saves, Robertson will lose a significant amount of value, although if your league counts holds, Robertson value will be increased as he is now in a setup role for a contending team.
Yoan Moncada
With Todd Frazier heading to New York, Chicago opted to fill the void with the number one ranked prospect in the MLB. Moncada made his White Sox debut on July 19, playing second base and batting sixth.
The 22-year-old seems to be heavily overvalued in fantasy terms, as he was striking out at a 28 percent clip in Triple-A and was only batting .282 with a .379 BABIP. Moncada’s potential is duly recognized, although I can’t see him being relevant in standard redraft formats this season.
In dynasty and keeper formats, his value is much higher as he is a five-category producer that is sure to improve his strikeout rate over time.
Blake Rutherford
The 18th overall pick in the 2016 draft is making his way to Chicago to join the most talented minor league system in the MLB.
As a 19-year-old, Rutherford batted .351 in rookie ball. In 2017, he was called-up to Single-A and batted .281 with 30 RBIs in 71 games. If he continues to find success, it shouldn’t be long until he reaches the Double-A level.
He has drawn comparisons to David Justice because of his size and skill set, as he stands 6-foot-3 weighing 195 pounds, while also possessing raw power and speed. He will be a highly sought after fantasy asset as he climbs the minor league ladder.
Featured image by MLB.com
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