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5 Burning Questions (Fantasy Baseball)

5 Burning Questions (Fantasy Baseball)

As MLB’s trade deadline approaches and fantasy managers prepare for the stretch run, let’s take a look at five burning questions from around the league.

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Does moving to the Mets change Marcus Stroman’s value?
Given that absolutely no one expected Marcus Stroman to go to a team out of contention, most people would probably look at this question and immediately say no. However, let’s simply compare the Mets to the Blue Jays. First, the Mets are 11.5 games ahead of the Blue Jays. The offenses in the NL East, while good, can’t quite stack up to those of the AL East. Stroman undoubtedly gets an upgrade there. Moving on, we can’t ignore the fact that Stroman is pumped to pitch in his home state. He already seemed rejuvenated heading into this year, but maybe this change gives him even more of a boost. So yes, owners might not be jumping up and down about Stroman going to the dysfunctional Mets, but the situation really shouldn’t be as bad as most people may think.

Will Domingo Santana be useful the rest of the season?
Up until July, Domingo Santana had been a fantasy darling. That’s why his frigid cold streak coming out of the All-Star break was surprising. Then, it came out that he was dealing with an elbow injury that sidelined him for a few days. In the midst of all that, trade rumors began swirling around him. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman linked him to Cleveland and Tampa Bay.

All of that leaves a giant question mark, and a headache, for owners to worry about down the stretch. Bottom line, Santana has done nothing unsustainable this season. His .360 BABIP might seem high, but that is actually spot on with his career average. He’s fought through the injury and still currently ranks as a top-100 player. So what do owners have to worry about? Nothing. He’s back and seemingly healthy, and he’s put up his numbers on a terrible Seattle team. If he gets traded, great; he’ll be in a much better situation. If he doesn’t, no worries. There’s no reason to believe he won’t finish this season as good as he started it. 

Which potential closers should be added in every league with the trade deadline looming?

Aaron Bummer (CWS)
Alex Colome seems like just as good of a bet as any closer to get traded at the deadline. On top of that, Aaron Bummer may very well be the best replacement candidate to anyone who might get dealt. Scoop him up immediately if he’s still available. 

Joe Jimenez (DET)
Jimenez hasn’t been very good, but he’s not far removed from being highly touted as the Tigers’ next closer. A closer is a closer, and if Shane Greene gets dealt, it should be Jimenez’s job.

Seth Lugo (NYM)
If Aaron Bummer isn’t the best reliever on this list, then the honor has to go to Seth Lugo. Like Bummer, Lugo would close on a team that should present him with at least a few save chances. Edwin Diaz remains a decent candidate to get traded despite the Mets acquiring Stroman. In that event, Lugo would be a great closing option.

Daniel Hudson (TOR)
Hudson may very well get traded alongside Ken Giles. If he does, the closing honors in Toronto would be anyone’s guess, and that person may not even be worth owning except in deep leagues. If Giles gets traded and Hudson does not, he should be a quality closer the rest of the season.

Can Xander Bogaerts keep up his pace the rest of the season?
Yes, yes, and more yes. Seriously though, if you still believed in that massive upside scouts always talked about and drafted Bogaerts because of it, great work. Let’s give his sustainability a quick run through. Bogaerts doesn’t strike out a ton. His HR/FB rate is a more than sustainable 17%. His BABIP is within 17 points of his career average. He’s hardly made any soft contact. To sum it up, none of Bogaerts’ numbers are a fluke. He’s playing in a good lineup and enjoying a great season. Owners should keep enjoying it, too. 

How worried should owners be about Max Scherzer?
Back injuries can be tricky; just ask anyone who has rostered Clayton Kershaw over the last few years. And while drafters surely had to love picking Max Scherzer up until a few weeks ago, they can’t be stoked about him hitting the IL for the second time this month. Here’s the good news: Scherzer was reportedly ready to pitch through the injury. While that’s encouraging, that doesn’t mean the Nationals will rush him back if the injury doesn’t heal in 10 days. Manager Davey Martinez has already alluded to that, saying Scherzer will build up his strength first. Owners shouldn’t hit the panic button, but be ready to be without Scherzer for the next several weeks.

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Alex Altmix is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Alex, check out his archive or follow him @Altmix_23.

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