Fantasy Baseball Risers And Fallers – Trade Edition
Less than a week after trading for their ace, it looks like the Cincinnati Reds have acquired their new closer. Starter Travis Wood has been traded to the Chicago Cubs for dynamic reliever, Sean Marshall. It’s an intriguing trade, and it solidifies the Reds as the front runner in the weakened NL Central. Let’s take a look at how this trade affects the value of these two pitchers for your fantasy squad.
Sean Marshall – Since 2010, there hasn’t been a better reliever in baseball than Marshall. The Southpaw ranks first among relievers with 80 innings with 5 WAR, backed up by a 2.45 ERA (2.07 FIP), a strikeout rate over 10K/9, a walk rate of 2.51 BB/9, and a 54.9% GB rate. In other words, he does everything you want out of a late game reliever – he limits the walks, strikes out a ton of hitters, and keeps the ball on the ground. That last part will be important, as Cincinnati’s home to one of the best hitters parks in the game.
He’s found a new life in his role as a reliever, allowing him to reach 91 MPH on his fastball. Marshall is effective against both left and right handed hitters, meaing he won’t be limited to the typical LOOGY role. The 30 year old is a pending free agent at the season’s end, so it will be interesting to see how the Reds use him. The Reds closer, Fransisco Cordero, is a free agent, meaning that they could try Marshall out in the closers role. The Cubs never gave him that opportunity, and withChicagobeing in a rebuild mode it makes sense to flip Marshall now.Marshall has the tools to become an elite closer, and could end up as one of the better bargains in the game.
Fantasy Prediction: 2.45 ERA, 84 strikeouts, 5 Wins, 1.13 WHIP, 35 saves.
Travis Wood – There was a good chance Wood wouldn’t have even made the major league roster in 2012 before the Latos trade, so the move to Chicago provides some hope that he’ll remain in the majors. The southpaw struggled in 2011, throwing just over 100 innings with a 4.84 ERA. As an extreme flyball pitcher, he wasn’t likely to have much success in Cincinnati. Of course, it doesn’t help that his strikeout rate dropped while he walked more hitters.
The move to Chicago should benefit Wood in the long run. He’ll have a guaranteed role, and play in a better ballpark. However, he might still struggle in the short term, as the Reds had one of the best defences in the majors, while the Cubs were in the middle of the pack. Regardless, it’s a solid pickup for the Cubs, as they get 4+ years of service out of a potential middle of the rotation starter for their set up man
Fantasy Prediction – 10 wins, 4.50 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 130 Ks.
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