Fantasy Baseball Trade Deadline Primer

The trade deadline is just weeks away. Instead of reacting to the news, fantasy baseball managers need to be actively preparing. The rush to the waiver wire following July 31 is always intense. New starters, new closers, and new players are about to make a significant impact on your fantasy baseball team. This article provides an analysis of some of the big moves fantasy managers should be expecting to happen before the end of July and what managers should do to prepare in the coming weeks.

Players Likely to be Impacted by Trade Deadline

The Big Fantasy Baseball Hitters

Eugenio Suarez, 3B- ARI

If you flash back to the “my guys” article from March 7, Eugenio Suarez was mentioned as the third base option fantasy managers should prioritize the most. Well, I hope you were paying attention. Suarez has exceeded even the high expectations from that article. In 95 games, Suarez has already crushed 31 home runs while batting .250. He is on pace to challenge his career-high in home runs, which was set back in 2019 with Cincinnati. Suarez has been everything fantasy managers could ask for and more this season. Now, the hope is that a trade does not impact his offensive performance.

After an exciting run to the World Series in 2023, the Diamondbacks have sunk back to mediocrity over the past two seasons. Coming out of the All-Star Break, the team sits at 47-50, 11+ games back in the division, and 5.5 games back in the Wild Card Race. While far from out of it, the general feel around the league is that this is a team likely to sell and retool for 2026. With Suarez on an expiring contract, trading him away makes the most logical sense.

There are a few big name suitors Suarez has been linked to. First, and most obvious, are the Yankees. New York has a HUGE hole at third base, which Suarez would slide into nicely. Shifting to a lineup where he could hit right behind Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger would be a nice boost to his value. Although the move to Yankee Stadium is typically glorified by fantasy managers, Arizona actually has a higher Park Factor for right-handed batters. However, New York still has a higher home run factor (119 vs. 99). According to Baseball Savant, Suarez’s xHR of 30 in Arizona is higher than his xHR of 27 in Yankee Stadium.

Chicago, Seattle, and Philadelphia have been a few other teams potentially linked to Suarez. A move to Chicago would eat into Matt Shaw’s playing time. Seattle lacks any fantasy-relevant options at third base, but a move to the least favorable park for right-handed batters would certainly not be welcomed by fantasy managers. Philadelphia would be the ideal landing spot for Suarez of these three options, as he would move to a favorable hitters park while Bryce Harper shifting back to the outfield would open up more eligibility.

Then, there is the question of who replaces Suarez in Arizona’s lineup. The most obvious candidate is Jordan Lawlar, but Lawlar is dealing with a significant hamstring injury, which is expected to keep him sidelined beyond the deadline. With Lawlar out, there is not a lot of fantasy upside in whoever replaces Suarez. If the team felt aggressive, promoting a rising prospect like LuJames Groover from Double-A would be something worth paying attention to.

Luis Robert Jr., OF- CWS

The downfall of the White Sox goes hand in hand with the downfall of Luis Robert Jr. Robert has seen his average consistently drop for the past five seasons. After peaking at .338 in 2021, his batting average has fallen to .190 this season. On a roster as porous as the White Sox’s, Robert has even struggled to maintain a starting job throughout 2025. There is not a player in all of baseball who could use a change of scenery as much as Robert could. With his base contract expiring after this season (club options the next two years), a trade at this year’s deadline feels inevitable.

While Robert has not been a positive for the White Sox this season, he is still producing value for fantasy baseball managers. In 79 games this season, Robert has hit nine homers while stealing 22 bases. His 600 PA pace this year is 18 homers and 44 stolen bases, which is nothing to scoff at. While those numbers are nice, digging in is more concerning. Robert has been dealing with injuries this season and has stolen just one base since May 27. If Robert is not running, he does not hold fantasy value.

The other issue is whether a contending team will play Robert every day. On one side of the coin, this is a player still filled with potential. He did not hit .264 with 38 homers on accident back in 2023. For a player who thrives on energy, getting out of Chicago and moving to a winning club could reenergize him and bring him back to form. The flip side to that is that Robert’s inconsistencies will not be tolerated on a team competing for the World Series. He could be moved into a part-time platoon role, which would negatively impact his fantasy value.

There are a handful of teams that Robert makes sense for in various roles. Philadelphia is an obvious landing spot as they desperately need a right-handed hitting outfielder. In Philadelphia, Robert could take away all of Max Kepler’s playing time, although the possibility of platooning the two players remains prevalent. The landing spot that fantasy managers should be pushing for is Toronto. The Jays have obvious holes all over the outfield. Nathan Lukes is a strong-side platoon player, and Joey Loperfido does not seem like a long-term answer. Getting Robert in Toronto feels like it would be a win for the Jays and fantasy managers.

From a Minor League perspective, the White Sox do not have many exciting options to replace Robert. Braden Montgomery is the closest fantasy-relevant prospect but he is in Double-A. The team promoting him to the Major Leagues seems unlikely.

Taylor Ward, OF, LAA

The Angels do not have to trade Taylor Ward. Ward is under contract through next season. He has hit 21 homers in 94 games with the Angels this year, putting him on pace to set a career-high. The Angels are also only four games out of a Wild Card spot despite losing Mike Trout for multiple weeks during the first half. However, the consensus is that Ward is likely to be moved at this year’s deadline. Where Ward lands could have major fantasy implications.

While discussing a move, fantasy managers should make note of Ward’s home/away splits. Throughout his career, Ward has been a much better hitter away from Los Angeles. On the road, Ward owns a .263/.331/.444 slash, while at home he is slashing just .232/.319/.423. The splits are even more drastic this season. In 2025, Ward has a 151 wRC+ on the road and a 63 wRC+ at home. Considering his home ballpark is extremely favorable for right-handed batters, this is a bit surprising. Even still, a move out of Los Angeles feels like a positive for Ward and fantasy managers.

Philadelphia is going to get mentioned here again as an obvious landing spot. However, this feels like a better fit for Ward and fantasy managers than Robert did. Ward would slide into Philly’s lineup nicely. Surprisingly, Philly has struggled to hit homers this year, which is an area Ward would certainly help upgrade. Ward landing in Philly would likely mean the end for Max Kepler, who has been a major disappointment in 2025.

Other potential landing spots include Toronto, San Diego, or a sneaky pick in Cincinnati. Cincinnati and Great American Ballpark could be a great fit for a slugger like Ward. On the fringe of competing, Ward would be under control for next season, which is likely more of what Cincinnati is striving for. Taking playing time away from Will Benson is nothing fantasy managers would have much of an issue with.

If Ward is moved, Matthew Lugo feels most likely to get another chance. Lugo hit .238 with three homers in 17 games earlier this season for the Angels. He has some power upside, but a suspect hit tool makes it difficult to project much fantasy relevance.

The Bullpen Shake-Out

Minnesota’s Closing Situation

The Twins do not have to sell. They currently sit at 47-49, four games out in the Wild Card hunt. However, the belief is that they are looking to move some of their bullpen pieces (in addition to potentially Joe Ryan). The high-value target for contending teams is Jhoan Duran. Duran is one of the game’s elite closers and would fit nicely in the backend of any contending bullpen. Closers always fetch a lot in return this time of year, and Duran not being a free agent until 2028 makes him even more valuable.

The biggest question is: Who steps up into the role if Duran is traded? The only other reliever on Minnesota’s roster who has saved a game this season is Cole Sands. Sands however, owns a 4.15 ERA and a strikeout rate of under 20%. He does not have typical closer stuff and would not be an attractive option for fantasy baseball managers.

Griffin Jax is the most appealing option for fantasy managers to stash. Jax is 0/4 in save opportunities this season but owns a 1.87 FIP with a strikeout rate of 37.9%. The only issue with Jax is that he has also had his name brought up in trade rumors. If both Duran and Jax are traded, a dark horse candidate to step into the closer role is former starter Louis Varland, who is performing well in a pen role this season.

New Closer in Philly

The Phillies going out to acquire a true closer feels all but inevitable. After losing Jose Alvarado to a PED suspension, the bullpen has been a mess. Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm have pitched well, but the team does not seem sold on using either one of them in a traditional closer role. The Jordan Romano signing has been a disaster, leaving the team searching for answers. If only they had a closer on the roster who could have been easily resigned after last season….

On the season, the Phillies are tied for 11th in blown saves with 16. There is a lot of value being the closer on a good Phillies team. They are going to win a lot of games, providing plenty of fantasy value. Currently, their bullpen is a mess for fantasy managers. Since Alvarado’s suspension on May 18, six different Phillies pitchers have earned saves. Strahm and Romano are tied for the lead with four each, and Kerkering has two. There just is not a lot of fantasy value with the current setup. However, if the team goes out and acquires a lockdown arm, this situation would become much more valuable.

Could San Francisco Grab a Closer

The Giants have been excellent all season. While the Dodgers and Padres grabbed the attention entering 2025, the Giants have hung tough all year. They already added Rafael Devers early on this year and appear primed to continue pushing in chips at the deadline. The bullpen has been shaky this season and could be a potential area to upgrade. A move like this could have major fantasy ramifications.

Ryan Walker started the season in the closer’s role for San Francisco. He has not been bad by any means, with a 4.10 ERA and 3.03 FIP. However, he was struggling early in the season, and the Giants made the decision to pull him out of the closer role. Camilo Doval has stepped in as the closer and is now 15/19 on save opportunities this season. While Doval’s season-long ERA of 2.95 looks nice, he has struggled as of late. Since the start of June, Doval’s ERA is 5.50 and he is walking 15.9% of the batters he has faced. That is far from a lockdown closer.

Fantasy managers counting on Doval should be prepared for the possibility of San Francisco upgrading their bullpen at this year’s deadline. The team needs relievers that they can count on. Doval in a set up role is much more reliable than counting on him to close games down the stretch. San Francisco is a winning ball club. Any closer joining the Giants would be in a good spot for the remainder of the 2025 fantasy season.

Blocked Prospects to Stash

Owen Caissie- OF, CHC

The Cubs have a full outfield. After trading for Kyle Tucker this offseason, there is really no room for any of their prospects. Seiya Suzuki is having his best season yet, and Pete Crow-Armstrong is an MVP candidate. Prospects like Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara are blocked from making an impact at the Major League level.

Alcantara has been inconsistent this season but Caissie feels like a prime player to get traded. The power-hitting outfielder has been on a tear down in Triple-A. Since the start of June, Caissie is slashing .323/.434/.719. He has 12 home runs during that time, bringing his season total up to 19. Caissie owns an average exit velocity of 92 mph with a HR/FB rate of 28.8%. The most important part of Caissie’s hot streak has been the improvements to his strikeout rate. Caissie has struggled with strikeouts throughout his professional career. However, since June 15, he is striking out only 19.7% of the time. If these improvements stick, the risk in Caissie’s profile decreases significantly.

Caissie’s fantasy value in Chicago is nonexistent. However, with his success in Triple-A, any rebuilding team would love to add Caissie to their roster. He represents an impactful Major League ready bat that any team would desire. As far as what fantasy managers can expect, the answer is home runs. Caissie has 30+ homer pop that could be huge down the stretch. The expectation should be a .240-.250 batting average with a handful of stolen bases. Think- Kyle Stowers from the right side (once Stowers’ BABIP comes down). Grabbing him now would be in a fantasy manager’s best interest.

Dylan Beavers- OF, BAL

All of the attention in Baltimore is around Samuel Basallo. Yes, Basallo is a great player to stash and has a chance to make his Major League debut in the second half of this season. However, it feels important to mention a prospect flying completely under the radar. Dylan Beavers has been sensational in Triple-A this season and is deserving of a chance in the Major Leagues this season.

After an up-and-down 2024, Beavers has been excellent in 2025. In 72 games, Beavers is slashing .310/.403/.490 with 11 homers and 20 stolen bases. This now makes it a third consecutive season of 20+ stolen bases to start Beavers’ career. Speed is certainly part of his game. Fantasy managers should expect the stolen bases to continue once Beavers is promoted. He has plus speed and has excellent baseball instincts.

The 11 home runs are nice, and Beavers has decent pop, but that is not the main part of his game. Instead, Beavers’ game is predicated on line drives and driving the ball to all fields. He profiles as a doubles monster, which is certain to help him post strong batting averages.

Ryan O’Hearn is almost certain to be traded at this year’s deadline. Ramon Laureano and Cedric Mullins are also players who feel primed to get dealt. That could leave a lot of at-bats open in Baltimore’s outfield. Beavers is the most Major League ready bat in Triple-A. Basallo may have the flash, but Beavers is the guy most likely to succeed right away.

Mick Abel- SP, PHI

Every rumor out there states that the Phillies are going to be aggressive at this year’s deadline. The only reportedly unavailable player right now is Andrew Painter. That leaves players like Mick Abel, Aidan Miller, and Justin Crawford available. Abel is the one trade piece that fantasy managers should prioritize adding heading toward this year’s deadline.

Currently, the Phillies have a full pitching rotation. Wheeler, Suarez, Sanchez, and Luzardo are locks in the rotation. Taijuan Walker is far from a lock, but reports are that Aaron Nola is set to begin a rehab assignment soon. That list does not even mention Andrew Painter. Abel simply does not have a spot. However, that does not mean he is undeserving of a Major League roster spot.

Abel posted a 5.04 ERA in six starts with the Phillies earlier this season. However, his ERA was just 2.21 through his first four starts. Some have indicated that Abel was tipping his pitches in his final two starts, which is the reason for the sudden barrage of runs against him. In his first start back in Triple-A, Abel carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Abel has a mid-90s fastball, a filthy curve, and a slider that has plus potential. This is stuff that deserves a spot in a Major League rotation. A move away from the Phillies’ organization would open up a spot for him and bring back his fantasy relevance in 2025. Stashing him now would be a wise decision.