The 2026 MLB trade deadline has now passed, with contending teams (hopefully) wheeling and dealing to get what they needed to add before 6 p.m. ET on Monday. Find out the fantasy baseball implications as a result of the major wheeling and dealing below.
The biggest domino, of course, fell late Saturday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers. Other big names that ended up not getting moved include Mason Miller, Hunter Goodman and Byron Buxton.
Every season's trade deadline has its own unique set of answers and repercussions. Eric Karabell and Tristan H. Cockcroft have analyzed and provided an outlook for all of the key players on the move, as well as new opportunities that may arise from those left behind now that all the dust has settled.
Note: Not every transaction warranted the attention of fantasy managers, but for those trades that did merit analysis, you'll find them listed below.
San Diego Padres trade for SP Casey Mize
Cockcroft (Aug. 3): Continuing to fortify their rotation, the Padres picked up a solid arm in Mize, if not the ace-caliber type he was projected to be when he was selected first overall in the 2018 draft. Mize broke through in 2025, his sixth MLB season (fifth when excluding his 2023 wiped out by injury), and he improved his ratios even more this season -- to 2.70 (ERA) and 0.99 (WHIP). That said, his expected ERA was more than a quarter-run higher (3.07), and his fastball has lost a tick-plus off where it was last season, which is a concern for him being able to maintain those numbers.
Fortunately, Mize lands in San Diego's Petco Park, one of the game's most pitcher-friendly environments. He'll see a good number of plus-matchups the rest of the way, so regression probably won't hit him nearly as hard as one might fear, especially if his velocity rebounds in any way. Mize does, by the way, have a 3.23 ERA in seven starts since returning from an adductor injury.
Consider the right-hander to be a potential top-50 fantasy starter on the high end, which isn't a huge stretch considering he's 61st in fantasy points among starting pitchers.
Cleveland Guardians trade for SP Foster Griffin
Karabell (Aug. 3): Griffin, 31, might have been a legitimate contender for NL Rookie of the Year honors with the Nationals, entering his most recent start with a 2.76 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Then he allowed six runs at Atlanta last week, and his ERA jumped to 3.06. Even now, the softer-tossing lefty who spent the past three seasons in Japan boasts the 16th-most fantasy points among starting pitchers -- and most pitchers thrive under the tutelage of Cleveland's coaches.
Griffin, who has outpitched his FIP (4.09) all season, remains worthy of a spot in ESPN fantasy leagues, even though he leaves the team leading the big leagues in runs scored to join the team that ranks 29th. Griffin figures to replace fellow LHP Joey Cantillo in the rotation, even though the occasionally tantalizing Cantillo boasts the better strikeout rate and FIP. Griffin offers the rotation more length, though.
Just be careful if Griffin shows signs of struggling in the coming weeks. It may signal that he simply can't overcome his peripherals for an entire season.
New York Yankees trade for OF Heliot Ramos
Cockcroft (Aug. 3): Ramos addresses a serious roster need for the Yankees, whose .284 wOBA and 26.6% strikeout rate from their right-handed hitters since the beginning of June are second- and fourth-worst in the majors. He'll serve as at minimum a left field platoon mate, probably with Spencer Jones moving to right field in place of Jasson Dominguez on those days, but in all likelihood the Yankees regard him a near-regular where Jones and Dominguez will divide up the days on which they sit for him.
Ramos doesn't improve the Yankees' defense at all and, by acquiring both him and Luis Garcia Jr., the team has taken a step backward in that regard, which is a slight concern for their pitchers. It's not enough to change the fantasy values of Cam Schlittler, Max Fried or Gerrit Cole, but if a missed play or three costs any of them a run against their ERA, it shouldn't surprise.
Getting out of Oracle Park, meanwhile, for Yankee Stadium's much more hitter-friendly environment, should help Ramos' overall fantasy appeal. He'll need to raise his fly-ball rate to closer to the 27% mark he had in 2024, rather than the 22% it is this year, but there could be a decent home run stretch in his future, perhaps even enough to double his season total of eight. AL-only managers would do well to place a sneaky claim, in the range of 10% to 15% of seasonal FAB, to secure his services. The best-case scenario could even see Ramos as a clear roster-worthy daily play in standard leagues.
Jones' and Dominguez's values decline with the move, and there's a very real chance that one is headed for the minors if a prolong slump is in their immediate future. After all, the Yankees keep saying that Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton are on the mend, though I see Ramos' and Garcia's acquisitions and seriously doubt that any of that trio will contribute a whole lot over the remaining regular-season games.
Chicago Cubs trade for SP Clay Holmes
Karabell (Aug. 3): Holmes, 33, last pitched in an MLB game on May 15 when a Spencer Jones line drive broke his fibula. He made numerous rehab starts for the Mets, but his next outing should come in the majors for the Cubs. Don't underestimate Holmes in fantasy. He won 12 games with a 3.53 ERA for last season's Mets, when he was the No. 51 fantasy scorer among starting pitchers.
Even this season, in nine starts, he has managed a 2.39 ERA and a 56% ground ball rate. Only one qualified starting pitcher (Cristopher Sanchez) has a higher ground ball rate. Holmes should thrive for the Cubs. He is rostered in merely 18.8% of ESPN standard leagues, so expect him to become more popular over the coming weeks.
Houston Astros trade for OF Daulton Varsho
Karabell (Aug. 3): Varsho, 30, remains a defensive stalwart in center field. Perhaps that is all the Astros really desire from the former Blue Jay, but he is not having a strong season at the plate. Varsho hit four home runs in April, three in a four-day span. He has homered a mere three times since then and he delivered a sad .205/.241/.241 line in July. He's making more contact than ever, but the lack of power and walks has him barely a top 75 outfielder in ESPN standard points leagues. We have seen Varsho matter more in fantasy. He hit 20 home runs last season. He can steal a base. Perhaps he will improve at the plate while hitting near the bottom of the Astros lineup. Perhaps.
Pittsburgh Pirates trade for RP Luke Weaver
Cockcroft (Aug. 3): Weaver has become one of baseball's better (and more underrated) relievers since joining the New York Yankees in mid-2023, when he worked with Matt Blake to fine-tune his pitch repertoire. Since the beginning of 2024, he ranks 14th in fantasy points accrued in relief -- despite the fact that every pitcher ahead of him on said list has at least 34 more saves than he does over that time. Weaver's 13 regular-season saves, however, as well as the additional four he recorded as the Yankees closer during their 2024 run to the World Series, demonstrate that he has the experience to handle the high-pressure role.
The Pirates have been mixing and matching the ninth this season, with Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery most recently handling the closer chores, but Weaver is a considerably better fit for the role than either. We'll see whether the Pirates agree, but Weaver has an 0.28 ERA and a 31.1% strikeout rate since the beginning of May, so it shouldn't require much of a competition. Suffice to say, go get Weaver right now in your fantasy leagues if you're in need of saves!
Boston Red Sox trade for C Adley Rutschman
Karabell (Aug. 3): Rutschman, 28, remains on the IL due to left wrist inflammation, but that isn't expected to keep him sidelined much longer. Such is the pressing need the Red Sox have for a front-line catcher. Boston catchers are hitting only .224 with just five home runs this season. Rutschman is batting .251/.331/.433 with eight home runs, though his line is far less impressive since May 1 at .218/.309/.362 with four home runs.
Rutschman draws walks and, that is why, despite missing time with multiple injured list stints, only 10 catcher-eligible options have more ESPN fantasy points. Moving within the division from the Baltimore Orioles to the Red Sox might help with production because it is a better lineup (especially in the past month), but that doesn't guarantee health.
Tampa Bay Rays trade for C/1B/DH Liam Hicks
Karabell (Aug. 3): Hicks, 27, was surprisingly interesting as a rookie for fantasy purposes last season when he played enough and drew enough walks to end up as a top-20 scorer at catcher. He has been much better this season, among the toughest to strike out in baseball, hitting for more power, and Ben Rice is the only catcher with more points. A left-handed hitter, Hicks has not hit left-handed pitching at all, so the Rays might platoon him more than the Marlins were, but that's OK for fantasy if Hicks keeps slugging and walking versus right-handers. This trade should not hurt his fantasy value.
San Diego Padres trade for SP Robbie Ray
Cockcroft (Aug. 3): Ray's 13-year MLB career has had its share of extreme ups and downs -- he won the 2021 AL Cy Young Award and had 433 fantasy points in 2017 but posted a horrendous 6.62 ERA during the COVID-shortened 2020. Still, on the whole, he has been a plenty helpful fantasy option over the years. Even this season, he's on pace for 349 fantasy points, only 21 shy of last year's total despite the fact that his 20.9% strikeout rate is his lowest in any year in which he has pitched at least 30 innings.
Ray's slower fastball velocity -- he's averaging just 93.2 mph with it this year, his lowest in any qualified season since 2019 -- and lightened usage of his slider have a lot to do with the strikeouts decline. Whether either recovers in San Diego is a valid question, but he'll at least maintain a favorable park factor, which is important considering how excellent he was in his home games in similarly favorable pitchers' parks such as Safeco Field in Seattle (3.07 career ERA there) and Oracle Park in San Francisco (3.41) that he once called home.
Ray needs to be in every fantasy lineup for his Petco starts and, though the Padres have a Coors Field series remaining (Sept. 14-17), they play quite a few more road series in pitcher-friendly parks (@NYM, Aug. 17-19; @TB, Aug. 28-30; @SF, Sept. 11-13). He should remain a pretty handy fantasy option -- as he has to this point by ranking 38th in points among starting pitchers.
Cleveland Guardians trade for OF Jo Adell
Karabell (Aug. 3): Adell, 27, hit .239 with 16 home runs for the Los Angeles Angels. He also drew only 16 walks over those four months. This does not typically make for a valuable points-league option, but Adell is the No. 49 outfielder in ESPN standard points formats. That's, well, something. It was better last season when he hit 37 home runs with 33 walks and he was the No. 33 outfielder, though barely a top-100 hitter.
This is what Adell is -- and he offers some value in both real life and fantasy, but the Guardians might not care about the low on-base percentage like fantasy managers do. They need power, and Adell, while not on pace for close to 37 blasts, has more home runs than any current Guardians player. That's telling. Adell is rostered in 33.3% of ESPN leagues. Good for Cleveland, but this trade should not spike Adell's fantasy value.
Seattle Mariners trade for OF/DH Taylor Ward
Cockcroft (Aug. 3): Seeking to beef up an offense that ranks 28th in runs per game for the season (4.02), the Mariners acquired Ward, the No. 29 outfielder in terms of fantasy points scored, from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for reliever Alex Hoppe and prospects Harrison Kreiling and Brock Moore. Ward should take over as the Mariners' regular right fielder, moving Dominic Canzone to DH and Victor Robles and Rob Refsnyder to the bench.
Ward has been perennially underrated in fantasy leagues over the years, with three seasons of at least 300 fantasy points scored (2022, 2024, 2025), a career-best 368 last season and a pace for 324 this year. Despite that, he has rarely been regarded a locked-in starter in points-league play, though he'll probably remain one in Seattle. The "probably" merely refers to the ballpark change, as going from Baltimore's Camden Yards to Seattle's T-Mobile Park (one of the best pitchers' parks in baseball) represents a downgrade for the outfielder. Nevertheless, it's not enough of one to drop him close to or beneath the roster-worthy line in ESPN standard leagues.
The shame here is that Ward's arrival might mean that Canzone, a fellow underrated outfielder in the midst of a breakthrough year, returns to his former straight-platoon role, especially with Robles and Refsnyder still on the roster to handle those starts against tough lefties. Canzone was starting to figure out lefties this year, batting .275/.453/.600 with four homers against them in 53 trips to the plate. He deserves better than to have his daily matchups nitpicked. Alas, it seems to be a likely outcome, meaning he'll become more of a "must start against righties" player best used in daily formats like ESPN's.
Neither of the prospects is particularly close to being major league ready, nor is either highly regarded. Hoppe, for his part, should help the Orioles as a middle reliever.
Philadelphia Phillies trade for 1B/2B/DH Luis Arraez and RP Caleb Killian
Karabell (Aug. 3): Desperate for offensive aid and a setup reliever, the Phillies achieve these objectives in a trade with the San Francisco Giants for prospects. The nomadic Arraez, a three-time batting champion (and with three different franchises), joins his fifth team in the past five seasons. Arraez is one of the most unique players in baseball, as what he lacks in power he makes up for with extreme contact. Only 13 hitters boast more fantasy points this season. Arraez, a career .318 hitter, is already a points-league star and this trade aids his value.
Not known for his defensive prowess, Arraez has played a surprisingly excellent second base this season. However, Bryson Stott handles second base in Philadelphia. The Phillies may make room by moving a willing Bryce Harper back to the outfield, which he hasn't played since 2022. They may move Stott to third base, and Alec Bohm to first. Perhaps another trade is pending. The DH spot is capably filled by Kyle Schwarber. Regardless, expect Arraez to bat in one of the top two spots in the lineup and produce at a high level, as always.
Killian, 29, led the Giants with eight saves, but his role adjusts with the Phillies, as RHP Jhoan Duran is entrenched as closer. Killian should assume top setup duties in conjunction with LHP Brooks Raley (acquired in a trade this morning from the New York Mets). While Killian's run prevention has been merely average, he should see ample chances for holds. Killian may have more value with the Phillies than he did with the floundering Giants. The Giants may utilize LHP Erik Miller or RHP Keaton Winn in their now-open closer role.
Toronto Blue Jays trade for SP Jose Soriano
Cockcroft (Aug. 3): AL East teams have been making some strange moves as the trade deadline nears. In addition to the Yankees' acquisition of Luis Garcia Jr., who brings to them some roster redundancies, we now have the Blue Jays trading away one starting pitcher only to acquire two within the span of 36 hours. Soriano joins Jameson Taillon as new Blue Jays, though the ex-Los Angeles Angels right-hander is the considerably more relevant one for fantasy purposes.
Soriano's acquisition makes sense in that he's eight years younger and is signed for two more seasons than was Gausman -- Gausman's contract expires at year's end, while Soriano is under team control through 2028 -- so perhaps it's a matter of the Blue Jays deciding to adapt the roster for 2027 while also staying competitive in this year's wild-card race. They're still only 4.5 games back, though they do have five teams ahead of them who are also currently below the cut. We shall see, as the Blue Jays' deadline strategy has something to say about Soriano's fantasy utility over the season's final two months.
For now, assume the Blue Jays maintain their current core. In that case, Soriano joins a team with a significantly better bullpen, as the Blue Jays' relief ERA is more than a half-run better than the Angels' number, though their disappointing lineup has averaged MLB's fewest runs per game (3.92), so run support might still prove a problem. Toronto's Rogers Centre is similarly neutral overall to Los Angeles' Angel Stadium, with a bit more of a home run lean, though Soriano is a ground-ball pitcher for whom that shouldn't prove a big issue.
Soriano's value should stay about the same, though bear in mind that he's not the pitcher who posted an 0.84 ERA across his first seven starts this season. That number is 4.59 over his last 15, so it's probably best to expect something in the 3.50-4.00 range going forward. That's better than a streaming option, but not by a whole lot.
Arjun Nimmala, the Blue Jays' No. 2 prospect in Kiley McDaniel's July update, has dealt with injuries and inconsistency this year but could be a factor for the Angels by 2028. Edward Micheletti and Angel Rivero also went to the Angels in the deal.
Chicago Cubs trade for SP Kevin Gausman
Cockcroft (Aug. 2): Needing to address their injury-depleted rotation, the Cubs will acquire Gausman, who since the beginning of 2021 has the second-most starts (181), innings pitched (1,053) and fourth-most quality starts (100) in the league. Though never a 15-win (or better) pitcher or top-two finisher in the Cy Young balloting in any of his 13 previous big-league seasons, Gausman has been a plenty reliable starter, both for fantasy and the on-field game.
Gausman is now 35 years old and coming off a shaky stretch that has seen him post a 6.47 ERA in his most recent eight starts, so fantasy managers might understandably hesitate to count on a rebound from him. But he he still generates a good share of swings and misses with his signature splitter, and his 3.33 ERA against sub-.500 teams demonstrates that his worst-case fantasy scenario should be at least that of a matchups pitcher. A drawback to the trade, however, is that the Cubs have one of the game's toughest remaining schedules, so the smart play is to assume that what we've seen from Gausman to this point will probably be his valuation moving forward.
That's still a pitcher who warrants a hefty NL-only bid, if you play in those formats, and a 20-25% of your annual budget bid makes sense if you can't get one of the bigger prizes (Skubal thus far, and we'll see what else transpires before 6 p.m. ET Monday). Gausman is also available in more than 15% of ESPN leagues.
The Blue Jays acquired a pair of prospects, Class-A shortstop Ty Southisene and Triple-A outfielder Brett Bateman, in the deal. Both are players who derive most of their value from their speed, and only Bateman is relatively close to the majors, perhaps with a September cup of coffee or early 2027 ETA.
New York Yankees trade for 2B/1B Luis Garcia Jr.
Cockcroft (Aug. 2): In a bit of a square-peg-in-round-hole move, the Yankees acquired Garcia from the Washington Nationals in exchange for four players. Garcia has been a plenty productive hitter this season, placing fifth among second base and 10th among first base eligibles in ESPN leagues, but his defense at both spots has been historically suspect. The Yankees can certainly use his bat, but they're already well-stocked at any of the three most likely defensive positions where he should slot: First base (Ben Rice/Paul Goldschmidt), designated hitter (Rice and eventually Giancarlo Stanton) and second base (Jazz Chisholm Jr.).
We'll see whether the Yankees have other moves to make, but it's difficult to avoid worry about all of those players' at-bats moving forward. Garcia will almost assuredly become the strong-side first base platoon partner for Goldschmidt, which decreases each of their daily fantasy utility to a degree, and Rice will almost assuredly shift to DH and could become a strong-side platoon partner there once Stanton returns, again costing each player some starts. It's also difficult to look at this deal and not wonder whether the Yankees are worried about how much injured outfielders Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger might give them the rest of the regular season, and that this is a trade to help bolster the offense wherever they might find it.
At least Yankee Stadium's lefty-friendly confines should help Garcia maintain what has been a career-best power pace. His 23 home runs, 12.6% Barrel and 45.8% hard hit rates are all personal bests, and Yankee Stadium is significantly better for lefty power than Washington's Nationals Park. Garcia will be a matchups must-start when playing home games against righties, and note that he has a career OPS 178 points higher against righties than lefties for his career. So, perhaps he's more of a "roundish-square" peg, but it's still somewhat puzzling considering the Yankees' current roster construct.
Among the four players the Nationals received in return, Jake Bird and Yovanny Cruz have major league experience and can fill roles in what has been a largely wide-open Nationals bullpen, though neither should be added in fantasy leagues until one proves himself over several games. Two pitching-prospect fliers were also included: Jack Cebert, who has put forth a 4.03 ERA and 27.4% strikeout rate across 14 starts and two relief appearances between Class A and Double-A ball, and Ben Grable, who throws hard but is a relief prospect in Double-A. Either could be a factor for the big club a year from now.
Tampa Bay Rays acquire SP Freddy Peralta
Cockcroft (Aug. 2): A relative disappointment in his four-plus months with the New York Mets, Peralta now joins a Rays organization that is highly regarded for its ability to coax the most out of its pitchers, meaning fantasy owners are probably giddy to hear about the move -- especially those with mountains of FAB resources with which to bid in AL-only leagues. (Yes, you should spend a good chunk of it in those, arguably in the 40%-of-seasonal-budget range.)
While it's true that the Rays do squeeze a lot from their pitchers, especially those joining them on a down note, a closer look at the results show that it's hardly an automatic. Nick Martinez, Zach Eflin and Rich Hill were excellent acquisitions for them, but Steven Matz, Aaron Civale and Luis Patino were unqualified disasters, among more notable pickups they made since the end of the 2020 season. It's dangerous, therefore, to leap to an assumption that Peralta will spring back to his career-best, fifth-in-the-National-League-in-Cy-Young-balloting form from last season, simply because he'll be putting on a Rays uniform. That's a common assumption in the fantasy biz; it's also not the seamless truth people seem to think it is.
Buuuuuut ... the Rays do play in one of baseball's best pitching homes in Tropicana Field, and they have one of the league's better bullpens, with a league-leading 44 saves and a 12th-ranked 3.89 relief ERA, so this is indeed one of the best places Peralta could've possibly landed. If the Rays could coax even a tick of restoration of Peralta's lost fastball velocity, or if they ask him to lean more on his whiff-generating breaking pitches, perhaps he'll come close to his former form. It's certainly worth taking the chance in fantasy leagues, and note that Peralta is still out there as a free agent in nearly 28% of ESPN leagues.
On the Mets side, they acquired three prospects: OF Aidan Smith, SP Gary Gill Hill and 2B Emilen Pitre. None was one of the team's top prospects, with Smith considered the best of the trio but also the furthest from the majors. Hill and/or Pitre could become factors sometime next year, with the latter possessing an intriguing combination of speed and plate discipline.
Peralta's departure, by the way, presents a clearer rest-of-year rotational path for prospect Zac Thornton, and it could increase the chances we'll see additional starts for Jonah Tong. Either might have some streaming value in the right matchup.
Chicago White Sox trade for SP Luis Castillo
Cockcroft (Aug. 2): The White Sox, still very much a legitimate postseason contender and possessing a three-game lead in the American League Central, acquired much-needed starting pitching help from the Seattle Mariners in Castillo. Though no longer the elite starter he once was -- he was baseball's fifth best-scoring pitcher as recently as 2023 -- Castillo has at least settled into the skill set he now possesses (2 mph less fastball velocity and 10% fewer whiffs with his slider), posting a 4.04 ERA across eight starts and three relief appearances since the Mariners bumped him from their regular rotation and into a piggyback arrangement with their other starters.
Castillo seems to have settled in as a streaming-capable starter, having delivered some of his better starts recently against weaker offenses (CLE, TOR, CIN), and should continue to do so for his new team. The only drawback is that he's leaving arguably baseball's best home pitching environment in Seattle's T-Mobile Park, though Chicago's Rate Field leans slightly pitching-friendly with a similar three-year home run factor (the part of the game that's most concerning for the fly ball-oriented righty).
The Mariners, also a postseason contender but facing more of a climb, received reliever Seranthony Dominguez, who poses almost no threat to closer Andres Munoz's job security and will mainly pad the team's depth. Nolan Jones -- yes, that same Colorado Rockies one-year wonder, now settled as Triple-A depth -- and catching prospect Boston Smith, who has had an excellent year in the minors and is now in Double-A ball, also went Seattle's way.
Curtis Mead traded from the Nationals to the Red Sox for Connelly Early
Karabell (July 27): Fantasy managers (especially in AL-only formats) enjoyed a weekend gift with the Boston Red Sox acquiring 1B/3B Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals for LHP Connelly Early. The trade makes sense for both clubs.
The Nationals desperately covet young pitching, and Early -- with a 3.44 ERA and 23.8% strikeout rate in 17 starts -- should join the rotation in the coming weeks when he returns from an IL stint due to elbow inflammation. Even if Early is healthy, fantasy managers may want to be careful in assuming he pitches to prior levels with his new team. The Nationals also have major bullpen issues, for those who selfishly want their starting pitchers to actually win contests.
Mead, however, despite joining his fourth organization in the past two seasons, has been more impactful for fantasy managers and should continue to pile on fantasy points. Mead, 25, ranks among the top 50 hitters in fantasy points this season, yet he is rostered in only 21.3% of ESPN leagues. He is far more valuable in more traditional formats that utilize a corner infield spot. Mead, a right-handed hitter, boasts an .817 OPS versus right-handed pitching, an 11.9% walk rate and a 48.7% pull rate. He should particularly enjoy hitting at Fenway Park.
In addition, the Red Sox figure to employ Mead at second base, which is further great news for fantasy managers, as he will add eligibility there soon (he is currently up to six games at 2B). In typical leagues, multi-position eligibility is critical. We shall see where Mead hits in the lineup for his expected debut Monday night, but it figures to be near the top. After all, 1B Willson Contreras is the lone Red Sox hitter with either a better OPS or more home runs for the season. This trade makes Mead more appealing in fantasy.