Assessing MLB Transactions from this Week: Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins and More

I just wrote about Tampa Bay's Chandler Simpson being a waiver wire possibility, only to see he got demoted a couple hours later.

I wanted to write about that transaction, and will add some additional transactions from the start of this week that have impacted things from a fantasy baseball perspective. Let's dive in!

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Simpson Optioned Down

Simpson is being sent down as Jake Mangum is about to be activated from the injured list.

Across 35 MLB games and 133 plate appearances this season, Simpson has a .285 average and .315 on-base percentage. He has four doubles among his 35 total hits - all his other knocks are singles. Simpson has 11 RBIs, 17 runs scored, 19 stolen bases, six walks and 14 strikeouts.

Instead of being added in fantasy baseball leagues, he's now going to be dropped in some redraft setups. He's at 54% rostered right now.

Mangum has played in 21 games and gotten 73 plate appearances. He has a .338 average and .384 OBP. Mangum has four doubles among his 23 total hits, with all the other hits being singles. He also has seven RBIs, eight stolen bases, seven runs scored, five walks and seven strikeouts on the season. He's rostered in 9% of fantasy leagues.

It's a bummer to see an electric player like Chandler sent down, but I don't anticipate it being a long minor league stint. He's not worth rostering in standard redraft leagues and some deeper redraft leagues for now, but he'll be a big waiver pickup when he's called back up, so keep an eye on Simpson.

Mullins and Hays Land on Injured List

Baltimore's Cedric Mullins and Cincinnati's Austin Hays each hit the 10-day injured list on Friday. Mullins has a right hamstring strain, while Hays has a left foot contusion.

Mullins is owned in 80% of leagues, so him being out is a bigger fantasy loss. Across 50 games and 207 plate appearances this season, he has a .232 average and .324 OBP, along with 31 RBIs, eight stolen bases, 25 runs scored, 23 walks and 52 strikeouts. Mullins has 10 homers and nine doubles among his 42 total hits.

Baltimore has already been struggling at the plate, so to lose a veteran bat like Mullins is another blow to the team. Cooper Hummel was signed in a corresponding move.

Hummel, Dylan Carlson, Heston Kjerstad and Ryan O'Hearn are the only outfielders on the Orioles' active roster right now. Colton Cowser could return shortly, so he's a name to keep tabs on. Tyler O'Neill and Ramon Laureano are two more injured outfielders.

O'Hearn is the Baltimore outfielder to target if you had Mullins. Cowser can be added when he returns from his injury. Mullins probably should be dropped in a good amount of standard redraft leagues right now, but only if you need his roster spot or don't have an IR spot to throw him in.

Hays has been put on the injured list for the third time already this season. He's played in 31 games and gotten 130 plate appearances. Hays has a .303 average and .346 OBP, along with 25 RBIs, two stolen bases, 23 runs scored, eight walks and 32 strikeouts. He's posted six homers and doubles and three triples among his 36 total hits.

Hays has been a good fantasy asset when on the field, but he's just been injured too much. He's droppable in all leagues, especially because fantasy owners are getting sick of him going on and off the active roster.

I'd only really want to keep rostering Hays in leagues where IR spots are available, or in really, really deep leagues.

Gavin Lux, Will Benson, TJ Friedl, Connor Joe and Jake Fraley are the outfielders on the Reds' active roster now. Friedl is trending up and is the top Red to add, followed by Lux and Benson. Fraley is being activated from the IL, so he's one to watch as well.

Smith-Shawver Hits IL with Scary Injury

Atlanta's AJ Smith-Shawver heard his elbow “pop” during his last start, and he's now on the 15-day injured list with a strained right elbow.

He is awaiting MRI results to see the severity of his injury, but things don't look great. It's possible we've seen the last of Smith-Shawver in 2025.

He's droppable in all standard redraft leagues right now, and could be droppable in deeper leagues if he's out for an extended period. Smith-Shawver can be dropped in all redraft leagues if he's eventually ruled out for the season, so keep an eye on his status moving forward.

Across nine starts so far, Smith-Shawver had a 3-2 record and 3.86 ERA over 44 1/3 innings. Smith-Shawver has allowed 20 runs (19 earned) on 42 hits and 21 walks, while striking out 42 batters. 

Lawlar Demoted to Minor Leagues

Arizona's Jordan Lawlar is one of the top prospects in the game, and he was a major waiver wire add when he got called up on May 12.

He appeared in eight games, getting just 22 plate appearances since. Lawlar had no hits, three walks, a run scored, no RBIs or stolen bases and nine strikeouts.

Instead of letting him figure things out at the big league level, Arizona will send him back to Triple-A to get some more regular playing time. I don't understand why they called him up if he wasn't going to regularly play anyway, but here we are.

He should get another crack at the big leagues in 2025, whether that be after an injury to a Diamondback big leaguer, or after a change of scenery after a trade. Drop Lawlar in redraft leagues for now, but don't write him off completely.

Seager Activated from IL

Texas' Corey Seager was activated from the injured list a couple days ago and got back on the field on Wednesday. He went 0-for-4 with two punchouts in that contest.

Seager has only played in 27 games so far this season. He has good numbers with a .288 average and .333 OBP, but needs to stay healthy for an extended stretch to gain back lost fantasy value and possible trade value.

He can be one of the better fantasy hitters in the game, so now could be a time to swoop in and buy low on Seager, but know you are taking a risk given his injury-riddled past.

Kurtz Hits IL

Athletics' Nick Kurtz was starting to figure things out at the plate, so getting placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hip flexor was bad timing for him and his fantasy owners.

He had seven hits over his last five games and 23 plate appearances before hitting the IL. Kurtz had four homers and five walks in that span, while also tallying nine RBIs, five runs scored and five strikeouts.

Kurtz hopefully won't miss much time, but he's not worth holding in standard redraft leagues, where he was beginning to gain attention again after his hot stretch. Stash him on IR if you can, otherwise he's just worth holding in deeper redraft leagues. 

Other Notable Injuries

Houston's Yordan Alvarez is nearing a return to the field. He hasn't played since May 2, but is obviously one of the top fantasy hitters in the game when healthy.

Philadelphia's Bryce Harper was hit by a pitch on his right elbow on May 27, then missed both games of a doubleheader on May 29. He doesn't look like he's going to hit the injured list, but his status is worth tracking the next several days, even if he does get back on the field.

Seattle's Bryce Miller and Logan Gilbert are nearing returns to the mound. Miller is scheduled to start on May 31, while Gilbert has begun a rehab assignment.

Kansas City's Cole Ragans could make a rehab start on May 31, then rejoin the MLB rotation the first week of June. Teammate Seth Lugo is scheduled to start Friday after spending 15 days on the IL with a finger sprain.

LA Angels' Mike Trout is expected to be activated from the IL today after being out a few weeks with a left knee bone bruise. He's one of the top fantasy hitters when healthy, so hopefully he's able to stick on the field for a long stretch now.

Miami's Eury Perez is making rehab starts in Triple-A and is close to being activated again. He should be back in early June, so now is the time to start adding Perez in some fantasy leagues.

Miami teammate Xavier Edwards is nearing a return as well. He should be back very soon from his back strain.

New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. started a rehab assignment, meaning his return to the field could be coming soon.

Milwaukee's Brandon Woodruff and Jose Quintana are nearing returns to the big league starting rotation. Quintana is expected back on June 1, while Woodruff could be back near the end of next week.