Fantasy Baseball Implications for MLB Players Traded on Wednesday: Ke'Bryan Hayes, Zack Littell and More

It was a trade-filled Wednesday in the MLB, and I'm back to break it all down.

Here is the trade breakdown article I did from Tuesday's trades. Daniel Hepner covered a pair of reliever trades here and also broke down the trade for the deadline's biggest hitter, so we'll only briefly mention them in this story.

We'll only look at the MLB players in this article, then break down some minor leaguers and prospects in another story in a bit, so check back for that!

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Eugenio Suarez to the Mariners

This was the deadline's biggest hitting target, and I think that will remain true even after the deadline passes. 

Suarez is owned in all fantasy leagues and is enjoying a monster season. Over 106 games and 437 plate appearances, he has a .248 average and .320 on-base percentage. Across 96 hits, Suarez has 36 home runs and 19 doubles, along with 87 RBIs, 64 runs scored, 29 walks, a stolen base and 117 strikeouts.

Hepner believes Suarez's fantasy outlook might slightly drop with Seattle, and I'm in the same boat. That makes Suarez a sell-high trade candidate in my eyes. Make sure you are getting a great return though, otherwise I'd just hold on to him and hope he keeps mashing all season.

Jhoan Duran to the Phillies

This might end up being the most impactful trade at the deadline. Philly needed a closer badly, and I think they landed the best one who will be traded.

He's 6-4 with a 2.01 earned run average across 49 appearances and 49 1/3 innings this season. Duran has 53 strikeouts and 18 walks this season, along with 16 saves, a hold and two blown saves.

His fantasy outlook will improve with Philly, and he should see his own percentage go from 95% to 100% in a hurry. Stop reading this and go add Duran if he's available in your league.

Ryan Helsley to the Mets

This was an interesting move to me, but the Mets clearly aren't messing around and now have a top-end bullpen (more on that in a bit).

Helsley is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA over 36 games and 36 innings this season. He has 21 saves, five blown saves and has 41 strikeouts and 14 walks.

He won't earn many saves in New York with Edwin Diaz around, but he'll have a chance at more wins and some holds in a setup role in front of Diaz. Helsley is owned in 96% of leagues right now, and that's going to plummet now that he won't be his team's closer - if Diaz stays healthy, Helsley might end the season rostered in only deeper leagues.

Ke'Bryan Hayes to the Reds

Talk about an interesting deal. Hayes moves from a NL Central bottom dweller to an NL Central team in the playoff hunt.

He has a .236 average and .279 OBP over 100 games and 392 plate appearances. Hayes has 10 doubles and two triples and homers among his 87 total hits, along with 36 RBIs, 34 runs scored, 18 walks, 10 stolen bases and 81 strikeouts.

Hayes has shown more at the plate over his MLB career, and maybe a change of scenery will be what he needs to get going offensively again. Right now, he's rostered in just 6% of leagues. 

I'd be willing to give him a few adds in deeper leagues - stash him and see if he maybe gets a jolt after the trade. He's worth keeping an eye on in all leagues, just in case he really takes off - I doubt it happens, but crazier things have happened.

Taylor Rogers was part of the return for Hayes. Rogers is owned in barely any leagues, and that won't change in Pittsburgh (or anywhere else, if he's re-routed).

Rogers is 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA over 33 innings and 40 appearances this season. He has 34 strikeouts and 19 walks on the season.

Zack Littell to the Reds

I like this move for the Reds as well. Littell adds some rotation depth in Cincy, which is something most contending teams need.

He's 8-8 with a 3.58 ERA over 22 starts this season. Littell has allowed 53 runs on 128 hits and 21 walks, while striking out 21 batters.

Littell is on a bit better team, but I like the foundation the Rays have established for pitchers over what the Reds do, so I think he might see his numbers regress a bit. 

He's at 73% owned for now, and I think fantasy owners should stand pat to see how he starts out in Cincy. Littell will be a streaming option in all leagues for most starts, at the very least.

Michael Soroka to the Cubs

Chicago added some needed pitching help in getting Soroka.

He's 3-8 with a 4.87 ERA over 16 starts and 81 1/3 innings. Soroka has allowed 44 runs on 68 hits and 24 walks, while striking out 87 batters.

Soroka isn't the best arm out there, but pitching for a better team should help his fantasy outlook. He's at just 20% rostered, but should get more streaming starts now that he's on the Cubs. He could become a deep-league keeper and standard league option in time, so he's worth tracking going forward.

Tyler Rogers to the Mets

Rogers is another piece for a suddenly great Mets' bullpen.

He's 4-3 with a 1.80 ERA over 53 games and 50 innings. Rogers has 20 holds, no saves and one blown save.

He'll handle another middle inning/setup role, so his fantasy outlook won't change much. Rogers is rostered in 30% of leagues, and I wouldn't expect that to rise too much more from here to the end of the season.

Jose Butto was part of the return for Rogers. He's barely owned in any leagues, and while he could have a bigger role for San Fran, he's still unlikely to be a big fantasy asset.

Over 34 games and 47 innings with the Mets, Butoo had a 3-2 record and 3.64 ERA. He also had 41 strikeouts and 22 walks.

Austin Slater to the Yankees

Slater is a depth option in case Aaron Judge cannot play the field much more for the rest of the season.

He's not owned in many fantasy leagues, and I don't foresee that changing in New York.

In 51 games and 135 plate appearances with the White Sox this season, Slater had a .236 average and .299 OBP. He has six doubles, five homers and a triple among his 29 total hits, along with 11 RBIs and walks, 20 runs scored, a stolen base and 35 strikeouts.

Caleb Ferguson to the Mariners

Ferguson gives the Mariners a middle relief or setup reliever for the stretch run. He's barely owned in any leagues, and that's unlikely to change in Seattle.

Over 45 games and 43 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh this season, Ferguson has a 3.74 ERA. He's 2-2 with 10 holds and four blown saves, along with having 34 strikeouts and 14 walks.

Tyler Kinley to the Braves

Kinley gives the Braves some more pitching as they look to make a second-half push. He's not owned in many leagues, and that's unlikely to change in Atlanta either.

Over 49 games and 47 2/3 innings with Colorado this season, Kinley had a 1-3 record and 5.66 ERA - that should improve in Atlanta. He also had three saves and blown saves, eight holds, 51 strikeouts and 27 walks.

The only way he'd be a huge fantasy asset is if he started earning saves, and I don't foresee that.

Andrew Chafin and Luis Garcia to the Angels

The Angels think they are contending this season, so they added two relievers. Neither are fantasy assets outside extremely deep leagues, and that likely won't change in LA.

Over 26  games and 20 innings with Washington this season, Chafin had a 1-1 record, three holds and no blown saves. He's got a 2.70 ERA, 18 strikeouts and 12 walks.

Garcia has pitched for the Dodgers and Nationals this season, covering 37 1/3 innings over 38 appearances. He's 2-0 with five holds and one blown save. Garcia has a 4.10 ERA, 31 strikeouts and 18 walks.

Rafael Montero to the Tigers

Montero was on the Braves before the trade, so Kinley was essentially his replacement. Montero is barely owned in any leagues, and that won't change while he's in a middle relief or setup role in Detroit.

Montero has worked 39 games and covered 38 1/3 innings between stops with Atlanta and Houston this season. He's 0-1 with seven holds and no blown saves. Montero has a 5.40 ERA, 39 strikeouts and 23 walks.