Fantasy Baseball Impact of Recent MLB Transactions: Tyler Soderstrom, Zach Eflin, Esteury Ruiz and More

The MLB transactions continue to rack up, so it's time to go over the fantasy baseball impact of some of the more notable moves.

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Signings

Soderstrom Extends with Athletics

Tyler Soderstrom landed a seven-year extension with $86 million to remain with the Athletics.

This gives Soderstrom a little security after breaking out in 2025. Over 158 games, he hit .276 and got on base at a .346 clip. Soderstrom had 155 total hits, including 34 doubles and 25 home runs.

He also had 93 RBIs, 75 runs scored, eight stolen bases, 55 walks and 141 strikeouts over 624 plate appearances. Soderstrom played left field and first base last season, so that dual eligibility boosts his fantasy value a bit more.

You can expect Soderstrom to hit in the heart of the team's lineup in 2026, and beyond. That gives him good fantasy value, even if the lineup around him isn't the best.

The Athletics have a sneaky good offense, so don't sleep on any of their hitters, especially Soderstrom. We will see where he ends up going on average in fantasy drafts before determining his value.

It'll be hard for him to surprise like he did in 2025, but he still could if he takes another step forward as a hitter.

Bleday Lands in Cincy

JJ Bleday signed a $1.4 million deal with the Reds for the 2026 season.

Bleday has spent the past three MLB seasons with the Athletics, after opening his career with the Marlins. He had a pretty solid 2024 campaign, but regressed last season and spent some time back in Triple-A.

A fresh start could unlock a new level to the 28-year-old's game. He has a career .215 average and .307 on-base percentage in the big leagues. Bleday has some pop, but also strikes out quite a bit.

He can play all three outfield spots, which could help him get into the starting lineup more often, especially if he's hitting. The left-handed hitter could also just be a platoon option if he delivers more like he did in 2025.

I'd say he's destined for a part-time role in the Reds' outfield. TJ Friedl and Noelvi Marte are locked into regular roles, but have also dealt with injuries and other issues over their careers, so Bleday could take on more if either of those two miss extended time. But with Will Benson and another recently traded for player (that we will discuss later in this article), Bleday could struggle to get regular playing time.

He's just a deep-league option to kick off the 2026 season, unless injuries hit before the season. Bleday has done enough in his past to keep him on watch lists in all league types, but he'll need to get back to his 2024 form if he wants to stick as a fantasy asset in any leagues.

Eflin Returns to Baltimore

Zach Eflin will pitch for the Orioles again after signing for $10 million for the 2026 season.

Eflin had a rough go of things in 2025. He only made 14 starts, and he finished with a 5.93 earned run average in those appearances.

Eflin was 6-5 still, while covering 71 1/3 innings. He struck out just 50 batters, while walking 13 and finishing with a WHIP of 1.42.

He has a career 4.28 ERA over his 10-year career, and at 31 years old now, he probably has some gas in the tank yet. There's some bounceback potential for sure.

Eflin should be in the Orioles' rotation to kick off the season, but he'll need to stay healthy and simply perform better to stick in it for the long haul. If he gets yanked from the rotation, his fantasy value will dry up quickly.

To start the season, I see Eflin as a better deep-league asset. He could be a standard league streaming option as long as he's in the rotation, but with lackluster strikeout numbers, there's definitely better fantasy assets out there.

Eflin would have to really lower his ERA in order to stick as a standard league asset at any point in 2026. It's not crazy to think it could happen, but he's a better waiver pickup after the season he just endured.

Yates Sings with Angels

Kirby Yates is joining Los Angeles on a $5 million deal for 2026.

Yates spent the 2025 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making 50 appearances and posting a 5.23 ERA. He was 4-3 and earned three saves. Yates struck out 52 batters over 41 1/3 innings, while also walking 17.

A move to the Angels gives him a better crack at saves, but Robert Stephenson and Drew Pomeranz are probably ahead of him in the line for saves right now, and there's other relievers who could be considered before Yates too.

Unless he really lowers his ERA, or starts earning some saves or regular holds, Yates isn't likely to be a big-time fantasy asset in 2025. He's at least worth mentioning with some saves in his past, and after joining a team with no lights out closer around.

Trades

Dodgers, Marlins Swap Players

The Marlins got Esteury Ruiz from the Dodgers in return for Adriano Marrero.

Ruiz was once viewed as a big-time MLB prospect, but he's faded off quite a bit. He will be joining his fifth team already, and he made his debut in just 2022.

Ruiz has topped out at 132 games played with the Athletics in 2023. He had a .254 average and .309 OBP that season, while racking up 67 stolen bases, which is where a lot of his fantasy value comes.

He has played in just 48 combined games over the past two seasons, and was just a part-time player for those seasons.

Joining the Marlins gives Ruiz a chance to revive his career. He still looks to be on the outside looking in for playing time to kick off 2026, but injuries could help him out. Ruiz could also help his cause with a good showing in spring training.

He's just a deep-league asset to start the year, and probably won't be owned in many leagues, unless he's slated for a bigger role than expected right now. Ruiz is worth keeping an eye on in case he indeed revives his career.

Marrero isn't a top-30 prospect for LA after the trade, but the LA system is loaded.

Marrero is an 18-year-old pitcher who has just 10 minor league starts under his belt. In the Dominican Summer League, he posted a 3.82 ERA over 33 innings, with 35 punchouts along the way.

Marrero is several years away from potentially debuting, but now in a great minor league system known for developing pitchers, he's a name to keep tabs on, especially in dynasty leagues.

He should only be rostered in the deepest dynasty leagues out there, but keep tabs on him to see if he takes off with the Dodgers. 

It's an intriguing trade, with a once highly-regarded prospect looking to turn things around for a potential highly-regarded prospect down the road.

Reds, Marlins also Make Deal

In a pretty low-key move, the Marlins sent Dane Myers to Cincinnati for Ethan O'Donnell.

Myers is the other Cincy outfielder who could stop Bleday from regular playing time. 

Myers has spent the past three years playing in the MLB for the Marlins. He appeared in 22 games in 2023 before 44 in 2024 - he played in 106 games this past season.

Myers has a career .245 average and .299 OBP, but was at a .235 average and .291 OBP in 2025. He doesn't have much pop, but can steal some bases and make a fantasy impact that way.

He'd need regular playing time to be a worthwhile fantasy asset in 2026 though. The opportunity will be there for him to contribute here and there, but he's just a deep-league option to start the year, and not one to have to count on for a bunch of fantasy production.

O'Donnell is a 23-year-old outfielder who made it to Double-A with Cincinnati.

He has a career .259 average with a .350 OBP in three minor league seasons. O'Donnell has a little pop, and also has speed to burn. He strikes out a bunch though.

O'Donnell is not a top-30 prospect for Miami after the trade, and at his age, he's running out of time to emerge as a prospect. In the Miami system, he could eventually push toward a major league call-up, but he'd likely need to improve to ever be more than a platoon player at the MLB level.

It's a pretty even swap, with Miami getting younger, while Cincinnati adds a player that can help more now.