TDGX Transactions: Week 12

After the minor life events (wedding, honeymoon, etc.) that have taken place in my life over the past few weeks, the TDGX Transactions column is back after a brief hiatus!

You really didn’t miss much TDGX-wise in my absence—other than the roughly 74 trades that were made in the previous two weeks—but this week will focus on the FAAB transactions made earlier in the week, and next week’s edition will try and play catch-up with the trades.

The Dynasty Guru Experts League is a 20-team (40-man roster) 5×5 rotisserie dynasty league founded by BP managing editor Bret Sayre in 2014. It is intended to satisfy the deep-league needs of all, down to just the right amount of Alexi Amarista. We roster 23 starters (C/1B/2B/3B/SS/MI/CI, along with two additional utility hitters, five outfielders and nine pitchers). We also roster seven bench slots and have 10 spots designated for minor leaguers, although a quick scan of the league finds that most teams utilize most of their bench spots for additional prospects. That means that there are an additional 100-120 prospects that are rostered above the 200 spots reserved for them.

These write-ups are intended to pair nicely with Mike Gianella’s Expert FAAB Review, as we will look at each week’s TDGX free-agent acquisitions, as well as include thoughts on every major trade that occurs during the season. The yearly budget for free-agent transactions is $100, with $0 bids allowed for major leaguers and prospects.

This installment covers the Week 12 FAAB period, along with any trades that have taken place over the past week.

Trades

None this week.

Can somebody please perform a welfare check on Tom Trudeau just to make sure everything is okay?

Week 12 FAAB Transactions

Adam Engel (OF)—White Sox (Won at $6) by Al Melchior—FanGraphs/FanRag Sports

Engel was a popular dynasty league target heading into 2016, as he took home Arizona Fall League MVP honors in smashing his way to a 1.165 OPS with 10 SB in the desert, which was paired with a 2015 regular season in which he swiped 65 bags. Engel started 2016 once again at High A, but worked his way up to Triple-A Charlotte, stealing 45 bases in 59 attempts along the three stops. Engel was sent to Charlotte to begin this season, but injuries to Charlie Tilson and Leury Garcia in center field have given Engel playing time in June and he’s responded by hitting for a .319/.360/.511 line in his first 52 plate appearances. Yes, he’s striking out at a 31 percent clip and not walking (four percent rate), and is currently running a .448 BABIP, but Engel’s speed alone makes him enticing, particularly in deeper leagues. Engel may be able to work his way into regular playing time if the White Sox can find a taker for the Melk Man before the deadline. In a league that starts five outfielders and has two UT slots, Engel was a very good pick-up here by Melchior for only $6.

Andrew Pullin (OF)—Phillies (Won at $4) by James Anderson—RotoWire

Pullin was not on my radar to begin the year, but he should have been. Pullin earned a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley last week (more on that from Javier Barragan here), after he compiled a .324/.378/.557 line that included 24 home runs in 113 games between this season and last at Double-A Reading. Pullin hasn’t appeared on the dirt at all in the last three seasons, and it’s hard for me to see how he gets an opportunity this season in Philadelphia ahead of Nick Williams, Dylan Cozens or Roman Quinn, but as they say, if you keep hitting, somebody’s fantasy team will find a place for you.

Jaycob Brugman (OF)—Athletics (Won at $3) by Chris Mitchell—RotoExperts
Jose Martinez (OF)—Cardinals (Won at $3) by Chris Mitchell—RotoExperts

Johan Camargo (SS/3B)—Braves (Won at $3) by Craig Goldstein—Baseball Prospectus
Carlos Asuaje (2B)—Padres (Won at $2) by Craig Goldstein—Baseball Prospectus

I like both infield gambles by Goldstein, but it’s unclear if either are going to get a real opportunity to play this season. Camargo looks like he has moved past the recently demoted Rio Ruiz on Atlanta’s third-base depth chart, but “Freddie Freeman, professional third baseman,” looks like a thing that might actually happen. If/when that no longer is a thing, look for Camargo to take over regular third-base duties over the rest of the season in Atlanta. After slapping his way through the lower minors, a much more muscular Camargo showed up to spring training this season, and was hitting for an .853 OPS at Triple-A Gwinnett in 31 games prior to being summoned to Atlanta. Camargo hasn’t shown any real power in his brief major-league cameo, but he has hit for a .292 AVG in his first taste of the majors.

Asuaje was summoned from Triple-A El Paso after Yangervis Solarte hit the disabled list, and was hitting for a .368 AVG through his first seven contests. Asuaje and Camargo both feature similar fantasy skillsets, as they both don’t hit for any type of real power or run very much, but each could work their way into the lineup due to their solid glove work, and hit for plus averages. That usually works much better than taking zeroes at MI in deeper mixed and NL-only leagues.

Mark Zagunis (OF)—Cubs (Won for $0) by Jeff Zimmermann—FanGraphs
Zagunis was the benefactor of Kyle Schwarber’s demotion, and has started four of Chicago’s six games since his recall. Zagunis’ lower region looks about 20 pounds thicker this season than when I saw him last season at Triple-A Iowa, meaning the speed that he showed in the lower minors—he reached double digits in his first two minor-league campaigns—is probably no longer going to be a part of his fantasy profile. He was 0 for 2 in stolen base attempts while at Iowa, but he did smack 11 home runs with a .399 OBP in 65 games. Zagunis’ long-term value is much higher in OBP formats than it is in a standard format like TDGX, and how long he is up this season largely depends on how long it takes Schwarber to “find himself” in Iowa.

Trevor Williams (P)—Pirates (Won at $0) by J.P. Breen—Baseball Prospectus
Blake Parker (RP)—Angels (Won at $0) by Scott White—CBS Sports
Jose Albertos (SP)—Cubs (Won at $0) by James Anderson—RotoWire
Luis Valbuena (3B)—Angels (Won at $0) by Chris Mitchell—RotoExperts
Jordan Guerrero (SP)—White Sox (Won for $0) by Jeff Zimmermann—FanGraphs

Mark Leiter (SP)—Phillies (Won at $0) by Scott White—CBS Sports

Leiter was impressive in five appearances (three starts) at Lehigh Valley (1.50 DRA, 68 cFIP, 32 percent strikeout rate), and has punched out 11 in his first two big league starts, spanning 11 innings, allowing four runs on 12 hits. With Jerad Eickhoff and Vince Velasquez on the shelf, Leiter and Ben Lively appear to have the last two rotation spots in Philly locked down.

Rogelio Armenteros (P)—Astros (Won at $0) by Chris Mitchell—RotoExperts
Ryder Jones (3B/OF)—Giants (Won for $0) by Jeff Zimmermann—FanGraphs

Jeff picked up Ryder (Die) Jones?
Nothin’ we can’t handle
Still tryin’ to decide whether to break it up
Or dismantle it
My hitters ain't lightin’ it up like a candle

Talk is cheap middle infielders………