Roto Roundup: Aroldis Chapman, Alex Bregman, David Dahl and others

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Aroldis Chapman traded again

The best closer in the game has been traded for the second time in about 9 months yesterday, as the Yankees traded Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs for a huge haul. In return for the best closer in the game, the Yankees received shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres, middle reliever Adam Warren, a former Yankee, outfield prospect Billy McKinney and outfield prospect Rashad Crawford.

The centerpiece of this deal is Torres, who is a top 20 prospect in the game. He is currently hitting .275-.359-.433 with 9 home runs, 62 runs scored, 47 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 409 plate appearances in High A. I assume the Yankees will move him to their High A affiliate in Tampa, but it could be just a matter of time before he gets promoted to their Double A team in Trenton, about 20 minutes from my home.

The rest of the players the Yankees received will have very little fantasy impact, if at all. Chapman’s fantasy value is unchanged, as he is still the best closer in the game, he is just moving from New York to Chicago. That said, he might end up with a few more saves than he would have if he stayed with the Yankees. Then again, the bridge from the 7th inning to the 9th inning in Chicago is not as good as the one in New York. Chapman won’t have Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller setting him up for the ninth inning anymore.

Hector Rondon is the player impacted the most by this trade, as he loses his closer role and will move into a set up role for manager Joe Maddon.

Andrew Miller, who is also rumored to be traded within the next week, will take over the closer role in New York, with Betances setting him up. Betances will move into the closer role should Miller be traded, which could happen. Dominating closers are very valuable, and over-valued, by contending teams at this time of the year. A closer as dominant as Chapman or Miller can make a difference in the playoffs and World Series.

Roto Roundup

Two of the best fantasy prospects in the game were called up on Monday. The Astros called up infield Alex Bregman while the Rockies called up outfielder David Dahl. The Bregman call up was expected, but the Dahl promotion was a little unexpected as he was recently promoted to Triple A Albuquerque where he dominated at the plate.

Bregman played third base and batted sixth in the Astros lineup last night, and as I write this Roundup he is 0-3 in a tie game in the seventh inning. I have to imagine Bregman is up for good, as he was not challenged in Triple A. He will play some third base, outfield and shortstop, but should get the majority of his time in the outfield once Yulieski Gurriel gets called up to the big leagues.

Dahl played left field and batted sixth in the Rockies lineup last night vs the Orioles. As I write this, he is 1-3 with a run scored and two strikeouts in a tie game in the ninth inning. The Rockies DFA’d Brandon Barnes to make room for Dahl, and I assume he should be up for good as well. The Rockies are rumored to be taking offers for outfielders Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez. If either is traded, their fantasy values will take a bit of a hit, depending upon where they are traded. Leaving Coors Field will do that to most hitters.

Dahl should be picked up in all but the shallowest of mixed leagues. Domenic Lanza profiled Dahl yesterday, and here is what he wrote about him:

As is the case with most competent hitters that play at Coors Field, Dahl is a player that should pique your interest as a fantasy owner. His power/speed combination can play anywhere, as he has the raw power to hit 20-plus home runs and the speed and smarts to swipe 20-plus bases. Put him in that park, and he could may well mash 30-plus bombs over a full season. And for the remainder of 2016, he should help your team across the board.

I agree with Domenic’s analysis, as Dahl has the power and speed skills that should play well in Coors Field. Assuming he can stay healthy, something that has proven difficult for him due to his style of play, he could be a top 30 outfielder within a couple years.

Another prospect was called up on Monday, Diamondbacks starting pitcher Braden Shipley. Like most pitching prospects, he struggled in his major league debut, giving up 6 earned runs on 8 hits, including 3 home runs, 4 walks and 4 strikeouts in 5.1 innings in the Diamondbacks loss to the Brewers (the DBacks are down 7-2 in the seventh inning as I write this). Shipley may not get another start as he is filling in for Zack Greinke, who is making progress in his rehab and could return to the Diamondbacks rotation next week.

Red Sox new starter Drew Pomeranz bounced back from a terrible first outing with his new team last night, giving up just 2 runs on 4 hits, 2 walks and 7 strikeouts in 6 innings of work. In his first start in a Red Sox uniform last week, Pomeranz was knocked around for 5 runs on 8 hits, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts in just 3 innings of work vs the Giants. Pomeranz may have more struggles on the bump pitching in the American League East going forward. I don’t expect him to pitch to the sub-2.50 ERA like he did in Petco Park, but he should be a good source of strikeouts.