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Fantasy baseball impact: Yoenis Cespedes trade to Mets

By Zachary Thompson

Jul 30, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) singles during the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) singles during the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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After a long process and an almost-trade for Carlos Gomez that resulted in Wilmer Flores literally crying in baseball, the Mets finally made a deal for a bat to fortify their offense and hopefully result in a playoff push. How does the buzzer-beater deal that went down in the final minutes before the deadline change things moving forward? Let’s take a look at the fantasy baseball impact of the Yoenis Cespedes trade.

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The Mets badly needed a bat for the middle of their lineup, and they got the best hitter dealt on deadline day. Somewhat surprisingly, the Mets were able to complete the trade without prospect Zack Wheeler being a part of the deal instead shipping out right-handed prospects Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa.

Cespedes fantasy baseball value doesn’t change very much from this move since he is an elite hitter with enough power to overcome a small park downgrade from Comerica Park to Citi Field.  He will probably suffer more from the lack of protection in the New York lineup and his RBI chances may be a little fewer.  If anything, I’d give him a slight downgrade, but his value barely shifts.

As far as the Mets outfielders who will lose playing time with Cespedes arrival, Juan Lagares, Kirk Niewenhuis, and Michael Conforto now have just one OF spot to split between them until the return of Michael Cuddyer.  Lagares and Niewnehuis can be dropped in all leagues and Conforto may see less time as well if and when Cuddyer returns to the outfield (New York may want to explore moving him to 1B).

Jul 17, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada (11) hits a RBI single during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 17, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada (11) hits a RBI single during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports /

The Mets lineup as a whole should be positively impacted by the arrival of Cespedes and the return of David Wright.  The top two in the Mets lineup of Curtis Granderson and Ruben Tejada should both benefit from a meatier lineup behind them and make decent pickups or daily league value plays once Cespedes and Wright anchor the middle of the Mets lineup.

Meanwhile, back in Detroit where the fire sale is pretty much complete at this point, Rajai Davis and Athony Gose should be the two big winners as far as playing time goes.  Davis is an interesting fantasy commodity at the right price since he does offer a unique blend of power and speed.  This season, he has 14 stolen bases but only two homers while hitting. .258.  His playing time has been sproradic, but he could get hot and merits keeping an eye on if he gets everyday action. Gose has been mired in a slump lately going just 1-25 in his last 13 games.  He can be left on waiver wires at this point in season-long leagues.

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