Which Piece Of The Alex Avila Deal With Have The Largest Fantasy Impact?
By Mike Marteny
Which Piece Of The Alex Avila Deal With Have The Largest Fantasy Impact?
The Tigers dealt Alex Avila and Justin Wilson to the Cubs as the defending World Series Champions try to make a return trip. The Cubs sent two pieces that could help the Tigers yet this year. So which piece of this deal will have the greatest fantasy impact? First, let’s look at the deal:
Avila was the starting catcher in Detroit for part of the year when he was hitting. When he went cold, his dad shipped him out of town. That will be an awkward family dinner next time, right?
Avila hit .274 with 11 homers and 32 RBI in 219 at bats for Detroit. Those are very good numbers for a catcher, and one would tend to think that they would improve with a move to the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. Well, it would if he could find the playing time. Unfortunately for Avila, the Cubs are stacked at catcher, and some guy named Anthony Rizzo plays first base for them.
That will leave Avila as mostly a pinch hitter. He has played in two games with the Cubs and earned a combined two at bats. Unless an injury happens, Avila can be dropped in all leagues.
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So who will have a fantasy impact in this deal if the biggest name wont? It wont be the man that was traded with him either. Justin Wilson saved 13 out of 15 games for Detroit with a 2.68 ERA this year. For the Cubs, he will still pitch in high leverage situations, but mostly as a left handed specialist. Wilson still has value in leagues that count holds, but he can safely be dropped if your league doesn’t count them.
Obviously, that leaves a closer role open in Detroit. Shane Greene, who struggled mightily as a starter over the last couple of years, was given the first crack. He has not relinquished the role yet, and he looks very comfortable at the back of the bullpen. Greene is a good add in all leagues right now.
An impact will not be made by 18 year old Isaac Paredes yet either. Parades his hitting .273 with seven homers and 53 RBI in 96 games in class A. Paredes was only the 19th ranked prospect in the Cubs system, but he jumped all the way to eighth in Detroit’s system. He is a lot more polished than most at his age, and could be in the majors in the next two or three years.
That leaves Jeimer Candelario. Candelario hit just .152 in 33 at bats for the Cubs earlier this year, but he did get his first major league home run. He is a switch hitter with power that has little to prove at AAA. Nick Castellanos is manning the hot corner in Detroit right now, but it is likely that Candelario is already a better defensive player than Castellanos already.
When Candelario gets the call, he is worth a look in most leagues if you need a power boost. He will definitely be up when rosters expand, but he could wind up in Detroit before then with the DH in play in the American League.
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