Offseason movement: Trades

In a previous post, I worked through the flurry of free agent signings to pick out some of the most impactful moves affecting fantasy owners. I could’ve written a book of Dickensian length had I delved into the lesser signings to fill our rosters or those incentive-laden minor league deals.

As I think of it, many fans start the baseball season with a “best of times, worst of times”-type sentiment. You’re excited the new season is upon you and that you have another hangout to push into the mix. However, you’re also bracing yourself for another mountain of losses and painful late-inning collapses.

Real-life general managers did their best to bring in talent for your favorite squads this offseason. In addition to the aforementioned flurry of free agent moves, a number of big trades came down that involved big-time pitchers. Let’s get it started in the Bronx.

Fantasy owners let out a collective sigh when Javier Vazquez was dealt to the Yankees. He’ll still eat a ton of innings, pile up strikeouts and win in double digits. Unfortunately, his contributions to the ERA and WHIP columns will likely take a hit while pitching in the A.L. East.

Curtis Granderson also joins the Yankees for 2010 and will try to etch his place in the juggernaut lineup. He produces in four categories for fantasy owners, but the batting average takes a hit. He strikes out a ton, and his batting average on balls in play (the popular BABIP) has dipped markedly in the past two years (73 points lower in 2009 from his 2007 campaign). He’ll certainly have protection around him and should see his batting average rise.

Roy Halladay knows how to get batters out, as evidenced by his 69 wins the past four years. The past two seasons, he’s also rediscovered his strikeout touch by topping 200 punch-outs in each. He takes that dominance to the National League, where he gets to feast on pitchers and weaker batting options at several other positions. There’s no reason to believe he can’t push toward new career marks behind a tremendous lineup.

Cliff Lee followed up his mind-blowing 2008 season with a 14-win effort between Cleveland and Philadelphia. He was the big addition among a series of moves made by the Mariners this offseason. He’ll enjoy pitching in the spacious confines of Safeco Field behind a revamped lineup. His foot surgery isn’t expected to slow him this spring, and I look for him to rack up another 14-16 wins. Just don’t expect to see his strikeout efforts match his National League exploits.

The mercurial Milton Bradley joins the ninth team of his career as part of the outfield mix in Seattle. If healthy and in the right frame of mind, he’s a solid power producer who can also help the batting average category.

Edwin Jackson’s one of the most intriguing movers this offseason. He posted his best season as a major leaguer with the Tigers in 2009 and has won a total of 27 games the past two seasons. I’m obviously nervous about his high walk rate, low strikeout rate and high home run count, but the move back to the National League with Arizona should help keep his 2010 numbers in line with last year’s production.

Ian Kennedy made 14 appearances for the Yankees during the past three seasons. His most extensive work came in 2008, and he was lit up by opposing offenses. He’ll work to make an impact upon joining the Diamondbacks. Can the former super prospect finally break through?

Speaking of former top-notch prospects, “Mad” Max Scherzer and his live arm have made the journey to Detroit. Scherzer’s averaged 9.54 strikeouts per nine innings in his brief major league career. He’ll continue to strike people out in Detroit, but will the other categories follow?

Kevin Millwood reversed a two-year downturn with a solid 2009 campaign in Arlington. He pitched to 13 wins and a 3.67 ERA, his best since 2005. He now joins the Orioles to add a veteran arm to the rebuilt squad. He’ll pitch enough innings to pile up double-digit wins, but he won’t help you anywhere else. Look for the ERA and WHIP numbers to rise in the A.L. East.

Bill Hall struggled through the 2009 season, a year split between Milwaukee and Seattle. He struck out a ton, as you’d expect, and finished the year with a composite .201 batting average. He’ll vie for at-bats and playing time in Boston now. If he does get at-bats, he’s demonstrated an ability to hit for power. Just don’t expect much else from him.

Veteran hurler Carlos Silva joins the Cubs following an injury-shortened final season in Seattle. Cubs fans screamed “Why!?” after seeing the names Vazquez, Lee and Halladay dealt elsewhere. Silva hasn’t pitched to an ERA better than 4.19 since 2005, and his career WHIP sits at 1.41. He’ll be better in the National League, but don’t look for a dramatic jump.

Mark Teahen’s demonstrated decent pop at times while playing multiple positions for the Royals. He’ll get a chance to pile up big statistics in U.S. Cellular Field while taking over at third base for the White Sox. He has good gap power and could provide decent value as an outfield/infield plug-in player for fantasy owners.

Former Yankees prospect Austin Jackson will get a chance to showcase his wares as a starting outfielder for the Tigers in 2010. He performed well in Double- and Triple-A, hitting for a solid average (.285 and .300, respectively) with great speed (43 stolen bases total). He’s worth a flier late in drafts.

Matt Lindstrom saved 15 games for the Marlins last year and has a live arm. Unfortunately, he continues to struggle with his control and allows more than one hit per inning pitched. He’ll be in the mix for save opportunities alongside Brandon Lyon in the revamped Houston bullpen.

Josh Fields will try to rediscover his power stroke as a member of the ever-rebuilding Royals. He’s a high-strikeout candidate whose batting average has been a huge problem, keeping him from becoming an everyday player in Chicago. Owners might want to take a look-see at him if he can prove the stroke that brought 23 home runs in 2007 has returned. However, he’ll need to prove that in a deep third base position before he’ll be drafted in fantasy leagues.

Carlos Gomez is essentially a two-category option for fantasy owners. He’ll swipe bases and score runs, provided he gets on base, of course. Therein lays the problem. He owns a brutal .292 career on-base percentage. Unfortunately, defensive plays around helping your fantasy bottom line.

J.J. Hardy had seemingly worked past his injury-riddled past with strong back-to-back seasons for the Brewers. Then, he was limited to 115 games last season and saw his batting average tank to a career-worst .229 mark. He’s a good option when healthy, having slammed 116 extra-base hits in those two upper-level seasons in Milwaukee. He’s an intriguing middle infield option in Ron Gardenhire’s lineup.

The A’s have struggled with how to handle former Gold Glover Eric Chavez and his frequent health concerns. He’s still part of the mix for 2010, but Kevin Kouzmanoff arrives from San Diego to provide a more consistent, healthier option at third base. Kouzmanoff hit 18 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons while playing for the Padres. As such, the change to the Oakland-Alameda County Stadium shouldn’t adversely affect his stats too dramatically.

Rafael Soriano appeared in a frightening number of games last season (77) and registered a career-high 27 saves. He struck out 12.13 batters per nine innings and nearly four per walk allowed. He’ll have his opportunities to close out a number of games for the strong Tampa Bay squad.

I was intrigued by the reports about Chris Ray’s throwing sessions prior to 2009 and the possibility of him wresting the closer role back from George Sherrill. Instead, he struggled with control and saw his ERA balloon to a brutal 7.27 level. Ray looks to reclaim his career as part of the middle relief staff in Texas now. There are many twists and turns during a baseball season, so it’ll be interesting to see if he can regain his control, find his mark and get another shot as a closer somewhere once the carousel starts spinning.

Brandon Morrow followed up a tremendous effort in 2008 and a chance to be a full-time closer with a disastrous 2009 campaign. His hit rate was up markedly, and his walk-to-strikeout ratio led to more than a few terrible outings. I don’t suspect things get much better with a move from Seattle to Toronto. He could be part of a committee mix, working alongside Scott Downs and Kevin Gregg.