(Eric Hartline, USA TODAY Sports)
Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline is still a month away, but the time for wheeling and dealing has already begun.
Marlins bolster bullpen
Fernando Rodney owners are probably the most upset over Thursday’s pair of trades, as the San Diego Padres sent their closer to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Class A pitcher Chris Paddack (who was profiled by BaseballHQ.com just last week).
One of the shakiest closers entering the season, Rodney was almost untouchable in 28 2/3 innings, going a perfect 17-for-17 in save chances and posting a ridiculous 0.31 ERA and 0.87 WHIP.
In Miami, he’s likely to compete for save chances with incumbent closer A.J. Ramos, a development that could limit both of their fantasy values. We’ll watch how manager Don Mattingly uses his relievers to see if a pattern develops, but the hunch here is that he rides the up-and-down Rodney while he’s hot and only turns to Ramos when needed.
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The 39-year-old Rodney has spent the latter part of his career as his team’s primary closer, so expect that to continue — despite the fact that Ramos has been almost as good as Rodney has this season. Ramos, 29, is 24-for-24 converting saves with a 1.74 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.
Impact in San Diego: With Rodney gone, the Padres have two leading candidates to take over as closer. Rookie right-hander Ryan Buchter has by far the better numbers. In 34 innings, the 29-year-old has struck out 50 batters (13.2 K/9) and pitched to a 2.91 ERA. (It was 1.60 before he gave up five earned runs to the Orioles on Wednesday.)
Brandon Maurer, 25, has had his share of struggles in his fourth major league season. His ERA stands at 5.73 over 37 2/3 innings, partly because he’s yielded six home runs. He does have a very good 11.2 K/9 rate, but he’s walked 4.3 per nine.
Dodgers add rotation depth
The injury to ace Clayton Kershaw may have played a part in the Los Angeles Dodgers acquiring veteran right-hander Bud Norris from the Atlanta Braves.
He’ll immediately go into Kershaw’s place in the rotation and start Friday against the Colorado Rockies (thankfully, at home).
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Norris (3-7) is coming off his best start of the season — tossing seven shutout innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday to lower his ERA to 4.22. Since returning to the Atlanta rotation after a five-week stint in the bullpen, Norris has posted a 2.15 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in five starts.
He’s been hurt by the Braves’ inability to provide much offensive support, but his strikeout rate of 7.7 K/9 isn’t anything earth-shattering. His success in 2016 has come from a career-high 50% ground-ball rate. Don’t get too excited about his prospects, even in pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium. Norris has returned positive fantasy value only once in his career — in 2014, when he went 15-8 with Baltimore.
Impact in Atlanta: The Braves will need to find yet another starter with Norris no longer around and John Gant just added to the DL. But then again, you really don’t want a Braves starter on your fantasy roster anyway.