Fantasy Sports Locker Room takes a closer look at last night’s Fantasy Baseball News, Notes and Injuries from around the majors – Twitter style.
We’ll put another brilliant performance from Clayton Kershaw on hold and kick things off with what was the news of the night…
#Cubs in serious talks with #Athletics on big trade, sources tell me and @jonmorosi. If completed, Hammel and/or Samardzija would go to A’s.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 5, 2014
Addison Russell’s name has been discussed with #Cubs, sources tell me and @jonmorosi. He is not playing today for #Athletics’ Double A club.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 5, 2014
No way Billy Beane deals top prospect Addison Russell. To the Cubs besides! Already stacked at short with Starlin Castro and top prospect Javier Baez. A’s are all in!
Exact deal: Russell, McKinney and Straily to #Cubs for Samardzija, Hammel. — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 5, 2014
I guess Theo Epstein has to fill Billy Beane‘s soda machine for three years. (Yeah, okay, Hollywood makes shit up.)
— scott pianowski (@scott_pianowski) July 5, 2014
This is all part of Theo’s plan to collect every shortstop in baseball.
— Beyond the Box Score (@BtBScore) July 5, 2014
Russell is ranked as the 12th best prospect according to MLB.com and is someone I had inside my top 15 Keeper/Dynasty Rankings to begin the year. So now CHC has three future fantasy gems in Russell, Beaz and 3B Kris Bryant. Add Anthony Rizzo and Castro to the mix and the Cubs infield is looking real nice, assuming these studs pan out, and they should. Question is from a Chicago Cubs standpoint…Will Castro be dealt now for some pitching? Russel could move over and play second. Nonetheless the Cubs are set. I gave no love to Billy McKinney. 24th overall pick in last year’s draft Billy McKinney. CF is no slouch! Good deal for the Cubs considering Samardzija wasn’t staying in the Windy City. McKinney was only Oakland’s best Triple-A starter.
After Tigers swept A’s this week, Oakland had to wonder if they’d have rotation to beat Detroit in playoffs. This trade is about October. — Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 5, 2014
Oakland already has one of baseball’s best pitching staffs in Scott Kazmir, Sonny Gray, Tommy Milone and Jesse Chavez. The edition of Jeff Smardzija and Jason Hammel makes it that much more scarier. Milone and Chavez will have to duke it out for the 5th spot in the rotation. Milone has been better of late. Samardzija is heading to a better ball park, with a better deffense behind him, plus better offense. He will face tougher opponents, but his fantasy value definitely rises with the trade. Could see a few more trades as the ‘deadline’ approaches. Maybe Dayan Viciedo will be on the move…
Dayan Viciedo is 4-for-4 with a home run and an outfield assist playing vs. the #Mariners, who reportedly have interest in him. #WhiteSox
— Dan Hayes (@DanHayesCSN) July 5, 2014
Maybe Jeff Samardzija‘s value goes up a speck. I don’t see it going down. He’ll miss all those crummy NL offenses, though. — scott pianowski (@scott_pianowski) July 5, 2014
So, Kershaw…
Clayton Kershaw dominates AGAIN as Dodgers beat Rockies, 9-0. Kershaw: 8 IP, 0 ER, 8 K. pic.twitter.com/TS1A3lw85R
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 5, 2014
Kershaw pushes his scoreless streak to 36 innings and has just been dominate for awhile now…
Since May 17 debacle in AZ (7 R 1 2/3 IP), Clayton Kershaw is 8-1 with 7 runs allowed in 65 IP (0.97 ERA), 87 K 9 BB and .112 avg against — Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 5, 2014
Clayton Kershaw’s last 98 starts (dating back to June 14, 2011): 7.07 IP/start, 722 K, 152 BB, 2.00096 ERA
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) July 5, 2014
Chris Sale also good last night…
I could watch Chris Sale pitch 7 days a week. He is all kinds of nasty. #underrated — Dan Shulman (@DShulman_ESPN) July 5, 2014
He was some kind of nasty last night. Complete game, allowing the one run on six hits while striking out 12. Yordano Ventura less effective, but throwing heat!
Ventura tonight — 68 of 88 fastballs at 97 mph or more. Nine at 100
— Joe Reedy (@joereedy) July 5, 2014
Ventura went 8.1 innings against the Indians. His longest outing in the bigs. He allowed one run on six hits and stuck out four.
Mike Moustakas on Yordano Ventura: “All of his pitches are disgusting.” — Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) July 5, 2014
You laugh because just the simplest pitch to Mike Moustakas and he can’t hit it. BUT, the third baseman has been much better since his call up.
Since June 7th, Mike Moustakas is hitting 284/338/500 (21 for 74 with 5 homers). Similar to a 311/346/473 run from 6/18-7/13/2013 (23-74)
— Brandon H. (@BHIndepMO) July 5, 2014
One of those I-feel-good-today games for Albert Pujols. Three hits, including a home run, and now a stolen base. #Angels — Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 5, 2014
Too early to give @Trouty20 MVP votes?
— C.J. Wilson (@str8edgeracer) July 5, 2014
C.J. Wilson was bad yet again; 11 home runs allowed over his last three games. Mike Trout there to save the day with a walkoff home run. His second of the season. And it’s not too early.
David Freese is batting .394 with 8 RBI over his last 10 games. Take it for what it’s worth, but his 26.5 LD% is solid — Chris Meaney (@chrismeaney) July 5, 2014
Over two weeks, David Freese has a .368 avg, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 5 runs and a stolen base. 83rd ranked fantasy player on Y! over that span. 18 percent owned. Line drive percentage is there, shows us he is making good contact.
INJURIES
Victor Martinez missed three games this week and left last night’s game with a back injury.
VMart on whether he might be back to face Price Sunday night: “The way I’m feeling right now, I don’t see it happening.”
— Matthew B. Mowery (@matthewbmowery) July 5, 2014
VMart on concern level: “This is nothing major. I need time to get back to like I’m used to.” #Tigers — Matthew B. Mowery (@matthewbmowery) July 5, 2014
C.C. Sabathia might have to call it a career….
“It’s probably fair to say CC Sabathia could miss the remainder of the season.” – Joe Girardi: http://t.co/KAPchih407 — MLB (@MLB) July 4, 2014
The post Fantasy Baseball News, Notes & Injuries: July 4 2014 – Clayton Kershaw, Jeff Samardzija & Addison Russell appeared first on Fantasy Sports Locker Room.