The trade deadline is affecting more than where a Major League Baseball player will suit up for the season’s duration. Fantasy baseball owners are scrambling due to the ramifications of some of the recent moves. Here’s a list of winners and losers of the recent trade moves.

Winner

Jonathan Papelbon

Fantasy baseball owners likely knew this year wouldn’t offer the same save opportunities as last year when Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon went for 39 saves, the most since his 41 in 2008. Despite the lower save numbers with 17 in 2015, he has produced in each save opportunity and has the second-lowest ERA of his career.

With him being traded to the Washington Nationals, Papelbon will see several more save opportunities. And, because he sees so few save opportunities with the Phillies, he isn’t owned in all leagues, so in a select few fantasy baseball leagues, he can be picked up off the waiver wire.

Loser

Drew Storen

The great sell-off of Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen has begun, unless of course your fantasy baseball league utilizes holds, because Storen will likely become a hot commodity on the holds market.

However, most fantasy baseball owners are likely forced to drop Storen who has had a productive season for the Nationals in the closing role. Papelbon is reportedly going to close games now for Washington, meaning Storen’s 29 saves and 1.73 ERA will be used as only set-up material.

Storen actually owns a better strikeout-per-nine-innings ratio at 10.9 compared to Papelbon’s 9.1, but that won’t matter soon as he will be dropped in most fantasy baseball leagues.

Winner

Johnny Cueto

This is a guarded attempt at saying fantasy baseball owners should be happy about former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto joining the Kansas City Royals.

Cueto has spent his entire career in the National League. The balance of quality teams just hasn’t been the same in the National League compared to the American League, and that designated hitter position, can creep up on National League pitchers.

However, Cueto can strike out batters, which is a necessity for success in the American League. He strikes out 8.3 batters per game and has combined that with a 2.62 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. What also might help him, at least in the short term, is that most hitters have not likely seen Cueto often enough to have him scouted well.

He will be in line for more wins, especially with the bullpen that the Royals trot out on a nightly basis. There’s some trepidation about making the move from the NL to the AL, but overall, this should be a good move for Cueto’s fantasy baseball owners.

Loser

Troy Tulowitzki

Let’s face it. Anyone who plays in Colorado already offers an edge to fantasy baseball owners. Toronto is the best run-producing team in Major League Baseball this year, but take a look at Tulowitzki’s career home stats compared to what he’s done on the road.

At Coors Field in Colorado, he bats and gets on base at a clip that is 45 points higher, has 80 more runs, 113 more RBIs, and 24 more home runs in a 10-year career in Colorado.

He’s still good on the road, especially as a shortstop, but there’s a definitive difference in his statistics on the road compared to the friendly confines of Colorado. He also seemed blindsided by the trade and will have to adjust to a new country with the Blue Jays.

He does get to play for a contender, but fantasy baseball owners should be a little worried how the move will affect his productivity.

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