Fantasy Baseball Insiders

San Francisco Giants Trade Catcher Bengie Molina to Texas Rangers: Fantasy Impact

While the MLB trade deadline is more than four weeks away, the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers swapped catcher Bengie Molina for reliever Chris Ray and a player to be named later on Thursday.

Although this deal may appear insignificant on the surface, it’s important to understand how this trade effects not only the fantasy values of the players involved, but others as well.

Molina’s move from San Francisco to Texas obviously boosts his value; not only because he’s now batting in a much more potent lineup, but because of the home ballpark factor as well.

While the eldest Molina brother has struggled this season (.257 batting average, three HRs, 17 RBI in 202 at-bats), his three-year averages (.278 batting average, 18 HRs, 85 RBI) suggest there may be something left in the soon-to-be 36-year-old’s tank…

Will the Real Casey McGehee Please Stand Up?

Casey McGehee delivered a breakout performance for the Milwaukee Brewers last season, batting .301 with 16 homers and 66 RBI in just 355 at-bats.

McGehee then silenced his doubters by batting .300 with nine home runs and 41 RBI through the first two months of 2010.

His bat has since cooled, however, forcing fantasy managers to question McGehee’s true worth.

To completely understand McGehee’s value, let’s examine his relatively unknown past…

Why Florida Marlins’ Josh Johnson Is Better Than Colorado Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez

Ubaldo Jimenez has been absolutely filthy through 16 starts this season, going 14-1 with a Bob Gibson-like 1.83 ERA. The 26-year-old flame thrower even tossed a no-hitter back on April 17.

Likewise, Marlins‘ starter Josh Johnson boasts a 1.83 ERA and 0.96 WHIP through 16 starts, but hasn’t gotten the luck or the run support that Jimenez has.

While Colorado’s ace has struggled in his last two starts, Johnson has continued to dominate.

After a closer look, it’s become obvious that Johnson has out-dueled the N.L. Cy Young favorite through the first three months in nearly every major pitching category…

Waiver Wire Fliers: Replacing Phillies’ Second Baseman Chase Utley

The Phillies placed Chase Utley on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ligament in his right thumb on Tuesday, making him the fourth player in recent weeks (Aramis Ramirez, Victor Martinez and Jason Heyward being the others) to be shelved due to a thumb injury.

It’s unclear how long the Phillies (and more importantly, your fantasy squad) will be without Utley’s services. Through 72 games this season, the 31-year-old was batting .277 with 49 runs, 11 homers, 37 RBI and five steals.

In his absence, Utley’s owners will be forced to ponder these waiver wire fliers as short-term replacements at second base…

Waiver Wire Fliers: Replacing Braves’ Outfielder Jason Heyward

After batting just .181 with one homer over 94 June at-bats, rookie sensation Jason Heyward’s batting average fell from .292 (on May 31) to .251 following last Saturday’s 0-for-4 game.

Heyward’s recent ineffectiveness can be blamed on a lingering thumb injury that’s been bothering him since late May. Instead of continuing to let him play through the pain, the Braves decided to place the 20-year-old on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 27.

Heyward’s injury won’t require surgery, and he’s expected to be back in the lineup after the All-Star Break.

While his long-term value is through the roof, his short-term value can easily be replaced with one of the following waiver wire fliers:

Why You Should Sell High on Brewers’ Outfielder Corey Hart

After an 0-for-5 effort against the Phillies on May 14, Brewers outfielder Corey Hart owned an uninspiring stat line of three homers, 12 RBI, and a .247/.340/.416 triple slash through 27 games.

In 41 games since, Hart has punished opposing pitchers to the tune of 15 homers, 38 RBI and a .296 batting average. Through games played on Monday, June 28, Hart is tied for the N.L. lead in home runs with 18, while only Miguel Cabrera and David Wright have more RBI than Hart’s total of 60.

Hart is currently on pace to smash 41 homers and drive in 137 runs, which would top his career season highs of 24 dingers and 91 RBI.

The question Hart’s fantasy managers face is simple: Can he continue to hit at this incredible clip?

Waiver Wire Fliers: Replacing Red Sox Catcher Victor Martinez

Victor Martinez was hit with two foul tipped balls on Sunday, the first off of Pablo Sandoval’s bat in the second inning, then off the bat of Andres Torres in the third, which broke a bone in the tip of V-Mart’s left thumb.

The Red Sox initially hoped Martinez could avoid a DL stint, but after re-evaluating the injury on Monday, they decided to shelf the three-time All-Star until after the All-Star Break.

During a season in which catchers have been widely ineffective (only three rank in Yahoo’s top 200), Victor Martinez has been one of the few standouts, batting .289 with nine homers and 38 RBI…

Waiver Wire Fliers: Replacing Red Sox Second Baseman Dustin Pedroia

After a forgetful May, Dustin Pedroia rewarded his faithful fantasy managers in June, batting .374 with four homers, 16 RBI and six steals in 23 games.

Just as it seemed Pedroia was on his way to a career year, the injury bug bit the Red Sox second basemen on the left foot. The injury won’t require surgery, but Pedroia is expected to miss six weeks. If the injury heals as expected, he should be back in the lineup around the second week in August.

With Pedroia on the shelf, fantasy managers will turn to the league waiver wire for viable replacements at second base…

Why a Low BABIP Doesn’t Necessarily Signal a Good Buy-Low Candidate

The term Batting Average on Balls In Play (BABIP) has become one of the most popular stats among fantasy managers in recent years. To put it simply, BABIP measures the number of batted balls that fall safely for a hit (excluding home runs).

According to The Hardball Times Glossary, the exact formula for BABIP is: (H-HR)/(AB-K-HR+SF).

The major league average for BABIP is usually around .300. Last year it was .299. Through nearly three months this season, its .298…