DODGERS DEAL PUIG, KEMP TO CINCINNATI
The Cincinnati Reds acquired outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp, pitcher Alex Wood, infielder/catcher Kyle Farmer and cash from the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Josiah Gray, infielder Jeter Downs and pitcher Homer Bailey.
What does it give the Cincinnati Reds
This is a big move by the Reds, who have not been much of a factor in the National League for quite some time. Adding Puig should boost the offense, while Kemp might still have some gas left in his tank at age 34. Furthermore, Wood gives Cincinnati more stability for the starting rotation. Farmer is versatile and could earn time as a backup catcher in 2019, while the money received from LA here should help pay the salaries of all four newcomers. Look for Puig to play every day in right field for the Reds, while Kemp could be in the mix at the other two outield spots with the likes of Jesse Winker, Scott Schebler and Phillip Ervin.
What does it give the Los Angeles Dodgers
For the Dodgers, this trade is mostly about dumping salary and alleviating some of the logjam both in the starting rotation and the outfield. With Puig gone, Alex Verdugo is expected to take over as the everyday right-fielder. Gray and Downs are quality (if raw) prospects for the Dodgers' pipeline. Both are good additions here. As for Bailey, he is not long for the Dodgers and is expected to be released from his contract soon. At the end of the day, the Dodgers made this deal as a form of housecleaning (rather than as a means to improve the team from the outside).
Fantasy impact
The biggest winner here is Puig, who should enjoy playing half the time at Great American Ball Park. Conversely, Wood's stock should take a bit of a hit moving away from Chavez Ravine. Kemp is a fantasy wild card in 2019 but fantasy leaguers should take a wait-and-see approach with him early on. Farmer has no value to speak of, while Bailey should quickly find a job somewhere in MLB (but his fantasy prospects are rather dim these days). With both Gray and Downs, both should now be on the keeper radar but are fantasy options for down the road.
