Happy trade deadline hangover! While the waiver trade deadline is still a few weeks away, the majority of fantasy-relevant trades appear to have happened. I took a look at a few players that could have been moved and their potential value on the peaks and valleys scale. It has been a little over ten days since the deadline and a few thoughts have come to me about those moved, and one who stayed put.

Jake Peavy has shown his good and bad side in two starts for the Boston Red Sox. Peavy continues to challenge hitters too often without making them work during at-bats. 3 home runs and 14 hits in 12 innings pitched are less than stellar. His debut yielded positive reviews after striking out seven in as many innings should give owners hope.

Alex Rios was the notable waiver trade this season. His move to Texas almost seemed inevitable after Nelson Cruz was suspended for 50 games in connection with the Biogenesis report. Rios won’t hit as many home runs as Cruz, but his ability to hit to all fields should continue to produce in fantasy.

A third White Sox player, Alexei Ramirez, was rumored to be on the move, but stayed put. Since the beginning of August, Alexei has hit .333 with 2 home runs, tripling his total for 2013. A few more long balls could be possible to add to his rising total of stolen bases and respectable batting average.

Jose Veras was the only closer moved, and thank the heavens for it. Owners had to be sweating out the potential chaos of chasing saves if more relievers were swapped.

Peaking

Jon Jay, Outfield, St. Louis Cardinals: Jay’s numbers look unsexy and mediocre this season, and I feel a lot has to do with luck. His fly ball, ground ball, and line drive rates are consistent with his career averages in the majors. Even with his hit percentages against curveballs and sliders lower than 2012, he has been able to drive in runs at a similar pace against fewer diverse pitches. Call it speculative, but a raise in Jay’s fantasy stats could be on the horizon.

Darin Ruf, Outfield, Philadelphia Phillies: Delmon Young was designated for assignment, which is allowing Ruf to prove his worth. In fantasy, his power could help your team immediately. Over a full season (500 at-bats or more) Ruf would be on pace for 30 home runs.

Bud Norris, Starting Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles: Consistency is so important in fantasy. Norris provides that despite his consistent pitch count inefficiency. With Baltimore playing well and seemingly in the wild card race for the rest of the year, Bud could be a contributor your team’s ERA, wins, and strikeout total.

In the Valley

Gerrit Cole, Starting Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates: While Bud Norris has been on the right side of high pitch counts, Cole has been laboring to get through 5 innings too often for fantasy consideration. Unless you are in a deep or NL-only league, feel free to look elsewhere.

Carlos Quentin, Outfield, San Diego Padres: A knee injury landed him on the 15-day DL, but his fantasy value dropped without a move from Petco Park. His injury history will plague and cap his value, but this one threw off a chance to keep hitting well with the playoffs in front of him.

Dan Uggla, Second Base, Atlanta Braves: 2 hits in August. It is now the week of August 12. Does anything else have to be said? Even Adam Dunn is perplexed by you owning him.

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