Players on the Move at Trade Deadline

As the MLB trade deadline approaches, we take a look at players whose fantasy value would be most affected by a change of scenery.

As the Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline approaches, fan bases across Major League Baseball are all collectively on #HugWatch. A player unexpectedly scratched from the starting lineup is a strong indication that a trade has been made, a suspicion usually confirmed by the customary good-bye hugs from the traded player's teammates.

In Week 16 of Three Up, Three Down, we'll break down six players who will likely be wearing different uniforms seven days from now, and how a potential change of scenery might affect their fantasy baseball status. Fantasy owners should keep their ears to the ground and their eyes on their Twitter feeds for the latest trade happenings in the coming days.

THREE UP

C/1B Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers

Stats July 18 -- 24: 5-for-18, 1 HR, 3 R, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 6 K

Percent owned: 98 percent

With the Brewers toiling in fourth place in the NL Central, Lucroy is among the most valuable assets on the market this year. A true two-way player -- he ranks sixth among catchers since 2012 in defensive rating -- the 30-year-old is a legitimate power-speed threat in the batter's box, a rarity among big-league backstops.

From a fantasy perspective, there's been a clear top-three at the catcher position all year in Lucroy, Wilson Ramos and Buster Posey. Lucroy ranks in the top three among qualified catchers in home runs, RBI, runs scored, stolen bases, OBP, SLG and ISO. His ISO is the highest it's been in any full season, perhaps a result of Lucroy pulling the ball more often than last year, thus making more hard contact.

Lucroy has been attached in trade rumors to the Indians, and could also be a Mets target. Cleveland ranks dead last in catcher offensive production this season, while the Mets rank 24th. Lucroy would represent a substantial upgrade, particularly for Cleveland in the wake of Yan Gomes' dislocated shoulder, and both lineups provide stronger supporting casts for Lucroy than his current Brewers teammates. Should he end up with either contender, fantasy owners would be well-positioned to reap the benefits of Lucroy's new situation.

OF / DH Carlos Beltran, New York Yankees

Stats July 18 -- 24: 10-for-24, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, 5 BB, 3 K

Percent owned: 84 percent

While the Yankees approach the deadline looking more like sellers than buyers, Beltran's resurgent campaign makes him among the club's most attractive trade pieces. The 39-year-old switch-hitter is on pace for 35 home runs, and his .554 slugging percentage represents his highest mark since 2006.

Beltran is in the final season of a three-year contract, so if the Yankees indeed decide to pass on contending this year, he's all but guaranteed to be moved before the deadline. Though a departure from Yankee Stadium will likely mean fewer home runs, a trade to a contender would place Beltran in a lineup with a stronger supporting cast.

Beltran is just one of three Yankees batters with a wRC+ above league average (among those with at least 100 plate appearances), and the other two -- Didi Gregorius and Brian McCann -- aren't exactly All-Star-caliber hitters. Beltran is hitting .349/.402/.564 since June 1, increasing his trade value at exactly the right time.

SP Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres

Stats July 18 -- 24: 1 GS, 0-0 W-L, 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K

Percent owned: 22 percent

Cashner is the epitome of someone who could use a change of scenery. Though his 4.34 ERA in 184.2 innings of work in 2015 wasn't exactly the mark of an All-Star, Cashner deserved better than his 6-16 record. He's largely flown under the radar in fantasy baseball this season, but should he be shipped away from San Diego -- which is all but a certainty at this point -- he'll be in a better situation to help fantasy owners.

It wasn't that long ago that Cashner was a legitimate fantasy asset. He went 10-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 2013 -- a figure supported by his 3.35 FIP -- and had a 2.55 ERA with a 3.09 FIP in an injury-riddled 2014 campaign. He hasn't been as sharp this year -- and he's missed time with a strained neck -- but he's looked more like his old self as of late.

Since returning from the disabled list, Cashner has had three very strong starts and one god-awful one. Ever the optimists, we'll focus more on the positives with post-DL Cashner. In his past two starts, Cashner has gone a combined 11.2 innings with 17 strikeouts and no walks, allowing only seven hits and two runs in the process. Those starts came against the Giants and Cardinals, two of the league's best offenses.

What's most encouraging about this stretch is that Cashner seems to have some extra life on his fastball since returning to action. In his start against San Francisco, for example, he threw 29 of his 48 fastballs at 95 mph or harder, a stark contrast to his pre-DL average fastball velocity of 93.8 mph.

THREE DOWN

OF Melvin Upton Jr., San Diego Padres

Stats July 18 -- 24: 3-for-20, 1 XBH, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 7 K

Percent owned: 69 percent

Upton has been among the best bounce-back players in baseball this season, and it pains me to include him in the Three Down section, because who doesn't love a good comeback story? Upton has hit 16 dingers and swiped 20 bases this season, placing him in good company among those with 15+ home runs and stolen bases.

Upton has spent the majority of his time in left field this year, and the Orioles currently have Mark Trumbo and Hyun-Soo Kim manning the corner outfield spots. Kim is currently on the DL with a hamstring injury but should rejoin the team this week. The Blue Jays have Jose Bautista and Michael Saunders in the corners, with the slick-fielding Kevin Pillar in center field. It would be surprising if Upton completely supplanted any of them for full-time at-bats.

All of this is speculative, of course, but the fact remains few contenders that might acquire Upton would give him regular playing time. If he slides into a fourth outfielder-type role with a new team, his fantasy value would take a massive hit. Current Upton owners must keep a close eye on the rumor mill until we know for sure where he'll end up.

1B/2B/OF Steve Pearce, Tampa Bay Rays

Stats July 18 -- 24: 5-for-22, 1 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K

Percent owned: 34 percent

Pearce played well in his first week back since coming off the DL, boosting his trade value for the last-place Rays. He's hitting line drives more often than ever before, and his strikeout rate has dropped significantly compared to last season.

OF Josh Reddick, Oakland Athletics

Stats July 18 -- 24: 6-for-18, 2 XBH, 0 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K

Percent owned: 54 percent

Reddick has quietly been a productive player for the slumping A's. Though he missed some time this year with a broken thumb, he's turned into an on-base machine this season after struggling to reach base in years past. Reddick's walk rate of 11.4 percent is the highest of his career, and he's also cut down on strikeouts by chasing pitches outside the zone less often.

If that's the case, then Reddick will have little fantasy relevance. But if he can land somewhere else with a clear starting job available for him, then he'll actually be in a better position to produce -- Oakland Coliseum is among the most pitcher-friendly parks in the league, and Reddick would have increased value playing in a more hitter-friendly environment.

MORE: The Greatest Asian Players in MLB History