Transaction Analysis: Melky Whiffs

Here's a look at the transactions this week that had the most significant fantasy impact.

Athletics

Brandon Inge, 3B - placed on the 15-day DL (right shoulder)
Josh Donaldson, 3B - recalled from Triple-A Sacramento

Impact: The A's third baseman will miss at least 15 days with a dislocated right shoulder. Inge was signed by Oakland at the end of April to fill an offensive void at the hot corner and has performed about as well as could be expected. Inge is hitting .216 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI in 82 games between Detroit and Oakland this year and will be replaced in the lineup by the newly recalled Donaldson. Donaldson began the year sharing the third-base duties with Eric Sogard, but was sent back to the minors due to his offensive struggles. He returns to a .153 average, one home run and seven RBI through 28 games and is probably not worth owning in most fantasy leagues.

Giants

Pablo Sandoval, 3B - activated from the 15-day DL
Brett Pill, 1B - optioned to Triple-A Fresno

Impact: "Kung Fu Panda" returned to the Giants lineup Monday after missing a couple of weeks with a strained hamstring. The DL stint was Sandoval's second this season, as he missed more than a month earlier this year with a broken bone in his left hand. He returns to a .299 average, eight home runs and 33 RBI in 62 games and should be an integral part of San Francisco's playoff hopes. Marco Scutaro, Joaquin Arias and Ryan Theriot are the most likely players to lose playing time as a result of Sandoval's return.

Melky Cabrera, OF - suspended for 50 games for violating MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program

Impact: With just 45 games left on the Giants schedule, Cabrera will miss the rest of the regular season and five additional games (most likely postseason games) after testing positive for testosterone use. The left fielder ranks second in the National League with a .346 average and has also contributed 84 runs scored, 11 home runs, 60 RBI and 13 stolen bases. This comes as a huge blow to the Giants, who were tied for first with the Dodgers in the NL West at the time of the suspension. It would appear that Gregor Blanco will be the most likely player to see an increase in playing time as a result of Cabrera's suspension. Blanco could help out a fantasy team in stolen bases but isn't likely to contribute much in other categories.

Indians

Roberto Hernandez, RHP - reinstated from the restricted list
Josh Tomlin, RHP - placed on the 15-day DL (right elbow)

Impact: The pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona missed the first four-and-a-half months of the 2012 season after it was discovered during the offseason that he had falsified his identity. He was denied entry into the United States until he was granted a visa July 21, and then began serving a three-week suspension for identity fraud. Hernandez is actually three years older than was originally thought, owning a career 53-66 record, 4.59 ERA and a mediocre strikeout rate of 5.44 K/9IP. The sinker-baller is probably an AL-only option at best. Tomlin was bumped to the bullpen after a disastrous start July 27 where he gave up eight earned runs on 10 hits over just four innings against the light-hitting Twins. He has been diagnosed with inflammation in his right elbow and leaves behind a 5-8 record and a 6.36 ERA over 21 appearances.

Mariners

Justin Smoak, 1B - recalled from Triple-A Tacoma
Mike Carp, OF-1B - placed on the 15-day DL (left hip)

Impact: Carp was one of Seattle's best hitters last year, as he hit .276 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI in 79 games. He came into the 2012 season with high hopes as the team's primary left fielder, but sprained his right shoulder on Opening Day. The injury has landed him on the DL twice this season and limited his effectiveness in between DL stints. He has now landed on the DL for a third time this year due to tightness in his left hip, posting a lousy .206 average, five home runs and 20 RBI in 49 games. Smoak began the year as Seattle's first baseman, but performed so poorly at the plate that he was shipped to the minors in July. After three weeks at Triple-A, he returns to a .189 average, 13 home runs and 38 RBI in 90 games.

Phillies

Nate Schierholtz, OF - placed on the 15-day DL (right big toe)
Hector Luna, IF - recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley

Impact: Schierholtz became a regular in the Phillies outfield after he was acquired in a trade with San Francisco for Hunter Pence before the July 31 deadline. In 11 games after the trade, Schierholtz hit just .219 with one homer and two RBI. Overall, he's hitting .246 with six home runs and 18 RBI through 88 games. The 28-year-old outfielder was auditioning for a spot on Philadelphia's 2013 roster and is expected to be out three to four weeks with a broken right big toe. John Mayberry Jr. should get most of the playing time in center field while Schierholtz is out, with Laynce Nix possibly also seeing an increase in playing time. Mayberry has shown decent power over the 2011 and 2012 seasons, though his fantasy value is limited by a batting average that has hovered around the .230 mark much of this year. Luna provides some infield depth and could also see some time in the outfield.

Rockies

Michael Cuddyer, OF - activated from the 15-day DL
Matt McBride, 1B - optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs

Impact: Cuddyer was activated Thursday after missing a couple weeks with a strained right oblique. With Todd Helton out for the remainder of the season, Cuddyer could see significant time at first base. He's hitting .260 with 15 home runs and 56 RBI this season and will be in the lineup on a regular basis wherever he plays. McBride was unimpressive in his bid to earn the first-base job, as he hit just .200 (4-for-20) in nine games with the Rockies.

Twins

Trevor Plouffe, 3B - activated from the 15-day DL
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, IF - optioned to Triple-A Rochester

Impact: Plouffe has been a pleasant surprise for the Twins this year after he hit just .238 with eight home runs and 31 RBI over 81 games last season. The third baseman missed a few weeks with a right thumb injury and returns to a .259 average, 19 home runs and 38 RBI in 74 games. He'll get most of the starts at third base over the remainder of the season, with shortstop Brian Dozier shipped back to the minors and Jamey Carroll moving from third base to shortstop. Nishioka was 0-for-12 with a couple of errors in three games with the Twins and appears unlikely to have any kind of fantasy value in the near future in most leagues.