The upcoming non-waiver trade deadline is always a fun time for fantasy owners, especially for those in mono leagues. Trades open up opportunities for those already on the club or newly arriving, plus prospects recalled to replace those traded away. Furthermore, many teams are treating this time as the official time to play for the future. Let’s discuss two names who may benefit from such moves in the near future.

Jeff McNeil | 2B NYM | CBS 3% Owned

With a record of 40-57, the Mets should be in sell mode. That doesn’t automatically mean trade all your best assets, but trade your closer (which they did) and anyone else who’s a free agent at the end of the season, at the very least. Asdrubal Cabrera remains on the team, but the assumption is he’ll be gone by the deadline. The Mets called up McNeil yesterday, a 26-year-old who failed to make any prospect lists for obvious reasons. You really have to impress in the minors at that age to be considered a prospect. He did, however, make Carson Cistulli’s Fringe Five on July 6, in which Carson applauded McNeil’s “excellent indicators”.

If the Mets trade Cabrera, McNeil could get a long look at the team’s starting second baseman. But, he’s actually had experience playing at every single position in the minors, except for pitcher and catcher. So he should find himself with plenty of opportunity to earn playing time. McNeil has enjoyed a breakout performance, especially in terms of power. He has already socked 19 homers, this from a guy who had hit just nine in his entire minor league career previously, in nearly four times the at-bats. Whether the sudden power surge is legit, I don’t know, but since it has been paired with his usual excellent strikeout rates, I’m somewhat intrigued.

McNeil has never struck out more than 16.4% of the time at any minor league stop, and has routinely posted marks in the low teens. That gives him a nice batting average floor and more opportunities to hit fly balls that could jump over the fence. He’s a prime deep league target with some real upside.

Sean Reid-Foley | SP TOR | 4% Owned

Here’s a proactive pickup in deeper leagues. Reid-Foley entered the season as the Blue Jays 11th best prospect and fifth best pitching prospect, but he remains in the minors with no real idea of when he might be called up. Then, Kiley McDaniel said this about him:

…with some reliever risk due to command and arm action but upside as a starter or late-inning option due to his above-average to plus sinker/curveball combo. We think he may land in the multi-inning power-reliever bucket that’s more valued now than before, but there’s obviously a decent chance he takes a step forward and starts or one backward and is a one-inning-type reliever.

That potential step forward Kyley alluded to Reid-Foley taking? Done. After posting strong strikeout and SwStk% marks in the low minors through 2016, he dramatically regressed in his first taste of Double-A last year where he pitched the entire season. He posted just a 20.7% strikeout rate and nothing special 10.6% SwStk%. This season, having pitched 110 innings split between Double-A and Triple, he has boosted his strikeout rate back up to the high 20% range, a tick below 30%. Supporting the spike are SwStk% marks at the two levels of at least 13%. His control has also improved at Triple-A, as his walk rate is the second lowest of his professional career at 8.1%. That’s dominance and the step forward that was hoped for.

With the Blue Jays hopelessly out of the race and dealing with several injuries in their rotation, Reid-Foley could debut any week now. His Triple-A performance makes it appear that he’s ready and it’s hard to find arms with this kind of strikeout upside in the free agent pool in AL-Only leagues. So now is the time to pounce before he’s officially called up.