Unless you're a big believer in Casey McGhee or think going from Philadelphia to San Francisco is exactly what Hunter Pence needed, Tuesday's trade deadline in Major League Baseball was slightly more exciting than the 2012 Houston Astros.

Three players, however, stand out to us in fantasy following a day in which the Indians added another left-handed bat -- only he will play in Triple-A, and his name is Lars.

1. Ryan Dempster, SP, Rangers: Switching from the National League (Cubs) to the American League likely won't lower his 2.25 ERA or his 1.04 WHIP, but Dempster should vastly improve upon his 5-5 record. Since June 5, he is 5-2 with a 1.40 ERA. In nine starts in April and May with the lowly Cubbies, he had a 2.90 ERA -- and was winless (0-3). The Rangers are 59-43 and are a half-game behind the Yankees for the best mark in the AL.

2. Zack Greinke, SP, Angels: Like Dempster, Greinke's ERA might rise, but he should win more often. Greinke was 9-3 in Milwaukee, but he could have been much better after allowing zero or one run in 11 of his 21 starts. Granted, he had a tough-luck loss in his Angels debut Sunday (two runs in seven innings against the Rays), but Greinke is a strikeout machine (130 in as many innings) who should be expected to thrive on a team that is 47-30 since a 10-17 start.

3. Greg Holland, RP, Royals: He didn't go anywhere, but Jonathan Broxton did (to Cincinnati), leaving the closer's job to a pitcher who has struck out 153 batters in 118 1/3 innings in his three-year big-league career. Holland hasn't been very effective this season (4-3, 3.63 ERA, 1.56 WHIP), but he was fantastic in 2011 (5-1, 1.80 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 74 Ks in 60 innings, four saves) and he clearly has the stuff to pitch in the ninth inning. Granted, the Royals might not give him a ton of save opportunities, but in AL-only or deeper mixed leagues, many owners will welcome a late-season saves boost.

Zack Greinke was supposed to be the ace of a pitching staff of a Brewers team many believed could win the National League Central Division.

Instead, he has pitched twice for a club that is five games under .500 (15-20) because he fractured a rib playing pickup basketball in February. (If you're the curious type, Greinke said he was going for a rebound and he fell on his side.)

In two starts, he is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA and an impressive 15 strikeouts in 10 innings.

Last season was a disappointing one for the 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner. In his final season with the Royals, Greinke was 10-14 with a 4.17 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 181 Ks in 220 innings -- a stark contrast from his 2009 numbers (16-8, 2.16 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 242 Ks in 229 1/3 innings).

If you own Greinke, you're starting him. But what should you expect from him the rest of the way?

Here is what we know: 1. The Brewers are taking it slowly with the 27-year-old. He has thrown 85 and 89 pitches in his first two starts this season. 2. Don't expect the 2009 Greinke -- the one who averaged 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

In his career, Greinke has a norm of 7.6 Ks per nine innings -- a figure that is inflated by his fantastic 2009. His ERA is 3.83, his WHIP 1.26, and he's seven games under .500 (61-68).

Overrated is an overused term in fantasy -- OK, in sports in general -- but we'll go ahead and say it here because it certainly applies. Greinke often is overrated.

In a 12-team league, I'd consider Greinke a No. 4 starter. He isn't among the top 30 at his position in fantasy, and he is a fringe top-40 pick.

Again, you should start him in most formats.

If you have a deep pitching staff, don't look at Greinke as a must-start. In weeks in which he's starting once, he should be anything but a given when you're selecting your lineup.

I stuck with Zack Greinke in May, even as he went 1-4 with an uncharacteristically high 4.10 ERA.

I figured his luck had to change, knowing all too well he pitched for Royals, whose ineptitude will trump luck any day of the week and twice on doubleheader days.

Consider this a change of heart.

In two starts this month, Greinke is 0-2 with an 8.18 ERA. In 11 innings, he's allowed 19 hits and walked four -- good for a WHIP of 2.09.

He is now 1-8 with a 4.05 ERA and 1.30 WHIP a year after going 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA and 242 strikeouts in 229 1/3 innings.

Could it be that the lack of support has beaten him down?

In Greinke's first 11 starts this season, he allowed three earned runs or fewer nine times. The Royals scored three runs or fewer in seven of those 11 games. In the 26-year-old's six May starts, Kansas City scored once or was shut out on three occasions.

He has to be nearly perfect to win, and he's been far from it.

You might have chosen Greinke in the third round, and you likely can't get much of value for him in a trade. That leaves you with two choices: Continue playing him and risk him piling up 15 or 16 losses, or bench him.

I'm in the latter camp, at least until the Royals prove me wrong once or twice.

I might be waiting a while.

Before we get to the final set of rankings in this nine-part, three-week series that seems longer than the NBA playoffs, a few quick points on the top starting pitchers:

-- Tim Lincecum and Roy Halladay are worthy of top-10 picks. There will be plenty of sluggers available in Round 2.

-- Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, who should benefit from an improved lineup supporting him, might produce first-round numbers in his sixth season. The 23-year-old is an early to mid-second-round selection.

-- I believe in Zack Greinke and would be willing to back it up with a pick in the middle of the second round.

-- CC Sabathia is the only other pitcher I would draft in the top 24. Justin Verlander and his 269 strikeouts will be tempting, but I can’t get his awful 2008 completely out of my mind.

-- For the first time, Johan Santana might be undervalued. He is coming off his first season with fewer than 15 wins since 2003 and likely is a late third- or early fourth-round pick.

On to the rankings:

Rank, player: IP, W-L, ERA, BB, K
1. Tim Lincecum, Giants: 225.1, 15-7, 2.48, 68, 261
2. Roy Halladay, Phillies: 239, 17-10, 2.79, 35, 208
3. Felix Hernandez, Mariners: 238.2, 19-5, 2.49, 71, 217
4. Zack Greinke, Royals: 229.1, 16-8, 2.16, 51, 242
5. CC Sabathia, Yankees: 230, 19-8, 3.37, 67, 197
6. Justin Verlander, Tigers: 240, 19-9, 3.45, 63, 269
7. Dan Haren, Diamondbacks: 229.1, 14-10, 3.14, 38, 223
8. Johan Santana, Mets: 166.2, 13-9, 3.13, 46, 146
9. Chris Carpenter, Cardinals: 192.2, 17-4, 2.24, 38, 144
10. Jon Lester, Red Sox: 203.1, 15-8, 3.41, 64, 225
11. Adam Wainwright, Cardinals: 233, 19-8, 2.63, 66, 212
12. Josh Johnson, Marlins: 209, 15-5, 3.23, 58, 191
13. Cliff Lee, Mariners: 231.2, 14-13, 3.22, 43, 181
14. Josh Beckett, Red Sox: 212.1, 17-6, 3.86, 55, 191
15. Javier Vazquez, Yankees: 219.1, 15-10, 2.87, 44, 238
16. Cole Hamels, Phillies: 193.2, 10-11, 4.32, 43, 168
17. Yovani Gallardo, Brewers: 185.2, 13-12, 3.73, 94, 204
18. Tommy Hanson, Braves: 127.2, 11-4, 2.89, 46, 116
19. Jake Peavy, White Sox: 101.2, 9-6, 3.45, 34, 110
20. Matt Cain, Giants: 217.2, 14-8, 2.89, 73, 171
21. John Lackey, Red Sox: 176.1, 11-8, 3.83, 47, 139
22. Jair Jurrjens, Braves: 215, 14-10, 2.60, 75, 152
23. Chad Billingsley, Dodgers: 196.1, 12-11, 4.03, 86, 179
24. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers: 171, 8-8, 2.79, 91, 185
25. Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies: 218, 15-12, 3.47, 85, 198
26. Roy Oswalt, Astros: 18.1, 8-6, 4.12, 42, 138
27. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks: 4, 0-0, 13.50, 2, 2
28. Wandy Rodriguez, Astros: 205.2, 14-12, 3.02, 63, 193
29. Jered Weaver, Angels: 211, 16-8, 3.75, 66, 174
30. James Shields, Rays: 219.2, 11-12, 4.14, 52, 167
31. A.J. Burnett, Yankees: 207, 13-9, 4.04, 97, 195
32. Gavin Floyd, White Sox: 193, 11-11, 4.06, 59, 163
33. Ricky Nolasco, Marlins: 185, 13-9, 5.06, 44, 195
34. David Price, Rays: 128.1, 10-7, 4.42, 54, 102
35. Carlos Zambrano, Cubs: 169.1, 9-7, 3.77, 78, 152
36. Edwin Jackson, Diamondbacks: 214, 13-9, 3.62, 70, 161
37. John Danks, White Sox: 200.1, 13-11, 3.77, 73, 149
38. Scott Baker, Twins: 200, 15-9, 4.37, 48, 162
39. Matt Garza, Rays: 203, 8-12, 3.95, 79, 189
40. Scott Kazmir, Angels: 147.1, 10-9, 4.89, 60, 117
41. Ryan Dempster, Cubs: 200, 11-9, 3.65, 65, 172
42. Max Scherzer, Tigers: 170.1, 9-11, 4.12, 63, 174
43. Ted Lilly, Cubs: 177, 12-9, 3.10, 36, 151
44. Derek Lowe, Braves: 194.2, 15-10, 4.67, 63, 111
45. Mark Buehrle, White Sox: 213.1, 13-10, 3.84, 45, 105
46. Clay Buchholz, Red Sox: 92, 7-4, 4.21, 36, 68
47. J.A. Happ, Phillies: 166, 12-4, 2.93, 59, 119
48. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox: 59.1, 4-6, 5.76, 30, 54
49. Rich Harden, Rangers: 141, 9-9, 4.09, 67, 171
50. Jorge De La Rosa, Rockies: 185, 16-9. 4.38, 83, 193
51. Ervin Santana, Angels: 139.2, 8-8, 5.03, 47, 107
52. Randy Wolf, Brewers: 214.1, 11-7, 3.23, 58, 160
53. Johnny Cueto, Reds: 171.1, 11-11, 4.41, 61, 132
54. Aaron Harang, Reds: 162.1, 6-14, 4.21, 43, 142
55. Rick Porcello, Tigers: 170.2, 14-9, 3.96, 52, 89
56. Ben Sheets, Athletics: 198.1, 13-9, 3.09, 47, 158
57. Tim Hudson, Braves: 42.1, 2-1, 3.61, 13, 30
58. Hiroki Kuroda, Dodgers: 117.1, 8-7, 3.76, 24, 87
59. Andy Pettitte, Yankees: 194.2, 14-8, 4.16, 76, 148
60. Joe Blanton, Phillies: 195.1, 12-8, 4.06, 59, 163
61. Jeff Niemann, Rays: 180.2, 13-6, 3.94, 59, 125
62. Kevin Slowey, Twins: 90.2, 10-3, 4.86, 15, 75
63. Brett Anderson, Athletics: 175.1, 11-11, 4.06, 45, 150
64. Francisco Liriano, Twins: 136.2, 5-13, 5.80, 65, 122
65. Joel Pineiro, Angels: 214, 15-12, 3.49, 27, 105
66. Scott Feldman, Rangers: 189.2, 17-8, 4.08, 65, 113
67. Joba Chamberlain, Yankees: 157.1, 9-6, 4.75, 76, 133
68. Bronson Arroyo, Reds: 220.1, 15-13, 3.84, 65, 127
69. Jonathan Sanchez, Giants: 163.1, 8-12, 4.24, 88, 177
70. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals: ROOKIE
71. Erik Bedard, Mariners: 83, 5-3, 2.82, 34, 90
72. John Maine, Mets: 81.1, 7-6, 4.43, 38, 55
73. Wade Davis, Rays: 36.1, 2-2, 3.72, 13, 36
74. Kevin Millwood, Orioles: 198.2, 13-10, 3.67, 71, 123
75. Joe Saunders, Angels: 186, 16-7, 4.60, 64, 101
76. Brad Penny, Cardinals: 173.1, 11-9, 4.88, 51, 109
77. Brett Myers, Athletics: 70.2, 4-3, 4.84, 23, 50
78. Homer Bailey, Reds: 113.1, 8-5, 4.53, 52, 86
79. Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays: 69.2, 2-4, 4.39, 44, 63
80. Shaun Marcum, Blue Jays: Injured, missed season

Preseason top 100 players (24): Lincecum (7), Halladay (10), Hernandez (16), Greinke (17), Sabathia (19), Verlander (26), Haren (30), Santana (35), Carpenter (36), Lester (37), Wainwright (42), Johnson (45), Lee (47), Beckett (59), Vazquez (64), Hamels (76), Gallardo (77), Hanson (83), Peavy (84), Cain (85), Lackey (93), Jurrjens (95), Billingsley (96), Kershaw (97)

Short hops
In his last two seasons, Lincecum is 33-12 and has struck out 526 in 452 1/3 innings. ... Halladay has averaged more than 17 wins in his last four seasons and has a norm of 207 strikeouts in his last two. ... Sabathia has averaged 18 wins and 219 K’s the last three years. ... Haren is 45-27 with an average of 207 strikeouts since 2007. ... Lester is 31-14 in his last two seasons. ... Prior to a down 2009, Hamels averaged 15 wins and 187 strikeouts in 2007 and ’08. ... Peavy was 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three starts with the White Sox at the end of 2009. ... Prior to Oswalt’s nightmarish ’09, he was a combined 86-47 from 2004-08. ... Should he recover from a shoulder injury, Webb could be a mid-round gem. He averaged 20 wins and 189 strikeouts in 2007 and ’08. ... The often-overrated Kazmir has never won more than 13 games in a season.

NOTE: Statistics are from the 2009 season. ... Positions listed are according to the depth charts at mlb.com.

THIS WEEK: Outfielders, Tuesday; relievers, Thursday; starting pitchers, today

LAST WEEK: Third baseman, March 8; designated hitters, March 9; shortstops, March 11

TWO WEEKS AGO: Catchers, March 2; first baseman, March 4; second baseman, March 5

Prior to a three-team trade between the Indians, Mariners and Mets last December, Franklin Gutierrez was known for his outfield defense.

It's too early to tell, but thus far that deal, which netted the Indians reliever Joe Smith and second baseman Luis Valbuena, seems to have the Mariners playing the role of Prince Fielder and the Tribe as a ball thrown by a coach in the Home Run Derby.

After homering against his former team Saturday night, his second home run in as many games vs. the Tribe, Gutierrez is batting .294 with 12 homers, 40 RBI and 24 extra-base hits in 293 at-bats. He's also scored 44 runs and stolen six bases.

Even better: Since June 16, he has nine homers and 21 RBI in 117 at-bats. In that span, he's batting .342 with 21 runs. This from a player who hit .248 with eight homers, 40 RBI and a .690 OPS in 399 at-bats with the Indians in 2008.

Factor in that Smith has been oft-injured, has a 4.35 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP, and Valbuena is hitting .217 with a .275 on-base percentage and currently can't beat out Jamey Carroll for playing time, the trade seems as questionable as Eric Wedge's daily lineup adjustments.

Gutierrez is owned in only 22.5 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com, a number that is surprisingly low even after an 8.1-percent leap this week. If Gutierrez is available, he is a significant asset in deep leagues.

He's never been a threat to hit .300 (he batted .258 with the Indians from 2005-08), but he's only 26 and is playing at a career-best clip. Don't expect Gutierrez's batting average to finish above .280 or his homers to continue to occur once every 13 at-bats.

He is, however, more than serviceable as a third outfielder in 14- or 16-team leagues.

He is also another sign that Mark Shapiro seems to have lost his edge faster than you can say Jhonny Peralta.

Finally, the pitchers: A blog I wrote prior to vacation featured the best fantasy batters of the first half. In case you were wondering what happened to the list of pitchers I promised, here we go.

STARTERS

-- Tim Lincecum, Giants: He was 10-2 with a 2.33 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 127 2/3 innings in the first half. Johan, who?

-- Justin Verlander, Tigers: One of this year's best draft-day values won 10 games and fanned 149 in 122 1/3 innings prior to the All-Star break.

-- Zack Greinke, Royals: Yes, he has cooled down considerably (2-4 since June), but I'll take 10-5 with a 2.12 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 127 1/3 innings.

-- Dan Haren, Diamondbacks: Imagine if he compiled his first-half numbers for a team other than the D-Backs (2.01 ERA, a .189 opponents' batting average, 0.81 WHIP and 129 strikeouts in 130 innings). Arizona was the only reason he had only nine wins at the break.

-- Josh Beckett, Red Sox: His ERA (3.35) wasn't on the level of Haren, Greinke or Lincecum, but his 11 wins, three losses and 110 K's place him in the top five.

-- Runner-up: Roy Halladay, who gets a slight edge over Matt Cain and Felix Hernandez.


CLOSERS

-- Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers: He missed the All-Star game because of a toe injury that is expected to hamper him the rest of the season, but he was the top reliever of the first half after going 6-0 with a 3.10 ERA, 20 saves in 22 chances, a 0.93 WHIP and 65 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings.

-- Heath Bell, Padres: He blew only one save in 24 chances, had a 1.69 ERA and 42 K's in 37 1/3 innings.

Runner-up: Brian Fuentes, Angels: Francisco Rodriguez's replacement in Los Angeles gets a narrow nod over Jonathan Papelbon because of his 26 saves in 29 chances.