Fantasy baseball managers are always looking for an edge in their leagues, and one strategy that can pay off is buying low on struggling players and selling high on those who have exceeded expectations. Below, our featured experts look closely at some players they’re targeting for these trades. They have closely monitored the latest player trends and performance metrics to identify key players you should consider buying low and selling high to maximize your roster’s potential.

By leveraging our exclusive trade analyzer and relying on advanced metrics, comprehensive player rankings, and player projections, our experts have determined which players you should target in trades and which ones you should look to move. So, whether you need a roster shake-up or simply want to capitalize on a player’s hot streak, this article is here to guide you through the process.

Let’s examine these trade recommendations, analyzing the rationale behind each move and providing you with actionable advice to help you dominate your league. Don’t forget to check out our other fantasy baseball resources to help you stay ahead of the competition all season long. Happy trading!

• Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
• Fantasy Baseball Trade Tools
• Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
• MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

Fantasy Baseball Players to Buy Low & Sell High

What one MLB player are you trying to buy low and why? Also, who are you willing to give up for him?

Brent Rooker (DH – ATH)

“Give me all the Brent Rooker I can trade for. As a guy going after the elite studs on draft day and without the longest track record of high-level production, I think he’s attainable after his slow start. But I’m not worried about the .188 batting average, considering how much lower his BABIP is than the last two seasons. And even with his slow start, Rooker already has four home runs. His K% and Barrel% are both identical to last season, and the A’s new ballpark is extremely hitter-friendly so far. I have no doubts about Rooker finishing with 30+ home runs and an average around (or even over) .250. Trade for him now before he goes on a heater.”
– Ryan Wormeli (FantasyPros)

Emmanuel Clase (RP – CLE)

“It took a rough postseason in 2024 and one blown save in 2025 for people to give up on Emmanuel Clase. His numbers certainly don’t look good (6.75 ERA) despite locking down his second save of the season, but this is recency bias at its finest. Clase still has a minuscule walk rate and despite a below-average strikeout rate so far this season, he has an elite Chase rate. If someone in your league is worried about Clase, offer up any closer other than Josh Hader or Mason Miller.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)

“I’ve heard some people are dropping him outright, but I’m totally fine targeting Emmanuel Clase as a buy-low option. Clase currently has a 6.75 ERA, but his xERA is 3.54 with a FIP of 3.40 and xFIP of 3.21. He is getting hammered by a .467 opposing BABIP, which is unsustainable and will regress immensely. The Guardians remain a good baseball team, so the save chances will be there, and if you waited on closers for too long, now might be the time to capitalize on it. Depending on team construction, I’d start by offering someone like Bryson Stott or Tyler Fitzgerald, but I’d be willing to move a little bigger (but overperforming) name if necessary.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)

Chris Sale (SP – ATL)

“Chris Sale – The inflated ERA and age are going to have some people concerned. They really shouldn’t be. The Braves got off to a really slow start, and things are kicking back up. Sale’s stuff is still there, he’s still going primary slider and is just an easy early-season buy.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)

Christian Walker (1B – HOU)

“There is a world where Christian Walker is cooked, but I don’t think we’re there yet. He’s off to a slow start with a new team, but I think the usual production will be there when the dust settles on this season. He is chasing pitches more right now than he has in the past, but his bat speed is still 86th percentile, according to Statcast. His exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard hit rate are all still well above average, if not the elite numbers he usually displays there. This all feels like just a slow start and a small sample size, and I’m buying Walker if I can flip him for the likes of Marcus Semien, Bryce Miller, Freddy Peralta, or Bailey Ober.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)

What one MLB player are you trying to sell high right now, and why? Also, who would you try to get in return?

Nick Lodolo (SP – CIN)

“On last week’s episode of The Cycle, my co-host Mike Maher tried to pitch me on selling high on Hunter Greene. I, of course, laughed at him. But I do think another Reds starting pitcher fits the bill: Nick Lodolo. I was all over Lodolo as a draft-day sleeper, but don’t get seduced by the ERA and WHIP both sitting under 1.00 through three starts. Lodolo’s eight strikeouts through 18.2 innings simply isn’t good enough to be a high-level fantasy starter, and given his home ballpark, consider me dubious of the ERA staying as low as it is. Lodolo isn’t a bad pitcher, and I think your leaguemates might see this as a pitcher with pedigree taking a leap. To me, that means you might be able to include him in a trade for a difference-maker. And if you can, you should.”
– Ryan Wormeli (FantasyPros)

Wilyer Abreu (OF – BOS)

“The window to sell high on Wilyer Abreu is still open, as he appears to be a five-category stud on the surface. Although he hasn’t homered since April 4, he remains among the league leaders in runs and RBI, along with a batting average over .300. Don’t expect any of this to last, except possibly the RBI production. He is a solid hitter in a great spot to succeed, but he isn’t a plus power bat, and the average will drop. Try to swap him for another young outfielder with more upside like Jasson Dominguez, Riley Greene, or Pete Crow-Armstrong.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)

Hunter Greene (SP – CIN)

“Right now, Hunter Greene is pitching like a CY Young winner. Everything has changed since he added the splitter last year. The bigger positive is that his velo is back up this year. He’s currently rocking a sub-one ERA and WHIP. I think Greene is going to be a very valuable pitcher right now, but his current cost is at an all-time high. Great American Ballpark will do him no favors, plus expected indicators show closer to a three ERA pitcher. I think he has taken the next step, but if someone comes off of a guy like Sale, or pays his current price, I would move him.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)

Robbie Ray (SP – SF)

“Robbie Ray is sitting pretty with a 2.93 ERA and has won all three of his starts. If he is on your roster, sell him because it won’t get higher than this. Pick an underlying metric, and it is U-G-L-Y. His xERA is 6.06. His FIP and xFIP are both in the mid-5s. He is striking out 21% of hitters but also walking 16.1% of them. A .167 BAABIP and 94.6% left on base rate are the only two things keeping him afloat. According to the FantasyPros trade value chart, I might toss out some trades for a mid-level closer like Jeff Hoffman or Pete Fairbanks.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)

Michael Busch (1B – CHC)

“I agree with a bunch of the other sell highs here, and I even wrote up Hunter Greene last week as my sell high (still think he is, despite what Worm says). But I’ll go with Michael Busch this week. While I think Busch is intriguing, especially if you need some power, he isn’t THIS good. I don’t think anyone has delusions of him batting .300, but he already has four home runs and a .983 OPS while hitting cleanup in the Cubs’ lineup every day. Fantasy managers in need of power will take note of those numbers, meaning he has value. However, he hasn’t shown that he can hit lefties, at least not in the way he hits righties. In 2024, he batted .258 against lefties, but just one of his 21 home runs came against southpaws. This year, all four home runs are against righties. In his seven plate appearances against lefties, he’s batting just .167. Now, that’s obviously a minuscule sample size, but the point is that Busch hasn’t shown to have his power swing against lefties. And that will cause some inconsistent production and some cold streaks. If I can flip him for someone like Brandon Pfaadt, MacKenzie Gore, Clay Holmes, Yusei Kikuchi, or Taylor Ward, I’m working the phones for a deal.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)

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