Fantasy baseball managers are always looking for an edge in their leagues, and one strategy that can pay off is to buy 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! Here are seven favorite fantasy baseball buy low candidates.
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Assistant
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Tools
- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Baseball Buy Low
Who is your top fantasy baseball buy low candidate? Also, who would you try to get in return?
Shane Baz (SP – TB)
“This might be the perfect time to buy low on Shane Baz in fantasy baseball. Over his last three starts, he’s seen his ERA jump from 2.46 to 5.02 thanks to allowing 16 ER in 12 1/2 IP. And while the recent results have been really bad, I’m still a believer and am encouraged by what we see when we peek under the hood. For starters, his FIP, xFIP, SIERA, and xERA all paint a prettier picture, ranging from 3.36 to 4.34. His xBA, xSLG, and xwOBA are all significantly better than his actual numbers there, as well. His velocity has been fine and is actually UP a tick from 2024, and he has been leaning more on his knuckle curve, which has been effective. It’s really the changeup and slider that are struggling right now, but both of those pitches were excellent for him last season. This feels like a young pitcher with limited experience who has dealt with injuries who is still figuring things out as a pro, and I think his best is ahead of him. I’m seeing if I can flip a Ben Rice, Brendan Donovan, Isaac Paredes, Michael Busch, Tyler O’Neill, Jackson Holliday, Lourdes Gurriel, or Andy Pages for him.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)
Cody Bellinger (1B,OF – NYY)
“Although he’s starting to warm up, the buy-low window is still open on Cody Bellinger. Like all Yankees, he had a strong opening weekend, but then slashed .182/.270/.318 with just 2 HR in April. He’s already gone deep twice in May, is putting together a week-long hitting streak and is raising his average. Bellinger still occupies a prime spot in a potent offense and can offer both power and speed while qualifying at 1B and OF. Fantasy managers should try flipping power-only bats like Spencer Torkelson or Tyler Soderstrom to get Belli.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)
Brandon Nimmo (OF – NYM)
“A year after batting .225, Brandon Nimmo is hitting .224 with his lowest walk rate (7.8%) and wRC+ (100) since a brief 2016 debut. That doesn’t sound like a tantalizing target, but let’s consider the positives. He’s already spiked eight home runs with career-highs in exit velocity and barrel rate. Although Nimmo has lowered his strikeout percentage, a .226 BABIP well below his .317 career norm has concealed a .271 expected batting average and .353 xwOBA. Last year’s 15 steals were likely an anomaly, but Nimmo should notch a massive RBI tally batting cleanup behind Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso. See if you can flip a flavor-of-the-month hitter like Andy Pages or solid pitcher like Kevin Gausman.”
– Andrew Gould (FantasyPros)
Willy Adames (SS – SF)
“Willy Adames is definitely off to a classic “big free agent contract press” start to 2025. Adames had a career year in ’24 and cashed in with San Francisco. Unfortunately, his .218/.296/.339 slash is poor even for the most patient of fantasy managers. The concern was the Giants ballpark would be rough on him as a right handed power hitter, but ironically his home stats have been better than the road splits. He has a .257 BA/.715 OPS at home compared to just .190 BA/.576 OPS on the road. Adames may never regain the BA and OBP strides he made last year, but he’s far better than his start. I would deal a Seth Lugo level arm and take the leap that he has a solid 2/3 of the season ahead of him. ”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Salvador Perez (C,1B – KC)
“I want to buy low on Salvador Perez. Of the 39 batters with a .380 xwOBA or better, Perez is the only one with an actual wOBA under .300 (his sits at .277). His current batting average is 77 points lower than his expected average, despite continuing to hit the ball hard. I expect things to turn around sooner rather than later for Salvy. I’d be willing to give up Carson Kelly or Javier Baez, easily, for Perez in return. ”
– Chase Davis (FantasyPros)
Cole Ragans (SP – KC)
“His ERA, WHIP and BABIP are well above his traditional norm while his Left On Base%, BB/9 and K/9 are all at elite levels and above his career norms. His BaBip suggests some early-season bad luck rather than a trend to be concerned about, and with his HR/9 slightly elevated, I suspect his ERA and WHIP are a victim of the small sample size. The stuff is clearly, still filthy, shown by 65 strikeouts in 40.2 innings pitched. Ragans pitches for a club in the Midwest, in the Kansas City Royals, that may as well pitch in Ecuador for how they are ignored by the bi-coastal media, making him a Fantasy Ace that flies under the radar.
He’s every bit as good as Garrett Crochet – despite the elevated ERA and WHIP – and better than Paul Skenes, even though nobody would attempt to claim as such. You don’t need to pay that kind of price to trade for Ragans, but he has significantly more room for improvement the rest of the way than those aces. Tarik Skubal is the only SP that can make a case for being hands down the better Fantasy SP and Ragans hangs with him in K/9. The only SP with Ragans kind of nasty stuff while being ignored to this degree is Michael King in San Diego. Pick the best SP that wasn’t ranked in the Top five to begin the season and I’d trade them for Ragans without a blush. ”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)
Corbin Burnes (SP – ARI)
“It’s been a weird season for Burnes where he has a sub-3.00 ERA, yet everyone has been calling for his head. We’ve seen some velo dip in most of the early part of the season prior to him having a start skipped. In his last start against the Dodgers, he blanked them, while seeing his cutter jump back up almost a full MPH. It looked dominant again with a 33% CSW%. His xERA is still over 4.50, but this last start may have been the beginning of his turnaround. Right now, he can probably still be had as an outside the top-25 SP, and I want to buy.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
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