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!
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Fantasy Baseball Buy Low/Sell High
What one MLB player are you trying to buy low right now and why? 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. 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)
Fantasy Baseball Sell High Targets
What one MLB player are you trying to sell high right now and why? Also, who would you try to get in return?
Javier Baez (3B,SS,OF – DET)
“Javier Baez is the very definition of a sell high. Player with a lengthy track record of being mediocre (or downright bad) who is on an absolute heater with several red flags in his advanced profile? Yup, he checks all of those boxes. And after a performance on Tuesday that saw him hit two three-run home runs, including one to walk things off in extra innings, his value will probably never be as high as it is right now. If you roster Baez, you probably grabbed him either out of desperation or because you wanted to ride the hot streak. Don’t get greedy now. Look at his .400 BABIP, the sea of blue on his Statcast page, the .247 xBA, the 17.2% HR/FB rate, and the fact that his 21.6% Hard Hit rate is actually a career LOW (well below his 31.9% career rate, though he hasn’t sniffed 20% since 2021). We talked about selling high on Baez on last week’s episode of The Cycle. It’s time to sell even HIGHER now. See if you can get Max Meyer, Zach Eflin, Matthew Liberatore, Dustin May, Tyler Mahle, or maybe even Tony Gonsolin.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)
Tyler Mahle (SP – TEX)
“There is no chance Tyler Mahle finishes with numbers close to what he’s posting in mid-May so it’s time to acquire a struggling starter in his place. Mahle definitely has the ability to be a solid mid-rotation arm but his 1.47 ERA and 0.96 WHIP are due to surge soon. He is posting a 4.27 SIERA and enjoying a .219 BABIP, both of which point to massive regression. Most of all, he isn’t even racking up strikeouts at a 19.6% clip. Those who were lucky enough to add him should try to get Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, or even Aaron Nola in exchange.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)
Tylor Megill (SP – NYM)
“Before anyone accuses me of Mets homerism, now may be the time to cash out on Tylor Megill‘s strong start. He’s backing his 3.15 ERA with an elite 29.5% K rate and a 2.99 FIP, so a leaguemate may believe in the breakout and see a buy-high opportunity. However, we’ve seen Megill crash from hot starts before. He has a 2.45 ERA in 88 career March and April innings but a 4.99 ERA the rest of the way. That trend has already continued with Megill allowing four runs in consecutive May outings, so try to exchange him for a slow starter such as Nimmo, Vinnie Pasquantino, or Jack Flaherty.”
– Andrew Gould (FantasyPros)
Tanner Bibee (SP – CLE)
“Tanner Bibee is holding his 2025 season by a thread right now. His 3.80 ERA masks some really poor deeper stats. His 4.22 xERA, 5.53 FIP, 4.70 xFIP are all giant red flags. Even more unsettling is the K/9 dropping year over year from 9.6 to 6.2. At the same time, his walk rate, HR rate and hits per 9 have all jumped higher, which is not good news. Bibee is a blow up waiting to happen and if you can flip him for a struggling Bryan Reynolds or Ozzie Albies I’d be all for that. ”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Kodai Senga (SP – NYM)
“I’m selling high on Kodai Senga. On the season, he is 4-2 with a 1.22 ERA and 8.5 K/9 through 44.1 innings. While the ERA is super impressive, his peripherals don’t paint as pretty a picture. His xERA (3.31), FIP (2.86), xFIP (4.17), and SIERA (4.28) are all well higher than his ERA to this point. Senga is also struggling to go deep into games. He’s completed at least six innings in only three of his eight starts. I’d be more than happy to turn Senga into Brandon Nimmo.”
– Chase Davis (FantasyPros)
Nathan Eovaldi (SP – TEX)
“I’m a huge Nathan Eovaldi fan and I’m benefiting significantly by his early-season brilliance because of it, so I feel I can say this with all the love in my heart – these numbers are unsustainable and not only are they unsustainable, a huge drop off is coming. Eovaldi is pitching well above previous career highs in K/9, BB/9, HR/9, which is especially shocking, BaBIP, and shockingly as well, a HR/FB at a measly 7.3%. He’s cut that number by almost half or better compared to his last three seasons, 7 of his last nine and it’s his best season in that category going all the way back to 2009 when he pitched for the Miami Marlins. His ratios (ERA and WHIP) are more likely to double than stay anything close to where they are currently hovering (1.78 and .75). His K/9 is slightly better than a strikeout per inning, a percentage he has accomplished only once in his career and that was in Fenway Park with the Red Sox, Pre-Covid.
Eovaldi has been known for having an electric, high-velocity arm and yet the strikeouts have always been disappointing, making his 2025 early numbers that much more tasty when trying to sell high on his Cy Young leading start to 2025. I’d target Hunter Greene, a true flame thrower and strikeout machine, whose stock is slightly down due to a groin injury or Michael King, who has officially become one of the least publicised REALLY good Fantasy pitchers in the game. Others that will outpitch Eovaldi the rest of the way that I’d gladly swap Eovaldi’s hot start in exchange for are pitchers like Joe Ryan, Logan Webb or Freddy Peralta. Even Nick Pivetta will be better than Eovaldi going forward. I don’t imagine you’ll need to “settle” for these lesser names, but I expect them all to outperform Eovaldi the rest of the way. Throw Jesus Luzardo on that list while we’re piling on why don’t you. The list is long and the options AHHHH plenty. Happy hunting.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)
Casey Mize (SP – DET)
Mize has looked the part of a #1 overall pick this season. He has a sub-3.00 ERA with an xERA that supports it. He’s done a good job of limiting contact compared to previous years. I think Mize can continue to be a solid SP this year, but not this dominant of one. He is overperforming on his fastball, and that will make things interesting for him if he regresses. In the past, the fastball has correlated with the effectiveness of his split-finger. He’s giving up more barrels, while players are getting the ball in the air on him more than in previous years. I still think we could get a 3.5 – 3.8 ERA out of him, but if you sell now, you may be able to maximize a return. ”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
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