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
What one MLB player are you trying to buy low and why? Also, who are you willing to give up for him?
Julio Rodriguez (OF – SEA)
“Julio Rodriguez may be disappointing, but he is consistent. Let me explain. Julio Rodriguez’s April slash is .196/.308/.366. His career April slash is .227/.299/.352. Rodriguez is a notoriously slow starter with a career .257 BA and .734 OPS in the first half. In the second half, well, that’s when he becomes Julio again with a .300 BA and a .903 OPS. The moral here is to buy Julio now. Seiya Suzuki has been solid, but has a lingering wrist issue. Perhaps Suzuki and a throw-in gets it done.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Aaron Nola (SP – PHI)
“Aaron Nola has to turn it around at some point. I want to make sure that when he does, Nola is on my roster. He has a 5.40 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP in his first six starts of the season. Nola is coming off a strong start against the Cubs, where he allowed just one earned run over seven innings. I would look to flip a player that has strung together a few strong starts, like Tomoyuki Sugano, and a bench asset to see if I can add Nola on my roster.”
– Jesse Garcia (FantasyPros)
Chris Sale (SP – ATL)
“I’m trying to buy low on Chris Sale. Coming off a Cy Young season, he’s looked horrible so far. However, his xERA (3.54) is almost two full runs better than his actual ERA (5.40). His pitch velocities are right around where they were last year, albeit with slightly worse whiff rates on the fastball and slider. His .400 BABIP will fall sooner or later — he’s never had a BABIP higher than .323 in any full season. I would gladly trade Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, or MacKenzie Gore for Sale.”
– Chase Davis (FantasyPros)
Dylan Crews (OF – WAS)
“Dylan Crews – It was a slow start for Crews, but things are starting to turn around. He’s got a hit in 12 of his last 14 games. His over 15% barrel% is triple what it was last year, when everyone still loved him. He’s hitting the ball harder on average, and despite hitting just .220, he has a .281 xBA. He still has strikeout issues, but even in his struggles, he’s keeping pace with a lot of preseason projections on his counting stats. He hasn’t recouped his value, so he’s a great buy-low.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
Yordan Alvarez (OF – HOU)
“I have begun to kick the tires on Yordan Alvarez in most of my leagues. According to the FantasyPros Discord chat, some are getting very antsy about his slow start. He only has three home runs and 18 RBI with a gross .219/.316/.354 slash line. Underneath that, though, the stats are promising for a turnaround now that the calendar is turning to May. His xBA is only .253, but his xSLG is back around his normal at .502. Right now, Alvarez is suffering from an extremely low .231 BABIP, and I want in when this bounces back to his career average of .318. Depending on the team’s needs of whoever has him, I’d be fine shopping Jose Altuve or even Jackson Chourio for him at this point.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
Luis Robert Jr. (OF – CWS)
“Luis Robert is quietly showing signs of life, and he might not ever be cheaper to acquire than he is today. There are still some concerns in his batting profile, but some of those concerns have always been there. But over the last week, he’s batting .273 with two home runs and four stolen bases. He’s already up to 11 steals through 27 games and swiping 23 bags in 100 games last season. And while he is currently on the worst team on the planet (no offense to the Rockies), he’s likely to be traded in the coming weeks. We already heard that the Dodgers nearly had a deal in place to add him to their All-Star lineup. He’s currently walking at a 14.8% clip despite a career average just north of 6% because he has no protection in the lineup. But that will all change soon. And I’m willing to flip Cristian Sanchez (assuming he is OK but fearing that he is not long-term), Bryan Woo, Sonny Gray, MacKenzie Gore, or Bailey Ober for him.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)
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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy baseball, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Baseball Tools as you navigate your season. From our Lineup Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy baseball season.
