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 fantasy baseball 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
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- Weekly Fantasy Baseball Content
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice: 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?
Dylan Cease (SP – SD)
“Dylan Cease has been far better than his 1-5 record and 4.74 ERA would have you believe. His K/9 (11.14) and BB/9 3.15 are right where he was last season now, and his xERA (3.67), FIP (3.20), and xFIP (3.22) tell you Cease is actually pitching at an elite level. I would be aggressive on Cease, considering how pitchers have been dropping like flies. Perhaps Luis Castillo and a bat could get it done.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
“After 68 innings on the year, Dylan Cease has just one win and an almost 4.75 ERA. His fantasy value is probably at the lowest it will be this season. He currently has a .3.67 xERA and a 3.22 xFIP. Since May 10th, he has put up the 5th-best xFIP in baseball at 2.42, as well as the 5th-best K/9 at 11.75. Cease has openly talked about feeling like he is really close to turning a corner, and I am looking to buy him even after his weird start on Tuesday with 11 strikeouts but five walks. Try to acquire him at the price of an SP ranked outside the top-20.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
Jesus Luzardo (SP – PHI)
“As I write this, Jesus Luzardo has a 4.46 ERA to go with a 5-2 record, 83 strikeouts, and a 1.45 WHIP through 72 2/3 innings. But just two weeks ago, he had an ERA hovering around 2.00. That alone tells you just how bad his last two starts went. Over his last two outings against the Brewers and Blue Jays, Luzardo allowed 20 (!!!) earned runs on 21 hits and five walks across just 5 2/3 innings. But for the veteran lefty to have such good numbers through the first two months of the season and then implode like that tells me that something is up. The question is whether it’s injury, fatigue, or something else. And the Phillies and Luzardo think they have the answer: they believe he’s been tipping his pitches, and the scouts for other teams noticed. If that’s what’s happening, it’s the best-case scenario. Chances are, Luzardo is very available in our league right now. Send out some feelers to see what those managers are thinking. I would start small with offers including players like Jorge Soler or TJ Friedl, and then work my way up to the range of Taylor Ward, Bryson Stott, Wilyer Abreu, Byron Buxton, or Ian Happ. ”
– 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?
Jose Altuve (2B, OF – HOU)
“Jose Altuve has five HR and 10 RBI over his last 15 games, but that’s not the real story. Altuve’s xwOBA (.281), xBA (.235), xSLG (.363) are all absolutely awful. He’s in the lowest percentile in bat speed and exit velocity, and at 35, he may be staring at the end of his run. I would sell off his recent, unexpected power surge and hope for a low-end closer or upside bat in return. Try to sell him off his dual position eligibility, which may also help.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Jacob Wilson (SS – ATH)
“No doubt Jacob Wilson will continue to hit the rest of the season, but we do need to look at him through a similar Luis Arraez lens. We understand that the home runs and stolen bases are hard to count on. His floor is fantastic, but despite the eight home runs, Baseball Savant shows that he has overperformed that by at least two so far, and the Bat X projection system has him for just four more the rest of the year. Maybe he will continue to show off this new power, and maybe he will hit in spots to keep those RBI and run totals up, but I think we might be looking at the biggest production of the year already. These types of guys also get caught up in the points league hype in category leagues. Someone like Yahoo overvalues batting average and says he’s a top-20 overall fantasy asset. That’s the type of thing I am looking to exploit and see if I can get a big return on, I think it’s more of a high two to maybe three category player rest of the season. We are only selling high though.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
Yusei Kikuchi (SP – LAA)
“If you roster Yusei Kikuchi, you’ve had an interesting experience. After a slow start to the season in April that saw him post a 4.31 ERA, he settled down with a 1.89 ERA in May and a 2.19 ERA through 12 1/3 innings in June. His WHIP is inflated at 1.47, but his overall ERA is now down to an excellent 2.92. The strikeouts are down, however. His 20.4% strikeout rate is his worst since his debut season in 2019, his K/BB is just 1.66 (that’s bad), and his 7.95 K/9 is also his worst since 2019. And that’s before we get into the underlying data. His FIP, xFIP, SIERA, and xERA are all between 4.29 and 4.77, nearly two runs higher than his actual ERA. His xBA, xSLG, and xwOBA are all well below his actual numbers, as well. His fastball velocity is down a tick, and he’s throwing it less often as a result, leaning more on a slider that he is throwing over 38% of the time. This is a long-winded way of saying this: his actual numbers are very good right now, but there is trouble brewing under the hood. I’m selling high and seeing if I can flip him for a bat like Matt Shaw, Jac Caglianone (wishful thinking, but you never know), Andy Pages, Jacob Wilson, Vinnie Pasquantino, or maybe even Alex Bregman while he’s on the shelf.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)
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