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
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Tools
- 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?
Jackson Merrill (OF – SD)
“Players with high draft capital that don’t live up to it by July 1 may have overstayed their welcome on someone’s roster. Jackson Merrill fits that bill. An early-season injury, followed by a concussion IL stint, really slowed him in the first half of the season. Merrill was a 2024 breakout who nearly won Rookie of the Year honors. But he’s currently sitting on 5 HR and 1 SB over 200 at-bats. The good news is that his xBA is .298 and his xSLG is .514 (.443 SLG% year to date). Merrill was a big second-half player last year, slashing .314/.349/.596 with a .945 OPS. I would bet on Merrill outperforming his disappointing first half by a wide margin. Perhaps a pitcher like Kris Bubic (who could hit inning fatigue this summer) plus a bat could get it done.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Wyatt Langford (OF – TEX)
“Wyatt Langford – Injuries have thrown most of this season off. After hitting .310 in April, he’s had injuries that limited games in April and June. He hit just .189 and .224 in June. Despite these struggles and an overall .232 average, he has 13 home runs and 11 stolen bases, well on his way to beating last year’s numbers. His profile is still strong with a 12.9% barrel percentage, which was better than last year, as well as a 47% hard hit rate, which was better than last year. The production/injury combo puts him at a really interesting cost. I am looking to buy low now, before a strong second half kicks in.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
Corey Seager (SS – TEX)
“Corey Seager has dealt with multiple injuries this year, but he has finally started to heat up, hitting three home runs in his last five games. His batting average of .249 and slugging percentage of .438 are ridiculously lower than his expected numbers of .295 and .562. While he sits at only 10 home runs, he has hit 30+ every year that he has been in Texas, and I’d like to get in on the next 20. The window to buy him at a low is closing quickly, and I think I’d start negotiations with someone like Byron Buxton before his next injury.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
Chris Bassitt (SP – TOR)
“I’d love to write up Chase Burns here, but that feels too obvious. So let’s dig a little deeper. Over the last two weeks, Chris Bassitt has the highest ERA among qualifying starters with a ghastly 7.71 mark. His 1.64 WHIP wasn’t much better, with only Clay Holmes and David Peterson posting worse marks there. Over the last 30 days, his 5.46 ERA was good enough for fourth-worst among qualifying starters. But a lot of that is because he was just ROCKED for eight runs by the Red Sox. However, before that, he had thrown quality starts in three of his previous four starts, and his expected numbers suggest that some bad luck is at play here. There’s a good chance the Bassitt manager in your league is frustrated. See if you can scoop him up in exchange for Alec Burleson, Colton Cowser, Jo Adell, Luis Arraez, or Trevor Story (a sell-high candidate right now).”
– 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?
Clay Holmes (SP – NYM)
“Clay Holmes has a 2.97 ERA as of writing this and has pitched very well for the Mets this season overall. However, he posted back-to-back 63 IP seasons and is now already at 88 IP on the year. We are officially in uncharted waters now, and Holmes is not a strikeout pitcher. His extreme ground ball rates are great, but the summer could mean Holmes meets a huge innings wall and tires significantly. He could also get squeezed to the bullpen as Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga return from injury to the rotation. If you could flip Holmes for a mid-level bat like Ian Happ, that would be a good return.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Jose Berrios (SP – TOR)
“Jose Berrios – Berrios is quietly having a solid season with a 3.26 ERA, as well as an uptick in his K% at 21%. His xERA tells a different story at 4.56. His walk percentage is the highest it’s been since 2020 at 8.9% and he’s giving up an over 10% barrel percentage. Hitters are pulling the ball in the air more than they’ve done before, and that combo of barrel% and pulled balls has me worried the xERA is going to come true. Another warning sign is that his most-used pitch, the sinker, has a .246 batting average against, but the xBA is almost .300. Throughout all this success, he has also managed only four wins. I am looking to sell high now, before he becomes a four ERA pitcher.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
Yusei Kikuchi (SP – LAA)
“Yusei Kikuchi is coming off three excellent starts, during which he struck out 10, 9, and 12 batters. However, his 2.79 ERA is a mirage that conceals a 4.12 xERA, and his walk rate remains unseemly at 10.7%. He is getting lucky in terms of opponents’ slugging percentage against his top four pitches, and if this corrects itself, that ERA is going to jump in a hurry. Now is the time to parlay those strikeout numbers above into a bat that could help you, such as Xavier Edwards or Hunter Goodman.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
Spencer Steer (1B, OF – CIN)
“It pains me to say this because Spencer Steer is one of my guys, but it’s time to pull the trigger on a quick sell high if you can. After a lousy April, he was good in May and great in June, which he capped off with a three-home run performance. We’ve been seeing flashes from Steer for years now. In 2023, we saw the breakout. In 2024, he took a step back in batting average but still gave us 20 HR and 25 SB. 2025 has been a mixed bag. Strikeout rate is up, walk rate is down, Statcast page is a lot of blue. Now, some of those numbers are because of his slow start, because he has been on an absolute heater right now. But that’s the best reason to sell. Capitalize on his home run explosion and hot June and see if you can flip him for Sandy Alcantara, Yusei Kikuchi, Zac Gallen (just close your eyes and hope), or maybe even Chase Burns if that manager is panicking after his disaster against the Red Sox.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)
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