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, analyze the rationale behind each move, and provide 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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- 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?
Julio Rodriguez (OF – SEA)
“Julio Rodriguez won’t be a cheap acquisition, but his slow start means nothing. He has a history of not hitting in April. I’d trade any perceived second or third-round talent for Julio straight up, pretty much no questions asked. Teammate Josh Naylor is another Seattle guy to target. Don’t tell your rival you want Julio, say you “want a bat or an outfielder” and see if they talk themselves into a Julio tilt.”
– Scott Pianowski (Yahoo! Sports)
Ketel Marte (2B – ARI)
“Despite being one of the top second basemen in fantasy, we’ve seen some surface-level struggling from Ketel Marte. He’s hitting just .214, with a sub .300 OBP and hitless over his last four games. Despite the struggles, most of his underlying metrics support the star that he is. He has one of the biggest batting average to xBA differences with a .303 xBA. His average exit velocity and hard hit percentage are the second-best of his career. He has one of the best pull-air percentages in baseball, where once he starts to get it in the air should have big results, and finally, he has a .237 BABIP, which is 70 points lower than his career. Assuming any discount on the star second basemen, and I am in.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
Eury Perez (SP – MIA)
“Eury Perez is too talented to hold a 4.46 ERA and 1.38 WHIP much longer. He has some of the best “stuff” in the majors, a favorable home park, a manager who gives him a long leash, and a veteran mentor in Sandy Alcantara. It’s just a matter of honing his command more consistently and working deeper into games, as he did in his first start of the year and again a couple of weeks later vs Milwaukee. If it clicks for Perez, he can become a dominant SP at a time when the few remaining aces keep falling to injury. Sell a less talented pitcher with good early returns like Bryce Elder or Kris Bubic to land Perez if possible.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)
Pete Alonso (1B – BAL)
“Pete Alonso is on pace for his worst season, but I am not worried. Through 36 games and 6 HRs with a .212 average, Alonso is now familiar with his new home in Baltimore, and there are few who can launch bombs as effortlessly as Pete. It is a long season and plenty of time to get back on track with a 40+ HR season, especially when it heats up over the summer. Give up Jose Soriano to get a 1B who can move you in the HR category by himself.”
– Muntradamus (Beast Dome)
Josh Naylor (1B – SEA)
“Josh Naylor isn’t the sexiest pick to be your first baseman, but he is one of the more unique. He steals bases and hits for a high average, two things baseball doesn’t value anymore, and that you rarely get at the corner. After a 2025 where he batted .295 with a .353 OBP and 30 steals, Naylor has started about as slow as any top 60 pick. Contact hitters have ebbs and flows, but eventually they revert to their mean. That’s what Fantasy owners should be looking to capitalize on. First base isn’t as deep as many Fantasy managers assume, while batting average is a category many managers punt in favor of sexy power and adrenaline-soaked stolen bases. Me included. Naylor is everything almost nobody values, and he has started extremely poorly to boot. That’s a recipe for a bargain in a buy-low hostile attack. I’m willing to bet Naylor steals 20-25 bases or more, slugs 15-20 home runs, and bats somewhere around .270 or better the remainder of the ’26 season, with a chance to be much better in the batting average category. And, almost all of that will be after you buy him low, which is now. Going Once, Going Twice…BUY. I’d be willing to sell high on a Jorge Soler or an Ozzie Albies, who might be the bizarro Naylor when it comes to skill sets or lack thereof, when it comes to consistent contact. I’m not recommending this…but my hot take. Bryce Harper regresses from his .289 hot start and bats .230 the rest of 2026, while Naylor recovers and bats something closer to .290 over the same time period. Harper outhomers Naylor by 6-7 while Naylor outsteals Harper by 10-12 from now until October. Add the boost in batting average by Naylor and the significant impact that even one special batting average player can have on your team, and you end up with Naylor outproducing Harper in category leagues.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)
Fernando Tatis Jr. (2B, OF – SD)
“Fernando Tatis Jr. is someone I am heavily targeting as a buy-low candidate. The outfielder has been steady despite failing to hit a home run to this point in the season and posting a career-low launch angle average of 2.9. I anticipate he rediscovers his power stroke sooner than later while I reap the rewards.”
– Chris Schommer (FantasyPros)
What one MLB player are you trying to sell high right now and why? Also, who would you try to get in return?
Chris Sale (SP – ATL)
“I don’t want you to trade Chris Sale willy-nilly. You need to command a high price. But his ERA is at least one run lower than it should be (perhaps more, depending on the estimator you prefer), and he is 37, after all. He’s topped 180 innings just once in a decade. It’s not always fun to play fantasy sports like an actuary, but it’s usually correct.”
– Scott Pianowski (Yahoo! Sports)
Munetaka Murakami (3B – CWS)
“There is no doubt that what Munetaka Murakami has done has been impressive. There is also no doubt he is a valuable fantasy asset, even when things come back down to earth. That’s what this is about: things will come back down to earth, and what does that look like, and what does it look like versus the return you could get now. He has an atrocious 65% zone contact percentage, with a worrisome 32.5 K%. Despite some awesome batted ball support with how he hits the ball hard and gets it in the air, things could come crashing down with his ability to make contact. I am not looking to run for the hills, but what if this recent surge could get you Christian Walker and a pitcher? I am looking to capitalize on my value, if it is there.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
“Munetaka Murakami is somebody I would be trying to offload while his value remains high. The rookie has tantalized fantasy managers with his power stroke early in the season, as evidenced by his 14 home runs and 63.6% hard hit rate. There is also a lot of swing and miss in his profile as well, posting a 32.7% K rate currently.”
– Chris Schommer (FantasyPros)
Christian Walker (1B – HOU)
“In April, Christian Walker enjoyed one of the best months of his career. That means negative regression is inevitable because Walker is currently slashing .308/.375/.562 yet his career slash line is .250/.327/.460 and he performed even worse than that in 2025. It’s rare for a 35-year-old slugger to suddenly see a spike in power and production for no discernible reason. He could very well rebound from last year to have a strong campaign, but this is surely his peak and the perfect time to sell for an underachieving Rafael Devers or Vinnie Pasquantino.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)
Jose Soriano (SP – LAA)
“Coming into the season, Jose Soriano showed flashes of brilliance, mixed with Charlie Sheen’s Wild Thing. Through the first month of the season, Soriano was looking like he had finally put it all together. After a couple of rocky starts, which include getting bombed against the White Sox with 5 ER in 4 innings. It is time to let go of Jose and create a package deal to get a big-name, struggling bat. Look no further than Pete Alonso.”
– Muntradamus (Beast Dome)
Matt Olson (1B – ATL)
“I love me a rabbit that lights up the stolen base category, but as a general rule, I’m not a fan of one-trick ponies. That is especially true for three true outcome players that whiff, walk, or homer and nothing else, and that’s Matt Olson. One-trickers like Olson can be found cheaply at the middle or end of drafts, so I get the need to draft them; when given the chance, I always sell if there’s an attractive market, and Olson should have one after his hot-pop start and .308 batting average. Let me say it again. He’s batting .308 in ’26 when he typically bats something closer to .245 for his career. Add that he hasn’t slugged 30 home runs in a season since 2023, and you’ve got a lot of regression coming. Cut bait now and avoid getting stuck with the bad that inevitably always follows the extremely good. Olson is currently on pace to slug 56 home runs and knock in 144 runs while batting .307. There is absolutely no chance he can maintain that pace while setting career highs in the process. I’d target a hot sell-high guy like Jordan Walker or a head-scratching slow starter like Shohei Ohtani (The Batter – if that’s how your league qualifies him). I’d also look into acquiring a lesser-known but significantly more well-balanced player like Zach Neto or a so-far punchless “Vladdie Daddie” Guerrero or, if you’re in the mood for a bit of a reach, Manny Machado. Slow Start for Hot Start. That’s a swap I can get behind if you have the skills to pull it off. Happy Hunting. Be cunning and be bold, my friends.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)
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