Who Should I Trade?

Esmerlyn Valdez for Jonathon Long (2026)

Summary
Stats
Projections
News & Notes
Schedule

Who Should I Trade? Player Summaries
	Experts' Pick
	Esmerlyn Valdez 1B,LF,RF - PIT	Jonathon Long 1B - MIA
Expert Recommendation	100% Recommended by 4 of 4 experts	0% Recommended by 0 of 4 experts
Rankings

Rest of Season	# 164	‐
VBR	# 218	# 1203

Projections

Runs	17	4
Home Runs	6	1
RBI	19	4
Stolen Bases	0	0
Batting Average	.234	.239

Misc

Injury Alert	-	MiLB

Expert Ranks

Scott Pianowski Yahoo! Sports	# 115	‐

Chris Welsh FantasyPros	# 97	‐

Kelly Kirby FantasyPros	# 161	‐

Kevin Spinelli KevScores	# 128	‐

Who Should I Trade? Player Statistics
	Esmerlyn Valdez 1B,LF,RF - PIT	Jonathon Long 1B - MIA
2026 Stats


At Bats	157	‐

Runs	28	‐

Hits	39	‐

Singles	15	‐

Doubles	9	‐

Triples	1	‐

Home Runs	14	‐

RBI	38	‐

Stolen Bases	0	‐

Caught Stealing	1	‐

Walks	33	‐

Strikeouts	69	‐

Batting Average	.248	‐

On Base Pct	.378	‐

Slugging Pct	.586	‐

On-base Plus Slugging	.964	‐

Who Should I Trade? Player Projections
	Esmerlyn Valdez 1B,LF,RF - PIT	Jonathon Long 1B - MIA
2026 Projections


At Bats	125	32

Runs	17	4

Hits	29	8

Singles	17	5

Doubles	6	1

Triples	0	0

Home Runs	6	1

RBI	19	4

Stolen Bases	0	0

Caught Stealing	0	0

Walks	15	3

Strikeouts	42	8

Batting Average	.234	.239

On Base Pct	.325	.314

Slugging Pct	.430	.366

On-base Plus Slugging	.755	.680

Who Should I Trade? Player Notes
	Esmerlyn Valdez 1B,LF,RF - PIT	Jonathon Long 1B - MIA
News
	Esmerlyn Valdez is expected to be in the lineup in Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks. Ari Koslow Tue, Jul 28th	The Cubs reassigned INF Jonathon Long to minor league camp. Ari Koslow Sun, Mar 22nd
	The Pirates didn’t provide an update on Esmerlyn Valdez following Monday’s game against the Diamondbacks. Ari Koslow Tue, Jul 28th	Cubs infielder Jonathon Long has turned a corner in his recovery from a left elbow sprain, according to manager Craig Counsell. Brenton Kemp Sun, Mar 8th
	Esmerlyn Valdez was removed from Monday’s game against the Diamondbacks after being hit by a pitch on the left hand. Ari Koslow Mon, Jul 27th	Cubs infield prospect Jonathon Long (left elbow sprain) is coming along slower than hoped in his recovery from a Cactus League game injury on Saturday. Brenton Kemp Wed, Feb 25th
	Esmerlyn Valdez went 2-for-3 with a home run in the Pirates 8-7 win over the Cubs on Sunday. Ari Koslow Mon, Jul 27th	Jonathon Long left Saturday’s Cactus League game against the Rangers with a left elbow sprain. Ari Koslow Sun, Feb 22nd
	Esmerlyn Valdez went 1-for-3 with a home run in the Pirates 8-5 loss against the Yankees on Monday. Ari Koslow Tue, Jul 21st
Notes
There are no recent notes for these players

Who Should I Trade? Player Schedules
Date	Opp	Opp Pitcher	VBR	Opp	Opp Pitcher	VBR
	Esmerlyn Valdez 1B,LF,RF - PIT			Jonathon Long 1B - MIA
Thu, Mar 26th	@ NYM	Freddy Peralta (5-9)	#46
Sat, Mar 28th	@ NYM	David Peterson (6-7)	#126	vs COL	Michael Lorenzen (3-10)	#433
Sun, Mar 29th	@ NYM	Nolan McLean (8-7)	#31	vs COL	Jose Quintana (2-3)	#415
Mon, Mar 30th	@ CIN	Chase Burns (13-2)	#22	vs CWS	Davis Martin (9-6)	#78
Tue, Mar 31st	@ CIN	Brandon Williamson (2-3)	#385	vs CWS	Erick Fedde (6-7)	#410
Wed, Apr 1st	@ CIN	Andrew Abbott (6-7)	#96	vs CWS	Shane Smith (0-2)	#219
Fri, Apr 3rd	vs BAL	Kyle Bradish (7-11)	#44	@ NYY	Will Warren (8-6)	#64
Sat, Apr 4th	vs BAL	Shane Baz (4-11)	#68	@ NYY	Ryan Weathers (5-7)	#60
Sun, Apr 5th	vs BAL	Chris Bassitt (4-4)	#178	@ NYY	Max Fried (4-3)	#14
Mon, Apr 6th	vs SD	German Marquez (4-2)	#344	vs CIN	Brandon Williamson (2-3)	#385
Tue, Apr 7th	vs SD	Nick Pivetta (1-2)	#85	vs CIN	Andrew Abbott (6-7)	#96
Wed, Apr 8th	vs SD	Michael King (7-8)	#52	vs CIN	Brady Singer (5-10)	#141
Fri, Apr 10th	@ CHC	Shota Imanaga (8-9)	#23	@ DET	Keider Montero (8-7)	#102
Sat, Apr 11th	@ CHC	Edward Cabrera (5-4)	#91	@ DET	Casey Mize (4-7)	#34
Sun, Apr 12th	@ CHC	Jameson Taillon (2-6)	#143	@ DET	Tarik Skubal (7-6)	#2
Mon, Apr 13th	vs WSH	Cade Cavalli (9-5)	#66	@ ATL	Grant Holmes (7-4)	#166
Tue, Apr 14th	vs WSH	PJ Poulin (3-0)	#381	@ ATL	Reynaldo Lopez (4-3)	#105
Wed, Apr 15th	vs WSH	Jake Irvin (2-5)	#161	@ ATL	Bryce Elder (8-6)	#170
Thu, Apr 16th	vs WSH	Foster Griffin (12-4)	#41
Fri, Apr 17th	vs TB	Nick Martinez (11-3)	#84	vs MIL	Coleman Crow (0-1)	#301
Sat, Apr 18th	vs TB	Drew Rasmussen (11-5)	#15	vs MIL	Brandon Woodruff (2-2)
Sun, Apr 19th	vs TB	Shane McClanahan (9-6)	#63	vs MIL	Jacob Misiorowski (11-5)	#5
Tue, Apr 21st	@ TEX	Kumar Rocker (4-8)	#98	vs STL	Dustin May (6-7)	#40
Wed, Apr 22nd	@ TEX	Jack Leiter (3-7)	#118	vs STL	Kyle Leahy (8-4)	#108
Thu, Apr 23rd	@ TEX	Jacob deGrom (8-7)	#9
Fri, Apr 24th	@ MIL	Brandon Woodruff (2-2)		@ SF	Adrian Houser (3-7)	#193
Sat, Apr 25th	@ MIL	Jacob Misiorowski (11-5)	#5	@ SF	Robbie Ray (10-7)	#81
Sun, Apr 26th	@ MIL	Kyle Harrison (9-2)	#49	@ SF	Landen Roupp (7-11)	#65
Mon, Apr 27th	vs STL	Dustin May (6-7)	#40	@ LAD	Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-7)	#11
Tue, Apr 28th	vs STL	Kyle Leahy (8-4)	#108	@ LAD	Shohei Ohtani (8-2)	#1
Wed, Apr 29th	vs STL	Andre Pallante (12-6)	#99	@ LAD	Tyler Glasnow (3-0)	#54
Thu, Apr 30th	vs STL	Hunter Dobbins (2-2)	#163
Fri, May 1st	vs CIN	Brady Singer (5-10)	#141	vs PHI	Zack Wheeler (10-3)	#6
Sat, May 2nd	vs CIN	Rhett Lowder (4-7)	#221	vs PHI	Andrew Painter (1-8)	#202
Sun, May 3rd	vs CIN	Chase Burns (13-2)	#22	vs PHI	Jesus Luzardo (10-5)	#10
Tue, May 5th	@ ARI	Eduardo Rodriguez (10-4)	#125	vs BAL	Chris Bassitt (4-4)	#178
Wed, May 6th	@ ARI	Michael Soroka (8-3)	#74	vs BAL	Brandon Young (8-3)	#137
Thu, May 7th	@ ARI	Zac Gallen (3-9)	#246	vs BAL	Cade Povich (2-1)	#196
Fri, May 8th	@ SF	Robbie Ray (10-7)	#81	vs WSH	Foster Griffin (12-4)	#41
Sat, May 9th	@ SF	Landen Roupp (7-11)	#65	vs WSH	Richard Lovelady (2-4)	#343
Sun, May 10th	@ SF	Tyler Mahle (3-9)	#92	vs WSH	Cade Cavalli (9-5)	#66
Tue, May 12th	vs COL	Michael Lorenzen (3-10)	#433	@ MIN	Bailey Ober (7-3)	#104
Wed, May 13th	vs COL	Jose Quintana (2-3)	#415	@ MIN	Simeon Woods Richardson (1-7)
Thu, May 14th	vs COL	Chase Dollander (3-3)		@ MIN	Zebby Matthews (5-8)	#110
Fri, May 15th	vs PHI	Aaron Nola (3-9)	#59	@ TB	Ian Seymour (8-3)	#77
Sat, May 16th	vs PHI	Cristopher Sanchez (15-4)	#4	@ TB	Nick Martinez (11-3)	#84
Sun, May 17th	vs PHI	Zack Wheeler (10-3)	#6	@ TB	Drew Rasmussen (11-5)	#15
Tue, May 19th	@ STL	Matthew Liberatore (5-9)	#75	vs ATL	Martin Perez (7-6)	#212
Wed, May 20th	@ STL	Michael McGreevy (4-9)	#103	vs ATL	Chris Sale (12-7)	#7
Thu, May 21st	@ STL	Dustin May (6-7)	#40	vs ATL	Spencer Strider (4-2)
Fri, May 22nd	@ TOR	Kevin Gausman (6-10)	#25	vs NYM	Tobias Myers (0-2)	#214
Sat, May 23rd	@ TOR	Patrick Corbin (3-4)		vs NYM	Freddy Peralta (5-9)	#46
Sun, May 24th	@ TOR	Dylan Cease (7-5)	#8	vs NYM	Christian Scott (3-3)	#53
Mon, May 25th	vs CHC	Ben Brown (4-2)	#159	@ TOR	Trey Yesavage (5-5)	#149
Tue, May 26th	vs CHC	Jordan Wicks (0-2)	#336	@ TOR	Braydon Fisher (3-3)	#174
Wed, May 27th	vs CHC	Jameson Taillon (2-6)	#143	@ TOR	Kevin Gausman (6-10)	#25
Thu, May 28th	vs CHC	Colin Rea (8-8)	#226
Fri, May 29th	vs MIN	Taj Bradley (9-4)	#48	@ NYM	Freddy Peralta (5-9)	#46
Sat, May 30th	vs MIN	Bailey Ober (7-3)	#104	@ NYM	Christian Scott (3-3)	#53
Sun, May 31st	vs MIN	Zebby Matthews (5-8)	#110	@ NYM	Nolan McLean (8-7)	#31
Tue, Jun 2nd	@ HOU	Mike Burrows (4-9)	#231	@ WSH	Richard Lovelady (2-4)	#343
Wed, Jun 3rd	@ HOU	Spencer Arrighetti (7-5)	#275	@ WSH	Andrew Alvarez (2-3)	#135
Thu, Jun 4th	@ HOU	Kai-Wei Teng (5-6)	#251
Fri, Jun 5th	@ ATL	Martin Perez (7-6)	#212	vs TB	Drew Rasmussen (11-5)	#15
Sat, Jun 6th	@ ATL	Spencer Strider (4-2)		vs TB	Shane McClanahan (9-6)	#63
Sun, Jun 7th	@ ATL	Bryce Elder (8-6)	#170	vs TB	Griffin Jax (6-9)	#47
Tue, Jun 9th	vs LAD	Eric Lauer (6-6)	#380	vs ARI	Zac Gallen (3-9)	#246
Wed, Jun 10th	vs LAD	Shohei Ohtani (8-2)	#1	vs ARI	Ryne Nelson (3-5)	#190
Thu, Jun 11th	vs LAD	Justin Wrobleski (11-3)	#111	vs ARI	Merrill Kelly (8-9)	#122
Fri, Jun 12th	vs MIA	Sandy Alcantara (13-6)	#58	@ PIT	Braxton Ashcraft (11-5)	#29
Sat, Jun 13th	vs MIA	Lake Bachar (1-2)	#217	@ PIT	Bubba Chandler (5-8)	#130
Sun, Jun 14th	vs MIA	Max Meyer (9-1)	#138	@ PIT	Paul Skenes (9-10)	#3
Mon, Jun 15th	@ ATH	J.T. Ginn (8-6)	#156	@ PHI	Zack Wheeler (10-3)	#6
Tue, Jun 16th	@ ATH	Jack Perkins (2-8)	#120	@ PHI	Jesus Luzardo (10-5)	#10
Wed, Jun 17th	@ ATH	Aaron Civale (5-7)	#183	@ PHI	Andrew Painter (1-8)	#202
Fri, Jun 19th	@ COL	Kyle Freeland (3-10)	#355	vs SF	Landen Roupp (7-11)	#65
Sat, Jun 20th	@ COL	Tomoyuki Sugano (11-5)	#435	vs SF	Trevor McDonald (3-7)
Sun, Jun 21st	@ COL	Michael Lorenzen (3-10)	#433	vs SF	Logan Webb (7-7)	#16
Tue, Jun 23rd	vs SEA	George Kirby (8-9)	#21	vs TEX	Cal Quantrill (4-4)	#290
Wed, Jun 24th	vs SEA	Bryan Woo (8-8)	#13	vs TEX	Jacob deGrom (8-7)	#9
Thu, Jun 25th	vs SEA	Bryce Miller (4-6)	#33
Fri, Jun 26th	vs CIN	Andrew Abbott (6-7)	#96	@ STL	Michael McGreevy (4-9)	#103
Sat, Jun 27th	vs CIN	Chase Burns (13-2)	#22	@ STL	Andre Pallante (12-6)	#99
Sun, Jun 28th	vs CIN	Brady Singer (5-10)	#141	@ STL	Kyle Leahy (8-4)	#108
Mon, Jun 29th	@ PHI	Aaron Nola (3-9)	#59	@ COL	Sean Sullivan (0-3)	#426
Tue, Jun 30th	@ PHI	Cristopher Sanchez (15-4)	#4	@ COL	Tanner Gordon (0-2)	#416
Wed, Jul 1st	@ PHI	Zack Wheeler (10-3)	#6	@ COL	Kyle Freeland (3-10)	#355
Thu, Jul 2nd	@ PHI	Alan Rangel (0-3)	#274	@ COL	Michael Lorenzen (3-10)	#433
Fri, Jul 3rd	@ WSH	Foster Griffin (12-4)	#41	@ ATH	Jack Perkins (2-8)	#120
Sat, Jul 4th	@ WSH	Carson Palmquist (0-2)	#309	@ ATH	Aaron Civale (5-7)	#183
Sun, Jul 5th	@ WSH	Cade Cavalli (9-5)	#66	@ ATH	Gage Jump (5-7)	#115
Tue, Jul 7th	vs ATL	Hurston Waldrep (0-1)		vs SEA	Bryan Woo (8-8)	#13
Wed, Jul 8th	vs ATL	Grant Holmes (7-4)	#166	vs SEA	George Kirby (8-9)	#21
Thu, Jul 9th	vs ATL	Bryce Elder (8-6)	#170	vs SEA	Bryce Miller (4-6)	#33
Sat, Jul 11th	vs MIL	Shane Drohan (6-4)	#95	vs CLE	Tanner Bibee (4-11)	#50
Sun, Jul 12th	vs MIL	Robert Gasser (3-4)	#134	vs CLE	Joey Cantillo (8-7)	#73
Sat, Jul 18th	@ CLE	Logan Allen (0-0)	#197	@ MIL	Shane Drohan (6-4)	#95
Sun, Jul 19th	@ CLE	Joey Cantillo (8-7)	#73	@ MIL	Robert Gasser (3-4)	#134
Mon, Jul 20th	@ NYY	Ryan Weathers (5-7)	#60	@ HOU	Ronel Blanco (0-1)	#131
Wed, Jul 22nd	@ NYY	Max Fried (4-3)	#14	@ HOU	Peter Lambert (8-6)	#142
Fri, Jul 24th	vs CHC	Matthew Boyd (7-1)	#35	vs SD	German Marquez (4-2)	#344
Sat, Jul 25th	vs CHC	Shota Imanaga (8-9)	#23	vs SD	Randy Vasquez (7-6)	#366
Sun, Jul 26th	vs CHC	Jameson Taillon (2-6)	#143	vs SD	Walker Buehler (6-5)	#235
Mon, Jul 27th	vs ARI	Merrill Kelly (8-9)	#122	vs PHI	Zack Wheeler (10-3)	#6
Tue, Jul 28th	vs ARI	Brandon Pfaadt (6-1)	#79	vs PHI	Aaron Nola (3-9)	#59
Wed, Jul 29th	vs ARI	Eduardo Rodriguez (10-4)	#125	vs PHI	Jesus Luzardo (10-5)	#10
Thu, Jul 30th	@ CIN	Rhett Lowder (4-7)	#221	@ NYM	Nolan McLean (8-7)	#31
Fri, Jul 31st	@ CIN	Hunter Greene (2-2)	#324	@ NYM	Kodai Senga (0-8)	#144
Sat, Aug 1st	@ CIN	Andrew Abbott (6-7)	#96	@ NYM	Zac Thornton (3-2)	#140
Sun, Aug 2nd	@ CIN	Chase Burns (13-2)	#22	@ NYM	Robert Stock (0-2)	#200
Mon, Aug 3rd	@ MIL	Brandon Sproat (3-7)	#209
Tue, Aug 4th	@ MIL	Logan Henderson (6-1)	#32	@ ATL	Grant Holmes (7-4)	#166
Wed, Aug 5th	@ MIL	Kyle Harrison (9-2)	#49	@ ATL	Bryce Elder (8-6)	#170
Thu, Aug 6th	@ MIL	Dustin May (6-7)	#40	@ ATL	Martin Perez (7-6)	#212
Fri, Aug 7th	vs NYM	Zac Thornton (3-2)	#140	vs LAA	George Klassen (0-1)	#236
Sat, Aug 8th	vs NYM	Robert Stock (0-2)	#200	vs LAA	Walbert Urena (7-8)	#262
Sun, Aug 9th	vs NYM	Sean Manaea (3-5)	#67	vs LAA	Grayson Rodriguez (3-4)	#106
Tue, Aug 11th	@ MIA	Eury Perez (5-9)	#45	vs PIT	Paul Skenes (9-10)	#3
Wed, Aug 12th	@ MIA	Janson Junk (5-7)	#113	vs PIT	Braxton Ashcraft (11-5)	#29
Thu, Aug 13th	@ MIA	Tyler Phillips (3-5)	#289	vs PIT	Carmen Mlodzinski (6-4)	#109
Fri, Aug 14th	vs BOS	Patrick Sandoval (1-0)	#124	@ CIN	Chase Burns (13-2)	#22
Sat, Aug 15th	vs BOS	Sonny Gray (14-2)	#28	@ CIN	Brady Singer (5-10)	#141
Sun, Aug 16th	vs BOS	Ranger Suarez (4-3)	#24	@ CIN	Rhett Lowder (4-7)	#221
Mon, Aug 17th	vs DET	Framber Valdez (7-7)	#37	@ PHI	Cristopher Sanchez (15-4)	#4
Tue, Aug 18th	vs DET			@ PHI
Wed, Aug 19th	vs DET			@ PHI
Fri, Aug 21st	@ LAD			vs WSH
Sat, Aug 22nd	@ LAD			vs WSH
Sun, Aug 23rd	@ LAD			vs WSH
Mon, Aug 24th	@ SD			vs BOS
Tue, Aug 25th	@ SD			vs BOS
Wed, Aug 26th	@ SD			vs BOS
Fri, Aug 28th	@ STL			@ WSH
Sat, Aug 29th	@ STL			@ WSH
Sun, Aug 30th	@ STL			@ WSH
Tue, Sep 1st	vs SF			@ KC
Wed, Sep 2nd	vs SF			@ KC
Thu, Sep 3rd	vs SF			@ KC
Fri, Sep 4th	vs LAA			vs CHC
Sat, Sep 5th	vs LAA			vs CHC
Sun, Sep 6th	vs LAA			vs CHC
Tue, Sep 8th	@ CWS			vs NYM
Wed, Sep 9th	@ CWS			vs NYM
Thu, Sep 10th	@ CWS
Fri, Sep 11th	@ CHC			vs LAD
Sat, Sep 12th	@ CHC			vs LAD
Sun, Sep 13th	@ CHC			vs LAD
Tue, Sep 15th	vs MIL			@ ARI
Wed, Sep 16th	vs MIL			@ ARI
Thu, Sep 17th	vs MIL
Fri, Sep 18th	vs KC			@ SD
Sat, Sep 19th	vs KC			@ SD
Sun, Sep 20th	vs KC			@ SD
Tue, Sep 22nd	vs STL			@ CHC
Wed, Sep 23rd	vs STL			@ CHC
Thu, Sep 24th	vs STL			@ CHC
Fri, Sep 25th	@ DET			vs ATL
Sat, Sep 26th	@ DET			vs ATL
Sun, Sep 27th	@ DET			vs ATL
Fri, Mar 27th				vs COL	Kyle Freeland (3-10)	#355
Thu, Apr 9th				vs CIN	Rhett Lowder (4-7)	#221
Mon, Apr 20th				vs STL	Michael McGreevy (4-9)	#103
Mon, May 4th				vs PHI	Aaron Nola (3-9)	#59
Mon, May 18th				vs ATL	JR Ritchie (1-2)	#278
Mon, Jun 1st				@ WSH	Cade Cavalli (9-5)	#66
Mon, Jun 22nd				vs TEX	Tyler Alexander (3-2)	#162
Fri, Jul 10th				vs CLE	Parker Messick (9-6)	#38
Fri, Jul 17th				@ MIL	Logan Henderson (6-1)	#32
Tue, Jul 21st				@ HOU	Tatsuya Imai (6-4)	#121
Mon, Aug 31st				@ WSH
Mon, Sep 7th				vs NYM
Mon, Sep 14th				@ ARI

Who Should I Trade?

Esmerlyn Valdez for Jonathon Long (2026)

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