Moreso than performances, injuries can have a massive impact on your team needs. You may leave the draft projected to lead the league in home runs based on historical standings, but that does not factor in missing Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton for several weeks.
Particularly with the 10-day injured list, fantasy owners are forced to make tough decisions frequently with their rosters. Rather than cutting injured players, the best bet may be to try to clear roster space by working the trade market.
As you’ll see, plenty of players saw their values rise or fall based on recent injury news, while other players have forced changes to their trade values based on early-season performances. These developments are why the trade chart is updated each and every week. So before you make any deal, make sure to consult this week’s iteration to maximize your return.
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Aaron Judge’s “seriously strained” oblique is going to cost him quite a bit of playing time, and whenever he does return, he’s likely going to need a bit of time to get back in the swing of things. Players who suffer long-term injuries are always difficult to value, as even their best-case scenario leaves question marks. Worse than that, new injuries have a way of cropping up, such as Luis Severino’s lat strain or, more pertinent this week, Giancarlo Stanton’s shoulder injury. Stanton received a cortisone shot, which means his return is likely delayed for several weeks. His value drops accordingly, as does Starling Marte’s, whose abdominal injury should keep him on the shelf for a few weeks, though he is reportedly making progress.
Those who saw their values rise based on performance include Matt Chapman, whose drop in strikeout rate and continued overall positive strides have made him one of the early favorites for MVP, and Joey Gallo, who is hitting the ball with more authority than perhaps anyone in the game. Eddie Rosario’s power surge, Willson Contreras’ fly-ball rate, Chris Paddack’s refusal to allow hits, and Fernando Tatis Jr.’s success in the leadoff spot all result in an increase in trade value.
As for those seeing their trade values fall, Noah Syndergaard has yet to show that he’s capable of just rearing back and letting things fly rather than nibbling at the plate, and Craig Kimbrel went from signing imminently to all quiet on the Western front. Finally, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting the call to the big leagues, it’s worth noting that Eloy Jimenez has had a rather quiet 2019 season thus far. His talent remains, but his performance has not matched his name recognition.
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Dan Harris is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Dan, check out his archive or follow him on Twitter @danharris80.