This is it. The 2021 fantasy baseball season is here and in full force. Draft preparation is done. Your in-season management has begun. And, of course, that means scouring the trade market.

Yes, the trade winds in fantasy baseball never stop blowing. But, especially this early in the season, sometimes we need a little help to figure out whether a deal makes sense. That’s where trade values come in handy.

If you’ve followed our fantasy baseball, fantasy football, or dynasty coverage of any sort over the last several seasons, then you’re familiar with how these work. The values assigned to each player are not meant to be tangible. They’re not FAAB dollars or anything of the sort. They’re simply a weight assigned to each player’s value – take both sides of a proposed trade, add up the values, and see which side comes out ahead. That’s all there is to it.

Now, as I note every year, unless you’re a loyal and avid reader, I know you have at least four questions. So, to help you out, here are your answers:

No, this is only for rotisserie formats, and it’s based on a standard 12-team league. Do not rely on them for head-to-head points or categories leagues (Well, you can in the latter, really. Differences would be minor). With that said, they’re a good overall barometer for players’ value, regardless of the format.

No, it doesn’t work if you add up the value of eight players in a trade for one player. That’s just silly.

No, these are not meant to be firm rules. Like the pirate’s code, they’re more like guidelines.

Finally, whoops, sorry for forgetting to include [insert name of your favorite player] or for giving [insert name of your second-favorite player] too low of a value. Sure, you can yell at me about it on Twitter and then we can hash it out and become best friends!

Ok, that should take care of it, yes? Not to worry, I’ll be updating this bad boy every week while noting and discussing any significant movers. Enjoy!

Import your team to My Playbook for custom advice all season

Import your team to My Playbook for custom advice all season

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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy baseball, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Baseball Tools as you navigate your season. From our Lineup Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy baseball season.