Welcome to June! We’re no longer in the early part of the season and have a much better idea of how things could transpire throughout the year. Many fantasy managers find themselves forced to make moves to stay competitive. This means that plenty of underperformers with high potential may be up for grabs. This also means that your overperformers have special value to these teams that need an immediate shakeup. Determining the best trade candidates isn’t an easy exercise though, so we’ve got our featured experts here to tell you which players they’re eyeing as buy-low or sell-high targets.

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Q1. What one player are you trying to buy low and why? Also, who are you willing to give up for him?

Jo Adell (OF – LAA) 
“Rostered in less than 15% of Yahoo fantasy leagues, Adell is lighting it up in the minors with 27 hits,70 total bases, and 12 home runs in 106 at-bats between two levels. He was recently promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake, where he has five home runs in 76 at-bats. His OBP (.313) isn’t what I love to see from a prospect trying to prove he’s ready for the majors, but he is slugging .973 and has three stolen bases as well. With an outfield of Juan Lagares, Justin Upton, and Taylor Ward — occasionally Jared Walsh stepping out there — (all but Walsh are hitting below .215 with OBPs under .295) and Mike Trout out of the lineup until possibly August, this is a team that needs some pop and Adell could provide it very soon. Plus, he could DH when Shohei Ohtani is on the bump. I would rather roster Adell than almost every prospect not yet in the majors and that includes Wander Franco. Franco is the better dynasty prospect, but his 2021 is looking shorter and shorter and while his positional value enhances his overall one, Adell has more potential for raw offensive production in the short term this year. Fantasy team managers won’t need to offer anything to acquire him in over 85% of leagues, but in those that do, I’d sacrifice a sell-high player like Nick Solak for Adell. Want a BOLD take? Once Adell is an Angel in the outfield, I can see him outperforming Carlos Correa. Nobody needs to pay that price to acquire Adell, but I’d risk that possibility coming to fruition.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)

Ketel Marte (2B/SS/CF – ARI) 
“Since returning from injury on May 19, Marte has gotten right back to the business he was doing prior to injuring his hamstring. In his 59 PAs since, he’s slashing .333/.373/.500, with a .370 wOBA and 133 wRC+ and has hit two home runs in the last five games. The lack of runs and RBIs are still holding down his overall fantasy value, but those will start to accumulate given his second spot in the order and Marte’s elite batting average is that much more valuable in a world where everyone is seemingly batting .230. Giving up another disappointment (like Anthony Rendon) in a buy-low double swap might work, but I’d be more partial to trying to swap out a pitcher who has a bigger name than he does (think Jose Berrios), stapling on some extraneous pitching if need be.”
– Nicklaus Gaut (RotoBaller)

Anthony Rendon (3B – LAA) 
“We’re a third of the way through the season and Rendon has three home runs with a .231 batting average. His quality of contact is unimpressive and his walk rate and strikeout rate are a full percentage point worse than his career average. None of that matters. Other than needing some time to get his sea legs back after missing time with an injury, there’s no reason for an established veteran like Rendon to be struggling so mightily. His .260 BABIP (.312 career) suggests he is due for some luck. I’d swap Nolan Arenado for him but aim for someone like Nelson Cruz instead.”
– Dan Harris (FantasyPros)

Blake Snell (SP – SD) 
“Let’s be frank. Snell has not been a good investment in 2021. However, some of the deeper stats suggest some bad luck, and let’s not forget it’s a new environment with new pitch calling as well. He’s still a K machine (13.4 K/9). It’s just the walks that are killing him. More first-pitch strikes and attacking the zone should cure what ails him. I would be willing to move a low-K arm like Zack Grienke and roll the dice with Snell getting back on track as the season goes.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)

Dylan Bundy (SP – LAA) 
“I’m willing to buy low on Bundy because, while he has been bad, many of his expected numbers and advanced metrics are much better. I’d be willing to send Robbie Ray (who I have pegged for some significant negative regression) for Bundy and a buy-low bat such as Alec Bohm or Ryan Mountcastle.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)

Q2. What one player are you trying to sell high right now and why? Also, who would you try to get in return?

Jared Walsh (1B/OF – LAA) 
“Walsh’s first two months look similar in terms of production, but his xStats speak to some pain coming on the horizon. He stayed steady with a .403 wOBA in April and .394 wOBA in May, but dropped from a .352 xwOBA in April to a .300 xwOBA in May, while his .495 wOBA on contact for the year is backed by a very average .395 xwOBAcon. His spot in the order will continue to afford him RBI opportunities and, while I do believe in the power, I also see a big dip in average coming, with a bad second half of the Angels’ lineup unlikely to drive a boost in runs scored. I’d be trying to swap him in a two-for-one with whoever is sick of Josh Bell, playing up the other principle as my main target. For example, ‘Sure, I can give you top-three first baseman Jared Walsh for Craig Kimbrel (or whatever hole you’re trying to fill) but I’d need Bell too.'”
– Nicklaus Gaut (RotoBaller)

Kevin Gausman (SP – SF) 
“Selling high is about transitioning current hype into long-term gain and Gausman couldn’t be more hyped with less track record to foresee this kind of season continuing. The Giants have been WAY better than expected and Gausman is the poster child example. He’s never pitched 185 innings in a season and has a career ERA of 4.07 with a WHIP of 1.27. Currently, his ERA is 1.40 with a WHIP of 0.81. Love the park effect, great story, but SELL SELL SELL. I’d take Freddy Peralta or Zach Wheeler for Gausman if someone else is trying to sell high or Marcus Stromam or Jose Berrios if you’re in the mood for buying low.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)

Jesse Winker (OF/DH – CIN) 
“It’s not that Winker is a bad player or is going to crash and burn — he isn’t and he isn’t. But the fact is he’s never played more than 113 games in his career, and he’s overperforming. He isn’t going to ride a 54.2% hard-hit rate all year, and his expected stats, while still excellent, are well below his actual stats. He’s also walking at a career-low rate and is probably going to lose most of his lineup protection as the season goes on. You can probably get a very quality starter like Zack Wheeler or Lance Lynn for him, but I’d see if I could swap him for an underperforming Francisco Lindor.”
– Dan Harris (FantasyPros)

Joey Wendle (2B/3B/SS – TB) 
“In addition to Robbie Ray, I’m selling Joey Wendle everywhere. Wendle’s .079 wOBA minus xwOBA number (.394 to .331) is the highest in baseball, and his .060 BA minus xBA (.299 to .239) is the second-highest. I’d be willing to flip him for a buy-low bat such as Alex Kirilloff, whose -.104 wOBA minus xwOBA is the lowest in the league, or a pitcher like Eduardo Rodriguez.”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)

Brandon Crawford (SS – SF) 
“Crawford has had a great month of May and has 12 homers in two months. However, he is a league-average fantasy guy at best and the Giants are surely going to come down to earth in the months ahead. His career numbers are far from exciting. I would gladly flip him for Charlie Blackmon, who’s gotten off to a slow start, but has quietly heated up lately.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)

Thank you to the experts for naming their trade candidates. Make sure to give them a follow on Twitter for more great advice all season and check out our Leading Off Podcast every single day for quick-hitting takeaways and advice.

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