Fantasy baseball is a marathon, not a sprint. Unlike other fantasy sports, the season is long and drags as the weeks pass. However, because it is such a grind, fantasy managers can lose focus on what is important and what is not, allowing astute fantasy managers to take advantage.
When we are past the halfway point of the season, we are beginning to see the trends and who might be underrated and overrated. However, hot streaks and cold streaks can scare your competition, and sometimes underlying numbers aren’t showing up on the surface numbers quite yet. If someone in your league is ready to overreact, take advantage of their impatience. Here are some players I would try to buy low and sell high on at this point in the season.
This week’s article has a theme around the trade deadline. As the deadline approaches, we will see small and big changes in some players’ values. Now is the time to stash or trade for players that might gain value or sell the ones that could lose value before the trades happen.
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Buy Low, Sell High
Buy Low
Logan Allen (SP – CLE)
With the recent news that Cal Quantrill has a shoulder injury and could miss time, it seems likely that Logan Allen will be back in the Guardians rotation soon. While that would potentially be a short-term assignment, there are a lot of rumors that the Guardians could look to move Shane Bieber, who only has one year left on his contract after this season and is eligible for arbitration this offseason. If that happens, Allen would be cemented in the rotation the rest of the way.
Tyler O’Neill (LF/CF – STL)
O’Neill is recovering from a back issue but is on a minor league rehab assignment, so he should be ready to return to the Cardinals pretty soon after the All-Star Break. However, it is apparent the Cardinals have soured on him and will likely look to trade him as he would likely be non-tendered by them in the offseason. O’Neill has power and speed and is a fantastic defensive player, so there should be many teams that would be interested in adding him to their outfield.
Brendan White (RP – DET)
You may be asking, “Who is Brendan White?” Well, let me tell you. He is a 24-year-old reliever with really good stuff and spotty command. He also may be the next closer of the Detroit Tigers. Rumors have swirled around the Tigers as sellers, especially for the back of their bullpen, where they could easily move Alex Lange, Jason Foley, and Jose Cisnero. This is a deep league speculation, but a name to keep on your radar for the deadline and next season.
Sell High
Michael Lorenzen (RP/SP – DET)
Lorenzen would be at the top of his value, even if he wasn’t a trade candidate. He has pitched well against bad teams and poorly against good teams and was able to make the All-Star Game. The pitcher should get moved at the deadline, and if he leaves the worst division in baseball, he will have a much tougher schedule down the stretch.
C.J. Cron (1B/DH – COL)
I love CJ Cron and think he can hit for power anywhere, but leaving Coors Field will hurt his value as it helps boost your BABIP as a hitter. The rebuilding Rockies should look to move him since he is a free agent at the end of the season. Sometime in the next few weeks is the best time to move him for a player of equal value.
Jordan Hicks (SP/RP – STL)
Hicks has done a great job as the closer of the Cardinals since taking over for injured Ryan Helsley. However, the Cardinals have dug too deep of a hole for themselves, and he is a free agent at the end of the season. Several teams could be interested in Hicks to strengthen their bullpens, and then he would likely not be a closer in a new landing spot.
Blake Snell (SP – SD)
Snell has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since the end of May, throwing 47 innings over his last eight starts with a .77 ERA and a .98 WHIP while striking out 73. However, the Padres have fallen 10 games back in the division and likely are sellers at the deadline.
San Diego is a great place to pitch, so most likely, wherever Snell ends up will be a worse home park. That doesn’t even mention Snell’s poor injury track record and instability as a consistent starter in his career. I think this is the top of his value.
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