The trade deadline is right around the corner, so it’s now or never for making the moves you need to make to go for the championship. Our Featured Pros have some ideas to help make that happen. Here are the players to trade right now.

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Players to Buy Low

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

Tarik Skubal (SP – DET)

“Tigers southpaw Tarik Skubal exhibited promising signs in his last outing, allowing only two hits over five scoreless innings while striking out nine against the SF Giants. The Tigers are monitoring his workload following his return from last August’s elbow surgery, but he continues to display that he is regaining his form from last year. Skubal is allowing a .200/.246/.317 slash across his four starts while producing an encouraging 35.4 SO%. Fantasy managers should be pleased with what Skubal has shown up to this point, and obtaining the left-hander now to help you down the stretch should not take much capital and will provide a valuable investment.”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)

Bobby Witt Jr. (SS, 3B – KC)

“At first glance, Bobby Witt Jr.’s numbers this year are shockingly similar to his 2022 season metrics. Entering play Tuesday, his batting average had risen all of .001 point, and his on-base percentage was exactly the same. However, the infielder’s quality of contact metrics jumped to decidedly above average this year. After logging a .313 xwOBA and an 8.7% barrel rate, Witt Jr. is up to a .358 xwOBA and a 10.5% barrel rate so far this year. Fantasy managers should consider trading someone like Jose Ramirez for Witt Jr. and a quality starting pitcher.”
– Ben Rosener (Tigers Rebuild)

Wander Franco (SS – TB)

“I am buying low on Tampa Bay Rays infielder Wander Franco. The 22-year-old hit .278 (95-for-342) with 11 home runs, 44 RBI, 49 runs, and 28 stolen bases over 86 games during the first half of the regular season. Franco has struggled in July, slashing .171/.253/.286 with two home runs and two stolen bases across 79 plate appearances. His .284 XBA (expected batting average) is in the 91st percentile, while his 39.8% HardHit% is up four points from 2022 (35.8%). The Rays offense has cooled off in July, coming off a blistering start to the season. Franco is an all-world talent who should be able to turn things around at the plate sooner than later. Franco’s fantasy stock is down and is currently 40th overall on the latest FantasyPros expert consensus rankings. Now would be the time for fantasy managers to contact other managers in their league that are frustrated with his July production and give up a player such as George Springer, Bryan Reynolds, Michael Harris II, and Teoscar Hernandez, all of whom ranked right around Franco.”
– Brad Camara (RotoBaller)

Max Muncy (2B, 3B – LAD)

“If I’m looking for cheap power and care naught for batting average, then I am in the Max Muncy market right now. He has homered in four of his last six games, and he typically bats cleanup for a Dodgers team that has found its offensive groove of late. His xSLG is 48 points higher than his current, and his xwOBA also has some 30 points to grow. I would be willing to give up a middle infielder like Nico Hoerner for him.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)

Players to Sell High

What one MLB player are you trying to sell high and why? Also, who are you willing to give up for him?

Cody Bellinger (OF – CHC)

“Cody Bellinger is the epitome of the sell-high candidate for fantasy managers and the Chicago Cubs. Bellinger has been on a tear this month, producing a .452/.475/.795 slashline, a 1.270 OPS, and seven homers with 22 RBI across 73 at-bats. He is putting numbers that he wants to be traded. After some down seasons with the Dodgers that were slowed up by injuries, the lefty slugger has an explosive resurgence that fantasy managers need to take advantage of. Bellinger even outproduces his 2019 MVP season with career-high numbers that will not hold. His career .283 BABIP pales compared to the .302 BABIP he produced in 2019 or the outrageous .338 through 69 games this season. With this type of breakthrough, his 6.02 Barrel rate is nowhere near the expected double-digit numbers. Add that his current .264 xBA is not in the same ballpark as his current .317 batting average, and Bellinger screams regression. Several MLB teams are interested in Bellinger, with the Cubs looking like sellers, but fantasy managers should also be sellers by selling the OF at his current production peaks.”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)

“I highlighted Cody Bellinger a few weeks ago, and he has made me look silly since. However, with the trade deadline coming up, I would be willing to flip him for the best starting pitcher I can get in return. He is slugging 117 points ABOVE his expected, and his xBA is .260. His BABIP is .333, so even minor regression could tank all the joy he has brought to your team. I recognize the risk inherent to doing this, as he is obviously playing his way out of Chicago and could end up in Yankee Stadium for the rest of the year. But if I could somehow peel Framber Valdez or Justin Steele off someone, I would do it in a heartbeat.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)

Taijuan Walker (SP – PHI)

“Taijuan Walker has enjoyed a solid fantasy season so far in Philadelphia for the Phillies, logging 11 wins in 20 starts while pitching to a 4.11 ERA, 4.36 FIP, 94 strikeouts, and 43 walks in 107.1 innings. The veteran has never been an elite bat-missing option, but his swing-and-miss metrics have taken a bit of a step back this year. Walker’s 8.6% swinging strike percentage would tie his career-low in a full season, and his whiff rate is down to 21.1% after finishing above the 23% mark in each of the last two seasons. And while he owns a 2.67 ERA and a 3.58 FIP since June 1, that stretch also includes 10 walks allowed in his last 18 innings. With lower strikeouts and much of his fantasy value tied to his pitcher win total, now’s the perfect time to trade him for a batter like James Outman or Dansby Swanson.”
– Ben Rosener (Tigers Rebuild)

Edouard Julien (2B – MIN)

“I would sell high on Minnesota Twins second baseman Edouard Julien. The 24-year-old has been red hot in July, slashing .412/.500/.804 with five home runs, eight RBI, 13 runs, and nine walks over 60 plate appearances. Julien is arguably the hottest hitter in baseball right now but continues to sit against lefties. His playing time could take a hit with the impending return of Jorge Polanco (hamstring). Julien also strikes out a lot, evidenced by his 31.8 K%. Fantasy managers riding Julien’s hot streak should look to move on and acquire a more established infielder if they can. I would package Julien and other players and see if you can acquire some struggling fantasy assets, such as Wander Franco or Willy Adames.”
– Brad Camara (RotoBaller)

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