The trade deadline is approaching, 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 and Sell High
What one MLB player are you trying to buy low and why? Also, who are you willing to give up for him?
Pete Alonso (1B – NYM)
“I would buy low on New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Since the calendar turned to July, the 28-year-old is slashing .132/.298/.316 with two home runs and six RBI over his last 11 games. Since being activated from the injured list in June, Alonso is hitting .141 (12-for-85) across his last 98 plate appearances. The Mets slugger is one of the best power hitters in baseball. His .530 XSLG is in the 93rd percentile, while his .376 xWOBA is in the 91st percentile. Alonso should turn things around and bounce back from a mild slump. Suppose fantasy managers want to move on from a struggling Alonso. In that case, I will make the move to acquire him by giving up any player outside the top 35 in the latest FantasyPros expert consensus rankings. ”
– Brad Camara (RotoBaller)
Tim Anderson (SS – CWS)
“I’m sort of interested in Tim Anderson, especially if I need someone to fill my MI spot. The days of him being a 20-20 threat are probably over. However, I believe Anderson is still better than he has shown this season. He is one of the top underperformers on the season based on the difference between his expected stats and actual numbers. His xBA is .259, which is much more palatable than his current .227 clip. We’re talking about a guy who hit .300 or better in each of the past four seasons. I don’t think it’s crazy to think he can hit for a high average over the next two months. I also think a potential trade could boost Anderson’s value. The White Sox are 26th in baseball in both offensive WAR and wRC+. To be fair, some of that is due to Anderson’s lackluster play. But a move would almost certainly mean joining a better offense, which could invigorate him and boost his numbers. I would rather have Anderson than someone like C.J. Cron, and I would also be OK with acquiring him for Daulton Varsho if you have a suitable replacement at catcher. Strictly looking at SS, I am leaning toward bumping Anderson ahead of Jeremy Pena and Dansby Swanson in my ROS rankings. ”
– Mick Ciallela (Fantrax)
Taj Bradley (SP – TB)
“After a three-start stretch that was decidedly unkind to his season-long metrics, Taj Bradley bounced back on Tuesday with a quality outing against the Texas Rangers as the right-hander limited the American League West club to five hits, two walks, a home run, and a pair of earned runs in five innings while striking out nine batters. That performance might make a trade slightly more tricky, but now’s absolutely the time to make a deal for the rookie, who has league-winning upside with his elite bat-missing ability. After all, prior to Tuesday, Bradley was just three starts removed from a 49-inning stretch to start the year, where he struck out 13.04 batters per nine frames and owned a 2.71 FIP. His ERA before Tuesday’s start was 5.43, but if Tuesday is any indication, he’ll be much better moving forward. Trade for Bradley now – perhaps in a larger deal for a starter like Eduardo Rodriguez or Domingo German – before he turns in another quality start.”
– Ben Rosener (Tigers Rebuild)
Andres Gimenez (2B, SS – CLE)
“Andres Gimenez – CLE 2B/SS – The obvious takeaway when looking at Andres Gimenez’s numbers and average draft position is that we collectively overvalued his 2022 campaign. He entered last season with eight career home runs and hitting just .235. 17 home runs and a .297 batting average later, Gimenez looked like a player ready to take the next step in his career. Unfortunately, the first half of 2023 has humbled Gimenez and fantasy managers who invested in him, but that has also created a nice dip in his value. He still has 15 stolen bases on the season — which is trending toward a new career-high — and he should be attainable for a pitcher like Chris Bassett or Charlie Morton.”
– Mario Mergola (Sporfolio)
What one MLB player are you trying to sell high right now and why? Also, who would you try to get in return?
Domingo German (SP – NYY)
“I would sell high on New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German. The 30-year-old owns a 1.40 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, and a 23:3 K: BB over his last three starts. Most of his stats are inflated from throwing a perfect game against the Oakland A’s on June 28th. The right-hander owns a 4.32 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 24.6 K% across 91 2/3 innings in 2023. He is getting hurt by the long ball, evidenced by his 1.6 HR/9. German is ranked 212th overall in the latest FantasyPros expert consensus rankings, and I would move him for any hitters or starters in that range, such as Jake Fraley, Patrick Sandoval, Craig Kimbrel, TJ Freidl, Jack Flaherty, and CJ Abrams. ”
– Brad Camara (RotoBaller)
Elly De La Cruz (SS, 3B – CIN)
“This pick will not be popular, and I have to throw out the caveat that it is dependent on expectations. But I am going to say Elly De La Cruz. Don’t get me wrong – he is must-see TV and can do it all. I think he is a top 50 hitter ROS. However, I believe the hype train is moving too fast, at least for now. There were 10 NFBC Second Chance drafts that took place in July, and De La Cruz’s ADP was 12. That’s too rich for my blood. De La Cruz is probably the type of player who will consistently outperform his underlying metrics. Having said that, among 408 hitters with at least 50 batted ball events, he ranks 131st in expected batting average and 282nd in expected slugging percentage. The speed will play regardless, but the plate discipline is shaky at best. He has a 5.3% BB rate and a 30.7% K rate. That will limit his ability to hit for a high average. If you have a manager in your league who expects him to be a top-25 player going forward, you might be able to pry away a hitter like Luis Robert or Nolan Arenado. If you need starting pitching, Corbin Burnes and Yu Darvish are solid targets. ”
– Mick Ciallela (Fantrax)
Jon Gray (SP – TEX)
“Jon Gray started the year in fine form, pitching to a 2.32 ERA, 63 strikeouts, 20 walks, and nine home runs allowed in his first 12 starts spanning 73.2 innings, though he was also sporting a 4.19 FIP during that span. Flash forward to today, and the veteran owns a 6.75 ERA and a 5.74 FIP in his last five starts, throwing just 25.1 innings. The upcoming schedule doesn’t get any easier either, as Gray will face the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday and then match up with the Houston Astros in his next start. After a scheduled start Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, Gray’s next outing is a road start against the Houston Astros. The recent run of poor results has seen the 31-year-old’s season-long ERA and FIP climb to 3.45 and 4.59, respectively – and it’s possible starts against the Rays, and Astros could cause the numbers to balloon even further, making now the ideal time to trade him for a hitter like Byron Buxton or Jarred Kelenic.”
– Ben Rosener (Tigers Rebuild)
David Robertson (RP – NYM)
“David Robertson – NYM RP – If you want to make a big move to prepare for the second half of the fantasy baseball season, then look no further than David Robertson. The Mets’ closer currently has 13 saves on the year and is pitching to an outstanding sub-2.00 ERA. With free agency looming at the end of this season, Robertson is the ideal “rental” for a team looking to bolster its bullpen. We’ve seen it in the past where it is not a guarantee for someone like Robertson to change teams and keep his role as the closer. Trading him now should allow for a fantasy roster to address other needs via a bat like Riley Greene or Nolan Gorman.”
– Mario Mergola (Sporfolio)
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