Fantasy baseball is a marathon, not a sprint. Unlike other fantasy sports, the season is long and drags as the weeks roll on. 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 really 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 and 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 are going to 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 actually happen.
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Buy Low, Sell High
Buy Low
Mason Thompson (RP – WAS)
You may be asking, “Who is Mason Thompson, and why is he leading off in your article?” It is not a bad question, but he is a reliever for the Nationals and could be their closer sooner rather than later. With Hunter Harvey going on the IL on Monday, it appears Kyle Finnegan will get the role back for now, but he has been mentioned as a popular trade target for contenders, which would mean Thompson should be the next man up. He may be your guy if you are looking for cheap saves in a deeper league.
Carlos Hernandez (SP, RP – KC)
Speaking of cheap saves that may be available soon, Carlos Hernandez is the next man up in Kansas City if the Royals move Scott Barlow. They have already traded Aroldis Chapman, and today they DFA’d Amir Garrett. Hernandez was a guy I was pretty high on as a starter, but he has been brilliant in the bullpen. Definitely, a guy I would be speculating on right now.
Lance Lynn (SP – CWS)
Lance Lynn has been about as infuriating a pitcher as there has been this season. However, with the White Sox out of the race this year, it seems likely he gets traded as he only has a team option that no team is exercising in 2024. Chicago has been an awful place for pitchers this year, with the fourth-worst park factor for right-handed pitchers in terms of home runs. As long as he doesn’t end up in Cincinnati, he should end up in a park better for him as a pitcher. Right now, you can still get him for cheap.
Matt Mervis (1B – CHC)
Speaking of Chicago, it seems likely the Cubs are also sellers at the deadline, and one of their big trade chips is Cody Bellinger. When Bellinger is traded, Matt Mervis will have an everyday role again at the Major League level. He was the talk of the fantasy community in November and December and then forgotten about once the Cubs blocked him with free-agent signings. He is a guy you should grab now before the Cubs make their moves.
Sell High
Jack Flaherty (SP – STL)
Flaherty has been up and down this season which fits with how the Cardinals have played this year. However, the Cardinals’ stadium has actually been helpful to him and other right-handed pitchers, and almost all of the potential landing spots for Flaherty are worse for him than St. Louis. He walks too many guys already. If he gives up more home runs on top of that, it could be disastrous.
Jonathan India (2B – CIN)
And other Reds’ Hitters
The Reds have called up Christian Encarncion-Strand, which is exciting but adds to an already crowded situation. Something has to give in order to give playing time to Encarnacion-Strand, Matt McLain, and Elly De La Cruz. While names like TJ Friedl and Spencer Steer have been mentioned as trade options, I think that India makes more sense. They could get a lot back in terms of pitching for him, and that would open up the necessary spot on the infield for the young Reds’ prospects. Leaving the best ballpark in baseball for power would be a hit for whoever the Reds trade.
Kyle Finnegan (RP – WSH)
As I mentioned above, Finnegan has been a constant name mentioned in trade rumors. One of the big issues with that is there is no real contender that he could be traded to where he would still be the closer. In a few weeks, you will have to drop him, so if you can get anything for him, do it now.
Kendall Graveman (RP – CWS)
Similar to Finnegan, Graveman is likely to be traded as he does only have one year left on his deal with the White Sox. If traded, he wouldn’t likely be a closer for his new team. Even if he doesn’t get traded, once Liam Hendriks is back, he would move back to a set-up role. I think now is the time to move him.
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