Playing in dynasty leagues is fun but can come with difficult decisions. You might have to take a gamble by trading away a talented player a year or two early before the bottom falls out. The earlier you trade these players, though, the better since their value could be higher now than what it will be later in the season.
Here are five players that I would consider trading away in dynasty leagues.
5 Players to Sell in Dynasty Leagues (2024 Fantasy Baseball)
Jonathan India (2B – CIN)
India was great in the first half of the 2023 season. He dealt with plantar fasciitis in the second half, though, and his numbers declined but so did his playing time. He had 348 AB in the first half compared to 106 in the second half.
I am not worried about the final numbers of the 2023 season but more about the plantar fasciitis and playing time. When it comes to plantar fasciitis, time is the best medicine. Perhaps time on the injury list and healing this offseason will be the cure. However, this injury can pop back up if not treated properly.
India was rumored to be a possible trade candidate this past season and into this offseason. It is probably safe to assume that the Reds plan on holding onto him now, but the Reds also have a logjam of talent in the infield. Maybe he could play other positions in the infield. He did play third base and shortstop in the minors. If he does move around the diamond on the regular basis and go through rough patches at the plate, could he be benched for one of the younger players vying for playing time? If he does get traded, being away from Great American Ballpark is a bummer. For me, I would try to trade India. The earlier in the season the better.
Masyn Winn (OF – STL)
Winn only played 37 games in the majors for the Cardinals in 2023. That’s too small of a sample size and his .172 batting average in the majors is not making me add him to this list. Winn still has some prospect allure to him and could still bring some good value in a trade. I am concerned about his playing time. To me, Winn cannot afford to struggle. He needs to have a good spring and force the Cardinals to put him in the lineup. If he struggles this season, the Cardinals will likely not hesitate to send him back to the minors to get him back on track.
The Cardinals adding Matt Carpenter this offseason could also be a problem for Winn. Carpenter could play mostly DH but if he plays the field, it could be second base, which would cause Tommy Edman to most likely move over to shortstop. These are some concerns. Winn has good talent, but I believe he will be on a short leash this season. Trading him now could prevent any possible headaches later.
Juan Soto (OF – NYY)
Listen – Soto is great and is one of the best players in the game. He recovered in the second half this past season after struggling the during the first few months. Do you remember fantasy owners freaking out? I am not saying Soto will be a bust this season or even long term. But I will say that people are really excited about Soto this season and what he could do this year. Just imagine what you could get for him on the trade block.
I will say it’s a new team for Soto. He will most likely hit free agency after this season, so pressure to perform will be high. Playing in New York isn’t for everyone. Take these thoughts and mix in what Soto could potentially do, and I think one should consider some trade offers. I would demand a lot in return and whatever you have in mind for a return for Soto, stick with it.
Mason Miller (SP – OAK)
Miller pitched just 33.1 innings in the majors last year before a UCL sprain sidelined him for the rest of the season. He created a lot of buzz in that short time. A K/9 rate of 10.26 was a big part of the buzz. All indications point at Miller pitching out of the bullpen this season to make sure he doesn’t over do it this year.
The UCL sprain is concerning to me, though. It has that feeling of turning into something worse before the 2024 season is over. For the record – I hope not. Getting good value for Miller this year could be difficult and you will probably have to pick the right time to trade him away. Even if he pitches well out of the bullpen all season, he probably has better value right now than good numbers for a long reliever. Also, remember he pitches for Oakland and that might be enough for some of you to go ahead and trade him.
Cedric Mullins (BAL – OF)
Getting the most value out of Mullins has probably sailed already. His 2023 numbers were not a huge selling point. A .233 batting average with 15 home runs and 19 stolen bases left owners feeling underwhelmed. He is two seasons removed from his 30/30 season and feels unlikely to get back at that point. He won’t turn 30 until the end of the season but feels like he is already in his mid 30s. He had over 200 less plate appearances last year compared to the 2021 and 2022 seasons so perhaps he can get back on track.
Unfortunately for Mullins, the Orioles have several prospects vying for starting opportunities. It’s early in the offseason but it’s rumored that Mullins could be batting towards the bottom of the lineup. If that’s true, his numbers will likely not reach what they have been in the past. If anything, his dynasty value will take a hit. This is probably the last chance to trade Mullins before his value decreases.
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