I have six players this week for consideration to buy low and sell high. When buying low, make sure you are getting a discount for a player you believe will help you down the stretch. For the sell high candidates, these players might have good seasons but if trading one of them makes your team more competitive, then it should be considered. Here is our Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice for this week to help you navigate deals in your leagues.
- Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Advice
- Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice
- Fantasy Baseball Start/Sit Lineup Advice
- MLB Prop Bet Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice (Week 5)
Buy Low
Many owners out there are probably getting frustrated with their first-round pick this year. With every game not being the breakout game that owners are expecting, the anxiety and annoyance grow. I believe in patience for talented hitters, especially early in the season. If you’re interested or can take a struggling Carroll into your team, I would see what owners would like in return. Don’t fool yourself though. You will still need to pay a good price for Carroll. Yes, he’s only batting .191 with just one home run, but owners still paid a high price for him. He will not put up the total numbers this season that he did last season but if he starts heating up, obtaining him will be difficult. You can get a 1st round talent right now at a discount.
Morel was a popular sleeper pick this season. He hit .247 with 26 home runs in 2023 and is currently only hitting .215 with four home runs. Some owners have voiced their frustration, but his batting percentage rankings are all above league average. He could easily match his home run total from this past season but as for his average, he probably is just a .250 career hitter. That’s not bad, not elite, but still a fantasy contributor. His average has raised in the past week and his strikeout rate is 11% lower than last season. So maybe the average will be higher than .250. If you need help at 3B, Morel has talent at a current discount.
First, check your waiver wire and see if Paddack is available. If he isn’t, then consider how bad your rotation is. If you are like most this season and your pitching staff is depleted, then you could consider Paddack. He hasn’t reclaimed the excitement that was surrounding him when he first broke into the league, but his name still brings interest to owners. His stat line against the White Sox brings the most buzz: 7 IP, 0 ER and 10Ks. Unfortunately, it was against the White Sox. He had a decent start against the Dodgers earlier in the year but couldn’t reach 5 IP. The Twins are playing better and until Paddack has multiple bad starts, they will continue to use him. Paddack won’t cost you much and I would view him the same as when MLB teams acquire pitchers to ‘eat up’ some innings. Throw him when it makes sense.
Sell High
Lots of teams that put off drafting pitchers early probably drafted Grayson in Rounds 7 to 8 as their ace. So far, the numbers are a little underwhelming. He is 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA, and he pitches for one of the best lineups in baseball. The chances for wins will always be there. Just a few things to remember, though: Grayson pitched a career high 122 innings this past season. Three of his four wins are against teams that are hitting below league average. He has thrown more than seven strikeouts in a game just once his season. Will Baltimore limit his innings later in the season? Can he handle the extra innings and pitch counts that will be expected of him? I’m not saying Grayson will never be an ace, but is he the ace that you need this year? He still would bring a nice return in a trade. If you need help in different positions, trading Grayson could help fill those needs.
Ward could have been available in some leagues early in the year, but his roster percentage is now in the mid 90s. He is hitting .271 with 7 HR and has a .810 OPS. He has only played in over 100 games just once in his career. With the Angels losing Mike Trout in the lineup for a while, that does dampen any excitement for Angel’s hitters. I would entertain some offers for Ward and let some other owners be on the Angels Lineup roller coaster.
Cowser started off the year hot. His numbers still look good with a .307 average and six home runs. He has cooled off lately though. Since April 20, he has five hits. Two of those were home runs and he has struck out 12 times. He currently has over a 31% strikeout rate. The average will continue to drop, and he has been hitting towards the bottom of the lineup more. Baltimore has talent and if a young prospect struggles, they will replace them. Cowser has power, but will he become an all or nothing hitter? Trading him now, would bring you the most value. Waiting another month or so, he could be a sell low candidate.