One of the most exciting ways to enjoy the MLB fantasy experience, Sorare gamifies card collecting in a fantasy baseball setting. How does it work? Collect cards (buy, sell, and trade), compete with them (fantasy baseball and collection game), and win rewards (cards, cash, VIP experiences, and more). Sorare has undergone a facelift for the 2024 season, so be sure to give yourself some time before the new Game Week starts to familiarize yourself with the new interface. For more information, check out our overview here.
Sorare x MLB – The Next Era is Yours
Sorare: MLB Buy, Hold, Trade Under 25
If you are ever looking for some players to target, Sorare curates a grouping of players on a hot streak as well as top performers by position. This is my go-to when I scour the marketplace as it can house great offers or give me an idea of the current market value for players I am targeting.
Under 25 tournaments
These are a great opportunity for those who can scratch together a lineup to meet the requirements. There are sure to be fewer competitors than in the other tournaments, which means an increased probability of finishing with a score that nets you some rewards. The Under 25 tournaments are, like they sound, exclusively for selecting MLB players that are 25 years old or younger. The competition will run through Game Weeks 20 and 21. Players that turn 26 on or after July 1st are eligible as they will still be 25 for the entirety of this tournament. There are some special rewards available for this competition, including a signed Julio Rodriguez bat, so do your best to see if you can find a way to participate. For this week’s Upgrade, Hold, Downgrade, we will touch on three players I considered for my own Under 25 lineup this week.
Upgrade
Ceddanne Rafaela (SS/OF – BOS)
Yes, this may be a reaction to his two homer night on Friday, but Ceddanne had been heating up even before that. He has, at the very least, gone from an afterthought to someone to accept on Player Swaps or to stick in your lineup in tournaments like the Limited AL-only or Limited Under 25. The five tool talent is legit, and his totals of three homers, 10 RBI, nine runs, and three stolen bases on .267 hitting accentuates that. He may not be the most consistent high floor option, but he has shown that when he is cooking that he can be an elite weapon for Sorare managers if called upon.
*Eligible for Under 25 competitions
Rengifo has been impressive this season, and now that the market is no longer overreacting to back-to-back elite performances in Game Week 16 and 17, he is back to being an option worth strong consideration. He hits for average, and while his pop is nothing to write home about, he has 20/30 or even 20/40 upside and shouldn’t hurt your team too much. Rengifo has just two negative scoring games all season at Sorare. Want some context? Bo Bichette had two negative scoring games in Game Week 19 and is in the double digits on the season.
*Not eligible for Under 25 competitions
Hold
By now, you probably already know that Julio’s power numbers have all but disappeared. His numbers are a far cry from what they were last year when he was already at 10 home runs, 30 RBI, 35 runs, and 10 stolen bases with a .247 average. This year, he is at four home runs, 23 RBI, 26 runs, and 14 stolen bases with a .270 average. Yes, the increase in swipes helps, as does the improved plate discipline vis-a-vis this time last year, but his market value is still more in line with the elite play we all expect from him versus what he is actually producing for fantasy teams. Julio has had some excellent Game Weeks at Sorare but has also posted some nondescript ones that suggest that his objective value may be a tad lower than the current market value despite what the subjective value of the most recent sale data tells us. Hold off on adding Julio to your fantasy squad until he has another week or two where he fails to meet expectations.
*Eligible for Under 25 competitions
Harris is starting to heat up for the Braves, and even if his projected pace numbers pale from what we saw from him last year, especially in terms of plate discipline, there is still reason to be optimistic. Why, you ask? Harris was hitting sub .200 with two home runs, eight RBI, and five stolen bases at this time last year. Yes, the counting stats were affected by the fact that he played just seven games in April in 2023, but the fact remains that he has more than enough runway to match or exceed his numbers from last year. He deserves strong consideration for your Under 25 lineups and is someone to look to acquire either via the Marketplace through auction or public sale or through a trade offer.
*Eligible for Under 25 competitions
Downgrade
Arozaena is a talented player. However, he has been mired in a fantasy value destroying slump, which should keep him far away from lineups and potential value lists at Sorare. The pop is still there, and he may even threaten 25/25 again this season, but the average and ugly strikeout rate is going hamper his ability to be a value add to any lineup until he proves he has emerged from the 2024 nightmare and gets back to something resembling the player that won Rookie of the Year in 2021 and was an All-Star in 2023. Keep him glued to benches and off your radar completely until he forces his way back into the conversation.
*Not eligible for Under 25 competitions
Luis would be one of the first names that come to mind when dream roster building and for good reason. He has been on an absolute tear and is one of the best players (not just pitchers) in baseball. However, there is a point where market value and subjective value spike to a point where a player as elite as Gil is no longer an actual value. He’s hard to ignore. His Sorare production has been wonderful, and he has a saliva-inducing profile that promises more good to come. With that said, Gil is still a relatively new pitcher who hasn’t faced many teams a second time yet (he’s 1-1 in those games). Furthermore, his current market value is higher than other more established players who have been pitching just as well or better this season. Wait for a bad start or two before taking the plunge on Gil, as his Apri/May splits tell a tale of two completely different hurlers.
*Not eligible for Under 25 competitions
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.