Fantasy Baseball Mailbag: Rece Hinds, Mookie Betts, Sonny Gray

Welcome back to the Fantasy Baseball Weekly Mailbag. The mailbag is an opportunity to ask a FantasyPros analyst anything about the ongoing season to make the best and most informed decisions possible. Questions from fantasy managers this week can be seen below.

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Fantasy Baseball Mailbag

What should I do with Rece Hinds?

Rece Hinds has hit the ground running in seven games after his MLB debut. The rookie is slashing .423/.464/1.192 with five homers (including a grand slam), 11 RBI and two stolen bases.

His incredible start is unsustainable. No one can maintain these numbers. See if any league members want Hinds and buy into him being a star.

There’s a chance Hinds is the next big thing. Just remember that Hinds slashed .244/.313/.476 in five minor league seasons. MLB.com rates Hinds as low as the Reds’ 15th-best prospect. It’s much more likely Hinds will come back to earth soon.

The safest option is selling high.

Trade away Tanner Bibee and Ryan Pepiot for Sonny Gray or Ranger Suarez?

If you feel like you have enough pitching depth, that’s a great trade to make. You get to turn two good pitchers into a great one.

I would pick Sonny Gray over Ranger Suarez. I feel like Ranger Suarez is due for regression. After allowing 15 runs in his last three starts, it may have already arrived.

Would you trade away Francisco Lindor and George Kirby to receive Mookie Betts and Emmanuel Clase?

I never like the idea of trading for relievers. Emmanuel Clase is a great pitcher — there’s a reason he’s an All-Star. However, relievers are volatile, and good ones can appear out of nowhere. Look no further than waiver wire wonder Mason Miller. Although the wire dries up later into the year, talent will show up after the trade deadline shakes up bullpens. Having a closer as a big piece of a trade is not something I would do.

Mookie Betts is also uncertain because of his injury. Wrist injuries can be tricky and Betts may have decreased power. Betts is one of the best players in baseball but Francisco Lindor could be better than him during the fantasy playoffs.

Plus, losing George Kirby hurts. I would only do this trade if you can get a solid replacement pitcher

Drop Bo Bichette in an 8-team league?

I still think Bo Bichette is a hold in 10- and 12-team leagues.

In an 8-teamer? You might as well test the wire. Bichette has barely shown signs of life this year outside of when he batted .280 in May. He’s batting .193 in March, April, June and to this point in July. The shortstop has been one of the worst at his position.

A shallower league like yours has dozens of hitters on waivers who have been better than Bichette. You can check out a trade but don’t feel too bad about dropping him.

Drop Hunter Brown or Matt Waldron for Andrew Abbott or Brandon Pfaadt?

These pitchers are all in a similar category. I’d consider dropping Hunter Brown for Andrew Abbott.

Brandon Pfaadt doesn’t impress me all that much. I don’t see him as more than a streamer in shallower leagues.

I would keep Matt Waldron, it seems like he found something that really has helped his game and turned things around.

I think the best approach is watching how these pitchers do in their first week(s) in the second half. Find pitchers on hot streaks and ride the wave.