Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice: Buy High & Sell Low (Week 18)

The All-Star break is long gone and we’re back to the grind. Each week during the season I take a look at four players you should buy high or sell low based on their current value. Here are some players I’m buying or selling for the second half.

Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice (Week 18)

Buy High

Brent Rooker (OF – OAK)

I’ve been slow to come around on the 29-year-old after a breakout season last year in Oakland. However, Brent Rooker has been even better in 2024. His quality-of-contact metrics are absurd. He’s in the 90th percentile or better in average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit rates. His .266 xBA is the only expected stat lagging as his xwOBA and xSLG are in the 96th and 98th percentiles, respectively. Rooker strikes out entirely too much (32.1%) but it hasn’t hindered his fantasy value. His 22 homers and 67 RBI through 86 games are on pace to crush the 30/69 from last season. There’s been some speculation he could be traded. A move to any contender would be an upgrade for the slugger.

Josh Hader (RP – HOU)

Josh Hader struggled the first month of the season but has turned it around. He’s 3-5 with a 3.68 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 20 saves in 21 opportunities. Even when he wasn’t at his best he’s been striking guys out at a ridiculous clip. His 40.5% strikeout rate and 32.9% K-BB% rank second among relievers behind only Mason Miller. He’s not hurting himself with walks either as his 7.5% walk rate is the second-lowest of his career. His FIP (3.23), xFIP (2.32) and xERA (2.72) suggest better outings given his current form. As the Astros moved into first place in the division over the weekend, Hader should continue seeing ample save chances.

Sell Low

Paul Goldschmidt (1B – STL)

Paul Goldschmidt has not been himself this season. I mean that very literally as his 28.6% strikeout and 7.5% walk rates are his worst in a season by far. He’s slashing .225/.287/.372 with 48 runs scored, 14 home runs, 38 RBI and six stolen bases. The home run total isn’t too terrible and his quality-of-contact metrics are solid as well. His average exit velocity and hard-hit rate are both in the 85th percentile or better. His xBA (.253) and xwOBA (.329) expect him to be better although not great. Even still, all of his expected stats are career lows. His wOBA has never been below .346 in a season and this year it’s .287. Goldschmidt has recently been moved down to the seventh spot in the order. While that shouldn’t be expected to continue all season, it’s not a great sign of what the team is seeing from the 36-year-old first baseman.

Evan Phillips (RP – LAD)

Evan Phillips leads the Dodgers with 14 saves but has been losing control as the only closer lately. He’s 2-0 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 9.87 K/9 and 4.03 FIP. For as many games as the Dodgers are going to win, it would be nice for them to stick to one guy. However, since Kenley Jansen left after the 2021 season, they have been using more of a semi-closer-by-committee approach. At least five guys in the past two seasons have had multiple saves and they haven’t had a pitcher get more than 24 saves since Jansen. This is saying something since he had no fewer than 33 saves in any season from 2014-2021. This season the Dodgers already have three pitchers with at least five saves each. It’s not that Phillips isn’t the best option, but they will likely continue to mix it up.