As we enter the final weeks before your league’s trade deadline now is the time to start making some moves that could be risky or on the safe side. The fun part is trying to find that line between the two. Being active on the waiver wire and trade block will be necessary to win it all or make the playoffs. It’s best to plan a week or two and make those first moves, be they trades or waiver wire moves.
Hopefully, even if you are out of contention in your league, you still make moves and remain active. Make the other teams earn those playoff spots. Don’t give them an easy path to victory. Play the spoiler in matchups, the waiver wire and in trades. When it comes to trading don’t help out buddies in the league. Those trades are annoying to other owners and are obvious what is going on. Make sure the trade makes sense and is fair — you should always try to win the trade. Playing the rest of the season this way is more enjoyable for you and the rest of the league.
Below are six players to consider for this week’s buy-low and sell-high trade article.
- 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 17)
Buy Low
Michael Toglia has a .197 batting average and 16 home runs in 50 games this season. The home runs are good, but the batting average could use some work. Toglia has hit .230 with 12 home runs since the start of June, though. The Rockies are playing him more and he’s been taking advantage of the opportunities. His latest performance before the All-Star break had everyone’s attention when he hit three home runs in a game. It wasn’t even in Coors Field!
The Rockies do open the second half with six home games. Hopefully, that helps the batting average. If he continues to hit this well then of course his value will go up. I would try to buy cheap now and use him as an option off the bench.
Arizona has been disappointed with their offseason acquisition from Seattle. Eugenio Suarez is hitting just .216 with 10 home runs this season. Suarez does have some pressure to start hitting soon. Arizona has Deyvison De Los Santos in Triple-A, who is tearing the cover off the ball. What De Los Santos lacks is a solid glove.
If Suarez can start hitting better he should be able to keep Santos in Triple-A — for now. Before the All-Star break, Suarez had three multi-hit games in his last five games. Perhaps he’s finally turning it around and could have a productive second half. If you need help at third base, Suarez can be a cheap buy.
Just getting this out of the way now — only buy low on Spencer Arrighetti. In the next few weeks, Houston could be adding some extra arms. If so, Arrighetti could lose his rotation spot.
The strikeout upside Arrighetti has is very appealing. He currently has 10.46 K/9. The biggest problem is walks. He has a 1.60 WHIP, and it just doesn’t appear to be getting better. Here comes the ‘however’ part. If we look at his four last starts and, for good measure, take away the start against Toronto where he gave up six earned runs in four innings, he has given up three earned runs while walking five and striking out 23 batters in 18 innings.
If you have an extra roster spot Arrighetti could be useful. Although, he will probably be a streamer option for the rest of the season. He does have a good start against Oakland after the break. Buy low and have low expectations. Anything else will be a nice surprise.
Sell High
Owners in your league might be afraid they missed the next big thing. If you picked up Rece Hinds, congratulations. Now flip him for something else. In his first seven MLB games, he has five home runs, two stolen bases and 11 RBI. He is also hitting .423 through those seven games.
The problem to watch for is strikeouts. He has a high 30% strikeout rate in the minors. That’s not a stat or trait that tends to get better once you get to the majors.
How many times have we seen this for players who get promoted and tear up opposing pitchers? Those hitters always come back down to earth, sometimes crashing.
This production could last a few more weeks but eventually will stop. You might as well capitalize now on making a move.
Justin Steele feels like a pitcher that doesn’t hurt you in fantasy but doesn’t help you either. If you’re in a redraft league and in the playoff race, I would maybe stand pat and hold onto Steele. In dynasty leagues, I would try to move him to a pitcher-needy team and get a promising hitter in return.
Steele has a 2.71 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. He has 81 strikeouts in 86 innings with a 2-3 record. Those numbers aren’t bad and that’s why you could get something decent for him. He seems like a younger version of Kyle Hendricks right now. Can be a solid pitcher but nothing exciting. I would try to move him for an exciting hitter.
Staying in Chicago, let’s look at Ian Happ. He struggled the first few months of the season before turning it around a little bit in June. For July, though, he is hitting .326 with four home runs and 13 RBI. It seems like a roller coaster season for Happ, so now might be the time to jump off. One of the most interesting stats for Happ is his home and away splits.
At home, he is hitting .313. On the road, Happ is hitting .185. I just don’t see Happ finding the consistency needed for fantasy owners to feel good about putting him in their lineups.
Since he is hitting now, I would try to make a move. Some teams in your league are desperate for hitting and could believe this early July version of Happ is the beginning of a productive second half.
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