Welcome RotoBallers to another edition of trade targets. Each week, this article will look at several players whom fantasy managers should trade for or get rid of in fantasy baseball. Now, something to keep in mind when reading this piece is that each league is different. So, buying low or selling high on certain players will vary based on your league mates and league size.
However, the one thing for certain is that the buy-low players are struggling to produce much while the sell-high players are on a tear -- either at the plate or on the mound. There are a bunch of fantasy stars who fit under both categories. However, for the sake of this article, we will try not to relist players from last week's version.
So, without further ado, here are five players you should be looking to buy low or sell high on heading into Week 7 of the fantasy season (May 13 to May 19). As always, if you have any additional questions, you can reach out to me on X (@joeypollizze).
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Undervalued Fantasy Baseball Players to Trade for
1B Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
Trading for Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson will not be easy by any means. He is coming off a season in which he hit 54 home runs and 139 RBI while finishing fourth in the National League MVP voting. As a matter of fact, Olson has established himself as one of the best hitters in the game over the past few years.
However, the start of the 2024 campaign hasn't been kind to Olson. He is batting just .200 at the plate with three HRs and 16 RBI through the first 34 games. The left-handed slugger also has just seven hits (one extra-base hit) over his last 77 plate appearances since April 16. That's why now is the perfect time to trade for him. The Braves first baseman will surely break out of his slump soon, and when he does, those fantasy managers who acquired him will be rewarded big-time.
I know fans don't want to hear it & just want results. But it's crazy how unlucky Matt Olson has been.
Since April 22:
- 19.1% K-rate (so he's cut down the Ks)
- .167 BABIP (like ... how?)
- 40% hard contact rate (higher than '23)
- 38% fly ball rate (down 3 points from '23) pic.twitter.com/Q8RwR8yJag— LockedOn_Braves (@LockedOn_Braves) May 6, 2024
The results might not be there for the 30-year-old in the early going, but the metrics suggest that he will heat up. His expected slugging (.445), average exit velocity (94 mph), barrel rate (12.4%), and hard-hit rate (56.2%) all rank in the top half of the league. He also has a 12.2% walk rate, which ranks in the 82nd percentile.
The high hard-hit rate, barrel rate, and average exit velocity are a great sign from Olson, and his numbers should eventually even out as the season progresses. As a result, fantasy managers should be looking to buy low on the Braves first baseman. It might still cost a lot to acquire the veteran, but his fantasy value will never be lower.
OF Nick Castellanos, Philadelphia Phillies
Like Olson, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos is not off to a great start in 2024. He is batting just .207 with two HRs, three doubles, and 12 RBI through the first 38 games. Castellanos' metrics are also not particularly great, either. His expected batting average (.224), expected slugging (.342), average exit velocity (87 mph), and hard-hit rate (36.3%) all rank in the bottom half of the league.
Despite all those things working against Castellanos in the early going, he's a player fantasy managers should be looking to buy low on. It also shouldn't take a lot to acquire the Phillies outfielder, so he's certainly someone to trade for in most formats heading into Week 7.
It's been tough at times to watch Castellanos at the plate this year. But don't forget, we aren't even two months into the season yet, and he has totaled at least 29 HRs and 100 RBI in two of the past three campaigns. He also hits in one of the best lineups in baseball, so opportunities should continue to find him. Now is the time to buy him before he starts to really heat up at the plate. The 32-year-old has seven hits over the past five contests.
SP Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants
If you are looking for a pitcher to acquire in fantasy, look no further than San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb. Webb has quietly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the game after back-to-back dominant seasons in 2022 and 2023. Nevertheless, the right-hander has not exactly looked like an ace over his past few starts.
On April 30 against the Boston Red Sox, Webb allowed four runs on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts across 3 2/3 innings pitched. Then, in his next start on May 5 against the Phillies, he gave up five runs (four earned runs) on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts across four innings. The 27-year-old also had a rough outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in the year when he gave up five earned runs.
"I'll put him in the 5 to 10 category."@MadDogUnleashed on where he ranks Logan Webb amongst current MLB pitchers pic.twitter.com/VBxMUOPb5S
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 2, 2024
Webb's numbers across the board are down from last year, including his expected batting average against (.306), average exit velocity (89.9 mph), and hard-hit rate (47.3%). That might have some fantasy managers worried heading into the middle of May. However, now is the right opportunity to acquire one of the biggest inning-eater pitchers in the game.
Webb led the majors last season with 216 IP, which certainly helps his fantasy value. He will go deep into games while limiting his walks and runs against in most outings. The strikeouts aren't a big part of his game -- with a career 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings -- but this is a pitcher who went at least seven innings in 16 of 33 starts in 2023.
Overvalued Fantasy Baseball Players to Trade Away
OF Bryan De La Cruz, Miami Marlins
Miami Marlins outfielder Bryan De La Cruz continues to be a strong fantasy asset to start the season. He is hitting .269 at the plate with eight HRs, eight doubles, and 21 RBI in the first 39 games of the year. De La Cruz has also homered in three of the past five games while totaling a hit in eight of the last nine contests.
The 27-year-old has been one of the best all-around hitters for the Marlins this season and one of the few bright spots on that offense. However, he's a player who fantasy managers should be looking to sell high.
DLC ties it up here in LA. pic.twitter.com/KJUVoOZEzr
— Marlins Radio Network (@MarlinsRadio) May 8, 2024
There has been nothing wrong with the way De La Cruz has looked at the plate in 2024. But there's a chance you could use him in a package deal to acquire a star like Olson or Julio Rodriguez. Also, it would be shocking to see the outfielder keep up this pace for the entire season. When he goes into a slump on offense, there could be some ugly fantasy stretches from him. His strikeout rate (25%), walk rate (6.5%), whiff rate (32.5%), and chase rate (33%) all rank in the bottom half of the league.
As a result, fantasy managers should try to sell him high while he's coming off back-to-back home run games. The Marlins will also be sellers at the trade deadline, meaning RBI chances might be hard to come by for De La Cruz in the second half of the season.
OF Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics
Oakland A's outfielder Brent Rooker is another player I am looking to sell in fantasy immediately. Despite being on an absolute heater at the plate right now -- where he is hitting .462 with four HRs and 11 RBI over the past seven games -- there's just no way he can keep this up. His .277 average with nine HRs, six doubles, and 24 RBI is also likely not sustainable for Rooker.
The 29-year-old was on a similar streak to begin the 2023 campaign but struggled mightily over the final four months of the season. Rooker had a .330 average with 10 HRs, four doubles, and 26 RBI through the first 27 games last year. However, over the final 110 games, he had a .227 average with 20 HRs, 16 doubles, and 43 RBI.
In now back-to-back seasons, Rooker has gotten off to a fantastic start. Nevertheless, if this year follows suit, we could expect a cold streak very soon from the A's outfielder. That's why fantasy managers should be looking to trade him right now, especially since he went 5-for-9 with one home run and three RBI in Wednesday's doubleheader against the Texas Rangers.
It's a 10-run frame for the @Athletics!
Brent Rooker has 2 HR and 5 RBI ... THIS INNING! pic.twitter.com/hKPpwgK8sc
— MLB (@MLB) May 5, 2024
Rooker is certainly an interesting case in fantasy right now. Fantasy managers likely aren't reaching out to acquire him because he plays for the A's and struggled down the stretch in 2023. However, it's hard to ignore the fact that he hit 30 HRs last year and is now seeing the ball extremely well in 2024. So, there might be some suitors for him in your league -- perhaps those looking for some power in their lineup.
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