Today is the first day of the World Cup, which will be the center of the sports world for the next few weeks. Always remember, however, that fantasy baseball goes on. This is the beginning of the home stretch for those at the top of the leaderboards, but for those fighting for a playoff spot, one move can change your entire season. Hopefully for the better.
Buying high and selling low are two things you want to avoid, even if you are in dire need. Be sure to check the waiver wire as well.
Each week, XN Sports will have a Buys and Sells column, describing a few players to go after, or to get rid of. We all know to buy low and sell high, but what players should we trade, or who should we go after?
This week’s edition of Buys and Sells:
Buy Low
Josh Donaldson, Third Base, Oakland Athletics
How are you supposed to buy low on one of the best third basemen in the game? Currently, Donaldson is in the midst of a horrid slump, where he has just one hit (albeit a home run) in his last 28 at-bats. He has gone “ofer” in his last five games, and has only walked once in the entire month of June so far. Is he pressing? Of course. When you’re in a slump, you try everything in your power to get out of it, which causes you to press and sometimes make the slump worse. Either way, Donaldson is still one of the best fantasy players in the game, and if someone is willing to sell him during this slump, be sure to buy. Despite his slump, he still leads all third basemen in runs scored and home runs, and is second in runs batted in.
Joe Nathan, Closer, Detroit Tigers
So far this season, Nathan has a 7.04 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP, which rank among the worst in all of baseball. So why should you buy him? Chances are, you can get him for next to nothing, and his ERA has been inflated because of recent struggles. He has allowed 18 earned runs this year, but 10 of them have come in his last 3.1 innings of work. Before that, he allowed eight earned runs in 20 innings of work for an ERA of almost half of what his season ERA is currently. Nathan has struggled, there is no denying that. But if he is able to get back on track, he is a closer for a team who could win over 90 games, which carries a ton of value in itself.
Sell High
Lonnie Chisenhall, Third Base/First Base, Cleveland Indians
I know what you’re thinking. “Why sell the hottest player on the planet?” That’s just it, he is the hottest player on the planet. If you can get a massive deal for Chisenhall, or even a two player deal that includes a great pitcher, be sure to do it. Someone will be willing to pay a premium for a corner infielder that is hitting .393 on the season, and a ridiculous .449 in his last 49 at-bats. He is due for regression, simply because it’s tough for anyone to maintain a .393 batting average.
Here’s a deeper look into Chisenhall’s season so far. We all know about the three home run game. We all know about the .449 in his last 49 at-bats. We all know he is hot, but is everything just falling for him? Chisenhall’s BABIP (batting average per balls in play) is an absurd .428, there is no way he can maintain that, right? Well, not so fast. Chisenhall’s line drive percentage is 10th in baseball among players with 100 plate appearances or more with a 28.7 rate. But, he has a higher BABIP than anyone around him, and it really is not close other than Brandon Barnes‘ .422. That signifies that his BABIP will decrease, which would then lower his batting average. While Chisenhall is one of the better hitters in the game right now, his trade value is never going to be higher, so scan the market for him, and see what you can get.
Statistics from ESPN.com and Fangraphs.com
