July 4th is just a day away, and the MLB trade deadline is just 27 days away. Your fantasy trade deadline will be soon as well, so be sure to get some good value in a deal before the deadline. Be sure to buy low, sell high, and squeeze every little bit of value out of a trade if you send away a big piece.
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
Christian Yelich, Outfield, Miami Marlins
Yelich returned from injury a few days ago, and should be immediately entered into your fantasy lineups. For those who do not have him, and need help in the outfield, this is the time to add Yelich. The Marlins outfielder is one of the better young players in baseball, and his current stat line of a .258 batting average, six home runs, and 11 stolen bases is not indicative of his true skills.
Yelich has the potential to be a .290 hitter with 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a full season, so ask around to see what his value would be in a trade. His value is low at the moment, because he has only played three games since returning from the disabled list. This year, Yelich has only hit line drives in 18.4 percent of his at-bats, but after last year’s line of 23 percent, he will be lifting that number even more, which will lead to a higher batting average and more opportunities for production.
If you can add Yelich as your fourth or fifth outfielder for one (or two) of your current pitchers or bench players (if you have a surplus at one position) add him, because having a player who can contribute in all five categories as a hitter is hard to find. Buy low on Yelich, and expect him to be one of your better performers down the stretch.
Sell High
Steve Pearce, First Base, Outfield, Baltimore Orioles
Pearce has been on fire of late, bringing him value as one of the best fantasy players in the last two weeks. Pearce is hitting .322 on the season with 10 home runs and 27 runs batted in, but in only 152 at-bats. That is a torrid pace, and considering he has five of those home runs in his last 51 at-bats, Pearce has to cool down, right? In Pearce’s eight-year career, this year has his highest line drive percentage, fly ball percentage, and double his career home run to fly ball ratio. Pearce’s BABIP is also very high at .361.
Of course, Pearce is having a career year, but his career numbers are nearly half of what his current pace is. Can he keep it up? Yes, but it is very unlikely. In addition, his value will never be higher than it is at the moment, as one of the best hitters in fantasy baseball over the last few weeks. See what you can get for Pearce, as it could make a difference in your playoff stretch. If you need pitching help, someone in your league will trade a solid starter for a hot bat, and in the long run it can help you win a fantasy championship.
Statistics from ESPN.com, MLB.com, and Fangraphs.com
