With two weeks in the books, fantasy baseball season is already 10 percent over! It seems like we just drafted, and we did. But there have been almost 20 games played already, and it’s safe to say fantasy baseball is truly in full-swing.
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, XNSports 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 are there players that are worth buying high or selling low? Each week we’ll get into that, and explain why to buy or sell.
This week’s edition of Buys and Sells:
Buy High
Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds
Hopefully, you do not need to buy high on Johnny Cueto, since he should already be on at least one of your teams as a sleeper. But someone will be selling high on Cueto, thinking there is no way he can keep his current pace of a 1.5 ERA with 35 strikeouts through 30 innings. But as the aforementioned link will tell you, Cueto has been a very good pitcher for a long time. Trading for someone after pitching a complete game shutout seems like a bad decision, but if someone is trying to sell high, but at a low price, swoop in and take the ace. In his last 72 starts, Cueto is 34-18 with 360 strikeouts in 463.2 innings. But, the incredible part is the fact that in these last 72 starts, Cueto has a 2.54 ERA. The guy is an ace. Add him.
Buy Low
Wil Myers, Tampa Bay Rays
Myers has been one of baseball’s top prospects for a few seasons, and since his call-up last season, he was on fire. Myers hit .293 with 13 home runs and drove in 53 runs in just 335 at-bats. This year, he was drafted high as a top-tier outfielder in fantasy baseball. But so far, Myers has been struggling, hitting just .200 with zero home runs and just four runs batted in. Is it time to panic? No, but a struggling owner might be quick to pull the trigger with Myers being a focal point of his offense. Offer a second tier pitcher or a hitter like Trevor Plouffe (who has gotten off to a great start) for Myers. See if the fish will bite.
Sell High
Aaron Harang, Atlanta Braves
What Harang has done so far this season is remarkable. So far he has accumulated 18.2 innings and just a 0.96 ERA with 17 strikeouts, leading the Braves’ rotation with two wins. Unfortunately for those who own him, signs for regression are everywhere. He has a career 4.25 ERA and 1.35 WHIP, neither of which are worth owning in fantasy baseball. In addition, since the 2008 season began, Harang only has two seasons with a sub 4.2 ERA. So far this season, he has only given up nine hits in over 18 innings of work while only walking six batters. Since the 2008 season started, Harang’s WHIP has been above a 1.3 each season, including three seasons with a WHIP of over 1.4. The most glaring sign of regression is his BABIP. Harang has given up just a .191 average on hits that have been put in play. Now, since that is well over 100 points lower, expect Harang to give up a ton more hits in the near future. Get whatever you can for him, as someone will ignore the signs and go with the current production.
Sell Low
Josh Reddick, Oakland Athletics
In business, you never sell low. In life, you never sell low. In fantasy baseball, well, there are some guys you just sell for anything. Unfortunately for the Athletics and your fantasy team, Reddick might be the guy to sell low.
So far this season, Reddick is off to a horrid start with an embarrassing line of .098/.196/.098. Josh Reddick’s OPS is lower than a lot of batting averages so far this season. For those who are confused by that line, Reddick has four singles in 41 at-bats. Now, some people do start slow. Unfortunately for Reddick, last year was almost as bad. He hit .226 with 12 home runs and 56 runs batted in, but part of that is skewed as he had an incredible September, hitting over .300. In Reddick’s last 426 at-bats, he has just 91 hits. That is a .214 batting average. Get anything you can for Reddick and rid your team of his services before he costs your team in many categories.
Stay tuned for XNSports’ fantasy baseball coverage and next week’s edition of Buys and Sells.
