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Welcome, RotoBallers, to another edition of buy low/sell high trade targets. In this article, we will look at five players whom fantasy managers should be looking to buy low or sell high heading into Week 10 (May 27 to June 2).
We are at the point of the fantasy baseball season where managers should really be looking to make some trades. Whether you have a 7-3 record or a 3-7 record, there is always room for your fantasy team to improve. As a result, acquiring the buy-low players on this list could pay off in the long run.
So, without further ado, here are five players whom fantasy managers should be looking to buy or sell in fantasy baseball heading into Week 10. If you have any additional trade questions, you can reach out to me on X (@joeypollizze), and I'll answer every question before Monday.
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Undervalued Fantasy Baseball Players to Trade For
SS Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
It has not been a great start to the season for New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. As a matter of fact, Lindor is off to the second-worst start of his 10-year career. The three-time Silver Slugger winner is batting just .203 with seven home runs, 10 doubles, and 23 RBI through the first 49 games of the year. However, he is a player who fantasy managers should be trying to acquire for many reasons.
For starters, his metrics are actually better than his numbers suggest. His expected batting average (.266), expected slugging (.454), hard-hit rate (43.4%), and strikeout rate (15.1%) all rank pretty well. Lindor's average exit velocity (89.5 mph) also ranks around the league average. So, expect the shortstop's numbers to eventually even out as the season progresses.
Francisco Lindor just snapped a streak of 47 consecutive plate appearances without an extra-base hit. It was his second-longest streak as a Met. (His longest came in April and May of 2021.)
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 22, 2024
The second reason to acquire Lindor is due to his power. Although his average is really low to start the season, it's a great sign to see him already have seven HRs. The power will always be there for the 30-year-old veteran, so fantasy managers can likely count on him to hit at least 25 HRs again in 2024. He has surpassed that 25-homer mark in five of the past six full seasons.
That's why fantasy managers should trade for him now. Lindor will surely heat up at the plate as soon as the summer months come.
SP Justin Steele, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele was one of the best pitchers in baseball for most of the 2023 campaign. He finished with a 3.06 ERA and 176 strikeouts while finishing fifth in the National League Cy Young voting. However, Steele hasn't seen that same level of success so far in 2024.
Despite looking great on Opening Day against the Texas Rangers -- where he gave up just one run against 4 2/3 innings -- the hamstring injury he suffered in that game could be a reason for his recent rough outings. The southpaw has allowed at least four earned runs in three straight starts for the first time in his career. But fantasy managers should be confident that Steele will eventually get back on track on the mound.
After spending more than one month on the injured list with that hamstring injury, it's going to take Steele some time to get back into a rhythm on the mound. It has been encouraging, though, to see the 28-year-old have just a 5.6% walk rate and a 30.8% chase rate, even when things haven't been going great for him. So, look for the left-hander to get back on track shortly, especially with starts against the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds next week.
OF Evan Carter, Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter will be the easiest player to trade for on this list. He has looked awful at the plate this season and is currently hitting .197 with five HRs and 15 RBI. Nonetheless, I'd be willing to take a chance on him and acquire him at a significant discount.
The start of the season has not gone well for the Rangers outfielder by any means, but fantasy managers have to be patient with a player like Carter -- who is just 21 years old. Rookies/young players almost always go through ups and downs in the early portions of their careers, so take advantage of his slow start right now.
Evan Carter is in a 2 for 31 and is 7 for 46 in May. He is batting below .200. I can't believe I'm saying this: But do the Rangers need to consider sending him down?
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) May 23, 2024
Despite his rough start at the plate, Carter still has a high ceiling in fantasy. Just look at what he did in 2023. The left-handed slugger hit .306 with five HRs, 12 RBI, four doubles, and 12 walks across just 23 games. That even continued in the postseason, where the rookie hit .300 with one home run and six RBI. It might not seem like it now, but fantasy managers could eventually get that type of production from him as the season goes on. As a result, see what you need to give up to acquire him. It likely won't be a lot.
Overvalued Fantasy Baseball Players to Trade Away
3B Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman is always good for a couple of hot stretches throughout the year. That stretch is currently taking place for Chapman -- who is arguably the hottest hitter in baseball right now. He is hitting an absurd 13-for-23 with three HRs, five doubles, and eight RBI over the last six games. In Yahoo leagues, the veteran has also scored at least 20 fantasy points in five of those six games.
However, fantasy managers should be looking to trade him away before he cools down at the plate. Chapman has always been one of the streakiest hitters in baseball, and a cold streak will inevitably happen soon. Earlier this year, the slugging third baseman was in a 10-for-57 (.175 average) slump, and his average dropped to .206 before this six-game explosion occurred.
Matt Chapman makes this a one-run game with his 8th home run of the season. pic.twitter.com/LD5f30NEBO
— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2024
It's always nice to roster players who can have a hot stretch like this. Nevertheless, Chapman has a lifetime .240 average and hasn't driven in more than 77 runs since the 2019 season. Look to see what you can get for him because he won't be hitting this well for most of the season.
3B Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies
Playing 81 games at Coors Field will always give Rockies players a boost in fantasy, especially for an infielder like Ryan McMahon. McMahon has hit at least 20 HRs in four straight full seasons while also driving in at least 70 runs in three of those years. The left-handed slugger is also surely on his way to another 20-homer season, as he has nine HRs and 29 RBI in the first 48 games.
However, I'd be interested to see what you can get for him because he might eventually cool off at some point. For starters, he is hitting a surprising .327 with five HRs and 15 RBI on the road this season, which is actually better than his home numbers (.279 average, four HRs, and 14 RBI). That should eventually even out, though, as McMahon hit .219 on the road last season and .227 in 2022.
As a result, fantasy managers should be looking to trade away the Rockies third baseman while his value is this high. He is currently hitting .306 at the plate but has never finished a season with over a .255 average.
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