X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Superstar Buy-Low Trade Candidates - Fantasy Baseball Underperformers

Jose Ramirez - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, MLB Injury News

Joshua's sneaky pickups and buy-low trade candidates for fantasy baseball. These MLB hitters have underperformed in 2023 and may be due for bounce-backs.

We're over two months into the season now, and the sample size for player performance is only getting larger by the day. It's time to check on some of the biggest stars in the game and see if their hitting woes will continue.

As I tend to do nearly every day, I was browsing my favorite stats sites and checking on my favorite players. I found myself diving into the players I roster on most of my fantasy baseball teams. It's always lovely to look up a player you like and see those bright red circles on Baseball Savant, but there's something I enjoy more. I like looking up batted ball and expected statistics for players that aren't doing well and seeing if I can figure out why. Those players are the ones I like studying.

This article will look at the four hitters who have underperformed this year. I'll be going into the various reasons why they're underperforming relative to the players we know they are and try to determine if they're likely to turn it around. I won't cover Michael Harris II, Teoscar Hernandez, and Carlos Correa in this article because I would not consider them top-tier superstars in the league. Those players are also underperforming relative to what we've grown accustomed to, but we'll likely discuss them in a different article.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

Jose Ramirez - 3B, Cleveland Guardians

Note: This article was written before Ramirez hit three home runs Friday night!

Let's start with the player who was drafted the highest in most fantasy leagues. Ramirez has not been a disaster this season but has yet to be himself. This year, he's slashing .267/.333/.474 with nine home runs, 36 RBI, and five stolen bases. All three of those numbers are noticeably lower than the stats we've expected from Ramirez, one of the best pure hitters in baseball.

Looking at his numbers, it took a second to pinpoint the root of his issues so far, but I have something I can point to. Before his three-homer game, his HR/FB% was only 5.9% this season. Since 2016, Ramirez's HR/FB% was consistently over 10%, even eclipsing 16% in 2018, 2020, and 2021. His HardHit%, xSLG, and Barrel% align with his regular averages, leading me to believe he will be okay over the season.

Ramirez has had his fair share of warning track flyouts to begin the season. It's possible that the balls are not carrying for him yet, and once the weather starts heating up, they will begin clearing the wall. If it's possible to trade for him, I recommend you do that.

Jose Ramirez

 

Trea Turner - SS, Philadelphia Phillies

Trea Turner has been one of baseball's best contact hitters for years. His ability to put the bat to the ball at such a high rate and his speed made him a huge threat to get on base, but the numbers could look better this year. When the majority of your value relies on the ability to make contact, it typically goes hand-in-hand with a great approach at the plate.

One of the most significant issues for Turner this year has been his lack of patience. His walk rate is only 5.6%, which is the lowest it has been since 2016. His strikeout rate is 24.2%, the highest since his rookie season in 2015. His Swing% is at an all-time high of 53.3% with an all-time low Contact% of 70.3%. Those combinations are typically not recipes for success.

His quality of contact numbers aligns with what they typically are, but he is making far less contact now. In 2022, his chase rate was the highest of his career at 33.1%, but this season he has a 36.4% chase rate.

Turner's track record makes me want to believe he will turn it around eventually, but it is tough to see it happening. This could be a side effect of him getting older and his hands not being as fast as they used to be. Weird things happen sometimes when players sign with new teams. If I were rostering him on any of my fantasy teams, I would be trying to trade him to someone who still believes in him.

Trea Turner

 

Kyle Tucker - OF, Houston Astros

Tucker has been underwhelming this season for a player typically drafted in the first or second round of drafts. He had a solid start to the year but cooled off quite a bit. One thing that fantasy managers never have to worry about with Tucker is the K:BB rate. In 2023, Tucker has improved those numbers by lowering his strikeout rate to 13.8%, the lowest of his career, and increasing his walk rate to 10.1%, the highest of his career.

He has been a bit more selective at the plate this season with a career-low Swing% of 50.3% and a career-high Called Strike%, or CStr%, of 12.9%. He's taking more pitches than usual and more strikes than expected, but that is okay because he still makes contact when he does swing. Tucker has the highest Contact% of his career at 85.3% and the best Z-Contact% of his career at 92.2%. He's seeing the ball better than he ever has. He's waiting for pitches he likes in the zone and hitting those pitches.

Tucker is making more contact than ever, and his quality of contact metrics are still as good as ever. His HardHit%, xSLG, Average Exit Velocity, xBA, and xwOBA are above average this season, but he's putting the ball on the ground too often. Tucker's ground ball rate is at 43.8%, which is the highest rate since his rookie season in 2018. If he can start putting the ball in the air more often, a significant turnaround is coming for Tucker.

I have Tucker on several fantasy teams and am not looking to unload him soon. I suggest buying low on him before the summer months come around and his value skyrockets.

Kyle Tucker

 

Manny Machado - 3B, San Diego Padres

Now is the time to talk about the guy I want to discuss the least because it hurts me to see such bad numbers for a good player. Manny Machado is having by far the worst season of his career. Across the board, everything looks terrible. He's striking out more and walking less. He's hitting more ground balls and making less hard contact. His average and max exit velocities are both down. He has his highest O-Swing%, up to 35.5%, and his lowest Contact%, down to 75.3%.

It's hard to pinpoint what has gone wrong for Machado because everything seems wrong this season. Not only has he played poorly, but he was also injured for some time. Rostering Machado this season has been a frustrating experience so far.

To be optimistic, Machado's swing stats are only slightly worse than they usually are, and his ground ball rate is not much higher than it usually is. His HR/FB% is down to half what it is usually, down to 8.5% this year compared to 17.2% last year. His HardHit% and exit velocities are down but not far from his career averages.

Everything has gone wrong this season for Machado, and the numbers look ugly. There is a possibility that he will make a change in his approach, and his hits will start leaving the yard in summer, but that requires blind trust in his track record. I would only consider buying low on Machado if the price was extremely low. I'd like him to turn it around, but I'll let someone else hold him.

Manny Machado



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kelly Oubre Jr.

Reportedly on the Trade Block
Andre Drummond

Future in Philadelphia in Doubt
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Helps Greece Reach Semis at EuroBasket
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Posts Historic Triple-Double
Joel Dahmen

Finishes Tied For 15 at Wyndham Championship
Bud Cauley

Finishes Tied for 33rd at BMW Championship
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied for Seventh at Tour Championship
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied for 25th at Tour Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied for 19th at Tour Championship
Keith Mitchell

Misses Cut at Wyndham Championship
Ben Griffin

Finishes Tied for 10th at Tour Championship
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied for Second at Tour Championship
Gary Woodland

Could Hang Around at Procore Championship
Ranger Suárez

Ranger Suarez Strikes Out 12, Earns 12th Win on Tuesday
Karl Vilips

Ready for Napa Valley This Weekend
Taylor Montgomery

Heating Up at the Right Time
Jackson Koivun

May Be a Little Rusty at Procore Championship
Doug Ghim

Looking to Rise Up at Napa Valley
Christian Watson

Agrees to One-Year Contract Extension
Patrick Fishburn

a True Wild Card at Procore Championship
Josh Giddey

Re-Signs With Bulls for Four Years
Eric Cole

Attempts to Start Fresh in Napa Valley
Shakir Mukhamadullin

Joins Informal Skate
William Eklund

Skates With Sharks
Owen Power

Back at 100 Percent
Tyler Seguin

Cleared for Action
Mathew Barzal

Good to Go for Season Opener
Will Smith

Returns to Dodgers Lineup on Tuesday
Dustin Wolf

Signs Seven-Year Extension
Kyle Stowers

Dealing With Strained Side
Kyle Tucker

Placed on Injured List With Calf Strain
Jauan Jennings

Considered Day-to-Day, has a Chance to Play in Week 2
Russell Henley

to Get Final Ryder Cup Prep in at Procore Championship
Sam Burns

Hoping to Keep Quality Form Going This Week in Napa Ahead of Ryder Cup
Jalen Carter

Receives One-Game Suspension, Will be Eligible for Week 2
Maverick McNealy

Will Show U.S. Team What They're Missing This Week at Procore
Scottie Scheffler

Making Unusual Start at Procore Championship for Ryder Cup Prep
Bo Bichette

Goes on Injured List With Knee Sprain
George Kittle

Placed on Injured Reserve
Max Homa

A Good Week at a Favored Silverado Resort is Desperately Needed for Max Homa
Tyreek Hill

Accused of Domestic Violence
Davis Riley

Has a Ton of Question Marks Ahead of Procore Championship
Jauan Jennings

Avoids Serious Shoulder Injury
Garrett Crochet

Shuts Out the Athletics
Royce Lewis

Launches Two Homers Monday Night
NBA

Mason Jones Takes His Talents to Australia
NBA

Talen Horton-Tucker Joins Reigning EuroLeague Champions
New York Knicks

Malcolm Brogdon on Knicks' Radar
Andrew Wiggins

Attracting Interest From Lakers
Miami Heat

Heat Interested in Reunion With Precious Achiuwa
Tyler Glasnow

Fans 11 in Seven No-Hit Innings Monday
Slade Cecconi

Takes No-Hitter Into Eighth Inning Monday
Max Muncy

Batting Cleanup in Return to Dodgers
New York Knicks

Ben Simmons Reportedly Declined Knicks' Contract Offer
Younghoe Koo

Falcons Auditioning Kickers, Could Replace Younghoe Koo
Denver Broncos

Sean Payton Says Broncos Need to be Better With Run-Pass Balance
Tank Bigsby

Eagles Acquiring Tank Bigsby From Jaguars on Monday
George Kittle

Likely Out 3-5 Weeks, Could Land on Injured Reserve
Chase Burns

to be Activated on Friday
Brock Purdy

Dealing With Multiple Injuries, Could Miss Week 2
Tyler Glasnow

Cleared to Start on Monday
Logan O'Hoppe

Placed on Concussion Injured List
Christian Yelich

Returning on Monday
Elias Pettersson

Feeling "Good" Ahead of Season
NHL

Alex Formenton Rejoins Swiss Team
NHL

Grigori Denisenko Heads Back Home
CAR

Kevin Labanc Joins Hurricanes for Tryout
Ross Colton

Healthy for Start of Season
Daniel Palencia

Cubs Place Daniel Palencia on Injured List With Shoulder Strain
Pete Crow-Armstrong

Returning on Monday
Sean Murphy

Done for the Year With Hip Labral Tear
Alec Bohm

Lands on Injured List With Cyst in his Shoulder
Trea Turner

Going on Injured List, Phillies Hope to Have him Back for Playoffs
Brock Bowers

Considered Day-to-Day With Knee Injury
Jonathan Taylor

is "Good" After Taking a Hit to his Neck in Week 1
Caio Borralho

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Kyle Stowers

Suffers Setback on Rehab Assignment?
Nassourdine Imavov

Extends Win Streak
Mauricio Ruffy

Gets Submitted
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Taps Out Mauricio Ruffy
Michael King

Expected to Return on Tuesday
Russell Wilson

Remains the Giants Starter
Paul Craig

Retires After UFC Paris Loss
Denny Hamlin

Earns his First Cup Victory at Gateway
Kyle Larson

Damage Ruins Kyle Larson's Chance At a Top Finish at Gateway
Christopher Bell

Scores his Third Top-10 Finish at Gateway
Joey Logano

Maintains his Perfect Top-Five Streak at Gateway
Ryan Blaney

Struggles and Recovers for a Top-Five Finish at Gateway
Modestas Bukauskas

Scores First-Round Knockout
Bolaji Oki

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Xavier Worthy

Week-to-Week with Dislocated Shoulder
Mason Jones

Scores Comeback Win
Rhys McKee

Suffers Third-Round TKO Loss
Axel Sola

Successful In His UFC Debut
Robert Ruchała

Robert Ruchala Unsuccessful In His UFC Debut
William Gomis

Bounces Back In The Win Column
Derrick Henry

Scores Twice but has Costly Fumble on Sunday
Lamar Jackson

Shines With Three Total Touchdowns in Loss to Bills
Keon Coleman

Leads the Team With 11 Targets on Sunday
Josh Allen

Totals Four Touchdowns in Win Over Ravens
Chase Elliott

Gets Lucky but Still Has Best Run at Gateway
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Wins Stage 2, but Was Let Down by Strategy
Tyler Reddick

Despite Bad Luck, Tyler Reddick Does What he Needed to Do
Chase Briscoe

Recovers from Incident with Daniel Suarez to Finish Second
William Byron

Late Caution Foils William Byron's Shot at Gateway Victory
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Dominates Targets in Seattle, Records 124 Receiving Yards in Week 1
Puka Nacua

Leads Rams in Targets, Catches, and Receiving Yards in Week 1
Jayson Tatum

"Moving Around Way Better"
Ryan Blaney

Should Contend at Gateway
Denny Hamlin

Fastest in Qualifying, the Favorite to Win at Gateway
Christopher Bell

Looking for Redemption at Gateway
Joey Logano

Has Been Elite at Gateway
Austin Cindric

Should Be On Your Radar at Gateway
AJ Allmendinger

Could Be a Sleeper Again at Gateway
Tyler Reddick

Southern 500 Near-Miss Makes Tyler Reddick a Stronger Option for Gateway
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace a Likely Gateway Contender
Alex Bowman

a Long Shot to Advance in Playoffs
Austin Dillon

Richard Childress Racing Looks Slower at Gateway, Which Will Hurt Austin Dillon
Shane Van Gisbergen

Starts 18th in Gateway Debut
Jeremy Swayman

Ready to Get Back on Track
Connor McDavid

Aiming for More Goals
NJ

Luke Glendening Signs Tryout Deal With Devils
Dylan Harper

Hoping to be Ready for the Opener Versus Dallas
EDM

Derek Ryan Retires From Hockey
Connor Zary

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Flames
Carey Price

Canadiens Trade Carey Price to Sharks
Caio Borralho

Set For A Title Eliminator Bout
Nassourdine Imavov

Looks To Earn A Title Shot
Mauricio Ruffy

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set For UFC Paris Co-Main Event
Modestas Bukauskas

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Paul Craig

In Dire Need Of Victory
Mason Jones

Set for Main-Card Bout
Bolaji Oki

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Rhys McKee

Set To Open Up UFC Paris Main Card

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP