RADIO
In the past few weeks, there have been a ton of home runs in the MLB from an unlikely cast of characters. Well, not completely unlikely. In the meantime, the guys you expect to be slugging homers have been cold at the plate.
I'm here to tell you how to make the most of these recent power eruptions and get a great deal on a legitimate superstar at the same time.
Editor’s Note: to read about waiver wire options, be sure to check out our famous waiver wire pickups list which is a running list that is updated daily.
Sell Power Surgers
Todd Frazier (3B, CIN)
Behold the behemoth that is Todd Frazier. The powerhouse from Point Pleasant. The big-time twenty-nine... year-old. I like to kid around with Frazier. He always seems to receive so much hype, despite being a somewhat middling third baseman for most of his career. Well, his true talents are beginning to shine in 2015. In June alone, he's slugging .663 with 7 HR (5 in his last 5 games) and 17 RBI. For what it's worth, he's also on track to steal at least 20 bases for the second year in a row. The likes of Frazier, Joey Votto, Marlon Byrd and Jay Bruce have made an otherwise lackluster club in Cincinnati sixth in the league in homers. That means a lot of runs and RBI totals for everyone. Expect the Reds to cool off sooner rather than later and expect Frazier to regress as well. His value is almost definitely at a peak right now. Capitalize while you can.
J.D. Martinez (OF, DET)
In his first 51 games of 2015, Martinez swatted nine homers to go along with a .466 slugging percentage. Since the start of June, he's tacked on seven more HR, added 19 RBI and recorded a .657 slugging percentage No one was sure if Martinez would be able to replicate his stellar 2014 campaign. Well, aside from the batting average department, he's on pace to surpass his power numbers from last year and record at least 30 home runs. In a perpetually loaded Tigers offense, his RBI and run totals should continue to soar as well.
In reality, Martinez is a big risk moving forward. Without a solid OBP last year, he would have been a run-of-the-mill outfielder. Without his home run totals this year, which have come primarily in the last two weeks, Martinez is an average outfielder in 2015 as well. Perhaps slightly above average. Either way, the words "J.D. Martinez on a hot streak" conjure up many pleasant pictures fantasies in owners' heads. Deal him while that image is still pretty.
Manny Machado (3B, BAL)
Machado has been the hottest hitter in the league in the month of June. In the past two weeks of play, he's slashing .378/.427/.634 with 6 HR, 16 RBI and 4 SB. For anyone, that's elite stuff. For a 22 year-old, that's unreal. After leading the league in AB and doubles in his first full season in 2013, Machado was primed to be one of the best young hitters in the game, not to mention one of the best fielders the league has ever seen at the hot corner. In 2014, his season was derailed by injuries to both his knees. The recovery was long, but it looks like he's finally got his feet (and knees) back under him and is performing at the highest of levels. Considering his age, he should be mentioned in conversations with the like of Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. In my opinion, that sort of conversation might be premature. See if you can deal him for something near a Harper/Trout price and count yourself lucky if you do.
Buy Cheap Superstars
Adrian Gonzalez (1B, LAD)
I was the victim of a sell-high Adrian Gonzalez trade earlier in the season that saw my team lose Jose Bautista. In the month of April, A-Gon was easily the hottest hitter in the league. Ever since, he's been pretty lackluster. In his last 15 games, the veteran is batting .158 with only 1 HR and 1 run scored. Although I'm feeling pretty stupid at the moment, I have no doubts that Gonzalez will rebound very soon. Also, I got Michael Wacha out of the trade, so I'm good.
Enough about my team. Adrian Gonzalez is one of the best first baseman in the game. Don't let his recent play convince you otherwise. The Dodgers offense is heating up right now, as it ranks in the top five of most statistical categories for the month of June. The only thing missing is a productive Gonzo. Once he begins to heat up again, the Dodgers hitters will be the most feared in the league and their numbers will all benefit as a result.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN)
Send this kid back to the minors. Since being called up to Minnesota, hailed as the top prospect in the MLB, Buxton's slash line sits at a mere .212./.257/.303, even after a three-hit game on Tuesday night. Clearly this was a failed experiment. Buxton should spend at least one more year in the minors before he's anywhere near ready to face major league-caliber pitching.
See what I did there? That's the exact argument you should use to acquire Buxton for a cheap price in a trade right now. Don't let the early struggles fool you--this guy can hit and he's fast as hell. In 59 games with Double-A Chattanooga this year, Buxton recorded 12 triples and 20 stolen bases to go with 6 home runs. The Twins have made it pretty clear that the young phenom is here to stay and now is the perfect time to snag him up for a low cost.
Andrew McCutchen (OF, PIT)
For the most part, McCutchen has been pretty good this year. He's slashing .287/.369/.470 with 8 HR and 42 RBI. That's pretty good. Not bad at all. The only problem is, when you consider spending a top three overall pick on an outfielder, one reasonably should expect more than pretty good. In that context, McCutchen has been dreadfully mediocre thus far in 2015. In fact, his season has been pretty comparable to that of J.D. Martinez, whom, once again, has been pretty good. Seriously, would it be that farfetched to propose a one-for-one trade with McCutchen and any of the three guys at the top of this list? Cutch for Martinez, or Machado, or Frazier? I doubt any of those would be vetoed in most leagues. That's insane. It's impossible to tell whether or not the perennial All-Star will regain his MVP form from seasons past. However, it would certainly not be stupid to trade the hottest player on your team (like a Frazier, for example) for a slumping star like McCutchen while the opportunity is still on the table.
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