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Mike Barner discusses five players to consider buying low on as the 2024 fantasy baseball trade deadline approaches. These players could be solid late-season adds.
We saw a busy trade deadline in the majors this year. Some noteworthy fantasy options changed teams, including Jazz Chisholm Jr., Isaac Paredes, and Randy Arozarena.
Another important date that is coming up is the fantasy baseball trade deadline in most leagues. For those looking to make a big splash down the stretch run, time is running out.
Instead of focusing on some big stars who will cost a boatload to acquire via trade, let’s highlight five players who have underperformed but might be worth buying low on for the final two months of the season.
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Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks (OF, 97% rostered)
Carroll was one of the top players off the board in fantasy drafts this year. That’s what makes his struggles even more troublesome for those who selected him. He is batting just .214 with a .146 ISO and a .293 wOBA entering Tuesday.
Oddly enough, Carroll has seen both his walk rate increase and his strikeout rate decrease compared to his breakout 2023 campaign. His quality of contact has been a problem, with his barrel rate checking in at 4.5%. Still, with his speed, he has been a bit unlucky with his .247 BABIP.
CORBIN CARROLL PINCH-HIT WALKOFF HOME RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/923dqFuPzY
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 30, 2024
While his batting average continues to be disappointing, Carroll has six home runs and five stolen bases over his last 16 games. His combination of power and speed is difficult to match, so if he can heat up down the stretch, he has the potential to carry a fantasy squad to a title.
Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (3B, 98% rostered)
Despite all of their injuries, the Braves are right in the thick of the playoff hunt and were buyers at the trade deadline. In addition to the reinforcements that they brought in, they need Riley and Matt Olson to return to form from last season. Riley, who has finished with an ISO of at least .227 and a wOBA of at least .363 in each of the last three seasons, enters Tuesday with a .196 ISO and a .332 wOBA this year.
Riley is still making great contact, recording a 15.2% barrel rate and a 52.0% hard-hit rate this year. He displayed signs of coming out of his slump, recording six home runs and eight doubles over his last 25 games. For those who need a boost in power numbers, see if you can buy low on Riley.
Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays (SP, 95% rostered)
Gausman is having a strange season. After posting a 31.1% strikeout rate last year, that mark has plummeted to 23.0% this year. He hasn’t finished a season with a strikeout rate below 28.3% since 2019. With him missing so few bats, it has contributed to his 4.44 ERA over 21 starts.
Kevin Gausman goes the distance! pic.twitter.com/FQ4aEzGZhm
— MLB (@MLB) July 27, 2024
On the bright side with Gausman, his FIP is much better at 3.82. Across his last four starts, he has allowed 11 runs and posted a 1.01 WHIP over 28.2 innings. Fantasy managers who used an early-round selection on him might be frustrated with his overall numbers, so float an offer out there to try and buy low on him. His recent run of success could be a precursor to a valuable finish.
Jorge Soler, Atlanta Braves (OF, 67% rostered)
Soler was dealt from the Giants to the Braves, landing him in a much more favorable hitting environment. Known for his power, Soler recorded only 12 home runs over 93 games with the Giants. Last year, he went deep 36 times despite playing his home games at the Marlins’ pitcher-friendly home park.
Soler now returns to the Braves, who he won a World Series with in 2021. Over 55 regular-season games with the Braves that year, Soler had a .882 OPS. Despite all of their injuries, the Braves still have a dangerous lineup made up of Riley, Olson, Marcell Ozuna, and now Soler. Soler is another viable trade target for those in need of power.
Maikel Garcia, Kansas City Royals (2B/3B/SS, 81% rostered)
Even with his poor production this season, fantasy managers will still likely have to give up something of note to acquire Carroll. For those who are searching for steals at an even cheaper cost, don’t sleep on Garcia. He is batting just .238 with a .279 wOBA, but he still has 24 stolen bases entering Tuesday.
Garcia recently went through a terrible slump in which he went 8-for-72 (.111) over a 20-game span. Since then, he was 16-for-49 (.327) over his last 15 games. He has lowered his strikeout rate to 15.2% this year, which gives him more potential to use his speed to reach base safely. If he can get his OBP closer to the .323 mark that he recorded last season, he should continue to rack up steals down the stretch.
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