RADIO
Week 13 is upon us and the true contenders are starting to emerge. Cellar dwelling teams in dynasty leagues are likely shipping off their stars and collecting draft picks while the top dogs are looking to fill holes in their lineup. We're only halfway home and there is plenty of baseball left to be played. If you're still looking to contend, there are several ways to profit via trade. Remember - trades aren't always about trying to flip bad players for good ones. Owners tend to look for specific offensive aspects when it comes to hitting. If you know what a fellow owner is looking for, you may be able to get a nice bang for an otherwise average buck.
Sells for Week 13
Curtis Granderson (OF, NYM) - HR
The three-time All-Star is finally finding his stride in the other New York club. Granderson hit four home runs last week, bringing his total to 13 for the 2015 season. He's been the lone bright spot for the struggling Mets offense as of late. This spot was going to go to Nolan Arenado, whom has been absurd lately, swatting 9 homers in his last 15 games. However, I wouldn't even consider dealing the MVP-caliber third baseman at this point of the season. Whereas Arenado's power surge is likely to continue, Granderson's age probably won't let this sudden burst remain at such a pace.
Still, it's not an impossible sell. Given Granderson's grandiose history, some owners could be convinced that the veteran is good for 30 HR on the year. If someone in your league is desperate for power and silly enough to believe that, try to capitalize before he cools off.
Ben Zobrist (2B/SS/OF, OAK) - R
Zobrist's 17 runs scored in his past 15 games are second only to the freakish, aforementioned Arenado. He only has 31 on the season, but fantasy owners tend to be a bit shortsighted. Plus, he was on the DL until late May, so it can be forgiven. He's batting in the middle of a very potent A's lineup, which is 4th in the league in runs scored. Although runs tend to be an overlooked category in fantasy, savvy owners will realize that Zobrist could be a useful addition.
One major reason you should look to deal Zobrist now is the fact that he is rumored to be traded to the Mets before the deadline. This would be devastating to any player's run totals, as the Mets are near the bottom in the league in total runs scored. The A's are likely to be big sellers in general when the dealine comes around. Any way you look at it, Zobrist will eventually lose his powerful supporting cast. His value is at a premium right now.
Logan Forsythe (1B/2B/DH, TB) - OBP
Forsythe, who's enjoying a career year in 2015, does everything pretty well. Yet, he doesn't do anything very well. He's slashing .297/.381/.452 on the season with 8 HR, 7 SB and 32 RBI. He's been a general Renaissance man as of late. In his last 50 AB, Forsythe has 22 hits, 1 HR, 3 SB, 5 BB, 4 RBI and 3 runs. The most important stat hidden within those numbers is his .517 OBP over that span. The utility man down in Tampa knows how to get on base. When your team is filled with sluggers and base stealers, owners often forget about guys who simply know how to reach first.
Forsythe is a guy who will help raise the AVG and OBP of your team while also gently contributing to the other columns. However, regression could hit the Memphis native at any point. It would be wise to deal him now before you wind up losing him to the waiver wire after the break.
Buys for Week 13
One surefire way to snag a slugger at a discount at this point in the season is to look towards the DL. No one likes dragging around injured players, taking up space that could be occupied by healthy, useful pieces. If you are in a league with one or less DL slot, this can be even more annoying. If you're looking for a cheap source of power, speed or OBP that will help your team deep in the season, try to coax a fellow owner into unloading an injured player for below market value.
Josh Hamilton (OF, TEX) - HR
Seeing the words Hamilton and homers next to each other is not a new sight for most baseball observers. At the same time, the words Disabled List and Hamilton are seen together pretty frequently as well. Hamilton saw only 22 AB with the Rangers between his DL stints, during which he managed six hits. Two of those went for home runs. He also racked up 5 RBI and 4 walks, showing that he still knows what he's doing at the plate.
Hamilton is set to be activated from the DL on Tuesday. He didn't do anything spectacular in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock, going 3-for-12 with three singles. As usual, the former league MVP is a total question mark moving forward. We know what he's capable of, but what are the odds he is anything near his former self? Probably not very high. But, if you're willing to take a risk, Hamilton could be a big payoff at some point this season and potentially put up big HR numbers. At this point in time, he would likely come very cheap.
Jacoby Ellsbury (OF, NYY) - R + SB
It probably would have been wiser to make a run for Ellsbury when he began his DL stint on May 19. A nagging knee injury has kept the Yankees stud outfielder off the the for more than a month now, a bit longer than his initial timetable. He just began a rehab assignment with the club's Florida State League affiliate and is now slated to return in early to mid-July. There is still time to make a deal for this multi-category threat before the hype reaches a maximum.
The 2011 MVP candidate racked up 29 runs scored before hitting the DL. He's about to return to an extremely potent Yankee's lineup, which has scored 363 runs thus far, good for second in the MLB. Atop the order, Ellsbury is likely to be the biggest beneficiary, while piling on a ton of stolen bases in the process, as he tends to do. If there's any chance to snag Ellsbury while the injury discount still applies, don't hesitate to go for it.
Matt Holliday (OF, STL) - OBP
Among all qualified batters, Holliday is sixth in the league in OBP, despite his recent trip to the DL. In fact, his .417 OBP is about the only thing Holliday is doing well in 2015, as he only totaled 3 HR and 26 RBI to that point. Somehow, the fan favorite and six-time All-Star still finds himself in a starting role on the NL All-Star ballot. Hmm...
Holliday clearly holds a lot of name value, in part due to a productive supporting cast in Saint Louis. Still, there's no way of getting around an injury, which will hold him out of the All-Star game regardless of his standing. The quadriceps tear sustained by Holliday is the same injury that has ended teammate Matt Adams' season. Fortunately, Holliday's strain is not thought to be as serious and will not require surgery. Play on the fear surrounding the quad tear, insist that Holliday is all name value, and try to get a hefty discount from an impatient owner. His OBP will likely continue to be stellar all year long.
HONORABLE MENTION - Giancarlo Stanton (OF, MIA)
Don't even think about it. Stanton hit the DL a few days ago with a broken hand and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. If Stanton got season ending surgery tomorrow, I would still keep him on my roster.
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