The time is now. The time is now to capitalize on market inefficiencies. Do not overvalue ownership or preseason ADP. Do not become attached to who you drafted to stash, rather look at how the tides have changed in three weeks. As a great man once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” The same goes for fantasy baseball. Stop to examine the potential to capitalize on new opportunities, unexpected trends that can continue, and take a look at what’s going on in the minor leagues.
The following are players I am attempting to buy in trade...
Buy: Jack Flaherty
This is a buy low opportunity coming off probably the worst matchup for a pitcher in the majors. He’s faced off in Milwaukee twice. I’d honestly rather face the Rockies in Coors than the Brewers in Miller. Let someone else look at that 5.00 ERA and sell low. He had a 2.93 ERA prior to the one bad start.
Sell for Flaherty: Shane Bieber
Three good starts. He’s faced the Tigers and the Jays in the first two. No he didn’t face the Orioles in the next start, but he got the Mariners.
Buy: Yandy Diaz
16.7% walk rate and 17.9% strikeout rate, good for a .393 OBP while hitting five homers in 84 plate appearances. He had one homer in 299 plate appearances with the Indians. He might make one of my bold predictions look great. I was offered Josh Donaldson for him in a dynasty league.
Sell for Diaz: Travis Shaw
See if you can still get name value for Shaw on Yandy Diaz. Really, I’d sell Moustakas for Diaz too at this point. Things are going to get crowded once Keston Hiura is called up. It’s a battle of who’s going to be worse or a 60% playing time scenario.
Buy: Jose Leclerc
A slow start and numbers that do not jump off the stats page yet. He is coming around.
Sell for Leclerc: Shane Greene
I’ve seen Shane Greene bought in a number of leagues this season for players like Kershaw and Dahl. Granted, you won’t get Christmas presents like that handed to you on a silver platter every day, but Leclerc is definitely a reasonable ask at the moment if you are not dealing with a savvy manager.
Buy: Michael Conforto
The power is what you’d be buying and he hasn’t gone nuts yet with only four dingers. However, he’s got two steals already (three all of last year) and is hitting over .300
Sell for Conforto (plus a player): Kris Bryant
Not saying this would be my first stab at it. But, I wouldn’t mind offering up Bryant if I could grab myself Conforto and someone like Glasnow or Alonso. Bryant has a ton of upside, but if I could get either of those two combos, I’d hesitate but likely accept.
Buy: Caleb Smith
In each of his starts, he’s allowed three or less runs, struck out over a batter per inning, and had a WHIP 1.00 or below. He’s done the tour of the NL East, facing each opponent once. These are not easy matchups and should give a good taste of what is to come. If he stays healthy, he’s going to be a stud.
Sell for Smith: Marcus Stroman, Marco Gonzalez, Kevin Gausman, J.A. Happ, Yusei Kikuchi
Buy: Craig Kimbrel
Kimbrel will immediately become a top five option at the closer position in rotisserie leagues. The Braves, Brewers, and Cubs all had interest in Kimbrel before the season began. Now all three of these teams’ closers (Vizcaino, Knebel, and Morrow) are essentially done for the season. His asking price has been tapered down and I don’t think that he should remain a free agent until the a signing team no longer risks a compensatory pick. It’s a nice lull right now and as soon as there is a whisper of a team with an inkling of interest, his value will shoot up. Also, the Phillies bullpen is currently in disarray.
Sell for Kimbrel: Ryan Brasier
The time is now.
The following I would add off waivers that could help right now:
Buy: Clint Frazier (35% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Everyone is injured on the Yankees. Frazier should have at least a month of runway to prove to everyone he deserves an everyday role. He is must-start right now.
Sell for Frazier: Ian Desmond
Frazier should be owned right now in all competitive leagues despite his ownership percentage on Yahoo. No one is going to trade you Frazier for Desmond right now, but I’d surely drop Desmond for Frazier. I’d also trade Braun, Adam Eaton, Nick Markakis or Kike Hernandez for Clint Frazier.
Buy: Mike Soroka (21% owned in Yahoo leagues)
I like the combination of prospect pedigree, competition failing, and solid first audition.
Buy: Tyler Mahle (9% owned in Yahoo leagues)
He flashed at times last season and has strikeout ability that will play in rotisserie leagues.
Sell for Soroka or Mahle: Julio Teheran, Reynaldo Lopez, Jhoulys Chacin, Steven Matz, Trevor Williams, Nathan Eovaldi, Rick Porcello
Buy: J.D. Davis (4% owned in Yahoo leagues)
J.D. Davis is playing every day right now. Lowrie and the Toddfather are returning, but there’s a chance he retains value. He does have a .400 OBP with an excellent track record for getting on base in the minors. If he becomes a bench player, just drop him, but ride him for now.
Drop for Davis: If you have a spot that is being used by someone like Brian Anderson, Yonder Alonso, or Ryan O’Hearn, I’d take a flier on Davis instead.
Stash candidates I would consider slashing a more heavily rostered player for
Stash: Cavan Biggio (1% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Slash: Bo Bichette (10% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Biggio has been on fire since last season, but no one is giving him an ounce of credit because of Vlad and Bo. Vlad has ought to be up soon. But Biggio had a 17.8% walk rate last season in Double-A, walking 100 times with 99 RBI and 26 homers and 20 steals. He’s continued where he left off with a .529 OBP thanks to an inflated BABIP. However, the Jays are desperate for someone who can get on base. They are probably more likely to play the service time game with Bichette. With Gurriel being sent down and the Jays hosting a myriad of trash at second base, I’d say it’s Biggio time very soon.
Stash: Yordan Alvarez (2% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Slash: Kyle Tucker (9% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Now, relax. This isn’t a dynasty league. Don’t look now, but Tony Kemp/Jake Marisnick are seeing every day starts. There is room and I’m not so sure Kyle Tucker gets the first crack.
Player A - .109/.180/.217. 1HR 3RBI 5R. 46 AB. 13/4 K/BB
— Zack (@zackroto) April 20, 2019
Player B - .318/.455/.841. 7HR 19RBI 11R. 44AB. 10/10 K/BB
Both outfielders. Same team. Who’s your preferred starter? Who are they ?
Stash: Carter Kieboom (4% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Slash: Brendan Rodgers (5% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Brian Dozier has been sub-optimal to be polite. Trea Turner has an unknown timetable. Washington has been aggressive promoting players and it was like pulling teeth to get the Rockies to give McMahon and Hampson a shot. There is not much room for the Rockies to put Rodgers there until they finally DFA Desmond.
Stash: Alex Reyes (22% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Slash: Carlos Martinez (37% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Martinez is technically still injured and Reyes is being stretched out as a starter. Reyes has been lights out every step of the way except for a few blips to start the year. I expect Reyes to dominate as a starter by May as long as he is healthy.
Stash: Michael Chavis (7% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Slash: Miguel Sano (25% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Red Sox never hesitate to promote (see Benintendi and Devers). I’d find it hard to believe they promote their top prospect to sit on the bench. I do not think they are ready to give up on Devers and his zero home runs yet, but the right side of the infield is fairly open for Chavis to show off his Pete Alonso-like exit velocities.
Stash: Darwinzon Hernandez (0% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Slash: Brent Honeywell (5% owned in Yahoo leagues)
Walks are an issue, but Hernandez lit it up in spring training and has continued to show electric strikeout ability in Double-A. With the Rays rotation holding strong and their propensity to use the opener, I’d be cautious when assessing how much Honeywell can help you this season. Conversely, Nathan Eovaldi just went down with an injury and the scuffling Red Sox do not hesistate to promote from Double-A.