The big-picture tip for this week is for fantasy managers to find value in trades by helping their league mates fix holes in their rosters. May is that time of year when managers start to panic when they fall behind in certain categories, and they often give up overall value in a business that best meets their needs.
This is the wrong approach, and wise managers will take advantage of that error in judgment. Although the players listed below are great options to include in trade talks, my best advice is to use your league position to make offers this week.
player to achieve
Kyle Tucker (OFF, Houston Astros)
Tucker produced six homers and five steals as a mostly first-rounder. But his numbers in runs scored (14) and batting average (.264) fell short of expectations given his high draft standing. Statcast data would lead one to believe that the 26-year-old deserves even better, as his .311 xBA and .418 xwOBA are vastly different from his actual stats. And, in terms of lineup support, Tucker may eventually get a lot of help from a lineup that has played without sparkplugs. jose altuve and 27th in baseball in OPS. I can easily envision Tucker finishing the season as a top-5 overall hitter.
George Springer (OF, Toronto Blue Jays)
Springer has salvaged some fantasy value by swiping five bases, but the rest of his statistical play has been very disappointing (4 HR, .209 BA). A .227 BABIP can take much of the blame for his low batting mark, while a 9.1% HR/fb rate is partly to blame for his lack of power output. In fact, Springer's .429 xSLG suits his career perfectly. He has recently dealt with a prolonged illness and should soon be back to health – and his top-hitting form.
Gunnar Henderson (3B/SS, Baltimore Orioles)
The buy-low offer for Henderson is simple: Tell your manager the youngster isn't ready for lasting Major League success. Seriously, I expect the 21-year-old to improve statistically soon. His 18.6% walk rate is an excellent mark, and his 30.5% strikeout rate is similar to what he posted during his 2022 debut. Henderson could be very valuable if he can combine his bountiful walks with batted-ball luck soon.
Gene Segura (2B/3B, Miami Marlins)
Segura has been ineffective enough (0 HR, 3 RBI, 2 SB, .186 BA) to have dropped in some leagues, and he's available for minimal trade returns in many others. But when looking at the advanced stats, the 33-year-old scores like the offensive player he has been during last season. A sneaky contributor who usually hits for a solid average while reaching double digits in both homers and steals, Segura is likely to find his groove in the coming weeks.
players to trade away
James Outman (OF, Los Angeles Dodgers)
To be clear, I'm not saying “You must trade James Outman at all costs!” baby is good You'll be happy to have him all season long. But his trade value may be at its peak right now. Fantasy managers love prospects who get off to great starts, which is certainly the case for Outman, who is hitting .274 with eight homers, 23 RBI and 25 runs batted in. But he has benefited from a .377 BABIP and posted a near 32.9% strikeout rate. There is no room for him to grow at that rapid rate as the league is favorable to him.
Marcus Stroman (SP, Chicago Cubs)
Strowman is having a career year so far, but he is unlikely to maintain his current pace. The right-handed batter is largely unchanged in key areas such as strikeout rate and walk rate, and his unusually low BABIP isn't the result of inducing oodles of soft contact. His final ERA will likely be at least a full run higher than the 2.28 mark he has now.
Clay Holmes (RP, New York Yankees)
Although buying low and selling high are often the basis of trading concepts, there are times when selling short on a player makes sense. This is the case with Holmes, in my opinion. The right-hander pitched poorly during the second half of last season (4.84 ERA) and had a mediocre start this year (3.46 ERA, 1.38 WHIP), which puts him on thin ice as a post-season contender. Is. Together Michael King And with his dazzling 24:4 k:BB ratio waiting for ninth inning opportunities, Holmes has little left for error.
My advice to Holmes' managers is to trade him for any player they can envision staying on their roster for the entire season.