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We are at the midpoint of the 2024 MLB season, and that means it is crunch-time for fantasy baseball managers to make their move.
The top half of your league standings should be doing whatever they can to bolster their roster for the stretch run while the bottom half has either mentally checked out in redraft leagues or is looking to acquire keepers for next season.
If you are among the contenders, it is imperative to start seeking trades with anyone willing to part with players who can help you, and if you are the bottom-dwellers in a keeper or dynasty league, it’s time to trade away your aging assets and add elite, young talent.
The list of players in keeper/dynasty leagues you are attempting to trade for is pretty clear.
High-end, young talent such as Elly De La Cruz, Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson should be your focus. Add in Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Kyle Tucker.
You want top players in the age 24-27 range.
If you are competing for this season in these formats, you may have to part with one of these players, but only if your trade partner is sending back players who fill all the right holes on your roster and have strong upside.
One of the key names to acquire, whether it is for a keeper or a second-half surge this year, is Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill.
Right now, he still qualifies as a shortstop, which will aid in your roster flexibility.
More importantly, he is a budding superstar on the rise.
Heading into the weekend, the 21-year-old is slashing .284/.320/.433 with 10 home runs, 37 RBIs and nine stolen bases.
Though those numbers might not be jumping out at you, a deeper look will tell you everything you need to know.
For starters, Merrill’s plate discipline is outstanding.
Sure, he could learn to draw an extra walk or two, but a 16.4-percent strikeout rate for a kid who wasn’t even expected to open the season with the big club is huge.
And best of all, his peripherals show that it is all talent and not luck.
But what we love most about Merrill is the steady development of his power.
He hit roughly .275 for the first two months of the season with good speed and some splashes of power.
In June, though, he has seven home runs with a .292 ISO and is still batting .294.
Usually when a rookie shows off some power, it comes at the expense of his plate discipline and batting average.
That is not the case here, and it is incredibly promising for his future.
Finding gems such as Merrill are important, both for this season as well as seasons beyond.
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Players like him, Anthony Volpe, Joey Ortiz and Riley Greene should highlight your wish list.
Build up for the second half and make that run or build up for next year.
Either way, players like this will make you a winner.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy baseball news and advice.