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When it comes to trading, one of the biggest mistakes fantasy baseball managers make is routinely targeting top players.
Need power? I’ll try trading for Aaron Judge. Pitching woes? Let’s see if I can get Tarik Skubal.
Though these players are elite performers, it takes more than just an arm and a leg to acquire them, and most managers end up “robbing Peter to pay Paul,” so to speak.
You need to take your cue from the MLB general managers this year, who largely held onto marquee names rather than deal them away.
Instead, everyone made smaller deals to bolster their lineups for the playoff push, just as you should in your fantasy leagues.
If you’re looking for power, check out new Cubs third baseman Isaac Paredes.
With 16 home runs this season and a career .204 isolated power mark, Paredes is in for a solid statistical boost in the second half.
The park factors alone, going from Tropicana Field to Wrigley, are extremely favorable.
The left-field line might be 355 feet at Wrigley, compared to just 315 feet in Tampa Bay, but the walls from left to center are roughly 10-15 feet closer to home plate in Chicago, and as a pull-hitter, Paredes should see an uptick in his power numbers.
You also can’t ignore certain intangibles as well. Imagine spending the past two years playing your home games in front of seven people in a cavernous echo-chamber to now staring at the hallowed ivy crawling along the outfield walls while 40,000-plus are cheering on your every at-bat.
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The Cubs may have an uphill climb toward the wild card, but their rabid fanbase won’t stay silent until they are mathematically eliminated.
Given the power-boost and added position eligibility for Jazz Chisholm Jr., you may want to set your sights a little lower in the outfield.
When the Guardians sent a few prospects to the Nationals, they added outfielder Lane Thomas, who has been wildly underrated this season with eight home runs and 28 stolen bases.
Thomas is now batting second in the Cleveland lineup with table-setter Steven Kwan giving him traffic on the bases while Jose Ramirez provides elite lineup protection behind him.
Thomas won’t single-handedly win you your league, but his contributions are likely better than the worst outfielder sitting on your roster.
With time left before your fantasy trade deadline, it’s important to evaluate your roster and isolate what you need the most, and how much you can spend to fill that need.
Don’t think you need to trade for the elite players who are dominating the leaderboards.
There is nothing wrong with making a few minor tweak deals to get you what you need.
There is nothing wrong with a more affordable route to your championship.
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.