Now that we’re nearing the quarter-mark into the baseball season, right now is prime time for trades. It’s a short period where you might be able to buy-low on a player who is off to a slow start.
There are several stars who have come out of the gates struggling. Here are 5 very likely candidates you might be able to pay 50-75 cents on the dollar for and could yield great results.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.
Photo Credit: Getty
Fantasy Baseball: 5 Hitters To Trade For Now
-
Carlos Gonzalez
Colorado Rockies, OF
Let's be honest with ourselves, we've likely seen the best of CarGo. He's nearing 30 and seems to always have health concerns. However, he's currently hitting .197 -- there's no way he's just stopped learning how to hit over night.
He's just two seasons removed from a .302/26/70/21 season and was therefore ranked a top 40 player this year after an injury plagued 2014.
His current .226 BABIP sits incredibly below is .340 career average and his strikeout and walk rates are both in line with his career marks as well.
It's highly doubtful CarGo is a top 40 outfielder as his pre-season rank predicated, but there's also no way he's this awful. Buy low now before the warmer temps heat up the former star's bat.
-
Chrisitan Yelich
Miami Marlins, OF
Yelich has been touted as an elite outfielder for nearly a year now and while I feel the hype has been blown up a little early, Yelich isn't as bad as his early woes make him seem.
He's already had a short DL stint, but since being back he just hasn't looked good -- only hitting. 178 on the year, holding a dreadful ISO (.055) and is striking out 28% of the time.
But this is a player who hit for average last year (.284) while also slapping 9 HRs and stealing more than 20 bases. He's only 23-years-old so the sophomore slump simply means pitchers have figured out some of his holes. He's too athletic not to re-adjust.
This is a player with true 20/20 potential. Getting him on a great discount could be a phenomenal move for your team.
-
Ian Desmond
Washington Nationals, SS
The only shortstop to go 20/20 the last three years? Ian Desmond.
The Nats' SS is a prized possession at an incredibly shallow position. Sure, he's only hitting .239, but his K and BB rates are normal and his ISO is sure to rise.
This is just a slow start for the perennial fantasy All-Star. He has 6 hits in last 4 games, so get him fast if you're in need of a new shortstop.
-
Robinson Cano
Seattle Mariners, 2B
Oh, Robby. We all knew this was coming when you decided to join a team who plays in the ginormous confines known as SafeCo Field.
While his average was matched at a solid .314 for the second year in a row, his HRs were nearly completely cut in half (only 14). Now, this year, nearly 7 weeks into the season, he only has 1 HR and is hitting .253.
His BABIP hasn't changed too much but his strikeouts are up while his walks are down -- both concerning. Could he be on the wrong side of 32? It's possible.
Cano is no longer a top 10, or even 20, player. But he's still solid at a position that's pretty weak. After all, he didn't hit his 2nd homer of 2014 until May 21!
See if you can get 75 cents on the dollar for him.
-
Troy Tulowitzki
Colorado Rockies, SS
Did I mention how shallow shortstop is?! If you can get Tulo, at any discount whatsoever, you take it.
He's hitting. 284 with 2 HRs, but for Tulo, it's a very bad start. This is a guy who hit .340 last year.
We all know Tulo has injuries -- okay, a barrage of them. Every. Single. Year. Hell, he hasn't played more than 126 games since 2011. But if you're in a head-to-head league, you're just stacking your roster for the playoffs.
With a currently tweaked quad, now could be the time to buy on the All-Star. He hasn't hit below .300 since 2008 and we all know that when he gets hot he's the best hitter in baseball.
