As the MLB All-Star break approaches, Fantasy Baseball Throughout the season, teams in the top half of the league standings will likely send offers to strengthen their squads for the second half of the season.
Trading can often be difficult because so many people are trying to “win the deal,” but that doesn’t mean you should give up on trading altogether.
Many players can be sold for a high price, especially if they fill a specific need of an opponent or trade partner.
With offenses declining and MLB once again entering the so-called “Dead Ball Era,” fantasy managers have placed an increased emphasis on pitching.
We know wins can be an arbitrary category, so most of the attention will be on strikeouts, low ratios and even saves.
If you have a closer available to trade, start there, but if not, selling a quality starting pitcher at a high price who may be rested in the second half of the season is a good way to go.
In an era where starting pitchers’ innings are continually monitored, there’s a great opportunity to trade pitchers who may be reaching their limits.
Garrett Crochette of the White Sox is a perfect example.
The 25-year-old left-hander is posting impressive numbers with a 3.25 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 12.59 strikeouts per nine innings, but is pitching more innings than he has in any professional season to date.
Crochet has been compared in every way to vintage Chris Sale.
Everything was going well for him until 2022 when he needed Tommy John surgery.
After his recovery, he will pitch a total of 25 innings in 2023 and has already pitched 88.2 innings this season. Most pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery will have an innings limit to protect their numbers and their team’s investment.
Crochet is on a one-year deal, so the White Sox aren’t concerned about his workload and are likely looking to trade him for a contract.
If Crochet stays in Chicago and tries to renegotiate, the team will likely waive him since they don’t even have a shot at a wild-card spot.
If the White Sox trade him, they’ll be counting on him to continue to perform like he has now in the second half of the season, but October is still a long way away.
Do you want to be the person holding the bag down when the bottom falls out?
Trading him for assets to help them win this year is a must.
It’s not just Crochet. The same could be said for Jordan Hicks, Ben Brown and even Paul Skenes if the Pirates fall out of contention for a championship.
A name like this will have your competitors swooning and you’ll win the Trade Partner of the Year award. It’s a long journey to the finish line, and you need to have the right horse to get there.
Howard Bender is Fantasy AlarmFollow him From @rotobuzzguy He is featured on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show,” which can be heard weekdays from 6-8pm on the SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Channel. Fantasy Alarm We bring you all the fantasy baseball news and advice.
