One of the biggest mistakes when it comes to trading is Fantasy Baseball Manager make targets top players on a regular basis.
Want power? Try trading for Aaron Judge. Pitching issues? See if you can acquire Tarik Skubal.
Although these players are elite, not only are they expensive to acquire, but most managers end up “robbing Peter and paying Paul,” so to speak.
MLB general managers should take their cues from this year’s crop of players, who largely kept their big names rather than letting them go.
Instead, as you should do in fantasy leagues, everyone made small trades to bolster their lineups for a playoff run.
If you’re looking for power, check out new Cubs third baseman Isaac Paredes.
Paredes has hit 16 home runs this season and has a career power score of .204, so he’s sure to see improvement in the second half of the season.
The park factor alone, from Tropicana Field to Wrigley, is a huge advantage.
The left field line at Wrigley is 355 feet long, compared to just 315 feet in Tampa Bay, but in Chicago the wall from left field to center field will be about 10 to 15 feet closer to home plate, which should improve Paredes’ power numbers as a pull hitter.
And we can’t ignore the intangibles: After playing home games in front of seven people in a giant echo chamber for the past two years, imagine now watching a crowd of 40,000-plus cheering every at-bat and gazing at the hallowed ivy creeping along the outfield wall.
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The Cubs may be struggling to get a wild card, but their passionate fans won’t be quiet until they’re mathematically eliminated.
Given Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s added power and position eligibility, it might be wise to set your sights a little lower in the outfield.
When the Guardians sent several prospects to the Nationals, they acquired outfielder Lane Thomas, who is highly underrated despite hitting eight home runs and stealing 28 bases this season.
Thomas currently bats No. 2 in Cleveland’s lineup, with table-setter Steven Kwan backing him up on the bases and Jose Ramirez fielding an elite lineup behind him.
Thomas isn’t going to win a league championship on his own, but his contributions will likely be better than the worst outfielder on the team.
With time remaining until the fantasy trade deadline, it’s important to evaluate your roster, identify what you need most and determine how much you can spend to fill those needs.
Don’t feel the need to trade with the elite athletes who are dominating the leaderboards.
There’s nothing wrong with making a few small tweaks to get what you need.
There’s nothing wrong with choosing a more affordable route to the championship.
Howard Bender is Fantasy Alarm Follow him on X translator Tune in to the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” weekdays from 6-8pm on the SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Channel. Visit FantasyAlarm.com We bring you all the fantasy baseball news and advice.
