Fansided

Fantasy baseball: 2 shortstops to buy low and 2 to sell high

By Beau Adams |
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 30: Jorge Mateo #3 of the Baltimore Orioles flips his bat after hitting a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on April 30, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 30: Jorge Mateo #3 of the Baltimore Orioles flips his bat after hitting a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on April 30, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
1 of 4
Next

It’s fantasy baseball season, and the competition is in full swing. Roto or head-to-head or even Roto h2h, the excitement is never-ending, yet it can sometimes seem overwhelming with all the daily lineups, add/drops, waiver wires, and the ever-difficult trades. The difference between a fantasy championship and a season-long bust is knowing how and when to make the right moves. The key to fantasy success is to buy low and sell high. Today we discuss two fantasy shortstops to buy low and two to sell high.

Fantasy baseball shortstop to buy low: Javier Baez, Detroit

First on our buy low/sell high fantasy shortstop list is Javier Baez of the Detroit Tigers. Baez is in a bit of a slump, hitting .233/.286/.575 through Tuesday. He currently ranks 613rd in fantasy production and is available in 50 percent of all Yahoo fantasy leagues.

Baez is 30 years old, and his best years may be behind him, but he is far from over the hill. He is poised to break out with the up-and-coming Detroit Tigers this summer. Watch this highlight from the WBC and see his playmaking ability.

Baez is a career .260 hitter, but I predict he will return to his 2019 Chicago Cubs form this summer. He hit .281 and 29 homers that year and was an All-Star. He just hit his first homer of 2023 Wednesday, still Baez’s fantasy value is at a career low.

So, now is the time to buy. Baez’s outstanding defense will keep him in the lineup through this slump. He can and will heat up this summer and return to the 20/20 guy we know and love. When the young prospects in the Tigers lineup start hitting their potential, Baez will reap massive benefits.

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 30: Jorge Mateo #3 of the Baltimore Orioles drinks from the celebration hose after hitting a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on April 30, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 30: Jorge Mateo #3 of the Baltimore Orioles drinks from the celebration hose after hitting a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on April 30, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Sell: Jorge Mateo is the No. 1 among fantasy baseball shortstops

Jorge Mateo has asserted himself into all AL MVP conversations. He put together an unbelievable April, and with his solo shot Monday, he also looks to have a remarkable May potentially in store as well. He is currently ranked sixth in Yahoo’s ranking of all fantasy players, and No.1 among fantasy shortstops. Additionally, his slash line of .338/.386/.636 tops fantasy shortstops.

Roto-wise, he is second in home runs (six) and runs (21), third in RBI, and leading in stolen base (10). Entering his prime at 27, he is a fantasy monster right now. Yet, oddly, he is only owned in 87 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues.

A deeper look reveals a .297 xBA (highest of career), improvement in K percentage (17 percent from 28 percent last year), and an increase in quality of contact (92 mph average exit velocity from 86 mph). It’s all too good to be true.

So will Jorge Mateo put together one of the all-time great seasons for a shortstop? The internet seems to think so; watch this clip here.

Unfortunately, there is no chance he would continue this hot streak. If he did, he would end the season as a 40/60 guy with 140 runs and a .330 average. It’s unrealistic. Sell high right now. Mateo will be coming back to earth soon; a trade for George Springer or Kyle Tucker is possible, and fantasy owners would be wise to start shopping him.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 27: Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Kansas City Royals in the sixth inning at Target Field on April 27, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Royals 7-1. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 27: Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Kansas City Royals in the sixth inning at Target Field on April 27, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Royals 7-1. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Fantasy baseball buy alert: Carlos Correa, Minnesota

Next up is a buy alert on Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa. Despite being only 28 years old, Correa has been one of the most consistent fantasy shortstops over the last seven seasons. He is a perennial All-Star with a career slash line of .277/.356/.831.

Correa’s preseason draft rank was 98, and was projected to be fourth among fantasy shortstops in batting avg. Instead, however, he has been infuriating fantasy owners this season with his uncharacteristically unproductive start. Currently, through 26 games, he has only mustered 20 hits for an abysmal .206 average.

Correa’s tumultuous offseason contract debacle and his slow start have fantasy managers looking for new options. As a result, he was dropped in 12 percent of leagues this past week. Correa may be available to pick up in your league. If not, now is an excellent time to put in a trade for him.

Correa will bounce back and start hitting soon, and this month-long slump won’t last. Currently, his production has him as the 674th-ranked fantasy player. However, he should return to his all-star level asap, and you can get him cheap from frustrated fantasy owners. Just look at this video to remember who Carlos Correa can be.

Apr 25, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada (39) rounds third base on his way to score on a fielding error by St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Dylan Carlson (not pictured) during the second inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada (39) rounds third base on his way to score on a fielding error by St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Dylan Carlson (not pictured) during the second inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Fantasy baseball: Thairo Estrada is prime trade bait

The last fantasy stud on our buy low/sell high fantasy shortstops list is Thairo Estrada. Estrada has been off to a great start, and fantasy managers love his position flexibility. Being eligible at second base, shortstop, and outfield increases his fantasy value dramatically. That position fluidity probably influenced managers to draft him as a flexible backup in later rounds.

What we didn’t expect was a drastic statistical improvement across the board. Estrada is currently the 27th most productive player and fourth for eligible fantasy shortstops. At the prime age of 27 and hitting .342 on the season, Estrada has tremendous fantasy appeal. Check out him in the video enjoying a trip around the bases.

Boasting a slash line of .342/.397/.911 with four homers and nine stolen bases, he has been gold for fantasy owners. Unfortunately, this level of production will not continue much longer. He is still striking out a lot, and the league will soon pick up on this and start exploiting his weakness.

While a big enthusiast of the former Yankee, he will not be a 20/20 guy or hit .300 on the season. The reality is .275 and 150 strikeouts are far more plausible. Now is the time to sell high on Estrada. In recent trades on Yahoo and ESPN, he is fetching players like Aaron Nola, Patrick Wisdom, and Tommy Edman in deals. If you had the foresight to draft this fantasy multi-tool player, now is the time to put him on the block.

Next. 5 White Sox players who could be traded. dark

Next
Home / Fantasy Baseball