Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer: Hitters you should try to deal or acquire
Before jumping into specific names this week, I want to highlight the usefulness of the Yahoo Trade Market. This page is so valuable that it is frequently used by those who play fantasy baseball on other sites. The Trade Market can be searched to show recent trades involving any specific player, which can often give a manager a good idea of how that player is perceived across the fantasy baseball landscape.
The Trade Market is more valuable for some players than others. For example, we all know that Bobby Witt Jr. fetches plenty in trades. But the Trade Market is incredibly useful when evaluating players who have recently had a shift in their value, such as a hotshot rookie or a newly minted closer. Now let's look at six hitters who may be involved in many deals this week.
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Sell High
Hunter Goodman, C/OF, Colorado Rockies
There is an easy angle to trading Goodman right now — he trails only Cal Raleigh in fantasy production among catchers. Surely, there are plenty of teams in each league who would like to acquire the No. 2 catcher. I see reasons for concern regarding Goodman, who has major gaps between his actual stats (.285 BA, .483 SLG) and his expected stats (.240 xBA, .414 xSLG). He plays for a team that ranks 28th in runs scored. And there are plenty of sources of catcher production who are widely available on waivers. My goal would be to trade Goodman for something that is harder to find, such as a top slugger or a stable starting pitcher.
Buy Low
Corey Seager, SS, Texas Rangers
Seager's annual battle with injuries has become a source of frustration for fantasy managers. And this year has been no different, as the veteran is already in the midst of his second IL stint for a right hamstring injury. Still, acquiring Seager at an injury-influenced discount is a risk worth taking for many managers, as a healthy version of the 31-year-old is among the biggest fantasy impact players. Seager has resumed physical activities. He could return in a couple of weeks and hit .300 with a .900 OPS the rest of the way.
Taylor Ward, OF, Los Angeles Angels
As long as Ward's average sits in the vicinity of .200 (currently .203), the buy-low window remains wide open. The veteran is striking out more often than usual (27.0%), but beyond the whiffs there are plenty of positives. His 13 homers put Ward on a career-best pace. And the extra power is coming from improved quality of contact, as his 91.9 mph average exit velocity and 16.0% barrel rate are improved marks. Managers who acquire Ward before he experiences improvements on his .203 BABIP could find themselves with an all-around contributor this summer.
Buy High
Jacob Wilson, SS, Athletics
I've always been a Wilson believer, and I haven't seen anything this season to change my mind. The youngster has contact skills that rival any player in baseball, and this year he ranks behind only Luis Arráez in strikeout rate. And unlike Arráez, Wilson has shown some interest in accumulating home runs and stolen bases. Sure, Wilson doesn't have massive totals (5 HR, 4 SB), but he could have a complete offensive profile by hitting .300 with double-digit totals in both categories. He ranks 13th in xBA (.309) and could lead the league in batting average if Aaron Judge were to slow down.
Sell Low
Jose Altuve, 2B/OF, Houston Astros
I couldn't find the right category for Altuve, who is more of a 'sell medium' right now. The 35-year-old got off to a decent start this year, despite logging poor skill metrics. But his skills have caught up with him of late, as he's hitting .185 with zero homers and one steal in May. Altuve has had terrible quality of contact all season, as his 84.8 mph average exit velocity is among the worst of all players. Time is catching up with the diminutive veteran, and it may be a good idea to trade him while his overall numbers are still respectable.
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Anthony Santander, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
Santander can't blame bad luck for his slow start with the Blue Jays. The veteran has been off at the plate, as his 25.4% strikeout rate is a diminished mark, as is his 5.1% barrel rate. It hasn't helped Santander that the rest of Toronto's offense has been in a funk, and at this point I would try to get a decent return on the premise that last year's 44-homer version of Santander will soon reveal himself. The truth is that I'm not optimistic about an immediate turnaround, and I'm tired of watching Santander drag down fantasy teams.
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fantasy Baseball 2-Start Pitcher Rankings: Welcome to a great streaming week!
This is a good week to find some two-start pitchers on the waiver wire, as the list includes one especially exciting option and several hurlers who should post solid results. Things are less exciting on the hitting side, as few teams play four games over the next four days. However, those who are desperate for a hitter can likely find some help from the Giants. Two-Start Pitchers (listed in order of preference) Eury Pérez, Marlins, 56% (@PIT, @WSH) Pérez's roster rate will surely skyrocket prior to first pitch on Monday. After all, the 22-year-old is one of the most talented young starters in baseball, as he showed in 2023 when he logged a 3.15 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP and a 10.6 K/9 rate at age 20. Despite the long layoff, Perez is easily the best streamer this week and will likely stay on rosters for the remainder of the season. Check if he's still available. Griffin Canning, Mets, 48% (vs. WSH, vs. TB) Canning bounced back from a pair of subpar outings when he struck out seven across six shutout innings against the high-scoring Dodgers. The right-hander walks too many batters (10.4%), but he minimizes the damage by getting his share of strikeouts and ground balls. Having two starts at his pitcher-friendly home park against average offenses makes Canning one of the safest options on this list. Jeffrey Springs, Athletics, 31% (@LAA, @KC) Springs is one of a few Athletics pitchers who have fared best when pitching on the road, logging a 3.86 ERA in those contests (5.51 ERA at home). The lefty had a hiccup in Toronto on May 30 (2 IP, 6 ER) but even when factoring in that start, he has recorded a 3.66 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in six outings since the calendar flipped to May. Springs belongs in most lineups this week, as both of his opponents rank among the bottom-10 teams in OPS vs. southpaws. Shane Smith, White Sox, 26% (@HOU, @TEX) Smith continued to overcome his expected stats last week, as he held the Tigers off the scoreboard for 5.1 innings. The 25-year-old has benefited from a .245 BABIP, and all of his ERA estimators are between 3.50-4.00, but that still makes him good enough to be a viable streamer in 12-team leagues. He will face two disappointing offenses this week that rank 20th and 28th in runs scored. Advertisement [Smarter waivers, better trades, optimized lineups — Yahoo Fantasy Plus unlocks it all] Mitch Keller, Pirates, 35% (vs. MIA, @CHC) Keller has been consistently mediocre for several years, and in each of the past three seasons, he has logged an ERA between 4.13-4.25 and a WHIP between 1.25-1.30. The right-hander has polarizing matchups this week, as the Marlins rank 23rd in runs scored and the Cubs place second. Overall, he's an uninspiring option who makes the most sense for managers who are aggressively chasing volume. Luis L. Ortiz, Guardians, 34% (vs. CIN, @SEA) Ortiz strikes out plenty of batters (25.4%) but the good news stops there. The right-hander gives up too many walks (11.8%) and too much hard contact (93.0 mph average exit velocity) to have consistent success. His matchups are average this week, and I would be much more comfortable using him in points leagues, where he could make a major impact by striking out 12+ batters. Colin Rea, Cubs, 15% (@PHI, vs. PIT) Rea followed up a pair of six-run starts by shutting out the Nats across 5.1 innings last time out. Unfortunately, his scoreless start came with seven baserunners and zero strikeouts. The 34-year-old is not as safe as is suggested by his 3.59 ERA, and managers would be wise to heed the warnings of his 1.35 WHIP. Advertisement He's on this list for one reason — a Sunday start against the Pirates, who rank 29th in runs scored. It's enough to get him into some deep-league lineups. Shane Baz, Rays, 46% (@BOS, @NYM) Baz has had a couple of serviceable starts of late, but his overall ratios since May 1 (7.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP) leave plenty to be desired. The right-hander still carries some name value in fantasy circles thanks to his former prospect status. But I would avoid using him for a pair of road starts against above-average offenses. One-Start Streamers In order, here are the best streamers for the week, with their start date and Yahoo roster rate in parentheses. Advertisement Lance McCullers vs. CWS (Tuesday, 46) Bryce Elder vs. COL (Friday, 10) Cade Horton vs. PIT (Friday, 32) Hayden Birdsong @COL (Wednesday, 37) Ryan Weathers* @WSH (Saturday, 31) Luis Severino @KC (Friday, 28) Chris Paddack @HOU (Friday, 33) Tomoyuki Sugano vs. LAA (Saturday, 49) Chad Patrick vs. ATL (Wednesday, 28) Bailey Falter vs. MIA (Wednesday, 17) Cal Quantrill @PIT (Wednesday, 3) Jack Leiter @MIN (Wednesday, 39) Tyler Anderson @BAL (Saturday, 22) Erick Fedde @MIL (Friday, 18) Grant Holmes @MIL (Tuesday, 32) Will Warren @KC (Thursday, 39) José Soriano vs. ATH (Tuesday, 19) Michael Lorenzen vs. ATH (Saturday, 19) Slade Cecconi vs. CIN (Tuesday, 4) Favorable Monday-Thursday hitting matchups Giants @ Rockies: The Giants get their turn to face a beleaguered Rockies staff (6.16 home ERA) at Coors Field. Wilmer Flores (43%) and Tyler Fitzgerald (18%) are the best options to add from the waiver wire. Cardinals vs. Blue Jays, Brewers: St. Louis is one of just a few teams that play four games over the next four days, and it does not face an ace in any of its contests. Victor Scott II (24%) is the most obvious player to add in roto leagues, and those in shallow formats who sometimes bench Masyn Winn, Ivan Herrera, Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Arenado may want to move them into the active lineup.
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Miami Herald
J.D. Arteaga, the relentless ace turned loyal coach remains the heart of Canes baseball
March 2003. J.D. Arteaga was still chasing the dream. He stood on a mound in Arizona, working toward a potential shot at the big leagues with the Texas Rangers' Major League spring training. After five years of grinding through the minors with the Mets and Astros organizations, this was the opportunity he had been waiting for. His wife, Ysha, and their young son, Ari, were scheduled to fly out to visit him. It was supposed to be a rare moment away from baseball. Then his phone rang. Jim Morris was calling. Arteaga had spent four years pitching for Morris at Miami, leading the Hurricanes to four straight College World Series appearances and leaving his name all over the program's record books. Months earlier, he had casually told Morris that coaching was something he might consider one day. Morris wasn't calling for a casual chat. He needed a pitching coach—immediately. Not at the end of the season. Not after interviews. Right now. It was March. Miami's season was already underway. The Hurricanes were flying out to Tennessee that week. Arteaga hesitated. Was he ready to give up playing? To walk away from the only dream he had ever known? 'It was a very tough decision to give up a dream, for a dream job,' Arteaga said. At 2 a.m., he called Morris back and took the job. Instead of waiting for his family in Arizona, he went to them and got on the first available flight to Miami. Two days later, he was in Tennessee, calling pitches for a team he had barely met. Miami swept the series. And just like that, J.D. Arteaga's coaching career had begun. Fast forward over two decades and Arteaga is in his second season as the Hurricanes' head coach, who just led them to their first Super Regional appearance since 2016 and came one victory short of leading them back to Omaha and the College World Series. THE OVERLOOKED PITCHER Arteaga wasn't supposed to be the best pitcher in Miami history. He wasn't supposed to leave the program as its all-time wins leader (43) and starts leader (72). He wasn't the hardest thrower. He wasn't a projected star. But he worked harder than everyone else. Arteaga arrived at Miami in 1994 from Westminster Christian, a high school powerhouse that produced elite talent. He was never the most gifted pitcher on the roster, but by his sophomore season, he was the most reliable. 'He wasn't supposed to be the best pitcher Miami ever had,' Jim Morris said. 'But he was.' Arteaga knew his limitations, but he also knew how to overcome them. 'I was never the hardest thrower, never had the best stuff, but I knew how to pitch,' he said. By the time he left Miami in 1997, Arteaga had pitched more innings than almost anyone in program history. He had started in five College World Series games and delivered when Miami needed him most. He was drafted in the 26th round by the Mets—a long shot to make the big leagues. He spent five years battling in the minors, refusing to let the dream die. Then Jim Morris called, and Arteaga made the decision that would define his legacy. FROM THE MOUND TO MENTOR Most coaches ease into the job. Arteaga was thrown into the fire. Morris didn't care that Arteaga had never coached before. He saw something in him. The same qualities that had made Arteaga Miami's most reliable pitcher—calm, intelligence, leadership, and an ability to elevate those around him—would make him an exceptional coach. For the next 20 years, Arteaga became the architect of Miami's pitching success. He developed multiple MLB Draft picks, including first-rounders Chris Perez (2006) and César Carrillo (2005). His 2006 rotation—composed almost entirely of first-time starters—recorded five shutouts, the most by a Miami staff since 1998. But Arteaga wasn't just a coach. He was a mentor first. Andrew Walters, who made his Major League debut last season for the Cleveland Guardians, attributes much of his development as a college pitcher to Arteaga. He remembers the moment that stuck with him. 'Don't call me Coach,' Arteaga told him. 'You want me to call you Player?' That moment landed with Walters—not because of what was said, but because of what it meant. Arteaga didn't believe in hierarchy. He believed in respect. He wanted his players to see him as someone in the fight with them, not standing above them. That philosophy resonated with Walters, who went from a raw college pitcher to one of the most dominant closers in the nation under Arteaga's guidance. 'I don't want them to just follow orders—I want them to understand why we do things. That's how they grow,' Arteaga explained. LIKE HE NEVER LEFT When Miami needed a new head coach before the 2024 season, Arteaga was the obvious choice. However, obvious choices don't always get hired. He had spent two decades as Miami's pitching coach, but never as a head coach. Some voices inside and outside the program wanted a bigger name, a national profile. Morris wasn't having it. 'If the university has any loyalty, J.D. should be the next head coach,' Morris said to the University's administrators. Arteaga got the job. He inherited a roster in transition—seven of Miami's nine starting position players this season are new. It's a challenge unlike anything he faced as a player or pitching coach. Arteaga felt that immediately. 'It's a different seat. I knew what Miami baseball meant as a player and a pitching coach, but this? This is different.' But he didn't flinch. 'I was one of the guys pushing as hard as I could for J.D. to be the head coach,' Morris said. 'Because I knew he deserved that opportunity.' BEYOND BASEBALL Arteaga's influence extends far beyond the dugout. He's a die-hard Buffalo Bills fan, something his players love to tease him about when football season rolls around. He unwinds by fishing and occasionally golfing with Morris, keeping the same mentor-student bond they've had for decades. Then there's the Be The Light Foundation, named in honor of his late son, Ari, who was killed in a car accident. Arteaga doesn't bring it up often, but it's there in the work he does—a quiet but powerful reminder that baseball is just a game, and life is bigger than wins and losses. Every year, Miami hosts the 'Be The Light' game, a tribute to Ari's legacy that has grown into something bigger than Arteaga ever imagined. 'Just in ticket sales, we sold a little over $31,000. It was our biggest day in six years,' Arteaga said. 'This whole community has been so great to me, my wife, and her family. They just continue to show up for us every year.' Maybe that's why his players trust him so deeply. Jake Ogden, one of Arteaga's current players, has felt that impact firsthand. 'If you want to not only improve as a baseball player but improve as a person, JD is going to bring that out of you,' Ogden said. 'He compares the game to life a lot... how baseball is like a metaphor for life, and how to deal with the ups and downs.' He doesn't have to raise his voice. He doesn't need theatrics. 'He cares about the person more than the player,' Ogden added. Even Morris, the legendary coach who shaped Miami baseball, knows that Arteaga's legacy is already secured. 'When the time comes for my son to play college baseball, I'll tell him, 'You're going to Miami, and you're playing for J.D.'' Arteaga has never needed the spotlight. He's still the same man who took the ball for Miami 72 times. The same man who stood on the mound in Omaha and outdueled future MLB stars. The same man who answered his phone in Arizona and got on a plane before he had time to second-guess his decision. His career has been built on loyalty, work ethic, and an unwavering commitment to those around him. 'My family is here. My roots are here. I grew up here. Miami is home,' Arteaga said. His name is in the record books. His fingerprints are on the pitching staff. His legacy is in the players he sends out into the world. His heart never left Miami. And he never will.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: A hitter you should be 'looking to add now before he pops off' leads pack
There's always room to strengthen your lineup, and this week offers a blend of post-injury returns, emerging power and sneaky multi-position eligibility. Here are five hitters making noise or worth stashing in competitive fantasy formats. [Smarter waivers, better trades, optimized lineups — Yahoo Fantasy Plus unlocks it all] It's unlikely, but check if Addison Barger (49% rostered) is still on the wire, as he's been on a tear lately. Anyway, back to the players who are more likely to be available. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B, Cincinnati Reds (22% rostered) Encarnacion-Strand came out firing off IL this weekend, going 4-for-8 with two homers, two runs and four RBI in his first two games. I'm ignoring the .209 average since injuries have limited him to just 17 plate appearances this year. Advertisement He's hitting in the four-spot and is poised to provide a much-needed power surge to a potent Reds lineup that's underwhelmed this season. If you're chasing home runs or need a corner infielder with legit upside, CES is a top-tier target this week. Jesús Sánchez, OF, Miami Marlins (11% rostered) Sánchez is doing everything to warrant fantasy managers' attention. Over the past two weeks, the outfielder ranks 18th overall, hitting .395 with three dingers, 11 RBI, nine runs and a robust 1.079 OPS. Beyond the traditional stats, the peripherals point to real progress — Sánchez owns a 45% hard-hit rate and has trimmed his strikeout rate to a career-low 23% with an 11% walk rate, all signs he's maturing at the plate. He's approaching top-50 status in the last month, making him a solid add in 12-team leagues and a great depth piece in deeper formats. Parker Meadows, OF, Detroit Tigers (24% rostered) Meadows has started slowly since coming off the 60-day IL list, but now is the time to buy. In 82 games last season, Meadows was a 2.2 bWAR player for the Tigers, posting a 109 OPS+, all of which were above league average. It's been less than a month, but Meadows is already showing improvements with his plate discipline, with a 17.9% K rate and a 17.9 % walk rate. He's stolen two bases in his seven games and is another talented young player with a 20/20 upside. Although the sample size is relatively small, his hitting metrics suggest he's due. Advertisement The Tigers appear ready to let the 25-year-old run, and they'll need it. Detroit ranks last in stolen bases this season despite being the best team in baseball. He'll get regular time in center field and should continue to hit at the top of the order. He's a savvy pickup with multi-category potential. Ronny Mauricio, 2B, New York Mets (13% rostered) Mauricio is the ninth-ranked prospect in the Mets organization, and after missing all of last season recovering from a torn ACL, he's back in the big leagues. The Dominican infielder posted strong batted-ball rates in the minors before the injury, showcasing impressive bat speed and improving discipline. Standing at 6-foot-3, the second baseman has the tools to be a fantasy asset, possessing true 20/20 potential. He hit at least 20 homers in the minors from 2021 to 2023, along with swiping 55 bases. Advertisement The power and speed combo will mesh well in a top-10 offense, and it never hurts to hit in the sixth slot for the best team in the National League. Given the Mets' unsettled infield and Mauricio's talent ceiling, he's a player I'm looking to add now before he pops off. Trevor Larnach, OF, Minnesota Twins (20% rostered) Larnach's underlying metrics aren't ideal. Still, he's on a heater and is providing exceptional run support for a Twins team that's 35-30 through Sunday night. The former first-round pick ranks 70th over the past 30 days, slashing .305/.348/.524 with a .872 OPS, five home runs and 14 RBI. The 28-year-old is on pace to set career-highs in HRs, RBI and runs and, as long as he's getting consistent at-bats near the top of the order, there's short-term value in the near term with the potential for more as long as he keeps producing at this level.
