Week 21 Fantasy Baseball Trade Value Charts & Trade Analyzer
This week, a few big names including SP Max Scherzer and OF Mike Trout are some of the hottest buy-low targets to pursue in fantasy baseball trades. Elsewhere, SP Aaron Nola and 3B Alex Bregman are guys with inflated trade values who you might want to cash in on in Week 21.
As September approaches, undervalued trade targets are quickly disappearing. Let’s take a look at some of the best fantasy baseball trade targets as August baseball winds down.
Week 21 Fantasy Baseball Buy-Low Candidates
SP Max Scherzer, New York Mets (17.89)
In his most recent start at the mound for the Mets, Scherzer faced the New York Yankees in the Bronx Monday night. Though he pitched 6.6 innings, Scherzer allowed seven hits and four runs, producing approximately just three FPTS that night. Scherzer also allowed four runs in the start before that but was able to strike out eight batters. While Scherzer struggled in his last start and has allowed a few more runs from opposing teams as of late, he remains one of baseball’s most impressive pitchers. This season, Scherzer has a 9-3 record and a 2.33 ERA for the Mets. He’s averaging 10.5 strikeouts for every nine innings pitched. What you could call a “mini-slump” (at the most) for Scherzer has brought his trade value down -1.5 points over the last week. He is more than seven points away from his season-high trade value of approximately 25 FSP points. Because his trade value has dropped substantially as a result of his relatively less-efficient (in comparison to the season) last few starts, fantasy owners could target him in Week 21. Any time Scherzer stoops below 20 FSP points in the MLB Trade Value Charts, he should be considered a go-to pitcher to target in trades.
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (18.05)
Over the last 15 games, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has hit the ball far less efficiently than he has on average this season. Despite batting .283 for a .350 OBP in 2022, Guerrero Jr. has a .246 BA and a .269 OBP over this stretch. His trade value has dropped -1.6 points over the last week, which brings him 10 points lower than his peak trade value of approximately 28 FSP points. Overall, Guerrero Jr. is hitting the ball less efficiently altogether this season in comparison to last. Nonetheless, he still has 132 hits, 26 home runs, and 75 RBIs in 2022 with more than 40 games remaining in the regular season. His OPS is at a solid .857, which is less than his 1.002 OPS last season, but still enough for fantasy owners to consider scooping him while his value is deflated. While Guerrero Jr. is having a harder time hitting the ball this year than he did in 2021, he remains one of the MLB’s elite infielders. This will likely be the last time you see his trade value below 20 FSP points for the remainder of the year.
OF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (13.95)
Mike Trout returned to the Angels on August 19 after missing more than a month of baseball. Though he’s only played in 85 games so far this season, Trout still has 81 hits for 25 home runs and 53 RBIs. Expect him to start warming up as we head into September. Obviously, his trade value was deflated after missing more than a month. Naturally, his trade value is rising quickly since returning to the outfield for the Angels. Nonetheless, multiple outfielders who are substantially worse players than Trout remain ahead of him in the OF MLB Trade Value Charts. Notably, Kyle Tucker (14.06) and Luis Robert (14.12) have no business being ahead of Trout in the charts. Once he gets going, expect him to shoot over Mookie Betts (15.45) and Kyle Shwarber (17.00) at least. Consider this a reminder from us to let you know that Mike Trout is back from injury. This has dramatically decreased his trade value which, though deflated right now, will quickly go back up. You could shoot your shot and try to offer any of the other players mentioned to scoop Trout from the bargain bin on a major sale.
SP Sean Manaea, San Diego Padres (8.77)
Padres’ starting pitcher Sean Manaea has struggled to find consistency in July and throughout August. His trade value has dropped considerably since the season began. He is now worth approximately 16 FSP points less than his season-high trade value of approximately 23 points. In four of his last six starts, Manaea has produced an average of eight FPTS or less. In two of his last six starts, Manaea produced negative points. On August 5, he allowed eight runs in four innings against the Dodgers. Still, Manaea was pitching very well early on in the season and had an encouraging performance in his last start. It would be shocking to see his value drop lower and for his trouble at the mound to persist as we head into September. He is going to have many more starts this season and is coming off of a solid outing in his last start. Manaea must be one of the most affordable SP trade targets to pursue in Week 21.
Week 21 Fantasy Baseball Sell-High Candidates
3B/SS Alex Bregman, Houston Astros (15.77)
Astros’ third baseman Alex Bregman has struggled to find his rhythm since the 2019 season. After two interrupted seasons in 2020 and 2021, Bregman has been healthy throughout 2022 and has already played in 119 games for the Houston Astros. Even though healthy, his numbers are nowhere near those he produced in 2018 and 2019. In recent weeks, however, Bregman is hitting the ball much better. In Bregman’s last 15 games, is batting .375 for 21 hits, six home runs, and 18 RBIs. In comparison, he’s only hitting .266 this season. While he is hitting at a better pace right now than he has all season, inconsistency for Bregman in 2022 suggests that he will not be able to maintain this current pace. Bregman’s trade value is the highest it’s been all season, and other third basemen have been consistently efficient throughout the season who fantasy owners should consider trading Bregman for. Though Boston’s 3B Rafael Devers (16.86) is ahead of Bregman in the 3B MLB Trade Value Charts, he is ahead of Bregman by just 0.9 FSP points. You might consider offering a trade of Bregman for Devers straight up. Since Bregman has dual-position eligibility in many fantasy baseball leagues (3B & SS), you could shoot your shot and offer him in a trade for Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (14.41). The market for fantasy shortstops is deep. Only five shortstops in the MLB have a current trade value of 10 FSP points or more.
SP Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies (18.40)
Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola has reached his season-high trade value of approximately 19 FSP points. This puts him ahead of Max Scherzer (17.89) and the slumping Gerrit Cole (17.44). The fact that Nola is now ranked higher than Scherzer in the MLB Trade Value Charts should be enough to push fantasy owners to pursue him in trades in Week 21. In addition, Nola struggled against the Mets in his last outing, throwing 104 pitches in 5.0 innings and allowing five runs. Both of his last two starts have ended in losses for Nola despite his high rate of strikeouts. Consider trading Aaron Nola away for someone like Max Scherzer, whose value should never dip below 20 FPTS and certainly not fall below Nola in the MLB Trade Value Charts.
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