Fantasy Baseball Trade Value Risers: Early Targets to Buy or Sell

We are a week into the MLB regular season, so it's a good time to look at the fantasy baseball trade value chart here and highlight some players.

We will go over several players on the rise first, then look at players trending the wrong way in another article. For this article, these are more waiver wire options or trade targets.

Use the FantasySP trade value chart and trade analyzer as you propose and accept fantasy baseball trades all season!

Yordan Alvarez - Houston Astros

Alvarez is up 0.4 on his player rating at FantasySP since the start of the season. He's sitting inside the top-50 fantasy players as a result.

Alvarez has been stellar so far, with three homers and three doubles among his 10 hits over seven games and 32 plate appearances. He has six RBIs, eight runs scored, six walks, a stolen base and just four strikeouts.

Alvarez is showing what he's capable of when healthy. Injuries have been an issue in his career, but he can be a top-end fantasy hitter when healthy, so hopefully we get a healthy 2026 season for him.

He's a sell-high trade candidate if you don't believe in him staying healthy. It'd be hard to part with Alvarez, so make sure you really like the return if you are trading him away.

Jose Altuve - Houston Astros

Altuve has been strong early on as well, collecting eight hits over seven games and 31 plate appearances. He has two homers and a double among the hits, along with three RBIs, eight runs scored, a stolen base, eight walks and five strikeouts.

He is off to a hot start, and is showing he still has gas left in the tank. What I like with Altuve is that he should be eligible at second base and in left field, and that just adds to his fantasy value.

He's a good trade candidate, but buying him high isn't the smartest move. Selling him high, on the other end, makes plenty of sense.

Don't expect elite fantasy results from him in 2026, but he's still capable of being a high-end fantasy hitter, so don't be afraid to add him.

Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels

Trout is another high-end fantasy hitter who has dealt with injuries over his career.

He's off to a hot start, hitting two homers among his six hits in his seven games and 33 plate appearances so far. Trout has three RBIs, six runs scored, two stolen bases, 10 walks and eight strikeouts as well.

Trout can still deliver high-end fantasy results when healthy, and he's showing that now. Injuries have derailed his career, but he's coming off a 130-game season in 2025, so hopefully he gets in at least that many games in 2026.

He's a risk to acquire, but it could pay off in a big way. Just know you are taking a risk if you add the oft-injured Trout.

Sandy Alcantara - Miami Marlins

Alcantara is a pitcher worth mentioning after his first two starts.

He's 2-0 and hasn't allowed an earned run over 16 innings. Alcantara has allowed seven hits and two walks, plus an unearned run. He's struck out 12 so far.

Alcantara has struggled over his past couple seasons, and hasn't delivered big since 2022. He's showing he's still got some good pitching in him, and he's rising quickly as a fantasy asset as a result.

He too is a risk to add after just two starts, but there's plenty to like in Alcantara's performance so far. His fantasy value isn't too high yet, so if you believe in him delivering better than he has over the past couple years, you could still come out ahead despite paying a bit more for him after his strong start.

Munetaka Murakami - Chicago White Sox

Murakami has cooled a bit after homering in each of his first three games, but he's still been a pleasant surprise to kick off 2026.

He has five total hits, along with four RBIs, five runs scored, four walks and nine strikeouts over six games and 25 plate appearances. Murakami could be a force in the White Sox' lineup, even if the guys around him aren't great.

He's still available in a few leagues, and after cooling down a bit, his asking price in a trade wouldn't be quite as high. If you believe in Murakami in the long run, I'd suggest going after him now.

Brandon Lowe - Pittsburgh Pirates

Lowe is available in a few leagues as well, but has definitely seen his own percentage rise since the start of the year.

Across five games and 22 plate appearances, Lowe has popped three homers and a double among his six hits. He has four RBIs, three runs scored, four walks and three strikeouts as well.

He's off to a hot start with his new team, and while that isn't sustainable, he's definitely emerged as a fantasy option at second base. 

If you need a second baseman, adding or acquiring Lowe is a cheap and possibly really beneficial way to fill the position. Again, his production will dip as the season moves along, but when healthy, he could be a high-end performer at second base, and those are the guys you want on your teams.

Chase DeLauter - Cleveland Guardians

DeLauter is one of the sparsely-owned rookies who took off at the start of the season. He is dealing with a foot injury, so that's something to watch.

He has played in six games and logged 23 plate appearances so far. DeLauter has four home runs among his six hits, along with five RBIs, five runs scored, one walk and seven strikeouts.

The highly-regarded prospect is getting his first crack at regular season big league at-bats, and he's started extremely strong. DeLauter won't keep up his home run pace, but if he stays healthy, he could be a really good fantasy asset over the course of a full season.

The injury is concerning, especially because he's dealt with a bunch of injuries in his rise through the minor leagues. If you are willing to take a gamble, acquiring him now is a chance to buy a potentially high-end fantasy outfielder for cheaper after his foot injury. Just know the risk you are taking.

Sal Stewart - Cincinnati Reds

Stewart got a taste of the big leagues in 2025, but has absolutely started red hot in 2026.

In six games and 26 plate appearances, Stewart has nine hits, including three doubles and two home runs. He also has three RBIs, five runs scored, seven walks and just three strikeouts.

If he's still available in your league, I'd make room for him somehow. I see Stewart breaking out in 2026, and you need to roster him before the price is too high, or he's simply unavailable.

There's a lot to like with the highly-regarded prospect, and I'd suggest investing in him now. The long-term payoff is going to be good.

Jose Soriano - Los Angeles Angels

Soriano is another pitcher who has excelled through two starts. 

He is 2-0 and hasn't allowed a run yet. Soriano has given up just four hits and six walks, while striking out 11. He's pitched 12 innings.

Soriano had good results earlier in his career, but regressed in 2025. He could be at the start of a bounceback campaign, so I'd be investing in him now.

Scoop him up off the waiver wire if you can. About 25% of you still can right now.

He's more a trade target in deeper leagues, but you could make the move for cheap in standard leagues. At least consider acquiring Soriano, because his first two starts have been stellar.