The second half of the MLB season is underway, and though all eyes are on some of the most exciting playoff races we’ve seen in decades, fantasy baseball managers should remain focused on the impending trade deadline.
The next two weeks are going to be very telling for MLB teams that are still wavering between buying and selling, and it is going to be vital to the success for fantasy baseball managers to figure out which players are going to gain or lose value when they head to a new team.
Hitters who change leagues or leave hitter-friendly ballparks tend to struggle, while pitchers on losing squads typically get a favorable boost, both mentally and physically, when they land with a contender.
Having the foresight to build your roster accordingly is what separates the winners from the losers.
After an eye-opening performance in the All-Star Game, Rockies catcher Elias Diaz is going to draw some attention as his team makes its annual trip to the showers for the year.
Solid defensive metrics will always make him attractive to potential suitors, but he is also producing well offensively, and he remains on-pace for numbers close to his career bests.
Hitting the game-winning home run for the National League in a pitcher-friendly park turned heads, and the Rockies are likely to unload him if they can.
After all, no one is rebuilding with a 32-year-old catcher.
But for fantasy, the focus is on his home/road splits, and the fact that he’s batting just .236 with only two home runs away from Coors Field should tell you all you need to know.
Conversely, fantasy managers should be extremely bullish on Cardinals pitcher Jordan Mongomery after team exec John Mozeliak announced that though he’s not yet waving the white flag, he is going to start trading people.
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Most are speculating an exodus of outfielders, but with so many teams in need of starting pitching, the left-handed Montgomery is certainly going to draw attention.
It isn’t often you see a losing culture spreading through the Cardinals’ clubhouse, but it is obvious that players are struggling at home.
Montgomery’s ERA has improved over the course of the first half, but he’s ready to leave behind a home ERA that is nearly a full run higher than his work on the road.
The excitement of joining a pennant race with the likes of the Dodgers, Diamondbacks or even the Orioles would give the young southpaw a nice boost moving forward.
The race to the MLB playoffs is tighter than ever, but things will shake out over the next couple of weeks.
Even the slightest winning or losing streak can make up a general manager’s mind with regard to buying or selling, so it is up to you to figure out which players are most likely to be on the move.
When planning for the deadline, start with the bottom-feeders, such as the Rockies and Cardinals.
Sift through their rosters and learn who best could be on the move.
If you can add or subtract the right players from your roster ahead of the deadline, you should have smooth sailing towards your fantasy championship.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to Fantasy-Alarm.com for all your fantasy baseball advice.
