Prospect News: Three Dynasty Trade Targets For Every Position

Building a dynasty trade plan of any kind can be tricky because most of the players are already on rosters, which means there is no objective context. Some dynasty teams just won’t make trades, so the players they have are pretty much off limits to everyone else in the league for the duration of their career. Other teams will avoid trading with specifically you/me for any number of reasons: response time, evaluations on specific players, evaluations in general, approach to trading vis a vis Everyone Can Be a Winner versus more of an Optimus Prime approach: One shall stand; one shall fall, kind of thing. I think you’re much better off seeking an everyone-can-win kind of deal. It leads to future trade opportunities and faster trades in general when people in the league know they can bring an idea to you and more often than not walk away with a trade they feel good about. 

I was able to trade for Diamondbacks C Gabriel Moreno (26) in a couple of leagues last month, but that might be outdated, anecdotal information at this point. He was still on the injured list then. Now he’s back and batting in the middle of Arizona’s lineup as a 26-year-old. I’d still buy where that makes sense. 

White Sox C Kyle Teel (age 24): Looked like a good hitter in a bad lineup before the season started. Now he’s joining a playoff-caliber lineup with little fanfare. Perfect time to make an offer, especially if his teams have found suitable replacements in your leagues. 

Blue Jays C Brandon Valenzuela (25) has been an elite pitch framer and plus power hitter with Alejandro Kirk on the Injured list. That’s an incredible outcome from a backup catcher that suggests he won’t be a backup forever. I think he’d have to slump for a long time to wind up back on the bench. Probably a timeshare, but that plays in most dynasty leagues.

You might not need to trade for Giants C Drew Cavanaugh (24), but it’s a good time to pick him up if you’re looking at the long term. 

Red Sox 1B Willson Contreras (34) : This guy is not normal. I think we’re entering a three-year stretch of dominance here now that he’s out from behind the plate and comfortable at the cold corner. PS: About a minute after I wrote these sentences, Contreras hit one to the aliens. Pretty solid sign. 

I’ve gotta start writing a little less for each guy or we’ll be here forever. I’ve recently written a bit about Twins 1B Royce Lewis (27) in this space, specifically that something clearly clicked during his detour in St. Paul. I think you could still buy even though he’s hit three home runs in nine games since his return to the Twins. He’s even played second base two times, so we might wind up with some surprise eligibility there. 

Rockies 1B TJ Rumfield (26): Elite defense at 6’5” will help him keep the job. Coors will help him in the categories. 

I don’t feel good about second base. The Angels have a couple potential keystone cogs in Oswald Peraza and Vaughn Grissom, but Grissom’s hurt and Peraza seems to be losing playing time. Still, I think Grissom is the guy to get here. He was just heating up when he got hurt and appeared to be turning a corner in his development. You could also check in on Athletics 2B Zack Gelof (26), who gets to play home games in a little league stadium. 

Pirates 2B Johan De Los Santos (17) and Giants SS Luis Hernandez (17) are both viable home run swings. De Los Santos has pretty much already lost the shortstop job to Konnor Griffin, and Giants SS Josuar Gonzalez is a better defender than Hernandez. 

Royals 3B Maikel Garcia (26): You’re not paying anything for the outfield renovation yet, I think. Three home runs and four stolen bases with a .260 batting average is not that hard to trade away if you’re a contender with other options.  

Cardinals 3B Blaze Jordan (23) is rare among third basemen as a plus contact hitter with power who figures to be part of a good lineup for the next decade or so. Also, I don’t think you have to play that to get him. 

I was able to trade for Guardians 3B Jose Ramirez (33) in one dynasty league before he got injured, and I suspect you could do the same at a lesser price now that he’s on the IL. This appears to be the game’s weakest position over the next half decade or so. Things can change in a hurry, but it looks kind of bleak right now. I was going to suggest trading for Junior Caminero but floated the idea to my brother, who pointed out Caminero’s defensive shortcomings. I had no idea he was literally the league’s worst defensive third baseman per statcast. The hot corner really looks like a wasteland if he moves across the diamond to first base. 

With just four home runs through 69 games, Diamondbacks SS Geraldo Perdomo (26) is doing his best to get us a discount. Well, not me. I already have in a lot of leagues, but that’s also kind of why I know he could be had by an opportunistic fantasy baseballer. It’s about to get hot, meaning the ball is about to carry just that little bit further, which I think really helps a sweet-spot, low-strikeout type like GP. 

I won’t declare that the Rocchio renaissance is upon us, but I do think Guardians SS Brayan Rocchio (25) is a decent option for anyone seeking a reasonably priced option for a long-term build, batting .274 with five home runs and 12 stolen bases and a 12.8 percent strikeout rate through 69 games. I think it’s fairly sustainable given the approach changes (he’s hunting to pull and lift and maximizing his plate skills). 

The Buy window on Rangers SS Sebastian Walcott (20) is probably as wide as it will get, barring a total collapse of his skills when he returns to the field. You can’t buy a top five type prospect on a discount all that often. 

Holy cow I’m over 1,000 words already. Hang with me I’m gonna hit the gas. Go get Diamondbacks OF Jordan Lawlar (23) if you can. His general perceived value does not reflect his first-round upside. I will also be sending offers. 

As someone who has Padres OF Jackson Merrill (23) on his Razz 30 roster, I can testify that he’d be available via trade. It’s not easy to put a value on a 23-year-old who’s under contract through 2033, but it’s on the table now. Turn back the clock a couple years, and you couldn’t probably get a counter offer. 

Brewers OF Alexander Frias (18) hits the stitches out of the ball. Click here to see some clips. Full disclosure day, I just chose him to be my Underdog in the Highlander League, which means he’s locked into my 40-man (20-team league) roster for three years. 

Pitchers are the last piece of a dynasty build. If Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (35) and/or Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (36) are not on contending teams in your leagues, they’d be priorities for me. Age is just a number on the mound. 

Next I’d look to slow-burn injured guys like Cubs RHP Cade Horton (24) and Braves RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (26). Here we’d like them to be on contenders so we could offer a little help in the standings. 

Last I’d look to the maybe underrated stuffists like Angels RHP Walbert Urena (22), who could find another gear with a new pitch or improved command. 

I don’t have a closer because you shouldn’t be trading for closers until you’re pushing for a title, at which point it’s pretty clear which guys you should go after: whoever is collecting saves on teams that are out of the running. I traded for Aroldis Chapman in one league this year. I didn’t love doing it, but that’s how it goes when you lose a guy like Edwin Diaz. Oh I also have Daniel Palencia on that team. He probably would’ve been the logical choice on a list like this a few months back. Now he’s got three saves and a bum elbow. 

Thanks for reading!