Welcome back to Buy & Sell, where this week’s theme is: It’s OFFICIALLY the homestretch, folks! No more trades in almost all leagues (some have August 31st deadlines), and most H2H leagues are in the playoffs now, and it’s best to get your guys now since the last week is always a hot mess. Sorry this week’s list is late, but wanted to get it to you before Sunday FAAB. Let’s get on to the list!
BUY
Jorge Polanco (2B/3B, Seattle Mariners)
The concept of Jorge being an all-formats must-add isn’t popular, but I’m running it up the flagpolanco. I surmised back in the summer that the hate on Jorge after his admittedly massive slump had gone too far, as his expected stats were still excellent thanks to a much-improved 14% K%. Perhaps the interspersed off days helped him recover from whatever was ailing him, as he’s surged to a .368 AVG, 5 homers, 9 RBI and 1 SB in 38 AB over the past 2 weeks. Once you blink and look at his season line of .254 with 23 HR and 6 SB in just 397 AB this year, you probably realize he’s one of the top 5 second baseman in the league right now. If football distracted folks from his subtle excellence, hop on Jorge with haste, in all leagues.
Trent Grisham (OF, New York Yankees)
He’s wiping away his past history like a GriShamWow. Whatever happened to that weird thing anyway? I mean the actor. Grisham may also be among the most impressive statlines with the least hype due to his journeyman nature and some leagues moving on from him in the shallowest formats after a big slump with playing time cuts and a big slump. Well don’t look now, but he has 8 homers and 15 RBI over the past 3 weeks, with 3 of those homers and 10 RBI coming just this week. While his .245 AVG isn’t so pretty, it comes with a whopping 29 homers and 3 SB (2 of them just this week). He really found a perfect place for his pulled flyball approach, and he’s even more valuable in OBP formats with his elite chase%. But even if power isn’t your greatest need, he’s an all-formats add for the run production.
Ha-Seong Kim (SS, Atlanta Braves)
Here’s a fun fact: Kim is the only Braves shortstop to hit a home run. Really. Every other team has at least 5. He’s only 19% rostered in 12-teamers, but it seems he may finally be healthy given his strong start, and is a good lineup and supporting cast. Granted, I really hoped he’d get to use his high pullAIR% in Tampa’s home park, but it just never lined up and Tampa would be on the road all week anyway. Note that in some leagues that use minor league eligibility, Kim may still qualify at 2B, which boosts his value to the 10-team OBP realm.
Jeremiah Jackson (OF/2B, Baltimore Orioles)
Just keep flying high with J.J. the jet plane.Already one of my most regrettable deep league drops of the year last week, Jackson has dispelled notions of him being a total fluke by hitting for much more power this week, with a .296/.367/667 line with 3 homers this week to bring his season total to .321 with 4 homers and 17 RBI in 106 AB. He’s a must-add for 15 team but a viable streamer in 12-team AVG formats.
Connor Norby (3B, Miami Marlins)
Outside of a few players and Norby, the team is about as fresh as Norbit. Rotten Tomatoes indicates that’s 9% out of 100, sounds about right. Sorry Eddie Murphy. Norby’s bat has been dolemighty, with 5 RBI this week in 18 AB while hitting .333, and the 3/5 BB/K is good for him as his power has always been better than his discipline. He’s more similar to Josh Jung than folks realize (not talking about the injuries), and is worth taking a spec add on in 15-team average formats since he seems like he’ll probably provide either average or power, maybe even both.
Austin Wells (C, New York Yankees)
I had started ignoring him in favor of Ben Rice and missed the fact that he’s actually hit .286 with 5 homers over the past 3 weeks, and hitting .389 with two of those dongs this week. He has been playing more regularly than I realized with 42 AB over that span, and with Goldschmidt slumping and Wells now having double Goldy’s homer total in just 353 AB (20 HR to Goldy’s 10), it’s time to snag him if he was cut in 15-team formats or for streaming in 12-team OBP.
Drew Gilbert (OF, San Francisco Giants)
Could this be the year of triumphant returns from wayward former first round picks? Drew got off to a rough start but has been on fire this week after a 4-for-4 game in Colorado, and is hitting a positively electric .526 (10-for-19) with 2 homers and 8 RBI this week. What is most impressive is that in those 20 PA (1 BB), he has not struck out once. I’d bet you he outperforms Nick Castellanos ROS, who wants to take me up on it? 15-team add who still isn’t getting enough love (I just got him this morning in a 30-team dynasty with 5 players picked before him).
Luis Torrens (C, New York Mets)
I waxed poetic on him a few weeks back, but the returning full-time Mets catcher had a big week overshadowed by his unlucky season line, hitting .353 with 2 homers and 8 RBI and a stolen base in 17 PA. Could have a big September, though kinda hoping he doesn’t so I can load up on shares in 2026 drafts. UPDATE: Alvarez is back already apparently, but I think his hand issues will likely keep him out of full-time playing time.
Blaze Alexander (2B/3B/SS, Arizona Diamondbacks)
So mayyybe I’m mostly mentioning him since I’m currently losing my Pitcher List Legacy League H2H Divisional Championship, and I named my team Blaze CanhaBliss (Nick let me get away with that one). But it’s possible that Alexander owners panic dropped him when Lawlar was called up. However, Blaze continues to outperform him and is listed as a full-time regular, hitting .286 with a homer and a SB this week. Just keep rolling with Blaze, mon.
Yoan Moncada (3B, Los Angeles Angels)
Speaking of mon, he was left for dead, but is no longer looking like a Moncadaver. The former top prospect has lost nearly all of his early talent, but he can still draw walks, with a .263 AVG this week but a .391 OBP thanks to 4 walks. He also hit 2 homers last week and has 6 games against righties, making him a 15-team OBP plays.
Michael Helman (OF, Texas Rangers)
When I saw this rando was leading my waiver wire options in playing time, I was like… What the Helman? He’s brought some power and speed and everything you need as their centerfielder, and with Adolis on and off the mend and nearly every other CF option floundering, let’s see what the journeyman can do. He is hitting .250 with 3 HR and 3 SB in just 46 PA, and the .190 xBA may be more indicative of his true talent, but he still may be your best option in deep leagues due to the power/speed combo.
Troy Johnston (1B, Miami Marlins)
He’s a platoon first baseman in Miami, he’s 28, and basically nobody has noticed he’s even up. But he does has a nifty .273 AVG, and while the .379 SLG% isn’t great, Statcast thinks he’s been unlucky with a .284 xBA and .457 xSLG. I don’t like his plate approach much, but his 43% HardHit% gives the team some sorely-needed thump and he deserves more love. Too bad Troy doesn’t play with a teammate named Hector who can go to battle for him.
SELL
Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF, Chicago Cubs)
Much like Stretch Armstrong, he was super fun but may have gotten pulled too hard and now he’s leaking goo everywhere. Not like I would know from personal experience. Look, there are 3 FAAB periods left. THREE. He’s hitting .067 this week, hitting .222 over the past 3 weeks with 1 homer and 1 SB in 63 AB over the past 3 weeks. And his xwOBA, which he has been outperforming all season, has been careening downward and well below league average. If you have a good bench, then bench him! But if you’re in H2H playoffs right now, are you really going to run him out there when you have so many hot hitters in 10-teamers on the line? I wouldn’t. You can’t take the season statline with you. He’d gotten away with it for awhile, let’s see if the crows have come to roost.
Steven Kwan (OF, Cleveland Guardians)
When you looked at him at the past you may have seen a star, but you don’t want to get stuck in this Steven Punyverse. This is probably long overdue, even when he’s underperforming he’s just so dang boring that I always forget about him! I mean, this week was better than most this summer, as he’s hitting .290, but the real problem is while he’s still playing everyday, with 53 AB in just the past 2 weeks, he’s hit a pitiful .226/.250/.283 with no homers and no SB over that span. The offense is the league’s worst by far with a 65 wRC+ over the past month, so with no power, little speed, not even many walks lately, and little run production.
Samuel Basallo (1B/C, Baltimore Orioles)
The talent is undeniable, but if you’re contending in redraft leagues, it’s time to tell Samuel Basayonara. Outside of his elite bat speed, he’s been well below average in most metrics, and the fact is, you are probably either in H2H playoffs or a close neck-and-neck in roto. You just don’t have time with just a few weeks left for him to work out the kinks. Target him next year if it brings his price down, but in redrafts, there are too many catchers I’d rather roll with now including Austin Wells, Alejandro Kirk, and Dillon Dingler, and there may be even better options on your wire.
Jordan Lawlar (SS, Arizona Diamondbacks)
Who needs Bob Loblaw’s Law Blog when you can have Lob Lawlar Blah Lard Lol. Okay, well everyone still does, my version was terrible. But still not as bad as Lawlar’s .143 AVG and 50% K% in 14 ABs since his return. Some want to compare him to Kyle Tucker, who in his first few years had terrible production, but he at least had better underlying metrics and just bad luck before it flipped. Lawlar has just been undeniably bad, and is listed as a small-side platoon once again. Cut him now while he’s looking like a scared little boy in the the majors, because I don’t think this is the year Jordan learns to hit like Amman.
Nick Castellanos (OF, Philadelphia Phillies)
He’s looking cooked, so don’t forget your Casty Iron Skillet.I’m glad that here is a drop call that I don’t regret! He’s starting to lose playing time as he’s hitting just .167 this week in 12 AB and only has 16 HR with a .254 AVG on the season. I say he’s a drop in all 15-team formats, and possibly in NL formats depending on your alternatives.
Paul Goldschmidt (1B, New York Yankees)
Stanton is hitting well. Rice is hitting well. Wells is hitting… great. Goldy is not. Given the Yankees stacked lineup, it’s time to accept the out with the old, in with the new, thank Goldy for a solid first half, and move on in all 15-team formats and some AL-only leagues.
Jasson Dominguez (OF, New York Yankees)
Went out on a limb to call Dominguez a deep league drop a few weeks ago, and just checking back in to say he’s still not producing or playing, so I guess that was a strong limb. Maybe a beefy leg, on the back of a dragon.
Liover Peguero (SS, Pittsburgh Pirates)
Hey, we’ll always remember that crazy 3 homer game, right? What game? Oh, right. Now his fantasy relevance is total Liover.
Henry Davis (C, Pittsburgh Pirates)
After Bart’s power bat crumpling, I thought Henry could rise up like the Terminator… but his early strong expected stats have melted away into the lava pit. Hasta Davista, baby.
