Over a month has passed, and the 2025 MLB season is in full swing. By now, we’re past the point of small sample sizes; there’s enough data to make an educated guess about most players going forward. Still, that doesn’t mean fantasy baseball managers should overreact. Panic trading a struggling star, or overpaying for a hot start, is a good way to tank your team. Instead, now is the perfect time to be active and make savvy buy low moves.
Before the month of April comes to a close, let’s dive into some names managers should consider trading for.
Fantasy Baseball Buy Lows – Week of April 30th
C Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
It’s been a terrific 14-year tenure for Salvador Perez in Kansas City. However, the catcher appears to be losing steam this season. Through 29 games, he’s slashing a career-worst .225/.271/.369 with two home runs and 15 RBIs. It’s not as if the Royals, baseball’s lowest scoring offense, present many opportunities to drive in runs. Add it all up, and the end may be near for the 34-year-old…or is it?
Perez’s slump is concerning, but the underlying data suggests that he’s been a victim of bad luck. Per Baseball Savant, no batter has a higher disparity between their expected weighted on-base average (.398) and actual wOBA (.283). In addition, the nine-time All-Star’s expected batting average (.309) qualifies as his second-best mark since 2015. Will Salvy manage to put together another standout season? Right now, it’s hard to say. Still, in a fantasy landscape lacking impact catchers, the veteran is someone worth targeting.
RP Devin Williams, New York Yankees
‘Nightmare’ doesn’t do Devin Williams’ first month in New York justice. The closer, acquired this winter from the Brewers, has had a rough time adjusting to life in the Bronx. Through nine innings, he’s been touched up for ten earned runs (10.00 ERA). Things have gotten so bad that Yankees manager Aaron Boone removed the former All-Star from game-ending duties (for the time being).
Unlike Perez, there aren’t any hidden numbers that suggest better days are ahead. Williams’ expected ERA of 6.00, while an improvement, is nothing short of terrible. Still, the 30-year-old didn’t become useless in the span of one offseason. Over six years in Milwaukee, the righty posted a 1.83 ERA and 14.1 K/9 ratio. During this early portion of the season, I’d be willing to take a gamble on track record and talent. Not to mention, if Williams turns things around, he’ll have an abundance of save opportunities with the Yankees. Should someone want to sell now, the cost will never be lower.
DH/OF Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
Last, but certainly not least, we have Yordan Alvarez; even casual baseball fans are familiar with the Astros’ slugger. Since 2022, only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have recorded a higher slugging percentage (.572). Unfortunately for Houston, the outfielder hasn’t looked like himself so far. This season, Alvarez has slashed .219/.316/.354, notching only three homers and 18 RBIs.
All evidence suggests that this is just a bump in the road for Houston’s best hitter. Over his seven-year career, Alvarez has posted his lowest batting average in the month of April (.265). The former All-Star ranks inside the 94th percentile in average exit velocity (94.1), 98th percentile in bat speed (76.6) and 79th percentile in xwOBA (.370). Obviously, the price tag will be high for a player taken early in most drafts. Still, even with a slight bargain, fantasy managers should consider pulling the trigger on a proven superstar.
