We’re almost halfway into the 2025 MLB season, and the contenders are beginning to seperate themselves from the pretenders.
In the American League, it’s the Tigers leading all of baseball with a 44-25 record; they have +800 odds of winning the World Series. Trailing Detroit are the Yankees, currently priced at +550 to win the franchise’s 28th title. However, it’s the reigning champion Dodgers who have the best odds at hoisting the trophy (+270), followed by the Mets in the NL (+700). Expect a busy next few weeks on the trade market as these clubs position themselves for the postseason.
The same logic for teams in real life also applies to fantasy baseball. Whether your squad is in first place or last, now is the time to make a big move. Rather than pay a pretty penny, the savviest way to build a roster is by searching for buy-lows. As we near the end of the first half, here are three underperforming names managers should consider trading for.
Fantasy Baseball Buy Lows – Week of June 13th
SS Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
When active, Corey Seager remains one of baseball’s most fearsome hitters. Unfortunately, that’s a big caveat; the slugger has played more than 130 games only four times during his 11-year career. In 2025, a hamstring strain has kept the Rangers shortstop out of action for multiple weeks. Injury issues have hurt the former All-Star even when healthy, as his numbers have dipped across the board. This season, Seager has slashed .243/.312/.400 at the plate with six home runs and 12 RBIs.
Those numbers, while disappointing, aren’t enough to warrant a fire sale. Seager’s past success and high draft cost makes him worth holding on to. Still, even a slight discount would make the 31-year-old someone fantasy managers should target. Per Baseball Savant, Seager’s expected slugging percentage of .542 is well above his current number of .400. That difference of .142 is the second-highest gap in all of baseball. Despite Texas’ struggles on offense it’s only a matter of time until their best hitter gets going.
1B Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves
The Braves are an absolute mess, ranking fourth in the NL East with a 29-38 record. Matt Olson is one of the many stars on this roster that has disappointed. Over 67 games, he’s hitting .238 with 14 homers and 39 RBIs. It’s not the worst statistical output in the league, but it’s certainly unimpressive for a two-time All-Star. It’s not as if the first baseman’s teammates are offering much support. Atlanta is scoring just 4.07 runs per game this season, the league’s ninth-lowest mark.
It’s easy to forget now, but Olson is just two years removed from a league-leading 54-homer, 139-RBI season. Even after a difficult 2024 campaign, it’s not a stretch to think the 31-year-old can return to form. According to Savant, the power hitter ranks inside the 94th percentile or better in wOBA (.398), xSLG (.561), barrel % (18.7%) and hard hit % (56.0). All of those numbers represent an improvement from the veteran’s 2024 campaign; he’s just been unluckier this season. Olson isn’t a sexy name nor is he performing at the level most fans and analysts expected. That’s the perfect formula for a savvy fantasy baseball buy-low.
SP Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins
Few players, let alone pitchers, have been a bigger disappointment than Sandy Alcantara. The former Cy Young winner missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. Since making his return in April, he’s posted a ghastly 7.14 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. Playing for the woeful Marlins certainly doesn’t help matters, either. Unlike the two hitters on this list, there aren’t many underlying stats pointing towards positive regression. Alcantara’s Savant page doesn’t look pretty, as the right-hander’s pitching run value sits in the 29th percentile.
Still, there’s a strong track record for Miami’s ace. Since entering the league in 2017, he owns a stellar 3.57 ERA over 159 games pitched. In addition, the hurler is a true workhorse, having put together four seasons of 184 innings or more. Recently, Alcantara has begun to look like his old self. The former All-Star has allowed a total of two runs over his last two starts (1.50 ERA). Granted, those outings came against miserable Pirates and Rockies offenses. Still, Sandy’s expected ERA now sits at a respectable 4.55. There’s no guarantee of success here, but there are worse players to take a gamble on. Considering it won’t cost much, Alcantara is the perfect second half dart throw.
