The 2015 MLB postseason is about to begin, but it’s never too early to look ahead to some of the situations that will play out throughout the offseason. Over the next few slides, we’ll identify a handful of sell-high, buy-low transactions that teams need to consider this winter.
Baseball is the most fickle sport under the sun. It’s extremely hard to predict which teams and players will be able to sustain high levels of production or bounce back from down years. Add in other variables like contracts, injuries and organizational status, and the decision-making process for front office executives becomes even harder.
That’s why teams try to be pro-active in certain situations. By trading players at their peak, teams are able to achieve maximum value. The New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds will face that tough decision of whether or not to part with elite talent in Matt Harvey and Aroldis Chapman for the future of the team.
On the flip side, front offices can find bargains on the free-agent or trade markets by capitalizing on a player’s subpar season. Injuries and inconsistent play affect production every year, but in some cases, a return to form isn’t as far away as it appears. Players like Denard Span, Jeff Samardzija and Starlin Castro are prime examples of that scenario.
Let us know what you think about our selections in the comment section below. Would you trade Harvey or Chapman? Would disappointing seasons from Span, Samardzija or Castro scare you away? Who are some other sell-high, buy-low candidates?
Teams that tackle these situations in the appropriate manner are much more likely to experience sustained success. The following players may have complicated scenarios, but we’ll attempt to decipher which way teams should view them this winter.