2014 Fantasy BaseballAlan HarrisonFantasy BaseballFront Office

2014 Fantasy Baseball, Week 9 Tools of the Trade: Michael Brantley’s Trade Value

TheFantasyFix.com’s “Tools of the Trade” is a unique guide for owners to use while attempting to make an even trade with their league-mates in a standard 12-team mixed, 5×5 head-to-head or rotisserie redraft league.

The values present in this guide are simply the basis for a trade. A full-blown analysis of each team’s strengths and weaknesses are essential prior to proposing or accepting a trade offer.

How to use the guide: Ideally, owners will agree to a trade that will aid both sides and stay within $2-3 of each other in a one-for-one and $4-5 in a multi-player deal, according to our chart.

The Week 1 “Tools of the Trade” was free for all readers, but going forward, the “Tools of the Trade” will only be available to Front Office members. Learn the benefits of being a Front Office member here.

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Player Value Player Value Player Value
Mike Trout – LAA OF $41 Devaris Gordon – LAD SS $12 Domonic Brown – Phi OF $5
Miguel Cabrera – Det 3B $40 C.J. Wilson – LAA P $12 Shane Victorino – Bos OF $5
Paul Goldschmidt – Ari 1B $39 Brandon Belt – SF 1B $12 Addison Reed – Ari P $5
Giancarlo Stanton – Mia OF $38 Anthony Rendon – Was 2B $12 Dexter Fowler – Hou OF $5
Carlos Gonzalez – Col OF $37 Greg Holland – KC P $12 Mark Teixeira – NYY 1B $5
Carlos Gomez – Mil OF $37 Charlie Blackmon – Col OF $12 Ernesto Frieri – LAA P $5
Robinson Cano – Sea 2B $36 Jonathan Lucroy – Mil C $11 Rick Porcello – Det P $4
Freddie Freeman – Atl 1B $35 Jordan Zimmermann – Was P $11 Casey McGehee – Mia 3B $4
Troy Tulowitzki – Col SS $35 Homer Bailey – Cin P $11 Josh Beckett – LAD P $4
Adam Wainwright – StL P $34 Howie Kendrick – LAA 2B $11 Travis Wood – ChC P $4
Hanley Ramirez – LAD SS $34 Mike Morse – SF OF $11 Ryan Howard – Phi 1B $4
Andrew McCutchen – Pit OF $33 Cliff Lee – Phi P $11 Scott Kazmir – Oak P $4
Jose Bautista – Tor OF $33 Corey Kluber – Cle P $11 Todd Frazier – Cin 3B $4
Clayton Kershaw – LAD P $33 Matt Cain – SF P $11 Curtis Granderson – NYM OF $4
Edwin Encarnacion – Tor 1B $33 Michael Cuddyer – Col OF $11 J.J. Hardy – Bal SS $4
Yasiel Puig – LAD OF $32 Francisco Rodriguez – Mil P $11 Brandon Phillips – Cin 2B $4
Albert Pujols – LAA 1B $30 Steve Cishek – Mia P $11 Zach Britton – Bal P $4
Evan Longoria – TB 3B $30 Starlin Castro – ChC SS $11 Billy Butler – KC DH $4
Adam Jones – Bal OF $28 Josh Hamilton – LAA OF $11 Yangervis Solarte – NYY 2B $4
Ryan Braun – Mil OF $28 Adam Lind – Tor 1B $11 Marcell Ozuna – Mia OF $4
Josh Donaldson – Oak 3B $28 Brian McCann – NYY C $11 Anthony Cingrani – Cin P $4
David Wright – NYM 3B $27 Huston Street – SD P $11 Eric Young – NYM OF $4
Felix Hernandez – Sea P $27 David Robertson – NYY P $11 Andre Ethier – LAD OF $4
Max Scherzer – Det P $27 Chase Utley – Phi 2B $9 LaTroy Hawkins – Col P $4
Adrian Gonzalez – LAD 1B $26 George Springer – Hou OF $9 Yordano Ventura – KC P $4
Masahiro Tanaka – NYY P $23 Brett Gardner – NYY OF $9 Hector Rondon – ChC P $4
Jose Abreu – CWS 1B $23 Ervin Santana – Atl P $9 Jonathan Villar – Hou SS $4
Jason Kipnis – Cle 2B $23 Angel Pagan – SF OF $9 Chris Carter – Hou OF $4
Yu Darvish – Tex P $22 Pedro Alvarez – Pit 3B $9 Alejandro De Aza – CWS OF $3
Justin Upton – Atl OF $22 Gio Gonzalez – Was P $9 Kyle Lohse – Mil P $3
Zack Greinke – LAD P $22 Lance Lynn – StL P $9 Asdrubal Cabrera – Cle SS $3
Alex Rios – Tex OF $22 Ryan Zimmerman – Was 3B $9 Emilio Bonifacio – ChC 2B $3
Ian Kinsler – Det 2B $22 Gerrit Cole – Pit P $9 Grant Balfour – TB P $3
Jacoby Ellsbury – NYY OF $22 Hiroki Kuroda – NYY P $9 Mark Buehrle – Tor P $3
Nelson Cruz – Bal OF $21 Matt Carpenter – StL 3B $9 Aaron Harang – Atl P $3
Stephen Strasburg – Was P $21 Wilin Rosario – Col C $9 Nick Markakis – Bal OF $3
Chris Sale – CWS P $21 Xander Bogaerts – Bos SS $8 Chad Qualls – Hou P $3
Matt Holliday – StL OF $21 Billy Hamilton – Cin OF $8 Garrett Jones – Mia 1B $3
Johnny Cueto – Cin P $21 Shelby Miller – StL P $8 Chris Tillman – Bal P $3
David Price – TB P $21 Trevor Rosenthal – StL P $8 Seth Smith – SD OF $3
Starling Marte – Pit OF $21 Austin Jackson – Det OF $8 Tim Lincecum – SF P $3
Ian Desmond – Was SS $21 Rajai Davis – Det OF $8 Adam Eaton – CWS OF $3
Brandon Moss – Oak 1B $20 Ian Kennedy – SD P $8 Mark Reynolds – Mil 1B $3
Chris Davis – Bal 1B $20 Neil Walker – Pit 2B $8 Yan Gomes – Cle C $2
Shin-Soo Choo – Tex OF $20 Dallas Keuchel – Hou P $8 Oscar Taveras – StL OF $2
Joey Votto – Cin 1B $20 Garrett Richards – LAA P $8 Norichika Aoki – KC OF $2
Alexei Ramirez – CWS SS $20 Matt Adams – StL 1B $8 Chase Headley – SD 3B $2
Victor Martinez – Det DH $20 Coco Crisp – Oak OF $8 Justin Masterson – Cle P $2
Michael Brantley – Cle OF $20 Leonys Martin – Tex OF $8 Phil Hughes – Min P $2
Madison Bumgarner – SF P $20 Jered Weaver – LAA P $8 Tyler Skaggs – LAA P $2
Hunter Pence – SF OF $19 Glen Perkins – Min P $8 Jedd Gyorko – SD 2B $2
James Shields – KC P $19 Jean Segura – Mil SS $8 B.J. Upton – Atl OF $2
Jay Bruce – Cin OF $18 Nathan Eovaldi – Mia P $7 Trevor Plouffe – Min 3B $2
Melky Cabrera – Tor OF $18 Nolan Arenado – Col 3B $7 Matt Wieters – Bal C $2
Elvis Andrus – Tex SS $18 Khris Davis – Mil OF $7 Michael Bourn – Cle OF $2
Dustin Pedroia – Bos 2B $18 Joe Nathan – Det P $7 Ben Revere – Phi OF $2
Buster Posey – SF C $18 Aramis Ramirez – Mil 3B $7 Andrelton Simmons – Atl SS $2
Craig Kimbrel – Atl P $18 Christian Yelich – Mia OF $7 Michael Olt – ChC 3B $2
Adrian Beltre – Tex 3B $18 Sean Doolittle – Oak P $7 Chris Johnson – Atl 3B $2
Julio Teheran – Atl P $16 Rafael Soriano – Was P $7 Lonnie Chisenhall – Cle 3B $2
Jeff Samardzija – ChC P $16 Devin Mesoraco – Cin C $7 Salvador Perez – KC C $2
Brian Dozier – Min 2B $16 Casey Janssen – Tor P $7 Jason Castro – Hou C $2
Jason Heyward – Atl OF $16 Andrew Cashner – SD P $7 Miguel Montero – Ari C $2
Eric Hosmer – KC 1B $15 Jesse Chavez – Oak P $7 A.J. Pierzynski – Bos C $2
Pablo Sandoval – SF 3B $15 Mat Latos – Cin P $7 Jarrod Saltalamacchia – Mia C $2
Desmond Jennings – TB OF $15 Torii Hunter – Det OF $7 Josmil Pinto – Min C $2
Aroldis Chapman – Cin P $15 Tim Hudson – SF P $6 Mike Zunino – Sea C $2
Hisashi Iwakuma – Sea P $15 Dan Haren – LAD P $6 Russell Martin – Pit C $1
Yadier Molina – StL C $15 Tyson Ross – SD P $6 Dioner Navarro – Tor C $1
Michael Wacha – StL P $15 Evan Gattis – Atl C $6 Brandon Crawford – SF SS $1
Yoennis Cespedes – Oak OF $15 Alcides Escobar – KC SS $6 Carlos Ruiz – Phi C $1
Allen Craig – StL 1B $15 John Lackey – Bos P $6 James Loney – TB 1B $1
Anthony Rizzo – ChC 1B $15 Jonathan Papelbon – Phi P $6 Kurt Suzuki – Min C $1
Mike Minor – Atl P $14 Joakim Soria – Tex P $6 David Freese – LAA 3B $1
Justin Morneau – Col 1B $14 Jimmy Rollins – Phi SS $6 Kolten Wong – StL 2B $1
Cole Hamels – Phi P $14 Ben Zobrist – TB 2B $6 Mike Aviles – Cle SS $1
Justin Verlander – Det P $14 Brett Lawrie – Tor 3B $6 Chris Owings – Ari SS $1
Anibal Sanchez – Det P $14 Alfonso Soriano – NYY OF $6 Alberto Callaspo – Oak 3B $1
Matt Kemp – LAD OF $14 Jed Lowrie – Oak SS $6 Travis d’Arnaud – NYM C $1
Jayson Werth – Was OF $14 Adam LaRoche – Was 1B $6 Francisco Liriano – Pit P $1
Joe Mauer – Min C $14 Wily Peralta – Mil P $6 Marlon Byrd – Phi OF $1
Jose Reyes – Tor SS $14 Aaron Hill – Ari 2B $6 Edwin Jackson – ChC P $1
Alex Gordon – KC OF $14 Jason Grilli – Pit P $6 Jonathan Schoop – Bal 3B $1
Hyun-Jin Ryu – LAD P $13 Gregory Polanco – Pit OF $6 Stephen Drew – Bos SS $1
Sergio Romo – SF P $13 Bryce Harper – Was OF $6 Drew Smyly – Det P $1
Kenley Jansen – LAD P $13 Martin Prado – Ari 3B $6 Yasmani Grandal – SD C $1
Koji Uehara – Bos P $13 Juan Francisco – Tor 3B $6 Matt Joyce – TB OF $1
David Ortiz – Bos DH $13 Derek Norris – Oak C $6 Brandon Hicks – SF SS $1
Daniel Murphy – NYM 2B $13 Marco Estrada – Mil P $6 Dellin Betances – NYY P $1
Sonny Gray – Oak P $13 Brandon McCarthy – Ari P $5 Mark Melancon – Pit P $1
Everth Cabrera – SD SS $13 Carlos Santana – Cle C $5 John Jaso – Oak C $1
Wil Myers – TB OF $13 Wilson Ramos – Was C $5 Joe Smith – LAA P $1
Jon Lester – Bos P $12 Fernando Rodney – Sea P $5 Cody Allen – Cle P $1
Mark Trumbo – Ari OF $12 A.J. Pollock – Ari OF $5 Ronald Belisario – CWS P $1
Carlos Beltran – NYY OF $12 Mike Napoli – Bos 1B $5 Chris Archer – TB P $1
Manny Machado – Bal 3B $12 R.A. Dickey – Tor P $5 Jonathon Niese – NYM P $1
Alexander Cobb – TB P $12 Jhonny Peralta – StL SS $5 Zach Wheeler – NYM P $1
Kyle Seager – Sea 3B $12 Dayan Viciedo – CWS OF $5 Jim Johnson – Oak P $1
Jose Altuve – Hou 2B $12 Jenrry Mejia – NYM P $5 Carlos Martinez – StL P $1
Doug Fister – Was P $12 Josh Reddick – Oak OF $5 Kole Calhoun – LAA OF $1

Trading isn’t easy. It’s fun, but not easy. Remember that you don’t have to “win” the trade in order to pull the trigger. If you’re improving your team, then you should make the deal.

Each-and-every week we’ll review fantasy baseball trade proposals and/or offers that come in via our “Quick Fix” and Twitter to determine if the offer is fair and whether or not the trade should be proposed or accepted.

In one of  my favorite leagues, Blog Wars — a 13-team roto league filled with industry analysts, Scott Pianowski traded Charlie Blackmon and Coco Crisp to Chris Carbonell for Carlos Gomez and Pedro Alvarez. That’s a serious haul, regardless of category need. According to the chart, that’s a $20+ profit for Pianowski. He didn’t even have a ski mask on.

Michael Brantley is one of the hottest players out of the gate in 2014. He’s triple slashing .304/.377/.510 with nine homers, 39 RBI and eight stolen bases through 223 plate appearances. The updated Steamer projections suggest that Brantley will finish somewhere in the .288/.351/.441 range with 16 homers, 78 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Nine home runs this early? Seems like a lot for a guy whose career best was ten homers in 151 games just last season. Brantley is not hitting the ball in the air more (29.4% FB% compared to 29.9% for his career) than he has in the past, it just seems like every time he does pop it up, the ball clears the fences. He’s the owner of a 17.3% HR/FB% which is far and away greater than his 6.2% HR/FB% for his career. That should come back to earth, along with Mr. Brantley. I like him, but I don’t like him at this pace. So I sent out some feelers regarding Michael Brantley this evening on Twitter. Here’s what came back to me:

I feel like Brantley could be 2014’s version of the 2013 Jean Segura. Segura started off hot, hitting bombs and swiping bags, but he too had an inflated HR/FB%. That eventually deflated, and well, we know Segura didn’t keep up the pace. The chart thinks the $20 Brantley is a steal for the team surrendering the $8 Segura.

 

$28 worth of Ellsbury and Gattis seems like a great haul for the $20 Brantley, especially if the one owner needed a catcher. I’d rather have the duo here.

Have a question about our Week 9 Tools of the Trade? Leave it in the comments below.

The concept for the this trade value chart has been adapted from Dave Richard’s fantasy football work at CBS.

All of our statistics are courtesy of our friends at FanGraphs .

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