Welcome to the 2023 Fantasy Baseball Week 18 Stock Up-Stock Down article!
Happy Trade Deadline! While the Los Angeles Angels deprived us of the biggest potential trade in history, it was still a very eventful trade period.
In honor of the deadline passing, we are going to do things a little bit differently this week. Instead of players who have noteworthy performances, we will be touching on some winners and losers of the deadline you may not have considered. Players, prospects, and teams are all in fair game.
Now, without further ado, let's base jump into the 2023 Fantasy Baseball Week 18 Stock Up/Stock Down list!
2023 Fantasy Baseball Week 18 Stock Up-Stock Down
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Stock Up
Kyle Manzardo, 1B, Cleveland Guardians
Kyle Manzardo came into the season as one of the more highly touted first base prospects in the game. The Rays have shown a deft touch when it comes to prospect development and Manzardo looked to be next in line.
2023 hasn't exactly gone according to plan for Manzardo. After never hitting below .320 in his first two seasons, he is only slashing .238/.342/.442 in Triple-A this year. On top of that, The Rays MLB squad has been rolling on its own merit. They flat out haven't needed the 23-year-old.
Nice win-win deal here. Manzardo can be a big time 1B bat and Civale is a solid 3-4 starter under control through 2025. TB desperate for some pitching w/their injuries, too. And 1B just isn't close to a near-term need for TB (Yandy, Raley, BLowe, Mead) https://t.co/yJY8ZZ4bta
— Paul Sporer (@sporer) July 31, 2023
The Rays traded Manzardo to the Indians for pitcher Aaron Civale. This could be a win-win for everybody. The Rays needed the pitching depth, and Acquiring Manzardo allowed the Indians to move on from Josh Bell on Tuesday. Manzardo could finally get a real run on the biggest stage, in a park that plays to his power much better than the Trop. Look to see if he gets the call soon, as the Indians may want to prime him for a ROY run in 2024.
Andres Munoz, RP, Seattle Mariners
The Mariners just can't seem to break through, and were sellers at the deadline yet again. They offloaded Paul Sewald to Arizona for a Teoscar Hernandez replacement, and that opens the door for Andres Munoz to take over the closer job.
If you're asking me whether you should drop [insert droppable reliever] for Andres Munoz, the answer is yes. He'll be a stud closer as long as Scott Servais doesn't play games with him.
— Scott White (@CBSScottWhite) July 31, 2023
Munoz has been excellent in a setup role for the past two seasons. His ERA has been under three in both years, and he strikes out roughly a third of the batters he faces. He has a triple-digit fastball and should get plenty of opportunities for saves going forward. He could be a top-five closer for the remainder of the season, given the chances.
Everson Pereira, OF, New York Yankees
The Yankees didn't make a single move to bolster their lineup at the deadline. Yankees fans may be up in arms, but behind every cheap raincloud is a ray of sunshine. This season that ray is named Everson Pereira.
Another RBI single for Everson Pereira and the RailRiders are down one.
Pereira drilled this one 111.1 mph. Dude crushes the ball. pic.twitter.com/NaK9wwUyZG
— Conor Foley (@RailRidersTT) August 2, 2023
Pereira is the number two ranked prospect in the Yankees system, and he is looking the part. Since being promoted to Triple-A, the 22-year-old is slashing a stellar .325/.366/.584 with five home runs. If the Yankees can't get some production from their current roster in the outfield, Pereira could be their best solution.
Stock Down
Josh Bell, 1B, Miami Marlins
Josh Bell has stunk out loud this year. The former breakout first baseman has had a season to forget in Cleveland. He is slashing .233/.318/.383 with only eleven home runs. Cleveland sent him off to Miami for prospects on Tuesday afternoon.
Bell already should not be on a roster, but if anyone was holding out hope, now would be the time to stop. Miami has a terrible park for power, and the pitching in the NL East is far superior to the AL Central. Bell's power has been on the decline for three years and it is about to bottom out.
New York Mets
Yikes. After two years of making splashy free-agent acquisitions, the Mets decided to tear it all down. They shipped off almost everybody. Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, David Robertson, and others all found new homes this weekend.
Max Scherzer just spilled the most beans you can spill. pic.twitter.com/bIhLO6YkQe
— Aaron Cornielle (@AaronCornielle) August 1, 2023
While the decision to throw in the towel this year is certainly disappointing, Scherzer decided to inform everybody that it will be many more years before the Mets compete again. They are getting decent prospects back, they are having to eat a lot of cash on the big-money pitching duo, and won't have anything to show for it for a couple of years. It is a bad time to be a New York baseball fan.
Thanks for reading the 2023 Fantasy Baseball Week 18 Stock Up-Stock Down. Be sure to check out more Fantasy Baseball content from the F6P team!
