Fantasy Baseball 2012: 12 Players to Realistically Trade for Right Now

The following slideshow details 12 players who could realistically be acquired in trade talks sometime in the next two weeks.

Some of these assets have fostered great starts to the season but are fighting reputation-based stigmas of years past.

Some have shallow track records and could be swapped out for more established veterans; and some players, including the only true superstar of this listing, have struggled out of the gate and could be on the move...as part of a classic knee-jerk response from their jittery fantasy owners.

Enjoy the show!

1B Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves

Freeman ranks in the top-five for runs (11) and RBI (12) among first basemen and serves as one of best 23-and-under talents in baseball; and yet, he's continually lumped in with the fourth tier of corner infielders—a group more known for their weaknesses in three categories than respectable power.

With 500 at-bats, Freeman should improve upon last year's home run (21) and RBI totals (76); he's also a good bet to flirt with a .280 batting average. The only drawback to date: Freeman needs to make some serious progress with that .283 on-base percentage. 

Roundabout trade suggestion: 1-for-1 swap with pitchers Yu Darvish or Matt Garza.

1B Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals

Hosmer's numbers (two HRs, seven RBI, eight runs, one steal, .167 batting, .259 OBP, .593 OPS) have fallen considerably short of April expectations, but that's not sufficient cause for abandoning a future fantasy star.

The silver lining to this early disappointment? Fantasy owners in need of corner-infield power should encounter less resistance—compared to two weeks ago—when trying to pry Hosmer away in trade talks.

Roundabout trade suggestion: 1-for-2 swap involving Derek Holland and Neil Walker.

2B/OF Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays

The fantasy pessimist would point to Zobrist's up-and-down production in the five main categories (two homers, six RBI, nine runs, zero steals, .227 batting) and claim that he's now an overvalued pick.

The fantasy optimist (me) would gush over Zobrist's dual-position eligibility and .393 on-base percentage (third-best amongst Rays regulars) and declare him a viable threat for 20 homers, 90 runs and 20 steals by season's end. 

Roundabout trade suggestion: 1-for-1 swap with Nelson Cruz or pitcher Yovani Gallardo.

2B Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

Altuve (.348 batting, five RBI, six runs, one steal) is a fascinating fantasy asset and great fun to watch on MLB Extra Innings. He also has a special knack for turning ground-ball outs into infield singles and getting the extra base in tight situations.

Here's my favorite stat: Of the major leaguers with zero homers and 25 at-bats, Altuve has the fifth-highest OPS (.902); and I'd only want one player ahead of Altuve from that group (Andrew McCutchen).

Roundabout trade suggestion: 1-for-1 swap involving Mike Moustakas or pitcher Ervin Santana.

SS Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

Please don't mistake Tulo's countdown inclusion as some invite to insult his fellow owners with a low-ball trade offer. Regardless of his early-season struggles (one HR, six RBI, eight runs, zero steals, .244 BA, .762 OPS), you'll still need a seismic two- or three-player offer to execute a blockbuster before the first Saturday in May (aka Kentucky Derby time).

Of course, if you roundly believe that a healthy Tulowitzki shall remain a lock for 28 homers, 97 RBI, 85 runs, 10 steals and a .300 batting average by Sept. 30...you'll gladly pay the going rate for a premium talent at a scarce position. He's also worth the task of replenishing your 12-team roster, via free-agent waivers. 

Roundabout trade suggestion: 2-for-3 swap involving Tulo/Carl Crawford for Adrian Beltre, Matt Cain and Adam Jones.

Outfielder Nick Markakis, Baltimore Orioles

Markakis might be a long shot to recapture his 2007 mojo (23 HRs, 112 RBI, 18 steals, .300 BA), but he's still an above-average asset at one of baseball's most deceptively thin positions.

His slow start (two HRs, five RBI, eight runs, .693 OPS) is largely the result of unflattering marks with batting average (.200) and OBP (.293), but that should hardly be a concern to fantasy owners who recall that Markakis averaged 186 hits from 2007-11.

Roundabout trade suggestion: 1-for-1 swap involving Dee Gordon or pitcher Cory Luebke.

Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, Cleveland Indians

Choo's batting average (.214) and slugging rate (.262) aren't anything to write home about it, but I have no concrete complaints about the other categories—which is exactly why Choo admirers should initiate an immediate trade play.

Bottom line: As long as Choo keeps his on-base percentage above .385 and strikeout-to-walk ratio in the vicinity of 1.5/1, he'll be an easy candidate for 20 homers, 20 steals, 85 RBI and 85 runs by season's end.

Roundabout trade suggestion: 1-for-2 swap involving pitcher Vance Worley and outfielder Torii Hunter.

SP Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals

Fantasy GMs, beware: Zimmermann's owners are going to want full value for him in trade talks, emphasizing the absurdly low totals in ERA (1.29), WHIP (0.71) and opponents' batting average (.181).

But there's an easy way to negate this process during trade negotiations, thanks to the always-distracting unbalanced offer, replete with popular names.

Roundabout trade suggestion: 1-for-2 swap involving Johan Santana, Jonathon Niese or Trevor Cahill and Alfonso Soriano.

SP Jake Peavy, Chicago White Sox

This may be the biggest risk of the countdown.

Yes, Peavy (2-0, 2.75 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 21/2 K-BB) has been superb in three outings, but most fantasy owners probably don't believe he'll notch 30 starts this season, given his age (30), semi-violent delivery and injury track record of recent years.

In trade talks, the best course of action might call for offering a productive hitter with a similar penchant for playing through pain. 

Roundabout trade suggestion: 1-for-1 swap involving Corey Hart.

SP Wandy Rodriugez, Houston Astros

The remarkably consistent Astro is a good bet for 12 wins, 180 strikeouts, 3.65 ERA and 1.29 WHIP pretty much every season, with strong numbers (1.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP) in three 2012 outings.

And yet, Wandy's fantasy owners are never entirely comfortable or appreciative of what they have.

The best move: Wait until Rodriguez has a one-game meltdown where he doesn't last past the first or second inning...and then be aggressive in trade talks. Just remember that he functions best as a No. 3 or 4 pitcher in 12-team leagues.

Roundabout trade suggestion: 1-for-1 swap involving Martin Prado.

SP Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox

Fantasy owners should keep an open mind when judging Sale's first-year conversion from reliever to starter.

Just three starts into his new role and Sale is acquitting himself just fine in Chicago's rotation (1-1, 3.09 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, .190 BA, 10/4 K-BB).

But make no mistake, there will be a few clunkers here and there, lending credence to Sale's availability on the trade market. He has the potential to be lights-out in strikeouts, ERA and WHIP. He also has the makeup of an ideal No. 5 or 6 starter in fantasy circles. 

Roundabout trade suggestion: 1-for-1 swap involving A's second baseman Jemile Weeks.

SP Jeremy Hellickson, Tampa Bay Rays

The sky's the limit for the reigning AL Rookie of the Year (2-0, 3.26 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, .213 BA, 9/10 K-BB), even though he doesn't have a firm handle on walks and WHIP yet.

But therein lies the secret to landing Hellickson for a modest price: Most fantasy owners may already be having draft-day remorse, falling prey to the collective hype of the Rays' rotation; and maybe, just maybe, they're formulating an exit strategy with a pitcher whose dominance in the minor leagues (2.71 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 634/137 K-BB) tends to get overlooked.

Roundabout trade suggestion: 1-for-1 swap involving Howard Kendrick or Chris Young (currently on the DL).