Fantasy baseball: Its time to sell high on Jacob deGrom, Byron Buxton

Timing is everything in fantasy baseball, especially when it comes to making trades.Strong managers know when to buy low, but the savvy, elite ones who know when to sell high. Though it is tempting to hold onto a player riding a hot streak, long-term success often hinges on knowing when performance isn’t sustainable, or, in some cases, when history tells us a crash is inevitable. Two of MLB’s biggest stars, Byron Buxton and Jacob deGrom, should be considered the biggest “sell-high” names right now. Buxton is currently slashing .279/.345/.553 with 17 home runs and 13 stolen bases.

He is on pace for a 30-30 season, any fantasy manager’s coveted dream.But if you’ve rostered Buxton in the past, you know this ride doesn’t go on for much longer. The Twins outfielder already has been on the IL twice this season, and we’re only at the halfway point.

Over his 11-year MLB career, Buxton has played at least 100 games just twice.That isn’t a fluke, it’s a pattern. The tools have never been the issue.

Buxton has always had elite power and speed, and his defensive value keeps him in the lineup when he is healthy.But that’s the problem: He never stays healthy.

Even if you’re generally “injury agnostic” during draft season — a valid strategy given the randomness of injuries — it becomes a different calculation midseason, especially when a player’s past injuries have a clear and persistent track record. Buxton is giving you first-round production at a mid-round cost.That is your signal.

Package him in a deal for a more durable star — someone with less upside maybe, but far more week-to-week reliability.Your goal is to win in September, not reminisce about how great your roster looked in June. Trouble is brewing in Texas as well.

Jacob deGrom is back — sort of.He has a sparkling 2.08 ERA over 95 ¹/₃ innings, eight wins and is coming off a dominant June (1.41 ERA, 32 IP).

But let’s be clear: These are borrowed innings. He has...