Every marginal upgrade could be the difference between playoff contention and falling behind in your fantasy baseball league.
Finding low-cost trade targets is more valuable than ever. Smart fantasy managers know that stars win weeks, but depth and consistency win leagues.
If you’re looking to solidify your roster without gutting your assets, consider this trio of underrated performers who are quietly putting together elite seasons — and can still be acquired at a reasonable price.
Sometimes the best bullpen additions don’t come with flashy names or hefty trade prices.
Enter Tigers relievers Will Vest and Tommy Kahnle, a duo that has been nothing short of dominant in 2025.
Combined, they’ve racked up four wins, 13 saves, a sparkling 1.70 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 47 ²/₃ innings.
Those numbers rival elite closers, and yet neither pitcher is a household name.
If either Vest or Kahnle is on waivers, stop reading and pick them up now. But the real play here is to acquire both and plug them into your lineup daily.
Whether they’re splitting save opportunities or racking up holds and vulture wins, this tandem gives you high-leverage production at a bargain.
The Tigers have quietly been one of the hottest teams in baseball going back to late last season, providing steady late-inning chances.
If Vest and Kahnle are rostered by separate managers in your league, each should be acquirable for a mid-tier bat or a back-end starter.
If they’re on the same roster, the asking price may be a bit higher, but it is still a worthy investment given the volume and efficiency they provide in ratio categories and saves.
It isn’t often you find a player hitting over .300 with power and multi-position eligibility flying under the radar, but Jonathan Aranda of the Rays fits that mold perfectly.
He is slashing .315/.397/.503 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs, and thanks to Yahoo league settings, he qualifies at both first base and second base — a rare and valuable combo in today’s fantasy landscape.
Aranda doesn’t carry the hype of bigger names, but his production has been steady and his advanced metrics support the breakout.
With excellent plate discipline and a strong contact profile, he offers consistency in average and OBP leagues, while contributing solid counting stats in a potent Rays lineup.
Whether he is sitting on waivers or stashed on a deep bench, Aranda is exactly the kind of under-the-radar bat that helps you weather injuries, navigate off days and maintain positional flexibility.
He is also a great fallback option if you’re trying to replace a struggling middle infielder or first baseman on your roster.
As the trade market heats up, it is time to think strategically.
None of these players are going to cost you a top-100 asset, but all three could be difference-makers down the stretch.
Target them now, before the rest of your league catches on.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy baseball news and advice.