Fantasy: 3 players to target in a trade

Every Tuesday, we examine three players you should consider targeting by trade in your fantasy league. Analysis based on standard 10-team, 5x5 formats.

We've turned the page on April and fantasy owners have now had an entire month to identify team needs and wants. It's impossible to win a fantasy pool in the first month of the season, but it's certainly possible to fall out of the running before summer.

Here are three players to consider making a deal for:

Josh Hamilton, OF, Texas Rangers

Don't be scared of Josh Hamilton's off-field issues and give him a chance to rebound. He's getting a fresh start in Texas and is beginning a minor-league rehab stint on the weekend in anticipation of returning to the majors in a couple weeks. Acquiring Hamilton is a high-risk, high-reward scenario, but it shouldn't take much to pry him away from other owners, and it's a reclamation project worth taking on. He may even be available on the waiver wire, which in that case is a no-brainer.

Alex Rodriguez has blossomed into a decent fantasy option after sitting out one year due to a suspension. That should give fantasy owners the inspiration required to at least test the waters with Hamilton, who hit 43 home runs and 128 RBIs in his last year with the Rangers back in 2012. 

Rehabbing Tommy John pitchers (Jose Fernandez/Matt Moore)

Acquiring a top-end hurler that can help you down the stretch is a proven winning strategy, and fantasy owners can begin implementing that game plan now by making deals for Jose Fernandez or Matt Moore.

Fernandez threw to live hitters for the first time last week, and although there's no official timetable, he's expected to be back by mid-June. Now's the time to pry this game-changer away before his value spikes closer to his return. The Miami Marlins righty has the ability to rack up wins and pile up strikeouts at an alarming rate to put any given fantasy team over the top.

Moore is the poor man's version of Fernandez, but he still holds upside value. The Tampa Bay Rays left-hander is ahead of schedule in his rehab process, and could rejoin the rotation in early June. Moore is a former 17-game winner, and shouldn't require as much in return as Fernandez.  

Brewers veterans

A fire sale is looming in Milwaukee and keen fantasy owners should be monitoring the situation. Veterans such as Aramis Ramirez and Matt Garza could see their fantasy value spike depending on where they land in a potential trade. The Brewers may even decide to deal some high-end players like Jean Segura or Carlos Gomez if their slide continues. Making a fantasy trade for one or more of these players now could pay huge dividends down the road if they're dealt to contenders with deep lineups.