Debate Team - Is Now the Time to Sell Bryce Harper?

With a .256 batting average, and projected drops in homers, RBIs and runs, is now the time to sell Bryce Harper?

Josh Ghatak: Earlier in the year, we touched on Harper and his fantasy value compared to Manny Machado. With time having passed and the intentional walks a factor, Harper's fantasy value has slid further. Should he continue on his current path, Harper soon won't be worth even a top-10 pick. At this point, fantasy owners should look to trade him now and secure a more stable star.

Considering the players Harper was grouped with early on, seasonal owners could possibly look to options like Paul Goldschmidt, Mike Trout, Manny Machado, or Nolan Arenado. All of these options have outperformed Harper, while others like Clayton Kershaw and Jose Altuve are flying by him.

Josh Wegman: There's no doubt that Harper has underachieved this season, but now is definitely not the time to sell on him. It's unlikely an opposing owner would trade Arenado or Trout for Harper. If you dealt Harper for anyone below the elite tier of sluggers, you'd be selling him far too low.

Sure, he's hitting .333 over his last 33 at-bats, but that isn't a large enough sample size to swing a deal for one of the aforementioned sluggers. This current hot streak is nice, but everyone with any sense of baseball knowledge knows the former No. 1 pick is capable of much more. A much bigger return could be had down the road if Harper owners are willing to remain patient.

Ghatak: Admittedly, the phenom is capable of much more, but that doesn't mean he is going to deliver it. With the season's halfway mark coming up, fantasy owners either have to hope for a turnaround or look to another option that is currently providing the stats they deserve from a first-round pick.

While you will surely point to Harper's low BABIP and average, .252 and .254, respectively, as signs a turnaround is imminent, other stats like OBP, SLG, ISO fall much closer to his career marks. Furthermore, many of his batted ball stats also mirror career averages.

To me, the safest play is shipping Harper even if it is a slightly reduced price. Cut your losses and move on to a more reliable top-tier option.

Wegman: So tell me, what sort of return would be great enough to give up on Harper? Because like I mentioned before, you won't be getting an elite talent.

Imagine giving up on Harper for a hitter such as Kris Bryant, for example. Bryant is a great hitter, no doubt, but are his stats so much better than Harper's that you would be willing to pass up a potentially torrid second-half from last year's MVP? I don't think so.

Then there's the option of trading for a hitter with less pre-season hype, but who is enjoying a phenomenal season. Let's use Mark Trumbo for example. Trumbo leads the majors with 20 big flies, and his .285 average would be the best of his career. At 30-years-old, this has been by far the most productive season as a big-leaguer.

Fantasy owners need to remember that baseball is a ridiculously long season. Players can go through major ups and downs. Trumbo could easily fade down the stretch while Harper could return to his 2015-form.

When it comes down to fantasy playoffs in September, anything can happen. It's all about who has the hottest hitters at the right time. In that situation, you want Harper on your side, rather than a lower-caliber hitter who had slightly better numbers in mid-June.

Ghatak: A feasible return could also involve more than just one player. A possibility you seem to have overlooked. At this point, yes, Harper owners will have to expect lower quality players in return, but developing a one-for-two player swap would allow them to acquire high-level players capable of satisfying multiple categories.

To be specific, Harper owners can look for a replacement in the outfield and quality pitcher or infielder. Something along the lines of Starling Marte and Zack Greinke or Carlos Gonzalez and either Chris Archer or Johnny Cueto.

Ultimately, it seems quite reasonable to acquire two high-level players in compensation for Harper, and fantasy owners should take advantage of this window while they can.

Wegman: A two-for-one trade could work, but more often than not, the player sending out two players will likely want a second in return, especially if he is parting ways with an great hitter and a stud pitcher.

In the cases of Cueto and Greinke, their buy-low windows may have passed. Archer is an interesting option. He was showing signs of turning it around in early May, but has a 4.58 ERA over his last three starts. There's risk involved with the Rays ace, especially when you're sending Harper the other way.

With plenty of time left before most fantasy league trade deadlines, Harper owners are better suited to wait it out even longer until he goes on a torrid home run streak that we all know he's capable of. The worst case scenario is that you end up hanging on to Harper, who has a career OPS of .957 in the month of September - the second-best of his career.