The term “sell-high candidate” is often misconstrued in Fantasy Baseball. Some take this to mean, *“This player isn’t good, trade him immediately, but this perspective lacks nuance. A player can be performing well while also being a sell-high candidate, meaning they might not be as valuable as they currently seem.

Take Nathan Eovaldi, for instance. His current performance doesn’t scream sell-high; with a 2.03 ERA, it’s not alarming, but his 3.50 xERA shows room for concern. That’s only the 25th-best xERA among starters, especially when compared to names like Landen Roupp, Eduardo Rodriguez, Tyler Anderson, and JP Sears, all of whom may not sustain their performance.

Eovaldi has recently reshaped his pitching style, reducing his fastball usage to 29.6% and almost exclusively using secondary pitches now. His splitter and curveball have become key tools, allowing him to avoid the drop in efficiency that often plagues pitchers as the season progresses.

Here’s a look at Eovaldi’s first-half ERA over the last few seasons:

• 2024: 2.97
• 2023: 2.83
• 2022: 3.34
• 2021: 3.66

Despite this success, he remains a sell-high candidate due to historical patterns indicating his performances may not last. The metrics like xERA aim to highlight a pitcher’s true talent level amidst the noise of performance fluctuations.

Consider Eovaldi’s second-half ERAs:

• 2024: 4.81
• 2023: 7.18
• 2022: 4.91
• 2021: 3.87

While some seasons may see injuries affecting his performance, he generally struggles as the year goes on. His strong starts often lead to midseason declines, which could prompt Fantasy managers to consider trading him soon. However, patience may be warranted, especially if you need him in the short term.

Considering the current pitching landscape and Eovaldi’s draft position, it’s sensible to explore trade options, particularly with pitchers like Spencer Strider, who could be more reliable through the long season.