This week’s article is designed specifically for those in category leagues, which is the most popular format on this site. Managers who are noticing that their team falls short in a specific category each week may wish to use the trade market to shore up a weakness.
Here are some hitters that lack a well-rounded game but can move the needle in a specific category.
Advertisement
Home Runs
Colson Montgomery, SS, White Sox: Those who can stomach his .221 average can get some serious power from Montgomery, who has gone deep 38 times in 139 career games. The slugger maintains high rates of fly balls (49.1%) and pulled balls (53.4%), which simultaneously helps his odds of providing round-trippers and limits his chances to hit for average.
Byron Buxton, OF, Twins: After setting career-best marks in homers, RBI and runs last season while also swiping 24 bases, Buxton has taken a step back in the speed department this year. It’s not surprising, as his 24 steals in 2025 came on the heels of five straight seasons with a single-digit total. But his power skills haven’t waned at all, as he ranks third in baseball with 23 homers. Buxton ranks second in among qualified hitters with a 56.4% fly ball rate, which is a career-high mark.
Advertisement
RBI
Alec Burleson, 1B/OF, Cardinals: Managers who are looking for RBI can target Burleson, who ranks sixth in the majors in that category while serving as the No. 3 hitter in a lineup that has been more productive than expected. The veteran will produce a respectable homer total but is unlikely to blow far past his career-high mark of 21. And while he doesn’t provide many steals, Burleson will also chip in a helpful batting average.
Dillon Dingler, C, Tigers: Earlier this season, I was begging fantasy managers to add Dingler, who was showing signs of a breakout season. A few weeks later, those predictions have come true, as the 27-year-old ranks eighth in baseball in RBI. Dingler has shown tremendous skill improvements this season, and his walk rate, strikeout rate, average exit velocity and barrel rate are all career-best marks. He’s playing great, and his expected stats are even higher than his actual numbers. And in an unremarkable Tigers lineup, Dingler’s strong start has earned him some premium spots in recent lineups.
Advertisement
Runs
Ivan Herrera, C, Cardinals: Adding a catcher who is among the league leaders in runs scored is a great way to make a major leap in the category. Herrera has hit second in the Cardinals lineup for all of his 2026 plate appearances, which gives him a high floor when it comes to crossing home plate. Of course, it helps that the 26-year-old excels at getting on base, having logged a .396 OBP this season that is even better than his impressive .378 career mark.
Mookie Betts, SS, Dodgers: Betts is an interesting buy-low option for managers who are looking for R+RBI. The veteran is struggling this year (.632 OPS) to the point where many managers are willing to trade him away for cents on the dollar. There is certainly a chance that he won’t turn things around, but Betts has a terrific career résumé and has been impacted this year by injuries and a .189 BABIP. Hitting cleanup in the best lineup in baseball gives Betts many opportunities to be involved in run scoring. He just needs to hold up his end of the bargain.
Advertisement
Play Golf Pick ‘Em now to make your predictions for the U.S. Open!
Stolen Bases
José Caballero, 2B/3B/SS/OF, Yankees: Managers who need steals in deep leagues can add Nasim Nuñez, who ranks second the majors with 26 swipes. But Nuñez offers almost no help in other areas, and Caballero is a much better option as a premium base stealer who can make some other contributions. The utilityman led baseball in swipes last year and is playing every day while New York makes up for the absence of Aaron Judge.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs: Managers who are looking for plenty of category juice to go along with their steals acquisition could aim for Crow-Armstrong. The career .248 hitter won’t consistently help in the batting average category but with 45 homers and 51 steals since the outset of last season, he has one of the best power-speed combinations of any player. And after a slow start to the season, PCA has logged a 1.338 OPS in June.
Advertisement
Batting Average
Jung Hoo Lee, OF, Giants: In some shallow leagues, Lee can be scooped off the waiver wire. Those in deeper formats who need to address the category should be able to add the outfielder for a reasonable return, as he provides minimal contributions in other areas (3 HR, 3 SB). His contact skills are elite (9.5% strikeout rate), and not only does Lee rank second in baseball with a .331 average, but he also places second with a .317 xBA.
Luis Arráez, 1B/2B, Giants: Lee’s teammate is arguably an even better source of batting average. Sure, Arráez trails Lee in terms of his 2026 batting mark, but he is a career .317 hitter with a lifetime 5.9% strikeout rate that is the envy of every other player. There is an excellent chance that Arráez climbs to the top of the batting average rankings by season’s end.
