Fantasy baseball Trade Tips: Buy A-Rod, sell Diamondbacks closers

• Justin Verlander, Tigers: For two consecutive weeks, the Tigers' ace has been the most traded player in fantasy. Stop it, people. Just stop. Yes, he's given

Despite his recent issues, Alex Rodriguez can still be a valuable commodity within fantasy baseball :: Mike Stobe/Getty Images

• Justin Verlander, Tigers: For two consecutive weeks, the Tigers' ace has been the most traded player in fantasy. Stop it, people. Just stop. Yes, he's given up four or more earned runs in three of his last five starts. But look what happened: His ERA rose to an unsightly 3.71. Woe be unto the owners who have struggled to find a place on their fantasy teams for his 122 strikeouts in 119 innings, or sneered at the measly nine wins he has provided. Few players are able to avoid rough patches. Ride out this slump knowing Verlander is still the ace of a team headed for another deep playoff run.