Fantasy: Trade off a hot player for established one

The trading frenzy commences in fantasy baseball around this time. One month is complete and we're getting a better sense of strengths and weaknesses. Then there are owners who exercise no patience. These are the ones to pounce on and try to pull a heist off by acquiring an established player for one off to a hot start who might not sustain it for the whole season. Here are some to buy and sell candidates.

BUY

Grady Sizemore (Indians, OF): For those counting on a Sizemore rebound, it hasn't happened so far. He even missed a few games because of a back injury. Even the most optimistic supporters might be ready to relinquish the hopes of Sizemore's return to the 20-20 days. Last season was a down year because of injuries. This is just a slow start for Sizemore, who has yet to homer and is batting .192 with eight RBIs and two stolen bases.

Josh Beckett (Red Sox, SP): Another awful April for the second consecutive season. Beckett has a 7.22 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and a 20/13 K/BB ratio and has allowed 37 hits in 282/3 innings. Last April, he had a 7.22 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and a 31/16 K/BB ratio in 282/3 innings and finished with 17 wins, a 3.86 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 199 strikeouts. The control is the biggest problem and he's throwing too many hittable pitches, but he should turn it around.

Cole Hamels (Phillies, SP): The lefthander is coming off a disappointing season in the wins and ERA department, although the peripherals show he pitched just as good as he did in 2008, but suffered some bad luck. It has continued into this season with a 5.28 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and seven home runs in 302/3 innings, including four in one game at Arizona. A 36/10 K/BB ratio and a high batting average on balls in play (BABIP) of .357 indicate better days are ahead.

Carlos Lee (Astros, OF): Lee has been one of the most consistent players with at least 24 home runs in 10 consecutive seasons, including at least 30 in five of the last seven. The one concern is Lee's strikeout rate has increased significantly, but he has hit a lot of balls hard right at people. His BABIP is an unlucky .222 and his line drive rate is an extremely low 9.5 percent. At 33 and with his weight, a lot of people might think he's going to have a steep decline, lowering the cost to acquire him.

SELL

Austin Jackson (Tigers, OF): Do not wait much longer because a steep decline is on the way. Jackson is off to a great start with a .330 average, 18 runs, one home run, seven RBIs and seven stolen bases. But a .492 BABIP, 34 percent strikeout rate and a 35.6 line drive can't be maintained.

Fausto Carmona (Indians, SP): The K/9 is still low and a 3.95 BB/9, .219 BABIP and 9.5 percent line drive rate show the 2.96 ERA is going up.

All statistics entering Friday.