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This is not buying or investment advice. I’m simply reporting the data I’m seeing. Please do your own research and make your own decisions. Just because cards have increased in value up to this point, it doesn’t mean they will continue to do so.
I’m getting all of this data from either the Market Movers or Card Hedge platform. These are not my platforms, I’m simply a user and affiliate of them. If you want to do your own research, you can grab a free trial to Market Movers with code BALLCARDGENIUS. You’d also get 20% off of your membership forever if you wanted to continue once your trial has been completed. You can also grab a free trial for Card Hedge as well.
These tools aren’t perfect; no tool is. I’ve seen instances where a graded card was being included in the raw numbers, which might cause a misleading spike in value. So trust, but verify.
The deadline is five days away. Every transaction has a ripple. A name gets traded and cards move because to many, a new uniform means a new opportunity.
The six cards below tell six different stories, and none of them are about the deadline exactly. They’re about what’s been happening in the box scores.
Also, I saw a couple more mentions of Conor Essenburg yesterday after Monday’s Hot Card Report feature. One to keep an eye on.
1. Sammy Stafura, Pirates Prospect
Still climbing. The 2025 Bowman #CPA-SS Chrome Prospect Auto for Sammy Stafura has seen now a 305% gain over the past 30 days, with the last sale hitting $20.50 on July 28th.
“Since June 14, the shortstop has produced a 1.236 OPS with 13 home runs and 14 stolen bases while continuing to show the defense and athleticism that have always driven his profile... whether the Pirates might consider moving him before the deadline.” Source
Published five days ago. Stafura leads all minor leaguers in July home runs, RBI and total bases. He leads all full-season minor leaguers in July slugging percentage at .982. Last Word On Baseball published a piece two days ago asking whether the Pirates should consider him a trade candidate, which tells you everything about how far his profile has come since the Ke’Bryan Hayes deal that brought him to Pittsburgh last summer.
Recent Sales (6/29/26 – 7/29/26):
30-day average: $13.75
Last sale: $20.50
30-day growth: +305%
2. CJ Abrams, Nationals
Finally getting some love? The 2019 Bowman’s Best #B19-CJA Best of 2019 Autograph for CJ Abrams has logged a 309% gain over the past 30 days, with the last sale hitting $30.69 on July 28th.
“They are not actively shopping him, but the Nationals will at least listen to offers for All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams... The Yankees have checked in on him and the Brewers are expected to do so as well. Abrams, 25, would fetch an enormous return given his breakout season and his team control through 2028.” Source
Published two days ago. Abrams leads all MLB shortstops in home runs (24), RBIs (76), slugging (.544) and OPS (.905) through 100 games. He’s posted a 1.092 OPS in 72 plate appearances in July alone. He was the NL’s starting shortstop in the All-Star Game.
Recent Sales (6/29/26 – 7/29/26):
30-day average: $24.92
Last sale: $30.69
30-day growth: +309%
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