Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal opinions and experiences. I am not sponsored by Arena Club, and this is not financial advice. Always make your own informed decisions when trading or purchasing sports cards.

Every collector loves the thrill of making a big trade, and I just made one that I’m excited to share. This time, I acquired a Josue De Paula 2023 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto Refractor /499 (graded Arena Club 9, Auto 10). De Paula is one of the Dodgers’ most exciting prospects, and I believe this card has major long-term upside. Here’s the breakdown of the deal and why I made the move.

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What I Received

• Josue De Paula 2023 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto /499 (Arena Club 9, Auto 10)

Why Josue De Paula?

• De Paula is currently ranked by MLB.com as the Dodgers #3 prospect, behind only Roki Sasaki and Dalton Rushing. At just 19 years old, he’s already shown impressive plate discipline, raw power, and a strong hit tool – traits that make him one of the most exciting young bats in the Dodgers’ system. Given the Dodgers’ reputation for developing their minor league talent, I see De Paula as a high-upside prospect with significant long-term potential.

RECENT COMPS

• There have been a number of recent sales of this exact card, with the last 3 PSA 9 sales being for $125, $150, and $175.

CARD CEILING: HOW HIGH COULD THIS CARD GO?

• To get a sense of the best-case scenario for De Paula’s card value, I looked at Bowman Chrome Auto /499 sales of more established young stars:
  • Bobby Witt Jr. 2020 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto Refractor /499 (PSA 9): Sold for $1449 on 1/11/25.
  • Elly De La Cruz 2022 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto Refractor /499 (PSA 9): Sold for $800 on 1/11/25.
• While Witt and De La Cruz are already superstars, these sales highlight the potential upside if De Paula reaches his full potential.

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What I Gave Up

• Ethan Salas / Samuel Zavala 2023 Bowman’s Best Dual Auto /25 (PSA 9)
• Bryce Harper 2011 Bowman Chrome Prospect (BGS 9)
• Jackson Holliday 2023 Panini Father’s Day Holo /199 (Arena Club Gem Mint 10)
• Aaron Judge 2020 Panini Prizm Star Gazing Blue Mojo Prizm /175 (PSA 10)
• Ronald Acuña 2021 Panini Select White /50 (Arena Club 9.5)

Thoughts on the Cards I Traded Away:

1. Salas / Zavala Dual Auto:
   This was the toughest card to part with. I’m high on Ethan Salas, but as a catcher, his long-term value is questionable, even if he becomes a star. Zavala’s prospect stock has also cooled recently, making me unsure of how well this card will hold value over time. Despite how cool the card is, I was willing to move it to finalize the deal.
   • Recent Sales: PSA 9: $81, Raw: $119
2. Harper (2011 Bowman Chrome Prospect):
   Harper’s a generational talent, but this wasn’t a long-term hold. I would have preferred to keep it, but it wasn’t a dealbreaker.
   • Recent Sales: PSA 9: ~$30
3. Panini Baseball Cards (Holliday, Judge, and Acuña):
   These are all great players, but Panini’s lack of MLB licensing limits their long-term appeal and value. Since I generally don’t collect unlicensed cards, I was comfortable including them in the trade.
   • Comps: Hard to pinpoint exact comps due to lack of demand for unlicensed Panini baseball cards

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My Thoughts

Planned Hold Time: I’m prepared to hold this card for at least 3 years, waiting to see how De Paula develops.

Trade Value: I may have given away slightly more total value than I received, but I believe I got the best card in the deal.

Trade Grade: I’d grade this trade as a B+. Prospect dual autos rarely hold their long-term value unless both players break out, and De Paula is a talent I truly believe in.

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What Do You Think?

What do you think of the trade? Do you think I got a good deal, or would you have held onto the dual auto? Let me know in the comments and share your own recent trades!

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Check out the card on my Arena Club showcase here!