If you’re using the Exchange feature in MLB The Show to turn excess cards into team-affinity points or program XP or complete missions, you need to be smart about which cards you're feeding into the fire. That’s where ShowZone becomes your best friend.
Tools on ShowZone to Use
To begin, head over to the Exchange Value Tool. This utility gives you a real-time look at how much each card is worth per exchange point in terms of stubs. The lower the stub-per-point ratio, the better the deal. You’ll want to filter by overall rating, tier (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond), and sort by “Stub per Point.”
Also, make sure you're paying attention to the market value of cards you're exchanging. If a card costs 100,000 stubs, it doesn't mean it exchanges for more than a 90-rated card worth 7,000.
Understanding True Exchange Value
Let’s get into the math. Each exchange tier has a defined total number of points required:
- Bronze → Silver: 500 points
- Silver → Gold: 1,000 points
- Gold → Diamond: 5,000 points
- Diamond → ??? (for example, Captain or TA exchanges): also 5,000 points
Now here's the catch—two 90-overall Diamonds (5,000 points each) are worth the same in the Exchange…but one might be quick-sell value on the market while the other is 100,000 on the marketplace.
The Real Exchange Rate
An ideal Exchange Value is around 2.0–2.5 stubs per point. If a Diamond card is selling for 10,000 stubs and yields 5,000 points, that’s 2.0 stubs/pt — great deal.
If you're using a 100,000-stub diamond for the same 5,000 points? That’s 20 stubs/pt. That’s not just bad — that’s a crime.
Tie-In with Other ShowZone Tools
Don’t sleep on the Collections Tracker or the Card Database. Use those to determine if a card you’re thinking of exchanging is part of a valuable set or has boost potential in Captain Mode. Sometimes it’s better to keep a card for its utility than to toss it into the fire.
Exchanging cards can be a huge time-saver in Team Affinity or program grinds—but only if you're maximizing your value. Use ShowZone’s tools to ensure you’re burning the right cards at the right cost.
Got a favorite low-key card you use for exchanges? Let us know in the comments!
Cory Wayne Dell
Cory has been writing about all things baseball and gaming since 2022 and has been featured at Operation Sports as well as cited by Forbes. Cory is also a multi-instrumentalist and founder of the band Cargocastle. Cargocastle's latest single, "Truth and Reconciliation," is available on Spotify and all major streaming platforms. Cory is also the author of Shadow of a Monster, a personal memoir currently seeking publication.
