stldogget05 wrote:
First let me say that this site is fantastic. I love the daily blog posts.
Now onto my question I am looking for 6 keepers out of this group for next year. I have a lot of upside players so I am having a tough time deciding who to settle on.
C: Dioner Navarro
1B: David Ortiz
2B: Brandon Phillips
3B: Evan Longoria
SS: Jimmy Rollins
OF: Nick Markakis
OF: Corey Hart
OF: Pat Burrell
UTL: Alexei Ramirez
BN: Edwin Encarnacion
BN: Chris Davis
BN: Hunter Pence
SP: Josh Beckett
SP: John Lackey
RP: Kevin Gregg
RP: Brian Fuentes
P: Joba Chamberlain
P: Javier Vazquez
P: Matt Garza
BN: Dave Bush
BN: Aaron Cook
BN: Greg Maddux
BN: Salomon Torres
BN: Fernando Rodney
This is a simple snake draft with no salary or anything like that. Thanks for the help. Obviously on the offense you have to consider Rollins, Phillips, Longoria, Hart, Markakis, and even Ramirez (though I am not sure where his eligibility will be next year). Then on the pitching side it's really up to Beckett, Lackey and Chamberlain. So that's nine players to get down to six.
I think you absolutely have to hold Rollins, Markakis, Phillips, Hart and Longoria, in that order. These are 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, 4th and 5th round selections respectively that are all young with much upside.
Then I think you have to remove Beckett. He's great, but he has too many injury concerns.
So that leaves us with Alexei, Lackey and Joba. I think this is has to go for Lackey. Joba's dealing with injuries and who knows if or when he'll be able to go a complete season as a starter. Maybe next year, maybe not. Alexei looks tremendous and I'm sold on him. Also, Alexei will have 2nd base eligibility so that shouldn't a be a concern, but I still think you should chuck him back. He's not the difference maker someone like Lackey is. Now I don't know when your keepers are due by, but if they're due some time in the winter I'd hold off on Lackey to see how many innings he racks up in the postseason because that's a slight concern. Just hope Lackey gets bounced in the first round of the playoffs.
Hope this helps.
