The DL slot in many fantasy leagues is one of the most misused and misunderstood positions on fantasy baseball teams. For most people, it’s believed to be where the hopes and dreams of their teams like Mike Morse, Chris B. Young (or if you like your KFC version, it’s Krispie Young) and Jacoby Ellsbury go to die while you go stick your head in the proverbial oven…or the literal oven, depending on how much you’re into this game. For others, they see it for what it could and should always be used for: an empty bench spot. To put it in literary canonical terms, it’s not just there for Paradise Lost, it’s also there for Paradise Regained (PS, I was an English major in college. PSS, I didn’t read either, that is what Cliff’s Notes is for. PSSS, now don’t tell me how bad my grammar is as I only read Chaucer, I didn’t write it. PSSSS, don’t get an English degree, you won’t use it unless you plan on teaching or being homeless.). Not only can you sock away one of your already owned injured players here, you can also put your imagination to the test when your team is healthy and use the spot or spots for a big dive into the ‘what if?’ pool. Don’t get too wrapped up on the concept that the player may or may not come back successfully. That is not the point. The point is you don’t know what your team is going to look like in a week, a month or two months which means you don’t know if some guy that is on the DL could make an impact for your team when they come back. With that, let’s get started on the first batch of players that are less than 50% owned in ESPN, Yahoo and Fleaflicker leagues:
Lorenzo Cain (ESPN 5.9%/Yahoo 15%/Fleaflicker 29%): March Grey told you to buy him and now whenever this gets posted ONC is telling you to stash him if you can. He was recently sent to rehab which is worrisome. I didn’t think he was friends with Josh Hamilton *re-reads news blurb* Ah, he’s been sent on his rehab assignment to double-AA as of April 22nd and there is hope he’ll be back within a week. If your DL spot is lonely, give it a little Sugar!
Mike Carp (ESPN 1.7%/Yahoo 13%/Fleaflicker 16%): It’s hard to tell which Carp is going to show up at your door. Will it be the one pan-seared in butter with rosemary and thyme that gave us a .322 average and 8 homers from July through August of 2011 or will he be the September Carp that your cat found in your neighbor’s trash can and drop a .230 average on you while still hitting 4 bombs? And was that first analogy delicious or what? The power is real, the average should be about .270′ish and he should be back as soon as he demonstrates he can play something other than DH. Go Fish!
Freddy Sanchez (ESPN 0.4%/Yahoo 2%/Fleaflicker 2%): This one may be more of a deep league or NL-Only call, but all I can say is he can hit .300 while providing a decent amount of runs with little to no power nor speed. Wanna know who that reminds me of? Daniel Murphy, the guy who’s hitting .321 who has scored 5 runs and has a 0/0 in the homerun and stolen base department through 14 games and is owned at a 92.6% clip over at ESPN. You say poh-tay-toe I say tubers because I like being difficult. He is set to begin his rehab assignment on April 23rd. If you’re in need, there are worse things you can do to your middle infield than give it a Freddy Sanchez.
i agree, i had to make a drop/add in a league so I dropped a player, added Vmart, put him into my DL, and added another player i needed still.
I always try and use the DL if there’s something worth stashing there. If a couple of my players i value go down I’ll just drop vmart and DL them depending on the circumstances.
@Tony, Exactly. No reason not to use it if it’s open.
The following is my team, is there anyone worth dropping to pick up Cain? Normal 12 team league.
C
Miguel Montero
1B
Miguel Cabrera
2B
Ian Kinsler
3B
Ryan Zimmerman
SS
Dee Gordon
OF
Howie Kendrick
OF
Curtis Granderson
OF
Cody Ross
Util
Chase Headley
Util
Justin Morneau
BN
Adam Lind
BN
Brett Gardner (DL)
DL
Ryan Howard
Vance Worley
Bud Norris
Carlos Marmol
Frank Francisco
Fernando Rodney
Jim Johnson
Hector Santiago
Brandon Morrow
Jake Peavy
Madison Bumgarner
Anibal Sanchez
@Matt, You already have two guys on the DL. Let’s see how he comes back. I’d drop Ross for him if he’s playing well.
***Insert Jason Bay to the DL***
@The Chew, and Nieuwenhuis owners rejoice!
@The Chew, and people who missed on out Nieuwenhuis are dismayed.
@Oregon Nut Cups, still might be a chance to grab Torres if he is sitting on the wire/DL purgatory. With Bay hobbled, Torres has at least a shot at getting time there when he comes back. Considering the flying Dutchman has had some adventures in CF I see him sliding to LF upon return of Torres.
@bean, No arguments here. I didn’t want to bombard everyone with a million choices but trust me, Torres was on my list of ideas.
I have Freddy stashed on my DL (bench) and I have Manny Buriss as his stand-in. One thing that is difficult with the DL spot is when someone like Freddy comes back, do you automatically let Manny go knowing that Fragile is one stubbed toe or sinus infection away from the 60-day DL?
In a 12+ team NL-only league this becomes a very interesting issue with so much crap on the wire at 2B/SS.
*Watched Freddy in San Jose last night and his swing was back. He at least is trusting his shoulder for batting. He DH’d only but is going to play 2B later this week. Really think he is going to be at the back end of that 20 day limit to come up to SF. In his exciting post game single-A interview he was not overly confident about throwing a baseball.
@bean, Good question. I think how Manny plays will determine how aggressive they are in bringing Sanchez back. So far, so good for Manny. I’m assuming he’ll taper and at that point, you won’t have too much of an issue on your hands.
Never good to hear lack of confidence in being able to throw the ball, though.
Thanks, ONC, now I’m hungry! Any love for Latos tonight at home vs SF? I’m inclined to bench until he strings a few QS together.
@shibboleth, haha.
Considering the rough start, I wouldn’t blame you if you benched him. SF offense has been suprisingly ok so far.
Like the article, but Sanchez has no speed, no power, and won’t score enough runs to help a fantasy team.. Empty average
@Dave, As ONC said, that sounds like a description of the 92% owned Daniel Murphy too…
@A Hill O’ Beans, I am NOT pro Murphy, but he does hit 40 points higher and qualifies at 3 positions
@Dave, He hits 40 points higher NOW. Career .294 hitter, Sanchez career .297 hitter. Like I said, poh-tay-toes and tubers.
Is it just me, or is it impossible to add DL-d guys straight to the DL in ESPN? I just traded Crawford & have an open DL spot. So I’d be happy to pick up Bay & stash him on the DL in case I end up needing him later. But I’d have to drop somebody, then add Bay, then DL Bay, then hopefully re-pick up whoever I dropped?
@BERK, You have to drop to grab. Lot of people have pitching stream options and you can make the move then. Definitely don’t drop someone you actually want/need to grab a DL guy but when it comes time to make a move, might as well add two for the price of one.
@Oregon Nut Cups, Got it. Thanks!
Should I trade Nelson Cruz for Desmond Jennings+Sweets in a keeper league where you get to keep people forever with no questions asked?
@tony, I’d take Desmond Jennings over Cruz in and of himself in a keeper. Love Cruz, hate the hamstrings so yes.
freese or AROD rest of season?????
@mike, Both injury risks, A-Rod the more likely to hit 30 HRs so A-Rod for me.
What say you about Brett Anderson? I had him stashed on my DL but had to drop him for a live body once my entire team decided to get hurt (Krispie & Hudson, with Morse already parked on my DL).
@stumanji, I’m there with you. Same thing happened to me only it was Morse, BJ Upton and Baker (who is now dead to me).
I wanted to follow up on him in the next post but I do like him as an end of season play.
@Oregon Nut Cups, Ah yes, I wasn’t even counting BJ Upton and Baker (for whom I traded Broxton 2 days before Baker’s end of season surgery was announced) who were both occupying active roster spots during this injury parade…
@stumanji, Ugly start. Let us both hope for a beautiful finish.
would u trade cuddyer and billinsgley for Luebke?
@ryan, Giving too much to get Luebke.
You should add Carlos Quentin and Stephen Drew to your list.
@Jack, I didn’t want to put too many of them up and overwhelm. I’d like this to be a bit more regular, closer to monthly. Maybe there’ll be time in the scheduling of these for a part two next week. We’ll see.
I’ve been carrying the albatross that is Kyle Farnsworth on my DL along with Chase Utley in the other. Then Krispie went down and I tried to hold onto all three. Now Krispie will be on the shelf longer than I expected.
One of my two UTIL’s in this relatively deep Yahoo league is Brendan Boesch, which has been trying to say the least. Ackley is manning second.
This morning I cut Utley and Ackley and picked up Nate Schierholtz (over Nieuwenhuis) and grabbed Altuve. What do you think of these moves?
@John, Depending on league size, I probably would’ve looked for trade partner with Ackley but definitely don’t blame you for dropping Utley. Schierholtz is a hot schmomato. I’d probably prefer Nieuwenhuis long term, especially with the fresh DL stint for Bay. I like Altuve, just think maybe Ackley had more trade value than simply dropping him outright.
@Oregon Nut Cups, I would tend to agree about Ackley and trade value, but it seems like a hassle in this league. I’ll revist picking up Kirk or maybe keep Nate and grab Kirk so I can create the Schierwenhuisholtz.
@John, Ha, sounds like a delicious dutch/german sausage
Damn… shoulda added one o’ them cripple closers before I picked up bard yesterday! Good call.
who do you like for a stash – storen or santos? I like storen but santos has the advantage of coming back sooner / being in better game shape.
@Kaiser Soze, I like Santos for the reasons you mentioned.
Pls rank these for a spot start H2H pts:
Nicasio v PIT
Volquez v WAS
Arrieta v OAK
@EK, Nicasio the best of the three. Volquez a slight advantage as it’s a home start over Arrieta.
Or what the #16 commenter said. Silly ONC!
Nicasio the best of the three. Volquez a slight advantage as it’s a home start over Arrieta.
And when one has both Ellsbury and Young gone to DL, replaced by best I can, Reddick and Duda, I find myself slipping in the ECFBL. Gonna be a rough 3 weeks.
@Dave the PSYCHOTOAD!, That’s rough man. Not trying to make it worse but I’d be surprised if you have Krispie back in 3 weeks.
Just wanted to compliment you for being very responsive. Good shi$#t; ugh – I mean stuff!
@Peter, I don’t mind if you call it shi$#t just as long as it’s proceeded by ‘good’. Thanks!
Trade just got accepted. What do you think?
Giancarlo Stanton
Heath Bell
I Got:
Robinson Cano
@Chris, I would not have made that trade but I’m not sold on Cano as 1st round value.
@Chris, i’d much rather have robby cano, landslide imo, 1)sagnof 2) i know there’s mad stanton love here, but with the bulky knee and the fact he might hit .250? Cano all day, good trade.
@Chris, I like it for you too. Stanton’s value is about as low as it’s gonna get, and you didn’t even have to sell him for 50c on the dollar. Even if you don’t think Cano is 1st round value like ONC, there’s always somebody that does so you could flip Cano for a real 1st rounder if you wanted.
@stumanji, Thanks for the responses guys. I’m happy with it.
drop LIND or LaRoche for Cody Ross?
@Tony, Assuming you’re going with hot schmomato of the week, I’d roll with Ross over LaRoche.
@Oregon Nut Cups, thanks, i hate dropping Lind, so i’ll go with LaRoche, im sure he’ll be there if he gets hot again i’ll just have to snap him back up….
@Tony, NP and agreed.
Oregon when do you think rizzo gets the call to the show and is he worth a stash in 12 team leagues?
@mikey boy324, I assume this isn’t a keeper? I don’t think there’s a huge rush just yet but if you have room there’s never a reason not to; just don’t be surprised if you drop him in 2 or 3 weeks. LaHair has been steady and Rizzo has put up video game numbers in the minors before. I’d still think June so you have time if you want to stash him later.
@Oregon Nut Cups, actually it is a keeper league however you can only keep 1 offensive player and one pitcher does that change anything?
@mikey boy324, I think you should just watch and wait at this point.
Who do you like better? Cain or kennedy?
Is cain and rickie weeks too much for kennedy?
@moses, I’m no expert but I like Cain more. He’s the definition of consistency. Sub 3 ERA, Sub 1.15 WHIP, bout 175 Ks. Only thing has been his run support. People say I’m crazy but I like him more than Lincecum.
@moses, I like Cain more. Either way, you’re spending too much to get Kennedy.
Trade offered to me: Kinsler for my Bumgarner/Rafael Betancourt. Take it or leave it?
@Brian, Kinsler is the most talented player in the deal. If you can bare with losing the other two, it’s a good deal for you.
I have Utley clogging my DL in one league and Howard in another, and I’m a Mets fan oddly enough.. the Utley league I’m holding only b/c Aviles is my guy and all of the Kelly Johnson, Aaron Hill 2bs seem to be rostered (12 team yahoo league)….But this post is mostly regarding Howard. Just traded for Farnsworth so moved him to my DL. Now I’m playing survival of the unfittest at first base with Morneau, Ike Davis, and Ryan Howard. Out of those 3 first baseman, which would you drop? 10 team ESPN league, comptetive money league $125 entry $2 per waiver add (I already have almost 20 adds – added Bauer for Ervin Santana tonight)…what to do at first base please help…thanks.
@Ben, Ooph, that’s quite the unholy trinity. I’d probably drop Howard. Given that it’s a 10 team league, there’s only so many people you can hold on to. At least Morneau isn’t on the DL; only thing going for him over Howard in my opinion.
Would you trade Bruce and Darvish for Votto and Rasmus?
@pwire, Votto is the best player in the deal and Darvish is the wildcard. Depends on needs, but I’d probably take it.
@ Nut :
it’s been a long time since i was in school , and i’m aware that
history has changed , but , when did post-post-script (pps) become pss ??
here’s a dl move that you may , or may not , enjoy :
recently added bret anderson and dropped jorge de la rosa .
not because i like anderson (‘cuz i don’t) nor do i think that he’ll return
before jdlr (because he won’t) , but ,
because i don’t think that jdlr will be effective , when he returns , and
i want some else to roster him !
except for all of the pssssss’s ….. nice article .
and your approach to fbb remains solid .
@chata, I told you not to belittle me for my grammar! Of The Rose was wild before and he’ll be even more so when he comes back. I like Brett and almost included him in the list. Maybe he makes the next one. TBD.
Postscript, thanks. I like to think of myself as the A’s hitter of fantasy baseball. I don’t do much great, but at least provide a good OBP.
Someone just dropped Giancarlo Stanton in my yahoo league!!!! Nooooooooooo!!! My waiver pick is #11!!! Damn!!
@LuigiBall, Whoever dropped Stanton should be dropped from the league. It’s a moral imperative.
I’ve a got some combo, and in some cases all three, of Dice-K, Brett Anderson and Jorge Dela Rosa on the DL. Just as in the real game so too in fantasy, and so one can never have enough pitching.
@Slappy, Yup, agreed.
Which side do you like (10team, 6×5 [OPS xtra cat.]):
Pence and Hellickson for Ian Kennedy and BJ Upton
Thanks!
@Black Beard, Kennedy/BJ
Someone is offering Ellsbury for my Ryan Howard in a 12 team keeper. Any idea how long Jacoby will be out?
@Ro Bauti, I think the initial review was about two months. However, in a keeper I’d take Ellsbury. Howard isn’t really young and who knows how he’ll come back.
Other owner in my league agreed to the below trade:
I give: Kendrys
I get: Heyward
Then after I sent the offer; he says “On paper it doesn’t feel right for me”. His starting 1B is currently Ike and really has no power at CI/UTL. so, needless to say I’m slightly upset. Still, I’d like to get Heyward (especially in an OPS league). He’s now asking me to throw in a SP. here’s my rotation; which would be a fair player to add to the deal:
Price
MadBum
Gio
Zimmerman
Minor
Drabek
Bass
Detwiler
Or should I simply say forget it?
@Scottie O., It’s interesting that he liked that deal straight across the board in the first place. Because he was, I wouldn’t try any of the 4 at the top of that list. Try Minor or Drabek and see if he bites.
@Rudy
Is it time to give up on Soto? 12 team H2H with deep, 8 man benches. Ruiz, Hundley. Meseraco, Salty, Suzuki are available. Any worth adding in Soto’s place while I wait for Wilin Rosario?
@Howie Met Your Mother, Sorry, Howie, I’m no Rudy but your upside for him is probably his 2011 line. It’s useful, but not very pretty. If you feel the need to make a move, I’d try a trade first to someone and then pick up Mesoraco. Keep your eye on Ryan Lavarnway for Boston as well. Say hi to my moms for me.