I know I used a similar open a few updates ago, but dayum! Next week we’ll be over 100 games into the season! That’s right, I plagiarized myself. Is that in fact plagiarization?! Is it bad I had no idea plagiarize had that first “i” in there?! I can’t even plagiarize the word plagiarize!
The NL continues to be a boring domination by the Nationals, who keep adding younger and sexier talent somehow. Their Minor League system is some sort of oligarchy. Don’t know if I’m using that term correct, I never studied for History class… At least the AL is much more interesting, with the Blue Jays in the driver’s seat with the surging Tribe moving into second. The Orange Birds, who led for most of the season in the AL, are still clearly in the mix, as are the Red Sox and Astros with over 100 points. Here’s how weeks 15-16 went down in the 2016 REL League:
| NATIONAL LEAGUE | ||
|---|---|---|
| REL Dynasty – NL | ||
| Nationals | 138 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $100 | Chris Withrow Atl – RP $0 |
| The real life Nationals have been moving minor leaguers in and out of their major league roster (Lucas Giolito, Trea Turner, Reynaldo Lopez, etc.), over the last couple weeks forcing us to juggle our NA spots on our roster. Trade rumors have been swirling as the Yankees were in town to see Reynaldo Lopez in his debut. The trade deadline should be interesting for us.With the waiver wire limited, we continue to add/drop relief pitching, adding Chris Withrow and dropping JJ Hoover. Fortunately, our team remains comfortably in first place so there aren’t too many holes to fill. [editor’s note – that’s what she said] | ||
| Cubs | 112.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $96 | Jeimer Candelario ChC – 3B (called up) |
| San Fran Giants | 112 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $81 | n/a |
| J.T. Marlin | 98 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $100 | n/a |
| Suplex City Cards | 97.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $79 | Greg García StL – 2B,3B,SS $3, Jason Motte Col – RP $2, Dustin McGowan Mia – RP $1 |
| Pirates | 95.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $60 | n/a |
| Mookie Mets | 80 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $95 | Gabriel Ynoa NYM – SP $0 |
| Dodgers | 77.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $100 | n/a |
| Knoche’s Rockies | 76.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $59 | Darío Álvarez Atl – RP $2 |
| Well I am officially on coast mode for the year. Made a last trade to hopefully bolster my pitching staff for 2017 getting Aaron Wilkerson in a 3 team deal and giving up Raimel Tapia. The 2017 starting pitching staff is shaping up as follows:
Jorge de la Rosa Pairing that with my Rockies starting lineup should give me a chance to compete for a top spot in 2017. Having already traded Carlos Gonzalez I am hoping that when he gets moved that David Dahl gets his spot in 2017 and not Tapia (Sorry JB), but only time will tell. Overall I should finish in 7th or 8th so I am fairly happy with that considering I have had no starting pitching staff for most of the season. |
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| Diamondbacks | 70 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $72 | Alex Dickerson SD – OF $3 |
| Philadelphia | 62 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $46 | n/a |
| Cincinnati Reds | 59.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $5 | Carlos Frías LAD – SP NA $0 |
| Brewers | 42.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $40 | Will Middlebrooks Mil – 3B $0, Andrew Toles LAD – OF $7, Jacob Barnes Mil – RP $0, Ryan Schimpf SD – 2B,3B $1 |
| Man, despite my best efforts, I just keep wanting to buy guys off the wire and overspending. The NL has had some stingy pocketbooks this year, but I still have $40 left which I hope to save until September. My big buy was Andrew Toles, who just looks awesome. Yes – he’s in a crowded mix of blah on a win-now Dodgers team, but he has a pretty gap-to-gap lefty swing and like, 50 steal speed if he played every day. He stole 62 in Rookie Ball in 2013, and has hit well over .300 going through the Minors. He’s an interesting story – kicked off a college team, suspended from another, and even as a very toolsy guy, basically kicked out of the Rays system. He started working at a grocery store for a few weeks, then decided “F this” The Wrestler style, and came back with a vengeance this year. All that and he just turned 24, with the Dodgers raving about him re-making himself. He flashed some sexy speed in center, and I don’t think it would be outlandish to see him play a ton next year in CF and move Joc to a corner spot. Toles has some ridiculously low K rates through the Minors with decent BB rates – leadoff man down the road? Maybe…
I was really surprised that this Detlef Schrempf guy, I mean Ryan Schimpf, lasted on the wire this long. I had pretty low interest given he’s 28 and finally getting to the Majors now (and had some awful AVG seasons in the Minors), but he hit well in AAA this year for a new team and maybe the Pads helped him make a minor tweak. He’s got power, so maybe I luck into a keeper here. The biggest thing for me this week is I got another player I absolutely coveted. I lovvvveeee Raimel Tapia. I think this guy is gonna be mad special. Like Toles, he has hit for a high average all through the Minors (except like .330ish), has a little more power, and maybe a little less speed. Yes – a knock is he has been CS a lot, but I think you can teach some base running instincts and you can’t teach speed. I finally get a Rockies hitter, and since I live in a Hitter’s Park as well, getting one with speed is going to be fun as I should have innate power through the Brewers prospects I bring up. I really could see this guy going .300 15 HR 40 SB one year. An OF in 2019 of Tapia and Victor Robles, mixed in with my Brewers (like hopefully Corey Ray) will be funnnnn to watch. To get Tapia though, I did have to painfully part with Zach Davies. Yes – I know velocity isn’t everything – but I feel like there’s a better chance the league adjusts harder to him than the other way around as his career moves on. I think he’ll end this season strong, but I don’t need stats right now. Speaking of not needing stats, I still want to rave a little about the bullpen I’ve put together. Since July 9th, I’ve gotten 20 innings with a 0.45 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 25 Ks. Yes, only 3 SV+HLD, but did get 2 wins and I own Brewers/Phillies/Rockies who are all awful right now, hurting the SV+HLD opps. All my guys are young, and while bullpens change frequently, I’ve pieced together a good set of RP after trading 4 other RP already as well. My rebuild continues to get more and more exciting. Chris Paddack hasn’t skipped a beat since getting traded to SD (Paddack/Espinosa 1/2 for the Padres rotation in the future looks saucy), Brock Stewart continues to mow down the PCL with high K rates, Oscar De La Cruz is finally back after having some arm issues and looked dominant in his second start (4.0 IP 0 ER 2 H 1 BB 7 K), and finally a home-grown lower minors guy is looking sharp, with Cody Ponce a name that I think will start getting more and more thrown around. He had a 6 inning 12 K:0 BB performance a few starts ago in A+, and has 41:7 K:BB in 36 innings. I’ve heard Alex Reyes might be OK too… Fear me in 2019! Fear me! |
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| Jay the Wrongest | 39.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $100 | n/a |
| Braves | 39 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $84 | n/a |
| AMERICAN LEAGUE | ||
|---|---|---|
| REL Dynasty – AL | ||
| Blue Jays | 125.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $92 | Chase Whitley TB – SP $0, Odrisamer Despaigne Bal – SP,RP $0 |
| Here we are, still hanging on in first place. It seems to have turned into a 3 team race in the AL now with the Tribe moving into 2nd and the Orioles right there with them in 3rd. I think this thing is gonna be close right down to the wire.Hitters gonna hit, at least my guys are. Naquin continues to bomb, and most of my Jays continue to mash as well. The pitching staff is still holding strong. I’m also getting some guys back from injury to hopefully give me a boost with Estrada coming off the DL tomorrow and Bautista after the weekend apparently. Which is creating a bit of a roster jam at the moment. I got a surprise yesterday as the MLB Mariners traded away my Mike Montgomery to the Cubs, and brought me back the rather large Dan Vogelbach, and Paul Blackburn to boot. That Vogelbach kid can crush the ball, like Prince Fielder/Kyle Schwarber crush the ball. It doesn’t hurt that he walks a ton too as he’s got a .400+ OBP in AAA. Nice!
I would have really liked to get my hands on Ryon Healy when he went through waivers last night. I did some research and put in my $24 bid, feeling pretty good about it. I figured I would have the top bid (or very close to it) as long as someone didn’t go crazy for him, and if they did I was (grudgingly) okay with missing him since I am in a bit of a roster crunch anyway. With $52/$47 bids for him though I’m pretty happy I didn’t outbid everyone to get him. I’ll console myself with my M’s/Cubs trade haul and getting Bautista/Estrada back off the DL I guess. Oh, and I’m looking to move one of my big league NA guys if anyone is interested. Mason Williams, Jorge Bonifacio, and Kaleb Cowart are available for either some speed, starting pitching, or a farm player. Hit me up with an email. |
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| The Tribe | 119.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $79 | Joe Colon Cle – RP $0, Jason Castro Hou – C $0 |
| Well the steady climb has continued. We are up to 119.5 points and in second place. It’s no surprise that the climb has mirrored my climb in the S/H category. We have gone from last to tied for 10th since our trade for Chapman. I hope he stays in the American League or brings a fantastic return. If he goes to the National League I will be in the market for a closer. It looks like I’m going to start getting a return from a trade earlier in the season where we pick up Bedrosian. The word is he is going to start getting 8th inning work and if/when Street get’s moved hopefully he moves into the 9th inning role.All of my prospects are available but it will take a very good deal for Frazier. We are willing to discuss deals now and have framework of deals put together but I don’t see me making any moves till I see what the Indians do. It’s not very often that Cleveland is a buyer so I’m curious to see who they bring in. There is a very good chance we will be in the market for a late inning reliever and a bat (either a catcher, OFer, or 3rd baseman). If you are selling and have any of these guys for trade get with me and we can start to talk names.
I’ll discuss anybody but Lindor and my starting staff but here are some names “on the block”: Clint Frazier |
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| Orange Birds | 116 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $79 | Chris Giménez Cle – C $0, Justin Morneau CWS – 1B $0, Anthony Swarzak NYY – RP $0 |
| This is fine… is what I would say if everything was fine, but it unfortunately is not. The Orioles bats have cooled off post ASB, and a third of my hitters are currently DTD. Handicapped by the fact I am last in steals, and stupidly did not pay for some earlier, I doubt I win the league this year. However, you never know and that is why you play the season out. Speaking of things I do not know, I did not know that one team would bid $52 on Ryon Healey. I assumed my bid of $21 would be at least somewhat close, but I should have seen it coming. I also should have seen my best, injury plagued prospect, Hunter Harvey, getting hurt again before I could trade him. If anyone is still interested, let me know especially if we find out some good news on his condition. My only hope is the MLB Orioles make moves by the trade deadline and they somehow improve my team. Despite the recent negatives, I am still having fun running my first dynasty league teams!I need to make some trades if I want to win the league this year. Please reach out to me if you are looking to sell. | ||
| Red Sox | 106 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $22 | n/a |
| Astros | 101.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $55 | Jett Bandy LAA – C $0 |
| There isn’t a whole lot to write about this week since all I’ve been doing is treading water, so instead I’ll rant a bit about Roto. So with about 10 weeks left in the year there are a grand total of 4 teams even attempting to win, and as such trading for prospects is just about over. The Jays are actually looking to add prospects, the Os only have 1 and he’s multiple years away, and perpetually injured, the Tribe has a one good one left but needs to be blown away to move him, and the Rox have already traded all their top prospects away. So the next 11 teams are all looking to sell ‘win-now’ types for prospects but as I just said that market has more or less come and gone.What I think is going to start happening is mediocre 30+ year olds are going to start hitting free agency since you can no longer get a prospect for them in a trade. For instance I dropped Jason Castro since I wasn’t going to keep him and went a little younger with Jett Bandy. Also I have Mike Fiers who hasn’t been good at all. He has some value but quite literally to only 1 or 2 teams. If this was H2H then there would be another 6 teams well within striking distance and potentially looking to add ‘win-now’ types, hell 2 of those teams would already be considered playoff teams!
With that said Roto leagues seem to be far less about how well you manage your team and more about how well your team manages you. It’s OK I guess but the biggest takeaway for me is in order to trade for prospects next year it’s going to have to happen in April or May or else odds are that team won’t be looking to move any prospects in July even if they’ve got 100+ points and languishing in 5th place. |
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| Tigers | 94.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $43 | Mike Pelfrey Det – SP $5, Dustin Molleken Det – RP $0, J.B. Shuck CWS – OF $4 |
| Mariners | 82.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $20 | n/a |
| White Sox | 77.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $84 | Carson Fulmer CWS – SP (called up) |
| Halos | 71 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $47 | n/a |
| Yankees | 71 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $59 | n/a |
| Power Rangers | 62.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $12 | Jason Vargas KC – SP $3, Ryan Cook Sea – RP $3, Ryon Healy Oak – 3B $52 |
| Rays | 61 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $4 | n/a |
| Royals | 55.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $59 | José Leclerc Tex – RP $1, Brooks Pounders KC – RP $1, Donnie Hart Bal – RP $0 |
| Big news was the inter-league trade of Pomeranz to the BoSox for top pitching prospect, Espinoza. Net result to my REL team is that I lost Espinoza, aka “Little Pedro”, from my farm team, but I pick up Pom. Problem with owning prospects of real-life franchises in “win now” mode is they could trade those prospects outside the AL at any time for a veteran player.I’m pretty much in rebuild mode so while I get it from Boston’s perspective, selfishly I wish they hadn’t made this trade. Could still work out well for me though. Trying to trade Pom for another top prospect, but if not, he’s only 27 and could be a solid mid rotation starter for Boston, and the REL Royals for several years. | ||
| Athletics | 40.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $83 | Ji-Man Choi LAA – 1B $4 |
| Minnesota Twins | 15.5 | Waiver Adds and Prospect Callups Past Week: |
| FAAB Remaining: | $70 | n/a |
