As the final days of spring training wind down, and teams make final cuts, opening day rosters begin to take shape. While many re-draft players are busy drafting their teams over the next week plus. Dynasty managers are on the other side of the spectrum, as this is the time when you look to acquire players that you see as potential breakouts. In my humble opinion these weeks leading up to the season can be amongst the most important for managers looking to reload and rebuild. So how should you approach this buying window? Who should you be looking to add? That’s a great question, but a difficult one to answer, because unlike re-draft not everyone is in contention every year. Values in dynasty and deep keeper leagues are dependent upon your team’s current window for competing. This is why player values from manager to manager within your league can vary greatly. So keep in mind, not every player is a fit for every roster. You need to decide what your window is, and build with that in mind. For example, if you have a win now team, with a great deal of aging vets you might be looking to get a little younger. Or you might throw caution to the wind, go full Dombrowski, and buy for today. While a non-competing team might be looking to acquire the best talent under 25, no matter position. Regardless of where your team falls on the competitive spectrum, it’s important to identify players you want to own, and those you’re looking to acquire. Below is a list I’ve made of the players I want to own. So all those in leagues with The God Emcee (that’s me) look away. I’m sure that worked. Now that my leaguemates are out of the room, let me just say I love these players. Some are prospects, while others are young vets. These are the guys I can see taking a step forward. These aren’t all that players with breakout upside, but they’re the ones I felt like writing about.
Walker Buehler, RHP Dodgers: A top 10 talent who’s the poster child of “Tommy John at the Wrong Time”. The Dodgers knew exactly what they were doing when they snatched up Buehler at 24th overall in the 2015 draft. Following a lengthy rehab Buehler made his professional debut late last season. So far in 2017 he’s been the talk of Dodgers camp, and reading between the lines looks to be in the long term plans of the Blue Bloods. He features 4 possibly plus pitches, and the ceiling of a fantasy ace in a great environment. Over the next 6 months the former Vanderbilt ace’s value could explode.
Ramon Laureano, OF Astros: Now’s a good time to buy the 2016 breakout. You can sell from the angle that he’s coming off a poor spring, and that you’re willing to take the risk on. A great add for non-competing teams looking to add a potential under the radar fantasy asset. Laureano brings to the table speed, approach, contact ability, and developing power. No matter how much Halp and I push Laureano, he’s still not a well known bat in many fantasy circles.
Greg Bird, 1B Yankees: Have you seen Bird’s production this spring? So maybe this is the wrong time to buy, or maybe it’s the last time you CAN buy Bird. Yesterday he was named the Yankees everyday first baseman, and at least at the beginning will see the majority of at bats over the righthanded hitting Chris Carter. Even beyond the right now opportunity, Bird’s long term setup is fantastic. A lefty power hitter in Yankee Stadium in his early to mid 20’s? Where do I sign up? Any concern over his Fall League struggles are way in the rear view.
Aledmys Diaz, SS Cardinals: Is this the most underrated player in dynasty and re-draft? He was off the radar last year when Jhonny Peralta went down, then proceeded to hit for contact and power, before succumbing to an injury of his own. Now back and healthy, Diaz is going well after other middle infielders with equal production. While I understand his pedigree and track record aren’t what his middle infidel comrades are, but still, in many dynasty drafts he’s going well after pick 100.
Mike Montgomery, LHP Cubs: I can’t say what his exact role is at the moment. He could be in the rotation, he could be in the pen, he could be in some sort of polygamous pitching setup, where Joe Maddon pays tribute to Bill Paxton. Either way Montgomery will have some value this year. I mentioned this in Grey’s comments yesterday, but Montgomery is one of 5 pitchers in the big leagues with three pitches that have both a 10%+ swinging strike rate, and a 50%+ groundball rate. The stuff is there, Maddon here’s my plea: Forget Anderson, and give the ball to Montgomery.
Taijuan Walker, RHP Diamondbacks: Once arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball, and still just 24, Walker has been a man possessed this spring. Formerly I haven’t been the biggest Walker proponent, but he looks to be riding his slider to a breakout. I don’t love the move from an extreme pitching environment to an extreme hitting environment, but the development of a third pitch to pair with his four-seemer, and splitter has always been the tipping point we were waiting on. Yo, Malcolm Gladwell, Taijuan is tipping.
Bradley Zimmer, OF Indians: Lately it feels like I’m a one man marketing campaign to get Zimmer in the Tribe’s outfield. Why isn’t he? This team that took the Cubs to game 7, the same one that signed Edwin Encarnacion, is now worried about the service time of a 24 year old they thought would break out last year? Give me a break, it’s only a matter of time until Zimmer is patrolling the Indians outfield. He’s already their best defensive centerfielder, and might be their most explosive basestealer as well. Then you factor in that he brings a nice power/speed skillset, with an elite on base tool, and you wonder why it seems like a foregone conclusion that he’s not breaking camp. Many dynasty managers still doubt Zimmer’s hit tool, take advantage of that. All we’ve seen in the spring is the results of a swing and stance adjustment Zimmer made, in order to improve his contact path through the zone. I’m buying in, and think you should too.
Tyler O’Neill, OF Mariners: If you listened to the last episode of the Razzball prospect podcast, it’s possible that Halp just sold our very own Fantasy Master Lothario Grey Albright on the benefits of Mr. O’Neill. It’s well documented that O’Neill is one of my personal favorites. Just read my top 100, I think we’re looking at a future middle of the order 30+ home run hitter. Some of his haters will cite the strikeouts, but be wary of this argument, they’re ignoring a significant shift in approach. O’Neill made adjustments at the plate last year, and his strikeouts rate dropped by over 4%, and his walk rate jumped 4% on the other side.
Koda Glover, RHP Nationals: This one should be easy, and truth be told you might be buying at the height of the market, but we could be looking at a top potential relief option about to burst onto the scene. I’m willing to bet on Koda eventually conquering the other Nats pen options, and being really good for the next 18 months until Dusty destroys his arm. Smokey’s got my back on this, and if you know anything about anything, Smokey and I are an unstoppable duo. Ask your mom.
Manuel Margot, OF Padres: I’m getting myself into my Razzball Staff Picks at the moment, and I’m between Padres rookie teammates Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe for NL Rookie of the year. At the moment I’m leaning Margot, and when it comes to projecting the next 5 years plus, it’s not even close. To me, Margot is the type of talent built for the National League, great speed, contact ability, fielding, and the skills to manufacturer offense in a multitude of ways. The Padres like to run (i.e. see 2016 Wil Myers & Travis Jankowski), and Margot is a dynamo on the base paths. It wouldn’t at all shock me if Margot finishes the season in the top 5 in stolen bases, and in the top 15 in the NL in runs scored.
Robert Gsellman/Seth Lugo, RHP Mets: Sometimes at night I dream, not every night because I’m partially robot, and smoke way too much pot, but sometimes I do dream. In many of these dreams I picture a world where Zack Wheeler was sold for a first baseman, and Matt Harvey retired. In this alternate dream reality both Gsellman and Lugo are in the Mets rotation occupying the roles of 4th and 5th starter. You’ve seen what Gsellman can do if you’ve watched any Mets late last season, and he’s continued that exhibition this spring. On the other side Lugo’s taken his show on the road, and been the go to starter for the Puerto Rican National Team in the WBC, a team that was undefeated prior to last night’s loss in the championship game. Lugo’s curveball spin rate has been discussed ad nauseam, however beyond hyperbole there is something there. Gsellman has been discussed in multiple write-ups, podcasts, and mountain top primal screams. He made tweaks to his mechanics entering 2016, which resulted in all of his pitches playing up. He’s a heavy groundball pitcher, with solid enough peripherals to be 12 team mixed league relevant. Hopefully the Mets do the right thing, and let Harvey and Wheeler “get healthy” in extended spring and let Lugo and Gsellman show what they can do. Either way for dynasty owners these arms will get their shot sooner rather than later.
Austin Hedges, C Padres: The everyday starter for the Padres, and he has real hitting ability. Blessed with an above average hit tool, and some average pop, Hedges could easily finish inside the top 10 at the position as soon as this season. When Tom Murphy went down, Hedges was my replacement in all my early redrafts, he carries even more value in dynasty.
Marcus Stroman, RHP Blue Jays: Anybody see Stroman’s performance, not only last night, but throughout the WBC? Yeah, this isn’t new, he’s been doing this since the All-Star break. Without getting too far into the weeds, I’m going to attempt to explain what Stroman has done and what adjustments he’s made. After poor results in the first half of 2016, the diminutive righty knew he had to make some tweaks to his approach, and sequencing. And tweak is exactly what he did (no not like that). He began throwing his sinker less, and started to work in his slider more. BTW his slider is a great alternative to his sinker, as it provided different movement and action, while not conceding any of the groundball inducing tendencies of his sinker. Additionally Stroman used his cut fastball, and his curveball to generate more swings and misses, as well as a significant jump in infield flyballs. In fact, with the introduction of this approach, Stroman’s IFFB% jumped from 2.7% in the first half to a 9.4% jump in the second, while actually slightly improving his GB%. Let your leaguemates question Stroman’s improvement, and be the one armed with actual factual information, not tired cliches like “small righty” etc.
Follow me on Twitter @Ralphlifshitzbb and Check Out my YouTube work with Fantrax.
Hey Ralph!
Loving the work as always. How would rank the above guys based on 5×5 with obp instead of ave? Only keeping infielders at this point but open to anyone.
You must have made a mistake in this article. I only have Taijuan in my recent dynasty draft. I don’t like this one bit.
What’s up with your boys at UGHH blowing my e-mail up with offers of being a VIP member? Thought they were closed. They say I’m getting first dibs because I’m int he top 20% of their customers. The last year I bought something there was 2005.
@Dr. Kenneth Noisewater: Hahaha well, sounds like you need a re-do.
They got bought last minute so it’s new owners. Maybe the last time they sold anything was 2005.
@Ralph Lifshitz: Nah..I got Meadows, Tapia, Murphy, Judge, and some others.
Oh nice, glad I can still go to them at least to find out what’s new without having to look at all of the other terrible new releases.
@Dr. Kenneth Noisewater: Hahahahaha right? Then go to iTunes and download. Who buys a record store in 2017?
Great stuff as always! Just drafted Montgomery and Glover as late round picks.
Here is a question for you: Who would you rather invest in Dylan Bundy or Jose De Leon in a dynasty format?
Thanks!
@Chud: Bundy the track record of some MLB success coupled with the re-introduction of his cutter make him the better bet. I’m still not a huge fan though. His health issues, his ballpark, and the AL East are tough. He has his proponents though.
Thoughts on Raimel Tilapia (Tapia)?
Hiya, Ralph. Thank you. Great stuff per usual. Re: Ramon Laureano (79th on your AWESOME Top 100 List). While I hear your enthusiasm loud & clear, you have two fellow ASTRO OF’ers Derek Fisher (your 29th) & Kyle Tucker (your 32th) fellow Astro prospect-OF’ers) rated higher on said Ralph List. (And your likewise astute Imaginary pal is just as fired up by that trio. He has: Tucker at 10, Fisher at 17, and Laureano at 54.) If your special excitement for Laureano were just a matter of Laureano’s having burst forth with an awesome spring I would get it–I respect flexible grading–but didn’t #29 Derek Fisher give us an even more enticing spring performance? (Beneath these 3 OF prospects, the Stros have Teoscar Hernandez and Daz Cameron. Both semi-interesting according to Sickels. You?) Two OF spots in the Stros outfield seemed reserved for: Geo. Springer and Josh Reddick and his Amazing, 4-year, Technicolor $52 million contract. (Aside on Reddick: With such a flood of promising OF prospects, I really can’t figure that commitment. Is Houston just swimming in sawbucks?) When the other OF spot opens up–currently held, I think, by Aoki and Marisnick–who do you think grabs it and keeps it long-term: Fisher, Tucker, or Laureano? P.S. I’m not even an Astros fan. Just confused again.
@FANTHEAD: I’d still rank those players higher, this is simply a check in on players who I feel will get a value bump over the next 6 months. Like stocks you’re buying low with the hope their value quadruples. Fisher and Tucker are well known players in most dynasty leagues, while Laureano is still underappreciated IMO. I feel his poor spring gives you a good buying window.
This post is about maximizing the buying window in dynasty before the season starts.
@Ralph Lifshitz: Ah…I get it. That’s perfectly sane. Thanks, Ralph. It’s hard keeping up with you! Slow down! (Speaking of stock, it seems fair to conclude that Derek Fisher’s hot spring boosted his, if only a blip. I realize Fisher was valued to begin with & that Spring T. is the epitome of a Small Sample Size, but for an Astro prospect competing with so many other Astro prospects an exciting spring performance can’t hurt.)
@FANTHEAD: No, and I agree, his value has been given a bump. He could easily be on this list, I have to leave some off. Hahaha, otherwise this would be a 5,000 word post.
Here’s a name if you’re in a league with 200+ prospects and want to get in the ground floor of a guy who might be top 100 next year: Mitch White.
Great article! Did Stroman always have that varying-length hitch in his delivery that I saw last night in the WBC?
He had 3-4 different versions of it (no hitch, short hitch, medium hitch, painfully long hitch) that he was varying with all pitches last night. Looked really deceptive.
In one AB, he threw a FB w/ extended hitch, a breaking with no hitch, another FB hitch, ending with a killer changeup with another extended hitch that the batter was way out in front of.
@Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: No! He added that after studying the Japanese team’s deceptive deliveries. That’s another part of what I love about this kid, his athleticism is through the roof so he just decides to make a change and he does it. Coupling this deception with his improved sequencing and use of his arsenal have me really excited.
@Ralph Lifshitz: For sure. As someone who wasn’t a big Stroman fan, that sequencing with the hitch alone made me wish I’d drafted him more (though I did snag Gsellman!).
Speaking of young pitchers, what are your thoughts on Rodon? There are some (hopefully the right ones!) who believe that his changed rubber position basically eliminated his control issues . . . or at least made his second half the “new norm” rather than a temporary great run.
@Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: I’d group him into the same territory as the Walkers etc. Another guy w/ the stuff just needs an adjustment.
Nice work Ralph
Dynasty question…
Would you trade a $59 Stanton plus $29 for a $4 Benintendi??
@andrew: Yes, and I’d send them a Edible Arrangement w/ the chocolate covered pineapple.
@Ralph Lifshitz: done deal.
AL only (5×5, 5OF, 2C, MI/CI/2UT) expansion team, 1st pick of available minor leaguers, only 3 minors slots on roster. Likely won’t be competitive until at least 2019 when I can unload some bad contracts. Given my situation (incl. timeline and roster restrictions), would you use that pick on Giolito, Adames or Kyle Lewis? They’re the 3 highest on your top 100 (in that order), but I’m hesitant to use that pick on a P.
Kinda thinking Lewis–I like Adames but he’ll probably be called up and require me to sign him to a contract (w/ $5 annual raises) by early 2018 if not sooner, thus sapping some value for me by the time my team is ready to be competitive. Also intrigued by Rutherford, who probably won’t make it back to my 2nd pick and also fits that “upside OF a couple years away” mold.
@Steve Stevenson: I’d take Lewis, particularly if you have the benefit of time.
Would you please rate Gsellman, Lugo, & Montgomery.
@henncoop: add in Bundy as well please
@henncoop: I’d go Gsellman, Bundy, Montgomery, and Lugo. If they all had starting gigs I could see ranking them all ahead of Bundy. He’s an enigma, wrapped in a riddle.
Ralf,
hi Buddy
following your advices for a year now :)
here is my dynasty team i picked up dead last last season, now rebuild
C Contreras
1B Abreu
2B Villar
3B Rendon
SS Lindor
OF JDMart / Trumbo / KDavis
Util: Schoop 2B
Bench: JTurner 3B / KKiermaier OF /Renfroe OF
SP: Cueto / Tanaka / Hamels /Roark / Cotton / iNova / Gsell
RP: Maurer / Kintzler / Glover / Bush
i traded Swanson for Hamels + Roark ! (in 2 trades)
– Should iget Bird as 1B instead of KK ? to back up Abreu?
– As JD may land on DL : i’d like to get Margot as well for SB, but starting in minors?
or Kepler / or Lugo are also avb
Nick
@Nick: I’d get Bird for sure, and as for Margot I have no idea. I’ve heard conflicting things. He’s back in the lineup today so that’s good news.
Hey Ralph,
Good stuff as usual.
Are there plans for overrated players list to pair with this (very valuable) underrated one?
Have picked up Gsellman in a couple of leagues (dynasty and a keeper where we keep a major part of the roster).
Best wishes,
Dan
@Another Dan: I just may, I really enjoy discussing the positive over the negative. Especially when it’s kids that aren’t finished products. It’s easier for me to be critical of MLB players.
Hey Ralph ! another helpful writeup! .. ok , in need of some immediate offensive help… I flipped My Gallo ( stashed on my farm) for his Josh Bell … 12 team roto.. forever keeper .. Am I crazy?
@Darren: No you like safety. I’d trade Gallo everywhere I own him for Bell.
Good move.
Maddon ignored your plea. Monty to lead the charge from the bullpen according to yahoo player notes.
Dan
@Another Dan: That’s okay, I have a feeling Anderson won’t last that long. At least if there’s a God.
Soler or josh bell for this year only?
@Sean: Bell, I’m still very skeptical of Soler.
Thanks for the write up Ralph. I just started my first dynasty (took over the 7th place team) this year and can use all the help I can get.
In my keeper league we have to keep two pitchers. I kept Kluber and Arrieta. Grey is sending smoke signals on Jake. I have McCullers. Will he be worth the 2018 keeper spot if i move Arrieta? One owner already offered me 2018 rounds 5,6,7, and 8 for him. We keep four so that’s his first four picks. It’s a 15 team roto.
@Sport: Not bad, I’d work the market and see what else is out there. I wouldn’t just give away Arrieta.
@Ralph Lifshitz:
Agreed. Thank you for the time and feedback.
@Sport: Thanks for reading my rantings!
Hey Ralphie
Who are 2 best upside stashes for 2017 production (or trade chips) in a 15 teamer. We keep 11. This league is prospect crazy, great trade pieces. Also can you rank rest ? (R, h, strikeouts, Hr, RBI, sb, obp, slg are cats)
Arcia, Zimmer, Margot, Renfroe, Dahl, Meadows, AJ Reed, Bird
@Nightpandas: Dahl and Bird. I’m all over Meadows, but unbiased prediction of the market tells me those two.
As for ranks for future value I’d go Meadows, Dahl, Margot, Bird, Zimmer, Renfroe, Reed, and Arcia.
hi Ralf
would you take Laureano over Rickard or Lourdes?
i know the three fill different roles. It’s my last roster spot, which player is going to be most valuable in July?
@Roll of SAGNOF, Hear my Cry: In July? I’d say it’s between Laureano and Lourdes. Depends if you need an OF or IF. I really can go either way, but I’ll lean Laureano.
@Ralph Lifshitz: Rickard’s strong ST had me looking his way for some major league depth, where I right now have Benintendi, Bautista, Haniger, Seth Smith, and Maybin (AL only), but July is around the time i’ll be looking to either buy or sell on the season and I want to have the strongest ammo for that time.
I think I’ll go with Laureano. Houston is so loaded with burgeoning talent, but they also seem quite willing to give player’s honest opportunities. Toronto, I’m not so sure.
Anyway, thanks!
great work. a little old for dynasty teams (but likely owned nowhere haha), how bout Charlie Morton this year?
@Hot Rod: He was a consideration, his velocity was way up before the injury last year. I really like Morton as a cheap flier in deep leagues.
What do you do with Vogelbach and AJ Reed at this juncture? Do you go after someone like Bellinger and dump one or just hold? Also, how do see the Milwaukee OF taking shape over the course of the season and next year? They are loaded with talent at the position.
@Mike L: I’m holding if I can, if you have limited space and can’t then do what you have to. I still have faith. However, if you can land Bellinger. Do it.
I think it depends on a few things.
1. Do they trade Braun?
2. Is Broxton for real?
3, Is Santana healthy?
I’m not sure where Brinson plays, or who he replaces. But he’s up and some point replacing someone. So it will be Brinson and some combo of Braun/Broxton/Santana. Then obviously they have options like Ray, Phillips, and others. Tough to predict.
@Ralph Lifshitz: I just hope what happened to Singleton doesn’t happen to Reed. I think Ill drop Vogie before Reed after hearing of his demotion today but only to try and go after a few top prospects like Senzel, Happ, or G Torres. Im in a full keeper and probably playing to W next year anyway.
@Mike L: Hahaha that’s always a worry for me w/ Reed.
My two cents comes from the homerism of my own teams that I co-manage. Chas Khul and Brandon Finnegan. With a full season of the pitching god we call Ray Kuhl is primed to take a step forward. I’m not touting ace but dynasties tend to be deeper…. if they have any self respecting commissars. I know you jumped on him in one so no spidey senses needed. Finnegan was a stud once he learned that new change up grip from Dan Strailey that from what I read created a spot where his fastball became his out pitch. Yeah the park sucks but hey I’m not preaching ace here. Just a post hyper that needs to remembered more ham forgotten.
@J-FOH: I like both of those picks, Andy Finnegan needs and advancement, because he was hella lucky last year.
need some help in a pseudo dynasty league
3 yr keeper, than 3 more years at 5 dollar raises…
so 6 yr total..
13 team $ 260 12 player keeper.
5 obvious no brainer keepers
Darvish $4
Trea Turner $9
Altuve $17
Donaldson $17
Chris Davis $17
here’s where I need the help
need 7 out of the rest.. (I’m not including 2 $2 closers and $1 rajai,$2 Marco esteada)
Lester $27
J.A Happ $1
Verlander $27
Al Diaz $2
Gyerko $2
Jose Rameriz $2
Duvall $2
Tomas $4
Gattis $3
@AP: Lester, Verlander, Diaz, Tomas, Gattis, Duvall, and Jo-Ram. If you decided to ditch one of Verlander or Lester for Happ, to stay within your budget I get it. Those are the best 7 IMO.
thanks Ralph
I was thinking the sane.
j a and Lester
I do like gyerko this year…
in seem to be in the minority..
I will have about 160 to spend on
trout, goldy, Stanton or Kershaw.
Keep 3: 12 team points league
Story
Stanton
Spinger
Corey Seager
@FrankGrimes: Story, Seager, and Springer.
Is J Baez (cubs)a keeper this year at $15 in a $300 ( not usual 260 )13 team and plus the 4 AL playoff team league?
Oh yeah OBP roto 5×5
@Subs81: Could be depends on your options, I think he forces his way into the everyday lineup this year.
14-Team H2H 6×6 (added OPS & HLD) (Keep 9 + 2 Rookies every year)
Stash Nick Senzel or A.J. Reed in my last NA slot? Other NA spots are Bellinger, Zimmer, and Hader.
@A TreaTur Among Us: My only 1Bs right now are Holliday and Bird so I’m really hoping Bird is for real or an injury call up for Bellinger. My 3Bs are Franco and Bregman so Senzel might be overkill but I’ll probably trade one of the first two mid season. Took over this team from another manager this year and it needs a lot of work so thinking long term.
@A TreaTur Among Us: If you’re thinking long-term, I’d try to hold Franco. I assume he’ll move to 1B eventually. Bellinger definitely gets the call this year – the Dodgers need to sort out their OF situation and he’ll find time between 1B/OF. In that case, I take Senzel and hope he climbs the ladder like a few recent top prospects. No one should be prosp-blocking him in Cincy.
@A TreaTur Among Us: Senzel is the choice for me w/ Bellinger not far behind.
@Ralph Lifshitz: is senzel now ahead of bellinger for you Ralph? Or is that just for this years ranking?
I’m so happy to see Stroman continue to grow. A few years ago when I started in dynasty leagues, he was one of my first serious pursuits. His arsenal is nutso, but the best thing about him is that he continues to change and improve and adapt. He throws Halladay’s cutter and it is beautiful. The addition of a funky timing hitch is only the latest bit to make him the ace he will be soon.
Stroman is the only pitcher besides Kershaw that I will go out of my way to watch pitch.
@Tweak: He really is great to watch, and a fun player to dissect.
Dynasty and salary cap league. Chris Davis + Delvin Perez or Bird + Swanson? Thanks in advance!
@DBo: Bird and Swanson
Would you pick up Bird in a points league over Adam Duval or Max Keplar to plan in the DH/utility spot?
Are you on the Buxton bandwagon?
@Danny Almonte: not as much as grey and others.
Best. Title. Ever.
Love the prospecting as always Ralph…
Already snagged Bird (was dropped before spring ;)) and O’Neill (you sold me).
So now i am poised to snatch up either Fried or Quantril possibly both in a 24 team dynasty, how you feel about their risk/reward… i.e. who would you look to first and who has the better shot at front-end rotation, maybe its the same guy, haha.
@Todd25: my guess is he says quantrill higher ceiling and floor. fried is closer too i’d think.
NL only league 5×5 my keepers are pereza $4, grichuk $3, Familia $9, grandal $9 and bumgrarner $29. That’s 5 can keep 3 more
Do I keep Peralta at $1, nunez $21,, belt $22 and Lester @ $27,guerra 3 Montgomery 1
Of the top ten sp 7 are being kept so if i keep Lester ensures me 2 top 5 arms
Alot of stud hitters are back in the draft do I just keep bum and Familia and lower price keepers so I have the ammo to grab the stud bats that are available
@Jow: lester for sure, def not belt. probably doesn’t matter if that is wily or out of place H on peralta, probably a no either way. montgomery at 1 probably kept.
I have my 11-team $260 AL-only keeper league auction this weekend and was hoping you could provide some feedback. I like to target at least one prospect with my final $1, but typically a guy that has the chance to help me most in-season. Would you be so kind as to rank the following guys based on how much of an impact you expect them to make in 2017? O’Neill, Tellez, Barreto, Zimmer, G. Torres. Thanks!
@Cronut Burger: he’s got a whole post for just this, but some of those don’t make it. zimmer wins easily, then probably o’neill, barreto, gleybar, tellez
Please rank D’Arnaud, Rupp and Hedges for this season?
@Sean: rupp/hedges/d’arnaud but go hedges first since you can probably go back later.
Ralph, I was just reading that Gsellman will be in the rotation. I checked my team and had several options to cut as all these players were a gamble:
Wieters (one catcher league, Gary Sanchez my other C)
Buxton
Margot (Padres OF)
Keda Glover
I like the upside for the other guys and if I ever need a second catcher and Glover does not win the closer gig I could cut him off. Are you OK with the move I did?
BTW thanks for the awesome job. I do enjoy a lot reading your articles.
@John: wieters