Fantasy Baseball 2016

[outofplace]

What is the format? In a vacuum, I'd go with what you have in bold. I like Familia, but his track record is very limited and I think he is your best closer. I think the pitchers you listed have more value.

 

[BDC99]

Was thinking I might keep Ziegler or Familia over Hamels, but I'm not sold on it. I have never been a big Hamels guy.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

What is the format? In a vacuum, I'd go with what you have in bold. I like Familia, but his track record is very limited and I think he is your best closer. I think the pitchers you listed have more value.

Pretty standard, 12 team, h2h. Thanks.

 

[bigpern23]

So, Conforto counts as your 25th rounder and McCullers as 22nd? I think that makes sense, especially with the new injury concern for McCullers.

Yes and yes. The injury concern is why I put McCullers at 22. I'm hoping it's not a big deal, but if it is, I get more value out of Conforto at 25. If McCullers' injury news had come a day sooner, I probably would have kept Arenado at 1.

 

[bigpern23]

Pretty standard, 12 team, h2h. Thanks.

Auction league, or draft? If auction, what values do each player have, if draft, what round?

I think you'd probably get better production for this season out of Zobrist over Polanco, so I'd probably try to weigh whether you can reacquire one of them after you let them go and figure out who gives you the most value. Zobrist is a top-30 hitter, but his average draft position on Yahoo! is the 16th round, so you could probably just let him go and redraft him. Polanco's ADP is the 10th round, so assuming you're keeping him at a lower round than that, you're getting some good value for him.

 

[Cosmo]

Keeper auction league ... I wasn't going to hold onto any of my catchers until realizing just how weak the pool is. I have Travis D'Arnaud at $10 keeper price. Not sure I'm going to be able to get what I'd get from him for less than $8 or $9 if I let him go, so I guess I'll hold on.

 

[bigpern23]

Keeper auction league ... I wasn't going to hold onto any of my catchers until realizing just how weak the pool is. I have Travis D'Arnaud at $10 keeper price. Not sure I'm going to be able to get what I'd get from him for less than $8 or $9 if I let him go, so I guess I'll hold on.

If healthy (famous last words), D'Arnaud will be very good for you at $10.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Auction league, or draft? If auction, what values do each player have, if draft, what round?

I think you'd probably get better production for this season out of Zobrist over Polanco, so I'd probably try to weigh whether you can reacquire one of them after you let them go and figure out who gives you the most value. Zobrist is a top-30 hitter, but his average draft position on Yahoo! is the 16th round, so you could probably just let him go and redraft him. Polanco's ADP is the 10th round, so assuming you're keeping him at a lower round than that, you're getting some good value for him.

Draft, but we don't slot the keepers into rounds, just draft straight.

 

[bigpern23]

Draft, but we don't slot the keepers into rounds, just draft straight.

Gotcha.

 

[Cosmo]

Another keeper question: Have the rights to Freddie Freeman ($29) and Joey Votto ($26) for this season and next if I want. Too much money to keep both. I'm leaning Votto. Better lineup around him and he tends to skew healthier than Freeman. Right choice?

 

[outofplace]

Another keeper question: Have the rights to Freddie Freeman ($29) and Joey Votto ($26) for this season and next if I want. Too much money to keep both. I'm leaning Votto. Better lineup around him and he tends to skew healthier than Freeman. Right choice?

Votto is the better player and he is cheaper. Definitely the right call.

 

[Dick Whitman]

One thing I struggle with every damn year when it comes to ranking players is whether to consider injury risk or not. I am working off of BP's projections, but should I just go with the PECOTA conclusion, which incorporates playing time based on injury history, or should I just try to convert everyone to 500 or 600 PAs?

 

[bigpern23]

One thing I struggle with every damn year when it comes to ranking players is whether to consider injury risk or not. I am working off of BP's projections, but should I just go with the PECOTA conclusion, which incorporates playing time based on injury history, or should I just try to convert everyone to 500 or 600 PAs?

I typically shy away from relying on players who have a history of injuries, but I try to capitalize on guys who are injury prone with upside, if that makes sense.

In other words, I try not to use a first-round pick on the type of guy who has played 120 games the last three seasons, but I'm happy to spend a 15th-rounder on a guy like that, figuring if he stays healthy, he can be a big boost. A good example is Mark Teixeira, who I got in Round 22 last year.

Either way, I think you have to at least consider it.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I typically shy away from relying on players who have a history of injuries, but I try to capitalize on guys who are injury prone with upside, if that makes sense.

In other words, I try not to use a first-round pick on the type of guy who has played 120 games the last three seasons, but I'm happy to spend a 15th-rounder on a guy like that, figuring if he stays healthy, he can be a big boost. A good example is Mark Teixeira, who I got in Round 22 last year.

Either way, I think you have to at least consider it.

I don't have a problem expecting someone like Teixeira to get hurt. An aging veteran. But what about a guy like Giancarlo Stanton?

 

[bigpern23]

I don't have a problem expecting someone like Teixeira to get hurt. An aging veteran. But what about a guy like Giancarlo Stanton?

Tougher call. Depends who else is available, I suppose. Seems like a good tiebreaker ... If you have the option of someone who can produce similar numbers and doesn't get hurt as often, go with the other guy. Tough to say without more context.

 

[bigpern23]

First draft of the season last night. Wound up with the following squad (keepers in bold):
C Lucroy
1B J. Abreu
2B Zobrist
SS A. Reed
3B Franco
OF Cespedes
OF C Gomez
OF Conforto
DH Buxton
BN A. Rodriguez
BN Granderson
BN Walker
BN Grandal
BN Markakis

SP Sale
SP Liriano
SP Severino
SP McCullers
SP Heaney
SP Urias
SP J. Garcia
RP D. Robertson
RP A. Chapman
RP Ziegler
RP W. Smith

Only pick I hated was Lucroy. He's good, but it was a panic pick when two guys I was targeting got taken in the two spots before I picked. I took him earlier than I would have liked to take a catcher. Missed out on Matz and Lucas Giolito, two guys I really wanted who went about 5 rounds earlier than I expected. Overall, I like the squad, though. I'm probably going to drop Markakis and pick up Yankees OF prospect Aaron Judge off waivers.

 

[bigpern23]

Hey @outofplace, know anything about Tyler Glasnow, the Pirates' pitching prospect? I've got a guy trying to include him in a trade. I know he's an MLB Top 100 prospect and he probably won't get called up until after the Super 2 arbitration deadline in June. He's also 6'8", which makes me question whether he's got the mechanics to be as good as projected. Just curious if you have any more insight into him.

FWIW, the guy is trying to acquire Jose Abreu from me.

 

[outofplace]

Hey @outofplace, know anything about Tyler Glasnow, the Pirates' pitching prospect? I've got a guy trying to include him in a trade. I know he's an MLB Top 100 prospect and he probably won't get called up until after the Super 2 arbitration deadline in June. He's also 6'8", which makes me question whether he's got the mechanics to be as good as projected. Just curious if you have any more insight into him.

FWIW, the guy is trying to acquire Jose Abreu from me.

Those issues with mechanics are probably why he has had some control issues in the minors, but Glasnow is legit. He has dominated on every level. The Pirates considered calling him up during the 2015 season. Whether he was kept in the minors to continue his development or to slow his march toward arbitration and free agency is a matter of conjecture.

He definitely won't be up until after the Super 2 deadline no matter how well he pitches. Most teams would make that move, and there is no question the Pirates will do what it takes to save a little money.

What is the proposed deal?

 

[bigpern23]

Those issues with mechanics are probably why he has had some control issues in the minors, but Glasnow is legit. He has dominated on every level. The Pirates considered calling him up during the 2015 season. Whether he was kept in the minors to continue his development or to slow his march toward arbitration and free agency is a matter of conjecture.

He definitely won't be up until after the Super 2 deadline no matter how well he pitches. Most teams would make that move, and there is no question the Pirates will do what it takes to save a little money.

What is the proposed deal?

He proposed Kole Calhoun, Pujols and Glasnow for Abreu. I rejected it. Calhoun wouldn't crack my starting OF, Pujols is coming off a great year, but I worry about relying on him to do it again at age 36. Glasnow is an intriguing piece, but given the Super 2 deadline, he doesn't offer enough value. I'm trying to come up with a good counter. I may see if I can lift Syndergaard and Glasnow in some sort of package.

 

[outofplace]

He proposed Kole Calhoun, Pujols and Glasnow for Abreu. I rejected it. Calhoun wouldn't crack my starting OF, Pujols is coming off a great year, but I worry about relying on him to do it again at age 36. Glasnow is an intriguing piece, but given the Super 2 deadline, he doesn't offer enough value. I'm trying to come up with a good counter. I may see if I can lift Syndergaard and Glasnow in some sort of package.

Agreed. Calhoun is filler and I wouldn't trust Pujols that much, either. Glasnow is a great prospect, but no way he should be the best part of the return for a guy like Abreu.