Sure, I named this “All” questions answered, but if you ask a question about volcanoes you should see Jeff Sullivan instead of me. Or for Simpsons trivia, Paul Swydan is your guy. That said if you have questions on call ups, playing time, or innings limits here in the final month of the season, I’ll be answering questions live from 1 pm to 3 pm eastern and periodically throughout the day after that. Actually, if you want to make fun of the flubbed Man U/Real Madrid De Gea transfer, how Chelsea is sitting eight points back already or how my fellow countryman Son Heung-Min is going to lead Tottenham to the Champions League (via Europa Champs, I hope), I will welcome those comments as well.
Just make sure to leave a comment below and as always, I’ll do my best to address it!
*Edit*
For keeper or dynasty formats, the more info on your settings, prices/draft slot and current standings are helpful! Help me to help you!
*Second Edit*
It’s almost 3:30 so I’ve got to stop answering for now. I’m hoping to be back around 6 pm, so be sure to continue leaving questions.
You Aren't a FanGraphs Member
It looks like you aren't yet a FanGraphs Member (or aren't logged in). We aren't mad, just disappointed.
We get it. You want to read this article. But before we let you get back to it, we'd like to point out a few of the good reasons why you should become a Member.
1. Ad Free viewing! We won't bug you with this ad, or any other.
2. Unlimited articles! Non-Members only get to read 10 free articles a month. Members never get cut off.
3. Dark mode and Classic mode!
4. Custom player page dashboards! Choose the player cards you want, in the order you want them.
5. One-click data exports! Export our projections and leaderboards for your personal projects.
6. Remove the photos on the home page! (Honestly, this doesn't sound so great to us, but some people wanted it, and we like to give our Members what they want.)
7. Even more Steamer projections! We have handedness, percentile, and context neutral projections available for Members only.
8. Get FanGraphs Walk-Off, a customized year end review! Find out exactly how you used FanGraphs this year, and how that compares to other Members. Don't be a victim of FOMO.
9. A weekly mailbag column, exclusively for Members.
10. Help support FanGraphs and our entire staff! Our Members provide us with critical resources to improve the site and deliver new features!
We hope you'll consider a Membership today, for yourself or as a gift! And we realize this has been an awfully long sales pitch, so we've also removed all the other ads in this article. We didn't want to overdo it.
In case you didn't read all that, here's the short version. Membership includes:
✓Ad-free browsing
✓Unlimited FanGraphs & RotoGraphs articles
✓Historical & platoon projections
✓Leaderboard & player-page stat heatmaps
✓One-click data exports
✓Customizable player-page dashboards
✓Dark & Classic site modes
✓Weekly Members-only mailbag
✓FanGraphs Walk-Off, your year in review
✓Optional homepage photo removal
✓Gift articles to non-members
Are there any guys in the minor leagues now or that just got called up that you can see being a team’s closer next season?
I could see Colton Murray or Dalier Hinojosa maybe getting some saves next year for the Phillies if Giles falters.
The day is young, so I reserve the right to change my answer!
Do you think that Manure botched the transfer on purpose?
The hour and timetable is REALLY weird.
They took like seven hours sending a fax? Really suspicious.
Came down to not being able to open a data file.
ManUre sent Madrid a .fcku attachment.
Hello Jeff, how many more innings you expect John Lamb to toss? Thank you
Can’t answer for Jeff.
That said, I’ll say another three, maybe four starts. Call it 18-20 IP. He’d be at 154 innings on the year, a nice but not huge bump from 138.1 last year.
Duffy of Baez rest of season? It’s also a keeper league. Will be the last move I have left this season – but I do have Mookie and Xander at 2B/SS if Baez crashes and burns.
I’ll take Baez over Matt Duffy. I think second base is Baez’s to lose next year, and he’ll only be playing his age-23 season next year. With Xander in the fold, I’ll take the risk and upside in Baez.
Also, I don’t think Betts will be 2B eligible next year.
Thoughts on Max Kepler. Does he get a shot out of spring training next year?
I have a hard time getting a read on the Twins. They took things slow with Sano, possibly due to his injury history, but really rushed both Buxton and Hicks.
I’d say they take it slow with Kepler, despite how well he’s hitting at. I think there’s a chance he breaks camp with them as Hunter’s deal expires this year, but I doubt it. Call him a midseason call up given that he hasn’t even tasted Triple-A just yet. Of course, Buxton didn’t either before getting the call and Hicks was in Triple-A for like three weeks before making his MLB debut.
Who are the best OFs to squeeze cheap DFS value from?
I’ve already gotten some good contributions from T. Thompson & A. Altherr.
I’m a DK guy myself, so I can only answer with answers that best fit that format.
That said, OF around $2,600 to $3,000 I like to use:
Chris Young vs LHP
Will Venable vs RHP
Seth Smith vs RHP
12 Team 6×6 (OBP/SLG)(K9/BB9) league.
C-Jaso
C-Vogt
1B- EE
2B- ODOR!
3B- Arenado
SS- Sano
CI- Longo
MI- Schoop
LF- Gardner
CF- Ellsbury
RF- Heyward
OF- Fowler
UT- Yelich
BN- Pederson
DL- Puig
DL- Panik
SP- Arrieta
SP- Tanaka
RP- Perkins
RP- Osuna
P- Giles
P- Tollenson
P- Vizcaino
p- Richards
BN- Mcullers
BN- Ross
BN- Holland
Plan on streaming P in the h2h playoffs but can drop any of the bottom three when necessary.
Should I move on from Longo and Pederson at this point?
Huge props to info on your team and settings. That helps a ton, and I appreciate it.
I wouldn’t drop either just yet, unless you really need SP help. If that’s the case, I’d throw back Pederson before Longo. OF is pretty easy to find, 3B less so. I know Pederson’s BABIP is in the toilet over the past month, but I’d still take a comparable bat at third than in the OF.
Honestly wasn’t sure if I was making the question too long but no worries!
One question about strategy in this league:
We have an IP limit per week set at 30 and the only category that SP REALLY help is in W. Would it be better if I just dropped all my fringe SP’s for the playoffs and roll with all elite relievers and 1-3 elite SP to reach my IP?
No worries, the more detailed the question, the more detailed the answer!
I don’t think it’s safe to roll with vulture wins. I’d take a stream guy with a decent offense behind him over an elite reliever.
PLayoffs for me start next week. Whats the Outlook on HanRam rest of the way? should i grab Escobar, Flores, Didi or Baez just in case?
He’s missed a bunch of games with a nagging shoulder injury lately. Definitely pick up Baez just in case.
Arod or TDA ROS?
Adding on to that, Arod or Longo?
Arod over Longo. Give me the power upside!
I’ll go with TDA.
I think Bird gets some appearances at DH to sap some PAs from Arod. Also, the C vs UTIL plays a pretty big role.
Have you looked at September schedules as far as possible FA pitchers to target for playoffs? Looking for the jump on my leaguemates. Thanks!
I had Glasnow, but had to drop him as I don’t think the Pirates are going to call him up. Shifted over to Aaron Blair but he’s hasn’t gotten called up yet either.
For now, I like Davies who should start tomorrow.
Hi – I’m headed into the H2H playoffs counting on Matt Harvey, Joe Ross and Raisel Iglesias… How concerned would you be about one or all of these guys getting shut down? It’s a dynasty league but I could drop Iglesias to grab Pineda, Quintana or Estrada if I’m currently holding too much risk… Appreciate your thoughts.
The Nats already said they’ll limit Ross back in August:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/nationals-journal/wp/2015/08/06/despite-strong-season-nationals-hope-to-limit-young-joe-rosss-innings/
The Mets have a six man rotation to keep Harvey’s innings down and with Iglesias, he’ll be shifted to the bullpen eventually, but no word on when:
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/redsblog/2015/08/29/cuban-right-hander-raisel-iglesias–pitching—first-time-since-2013/71394708/
Hey buddy. Hunter Pence seems sidelined for awhile, right? Corey Dickerson should be back though…think it’s safe to dump Pence & smart to pick up Corey?
Yeah, Pence’s injury is likely to keep him out for another two weeks, I’d imagine. He took 20 swings yesterday and it didn’t go well.
https://twitter.com/AlexPavlovic/status/638495697411534848
I’d drop him for Dickerson, yeah.
Following up on this…. Dickerson or Gordon?
Gordon for immediate rate stats help, Dickerson for power.
Think Pomeranz holds the closer role in Oakland RoS? Also Jon Schoop or Joe Panik at 2b RoS and long term? Thanks!
I think Doolittle gets it eventually.
I’d take Panik RoS and long term, unless you really need the power upside in Schoop.
do you see K. Hendricks or Joe Kelly hitting an innings limit this season? Who you trusting down the stretch for QS?
Kelly has been really good lately, but I still think I’d take Hendricks for QS. I just love his GB rate.
Hanley Ramirez was dropped in my league. Hasn’t played in a while and doesn’t have a timetable…would you burn a waiver on him and drop Reddick?
Not if you’re trying to make a push, no. If you’re out of contention and just want to do a blocking move, sure, pull the trigger.
I can pick up a couple of points in the SB category in my league. Which September call-ups should I be looking at to boost my total?
Dalton Pompey comes to mind right off the bat.
Is @zvsanders so mean to you b/c he’s hella jealous?
I swear my mom didn’t ask this.
And yeah, he’s just jealous of my fanny packs and jorts.
I’m dead inside and bringing Wiers down with me makes me feel one step further from the grave.
Speak of the devil.
Erik Johnson, P, CHW. Tore up AAA this year. Any chance he amounts to anything in MLB?
I just don’t see the upside. I suppose his floor isn’t terrible, but his ceiling is pretty limited.
I’ve got Ian Desmond and Jason Kipnis. Is picking up Baez a complete waste?
Nope! Talent is talent. If he’s free, pick him up as long as you don’t drop anyone too significant.
What about dropping Anibal Sanchez for him? He gonna play again?
I’ll swap Anibal for Baez for sure.
What do we make of Castellanos going into next year? Seems textbook post-hype. I guess the determining factor is if this second half is his reaching his power ceiling or is it just a hot streak.
Awesome versus left-handers. Less so against righties. He’s a platoon type for me.
Last keeper in a deep simulation style NL league (has defensive metrics). Patrick Corbin (would be 5th SP can only start 5 in a week), Marcell Ozuna(4th OF), or Cameron Maybin(4th OF).
I’ll take Ozuna, but I’m probably in the minority there. Corbin would be second choice.
12 team h2h, 12 keepers, all categories including singles, dobules, triples, OBP, , IP, QS, holds. Keeping Schwarber, Hosmer, Freeman, Addison, Kipnis, Heyward, Rusney, Harper, Strasburg, Jose Fernandez. Now, who to keep for my last two: Gausman, Tanaka, Richards, Jackie Bradley, Starlin, Moustakus?
Categories are 1b, 2b, 3b, hr, r, rbi, avg, obp for hitters, ip, w, sv, h, qs, k, era, whip for pitchers
I’ll keep Tanaka and Moose.
Keep 5 for next year. Need to pick two to drop.
Rizzo
JD Mart
Arenado
Puig
Cespedes
Dickerson
Adrian Beltre
Seems like Beltre is a sure drop. Need one more. Dickerson, Puig, or Cespedes?
Rizzo, JD, Arenado and Dickerson seem like the easy calls.
I’ll go with Puig over Cespy, and yeah, Beltre is the other odd man out by a good bit.
Standard, 10 team keeper roto league, Keeping seven. Set with Harper, Goldie, Machado, Schwarber, MadBum, Lester. But, that pesky last spot. Cano, Bautista, Freeman, or Adrian Gonzalez?
I’ll go with Bautista, but if you went with Gonzalez I wouldn’t blame you. Freeman is close as well, but his surrounding lineup stinks.
Keep Giolito or Severino? One of them is almost certain to start the year in the rotation, the other is a more highly regarded prospect
Giolito for me.
Pick 3 to drop from this list for my H2H OBP league playoffs. I show their schedules for the playoff time period – 2 week period through 2nd last week of season. Fielder has really sucked for last month. Werth has turned it on the last 2 weeks (.410 OBP w/2 HRs) & has an easy schedule. Turner has a great schedule, but does he play full time with call ups & Howie back. Eaton has 15 games and LeMahieu has 10 games at home.
Justin Turner 13 games (3vCOL, 3vPIT, 4vARI, 3@COL)
Werth 13 games (3@PHI, 4vMIA, 3vBAL, 3vPHI)
DeSheilds 13 games (4vHOU, 3vSEA, 3@OAK, 3@HOU)
Fielder 13 games (4vHOU, 3vSEA, 3@OAK, 3@HOU)
Choo 13 games (4vHOU, 3vSEA, 3@OAK, 3@HOU)
Eaton 15 games (4vOAK, 3@CLE, 4@DET, 4@NYY)
LeMahieu 13 games (3@LAD,3vSD,4vPIT,3vLAD)
I’d drop Eaton, Turner and Fielder, I suppose.
Thanks! A follow up – our league doesn’t have a trading deadline (we are on the honor code). Would you make the following trade considering their playoff schedule. Again 5×5 OBP league:
Bumgarner 12 games so chance of 3 starts = 40% (3vCIN,3vARI,3@SD,3@OAK)
Giles 12 games but a tough 6 vs WAS (3vWAS,3@ATL,3@MIA,3@WAS)
Fielder 13 games (4vHOU, 3vSEA, 3@OAK, 3@HOU)
for
Sale 15 games so chance of 3 starts =80% (4vOAK, 3@CLE, 4@DET, 4@NYY)
Papelbon 13 starts against easy competition (3@PHI, 4vMIA, 3vBAL, 3vPHI)
LeMahieu 13 games, 10 at home (3@LAD,3vSD,4vPIT,3vLAD)
I’d rather have the MadBum side.
coasting into the h2h playoffs. will get a bye.
Team doesnt have a ton of holes. Is there an upside play for the next two weeks? If so, does it make sense to drop Bruce Rondon (have plenty of closers)?
I.e., is there a player worth taking a huge gamble on? Relatively shallow keeper league. OBP 5×5. if it matters my OF is the thinnest part of my team.
Nice job getting the bye.
No OF callups have blown me away just yet. I’d stand pat for now.
Who are the best 2 options to go with ROS? McCullers, Rodon, Smyly, Medlen, Iglesias
Smyly and Medlen for me. I love McCullers and Iglesias is solid to, but both will be on a IP limit.
I’ve been down on Rodon from the get go.
Would you play Stanton in first round of H2H playoffs next week? Buxton is alternative
Yep! I’ll take Stanton over Buxton.
Need to keep 8 next year. H2H league (Avg, OBP, R, RBI, HR, SB – W, ERA, K, SV, HLD, WHIP)
Cutch
Braun
Tulo
Frazier
Heyward
Cano
Odor
Belt
Price
Salazar
Stroman
Props for giving me the league details!
I’ll keep McCutchen, Tulo, Frazier, Price, Salazar and Stroman right off the bat.
My final two are Odor and Heyward.
I’m struggling with Braun not being in the top 8 of this list.
He’ll be 32 next year and I don’t see him stealing 18 bags again.
Without those steals he’s another hitter around the .280, 25 HR mark. Certainly useful, especially with the AVG + OBP wrinkle, but as the saying goes, I’ll give up on a guy a year too early rather than a year too late.
What do you think about Noted Socialist Carson Cistulli’s recent wimpy, hoverhanded embrace of capitalism with ads on the podcast?
As someone who is feeling the Bern for Senator Sanders, I for one welcome our new left-wing overlords!
Ads are bourgeoisie and for now are a temporary solution to gain traction for our movement.
Any chance we get anything out of Matt Moore this year? Chances he breaks out in a big way next year?
I’ve been on the Moore hype train since Mandy Moore.
I think he’s depressed his value enough that yeah, he could slip through the cracks in next year’s draft.
$200 cap dynasty
Is Carlos Martinez worth 5,6,7 over the next 3 years, or do I go shorter at a slightly higher price? I have Sale, Stroman, Carrasco, and Rodon for next year.
Baez/ Odor/both at $2 for next year?
Thanks.
I’ll take 5/6/7 with Martinez.
I’d rather have Odor, but if it’s a deep league, keep him and Baez.
6×6 with OPS, 12 teams, can keep 4 from this group. Already keeping Joseph A. Bats and Tulo
AGonz
Schwarber
Dozier
Chris Davis
Dickerson
Price
Polanco
Thanks Davy <3
Schwarber for sure, then I think Price. The other bats just don’t do a ton for me.
10 teams, keep 5 forever. Who are the 5 I keep? I’m thinking Gomez still because I feel like it’s a lost season but he’s got the talent…he was a first rounder this year.
Goldschmidt
Gordon
Encarnacion
Donaldson
Braun
Carlos Gomez
Pollock
Goldy, Donaldson, Gomez and Pollock.
Who are your 3 favorite callups?
At this point I like Zach Davies, Matt Moore (I’m a sucker for him) and Dalton Pompey.
12 team mixed keeper 6×6 (OPS + IP) $300 salary cap
starting 2x all IF, 5OF, UT, 3SP, 2RP, 4P + 10 bench
Would any of these guys be worth our $10 minimum keeper salary for 2016?
Peraza, T.Turner, C. Seager, T.Story, S.Matz, R.Igelsias, Medlen, T.Walker
I already have (or am likely to keep) the following under contract for 2016
Belt $17, Encarnacion $27, Arenado $13, M.Franco $10, Kang $10, Betts $10, Puig $13, Kluber $12, Carrasco $10, Price $28
That’s a cool format, though the IP being a category seems exploitable with streamers, unless you limit the moves made.
I think Matz is worth keeping. I’d make the argument for Seager too, but you already have Kang. Not sure I’d keep Belt at $17, especially with Edwin already on your team.
Thanks for the comments David. We have an annual cap on Games Started and only weekly roster moves to counter streaming. Unfortunately, we use a contract system for keepers and Belt is already on contract (final yr).
I was probably only going to keep Kang for a max of 2yrs ($10 and $12) since I’m not sure how his career arc will go. Was thinking of going 3 or 4 yrs on Seager ($8/$10/$13/$17) using a ‘rookie’ contract which starts at $8 instead of the standard $10….but if Mattingly refuses to play him, it would be hard to keep him on pure speculation or just on the fact that he should be the starter next yr.
Ah, good to see you have a way to cap the IP/GS.
If you have to make a call, I’d take Seager’s four years over Kang’s two, and I’m Korean.
I like the idea of contracts rather than year-by-year inflation too. Cool league.
In an NL-only keeper league, Seager just got dropped. I gotta pick him up right? I need steals, but looking to drop Sweeney or Jankowski for him.
Yep, you have to grab him, unless the Dodgers publicly said they want to ship him to an AL team in the offseason.
I’d throw back Sweeney.
One other question: Pitching really tight- Hendricks, Nola or Iglesias? Need Ws, ERA, WHIP. Thanks!
Hendricks > Nola > Iglesias
Always happy to help.
12 team H2H 5×5 + OPS, $260 cap with $5 salary inflation.
Have a keeper conundrum with regards to a few OF and SP:
I have Soler [$11 salary next year], Dickerson $11, Puig $17, and Upton $29. Among SP I have Pineda $14, Richards $11, Rodon $6, McCullers $6, Nola $6 and Darvish $8.
Who do you believe are worth their 2016 salaries and who do you think I should throw back?
I’d hang on to Soler, Dickerson, McCullers, Upton, Nola and Darvish.
I’m worried about Pineda’s health, Rodon’s arsenal, Richards being too pricey and Darvish’s come back. Puig at 22 seems steep as well.
Sorry, I may have confused you a bit. All of those salaries include the + $5 inflation, so those prices would be what I’d be keeping them at. Thanks!
Oooh, I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that!
I don’t think my answer changes, though I wouldn’t blame you if you took Pineda at $14 over Nola.
is anibal sanchez going to pitch again this year? …still a week away from throwing…kinda sucked anyways.
He might pitch again, but I wouldn’t bet on it. I’d let him go and find SP help elsewhere.
And yeah, I think he’s pitched below his talent.
Need help deciding on keepers for next year to know who to drop to create roster room once innings limits are reached (i.e. with Joe Ross about to be shut down – need to decide whether to drop him or keep him rostered – Is he a keeper next year?)
Which 3 of the “others” below would you keep?
Context: 14-team mixed pts league (not H2H – seasonal) (innings cap at 1400). Keep 8 players for 3 yrs at cost of round picked. Also, I’m in first with a 250 pt lead.
Definite keepers:
Rizzo (4th rd)
Archer (8)
Keuchel (12)
Springer (14)
Harvey (15)
Others:
Cutch (1st rd) – I’ll be picking 12th or 13th – We start draft with 4th place finisher – no tanking.
Kipnis (3)
Yelich (13)
Franco (18+)
Matz (18+)
J. Ross (18+)
Nola (18+)
Buxton (18+)
Note: Waiver wire additions are counted as 18th rd. 2nd waiver wire addition kept is 19th rd and so on.
+1 on the details
No, I don’t see Joe Ross being a keeper. He’s a two-pitch guy (fastball + slider) and lefties hammer him. If you keep him into the offseason, I’d look to unload him.
I’d keep Matz, Kipnis and Cutch.
Thanks for answering – and the fast response!
Why cant I think of a country song that heavily talks about doing donuts? Anyone have one on the top of their head?
Oh dear.
This is the first question to really stump me. Uhh, the only country music I like is Taylor Swift, and she isn’t even country.
Wait, no! Garth Brooks is still a thing. Not sure he had any donut related songs though.
Danny D a keeper in a .obp league next year? With 3b and OF eligibility he looks good… projections?
By Danny I meant Derek….
Ehh, not sure. I don’t love him as a starting 3B unless it’s a really deep league. There are other/better options in at CI or OF too.
What are the odds that this is the Boegarts that we’re going to have long term? Great avg, poor counting stats? Do you feel as disappointed as I do?
He’s still SO darn young. Most (almost) 23-year-olds are in Double-A.
I’m buying him if you’re selling! Solid rate stats with a frame to tack on more home runs from the shortstop position? Yes please.
Keep 4 6×6 with OBP and QS:
Stanton 1, Posey 3, Votto 9, G Cole 10, JD Mart 14, Lo Cain 15, Carrasco 16.
Leaning Stanton, Votto, JD, Cain.
Sounds right to me. Carrasco over Cain would be a defensible move though.
In a keeper league, old school yahoo, players don’t cost $:
Who has more potential at SS: Trea Turner or Eugenio Suarez?
I’ll take Turner.
Where do you think Puig is playing next year?
$11 Puig or $5 Dickerson in Std + OPS?
Still in LA. I’d take Dickerson over Puig. Price and ballpark make the difference.
League settings: 12 teams, H2H, 5×5 but with QS instead of W and K/9 instead of K (min. 50 IP/week)
Keep seven:
Jose Bautista ($22)
Carlos Correa ($8)
Dexter Fowler ($8)
Todd Frazier ($6)
Justin Turner ($6)
Yasiel Puig ($27)
Christian Yelich ($20)
Zach Britton ($12)
Jaime Garcia ($6)
Matt Harvey ($10)
Eduardo Rodriguez ($8)
Chris Sale ($24)
Noah Syndergaard ($6)
Pretty set on keeping Correa, Syndergaard, Harvey, Sale, and Frazier. Need help picking the last two.
Normal $260 budget?
I’ll take Joey Bats and Garcia. I don’t love keeping four pitchers, but I don’t see a way you get Garcia for six bucks.
Have to pick 5 out of 6 to keep next year. 14 team H2H (AVG, OBP, R, HR, RBI, SB, W, L (least), SV, K, ERA, WHIP). Kind of silly cats, I know.
Danny Salazar
Marcus Stroman
Aroldis Chapman
Yasiel Puig
Matt Carpenter
Miguel Sano
Losses? That’s an interesting wrinkle.
I’d throw Chapman back and keep the other five.
Thanks, that’s where I was leaning.
What do you expect from Pineda tonight a D RoS?
I think he lasts six or six-plus, two runs.
He still has swing and miss stuff, and the Yanks have a big lead in the WC, but they’re chasing the Jays for the AL East. They can’t rest him too much, so I’d expect regular rest for him. I’d start him the rest of the way without worry, unless his velo is way down today.
Shallow 10 team h2h redraft league…I have a bye week next week, so my playoffs don’t start for 2 weeks. So take that into context. Thanks!
1) Rank best bench bat ROS: Zimmerman, Vogt, Dickerson, Moose, Reddick, Choo, Trumbo
2) Back of my rotation is J. Ross, Pineda, and Matz. Ross is eventually the odd man out when Matz comes off the DL, but would you rather have any of this waiver fodder over Pineda or Matz: Samardzija, Bauer, Igelsias, E-rod, Nola, Rodon
Dickerson > Choo > Zimmerman > Trumbo > Reddick > Vogt > Moose
Manuel Margot has struggled in AA this season. Has his star potential diminished at all?
I don’t think so. His strikeout rate is still in check and his walk rate has actually gone up versus what he posted in High-A. Unless his swing has changed, I don’t see a reason to worry. He’s not even 21 quite yet.
First year in a dynasty league. H2H 12-team Yahoo (R,H,2B,3B,HR,RBI,SB,BB – W,SV,K,HLD,QS). I can carry over 15 to next year. I was thinking about dropping the closers and only picking up setup pitchers since SVs are very completive and holds are not. Smart? Also, what players do you see that I should keep that I am planning on dropping and who should I drop instead? I feel I have too many 3B and SS but it’s hard for me to see any of them go in a draft.
This is my first thoughts:
Keep:
C – S.Perez
1B – C.Davis
2B – J. Altuve
3B – K.Bryant
SS – Correa
IF – M.Sano
CF – J.Ellsbury
OF – B.Buxton
Util – X.Bogaerts
BN – C.Dickerson
BN – C.Seager
SP – M.Scherzer, C.Sale, J.Urias, L.Giolito
Drop:
LF – C.Granderson
RF – S.Piscotty
2B – K.Wong
CF – B.Hamilton
SP – A.Nola, K.Gausman, M.Pineda, R.Iglesias, T.Bauer, T.Walker, C.McHugh, C.Rodon (SP/RP)
RP – C.Kimbrel, K.Giles, P.Strop
Thanks!
You must be playing against a bunch of monkeys. You basically have everyone.
Sometimes I feel like I am. For instance, I picked up Seager, Correa, Giolito, and Urias after the draft was done and put them in the “NA” slot which everyone else had empty. I also picked up Ellsbury after a team dropped him during his cold spell. Also traded Pelfrey for Dickerson.
In leagues where Holds and Saves are counted the same, I like to target high K seventh/eighth inning guys. If closers struggle (and 5-8 or so do every year) then my setup guys move to closing roles. That setup guys are cheaper is always a nice bonus as well.
Your list looks like what I would hang on to. Well done.
Keep 6 ( 5×5) — counts as picked in the round listed
Kluber (rd 10)
Cole (rd 16)
Sale (rd 15)
Harper (rd 20)
Donaldson (rd 22)
Sano (rd 28)
Dickerson (rd 28)
Correa (rd 30)
Correa, Dickerson, Sano, Donaldson, Harper and Sale.
Basically give me all of the bats and then Sale.
Hi David, 12 team keeper league, $260 budget, standard 5X5 (Hr, R, RBI, SB, OBP and W, K, S, ERA and WHIP). Do you think Posey and Price at $30 each are worth keeping? I’m projecting C position to be thin in free agents next season while SP looking fairly thin as well. Do I take the chance of throwing them back since I’ll have a lot of $ to spend?
That’s really steep for Posey. If it’s a 2-catcher league, I suppose it’s okay, but if only single C, I throw him back. Price at 30 is really expensive for my taste as well, but I tend to not hang on to pitchers.
Hi David, When do you see Mazara being up for good and what do you expect from him as a full timer?
Not until next year.
I see Hamilton/Fielder/Moreland sharing time at 1B/DH. I don’t imagine Martin or Venable coming back, opening up playing time for the Mazara/DeShields/Choo outfield.
Could use a back-up infielder. 14-tm pts. Best options look like E. Escobar, Schoop, Semien or Gyorko. Drop one of M. Taylor, Piscotty or Buxton? Not a NEED…so could stand pat too.
Also, drop Gausman for Jimmy Nelson?
Schoop for Buxton if you’re feeling frisky for power.
No, I’d stick with Gausman.
Tillman useful tonight/RoS?
Also I find myself a redskins and Newcastle fan. Are there two worse owners in any version of football?
I think so. The Ray’s are great against righties and it’s in a pitcher’s park. As for RoS, Tillman is a stream guy in 14-teamer for me.
I used to be a Bears Fan and I root for the Hoops, currently sitting fourth in the Championship table. Probably pretty close to your level of misery.
H2H Playoffs and I need to drop one of Hanley, Alvarez, or Maybin when Stanton comes back. I’m on Bye now and don’t expect too much trouble in my next matchup so I can afford to wait and see a bit.
Assuming Pedro Alvarez here.
Yeah, I’d drop him or Maybin. Alvarez’s calling card is power, and Stanton obviously has more power. If you need the HR more than steals, drop Maybin.
12-team std, time to cut Hammel for Tomlin, Porcello, Shoemaker, or Kelly?
No, stand pat.
Difo. Getting a callup? Behind Trea on the depth chart now or actually likely to get the first shot at an open INF spot in DC next year? And oh yeah WILL there be one (or more than one) open INF spot in DC next year? Escobar, even Desmond sticking around? Espinoza? Others, even a free agent or two?
Other than speed, I’m no that high on Difo’s game. And yeah, he’s behind Turner for playing time.
I think Desmond is as good as gone. Difo is probably a super sub at best form e.
16 team 6×6 holds and OPS- “keeper” won’t get in specifics of our contracts. Have STanton coming off DL and Leake off DL but haven’t made any moves to bring him into the lineup… yet.
I’m in 1st – top 2 get by’s – AROD and Brett Gardener have been terrible. rest of my team is Gattis, Votto, Rendon, Cano, Belt, Crawford, Cespedes, Eaton,Braun, D Peralta, + the 2 Yankee’s.
Pitching is Cole, Greinke, Lacky, Lynn, Corbin, Shields +leake – RP pitchers Holland, Giles, Tolleson, Siegrist, Strickland
Need to drop 2 – thinking of Strickland and one of the Yankee’s… would put me in a not great spot for holds but….ya.
thoughts?
I’d drop Strickland and then Corbin. If you don’t want to drop two pitchers, I suppose letting go of ARod isn’t a terrible idea wit Greg Bird et al ready for some of DH time.
What are your expectations for Baez? He’s a very intriguing pickup, but I’m skeptical that 1.) he’ll play every day and 2.) he’s got the K% reduced enough to be effective.
Think the opportunity & power is there to make him mixed league relevant down the stretch???
…I’ve got good options already @ SS & 2B in Desmond & Kip, so don’t wanna burn a pickup on a bencher.
I think second base is his with Coghlan moving to the OF to cover Soler’s spot.
He has power and rate stats, though I’m anxious to see him vs big league stuff. If he goes .250 RoS with three or so HR, that’s a success imo.
Back of my rotation is J. Ross, Pineda, and Matz. Ross is eventually the odd man out when Matz comes off the DL, but would you rather have any of this waiver fodder over Pineda or Matz for h2h playoffs in a couple weeks: Samardzija, Bauer, Igelsias, E-rod, Nola, Rodon
Give me Matz and Pineda over the WW guys.
Been running away with my league. My strongest competitor in H2H Playoffs has Billy Hamilton, Dee Gordon, Blackmon, Ellsbury, Kemp, Odubel Herrera, Carlos Correa. My only basestealers are Revere, Cain, Maybin, Reyes, and Dozier. Should I look to drop Revere and/or Maybin for help in other categories?
Im not David but I had Revere on my team a couple weeks ago and dumped him when I looked at his game logs and realized he had not yet even attempted a SB since being traded to the Blue Jays. He has since stolen 1 base but that’s still only 1 SB attempt in 27 games. They’ve had him hitting 7th a lot and it just cuts down on his SB opportunities and with the mashers on that team, just seemed like he wasn’t going to be doing a lot of running the rest of the way.
Should still give a good BA and plenty of runs I would think, but not SB.
If you’re punting steals, punt em and go grab help elsewhere. In H2H (non-points of course) I routinely punt either AVG or SB.
I have a potential chance of winning 7 of 10 categories this year and finishing with 92 out of 100 points this year in my fairly competitive Roto league. Is this considered a Seattle Mariners 116 game winning season or more of a 104 Phillies winning season?
M’s.
That is a REALLY dominant team. Well done.
This is my first year in fantasy baseball and I’m having a ton of fun and success in a H2H keeper league. What are the advantages to ottoneau compared to a standard draft league?
H2H is closer to fantasy football in that weekly matchups and hot streaks really determine winners vs losers.
Ottoneu (specifically points) is designed to remove as much of the “matchup luck” as possible. I run almost all Ottoneu, dynasty or custom leagues at this point with just some public leagues to keep tabs on the the normal waiver wire. I could never go back to a standard redraft league…well, unless Tout Wars is offered to me.
6×5 H2H with the extra offensive being TB
I have Big Tex and he is just sucking up a roster spot but the Yankees didn’t bother putting him on the DL so I can’t bury him there. Half thinking about just dropping him since it’s entirely possible he’s done for the year and I’m in a pretty shallow league so there are always half decent waiver options (just at 1B – Lind, Moreland Colabello, etc.) even if none of them are top shelf.
As for my league – playoff seeding is pretty much wrapped up although I do still have a shot at #2 and a 1st round bye (8 team league). Not a keeper league so nothing to consider there
What do you think about Tex
I’d go with Lind over him at this point.
Maximize your points and maybe you snap up that No. 2 spot!
Thanks David – literally within an hour of my posting that, news came out that Tex’s MRI came back showing more than the initial xrays were showing and he is on crutches for at least a few days and is expected to miss at least a couple weeks.
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/01/yankees-reveal-mark-teixeiras-shin-injury-is-more-than-we-thought/
10/10 anon
I haven’t said that since I used to browse /vg and /b
14 Team Dynasty League:
C Schwarber
1B Abreu
2B Cano
3B Bryant
SS Crawford
OF Trout
OF Fowler
OF Deshields
OF Calhoun
Util Adrian Beltre
Bench Eaton, Mazara, Ketel
SP deGrom
SP Synder
SP Tyson Ross
SP Corbin
RP Kimbrel
RP Rosenthal
Bench Giles, Urias,
DL Stroman
Im in a close battle for 1st with 2 other teams…
Where do I need to upgrade to get me the trophy this year?
Ross and Corbin seem like relatively weak parts of your team. I’d hit the waive wire and look for SP, though I assume you’ll dump one once Stroman is back.
Thanks for answering so many questions! Quick one on next year’s Pitching Keepers. League is 12 team H2H. Pitching categories are W, SV, Ks, ERA, WHIP, and QS.
Pick 4 of the following, with the pick indicating what I can keep them as next year:
1. Syndergaard (22nd round pick)
2. Carlos Martinez (22nd round pick)
3. Archer (10th round pick)
4. Kluber (9th round pick)
5. Heaney (22nd round pick)
6. Tolleson (22nd round)
7. Jose Berrios (22nd round)
Thanks!
Thanks for the detailed question.
Give me:
Thor, Archer, Kluber and Martinez.
Berrios was mentioned once on this page. He is absolutely destroying AAA. Is it just so obvious that he’s a great call up? Or am I misreading his stats?
Twins haven’t called him up yet. Rochester wraps up their regular season next Monday, but by then he’ll likely be at 165+ IP. Not sure we see him in the big leagues this year. If we do, he’d be on pace to make another 6 starts on regular rest. I don’t see that happening. Two or three at most.
Who wins starting SS for chisox next year
My gut says Anderson gets the bulk of the starts, but but won’t get called up until May or June.
16 team keep forever, up to 15 keepers/team. $260 cap. Which of these pitchers would you keep? Taijuan Walker $11, Derek Holland $6, Jeff Samardzija $1, Alex Cobb $4, Chris Bassitt $1, Andrew Heaney $1. I’m planning on keeping 3 of the 6.
Shark, Heaney and Cobb for me. Spend your cash elsewhere!
NL keeper, wOBA
Roster space is tight. Cut expensive Wong to make room for cheap Baez? Wong badly fading, Baez 1/4 the salary, but too risky?
If your budget is that tight, yeah, do it.
I’m in a deep 16 team team with minor leagues. Were there any call-ups today that could make a fantasy impact, but aren’t too highly-touted as prospects? I want to make a nice free agent pick-up.
I think Stefen Romero has decent pop, too bad he plays in Seattle.
Ryan Dull could gets some holds, maybe even a save or two down the stretch for the A’s.
Chris Johnson is back fro the Tribe. Not really a prospect, but he could give some AVG.
12 team 6×6 w/ OPS and K/BB, can keep 10 no restrictions… who would you keep out of: Rizzo, Donaldson, Tulo, Votto, C. Davis, Harper, Ellsbury, Schwarber, Puig, Kershaw, Hamels, Pineda, Severino, Matz, McCullers?
Donaldson, Rizzo, Votto, Tulo, Harper, Schwarber, Kershaw, McCullers, Matz jumped out to me.
For the last spot I’d go with Davis, Puig or Hamels, in that order.
Thanks!
I’ve been shuffling outfielders all season and need some help deciding what to do, need to make some decisions for the h2h playoffs. R, HR, RBI, SB, TB, AVG, & OBP are categories.
Who should I drop to make room for Gordon? I also have Delin Betances in a RP slot, drop him for Gordon?
Would you drop any of the current players for any available free agents?
OF – Reddick
OF – David Peralta
OF – Nori Aoki
UTIL – Dexter Fowler
DL – Pence
DL – Gordon
FA – Ben Revere
FA – Maybin
FA – Jackie Bradley
FA – Stephen Piscotty
Thanks for your help.
Betances seems like a reasonable choice to drop.
No, stick with your OF over the FA. Maybe Revere for Aoki once the rest of the Giants OF gets healthy though.
12 team league (OBP, QS), three keepers.
Keeping Blackmon in the 24th round and Springer in the 12th. For my last keeper, do I go Donaldson in the 3rd round or Archer in the 9th?
I’ll take Donaldson. Give me premium bats in a 12-teamer. There will always be pitching available.
I was leaning that way too. Thanks!
Who is more likely (and how likely) to secure a starting role Opening Day 2016… Richie Shaffer or Kaleb Cowart?
I’d lean towards Shaffer.
Hey, I appreciate your help. 16 team league, points, 1/2 point for strikeouts (the positive and negative kind), keep 5. You can keep players forever with no penalty. I currently have 7 or so up for debate.
Trout
Rizzo
Kluber
Keuchel
Puig
Pence
Brantley
Schwarber
Syndergaard
Which 5 would you keep?
Trout, Rizzo, Schwarber, Thor and Kluber for me.
How would you rank these guys for next year?
Joc
Springer
Polanco
Dickerson
Piscotty
DeShields
Thanks!
Dickerson > Springer > Pederson > DeShields > Polanco > Piscotty
Should I keep Syndergaard or Salazar for next year?
Thor. Two years younger, better ballpark, NL instead of AL!
Keep Giolito & Urias over Nola & Matz?
Yeah, I think so, unless you’re making a push with Nola and Matz for this year.
Gordon’s back, who do I drop? Gordon, Gardner, Bruce, Byrd, Heyward, Taylor? R/H/2B/HR/RBI/SB/AVG/OPS; none of these guys are likely keepers
Wave goodbye to Taylor or Byrd.
Looking to add some pitching depth
Can you rank ROS Moore,Corbin, Smyly, Gausman, Iglesias, Cashner
Also I have Pence as my dl spot, would you pick up burnett and dl him, my OF is trout, calhoun, granderson, kemp (3OF league)
Smyly > Cashner > Corbin > Moore > Gausman > Iglesias
Iglesias gets penalized because the Reds will move him to the pen or shut him down at some point.
Yeah, I like Burnett as a DL stash.
12 team, pts. (H/ab, R, HR, RBI, XBH, K, SB, AVG, OPS// IP, QS, W, L, WHIP, K, SV, H, ERA). Keep up to 10
Posey
Schwarber
Votto
Belt
Abreu
Russell
Cano
jD Martinez
Cain
Franco
Syndergaard
Keuchel
Matz
Berrios
Archer
Nola
I’d go with:
Schwarber, Posey, Votto, Abreu, JD, Cain, Thor, Archer, Keuchel and then Matz.
I assumed 2 C league? If not, Keep Schwarber over Posey and swap him out for Franco.
12 teams, keep exactly 10, can keep players forever with no costs or penalties involved.
I’ve been running an 8 hitter/2 pitcher split with my keepers for last few years, because Kershaw and Scherzer don’t really need much help. But with the emergence of Archer, he’s looking like a better keeper than some of my other lower-end hitting options like Pederson, Buxton, or even Rendon.
I don’t feel like I really need 3 starters out of my 10 keepers, but he’s the best option as things stand right now, isn’t he?
Archer is pretty nasty, and I’d consider him over Rendon or Buxton.
Yeah, I think he is the best option of the players listed.
If you had to pick today, which 5 would you keep?
its a 12 tm 6×6 (r, hr, rbi, sb, obp, slg)(w, k, era, whip, qs, s+h)
Bryce harper $25
George Springer $5
Miguel Sano $14
Matt Carpenter $13
AJ Pollack $3
Carlos Martinez $3
Jose Abreu $19
Thanks!
Springer, Cano, Pollock, Harper and Martinez.
Who do you like to have a better bounce back from a lost-to-injury 2015….Rendon or Soler?
Soler!
His Hard% and Soft% contact rates are both excellent. I looked it up for an article on another site and his .265 AVG is the worst AVG of any hitter with a .360 BABIP since 1994.
If he can just reel in the strikeouts a bit, he’ll be just fine. Big if, but he’s young and missed a ton of development time.
Keep 4 straight up, just for next year
Trout
Dee
Freeman
Ortiz
Longoria
Thor
Degrom
Keuchel
Wacha
Trout, Thor, DeGrom and Gordon.
How much does other teams keepers factor into your keepers. For example, if guys in my league are keeping mostly top 6 round guys should I look to keep high end talent (Rizzo 2, Posey 3) , or stick to value plays (JD Mart 14, Cain 15). My thought was that I can get the same or similar guys in 2 and 3 anyway, where JD and Cain clearly have more value, but with others keeping 1-4 round picks I don’t want to be left out in the superstar market.
It’s something to be aware of at minimum.
The opposite side of your reasoning is that since other teams are keeping their high price talent, if you throw yours back, other teams could outbid you for your former players.
Regardless of what others are doing, if you feel comfortable getting similar talent later in the draft, do it.
Gallo or olivera worth adding in 14 teamer with no real need at those positions?
Eh, maybe Gallo.
do you keep Grichuk 2 or Salazar 8? 6×6 roto, so there is a premium on hitters. Alternative question, do you see Salazar as a top 20 SP and/or Grichuk as a top 40 OF?
I’d probably take the cheaper Grichuk, but to your later questions, yes to Salazar being Top 20 and to Grichuk being top 40 OF.
Innings-capped league, I’m currently over in my projection. Should I start Joe Ross tonight? What about Iglesias, Nola, Kennedy, Rodon tmrw?
No, I’d sit Ross as the Cards have a tough lineup.
I’d start Nola and sit the rest.
With the news of Rios being out, does his starts go to Dyson? I need steals in 10-team roto, any other players that should be available that can help without hurting my other categories too much?
I’d assume so. Orlando could nab a start here or there, but that’s it.
I’ve heard chicken pox as an adult is brutal, and right now Rios might miss two weeks. Oof.
The recent NA LCS playoffs/gauntlet resulted in the most interesting and powerful story line possible. Agree or Disagree?
I love following C9 for CS:GO. Glad to see their LoL team take the NA qualifier.
In the /r/leagueoflegends, I was laughing as the commentors were calling C9 a sandbagging team.
McCullers on the wire right now in a 12 team keeper. With dropping Fiers or Nola for him?
Not at this point. I think his IP gets limited soon.
12 team H2H redraft with some current SP woes (Felix, Carrasco, Martinez). Drop Chavez, McCullers, De La Rosa, or Hutchinson for Joe Kelly, Latos, Smyly, Heston, or Colon?
I’d drop Chavez for Kelly or Smyly.
12 Team H2H
2B – LeMahieu
SS – Bogaerts
OF – Joey Bats, Kemp, Piscotty
SP – DeGrom, Hamels, Salazar, Kazmir, Shields, Estrada, Nelson, Iglesias, Holland
RP – Giles, K-Rod, Box, Machi
NA – Baez
DL – Stanton and Matz
Currently no offensive bench players.
Dilemma: Which 3 players do I cut to activate Baez, Matz, and Stanton? Or do any just go back to the wire. I think Piscotty is a given but after that I’m lost.
Thanks!!
I’d throw back Piscotty, then Iglesias and Holland.
Two teams both out of contention made the following deal in my ottoneu league. Who wins that trade?
$1 Swanson and $1 Heaney for $20 Freeman
I’d rather have the Freeman side.
Rough year finds me just missing playoffs and instead competing for the #1 pick in next year’s draft via winning the loser’s bracket.
14 team, keep 4 with keeper value based on last year’s draft round plus inflation. If I can grab #1 pick I don’t need to keep Miggy bc I can redraft him and would instead keep Dickerson (15th), Soler (15th), Stroman (20th) and likely one of deGrom (5th), D. Peralta (20th) or Vogt (20th). Of those 3 who do you prefer?
Give me Dickerson, Stroman, Peralta and Soler.
The exception being if it’s a two catcher league, I’d swap out Peralta for Vogt.
10 team H2H
C – Gattis (C, OF)/Grandal (C, 1B)
1B – Grandal/Bautista (1B, OF)
2B – Dozier
3B – Donaldson
SS – Sano
OF – Granderson, R Castillo, Marte
UI – Desmond
BN – Gattis/Grandal
DL – Hamilton
Is Castillo worth a roster spot at this stage or are there generally available sleepers out there who’d be worth scouring the wire for?
SP – Kershaw, Syndergaard, Shark, Rodon, Quintana, Ventura
RP – Chapman, Robertson, Allen
DL – A Sanchez
Have been raking offensively for the most part, but my SPs have been underperforming on a head to head basis as other teams have punted saves, making my Ws and QS suffer. Smyly, Heaney and Matz have been available on the wire. Do I make a move there, and drop an RP to try to gain some counting stats?
I’d drop Grandal before Castillo, unless it’s an OBP league.
Let go of Grandal and pick up Matz.