Fantasy Baseball Chat With Jeff Zimmerman

Jeff Zimmerman: Hi everyone, I’ll see how many I can get done today.

Bring back Mookie: In a dynasty points league, I traded away Correa, Snell, and Candelario. Got back Corey Seager and Chris Paddack. How’d I do?

Jeff Zimmerman: It’s an even trade. I like Seager or Correa and Snell over Paddack. Candelario is a non-factor

Guest: Civale, Heaney, or Montas, simulation league like scoresheets or dmb, limited keeper league AL Only

Jeff Zimmerman: This is close, Civale I guess

Bones: Hey Jeff, thanks for the chat! Who you picking as last keeper in a 12-team, 5×5 with $280 cap: Ramirez ($56), Ozuna $35 or Lynn $16? Already keeping Tatis ($6), Hiura ($6), B. Lowe ($9), L. Gurriel ($12), Buxton ($21) and Bohm for free.

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d go Ozuna and probably drop Buxton to keep Ramirez

Spotted cow: In a 10 player keeper obp and sv/HD and IP 5×5 h2h league any obvious preference between gallo, hoskins, liam hendricks and sonny gray? I am leaning gallo with a hint of Liam Hendricks but I’m not overly confident about any

Jeff Zimmerman: In keep forever, Hoskins. He might be better longer.

tacopocket: first of all – mining the news might be the best recurring fantasy articles ever.  Next:  a 5X5 12 man auction league ($300) where we keep 5.   My potential keepers:  $23 JTR (2 C), $12 olson, $41 story, $4 ketel, $4 robles, #32 rendon, and $11 wheeler.   I’m leaning story, JTR, ketel, robles, rendon.

Jeff Zimmerman: Thanks

Jeff Zimmerman: Keep the impact Story, JTR, Ketel and Rendon. That’s only …. $100

Jeff Zimmerman: you still have $200 to fill out the roster.

Jon: Could you help me wrap my brain around something? In an auction keeper league with minor league rosters, as the size of the league expands, the ave cost of each player in auction increases. With more teams, does depth become more important? Or is it more important to obtain high-end talent at the expense of depth?

Jeff Zimmerman: The key is if there are MLB starters on the waiver wire

Jeff Zimmerman: If there are starters, top end talent matters more.

Jeff Zimmerman: I was in a 20 team league with 43 roster spots and no one was on the wire to start

Jeff Zimmerman: In those leagues, I might trade a 2nd rounder for 3 5th rounders.

Guest: Gimenez, H.Kim, & Chisholm – which do you target for late round SS/utility in fantasy?

Jeff Zimmerman: Gimenez and it’s not close

Buff: What’s the outlook for Gavin Lux? Does he win the 2b job, defensive shortcomings and all? Does he go back to AAA? Or something in between?

Jeff Zimmerman: Sounds like he’s off to AAA. At best he’s a platoon bat.

Big Dog: In a Dynasty hold forever league at $0 cost with NA spots, what would the return have to be to trade Wander Franco?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d at least need a first-round talent, possibly more.

Jeff Zimmerman: Now is a bad time to trade. You need to find that team who is out of the race but tried to be in and trade Franco then. You might be able to pillage his roster.

HarryLime: Domingo German, Yankee rotation or the door?

Jeff Zimmerman: Looks like in the rotation.

neilage: Projected number of saves for:  Rich Rodriguez (PIT) , Neris (PHI), Alex Reyes (STL), Tyler Rogers (SFG)?

Jeff Zimmerman: Tough group. 10, 15, 10, 0

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m not high on any of them

Sss: Robbie Ray throws 26 pitches and 24 were strikes?! Exactly the kind of thing that ropes me in (again). Why? I know he’s not good for me.

Jeff Zimmerman: You’re asking for help from the wrong person, I’ll likely set the min pick now.

Mr.Fantasy: In an $300/12-team auction league, I have an offensive core of Acuna, Machado, Voit.  In your opinion better to go one more stud as in Harper for example, or even out the dollars (2 or 3 mid-tier players) for better balance amongst the remaining offensive spots?

Jeff Zimmerman: I’m a fan of living in the $15 to $25 range of hitters and once out of money bottom feed. I’d love to have a team of 5th rounders.

ds: someone in my dynasty league got Giolito for Matt Chapman. I think that’s a steal for a top 10 pitcher but am I overreacting

Jeff Zimmerman: Probably but there is no reason to stop it. Maybe team trading away Giolito needed a 3B

Casey: Is Gimenez going to get the playing time over Rosario?

Jeff Zimmerman: Eventually. He’s a better hitter and fielder. The issue is that if the Indians keep Gimenez in the minors for 2 weeks they have another year of team control.

Waiver guys: Which of the following do you think is a better bet to help me this year and next year (keeper league)
Jarred Walsh or Ryan McMahon? I am thinking of cutting Hunter Dozier for one of them

Jeff Zimmerman: First, I’d take Dozier over both with similar talent and soon-to-be triple position eligibility.

Jeff Zimmerman: I like Walsh of the other two. McMahon should never be started on the road.

OldManDuggan: What scripture passages can help my fantasy team?

Jeff Zimmerman: All of them

Gbill: Would you trade Dylan Carlson for Ketel Marte in a dynasty league? Keep forever and no cost factors.

Jeff Zimmerman: I’d prefer the Carlson side of this trade. I’m worried 2019 was a career season for Marte

Nick: Thanks for your spring training velo Google doc, that is a cool resource to make available to the community.

Jeff Zimmerman: Thanks. I was keeping it anyway. Sharing it isn’t that hard.

Quadrangular: Help me understand what you meant by this in your Mining the News piece yesterday: “Alvarez’s knees must be gone for the Astros to try him at a new position.” Wouldn’t that mean his knees are in good shape if they’re trying him at first?

Jeff Zimmerman: He played the outfield in the minors, that’s where he’s experienced

Jeff Zimmerman: Why teach him a new position now if he was fine to run in the outfield

Tony Alford: Hi Jeff! Is there any reason at all to keep Roberto Osuna in a 14-team dynasty roto league (30 active players plus 5 farm prospects kept per team)? Trying to pick my 30th keeper between Osuna, Justin Dunn or Miles Mikolas and they’re all so terrible. If not Osuna, who do you “like” between Dunn and Mikolas? Thanks for your help with this horrible situation.

Jeff Zimmerman: Drop Osuna for Dunn (velo up) or Mikolas (2018 and 2019 were decent)

Future studs: Is J-Rod up in 2022?  Kelenic in 2021, with J-Rod to follow I assume?  I’ve heard Soto comparisons for J-Rod – agree/disagree?

Jeff Zimmerman: Julio Rodriguez comps are near God-like.

Jeff Zimmerman: Grab him now while you still can

Newbie: Is Chris Bassitt a good 5th starter in a 10 team league? His ratios are elite over the last season and a half and he plays for a great team. With a powered down ball he could be even better. Am I missing something? Thank you

Jeff Zimmerman: 10-teamer? Likely no

Jeff Zimmerman: In such a shallow league, I’d aim for upside

Jim: Which player would you prefer to draft in a 7 category (Avg, OBP, HR, RBI, R, TB, SB) head to head categories league? Seager or Rendon?

Jeff Zimmerman: They are close but Rendon

Casey: Am I missing something with Justin Upton? Seems to be going over pick 300 according to adp, but if he’s healthy could he not put up 30HRs and 160 RBI+R?

Jeff Zimmerman: Nope, I’ve drafted him late in almost all my leagues.

elGuapo: You wrote optimistically about Wacha earlier in the offseason. Do the subsequent (to that post) signings of McHugh, Archer and Hill dampen your expectations at all or do you still think there is plenty of work to go around?

Jeff Zimmerman: The innings in TB are a mess. I like Fleming in addition to Wacha. I think might just be streaming their starters

Cory: In a keeper league, are you a believer in Teoscar Hernandez?  I would like to “sell high” if I can for pitching, what tier of pitcher would you think is reasonable?  The Civale or Taillon range?  Higher or lower?

Jeff Zimmerman: No, especially since he’s only going to play 75% of the time with the additional bats. I think you can higher on SP.

Jeff Zimmerman: Looking at NFBC ADP, Strasburg, Ryu, Hendricks and Berrios are going around him.

Tom Petty: My league just instituted a 5 move per week limit. How would you balance the early season roster churn with streaming pitchers?

Jeff Zimmerman: I think the early churn should be with SP’s. They are ones who will have noticeable changes.

Catcher in the Rye: Do you think Huff has a chance to get adequate AB’s for the Rangers this year to use a draft day stash on him?

Jeff Zimmerman: He’s starting in the minors. There is no need to stash a catcher

LB: In a deep roster dynasty points league (14-team, 40-man rosters), would you prefer to just play a numbers game at your weaker positions (i.e. having like 4 subpar 2B hoping at least one becomes solid), or just accept a weak position and try to roster upside with your bench spots, regardless of positional needs?

Jeff Zimmerman: You’re likely to have one or two weaknesses with the league depth. I think three options are fine and just be heading to the wire trying to find this year’s Dylan Moore

Mike: In a standard 5×5 H2H league, considering risk, which two would you keep of Luzardo, Snell or Lamet?

Jeff Zimmerman: Lamet

Timbo: Would you agree 2B is the weakest position in fantasy?  If so, what are some late auction options you’d envision as roster worthy?  Lux?  Jazz?  Kim?

Jeff Zimmerman: Besides catcher, it misses on top-end guys, but it’s fine in the middle rounds. Once I noticed this, I just prioritize them. One note, Semien and Polanco are sneaky 2B adds since they will get 2B in the first week or so.

Jeff Zimmerman: As a late dart, I like Kingery with some of his changes.

Pledge david benefield: If Paddack gets his fastball back, can he be an above average starter w just 2 pitches?  Thanks.

Jeff Zimmerman: His max is peak Patrick Corbin. Good but not ever elite.

konstantin: are the lefty concerns for Grisham & Meadows overblown (both have lead off vs lefty to start the spring)

Jeff Zimmerman: Not to me but the Rays and Padres care about them and the pair’s playing time suffers

Shoresy: What’s the best resource for spring pitcher velocities?

Jeff Zimmerman: Figure out the parks with Trackman (velo in Gameday) and look at those. Twitter searches are fine also.

ScottTINSTAAPP: Are you dropping Xander with the news he’s dealing with shoulder soreness even though the MRI was clean? The idea he even needed an MRI gives me pause.

Jeff Zimmerman: Sure, I’d like to not start the season with someone hurt

Lenny: Your preference on the three – Merrifield, Arozarena, Meadows???

Jeff Zimmerman: Merrifield

DandyRobnak: When does Toronto’s pletora of young SP finally start getting recognition as contributors in fantasy? A Kay, T Thornton?

Jeff Zimmerman: Not until someone gets hurt or struggles. It might not be until May until they get regular starts.

Chip: In a SVs/HLDs league, who are the first non-closers I should target in the draft? Guys like Antone, Diekman, etc.

Jeff Zimmerman: In The Process, I found out that the key is just to target the relievers with the best projected ERA’s. They’ll eventually end up with jobs. Once the season starts, start focusing on the K%-BB% leaderboard

Philly Pete: What are reasonable expectations for Bohm in 2021?  I think he’ll thrive in year 2

Jeff Zimmerman: His projections seem fine. I do think there is a ton of up and downside risk

ScottTINSTAAPP: If you are employing a stars and scrubs strategy in an auction, how many +$30 players do you think is viable to have?

Jeff Zimmerman: Start with some math. $35 x 6 ($210) puts an owner with $50 left  with about $3 per additional player.

Jeff Zimmerman: That’s why I aim for 12 $20 players ($240) leaving me with $3.6 left at the end

Jeff Zimmerman: for the other 11

Johnny: Thoughts on Harper, or a combo buy of Merrifield/Arozarena around the same price in an auction league?

Jeff Zimmerman: Merrifield and Arozarena will like go for $15 more combined

Lenny: Thoughts on Senzel this year? With a good bill of health, can he be a .300 20/20 guy?

Jeff Zimmerman: Yes, but I’m worried he’s become the next Buxton

Taco: How would you rank Rodgers, Hampton and McMahon as the Rockies flier?

Jeff Zimmerman: Hampson, Rodgers, McMahon

TooDamnTall: Do you have any go to strategies for streaming rp?

Jeff Zimmerman: I don’t stream them and the league setting matter a ton on this question

Philly Pete: Who’s the closer in Philly? Neris or Bradley? Or will they committee it up? Last season was an absolute disaster from the pen.

Jeff Zimmerman: I think they will commit and I think Neris starts with it.

Ohio: Antone’s stuff is nasty and sounds like it has only improved. If he should get the spot over Miley/Lorenzen, where do you view him as? Top 50 pitcher? Top 40?

Jeff Zimmerman: I think Antone starts in the pen as the long man. I’m sure he’ll join the rotation as some point

CJ: Do you prefer M. Gore or L. Patino in a keep forever league (W, ERA, WHIP, S and K’s)?  Will either be an ace??

Jeff Zimmerman: Gore and maybe. It’s so tough to know with pitching prospects.

Dave: Hey Jeff, how much of a bounce-back do you expect from Brian Reynolds this year?

Jeff Zimmerman: Some for sure, but it’s tough to get excited about anyone on the Pirates.

Bruce: Any chance Joc Pederson plays full time?  Track record bad vs. LHP, but apparently Cubs made him a “promise” to play every day.  Thanks.

Jeff Zimmerman: I think he will until he forces their hand to bench him

BringBackDeSpanielHair: Did you hear anything about Jansen’s velo yesterday? Couldn’t see a radar gun on the broadcast

Jeff Zimmerman: I haven’t look at velos from yesterday. I might stay up late tonight and catchup

Jeff Zimmerman: That’s it for this week. Talk to everyone next week.