Paul Sporer Baseball Chat – July 7th, 2017

Paul Sporer: What is up everyone!! Gotta do a tight hour today, so let’s get going.

Wally the Green Monster: K. Broxton and E. Suarez for T. Frazier.  Who wins that trade?  (the team with Frazier needs SBs and has other 3B)

Paul Sporer: Think I prefer side A, but I think Frazier will be solid rest of season

Tom: Bruce Rondon has 5 shutout innings since his recall, and all in the 8th inning – 1 win, 3 holds.  Is he looking as good as these results, and is he now the guy to stash anticipating a Justin Wilson trade?

Paul Sporer: I think he is the stash if you’re worried about a Wilson trade, but I’ve fallen for him many a time

Bernie Brewer: I have Schwarber.  I’m not sure what to expect with his return.  I was offered Duda and Mancini for him.  Should I accept that?

Paul Sporer: Ya I’d take both. All three are kinda the same player and you’re getting 2 for 1

Baryolo Cologne: Who wins a Conforto for Alex Wood trade this year? 3 years? 5 years? Assume they both cost the same.

Paul Sporer: So difficult to project out w/SPs, espec. ones w/injury history. I’d say Wood this year; Conforto in future

Jimmy: Would you trade Michael Pineda for Jeff Samardzija?

Paul Sporer: I would

Mariner Moose: Is Luke Weaver going to stay in the bullpen?  If so, can I drop him?  I was hopeful for him as a SP.

Paul Sporer: Barring injury, he will stay in the pen, but injuries happen allll the time

Henry: Should I start Gausman at Minnesota today?

Paul Sporer: Ya I probably would

Paul Sporer: I mean, maybe not in 10-team, but he’s looked a lot better of late

Paul Sporer: Getting feel for the splitter again

JSC: Gregory Polanco or Cameron Maybin in a shallow 10 team mixed.

Paul Sporer: If SBs are the big need, I’d go Maybin. Otherwise, I’d go Polly.

Paul Sporer’s Evil Twin: If I’m looking for a 1b, and wanna deal Donaldson, who do I shoot for?

Paul Sporer: Think you can still ask for anyone outside of Votto, Goldy, Zimm, and maybe Rizzo now that he’s on fire

Big Tuna: Who are your favorite choices for spec saves going forward?

Paul Sporer: Rosenthal, Kahnle bc of D Rob possible trade, Phelps, Doolittle

Chin Music: Was I crazy giving up Darvish, Hamilton, Knebel and Godley for Kershaw?

Paul Sporer: Really depends on league type

Rob: Is Matt carpenter doing this on purpose (50+% flyball) or is this just an extreme swing that’ll even out in the second half? That 230 batting average is hurting quite a bit

Paul Sporer: Ya there’s no way it’s not purposeful. I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if he shifted it down a bit to get some more base hits. He’s definitely power-focused these days, though

JSC: Shallow 10 team mixed, which duo do you prefer Ray & Paxton or Quintana & G. Cole?

Paul Sporer: That’s pretty close, but I think I’ll take the lefties by a hair

Paul Sporer’s Evil Twin: I traded Kluber away for Josh Donaldson 2 weeks ago.  Ugh.  Did I make a horrible mistake?

Paul Sporer: It certainly doesn’t feel great with the way Kluber has been pitching, but as long as he’s healthy, Donaldson will have a strong 2H

Jimmy: Haniger or Cargo – Dynasty, keep forever?

Paul Sporer: Haniger on age alone. I don’t necessarily think Cargo is toast, but it seems like he’s gotta be ailing this year and playing through it

Paul Sporer: poorly, I might add

Trevor cahill: I have a 62% ground ball rate and it’s sexy. Can I keep this up?

Paul Sporer: Ya I definitely think so. The question is whether the K% is real and I buy into it as well

JJ: trade proposal in AL-only league. I give Cam Bedrosian for Jarrod Dyson. I have Kintzler, Justin Wilson (Shane Greene too as insurance if Wilson gets traded) plus Kahnle who will probably get saves soon. I really need steals but I’m worried Dyson gets traded to NL. Thoughts?

Paul Sporer: Worth mentioning Greene & Alex Wilson as J.Wilson insurance to the person who asked about Rondon. I think your Dyson concerns are built into the cost as Bedrosian just isn’t that big of a loss for you specifically w/your saves setup

Jay: I’m in 1st place but I need pitching pretty badly in a 12 team mixed, non keeper. Being offered McCullers, Orl. Arcia, Nova and Michael Taylor for Kris Bryant and Cozart. My best SPs are DeGrom and Darvis. I have Goldschmidt, Betts, and Murphy as my anchors. OK to move Bryant for this package?

Paul Sporer: No, I love McCullers, but I need a more bankable (read: better health record bc his talent is off the charts) arm for KB

Roman: Let’s get this out of the way..Is Anibal Sanchez restorable in a 12 team mixed? I sooo badly want to dump Dylan Bundy!

Paul Sporer: I’m kinda out on Bundy, too, but I can’t do that. I still think Bundy has enough name value to get SOMETHING. Maybe do a 2-for-1 — or 2-for-2 where the second piece you get is just some trash you can cut immediately if you want to scoop Anibal

Paul Sporer: As for Anibal, I gave him a quick hit in RR this morning: http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/roto-riteup-july-7-2017/#more-99166

Paul Sporer: The changeup seems to be back and that’s always been a key driver to his success. I’m not RACING to get him in 12-teamers, but I can in the right sitch

Henry: Fridays are the best because we get a Paul Sporer Chat! Should I bench Lindor until he can start to hit again or do I need to still have him in the lineup every day?

Paul Sporer: Thanks, I appreciate the kind words. You just have to ride it out. He’s still on pace for 28 HR, 80 RBI, 90 R and SS is so lame that he’s 12th on Player Rate even w/the bad AVG

Joe G: Have extra outfielders and a hole at first…Getting F. Freeman for A. Miller & Khris Davis???

Paul Sporer: I dig it

Paul Sporer’s Evil Twin: Todd Frazier for Drew Pomeranz.   Fair deal?  I’d be getting the Toddfather.

Paul Sporer: That works

Brian dozier: So the home runs we’re gonna come down obv but 2016 looks like a big outlier for a guy with a career OPS of like .760 now doesn’t it?

Paul Sporer: Ya and it’d be disingenuous for me to pretend I had it pegged that he’d be like this, but I stayed away particularly bc I just didn’t know what we’d get. I had zero feel for him

Ham Sandwich: Rank these SPs: Cahill, Newcomb, Karns, and Rodon

Paul Sporer: http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/starting-pitcher-rankings-update-june… — Cahill was DL’d when this came out, but he’s a Usually Start guy

Giancarlo notnatS: Is Mallex Smith turning himself into a Starling Marte lite?

Paul Sporer: Hmm, so is that just anyone who steals a lot but does nothing else? I Mallex is another Jarrod Dyson, Ben Revere type at the young end of the spectrum

Brad: Do you think Donaldson and machado are top 15 players ros?

Paul Sporer: Haven’t considered a top X list for ROS, but they have a strong chance to be despite uninspired first halves

Paul Sporer: I don’t think I’d rank them as such rn, though

Cory: Paul, I’ve been trying to trade high on Bundy all year, now I’m worried its too late.  In a keeper league, is “selling high” on Bundy to buy low on Buxton too low?

Paul Sporer: I hear you, I think the writing is on the wall. Most leagues will still have a buyer, but it might 1-2 ppl now instead of 5-6 a couple wks ago. I don’t love Buxton, but I can get behind it in a keeper lg

Symmetra: C. Knebel and S. Gray for J. Gray and S. Manaea. Who wins this trade?

Paul Sporer: It’s pretty fair, but I’d say the Knebel side does if they have a big SV need

Kevin: Luis Castillo or Mike Clevinger – rest of this season and future?

Paul Sporer: Castillo, but barely. They’re both probably back end Spot-Start, top tier Could Starts in the next update: http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/starting-pitcher-rankings-update-june… (I didn’t have Castillo in this update)

JJ: likelihood that Jarrod Dyson gets traded?

Paul Sporer: Certainly possible. I haven’t seen many rumors about him, but I also haven’t seen a ton of rumors in general yet

Cory: In my keeper league, owner to far back to compete has to drop Segura or Marte before next year and I need speed.  I can keep either for one year.  Would a combo of Bundy, Grichuk, Carlos Santana enough to get one?  I can throw in picks too

Paul Sporer: I feel like that could be enticing enough if they like Bundy at all

David B: Rate ROS: Taillon, Godley, Jimmy Nelson?

Paul Sporer: That’s my order: http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/starting-pitcher-rankings-update-june… — like all three.

Dean: Need power, have plenty of average. Okay to trade LeMahieu for Schoop?

Paul Sporer: Definitely, feels like a perfect needs fit

Bryan: i can keep one minor leaguer on my roster. I’m in between Albies and Devers. Who would you prefer for the rest of this season?

Paul Sporer: Think I’d go Albies. Speed more rare and while both are 20, he’s at AAA already

Joey: Yo… Now that Gray and Duffy are healthy can you pls rank them RoS with Pomeranz and Nelson?

Paul Sporer: Nelson, Duffy, Gray, Pomy

Collie: Thoughts on Urias in dynasty? Not being able to stash on DL led me to cut him (see if I can keep it below the radar and get him back) for another MiLB SP but man it sucked to cut him

Paul Sporer: Such a bummer to see him go down with this serious injury. It’s really hard to hold on if you keep limited MiLBers

Don: Moustakas or Pac man for my last roster spot in a 10 team roto?

Paul Sporer: Moose

Zeb: Keep Adam Jones in a 10 team roto? Or drop him for Calhoun, Belt, Mancini?

Paul Sporer: I can move on from Jones. Just play the hot hand

JP: Hey Paul! Please rank ROS: Mazara, Margot, Maybin. Basically, who would you rather have of these three?

Paul Sporer: Maybin, Mazara, Margot in general; would jump Margot over Maz if speed is the need

chuck: Picked up Luke Voit as a spec add after watching him put one in big mac land yesterday. Listened to you talk about him on the pod last week as a guy to keep an eye on. Assuming he plays every day what do you expect from him? The strike out numbers dont look too bad in the minors and so far so good with a small sample in the big leagues

Paul Sporer: Freakin Cardinals Devil Magic! He was beasting in AAA before this. I think with playing time, we’ll see double-digit pop and a solid AVG. Not a standout at 1B, though bc it’s so deep this year

Kerry: Paul , we’re tired of the “tight hours”.  Start any day/time you wish (we’ll be here) but bring back the marathons!

Paul Sporer: They’re coming, I promise. In fact, I think I can promise a marathon next week for the All-Star break

Paul Sporer: Let me talk with the powers that be and maybe I can swing TWO chats

Jay: Botanical question – Hedges or Flowers?

Paul Sporer: LOL, I like that. I think I’d go Flowers. His AVG is more rare than Hedges’ pop

Getting Impatient…: time to drop Trevor Story if decent options are available?  Andrelton is free in my league…

Paul Sporer: I still have a tough time cutting him, but I completely get it, espec. with Andrelton being free

Joey: How valuable of a Dynasty asset is Ryan McMahon of the Rockies at this stage?

Paul Sporer: Meh

Paul Sporer: Well, not quite “meh”, thought he was 1B, but he has 2B/3B. I kinda dig him a bit

Chris: Is Scott Schebler, is he keeping this pace, getting better, or going to take a noise dive in 2nd half?

Paul Sporer: I think the Duvall comps are pretty apt so I could see him falling off a solid bit

Guest: Yessss! Paul chat! Everyone celebrate (but make sure you take an Uber, unlike Paul).

Paul Sporer: lol

Hedo: Outlook on Justin Bour – regression? More goodness?

Paul Sporer: Love Bour, I can see him coming down a bit from .911, but he will remain a must-start 1B

Guest: Where did the “home improvement” references start on the podcast? I missed it somewhere.

Paul Sporer: I don’t really remember, either. It was a couple months ago, I just randomly said “I don’t think so, Tim” and Eno panned it

Cookie: When do we get more Charlotte Twitter vids?  She is such a sweetie!

Paul Sporer: I post more on Snapchat (psporer), but I’ll start posting more on Twitter for non-Snapchatters

Brad: You have my permission to do 2 chats next week

Paul Sporer: Woo!

Moltar: Do you believe in God(ley)?

Paul Sporer: I do, big fan of Zack Godley

MArk: Cano for Lindor fair in dynasty?

Paul Sporer: Ya, espec. if I’m getting Lindor bc of age, but even if not, I can behind it

Paul Sporer: OK yall, I gotta get going. Gonna see if I can do 2 chats next week, but if not, at least one big marathon. Also updating SP rankings!

Paul Sporer: Thanks so much for hanging out. Follow me on Twitter (@sporer), on Snapchat at psporer, and on Twitch at twitch.tv/psporer24 where I stream MLB The Show 17 and Out of the Park Baseball (though it’s been all The Show so far this season). Streams return Sunday night!

Paul Sporer: Take care, y’all!