Paul Sporer’s Baseball Chat – July 1st, 2026

Paul Sporer: Hey y’all, thanks for coming out!!

Jon Tayler: Thoughts on Jared Jones? I figured he’d be up and down post-TJ, but I’m starting to worry he’s not going to lock in before the season’s up. Would you cut him in roto for any of Lodolo, Christian Scott, Rogers or Boyd?

Paul Sporer: Yeah I came into the season looking at Jones more for 27. He doesn’t have enough track record to lean on in a post-TJ year. Eury Perez was the same but I made that mistake last year so I wanted to learn from it and not be too quick to trust Jones. I have no problem with any of those guys for him, as for which one, I’d line up their schedule for the next 2-3 weeks and see if that helps find a game changer

Charles Bengal Tiger: Does Tatis Jr.’s recent mini-HR binge foretell a better second half?

Paul Sporer: Ya it definitely felt like a matter of time for his power to click in. Everything else is there, so this could be a monstrous summer. And they really need it, that lineup is liiight

Ropeia: Is it finally time to drop Austin Riley in a 10 team obp league? I keep expecting that 2023 year to come back, but…

Paul Sporer: Yep, I think so. It’s brutal. I will say, runs like the one Dansby Swanson is on right now is why I hold struggling vets so long but unless you’re blessed w/an excellent offense than can eat Riley’s .619 OPS, I’m good to move on. Any time you cut a guy like, you do so knowing they could catch fire, but you went three full months. Time to find some production.

clydethedog: Dynasty NL Only league, is Josue De Paula almost a must keep/dont deal piece now?

Paul Sporer: Maybe not completely off the table for trade, but I’d need quite a haul. Power, speed, drastically improved plate skills (-7 pts in K% to 13%) on the best team in the league is a winning combo!!

JoeG414: My Three IL spots are full ( Logan Henderson, Palencia & Maikel Garcia) But I alson have Gelof & Sorderstrom on the IL.  Waiting to hear more info on Maikel, but would he be a drop ?

Paul Sporer: Yeah I’d probably squeeze Maikel there. Maybe Palencia unless you really need the SVs. He wasn’t that good prior to his injury and should be out past the break.

JoeG414: Hello Paul, Lost C.Early to the IL. I don’t have any IL spots available. Drop Early for either Sheehan or Seymour ? Or try to get both ? 12T Roto.  Thanks

Paul Sporer: Sheehan

Kevin: Roto 5×5 OPS league. I’m solid in hitting but need SB. I got offered Vlad/Konnor/BLowe for my Gunnar/Aranda. I feel like that’s a deal if you assume Vlad will return to some semblance of his old self. But he’s been so, so bad. 500 OPS for the entire month of June is scary. He’s never had a month that bad in his entire career. Thoughts?

Paul Sporer: He has been bad but this is a true buy low. It’s ugly right now and we really only have to track record to lean on… quite a track record it is, though! I’d go for this one.

donald mezick: Rest of season Sproat or Chandler ?

Paul Sporer: That’s a tough one but Sproat is winning me back over w/his last two starts (17 Ks in 11.3 IP), though both were v. CIN so not the toughest competition. I just worry about Chandler’s walk issues plaguing him all summer, especially as he’s not missing bats very well (20% K). Sproat is all the way up to 26% with 9 starts of at least 5 Ks

Salty: for my player page question – was thinking of a way to see if some of the struggling vets like Turner, Machado, Riley, etc. are starting to show signs of life – was thinking that maybe comparing HH% L10 vs season long or maybe June vs April might be a way to find out if any of those guys are showing progress

Paul Sporer: I wonder if the livelier ball could also accelerate their return to prominence. I have both Manny and Trea on my Main Event team on what has become the worst constructed AVG lineup in baseball history

Keith Hernandez: Hey Paul! Been joining these chats for years. Still love the Charlotte updates (happy we’re still getting them!) Are you seeing anything different in Brandon Sproat given his June? Is he doing anything better that suggests this is the pitcher we should expect going forward or just a nice few start stretch?

Paul Sporer: Even though I just mentioned Sproat, I couldn’t pass up a msg including Charlotte! She’s doin great!! 12 years old and as sassy as ever. We’re headed to the vet Friday afternoon for her annual in fact. But yeah, regardless Sproat, like I said I prefer him over Chandler.

More broadly, he was someone I was really excited about coming into the season only to watch him labor for 2 mos. He opened w/3 straight sub-4 IP seasons and 7 ER in his season opener, so he’s been fighting uphill all year. While he did take advantage of CIN 2x to boost his numbers, 2 of his other 3 June starts were solid, too, as he survived Coors (5 IP/3 ER) and thrived in Sacramento (6 IP/1 ER). I always trust MIL’s SP development so that added to my interest in Sproat and now it appears they’ve got him going

ahrens: McGonigle 💣. Top40 hitter in 27?

Paul Sporer: Really hard not to be over the moon excited about him. He doesn’t have a mega standout category but instead just does every single thing pretty well

Bob Sacamano: Are we changing our tune on Wrobleski?

Phillip Denny: The people demand Wrobleski respect. They demand it!

Paul Sporer: Respect needs to be earned and a 15% K rate heading into yesterday’s start just isn’t going to earn a ton of respect. He was truly masterful in Sacramento, though!! Best start of the year with 11 punchies in 7 strong. Even if this doesn’t open the door to more consistent Ks, he’s still a lineup staple because even if his ERA regresses, he’ll remain a consistent high Win potential arm

procters1: Thinking of trying to trade for McKenzie Gore, who is in his final contract year. I can offer first year contracts of Jose Soriano, Shane Baz, Troy Melton, Zebby Matthews or J.R. Ritchie. Would any of those get the job done? Any of this group you wouldn’t give up? Thanks, Paul.

Paul Sporer: I think really any of ’em should get it done given the contract status. I’d likely hold Melton the tightest. I’m not dodging the Tigers homer allegations here, but I truly believe he has ace upside. I know we haven’t seen major swing and miss yet this year, he’s been Wrobleskian in that way, but it’s in there. I really think he’s a dude. The other have their own merits, but I’d allow my trade counterpart to pick from the group. Might try to hold Soriano a little tighter, too, even as he crashes back to earth. Still love his stuff and do think he’s better than last year.

jonerici: What do you make of Jacob Gonzalez and what the Sox might do with him when Murdakami returns?

Paul Sporer: my goodness, ANOTHER Dansby HR

Paul Sporer: anyway re: Gonzalez, he’d likely get sent out upon Murakami’s return unless another injury cleared a spot for him. he’s hitting fine, but not so well that he’s forcing his way on. though maybe they don’t need Junior Perez & Randal Grichuk as righty OF.

NicklePickers: Tolle Toiling

Paul Sporer: I couldn’t see sitting him anywhere so I gave him the full reco, but it was always going to be a challenge against the hot-hitting Nats.

JoeG414: Why doesn’t Melton get run support ?

Paul Sporer: Hey at least the one time he’s struggled this year (5 IP/4 ER), they did give him 10 runs to win 10-4. But yeah very scant support in his other 5 starts

Mike B: yordan is obviously in the midst of a historic season. but he has quite an injury history. am i overthinking it by trying to move him for a haul? what would that haul look like?

Paul Sporer: Not at all overthinking. We can’t ignore the reality of his crusty ass knees. Now is absolutely the time to consider selling. As for the return, would need a lot more info about your league, but obv you shoot for the moon!

JoeG414: Frozen Dinner !

Paul Sporer: Swanson reference I think!

NicklePickers: How long until I finally start crediting the Nats offense and stop throwing my pitchers against them?

Paul Sporer: Like I said, I don’t think I’d have found a sit for Tolle anywhere except maaaaybe shallower formats but ya they aren’t to trifled with!!

Salty: As a Tigers fan, what would you like to see them do ahead of the deadline?  I’m neutral and maybe I’m crazy, but I think if they kept things together they could make a run in the Central with that starting pitching and just enough offense to support it.  It’s a shame that Clark has slumped ahead of a potential promotion, and Briceno got hurt – he would’ve been a decent trade piece, or maybe even make the bigs if he had a strong first half to the season.

Paul Sporer: I consider them FULLY in it still and should absolutely be playing as such. Obv if they go on a big skid, they will pull the eject and make some trades, but they shouldn’t even be thinking about a sell until at least a week or so after the break depending on their status at that time. Longer deadline this year, too — August 3rd, so even longer to get in position. Skubal/Mize returning together, Flaherty looking better and the offense finding some semblance of consistent can definitely be enough. The bullpen remains a terrifying nightmare and I wonder if they could make an early move to fortify the pen

jsweets2112: Drop either Merrill or Adell in a keeper league? Ten Team. They are killing me

Paul Sporer: Hey Merrill is on my team with Manny & Trea… anyway, it’s not about me! I’d move off Adell first but Merrill doesn’t have endless time left!

Kevin: I’m seriously thinking about dropping Raleigh. 1 HR and 600 OPS since coming back isn’t encouraging. I’ve got Goodman at C so he’s just taking up my UTIL spot doing nothing. Trade him for pennies on the dollar? Hold?

Paul Sporer: Can you just bench a wait a bit?

Paul Sporer: I’m with you on wanting him out of the UT spot

JD: FA Sanoja > Roatered T. Troy in NL-onlyland?

Paul Sporer: Gimme Sanoja with a more diverse profile of skills. Troy’s got more pop, but I’ll take the SBs and AVG of Sanoja in exchange

Paul Sporer: OK y’all, I gotta roll out. Chat as normal next week, but then off in 2 weeks for All-Star break.