Paul Sporer’s Baseball Chat – May 7th, 2025

Paul Sporer: Thanks for coming out! Sorry for the delayed start, had to clean up a mess right before chat started as my humidifier spilled water allll over the place!

Aaron Chizmar: Would you trade Ronald Acuña Jr. for Teoscar Hernandez?

Paul Sporer: I might’ve before Teo hit the IL, but with that happening and Acuña nearing a rehab, I’d likely just hold

StroShow: Do you think it’s time to look into selling low on Bryce Miller in a 15-team mixed league? He looked so good against Cincy (@GABP no less!), but just dreadful aside from that…

Paul Sporer: It’s been rough, but I’m reluctant to sell low unless my pitching outside of him is just really good

Chadwick Van Cuylenberg III: Gonsolin … must pick-up in 12s?

Paul Sporer: Yes, he should be on a roster. I’m sure there is a team or three in a given 12-teamer than can’t find a spot for him but that leaves several who can definitely use him

Datt Mamon: Due to pitching disasters in April — both SP and RP — I began a rebuild and made the following deals. DeGrom for Walcott/Sproat/DeLauter; D. Williams/Langaliers for R. Anthony and J. Soriano; and Clase/M. Clark for C. Smith/T. White/Luzardo. Thoughts?

Paul Sporer: Oh that is a beautiful set of trades right there!! Fantastic work!

Chadwick Van Cuylenberg III: Not happy with Lux at 2B in a 12-team 6×6 league (OBP/SLG). Would you trade the ghost of Spencer Strider for Kristian Campbell?

Paul Sporer: Understand your frustration w/Lux’s lack of pop so far, but I wouldn’t completely count him out. That said, I think you can still swing that deal and hang onto Lux if/when the power turns on

Guest: Do guys like Kisner and Mervis hold water all year and put up productive campaigns?

Paul Sporer: Did you kinda combine Kameron Misner into Kisner? I’m assuming so but lemme know if I’m wrong there. I think he has a better chance than Mervis to hang on, but both are dicey w/brutal plate skills that will leave them prone to long slumps. Mervin, in fact, has a 40% K rate and that’s just untenable to deliver any measure of consistent fantasy production

CJ: Trying to trade Kristian Campbell for a Starting Pitcher. Any suggested names around his value to seek? 12T H2H 9-Cat

Paul Sporer: Maybe Spencer Strider? 🙂 (just referencing that earlier question) — but I do think you can ask pretty high, someone in the top 30-35 range?

Franklin: Any interest that Mike Soroka has found something with his k:bb numbers?

Paul Sporer: I think there is some deep lg appeal. I’m a long-time Soroka fan so I’m rooting for him. Scooped him in some drafts this spring, but cut after he hit the IL. Will definitely revisit him in 15s. Probably still a standard streamer type in 12s and lower. Does have a 2-step next wk, but it’s pretty tough w/at ATL and at BAL on the docket. That has some viability in 15s, but is more in the YOLO zone for 12s

Max: On a scale of 1-10 how nervous is Justin (and you) about his boy schwelly?

Paul Sporer: I will ask on tomorrow’s pod, but I’m guessing a 1-2 max. A couple hiccups of late including 1 v. LAD but still a fantastic 18% K-BB and 1.11 WHIP

Guest: who would you say had the most unheralded month of april?

Paul Sporer: Geraldo Perdomo!! And maybe Nasty Nate Eovaldi on the pitching side

Octavio: Hey man. Thanks for your time! What should I do at third base. N. Marte is probably going on the IL from what I gather. Who would you replace him with? (yahoo, obp, 5×5) josh smith, Dylan Moore, chase meidroth, coby mayo, josh Jung, Miguel Vargas, max muncy (lad).. Personally im leaning smith

Paul Sporer: Yes, Smith is my lean as well. I think he’s very underrated and now batting leadoff playing virtually every day!

Morel or Less L?: AL Only, daily obp league: trade morel for pasquatch? Their projections are similar except for the PA issue with the stupid Rays…

Paul Sporer: I’m really torn on that one. I thought Vinnie P was a much better BB% guy than he actually is so I thiiink I’m actually closer to Morel w/this duo. I hear ya on the PA frustration, but he can pack more punch in his PA than Vinnie P

Spot starters: Logan Evans got singled to death this weekend but has interesting stuff. Would you start this week?

Paul Sporer: Depends on league size/type. I can see running him in 12s and deeper as TOR hasn’t hit righties well at all this year (.288 wOBA)

CJ: Would you drop Togila for Agustin Ramirez or Carlos Santana?

Paul Sporer: Are you not putting Ramirez at C if you get him? I know he’s been DH’ing for MIA, but I’m not sure he can necessarily hold DH in fantasy all year. His real value comes from being C in fantasy. Maybe let Toglia finish out this homestand first with a doubleheader tomorrow. He has an .830 OPS at home.

Jack Tripper: Who do you think has most upside ROS: Y Kikuchi, J Jobe, or C Schmidt? Thanks

Paul Sporer: Jobe or Schmidt… lemme not be a homer and say Schmidt. Just has show more bat-missing ability

Matt: Roster crunch – incoming questions for some help! We giving up on Trevor MeGill? He just got a save last night, but its only his 4th save this year. And I have Kahnle and Fairbanks to start anyway

Paul Sporer: He’s been better of late so while I have been stashing Nick Mears, Megill might be OK after all. I think push-come-to-shove, I’d drop Kahnle and hold Megill.

Jim Leyland Palmer: In a shallow formart (10tm 5×5) how short a leash should you give Kyle Stowers? Cut bait if he stays cold this week, or hang on to something potentially real?

Paul Sporer: I think he’s still a hitting streamer who can get dialed in w/his power, but then will still have prolonged slumps. And slumps on a bad team are really tough bc you don’t even get those ancillary R/RBI like you do in a good offense. So if goes cold for 10-14 days, I’d comfortably move off in a 10-teamer. I’d hold through the 2 Chicago series and if he’s icy after that, cut ahead of the TBR series given their quality of arms

Justin 3Ber: No news on Noelvi yet but sounds oblique-y.  Should i grab Shaw as a spec?

Paul Sporer: Ya I like that idea

Paul Sporer: Fricken obliques man, they suck

Guest: Is Ozzie Albies cooked?  I’ve dangled him in trades (10 teams 8×8) assuming that he’s due for a bounceback and I am in win now mode (we have 2 half season championships and a full season one so win now means right now) but no takers.  I need a passable LF (been streaming while Kjerstadt figures it out).

Paul Sporer: No no, not cooked IMO. Still a firm top 10 2B so far w/5 HR and 5 SB. His slash line is tracking around last yr’s which wasn’t great so probably not a major surge coming, but if he can be 20/20/.250, I think that’s still 10-team viable at 2B

Matt: 12 team dynasty roto (OBP/TB modification) – you dropping Bleday for Stowers?

Paul Sporer: Sure, it’s basically a hot hand play of 2 similarly shaped guys. As I mentioned in the other Stower Q, let’s ride out the 2 Chicago series starting Friday and going thru next Wednesday to see what’s up w/Stowers

Funny Name: How much do you buy what Daniel Schneemann is doing to start the year? Really desperate for 2B help over here

Paul Sporer: Not sure if it lasts but dud is absolutely TATTOOING the ball!!! 21% Barrel rate is bananas. Let’s ride the hot hand and see where it goes

Pressly: If hodge is still available do I drop pressly for him today

Paul Sporer: I think so, Pressly isn’t showing ANYTHING to latch onto right now

Guest: Hold Gavin Williams?

Paul Sporer: In deeper lgs, yes. Cuttable in 10s and probably even some 12s (though I’d be trying to hold in 12s as I believed in him coming into the year)

NoJo: Nolan Jones seems to be warming up a bit, but what’s his realistic upside for the rest of the season?

Paul Sporer: he’s got 20-20 juice even outside of Coors… might just come with a low-.200s (or worse lol) AVG

Yeah Well Hiura Towel: Grisham’s Statcast looks awesome. Can’t be for real can it?

Paul Sporer: Probably not 100% meaning he will no doubt regress, but I think there’s some heat here. Full disclosure: I’m a big Grisham fan, but 8 pt improvement in K%, huge power spike, and a great place to hit. I’m in!!!

Keeper?: Hayden Wesneski seems to be having a rough spot recently. Is this just a bump in the road? Are his underlying stats optimistic or pessimistic?

Paul Sporer: Bump, I’m holding!!

Roden: What’s the story with Alan Roden? He’s not hitting, so he doesn’t get ABs, which makes him hit even less. Why isn’t he in the minors playing everyday?

Paul Sporer: Ya it is kinda surprising bc he’s just not been good at all

Peter: Cade Horton or Logan Henderson to stash?

Paul Sporer: I lean Logie

Trey: I’m in a league that uses quality starts instead of wins, so I value guys who can go at least 6 innings. Do you think Rasmussen ever gets there or should I move on from him despite the decent ratios?

Trey: 12 team league btw

Paul Sporer: I wouldn’t hold my breathe for consistent 6 IP outings. That said, you mean trading him, not cutting right? I understand the importance of QS, but he’s doing plenty else besides the QS so I def wouldn’t just outright cut

Paul Sporer: OK, y’all, I gotta scoot. Sorry again for the delayed start, but I tried to make it up on the backend. Have a good one and I’ll be back next week!