Keeper Help, Have 7...Need 5 More

[btash]

Well, it's time for my annual post. My keeper list is below. I went into last season on a 2-year plan and then actually competed past the all-star break due to some luck and good drafting. Eventually my team fell back and I made some additional trades to set up for this year. I want to try and package some of the 2nd tier keepers to get another 1 or 2 studs, but it's been slow going so far.

Below are my potential keepers, players under contract are listed and those I think I should sign are listed with keep before their salary. I can only keep 12. I have 8, but will likely cut Reimold, especially after the Vlad signing. That leaves me with 5 more guys to keep.

I can also keep 2 minor eligible players. I have to keep Ackley or take a $5 hit at the auction. So that means I can keep one more. I was thinking Belt since he should be up this year. That also means I am trying to move Harper in a combo deal to get a player this year...

So, what does the Pen say? Do I have the right 5 guys listed to get to 12? Do you think this is a list that can compete for a championship this year (14 team 5x5 $260 auction)? Would you keep Belt or Harper or one of the other guys?

Thanks for any thoughts you can share.

Bartlett, Jason(SS) SD - Contract $6
Davis, Rajai(OF) TOR - Contract $6
Reimold, Nolan(OF) BAL - Contract $8
Pierre, Juan(OF) CHW - Contract $10
Bruce, Jay(OF) CIN - Contract $11
Johnson, Josh(P) FLA - Contract $12
Lester, Jon(P) BOS - Contract $14
Cain, Matt(P) SF - Contract $23

Zimmermann, Jordan(P) WAS - Keep $1
Furcal, Rafael(SS) LA - Keep $6
League, Brandon(P) SEA - Keep $3
Putz, J.J.(P) ARI - Keep $3
Storen, Drew(P) WAS - Keep $6

Wallace, Brett(3B,1B) HOU - $1
Willingham, Josh(OF) OAK - $4
Morneau, Justin(1B) MIN -$28
Ramirez, Hanley(SS) FLA - $48
Slowey, Kevin(P) MIN - $2
Carrasco, Carlos(P) CLE - $3
Niemann, Jeff(P) TB - $6

Minors
Ackley, Dustin(1B,2B) SEA - Contract $1
Belt, Brandon(1B) SF - $3
Harper, Bryce(OF) WAS - $9
Mesoraco, Devin(C) CIN - $1
Goedert, Jared(2B) CLE - $1
Gordon, Dee(SS) LA - $1

[chancellor]

I'd be inclined to keep Willingham ahead of Reimold - I'm concerned Reimold is really going to have his PT cut in Baltimore. In a 14-teamer, I don't keep Bartlett at $6. If he were a 25+ SB guy, sure. But for a marginal BA, low double digit SBs and no power whatsoever, I'm sure you can find better.

Belt and Ackley are good choices for your minor leaguers.

[Gregg]

Can you keep a third minor leaguer if you use one of the keeper spots?

If not I would be inclined to trade Ackley in order to keep Harper.

[Hornsby]

Well, it's time for my annual post. My keeper list is below. I went into last season on a 2-year plan and then actually competed past the all-star break due to some luck and good drafting. Eventually my team fell back and I made some additional trades to set up for this year. I want to try and package some of the 2nd tier keepers to get another 1 or 2 studs, but it's been slow going so far.

Below are my potential keepers, players under contract are listed and those I think I should sign are listed with keep before their salary. I can only keep 12. I have 8, but will likely cut Reimold, especially after the Vlad signing. That leaves me with 5 more guys to keep.

I can also keep 2 minor eligible players. I have to keep Ackley or take a $5 hit at the auction. So that means I can keep one more. I was thinking Belt since he should be up this year. That also means I am trying to move Harper in a combo deal to get a player this year...

So, what does the Pen say? Do I have the right 5 guys listed to get to 12? Do you think this is a list that can compete for a championship this year (14 team 5x5 $260 auction)? Would you keep Belt or Harper or one of the other guys?

Thanks for any thoughts you can share.

Bartlett, Jason(SS) SD - Contract $6
Davis, Rajai(OF) TOR - Contract $6
Reimold, Nolan(OF) BAL - Contract $8
Pierre, Juan(OF) CHW - Contract $10
Bruce, Jay(OF) CIN - Contract $11
Johnson, Josh(P) FLA - Contract $12
Lester, Jon(P) BOS - Contract $14
Cain, Matt(P) SF - Contract $23

Zimmermann, Jordan(P) WAS - Keep $1
Furcal, Rafael(SS) LA - Keep $6
League, Brandon(P) SEA - Keep $3
Putz, J.J.(P) ARI - Keep $3
Storen, Drew(P) WAS - Keep $6

Wallace, Brett(3B,1B) HOU - $1
Willingham, Josh(OF) OAK - $4
Morneau, Justin(1B) MIN -$28
Ramirez, Hanley(SS) FLA - $48
Slowey, Kevin(P) MIN - $2
Carrasco, Carlos(P) CLE - $3
Niemann, Jeff(P) TB - $6

Minors
Ackley, Dustin(1B,2B) SEA - Contract $1
Belt, Brandon(1B) SF - $3
Harper, Bryce(OF) WAS - $9
Mesoraco, Devin(C) CIN - $1
Goedert, Jared(2B) CLE - $1
Gordon, Dee(SS) LA - $1

I wouldn't give up on Harper this soon, as long as you can keep him for a while at 9 bucks. He's got that rare power that only comes along once in a blue moon. I'd certainly keep him over Belt, who's being hyped like hell now, and will eventually have to play in a lousy park, limiting his production.

I would NOT keep Reimold...with Valddy there, he has no slot since Scott must now go to the OF. Willingham is worth the 4 bucks, and I'd keep Bartlett, as he's stolen more than 20 bags in 3 of the past 4 seasons. Neiman and Slowey are also worth looking that with those prices.