League Meetings - How do I shap up?

[onejayhawk]

We are doing our league meetings online the last several years, so no change for COVID. It's also a time to start the trade feelers for the February draft.

This is what I have available.
16 team H2H, using OBP and Holds.
Three keepers and a complicated option system.

Ronald Acuņa Atl OF K
Christian Yelich Mil OF K
Carlos Carrasco Cle SP,RP K
Charlie Morton TB SP 6
Lance Lynn Tex SP 7
Garrett Hampson Col 2B,SS,OF 8
Jeimer Candelario Det 1B,3B 10
Wander Franco TB SS 11
Jo Adell LAA OF 12
Josh Hader Mil RP 13
Brandon Lowe TB 1B,2B,OF 14
Luis Robert CWS OF 16
Carson Kelly Ari C 18
Anthony Santander Bal OF 25

I have the option of keeping one

Royce Lewis Min SS
Alex Kirilloff Min OF

And one of these

Leody Taveras Tex OF
J.P. Crawford Sea SS
Rafael Dolis Tor RP
Ty France Sea 2B,3B
Jeremy Jeffress ChC RP
Isiah Kiner-Falefa Tex C,3B,SS
Nick Pivetta Bos SP,RP

The lineup
C - Carson Kelly
1B - Brandon Lowe
2B - Garrett Hampson
3B - Jiemer Candelario
SS - Garrett Hampson
MI -
CI -
OF - Ronald Acuņa
OF - Christian Yelich
OF - Luis Robert
OF - Anthony Santander
Util -
SP - Carlos Carrasco
SP - Charlie Morton
SP - Lance Lynn
SP -
RP - Josh Hader
RP -
RP -
P -
P -
P -

BN - Wander Franco
BN - Jo Adell
BN - Alex Kiriloff (?)
BN - Isiah Kiner-Falefa (?)
BN - Leody Taveras (?)
BN -
BN -
BN -

The SP is seriously old and mostly in their final year. I have two premium picks, three middling picks and a bunch of picks in the last third of the draft. I am in position to draft a good SP, a decent SP, closer or IF, and a veteran journeyman before pickings get thin.

I was hoping for better in 2020. A couple of injuries and some inconsistency sank the season. This roster is not as promising, but the OF is stacked. The plan is to trade Yelich while he's still prime, if I can get fair value.

J

[onejayhawk]

The keepers this year are fairly simple, since there are not any serious waiver finds. The is one big question.

Which do I keep (both have options through 2023)?

Royce Lewis
Alex Kiriloff

J

[chancellor]

I'd be very tempted to keep Candelario, and I like Kiriloff just a shade more than Lewis. I'd be looking to burn the two premium picks on best SPs available unless there's a monster surprise value elsewhere that crops up. Maybe a closer if you do holds and saves as separate categories.

[onejayhawk]

Closer is a definite possibility. I don't know how premium I can get with SP, but closer is an option. Lack of draftable SP is one reason I was thinking of trading Yelich.

I see your point about Candelario. I only have one of the 1B/3B/CI unless I use Lowe, and it makes some other decisions easier.

Thoughts on France and IKF? If I keep Candelario, the other option gets seriously cheap. France covers 3B and both CI and MI. IKF covers SS until Franco is up.

J

[chancellor]

I passed on IKF since he won't qualify at SS until whatever your league requirements are for 2021 appearances. But if you can stash him on the bench, then, yeah, he's a worthy consideration. Depends on whether you think you need the additional SBs at a sacrifice of power. He and Hampson might not even hit 10 HR among the two of them.

I'd toss Ty France back in, but in the other discussion I'm in, there's sure two verrrry different opinions on him - those who think he "grew into his power" and his 2019 AAA numbers reflect what he'll do sometime soon, and people like me who look at the rest of his minor league career, the inflated BABIP last season, and no wheels at all and say "pass".

[onejayhawk]

Eligibility only takes 10 starts. I can WW two weeks if I have to. IKF has an ISO of .090, which is more mediocre than poor. The real question with IKF is whether the BA is real. He walks enough that he can be a two stat asset with a decent average.

I am also hearing two stories about France. He was a hot pickup before the season shut down, so some carry over is expected. I don't get the lack of power. He hit 4 HR in 155 PA with ISO of .163. Steamer projects France at 11 HR playing only 400 PA.

The advantage of both players is that they have assured PT.

J

[chancellor]

With only 10 starts needed, yeah, I'd keep IKF in your league.

Ty France...depends on your options and who you'd think you could get to replace him. Your point's a valid one - if a part-time player is the next option if you cut France, I'd keep him and roll the dice on the power.

[onejayhawk]

Thanks for the input.

It turns out IKF is already SS eligible (15 GS) for 2021.

I think I will likely keep Ty France and cut Yandy Diaz loose. Diaz is very cheap, but he has no guaranteed PT and he's 29 now. Ty France is similarly cheap, has definite PT, and upside, plus he's 2B/MI eligible. That means no IKF, but he might slide to where I have a pick.

J

[onejayhawk]

I'm bumping this because the platform is now up and I can make informed choices.

The big difference is that IKF will be C eligible and Garrett Hampson will be SS eligible

Also, someone who was off radar earlier is trendy. I have an option on Leody Taveras.

I can choose one of -

Ty France
Alex Kiriloff
Isiah Kiner-Falefa - C eligible
Leody Taveras
Draft pick circa #300

J

[joncarlos]

I'm bumping this because the platform is now up and I can make informed choices.

The big difference is that IKF will be C eligible and Garrett Hampson will be SS eligible

Also, someone who was off radar earlier is trendy. I have an option on Leody Tavaris.

I can choose one of -

Ty France
Alex Kiriloff
Isiah Kiner-Falefa - C eligible
Leody Tavaris
Draft pick circa #300

J

I like IKF just fine, but in a 16-team, 1-C league, is he really that much better than replacement level? I really like Kiriloff.

[onejayhawk]

For what it's worth, he's a speed option at SS. At C he's tops in baseball, with 12 SB projected. The power is lacking, but it's mediocre not actually bad.

Still, I'm not keeping IKF over Candelario or Kiriloff.

J

[Ken]

For what it's worth, he's a speed option at SS. At C he's tops in baseball, with 12 SB projected. The power is lacking, but it's mediocre not actually bad.

Still, I'm not keeping IKF over Candelario or Kiriloff.

J

Any option to make some trades?

[onejayhawk]

Any option to make some trades?

Oh, yeah.

Leody Taveras is so redundant on this roster it's ridiculous. I did not expect him to be worth much, but suddenly he's a hot commodity. I am actively dangling Taveras, Adell, Santander, Kiriloff, even Yelich. That said, the game platform only just came up. Most of the league hasn't noticed yet, but it won't take long. Keeper declarations are usually before Valentines day. Once that happens, trades start moving.