A bit of trade help please.

[Gregg]

I have been offered a $40A Kershaw for my $22B Ben Revere. If I kept Revere I would give him a year raise making him $27 for two years.

This is a 5x5 NL only keeper with a $260 budget.

My two best pitchers on my keeper list are Julio Teheran $10B and Tyson Ross $10B. I also have Matt Garza at $7B and Matt Cain $27A (planing to trade either way).

In the outfield I have Pence $30, Werth $24, with a free Michael Taylor in reserves.

I hate to trade offense for pitching, but we are talking the best pitcher in baseball.

Any comments are appreciated.

Thank you.

[chancellor]

I'd take this deal right now. 18 bucks to upgrade for Revere to the best pitcher in baseball? Yes, please, thank you very much

[virgonomic]

I'd take this deal right now. 18 bucks to upgrade for Revere to the best pitcher in baseball? Yes, please, thank you very much

Hard to argue with this logic.

[Gregg]

First let me say thank you to all who commented. I did pull the trigger and feel pretty good about it.

Honestly, I don't know how good I will feel about it as the auction gets closer. I have a hard time spending big money on pitchers. Given that I have Teheran, Ross, and Garza for a combined $27, I thought I might be good to go with the extra money on offense.

Speed in our league is a premium and most of it is high priced or next to impossible to trade for.

That is why I needed the extra push from you guys. I do appreciate it.

This morning my keeper pitching staff looks like This:

Kershaw-$40
Teheran-$10
Ross- $10
Garza-$7
Gee -$6
Jorge De La Rosa -$1
Hawkins -$8

With Anderson $3, and Cain $27 as trading chips.

Pretty strong for $82 bucks.

[Gregg]

Another owner has inquired about Kershaw. He has a $15B Puig. Probably would give him a 2 year raise to $25.

He emailed me this: Kershaw and ? for Puig?

I don't think I am as high on Puig as some of the folks here.

So I thought I would ask you guys.

Thanks.

[Gregg]

Thank you Eld.

Anyone else care to chime in?

Thank you

[joncarlos]

I like Puig, but I don't love him. If he needs an extension I'm not sure I throw Teheran or Ross into that deal. But probably would do anyone else.

[Gregg]

I like Puig, but I don't love him. If he needs an extension I'm not sure I throw Teheran or Ross into that deal. But probably would do anyone else.

Thanks JC.

I cannot throw in Tehren or Ross as there is not much pitching to buy that will be back in the auction. Of the top 20 starters only Bumgarner will be back in the auction. The guy who is offering up Puig has Lee at $38 so if he can't trade him he will be back in.

Both of those guys will go huge to teams that need starters.

I am assuming that you love Kershaw (what is not to love) but would still add a sweetener to get Puig who you merely like. I am guessing you don't like Kershaw's salary?

Does the lack of pitchers back in auction change your stance?

Thanks.

[Gregg]

As I noted in a PM to Gregg, there are lots of indicators that show that Puig got even better last year. His is a case where going into the advanced stats gives a much more complete picture of what he did and what he can do than just looking at the superficial roto category numbers. Puig was a top 5 hitter in the NL last year and he's only 23 years old. Buy!

Does what I just wrote to JC soften your stance?

[joncarlos]

Thanks JC.

I cannot throw in Tehren or Ross as there is not much pitching to buy that will be back in the auction. Of the top 20 starters only Bumgarner will be back in the auction. The guy who is offering up Puig has Lee at $38 so if he can't trade him he will be back in.

Both of those guys will go huge to teams that need starters.

I am assuming that you love Kershaw (what is not to love) but would still add a sweetener to get Puig who you merely like. I am guessing you don't like Kershaw's salary?

Does the lack of pitchers back in auction change your stance?

Thanks.

I really like Kershaw. At 40 he is a bargain. But pitchers break, and 23 year old hitters generally improve. Straight up I think I still take a $25 Puig for a $40 Kershaw and worry about pitching later. Even if I have to throw in a sweetener. Or take Puig and only make him $20 for 2 years.

If there's no pitching available where does the money go? Do people spend $19 for Dillon Gee or just accept it and move the money to hitting?

[Gregg]

I really like Kershaw. At 40 he is a bargain. But pitchers break, and 23 year old hitters generally improve. Straight up I think I still take a $25 Puig for a $40 Kershaw and worry about pitching later. Even if I have to throw in a sweetener. Or take Puig and only make him $20 for 2 years.

If there's no pitching available where does the money go? Do people spend $19 for Dillon Gee or just accept it and move the money to hitting?

The league does value hitting more than pitching. But in this case it is more of at value pitching keepers that will be rostered this year. The last 2-3 years have found less pitching studs at auction, with this year being the worst.

[Judge Jude]

I added Puig in a dump deal in July; he is 10 and 15 for me the next 2 years. I'm not completely sold on him as a top-3 NL player, though we both love the price.

If I'm you I think I'd rather have Kershaw, given the circumstances. But as JC notes, that empty cupboard of SP can be tackled differently by different leagues.

also in play is how good your keeper list, which is your "go for it" year, etc. no easy answer just based on salaries.

Kershaw was 43 for the same owner the last 3 years. He finished 2nd, 1st, and 4th and cashed each year.
Now he's back in the auction, and I suspect he goes for 45-46.

[Gregg]

Well I offered Kershaw, C J Edwards and Robert Stephenson for Puig and was rejected. He got cold like many in our our league myself included in spending $40 on a pitcher.

He came back and offered Puig straight up for Teheran. Of course based on your coaching I accepted the offer. I think Teheran is going to have a monster year. I hope Puig does two. Normally I would give Puig two years, but I am short of cash going into the auction so I might only give him one year to $20.

Thanks for all the help.

[Gregg]

Well I offered Kershaw, C J Edwards and Robert Stephenson for Puig and was rejected. He got cold like many in our our league myself included in spending $40 on a pitcher.

He came back and offered Puig straight up for Teheran. Of course based on your coaching I accepted the offer. I think Teheran is going to have a monster year. I hope Puig does two. Normally I would give Puig two years, but I am short of cash going into the auction so I might only give him one year to $20.

Thanks for all the help.

While I am not happy about losing my $28 H.Ramirez it makes me even more glad that I made this trade. I can now afford to give Puig that second year.