AL Only Keeper Advice

Hi all, I finally have a pleasant keepr problem in my AL only league (5x5, 12 teams). Having troubling deciding which players to keep. I still have about 6 weeks to decide but I am looking to the pen to see what your thoughts are.

We can only keep 6, prices shown are for this year. Keeper prices rise by 5 dollars each year so someone that is a $5 player in 2016 would be $10 in 2017. Inflation usually runs are 15-20%.

Lonnie Chisenhall $6
Nick Castellanos $12
Jose Iglesias $11
Ketel Marte $9
Eddie Rosario $6
Byron Buxton $3
Corey Kluber $22
Matt Moore $8
Roberto Osuna $10
Michael Pineda $17
Marcus Stroman $6
Carlos Rondon $3
Luis Severino $1
Cody Anderson $6

I bolded my choices for these 5 minutes, going all in on a cheap(er) pitching staff plus Buxton. If I did this I would spend for a mid-tier closer and fill out with $1 pitchers. My regret is giving up on Marte but I am not sure what to expect out of him. Toyed with the idea of removing Kluber and adding Marte but not sure at this point.

Interested in opinions from the pen, what players would you keep?

[Hornsby]

Yeah, I'd probably drop Pineda as well, but maybe for Osuna...you've got time to figure out what the Jays are going to do in the 'pen. I'd consider Matt Moore as well, a good year and a half removed from TJ surgery...he's a wild card, but he's certainly got the stuff to succeed big time.

[Gregg]

If I was going to ditch one of these guys it definitely would not be Kluber, who is as studly as it gets. I'd consider dropping Pineda, perhaps for Marte, but Pineda's peripherals were pretty strong last year. I just don't trust him to stay healthy. I'd drop Pineda for Marte, I think.

Yep, no way am I not keeping a $22 Kluber in a 12 team AL only.

I would keep Marte or Rosario over Pineda. I also think you get get Pineda back for about $17.

[wombat104]

Thanks all, appreciate the comments. Different opinions/perspectives really help and you have given me some things to think about.

[SlideRule]

Yeah, I agree that the five non-Pineda ones are obvious keeps. Pineda I could take or leave but you'll probably get him back for similar. SS seems pretty weak, I wouldn't be surprised if Marte went for quite a bit more than $9 in auction. So, same thoughts as the others here.

[cool hand]

Initial thought was drop Pineda for Osuna, prior to reading comments.
Didnt realize the world was so high on Marte...

[wombat104]

Just realized some potential good news. Since Buxton didn't meet the leagues minimum AB's (130 AB's) I can keep him as a minor league player and he would not count as 1 of my 6 keepers.

Lonnie Chisenhall $6
Nick Castellanos $12
Jose Iglesias $11
Ketel Marte $9
Eddie Rosario $6
Corey Kluber $22
Matt Moore $8
Roberto Osuna $10
Michael Pineda $17
Marcus Stroman $6
Carlos Rondon $3
Luis Severino $1
Cody Anderson $6

Given that development the above 4 bolded players are my current locks, leaving 2 open spots. If Osuna is named closer in ST then he gets a spot but if not then I am thinking it comes down to Rosario, Marte, Moore and Pineda.

[joncarlos]

Just realized some potential good news. Since Buxton didn't meet the leagues minimum AB's (130 AB's) I can keep him as a minor league player and he would not count as 1 of my 6 keepers.

Lonnie Chisenhall $6
Nick Castellanos $12
Jose Iglesias $11
Ketel Marte $9
Eddie Rosario $6
Corey Kluber $22
Matt Moore $8
Roberto Osuna $10
Michael Pineda $17
Marcus Stroman $6
Carlos Rondon $3
Luis Severino $1
Cody Anderson $6

Given that development the above 4 bolded players are my current locks, leaving 2 open spots. If Osuna is named closer in ST then he gets a spot but if not then I am thinking it comes down to Rosario, Marte, Moore and Pineda.

I think that's about right. I rate Marte the best of that group. I probably like Pineda and Rosario about the same, but given that you already have 3 pitchers I'd probably go with Rosario.

[wombat104]

So tomorrow is keeper deadline day. I am locked in with the 5 bolded choices leaving 1 left:

Lonnie Chisenhall $6
Nick Castellanos $12
Jose Iglesias $11
Ketel Marte $9
Eddie Rosario $6
Corey Kluber $22
Matt Moore $8
Roberto Osuna $10
Michael Pineda $17
Marcus Stroman $6
Carlos Rondon $3
Luis Severino $1
Cody Anderson $6

Many closers have been kept (people announced already) or I project them to be kept. Here are the keepers: Street 22, Robertson 24, Perkins 25!, Davis 10, Doolittle 11, Allen 16, Tolleson 10, Boxberger 14, Britton 11.

I think I can get Tolleson for Rosario and Moore. That would leave me with 5 pitchers and Marte. Would you pull the tigger or stand pat and keep Rosario? If I did get Tolleson that would be 42 on a solid staff, I would budget about 25 more on pitching and then the rest on hitting.

Thoughts?

[wombat104]

Would you prefer Tolleson at 10 or Boxberger at 14?

[wombat104]

Trade done, keepers:

Ketel Marte $9
Shawn Tolleson $10
Corey Kluber $22
Marcus Stroman $6
Carlos Rondon $3
Luis Severino $1