We don't draft until April 16th, but keepers are due tomorrow night (April 8th). Our league is $280 NL-only, 5x5 (OBP), with 13 hitters, 10 pitchers and 2 Super-Utility slots that can be either hitters or pitchers. We play Ultra rules with 15 reserves, three of which may be Minor League players exempt from the $280 auction budget (MLE). Note that (starting this season) minor league players who have not accumulated service time can only be drafted in the SU slots, and thereby lose any future MLE status. That will probably impact the auction prices in the mid-tier and end-game, pushing salaries higher by a buck or two, as not as many minor leaguers will be drafted as in previous seasons.
Note that hitting inflation tends to run in the 45% - 60% range, and pitching inflation in the 20% - 30% range.
My potential keepers are as follows (players in bold are my probable keepers):
C: Nick Hundley, $3 – 2nd year
1B: Adam Duvall, $1 – 2nd year (also qualifies in OF)
1B: Ben Paulsen, $5 – 2nd year
1B: Brett Wallace, $4 – 2nd year
SS: Brandon Crawford, $11 – 2nd year
SS: Wilmer Flores, $5 – Extension Decision (also qualifies at 2B)
OF: Ryan Braun, $45 – 1st year (players claimed off winter waivers count as current year draftees)
OF: Matt Kemp, $35 – Extension Decision (will not extend)
OF: Christian Yelich, $11 – Extended to 2017
OF: Marcel Ozuna, $11 – Extended to 2017
OF: Michael Taylor, $2 – Extension Decision (strongly considering extending to $12 through 2018)
OF: Andre Ethier, $2 – 2nd year
P: Carlos Martinez, $5 – Extension Decision (will extend to $10 through 2017)
P: Kyle Hendricks, $2 – Extension Decision (debating extension)
P: Jimmy Nelson, $8 – 2nd year
P: Jason Hammel, $6 – 2nd year
P: A.J. Ramos, $1 – Extension Decision (will extend to $6 through 2017)
P: Antonio Bastardo, $3 – 2nd year
P: Shawn Kelley, $2 – 2nd year
P: Adam Ottavino, $2 – 2nd year
MLE: Lucas Giolito ($2 when called up)
MLE: Ryan McMahon ($2 when called up)
MLE: Raimel Tapia ($5 when called up)
MLE: Josh Bell ($2 when called up - but lost one year of MLE eligibility...so an extension decision will follow his first season)
With my current plans, I'd keep 13 players for $121, leaving me a budget of $159 to buy 12 players. That gives me a reasonable core, and enough room to buy two decent hitters, a solid SP, a second closer, and fill-ins from there. Or, I could go with one big hitter (Goldschmidt, Stanton, McCutcheon, and Cespedes are already in the pool, pre-freeze)...splurge on Clayton Kershaw for around $48 - $50...add some speed...etc. I think this list offers me flexibility, regarding how I build out the roster at the auction.
My toughest current decisions are:
1) The planned extensions (I'm temtped to go one extra year on Hendricks, but I know many people abhor extending pitchers)
2) Should I keep Ethier at $2? (totally on the fence - he's out until at least June)
3) Should I keep Flores at $5? (totally on the fence - Wright will miss time, and Flores could be a nice super-sub. Our league has one-game in-season eligibility, and he'll probably play at 1B, 2B, SS and 3B before too long)
4) Should I keep Kelley at $3? (leaning no, and find other MRs/potential closers in the auction)
What do you all think?
(And thanks in advance!)
Note that hitting inflation tends to run in the 45% - 60% range, and pitching inflation in the 20% - 30% range.
My potential keepers are as follows (players in bold are my probable keepers):
C: Nick Hundley, $3 – 2nd year
1B: Adam Duvall, $1 – 2nd year (also qualifies in OF)
1B: Ben Paulsen, $5 – 2nd year
1B: Brett Wallace, $4 – 2nd year
SS: Brandon Crawford, $11 – 2nd year
SS: Wilmer Flores, $5 – Extension Decision (also qualifies at 2B)
OF: Ryan Braun, $45 – 1st year (players claimed off winter waivers count as current year draftees)
OF: Matt Kemp, $35 – Extension Decision (will not extend)
OF: Christian Yelich, $11 – Extended to 2017
OF: Marcel Ozuna, $11 – Extended to 2017
OF: Michael Taylor, $2 – Extension Decision (strongly considering extending to $12 through 2018)
OF: Andre Ethier, $2 – 2nd year
P: Carlos Martinez, $5 – Extension Decision (will extend to $10 through 2017)
P: Kyle Hendricks, $2 – Extension Decision (debating extension)
P: Jimmy Nelson, $8 – 2nd year
P: Jason Hammel, $6 – 2nd year
P: A.J. Ramos, $1 – Extension Decision (will extend to $6 through 2017)
P: Antonio Bastardo, $3 – 2nd year
P: Shawn Kelley, $2 – 2nd year
P: Adam Ottavino, $2 – 2nd year
MLE: Lucas Giolito ($2 when called up)
MLE: Ryan McMahon ($2 when called up)
MLE: Raimel Tapia ($5 when called up)
MLE: Josh Bell ($2 when called up - but lost one year of MLE eligibility...so an extension decision will follow his first season)
With my current plans, I'd keep 13 players for $121, leaving me a budget of $159 to buy 12 players. That gives me a reasonable core, and enough room to buy two decent hitters, a solid SP, a second closer, and fill-ins from there. Or, I could go with one big hitter (Goldschmidt, Stanton, McCutcheon, and Cespedes are already in the pool, pre-freeze)...splurge on Clayton Kershaw for around $48 - $50...add some speed...etc. I think this list offers me flexibility, regarding how I build out the roster at the auction.
My toughest current decisions are:
1) The planned extensions (I'm temtped to go one extra year on Hendricks, but I know many people abhor extending pitchers)
2) Should I keep Ethier at $2? (totally on the fence - he's out until at least June)
3) Should I keep Flores at $5? (totally on the fence - Wright will miss time, and Flores could be a nice super-sub. Our league has one-game in-season eligibility, and he'll probably play at 1B, 2B, SS and 3B before too long)
4) Should I keep Kelley at $3? (leaning no, and find other MRs/potential closers in the auction)
What do you all think?
(And thanks in advance!)
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