2K17 AL Only Keepers

[BuckyBuckner]

I wanted to get some thoughts on this team. I came in second (after winning it all in 2015) and still have a pretty solid list, I think anyway.

It's a 12 team AL only 5x5 standard categories (except saves are Saves + 1/2 holds) with a $265 budget. We draft the usual for a deep league with 10 pitchers instead of 9 (hence the $265 instead of $260). I can keep 12 players.

Contracts are as follows: A + drafted last year B = drafted in 2015 and in the option year F = FAABed player, can only be kept one year and all salaries under $10 are bumped up to $10 C = already given extension

Here are my choices:

Gary Sanchez $10A*
Matt Wieters $12B
Mitch Moreland $13B
Kyle Seager $28A
Rougnend Odor $15C17*
Carlos Correa $10B* (thinking of extending to $20C19)
Raul Mondesi $3M (lost rookie eligibility so would have to kept as a 12th keeper)
Nomar Mazara $10B*
Carlos Gomez $13F*
Shin Soo Choo $19B
Joey Rickard $6A
Victor Martinez $12A*

Jake Odorizzi $10C17*
Michael Fulmer $12F*
Matt Shoemaker $3F* (Would be $10 if kept)
James Paxton $1F * (Would be $10 if kept)
Kelvim Herrera $4A*
Roberto Osuna $1B*
Ryan Madson $5A
Bryan Shaw $1B

I have given an asterisk to who I am currently planning on keeper. What do you guys think?

Also, with that pitching staff I was planning on spending very little on pitching (like $10 for the remaining four spots), is that a good idea or would you suggest spending on an ace? I can always make a trade for one during the season.

What do you guys think?

[Vecmizer]

I would agree with your keepers with the exception being Paxton. Given his injury, I would be a little leery. However he did put up good numbers so it is more of personal choice for me. I am sure he could fetch something back if you looked to move him.

I would spend more that $10 on the last four spots. I have tried it in the past and it had disastrous results. When you go cheap with that many guys you have to hit on or at least break even on 3 of the four. If you miss and miss badly the misses can really kill you. You may not have to necessarily target an ace but I would get 2 mid tier guys and then go dollar days on the last two.

[BuckyBuckner]

I would agree with your keepers with the exception being Paxton. Given his injury, I would be a little leery. However he did put up good numbers so it is more of personal choice for me. I am sure he could fetch something back if you looked to move him.

I would spend more that $10 on the last four spots. I have tried it in the past and it had disastrous results. When you go cheap with that many guys you have to hit on or at least break even on 3 of the four. If you miss and miss badly the misses can really kill you. You may not have to necessarily target an ace but I would get 2 mid tier guys and then go dollar days on the last two.

Thanks. I hear you on spending more on pitching. Pitching has a tendency to be over priced in my league so sometimes I just prefer to spend it on hitting.

[joncarlos]

Young pitching, what could go wrong? Is it likely you get $32 in value from Fulmer, Paxton and Shoemaker? I'd say yes. Are they all going to earn a profit? Almost definitely not. Still, given your league depth I would keep all 3. I think I would go cheap on your last pitchers. All 4 of your SPs have the potential to be high K/9 guys. If they are, you pair them with 2 closers and some good middle relievers, maybe a 5th starter if you can find one you like, and you've got maybe 40 pitching points (let's say 10 sv, 8 k, 6 w, 8 in each ratio category? is that reasonable?) for 60 bucks. Load up on enough offense to get you the remaining points.

I am not at all sold on Carlos Gomez. To the end of getting all the hitting points you need I would toss him back and keep Mondesi for the steals, of which you have very few.

[BuckyBuckner]

The drawback of keeping Mondesi over Gomez is that it locks me out of any middle infielder. I forgot to mention that use the DH, not UT, in this league.

[Big Tymer]

SBs are hard to come by in AL imo so I too would recommend keeping Mondesi even it it locks you out of MI

[BuckyBuckner]

Hey guys, I need some help here. My keepers are due tomorrow. I made a trade today. I traded Shaw and Seager (along with a pick in the minor league draft) for Andrew Miller $6C17. His contract ends this year. I also traded Moreland for a 2nd round draft pick in the minor league draft.

So now my potential keepers are:

Gary Sanchez $10A
Rougnend Odor $15C17
Raul Mondesi $3M (lost rookie eligibility so would have to kept as a 12th keeper)
Carlos Correa $10B (thinking of extending to $20C19)
Nomar Mazara $10B
Carlos Gomez $13F
Victor Martinez $12A

Jake Odorizzi $10C17
Michael Fulmer $12F
Matt Shoemaker $3F (Would be $10 if kept)
James Paxton $1F (Would be $10 if kept)
Andrew Miller $6C17
Kelvim Herrera $4A
Roberto Osuna $1B
Ryan Madson $5A

That is 15 players and I can keep 12. I have an offer of Mondesi, Paxton and Madson for Jorge Mateo $10M. Making that trade would get me down to 12 keepers. With Miller, Herrera and Osuna I'd be all set for relievers and would need to draft two starters to go along with Odorizzi, Fulmer and Shoemaker. I might try to see if he can add a pick as I think he has too many. Or at least swap picks to give me a better one.

I was also offered Moustakis $13B for Carlos Gomez and Matt Shoemaker but I like that even less.

What do you guys think?

[cool hand]

Sanchez
Odor
Correa
Mazara
Gomez
Fullmer
Paxton
Miller
Herrera
Osuna
Madson

Tossup for that last slot between VMart/Shoemaker/Odorizzi/Mondesi

I'd do any package with those leftover players and one of the keeps to upgrade that keeper spot.
Idk about Mateo...

[BuckyBuckner]

Thanks cool hand. I would put Martinez higher on the list. He earned $21 last year. We also require a DH instead of a UT so that helps his value.

I just traded Odorizzi, Shoemaker and Madson for Kluber $20C17. So now we are looking at this:

Gary Sanchez $10A
Rougnend Odor $15C17
Raul Mondesi $3M (lost rookie eligibility so would have to kept as a 12th keeper)
Carlos Correa $10B (thinking of extending to $20C19)
Nomar Mazara $10B
Carlos Gomez $13F
Victor Martinez $12A

Corey Kluber $20C17
Michael Fulmer $12F
James Paxton $1F (Would be $10 if kept)
Andrew Miller $6C17
Kelvim Herrera $4A
Roberto Osuna $1B

So now one player has to go. I think it's a tossup between Mondesi and Paxton. Mondesi has the keeper status in his favor. Paxton can only be kept this year. But with this team, I can compete this year so maybe keeping Paxton is the better play. I'm thinking about trying to get a draft pick for Mondesi.

[Art Vandelay]

Thanks cool hand. I would put Martinez higher on the list. He earned $21 last year. We also require a DH instead of a UT so that helps his value.

I just traded Odorizzi, Shoemaker and Madson for Kluber $20C17. So now we are looking at this:

Gary Sanchez $10A
Rougnend Odor $15C17
Raul Mondesi $3M (lost rookie eligibility so would have to kept as a 12th keeper)
Carlos Correa $10B (thinking of extending to $20C19)
Nomar Mazara $10B
Carlos Gomez $13F
Victor Martinez $12A

Corey Kluber $20C17
Michael Fulmer $12F
James Paxton $1F (Would be $10 if kept)
Andrew Miller $6C17
Kelvim Herrera $4A
Roberto Osuna $1B

So now one player has to go. I think it's a tossup between Mondesi and Paxton. Mondesi has the keeper status in his favor. Paxton can only be kept this year. But with this team, I can compete this year so maybe keeping Paxton is the better play. I'm thinking about trying to get a draft pick for Mondesi.

I would throw back mondesi and rebuy because he isn't going for more than a couple of dollars and you get to begin the contract anew.

[BuckyBuckner]

I would throw back mondesi and rebuy because he isn't going for more than a couple of dollars and you get to begin the contract anew.

His contract will be an A either way. The odd thing about him is that if he doesn't make the team (which is a possibility) he can't be drafted. If he's available to be drafted he'll go for more than $3 as people in this league are vultures for rookies. They go for way more than they are worth.

[Art Vandelay]

His contract will be an A either way. The odd thing about him is that if he doesn't make the team (which is a possibility) he can't be drafted. If he's available to be drafted he'll go for more than $3 as people in this league are vultures for rookies. They go for way more than they are worth.

which is a pretty good reason to let someone else spend the money on Mondesi...especially when you contrast that to a cheap $1 paxton (with all the signs moving in the right direction).

But you know your league, you should do what seems right...

[Gregg]

which is a pretty good reason to let someone else spend the money on Mondesi...especially when you contrast that to a cheap $1 paxton (with all the signs moving in the right direction).

But you know your league, you should do what seems right...

Except that if he keeps Paxton his salary goes to $10.

If you throw Mondesi back and he makes the team he will go for more than $3. If you keep and he doesn't make the team he is a good stash for later on this year, or a good trade chip (as you said your league likes young players).

I may not like to make this hard choice, but I would be keeping Mondesi at $3, dropping Paxton at $10. I would use that $7 (and add to it) for another pitcher.

[BuckyBuckner]

Except that if he keeps Paxton his salary goes to $10.

If you throw Mondesi back and he makes the team he will go for more than $3. If you keep and he doesn't make the team he is a good stash for later on this year, or a good trade chip (as you said your league likes young players).

I may not like to make this hard choice, but I would be keeping Mondesi at $3, dropping Paxton at $10. I would use that $7 (and add to it) for another pitcher.

Yeah, it's definitely something I'm considering. I'm sure I could also get a draft pick for Paxton. If he goes back in the draft I bet he goes for more than $15. The main problem with keeping Mondesi is it means I can't nominate or bid on a middle infielder.

[Gregg]

Yeah, it's definitely something I'm considering. I'm sure I could also get a draft pick for Paxton. If he goes back in the draft I bet he goes for more than $15. The main problem with keeping Mondesi is it means I can't nominate or bid on a middle infielder.

This happens with all of the positions as the auction progresses. So while it is nice to be able to do that, I wouldn't let in affect me too much.

I suspect that this will be the last year that Mondesi will be a bargain. It seems that there are always pitching bargains to be found.