AL 5x5: Witt or JRod?

[Sharky]

I have been offered two deals in our AL 5x5 keeper league. One gets me Bobby Witt Jr, one gets me Julio Rodriguez. Will be able to keep next 3-4 years at good and identical salaries. Which one do you prefer and why?

Witt deal I give:
Royce Lewis $8
Tanner Bibee $5
Jeremy Peña $8/option year

Julio deal I give:
Royce Lewis $8
Esteury Ruiz $22
Andres Munoz $3/option year

My other keepers are good and include two OFs (Evan Carter $8 year 1 and Adolis Garcia $15 final), pitchers (Gavin Williams $5 and Shane Baz $2) among others.

Need to decide asap. Thanks a lot!

[the heat]

I take the Julio side because you'll still have Bibee.

[Sour Masher]

It is a really close call. On the get side, the JRod vs Witt call is one countless people will be making in redrafts this year if they are picking 2-4. They are awfully close, so who you prefer is a matter of preference. I think I ever so slightly prefer JRod as I think he has a tiny bit more upside, but you can't go wrong in getting either. In fact, if I were you, I'd try to get both! The only player in both offers is Lewis, so I'd offer to swap him out for Garcia, Williams, or Baz to both guys and see if either bites (I'd hold onto Carter). If you can pull off landing both, that would be sweet.

If not, I too would go with JRod, because I very slightly prefer him and I think you are giving more value up in the Witt deal. I like Bibee and Pena at those prices more than Ruiz and Munoz. But I have a bias against paying that much for a pure specialist like Ruiz. I just hate high priced one category guys. He can steal enough to be worth it, but he drags down everything else and has the downside of being benched. I like Munoz a lot, but not as much as Bibee.

[SlideRule]

I would pick the JRod side. I'm not sure I'd pay that much for Ruiz anyways, and I do like Bibee at that price.

[Sharky]

Thanks everyone. It’s a great problem to have. Appreciate the input.

[madducks]

I take the Julio side because you'll still have Bibee.

I agree with this.