Draft Advice Requested

[Eastbound & Down]

So my league's draft is coming up and I have $69 available with 15 keepers listed below. The league is a 10-man 5x5 Roto league with up to 15 keeprs and $260 payroll.

I think I'm looking pretty good pitching but have some obvious gaps at 3B, 3 OF slots as well as backup C, MI and 2 pitcher slots. There are some quality players out there but many will go for top dollars and I'm trying to figure out my strategy as to how much I can spend on each open position. Looking for some guidance. Thanks, Rich

C Martinez, V 21
C Empty
1B Teixiera, M 21
2B Johnson, K 10
3B Empty
SS Ramirez, A 10
MI Empty
CI Butler, B 10
OF Young, C 10
OF Young, D 10
OF Empty
OF Empty
OF Empty
DH Morales, K 10
P Cain, M 21
P Greinke, Z 15
P Marcum, S 10
P Marmol , C 5
P Papelbon, J 10
P Sanchez, J 8
P Weaver, J 20

[Gregg]

If it were my team I would buy and end game $1 catcher who won't hurt your ba too much, a $1 Middle reliever in the end game, a $2 starter with some upside. A $1 or$2 OF.

With that Plan in mind I would target for a big spend on one of the remaining positions and middle spend on another OF. I would spend the money early to lock up these two spots. I would not want to end up overpaying for mediocre players.

[Erik]

Nice user name.

Your strategy should depend on who is available in the auction. Who is WORTH spending big on at which position?

[Eastbound & Down]

Thoughts

Yeah, I love Eastbound & Down!

Here are the available 3B...
Rodriguez, Alex
Young, Michael
Ramirez, Aramis
Headley, Chase
Cuddyer, Michael
Polanco, Placido
Freese, David

I know A-Rod is going to go for a high price as several teams have openings at 3B. I'm guessing Young and Ramirez will too.

Available OF include...

Holliday, Matt LF STL
Victorino, Shane CF PHI
Pierre, Juan LF CHW
Stubbs, Drew CF CIN
Kemp, Matt CF LA
Morgan, Nyjer CF WAS
Sizemore, Grady CF CLE
Bernadina, Roger CF WAS
Cuddyer, Michael 1B MIN
Torres, Andres CF SF
Abreu, Bobby RF ANA
Hunter, Torii CF ANA
Huff, Aubrey 1B SF
Ordonez, Magglio RF DET
Coghlan, Chris LF FLA
Borbon, Julio CF TEX
Lee, Carlos LF HOU
Bourjos, Peter CF ANA
Snider, Travis LF TOR
Maybin, Cameron CF SD
Podsednik, Scott LF LA
DeJesus, David LF OAK
Jones, Garrett 1B PIT
Ross, Cody CF SF
Cain, Lorenzo CF KC
Byrd, Marlon CF CHC
Kubel, Jason LF MIN
Venable, Will RF SD

Additionally, a few teams with big budgets need OF bad so I'm guessing top guys will go for huge numbers.

Trying to decide who to target and how high I can go for a top 3B, one top OF and some value picks elsewhere.

[Gregg]

With your keeper list and the money you have to spend I would go cheap on 3B maybe Freese or Headly and go after two OF.

In this case I would try to get Stubbs and Kemp early. You may actually get a small deal on Kemp after last year.

[axman]

In a 10 team league you are going to have plenty of valuable $1 pitchers available so I would only spend $1 on each pitching spot. I agree a $1 catcher is the way to go. I would really try to get A-Rod as the drop of is big. If you can get him for around $30-$35, you should be able to find enough value in the outfield with your remaining money. In a 10 team mixed league I believe the key is getting the top players available because so much new talent will enter your pool throughout the season. You need steals also but should be able to find some in the OF and a cheap MI for some.

[Lucky]

I agree, no more than $1 each on pitchers and $1 for catcher. That leaves you $66 for 3B, MI and 3 OF positions.

I don't think you can afford to spend a large amount on 3B. Here's the guys I would look at in the OF:

Holliday, Matt LF STL
Victorino, Shane CF PHI
Pierre, Juan LF CHW
Stubbs, Drew CF CIN
Kemp, Matt CF LA
Morgan, Nyjer CF WAS
Sizemore, Grady CF CLE
Bernadina, Roger CF WAS
Cuddyer, Michael 1B MIN
Torres, Andres CF SF
Abreu, Bobby RF ANA
Hunter, Torii CF ANA
Huff, Aubrey 1B SF
Ordonez, Magglio RF DET
Coghlan, Chris LF FLA
Borbon, Julio CF TEX
Lee, Carlos LF HOU
Bourjos, Peter CF ANA
Snider, Travis LF TOR
Maybin, Cameron CF SD
Podsednik, Scott LF LA
DeJesus, David LF OAK
Jones, Garrett 1B PIT
Ross, Cody CF SF
Cain, Lorenzo CF KC
Byrd, Marlon CF CHC
Kubel, Jason LF MIN
Venable, Will RF SD

You may not be able to get any of the top guys, but there are some good guys here, including some with a really huge upside.

[Catfishkid]

We just had our 12 team 5x5 $260 auction on Saturday, so the prices should be adjusted down a little for a 10 team league, but I cleaned up in the latter part of the draft with cheap pitching. I got Jordan Zimmerman for $2, James Shields for $3, John Lackey for $1 and took a flyer on Eric Bedard for $1 (I grabbed Johann Santana in the 3rd round of the reserve draft, figuring that he might be coming back just about the time that Bedard goes down with a season-ending arm injury).

Some other prices just to give you an idea, Holliday went for $39, Victorino for $30, Aramis Ramirez - $25, Bourn - $18, Pierre - $19, Rajai Davis - $10, Maybin went in the reserve draft, Bernadina wasn't drafted.