HDID: Mixed Keep Forever

[virgonomic]

5x5 with SV+HD, 14 teams, H2H
We keep 2-4 in the first 4 rounds and 0-4 in the last 4 (22 rounds).

Garver Grandal Merrifield JRamirez Tatis Yelich JDMartinez WMyers Pollock
B Bell WFranco Rutschman
SP Darvish Strasburg KHendricks Kluber Urquidy Bassitt
RP Pagan Melancon Ottavino Bard
IR: Severino

[chancellor]

The hitting is outrageously good. For S+H, your RPs should be solid. Your SPs are good, but if you have a crack in the armor, it’s there.

[harmon]

I'd go to war with that team anytime.

[virgonomic]

I dropped Tellez for Severino (IR) then added Garver.

[Gregg]

That is a great team for a 10 teamer much less 14. Well done.

[virgonomic]

Thanks for the feedback. As always I will watch for new closers who many be upgrades/replacements for my current bullpen. I will also monitor my SP. Framber is on the WW - is he a must-add?

[virgonomic]

All things equal, I am going to have a logjam when Framber and Strasburg come off the IL in a couple weeks. I will also have to make room for Myers.

I think Mercedes and Brubaker are the weakest links. Are they droppable or should I try to trade? It might be a good time to offer Rutschman (keep forever in rounds 19-23 backfilled) to the bottom feeders.

C Grandal
1B Aguilar
2B Merrifield
SS Jazz (Tatis)
3B JRamirez
OF JDM Yelich Conforto
UT Mercedes
B WFranco Rutschman
IL Myers

SP Darvish KHendricks Bumgarner Bassitt Urquidy Brubaker
IL Strasburg FValdez Severino

[virgonomic]

It's judgment day as Framber is back! Team is the same except I added Hill for Brubaker. Someone needs to go - who?

C Grandal
1B Aguilar
2B Merrifield
SS Tatis
3B JRamirez
OF JDM Yelich Myers
UT Mercedes
B Jazz WFranco Rutschman
IL Conforto

SP Darvish Strasburg KHendricks Bumgarner Bassitt Hill
IL FValdez Urquidy Severino

[chancellor]

I'd drop Bumgarner.

[virgonomic]

I'd drop Bumgarner.

Yeah last night's rough start probably sealed his fate.

[virgonomic]

Here's my current team. I'm in first and up 10-0 in a matchup with the second place team (I picked up Ross to equalize starts this week because if we meet in the final the result of this week will be the tiebreaker).

I always miss out on the first wave of trades and have started reaching out to lower-half teams. Which positions should I look to upgrade? I know I need another closer. A backup 3B would be nice. Jazz and Aguilar could be upgraded. Ditto for SP but with possible reinforcements coming off IR I'm not sure it's a priority.

C Grandal
1B WMyers
2B Jazz
3B Ramirez
SS TatisJr
OF Merrifield Yelich JDMartinez
UT Aguilar/Franco
B Rutschman {empty}

SP Darvish KHendricks FValdez Bassitt RHill JRoss LGarcia
RP Melancon Reyes TyRogers
IR Strasburg Urquidy Severino

[Gregg]

If this was my team I think I would be trying to turn a couple of my IR pitchers in a good solid SP.

I do not have a lot of confidence in Strasburg this year.

Severino (who I like) has been pushed out to early August with a grade 2 groin strain. For rebuilders that is not far off. For you it might make difference for this year. I would not lose sleep if I did not get the right piece coming back.

[virgonomic]

If this was my team I think I would be trying to turn a couple of my IR pitchers in a good solid SP.

I do not have a lot of confidence in Strasburg this year.

Severino (who I like) has been pushed out to early August with a grade 2 groin strain. For rebuilders that is not far off. For you it might make difference for this year. I would not lose sleep if I did not get the right piece coming back.

I should remind you of our keeper rules (also in earlier posts). We must keep 2-4 in rounds 1-4 and can keep 0-4 in rounds 19-22.

Strasburg is a forever keeper in rounds 19-22. I mused about moving him last offseason with concerns about his durability but the 'pen shot that down. :P He might be attractive to a rebuilder.

Severino was a FA pickup, so I can keep him in the 10th round next year, but he would only qualify as a top 4 keeper if traded.

I think offering Rutschman/Strasburg and a swap of draft picks is my best play. I'm more concerned about what I should be looking for coming back, i.e., what are my weaknesses?

[chancellor]

You should have everything except 2B covered in case of injury (I'm assuming Wander is SS/3B eligible in your league now), so I'd say closer and SP are your top needs. Rich Hill has been great so far, but he's Rich Hill. You just know the IL stint is coming. And Joe Ross has picked it up, for sure, but come playoff time...I'm not sure I'd trust him.

Hitting-wise, if you can score a low-level deal for a 2B/SS or 2B/OF type, that'd be a good insurance policy.

[virgonomic]

You should have everything except 2B covered in case of injury (I'm assuming Wander is SS/3B eligible in your league now), so I'd say closer and SP are your top needs. Rich Hill has been great so far, but he's Rich Hill. You just know the IL stint is coming. And Joe Ross has picked it up, for sure, but come playoff time...I'm not sure I'd trust him.

Hitting-wise, if you can score a low-level deal for a 2B/SS or 2B/OF type, that'd be a good insurance policy.

I think Wander needs 5 GP, so he's still SS only with a chance to qualify at 3B eventually. Good point on the SP - one middling team has Ray/Peralta/Wheeler/Manaea. I'd love to add 2 of them.