Top keeper league hitters

mattgus40  5/25/2014 11:04 PM

I'm currently in 2nd last place in my 10-team keeper league and considering if I should start tanking and making some moves to strengthen my keeper bats if the season is indeed lost. It's a limited keeper with 4 hitters and 2 pitchers and I currently have Darvish/Strasburg for my pitchers and then Harper/Abreu as my surefire hitting keepers. After that I've got Justin Upton, Pedroia, Choo, Craig, Nelson Cruz in the mix for the last two spots (plus recently stashed Polanco and Taveras in case they break out in a big way when called up.)

I'm not particuarly fond of the other keeper options after Harper/Abreu and I think I could make a couple of different packages for some really great options and would love to move Pedroia while he still has some name value and also sell high on Cruz and Alexei Ramirez. Carlos Gonzalez I could get for Upton/Pedroia and I think I could also get Goldschmidt or Cano in a similar deal. Trout, Cabrera, Tulo, Puig and Stanton are not attainable. 

So who are the hitters you would do anything you could to acquire in a keeper league? 

jphanned   5/26/2014 11:13 AM

Goldschmidt, McCutchen, CarGo, Cano, Adam Jones still top my list.

mattgus40  5/26/2014 1:16 PM

Couple of offers to consider - I could move Upton/Pedroia for CarGo or Cruz/Pedroia for Cano. Would you make either (or both) of those trades? I could probably sub in someone else instead of Pedroia in the CarGo deal to make both trade go through.

I think I can also package something similar for Goldschmidt - some combo of Upton/Pedroia/Cruz and a RP. Would you go after Goldy above the other guys first?

jphanned   5/26/2014 1:31 PM

Yeah I'd go for Goldy first of that group. If you can swing Upton/Cruz for him that'd be ideal - Cruz is the guy I'd be shopping the hardest given he's 33 already. You want to keep Pedroia if possible as your possible 4th to go along with Harper, Abreu, and Goldy/CarGo.

mattgus40  6/1/2014 10:21 PM

Been offering combos of Upton/Cruz/Pedroia and a couple of pitchers (Kluber, Perkins/Rosenthal) for all of the top hitters (Goldy, Puig, Jones) and was finally able to move Cruz/Pedroia for Cano (and Machado throw in.) Also picked up Bogaerts for a draft pick.

Keepers are now Harper-Abreu-Cano and currently have Upton/Choo/Bogaerts/Taveras/Polanco to choose from for the last spot. 

The same guy has both Puig and CarGo and I think I the following moves are very possible:

- CarGo for Upton/draft pick (guy is really souring on CarGo)

- Upton/Cano for Puig.

Which of those moves would you guys make or would you stand pat with the current keeper list and see how the season plays out for the rookies I have?

ken_admin  6/2/2014 7:30 AM

I might have missed this, but in your league you can keep any 2 pitchers and 4 hitters with no consideration of draft round?

mattgus40  6/2/2014 8:28 AM

Correct - you can keep any 4 hitters/2 pitchers for as long as you like with no considerations of draft rounds, salary, etc.

ken_admin  6/2/2014 8:45 AM

To me, Upton is one of your better keepers. He's playing well and is only 26. Cano should be an easy choice too.

Harper-Abreu-Cano-Justin look like a nice four. If you're not sold on Upton, could you get Cargo for him one-for-one?

mattgus40  6/2/2014 9:39 AM

I thought I could based on what CarGo's owner was saying a few days ago but just offered it and no dice. I'm still kicking the tires on Adam Jones. But you'd feel confident in Upton as a top keeper candidate going forward?

ken_admin  6/2/2014 10:17 AM

I would include Upton as one of your four. He's been healthy the last three years, and is a consistent Top 30 hitter. He's 26 so should be entering his prime too.

mattgus40  6/2/2014 12:05 PM

Thanks Ken and Justin, appreciate the responses!

mattgus40  6/4/2014 6:02 PM

I think this is a fairly obvious "yes" but I've received an offer of Braun for my Upton/Polanco. I should hit accept, yes?

ken_admin  6/4/2014 6:17 PM

I would accept that with your keeper setup. He's a health risk, but the upside is too great to pass on.