Please help with my team...

[Benihana]

12 team, 5x5 standard rotisserie league (R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG) and (W, SV, K, ERA, WHIP)

I need to make a few moves, my infield is pretty weak and I need another closer. Does anyone know who the DRays closer will be? Seth McClung? Do you think Otuska could be the closer fairly soon? Help is much appreciated.

C R. Hernandez
1B A. Gonzalez
2B B. Phillips
SS R. Furcal
3B E. Encarnacion
OF V. Guerrero
OF C. Crawford
OF A. Rios
UT N. Markakis

BN M. Cuddyer
BN M. Teahen
BN J. Cantu

SP Peavy
SP Sabathia
SP Kazmir
SP Harden
SP R. Hill
SP Sowers
SP Westbrook
RP Saito
RP Otuska

[Red Leader]

I actually think your offense is good for a 12 team league. Actually the more I look at it, I like it a lot. The only player I really don't like on your team is Furcal. You really don't need him with Phillips, Guerrero and especially Crawford stealing bases for you. Furcal does help in runs scored, though and you might need him for that. He starts slow every year so be patient with him if you keep him. I think Adrian Gonzalez is going to turn into a monster this year. Good for you for getting him. Cuddyer is a good player, last year wasn't a fluke and he's eligible at several positions, IIRC. Not a big fan of J. Cantu this year. I think he'll really struggle. You may want to see if you can garner any interest for him. I think Teahen will have a real nice year.

As far as pitching goes, I think you're in good shape, SP wise, if your pitchers stay healthy. You have some ???'s as far as health goes. A gamble. If you win that battle, you should be good. You could definitely use another RP. I think Otsuka might get a chance to close at some point this year, but you can't bank on it and you might fall behind in saves early on if you keep him.

You might want to see if you can deal Cantu and Otsuka to someone that has saves covered and can afford to deal a closer, even if its a second tier closer.

[Benihana]

Thanks RL, I just got offered Texeira and Hoffman for Crawford and Sowers and I think I'm gonna take it. Thoughts?

[Red Leader]

Originally Posted by Benihana

Thanks RL, I just got offered Texeira and Hoffman for Crawford and Sowers and I think I'm gonna take it. Thoughts?

Tough call.

You could afford to deal SB's but Crawford really is an impact bat in all categories. His power is still developing and improving each year. He steals tons of bases, scores tons of runs, hits for a good avg, drives in runs, and hits HR's. He truly is an impact in all 5 categories. It's tough to give up a player like that for me, even getting a good player like Teixeira back in return. I don't think the loss of Sowers hurts you that much at all, and you do need Hoffman. In the end, I'm just not sure. I think I'd look around a little before dealing Crawford.

Throw Sowers and Cantu at someone and see if they offer up a closer for them.

[Benihana]

Thanks, RL.

At the same time I'm offering Furcal and Kazmir for Hanley Ramirez and Capuano to get the steals back. Also the Crawford deal he now wants either Teahen or Cuddyer instead of Sowers. Which would you rather do?

[Red Leader]

I like that Furcal / Kazmir for Ramirez and Capuano trade. Capuano is pretty good, often overlooked. Kazmir is still an injury risk.

I'd give up Teahen before I gave up Cuddyer, but for the return your getting, I wouldn't give up either of them with Crawford. That's just me, though. It'd be nice to see more responses on this from other people. When I have fantasy questions I like hearing many, many opinions. That's why I try and drop in this forum as much as I can and offer advice.

[Benihana]

RL, would you do Texeira and Hoffman for Crawford straight up?

[Buckeye33]

Originally Posted by Benihana

RL, would you do Texeira and Hoffman for Crawford straight up?

This is a trade that you can do. Crawford is good, but Teixeria will most likely get back to his career year numbers of '05 instead of his somewhat struggling '06.

Look for .285/38/115/100 from Teixeria this year. 100 being runs scored. THose are great numbers for a 5x5 league.

[Benihana]

Thanks for the help (even though youre a Bucekeye).

My new squad looks like this:

C Hernandez
1B Texeira
2B Phillips
SS Furcal
3B Encarnacion
OF Guerrero
OF Rios
OF Markakis
DH Adrian Gonzalez

BN Cuddyer 1B/OF
BN Teahen 3B/OF
BN Betemit/Greene? MI

SP Peavy
SP Sabathia (now hurt)
SP Kazmir
SP Harden
SP Hill
SP Sowers

RP Hoffman
RP Saito
RP Otsukna

I'm thinking of going after more speed in the OF. Maybe packaging Sowers and Cuddyer/Teahen for something... Or I might start Teahen over either Encarnacion or Markakis to start the year. I think the overall power/avg production will be about the same but Teahen will provide some extra SBs. What do you think?

[Buckeye33]

Originally Posted by Benihana

Thanks for the help (even though youre a Bucekeye).

My new squad looks like this:

C Hernandez
1B Texeira
2B Phillips
SS Furcal
3B Encarnacion
OF Guerrero
OF Rios
OF Markakis
DH Adrian Gonzalez

BN Cuddyer 1B/OF
BN Teahen 3B/OF
BN Betemit/Greene? MI

SP Peavy
SP Sabathia (now hurt)
SP Kazmir
SP Harden
SP Hill
SP Sowers

RP Hoffman
RP Saito
RP Otsukna

I'm thinking of going after more speed in the OF. Maybe packaging Sowers and Cuddyer/Teahen for something... Or I might start Teahen over either Encarnacion or Markakis to start the year. I think the overall power/avg production will be about the same but Teahen will provide some extra SBs. What do you think?

If the Betemit/Greene line is meant to say that you can pick up either one, go pick up Greene. If he stays healthy you're looking at 20 HRs 70+ RBIs and 70s. Since you already have Teahen to backup 3B I think Greene is your best bet unless Orlando Cabrera happened to slip through your draft.

Also, Sabathia's x-rays were negative. He might miss 1 or 2 starts if it really bruises up on him.

If Harden and Peavy stay healthy, you are going to be tuff to beat. Very very solid offense with a potentially dominating pitching staff. If Otsuka gets traded or Gagne sucks you would be looking that much better.

I am going to list my roster for my 2 player keeper league and give me some ideas on what you might look to improve. This league is 5x5 + BB and E on offense and L and Holds in pitching. ARod and Reyes were my keepers.

C - Piazza
1B - Kent
2B - Roberts
SS - Reyes
3B - ARod
OF - V. Wells
OF - Abreu
OF - Bonds
UTIL - Thome
BN - Freel
BN - Blalock
BN - Overbay

SP - Zambrano
SP - Sheets
SP - Harden
SP - R. Hill
SP - Contreras
RP - FRod
RP - F. Cordero
P - Howry
P - M. Gonzalez
BN - Dotel

[Benihana]

Originally Posted by Buckeye33

If the Betemit/Greene line is meant to say that you can pick up either one, go pick up Greene. If he stays healthy you're looking at 20 HRs 70+ RBIs and 70s. Since you already have Teahen to backup 3B I think Greene is your best bet unless Orlando Cabrera happened to slip through your draft.

Also, Sabathia's x-rays were negative. He might miss 1 or 2 starts if it really bruises up on him.

If Harden and Peavy stay healthy, you are going to be tuff to beat. Very very solid offense with a potentially dominating pitching staff. If Otsuka gets traded or Gagne sucks you would be looking that much better.

I am going to list my roster for my 2 player keeper league and give me some ideas on what you might look to improve. This league is 5x5 + BB and E on offense and L and Holds in pitching. ARod and Reyes were my keepers.

C - Piazza
1B - Kent
2B - Roberts
SS - Reyes
3B - ARod
OF - V. Wells
OF - Abreu
OF - Bonds
UTIL - Thome
BN - Freel
BN - Blalock
BN - Overbay

SP - Zambrano
SP - Sheets
SP - Harden
SP - R. Hill
SP - Contreras
RP - FRod
RP - F. Cordero
P - Howry
P - M. Gonzalez
BN - Dotel

That is a pretty strong team Buckeye. Having Reyes, ARod, Thome, and your pitching staff is pretty impressive. The only spots I don't love are Kent at 1st and Bonds in the OF. I do like Piazza a lot in the AL this year as well as Dotel as a sleeper closer. I'm not sure F.Cordero will last as the Brew Crew's guy- he's very volatile. I would look to deal Contreras and Kent for an upgrade at 1B, like maybe a Prince Fielder or an upgrade in the OF, like a Rios (although you do already have Wells and I don't like to committ too much to one team). Howry could be the Cubbies closer by May.

[Benihana]

Also FWIW I picked up Hermanson off the waiver wire, so I now have Hoffman, Saito, Hermanson and Otsuka coming out of the pen. However I have now been presented with the following trade offer:

I GIVE
Scott Kazmir
Takashi Saito
Ramon Hernandez

I GET
Felix Hernandez
Russell Martin

I think if I can sub Sowers for Kazmir, I've got to do the deal even though I'd be losing some saves. What do you think?

[Buckeye33]

Originally Posted by Benihana

Also FWIW I picked up Hermanson off the waiver wire, so I now have Hoffman, Saito, Hermanson and Otsuka coming out of the pen. However I have now been presented with the following trade offer:

I GIVE
Scott Kazmir
Takashi Saito
Ramon Hernandez

I GET
Felix Hernandez
Russell Martin

I think if I can sub Sowers for Kazmir, I've got to do the deal even though I'd be losing some saves. What do you think?

Like you said, if you can get the other owner to take Sowers instead of Kazmir it is pretty much a no brainer. It also helps that Gagne went on the DL today and Otsuka will be the closer for awhile in Texas. Even when Gagne comes back I do not believe he'll be thrust directly back to the closer role. Also, Martin for Hernandez is pretty close to a wash in 5x5. Martin will get more SBs, better AVG, and more runs while Hernandez will hit 10 more HRs and have 15-20 more RBIs than Martin.

I'm not a fan of Hermanson at all, but maybe he'll stick for awhile as the Reds closer. I'd rather probably have Seth McClung over Hermanson.

As far as my team goes, I may try to propose a Kent/Contreras deal for Fielder or and OF upgrade. I really think Bonds will play well this year. In my league BB count so that is a huge bonus with Bonds. There are plenty of pitchers on the waiver wire who can probably come close to Contreras. Hudson, Escobar, Glavine, and John Patterson are all available.

[Dom Heffner]

I think Otsuka might get a chance to close at some point this year

He's going to get his chance at the get go. Gagne is already on the DL.

However, the Rangers have said it's Gagne's job whenver he comes back no matter what.

They are falling into the namism trap.

[Benihana]

For those that care (and have been quite helpful) I've swung a couple more deals. Basically, in a eight-player deal, I traded Markakis, Cuddyer, Ra.Hernandez, Sowers and Saito for Felix Hernandez, Russell Martin and Austin Kearns. I now have finally completed my dream pitching staff, but I know I have to trade one of them away (Kazmir or Sabathia?) for a power hitting OF. I'm trying to deal Sabathia/Furcal/Kearns for Ha.Ramirez and Dunn. If that doesn't work, maybe Texeria and Kazmir for Pujols. Thoughts?

C Martin
1B Texeira
2B Phillips
SS Furcal
3B Encarnacion
OF Guerrero
OF Rios
OF Teahen
DH Adrian Gonzalez

BN Griffey
BN K.Greene

SP Peavy
SP Fe. Hernandez
SP Sabathia
SP Kazmir
SP Harden
SP R. Hill

RP Hoffman
RP Otsukna
RP Wheeler
RP Soriano
RP Howry (or should I pickup Coffey instead?)