Justin Fensterman and Trevor Ray discuss some hitters you can get in the very late rounds of your snake drafts or guys you can get for real cheap prices that will still be a great value for your fantasy baseball team.
Tags: fliers, J.D. Martinez, Mike Aviles, Raul Ibanez, Zack Cozart
The FSWA winner of the Best Baseball Series of 2011, BaseballGuys.com is the only source you will need for your fantasy baseball knowledge. OK, you might need other sources, but BaseballGuys.com should be on your daily list of must reads for the insights an analysis it provides on the world of baseball.
The co-host of The Drive on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87: M-F at 5-8 PM EDT), Ray has spent years squirreled away studying the inner workings of the fantasy game to the detriment of his personal life. Specializing in baseball, football and hockey, some consider him an expert in all three. Ray's work can also be found as feature writer for: Fantasy Alarm, Rotoinfo, Rotowire and Sports Illustrated.
You can contact Ray through e-mail at fantasyfandom@yahoo(dot)com or on Twitter.
By jon on Mar 11, 2012
More good stuff, Ray. I especially like Mike Aviles in deep leagues. He’s been productive in the past when given time and I think he’s gonna have all he can handle on the left-side of the Sox infield. Now stop telling people about him! Heh.
A quick return to my other conundrum, if you can stand it: my 10-team AVG/OPS league and picks 10 & 11, You rather have 2 elite 1Bs if they are on the board (say two of Votto/Gonzo/Prince) or the best of those guys (say Votto) and an elite OF (CarGo/Ellsbury).
I have a feeling I won’t be able to resist taking the two 1Bs if they’re there, especially since I can take the best remaining OFs with my 30/31 picks. I think 1B is really top-heavy and having two killer OPS guys gives me a leg up.
By Josh366 on Mar 11, 2012
Ray,
Cespedes from Cuba…..Talk to me, what do ya think?
By Ray Flowers on Mar 11, 2012
Josh366- Cespedes has game breaking talent, but it remains to be seen what he makes of it this year. New league, new players, new parks (his is a bad one for offense). How will he transition to American culture etc. I would draft Cespedes as a 4th outfield type in mixed leagues. If everything goes according to plan, he be a Chris Young type performer, likely with a bit more average.
By Ray Flowers on Mar 11, 2012
Jon – I’ll pass along to the guys to stop sharing their wonderful advice.
I cant see Votto falling that far. If he does, grab him. If you can team him with Fielder that would be large in your league, but I’d still lean to the all-around talents of CarGo. It’s not likely that his OPS will be much behind Fielder, and he should have a higher avg.
By Jared on Mar 11, 2012
Ray,
I have a keeper question. 10 team 6×6 (OBP and QS) auction league ($400 budget instead of normal $260). I can keep 5 for as long as I want with no inflation.
Eric Hosmer – $1
Bryce Harper – $3
Jose Reyes – $21
Joey Votto – $26
James Shields – $3
Adam Wainwright – $3
Alex Avila – $1
Brandon Phillips – $25
Ryan Zimmerman – $27
Jay Bruce – $20
Pablo Sandoval – $18
Michael Young – $22
Matt Holliday – $32
Andrew McCutchen – $36
Zack Greinke – $25
Michael Pineda – $2
Thanks,
Jared
By Bigs on Mar 11, 2012
Ray I am in a 12 team head to head keeper lg. Can you rank the following pitchers for a keeper lg.( no restriction on how long I can keep them). Hammels , Ian Kennedy , Shields , Gio , Beachy, Thanks again
By Ray Flowers on Mar 11, 2012
Bigs – In a keeper league, no restrictions —
1 Hamels
2 Gio
3 Shields
4 Beachy
5 Kennedy
By Ray Flowers on Mar 11, 2012
Jared – Five keepers with no inflation and no limit on contract length. Here goes.
1 Hosmer $1
2 Harper $3
3 Pineda $2
4 James Shields $3
5 Avila $1
All those guys are such phenomenal bargains in your setup, that I don’t see how you could pass on him.
By Jon on Mar 12, 2012
Hey, thanks for the response Ray. There’s a good chance Hanley will still be available when I pick at #11 (after I take a 1B at #10). You take HanRam over CarGo in OPS/AVG league?
By Ray Flowers on Mar 12, 2012
Jon – I would NOT take HanRam over CarGo in any league this year.
By mike on Mar 14, 2012
three quick q’s. 1) Third pick in the first round. Cabrera will be #1, so that leaves Batista, Pujols, Braun and Kemp. I’m leaning toward Batista because of the two positions. Not a keeper league.
#2. I like Emilio Bonifacio around #85 to 100. Don’t hear much, but three positions? Seems like a good pick at round 8 or 9 given ss shortage.
#3. Jake Peavy and Mike Minor in late rounds seems logical. Peavy as comeback, Minor reaching potential. Thoughts?
By Anthony on Mar 15, 2012
Hey Ray – Keeper question for you. In a deep AL only keeper league (10 teams, 5×5, 23 starters/17 bench on every team) we can keep 7.
My first six are Bautista, Andrus, C Santana, Gordon, Jennings and Shields for a total of $60. I’m trying to decide on my last keeper. Because the league is so deep with cheap keepers, some of the top guys in the draft can go for $50+. For my last keeper I am trying to decide if Kinsler is worth keeping at $30, or if I should instead keep a cheap guy like Cain for 5, Carp for 3, Balfour for 5…Any guidance would be great. Thanks.
By Bill on Mar 15, 2012
14 team auction keeper league.
$500 salary cap instead of standard $260.
OBP replaces BA otherwise standard 10 cat roto. 26 players per team. 5 keeper slots per team (but slots can be traded so teams have varying numbers) so keepers are approximately 20% of rosters. 9 active pitcher spots (1450 IP cap) and only 10 active hitter slots (need a CF, two U).Players can be kept up to 3 years with $10 added to salary year one and two, and $20 in year three. Must make decision on number of years in contract when first declare the player a keeper.
So far I am keeping:
Bautista $21 (2nd year of 3 year contract)
Kennedy $24
R Betancourt $11
D Gordon $11 (probably do a 2 year contract)
I have an offer to buy a 5th slot for $7. WIth the $500 cap, would you buy the slot to keep any of the following players:
D Ortiz $31
Ar. Ramirez $34
BJ Upton $51
C Lee $61
Votto $101
Kipnis $11
J Weeks $11
G Sanchez $11
By Ray Flowers on Mar 15, 2012
Mike – (1) In order, Braun, Kemp, Pujols. (2) Emilio quals at three spots which is great, but I’d be shocked, like fall of my chair, if he repeated last season’s work. Plus, his ADP is currently 172. (3) Minor has great arm, should get chance with Hudson out. However, what happens when Hudson comes back? Peavy had strong K/BB last year, but getting lit up so far in Spring. Both solid reserve round adds though.
By Ray Flowers on Mar 15, 2012
Anthony – Keep Kinsler. I’d be comfortable going to $30 on him in a mixed, redraft lg. In an AL Only keeper, $30 for him is a fair price. Injuries are always a concern, but we all know how dynamic he is when he plays.
By Ray Flowers on Mar 15, 2012
Bill – Keep Gordon for two years at $11 – that’s like $6 in a normal $260 league.
I’d “buy” that lost slot for Aramis, Upton, Weeks, Kipnis or Sanchez. All are great values at their current prices. Adding in the extra $7, I’d go with Upton if you want to strike it big. In a 14 team lg, $29 for Upton is pricey, but he’s a borderline elite talent. If you want a more moderate approach go with Aramis who is still, easily, a top-10 potion at the hot corner. If you want to just go young, and worry about the future, go with Weeks.
By Phil on Mar 15, 2012
Ray
I know you abhor head to head leagues but need suggestions on 4 for keepers. 10 teams – One key is there is a 50 minimum IP per week. I need to keep 4 players. I lean towards Longoria, Teixeira, Ramirez and Lincecum.
E Longoria
M Teixeira
H Ramirez
R Weeks
M Morse
T Lincecum
T Hudson
C Hamels
H Bell
J Axford
By Ray Flowers on Mar 15, 2012
Phil – My keepers, would be: Longo, Tex, HanRam, Lincecum. I agree with your assessment.