Justin Fensterman and Trevor Ray discuss players to buy and sell at this midpoint in the season. They will discuss guys like Giancarlo Stanton, Pedro Alvarez, R.A. Dickey, Mike Trout, Derek Holland, Adam LaRoche and Trevor Plouffe.
Tags: Adam LaRoche, Derek Holland, Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout, Pedro Alvarez, R.A.Dickey, Trevor Plouffe
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 Allen on Jun 30, 2012
Big Ray, I have a really tough pitching decision for the week ahead. I need to pick 4 pitchers out of the next 5. We’ve got Wainwright (COL), Parker (BOS, SEA), Haren (@CLE, BAL), Hanson (CHC, @PHI), and Dickey (PHI). I appreciate it a lot man. Gut tells me to sit wainwright, but Haren has been soo bad
By Ray Flowers on Jun 30, 2012
Allen – Gotta go Hanson and Dickey. I’m still a back of Haren, so I’ll roll with him too. Parker has one great, one rough matchup. Since you already have two guys with two starts, I’d lean Waino to avoid that BOS matchup with Parker, but both starts are home so I could totally see going with Parker. Go Parker.
By Nick on Jul 1, 2012
Is Zach Cozart someone you would want in a ten team keeper league (with no MI position) for next year? Thanks.
By David on Jul 1, 2012
I just picked up Aramis Ramirez by trade with Will Middlebrooks as my starting third baseman. But now I’m having second thoughts. (Our league has no bench). Do I keep Ramirez and drop Middlebrooks?
By Jeremy on Jul 1, 2012
Hey Ray, nice call on the Latos start. What’s up with James Shields? I mean, I didn’t expect the same success as last year but his 5-0 start was nice. Now he’s awful. Would you run him out there next week with 2 starts against the Yanks and Indians (who both kill him) or would you roll with Price (against the Yanks)? Or I could bench both and start either Street or Soriano at RP. I have 2 2 start RPs there now in Sale and Cashner. Thanks.
By Matt on Jul 1, 2012
Ray – your recommendation of Plouffe instead of Barney when I lost Tulo was golden…..so far…..another one for you – I now have two viable catchers in a one catcher league – who do you go with Doumit or Avila? Our league uses OBP instead of AVG. Thanks! Matt
By Ray Flowers on Jul 1, 2012
Nick – Cozart is not a keeper in a 10 tm mixed lg with no middle infield positions unless you keep like 15 or 20 players.
By Ray Flowers on Jul 1, 2012
David – No Middlebrooks keeps up his average, and I doubt that the power is going to stay at this pace either. Aramis is the player I would prefer. He’s not only got history on his side, but he’s been hitting pretty darn well for a good clip now.
By Ray Flowers on Jul 1, 2012
Jeremy – Yeah, Latos rocking now.
Shields – it’s all about expectations. He’s pitching the same as he always has. His xFIP last year was 3.25, best of career. Right now it’s 3.44 which would be the second best mark of his career (3.64 for career). Plus his “awful” month of June still had 25 Ks in 31.2 with a 4.26 ERA which isn’t hideous.
I have a hard time benching either Price or Shields.
By Ray Flowers on Jul 1, 2012
Matt – If Plouffe breaks his leg tomm the call for him over Barney would still be the right call.
I’d go Doumit. Its very close, and Avila is interesting in an OBP lg, but he’s really not hit much at all this season, and he has one homer since May 6th.
By Nick on Jul 1, 2012
Could you rank these pitchers for the ROS?
Hellickson, Billingsly, Clayton Richard, Gavin Floyd and Ubaldo
Thanks.
By Pat on Jul 1, 2012
Ray, lov eth ework. I need SP in 4 man keeper 6 x 6 roto league(CG’s and OPS extra cats) Need SP, is my Plouffe for his C Lee(Phillies) a great deal for me? Thanks
By Ray Flowers on Jul 1, 2012
Nick – I’m going to have ROTW rankings this coming week. Look for it.
By Ray Flowers on Jul 1, 2012
Pat – If you can deal Plouffe and get back Lee I think that is a MUST do.
By Nick on Jul 1, 2012
Thanks… You are easily the best in the business.
By Joel on Jul 1, 2012
Ray: rotw, would u rather have miguel montero or sal perez? Furcal or Aybar? THANKS!
By Ray Flowers on Jul 1, 2012
Joel – My ROTW rankings will be out this week. easily montero at C though.
By Luke on Jul 1, 2012
Mr Flowers, should i drop A. Soriano for Drew Stubbs? I’ve benefited from the power resurgence but I sense a decline coming in Soriano. Its killing me to keep looking @ Stubbs on the waiver wire. You’re awesome and my go to guy for the info.
By vince on Jul 2, 2012
HI Ray, I had a trade question. I have Jeter, who has been on a downward trend the last couple months and I was looking to upgrade at shortstop. Would you recommend doing this trade. Jeter and Morse for Elvis Andrus and Morales? I have dunn/hart at 1st, and Holiday, Bourn, and Cruz in OF so Morse is either in utility or bench? This is a keeper league too. Thanks for all the help.
By Steve on Jul 2, 2012
Ray,
I have 5 OF spots in my AL-only league. 4 are solidified: Granderson, Dunn, Reddick, and Revere. Who do I fill in for the last spot: Span, Berry, or Damon? I’m on the fence btn Span and Berry. Damon is playing part-time while Berry and Span are getting full-time at-bats.
Span has the games under his belt, the history of hitting around .300, and great stats against SPs he is going to face this week, BUT he is also on the road where he is hitting around the mendoza line this year.
Berry has simply been playing well enough to consider starting and hasn’t slowed down. Also, Leyland seems to like hitting him in the #2 spot. He and Austin make prob the fastest 1-2 other than Revere/Span. What do you think? Span or Berry? Thanks for the opinion, Ray!
By Steve on Jul 2, 2012
Ray,
I also pulled the trigger on a deal for Cabrera. I’m killing the Offensive categories except for BA. I’m 2nd in HR w/139 (1st has 140, 3rd has 108), 1st in Runs by 48, 1st in RBIs by 28, 1st in SBs by 11. However, I’m in 7th in BA. I’m pretty close to the 6th place owner (.006) and will take some work to get further up (.49+). I paid a steep price, but feel I can afford it and let someone else take the gamble on a DL player est to return after the all-star break. The deal was:
Tex/Longo for Cabrera/Furbish
Tex and Cabrera stats will be comparable except for BA. Tex at .255 for the rest of the year versus Cabrera at .300 will help the BA. Longo hasn’t done anything for me since I dealt for him while on the DL. It was tough to let him go and I was trying to hold onto him, but I didn’t have the gaurantee of him returning and returning to form. He was hitting like Longo we know and love prior to injury, but there was the possibility it could linger. Furbish adds to my stable of ratio controlling and dominating RPs and Closers. My current AL-only team as of today:
CA Pierzynski
1B Butler
2B Kipnis
SS Alexai
3B Lawrie
MI Kelly Johnson
CI Miggy
OF Granderson
OF Dunn
OF Reddick
OF Revere
UT Span/Berry
P1 Downs
P2 Frieri
P3 Nathan
P4 Rodney
P5 Furbish
P6 Villarreal
P7 Strop
P8 Adams
Bench = Odirizzi, Hultzen, Carroll, Damon, Span/Berry
What do you think of (1) the deal and (2) my current roster?
By greg on Jul 2, 2012
Morning Ray,
Quick one today, if you have a sec. All things considered, I should be fine with a deal that nets me Prince & Casilla in exchange for my Craig, Bonifacio, Clippard – yeah? I’ve crushes on both Clippard and Craig so I have a hard time seeing straight. Heh. Boni was going to replace De Aza in my OF, so if I do the deal then De Aza would just stay there. I’m middle-high in SBs and this is a 10-team roto league w/ OPS and K/9 added. Do you have a read on this trade? thanks man!
By Ray Flowers on Jul 2, 2012
Luke – I’d rather have Stubbs than Soriano, yes. At same time, for the past 45 or so days, Soriano has been one of the best power hitters in the NL. Hard to say just dump him given that, but Stubbs is obviously a more dynamic option.
By Ray Flowers on Jul 2, 2012
Vince – Jeter and Morse for Elvis Andrus and Morales?
I don’t have a huge issue with this right now. I’d take Andrus over Jeter, and while I’d lean Morse over Morales I dont see a huge diff between them. Plus, in a keeper league, I’d totally add Andrus.
By Ray Flowers on Jul 2, 2012
Steve – I’d go with Berry this week. Span is, as you stated, more established, but Berry has been performing well and brings a bit more right now with the wheels.
By Ray Flowers on Jul 2, 2012
Steve – Tex/Longo for Cabrera/Furbish
I love Cabrera, but this is way too much to give for me in an AL only lg. Furbish has been great, but 35 innings the rest of the way doesnt move the needle much. Tex is likely to match Cabrera in HR/RBI/Runs cats, though you do get your AVG boost as mentioned. Still, you tossed in an all-star 3B who could easily be a top-3 third sacker ROTW.
By wesley on Jul 2, 2012
12 team h2h, cahill and helickson are available, would u drop carlos lee or howie kendrick for any of these pitchers. Thanks ray
By Ray Flowers on Jul 2, 2012
Wesley – Always hard to say when I have no idea who steps into your lineup. Do you need MI or CI depth? If pushed I’d say drop Lee and add Hellickson.