Keeper league. 12 teams. 5 keepers with a luxury tax for a 6th (7 keepers going into next season). Scoring includes for hitters: R, H, 1b, 2b, 3b, HR, RBI, BB, SB, K, FPCT, AVG, OPS pitchers: IP, W, L, CG, SHO, SV's, H, HR's, BB's, K's , Holds, ERA, WHIP It is a head to head league. 6 teams make the playoffs with 2 byes C- Pablo Sandoval 1B- Albert Pujols 2B- Ian Kinsler 3B- Evan Longoria SS- Jhonny Peralta IF- Kendry Morales LF- Jason Bay CF- B.J. Upton RF- Josh Hamilton OF- Elijah Dukes Util- David Ortiz Util- Felipe Lopez BN- Andy LaRoche BN- Hank Blalock DL- Brian McCann
SP- Chad Billingsley SP- Josh Johnson SP- Hong-Chi Kuo RP- Matt Capps RP- Heath Bell P- Grant Balfour P- Jason Motte P- Mark Melancon P- Joel Zumaya BN- Matt Cain BN- Phil Hughes BN- John Lackey DL- Rich Hill
Ok, let me start by highlighting the fact that holds are used in this league, and though it's a keeper league, Hughes does not fall into those plans. I am mildly interested in throwing out a 2 for 1 offer to a big time Yankees homer in my league in which I send him Hughes and Melancon for Brian Wilson. I think if I made the offer, it would have a very solid chance at getting done, but should I want that to happen? Obviously holds are more readily available on the wire then saves (which unless you count the roller coaster ride that is Julian Tavarez in the mix) aren't available on the wire. So though I think it's important to own a handful of holds guys, I would much prefer have 3-4 closers and fill out my bullpen with setup type guys.
All that said, there is only one owner in the league with more then 3 closers, and only 2 others with 3 closers, so it's not completely necessary that I get another closer. However, if I were to get another closer, it's safe to say I'd have a leg up on the owners who are currently only holding 1-2 closers. There are a few owners that have tried to corner holds, and a few that have about 4 relief pitchers (closers and setup guys) total, so all in all I'm competitive in both saves and holds. Ultimately Hughes will hopefully be my number 5 (and given that Hill displayed solid control in his AAA rehab start tonight, I have some hope that he'll be a contributor rounding out my rotation as well) I think I have the luxury of being able to deal Hughes. I also think this is a solid sell high opportunity of sorts, as I do have concerns about owning a young pitcher who's home games are at the wind aided HR derby ballpark that is the new Yankee Stadium. Anyways, that's all my thinking, any help would be greatly appreciated and returned if you leave a link. Thanks in advance!
I say go for it! Wilson is playing well so far, and it kinda seems like you have your mind made up already . Hughes doesn't really fit into your plans so there isn't much sense in keeping him.. Plus, I see some rough outings ahead. Your team looks like it's gonna be pretty beastly when everyone gets back from injuries!
i have no idea who melacanon is but i like jumping all over someone's idea that a yankee is BACK! i would do this deal and grab a proven/legit closer for practically nothing
Thanks for the help, I might be the wrong guy to as about this, being a Yankee fan, but I'll try to be objective. I think dealing Hughes is a big mistake. He pitched against Detroit like he did when he was fully healthy in 2006. As far as Melancon I'm not sure if he's going to give you much. You do need relievers so Wilson would certainly help, but maybe try to move someone other than Hughes at this point for him. If you are going to deal Hughes I'd sell him much higher than for Wilson.
michaelyoung4prez wrote:i have no idea who melacanon is but i like jumping all over someone's idea that a yankee is BACK! i would do this deal and grab a proven/legit closer for practically nothing
I'm not sure about this one. It's all the more confusing for me because your league values HLDs and that makes it difficult to gauge Melancon's worth. I will say that I like Hughes, regardless of whether you plan on holding him over for next year. The potential is there for him to stack up quite a few wins provided he gives NY the innings. Wilson has been K'ing about 10/9 recently but the harder you look at the stats the more difficult it is to put a good estimate on where they'll be at year's end. He racked up 41 saves last year but his ERA was 4.62, his WHIP 1.44 and he walked more than 4 batters per 9 innings. If you really want to corner the market on saves then I suppose the trade is palatable, assuming his job is secure. Talent-wise, I'm afraid that you're giving more than you're getting.
Since you aren't factoring Hughes in your Keeper plans and that Holds are valued - I'd pull the trigger. You've got some good SPs and with Lackey coming back soon, Hughes is pretty much expendable for a proven closer imo.
Thanks for your help with my question, it was exactly the sort of answer I needed.
Now, as a Yankees fan, I have much love for both Hughes and Melancon, but I would take a closer like Brian Wilson in exchange for them. Hughes isn't guaranteed a spot in the rotation if Chien-ming Wang comes back. If Wang pitches well, Hughes is getting sent back to AAA-Scranton. The Yankees are not going to go with a 6-man rotation.
Melancon is the real deal and the Yankees' intended successor to Mariano Rivera, but for now he doesn't have keeper value. I believe he can put up good stats and give you holds this season, but he's not more valuable than a closer.
So despite Hughes' improvement (the addition of a cutter and the increased velocity looks legit), his spot in the rotation isn't assured. Despite Melancon's potential, he's unproven at this point. Go ahead with the trade, I support taking advantage of the homerism of others.
Don't buy into the hype of the new Yankee Stadium being some sort of bandbox in a wind tunnel, it's way too early to make any sort of conclusions into that sort of thing.
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. Hughes doesn't really fit into your plans so there isn't much sense in keeping him.. Plus, I see some rough outings ahead. Your team looks like it's gonna be pretty beastly when everyone gets back from injuries!
