Big league, 20 teams. Could use some insight.

[bananaphone]

Alright, this league is pretty big. There are 20 teams, with 35 man rosters each. 35 man minor league rosters.

26 stat categories are kept track of.

Hitting: R, HR, TB, RBI, K, Sacs, SB, CS, GIDP, Batting Average, OBP, SLG, Fielding %
Pitching: Home Runs Allowed, K's, W, L, SV, SV%, Holds, BAA, ERA, WHIP, K/9, K/BB


What I'm interested in is some advice, or ideas. There's a lot of stuff going on here, so any little bit helps!

Here's my current roster that I'm keeping (25 keepers):

* denotes prospect (not included in my 25 keepers)

C - B. Molina, K. Shoppach
1B - L. Berkman, R. Garko
2B - P. Polanco, K. Matsui
3B - A. Rod
SS - E. Andrus, E. Cabrera, D. Sutton*
LF - J. Kubel (RF also), D. Murphy, D. Young
CF - A. Jones, C. Rasmus, F. Perez*
RF - M. Ordonez

Non keepers: E. Byrnes, F. Lewis

SP - C. Carpenter, W. Rodriguez, B. Morrow, A. Miller, J. Maine, B. Bergesen, S. Marcum (DL)
RP - K. Mickolio*, D. Schlereth*, F. Morales, J. Hanrahan, C. J. Wilson, B. Kilby*

Non keepers: D. Bush, T. Miller, A. Sonnanstine, J. Thatcher, J. Fulchino, D. Robertson, J. Francis


There's everybody. I have a few more prospects, but nobody big. Just a couple of possible relievers. All of the others are a ways off.

What I'm looking for is advice on my fringe keepers, guys I might want to trade for, target in the draft, and what my weaknesses might be here. I managed to take this team into 3rd in my half of the league (10 each side), and into the playoffs. I was pretty excited considering what I started with and how the team finished last season. Looking to improve upon my apparent success! I realize that I'm a freak with this post, and it's December, but I like to get things started early. Any help would be appreciated.

I obviously need a closer, and probably could upgrade SP. Any advice would be stellar. If you want to hit me up and chat about this on AIM, my handle is hilikuS999. Might be easier lol.

Thanks in advance,
BP

[BoBtheMule]

my first reaction to your roster is... your old and I'm worried you may have peaked or will peak this season
Berkman, Molina, ARod, Carpenter, Mags, Polanco... trade for value now, especially on Carpenter and Arod now. Berkman, Mags and Polanco you'll need to wait til the start of the season and hope they get off to a good start (I think they will) and then deal them when their value is high. Molina, once he signs with the Mets... find a Mets fan and deal.

This is probably the last thing you'd expect but I think you need to take a longterm view with this team and deal your old strengths now for the future.

Sell High on these guys but don't settle and in a year or two you could have a stud lineup and starting rotation/pen that can support it. Otherwise, I'm looking at your roster and thinking you're going to be real bad in 2011 or 2012 and I don't think you've got a shot except as a fringe playoff team.

Target the hot names and the guys flying under the radar, especially guys that were hyped but didn't produce last year. BJ Upton and Price both. Markakis, maybe? LaPorta or Snider? Pitchers are tougher... Gallardo might be a target, Hamels, who pitched well under expectations last year was rumored to simply be tipping his pitches. In the minors, obviously the top ten in last year's draft, if they're still available, should be targeted. I don't know who's available but comb the stats and prospect lists and don't worry necessarily about getting guys that are going to be ready in the next year.

Bob

[bananaphone]

Sweet, thanks for the insight. I definitely wanted to move Berkman, but wasn't sure if I should. He is still a big bat.

I agree with you on Carpenter and Berkman, but not necessarily A-Rod. He's getting old but I think he can be the cornerstone of my offense for at least a few years. The surgery was a problem, but he returned and put up good stats. I'll have to look around for Maggs and Polanco.

The problem I think is that pitching is just near impossible to obtain through trade. Everybody is short on it save maybe 2-3 teams. I'm definitely going to explore what I could get for these guys though. Already came up with an offer for Berkman involving Smoak. Hopefully that goes through .

Thanks again,
BP