His Howard for my Pitching?

[bballislife17]

6x6 (Norm + TB & QS)
12 Team H2H
8 Keepers per year - no contracts
1 Rookie Keeper per year


My Roster

C - Wieters
1B - Adrian Gonzalez
2B - Howie Kendrick
3B - Casey McGahee
SS - Asdrubal Cabrera
OF - Nelson Cruz
OF - Carlos Quentin
OF - Nyjer Morgan
UTIL - Greg Jones
UTIL - Juan Pierre
Bench - Carlos Santana (NA)
Bench - Eric Young

SP - Tommy Hanson
SP - Matt Cain
RP - Ryan Madson
RP - Jhoulys Chacin
P - Clayton Kershaw
P - Ricky Nolasco
P - Chad Billingsley
Bench - Jamie Garcia
Bench - Brad Penny
Bench - Brian Matusz
Bench - Randy Wells

Minors - Desmond Jennings


Given my wealth of young starting pitching, and my fortunate early season pickups of Penny + Garcia, I feel like I can give up pitching in favor of offense. Opinions on the following?

Kershaw + Cain for Howard + Wade Davis


Kershaw has some control problems and often doesn't go the full six innings needed for a QS, but I have a hard time knocking a guy his age. With even minor improvements in his control he could be downright nasty. Cain has been absolutely steady so far. While he won't be a huge source of K's he should be a good QS, ERA/WHIP guy for years to come.


A secondary problem is my keeper situation following this trade.

Probable Keepers before the trade:
Wieters
Adrian
Cruz
Hanson
Kershaw
Cain
Nolasco
Matusz

Probable Keepers after trade:
Wieters
Adrian
Cruz
Howard
Hanson
Nolasco
Matusz
???

I could go with Quentin, if he regains his 2008 form. Santana would be an option, but that would have me carrying two catchers. Jennings will probably still qualify in my rookie keeper slot, so he couldn't be used as an 8th keeper.

Thoughts / Opinions? WHIR, post a link.

[jake_twothousandfive]

For this season alone you'd be getting great value.

But I have two concerns:
1) Is Howard a good fit for your team given that you already have a masher in AGon at 1B? If you're going to give up pitching, I think you'd be better off filling another positional role rather than locking up a DH spot.

2) How long until Howard's skills start to diminish? Howard got a late start to his career so I think to most people he seems younger than he actually is. The fact is he's 30 and players with his body type don't tend to age well. Though he is in better shape this year than he has been in prior years.

I think you're giving up two huge SP talents in a keeper league for a player who may start to see his skills diminish within the next few years. Short-term you win big, long-term you could potentially lose just as big. To me this is an unnecessary risk to take unless you have a good shot at the title this year and this deal will put you over the top.

[bballislife17]

A little more help? WHIR, post'em.