ASSUMING THAT SMOLTZ IS A STARTER.......

[Mookie4ever]

There's always the risk that Kolb implodes and Smoltz is back to closing by the AS break.

Kolb was pretty bad the last half of the season and the Braves have a lot of young arms ready to start.

[StlSluggers]

Depending on how your league works, but I think most point leagues will let him have RP availability, too. That flexibility has got to boost his fantasy value a good amount.

I know I'd like to have a guy like Smoltz to start or close, depending on my needs.

[tlef316]

wow.. i'm gonna take him around the 5th round if he's still there

he's all yours champ

[trevisc]

wow.. i'm gonna take him around the 5th round if he's still there

he's all yours champ

You know i'd never reveal my draft strategy for our keeper league...

I was speaking more on the lines of a non-keeper league

[bronxxbomber]

This is a gut call. The risk/reward for him just isn't worth picking him in the 5th. His arm could absolutely fall apart before the season ends. With a pick as high as the 5th you're relying on him being maybe your number 1 or 2 guy. That's a lot you're banking on. Now if u get maybe in the 6th or 7th he'd be an amazing 3 guy.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

Strange so far. While he will probably help you more fantasy-wise as a starter than a closer, his draft position is decreasing.

Because there is a shortage of players who could match his output as a relief pitcher but a lot of guys who can equal his output as a starter.

I was thinking more along those lines as well. As a closer you're getting arguably the third best player. As a starter, you don't really know what you're going to get. The uncertainty alone is enough to knock him down a couple rounds IMO.

[Mookie4ever]

I'm wondering why people have injury concerns over Smoltz but Schilling is a top ten pitcher? Doesn't make sense to me. Smoltz pitched all of last year without elbow problems.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

I'm wondering why people have injury concerns over Smoltz but Schilling is a top ten pitcher? Doesn't make sense to me. Smoltz pitched all of last year without elbow problems.

But he was pitching a quater or a third of the innings that he will as a starter.

[Mookie4ever]

I'm wondering why people have injury concerns over Smoltz but Schilling is a top ten pitcher? Doesn't make sense to me. Smoltz pitched all of last year without elbow problems.

But he was pitching a quater or a third of the innings that he will as a starter.

He will have fewer appearances as well. It was the warming up to pitch everyday that his elbow couldn't take. He doesn't have a lot of innings of wear so he should be good to go.

[LBJackal]

Strange so far. While he will probably help you more fantasy-wise as a starter than a closer, his draft position is decreasing.

Because there is a shortage of players who could match his output as a relief pitcher but a lot of guys who can equal his output as a starter.

I was thinking more along those lines as well. As a closer you're getting arguably the third best player. As a starter, you don't really know what you're going to get. The uncertainty alone is enough to knock him down a couple rounds IMO.

I don't know if returning to being a SP will cause his value to drop

It's a tough call though. True, he's no longer top 5 in his position (well, we assume not, he very well could be) but if he's 10th best, don't the 10th best SP's usually get drafted higher than the 3rd ranked RP?

I have him in a keeper league and I'll probably keep him because nobody likes old players in this league (I also have Schill and Clemens, got them cheap). But I wonder how his draft position will change this year.