Fantasy Baseball Keeper Question

jasoneggert

Hey guys, I have been in a fantasy baseball league with the same group of guys for 15 years.

it is a keeper league. I was all set on my keepers, but the Matt Holiday trade to oakland has me rethinking. Not sure about keeping him now.

I get to keep 3 guys.

My best players from last year were:

David Wright
Matt Holiday
Manny Ramirez
Jake Peavy
Dustin Padroia
Carlos Quentin
Carlos Pena

Kind of leaning toward Wright, Ramirez, and Padroia

Any thoughts?

gosteelers

I would pick the same guys if I was you. Depending on where Peavy goes may impact the decision, too.

StopYurWhining

You should keep Pujols, even though he is not on your team. He is the 2nd coming and all should worship at the base of his manhood.

VitoCo1972

I would pick the same guys you referenced. You're not getting a better 2B than Pedroia in a keeper league draft - and probably not a better 3B than Wright either. Its then down to Manny and Peavy. Without knowing where they'll sign, I'd take Manny, but it depends on who you think is available for your first pick - which will have to be a pitcher.

otwcards

Wright, Holliday and Peavy.

Pedroia and Manny are crap-shoots. Manny was playing last year for a contract and he could easily go back to Manny being Manny, again. Granted, Manny being Manny beats most gusy, but there are others left in the player pool that could probably provide the same numbers. Pedroia is a risk because he's still "unproven." There will probably be a few other players at 2B in the pool that will provide similar numbers Brian Roberts is a prime example and is always left of rosters in keeper leagues). I'm not sure you'll get equal value for Peavy, Wright and Holliday in the pool, no matter where Peavy ends up and the Oakland move won't be that significant for Holliday.

StopYurWhining

I don't think Pedroia is unproven at all. He steals bases, scores runs, hits at a high average and has surprising pop. Wright is a keeper. Not sure what to make of ManRam at this point in his career. Once he gets his fat contract he will settle in and hit 30 homers and have his 100 RBI's but he will miss 20 games. Holliday is moving to a lousy park and has a crappy lineup around him.
Peavy may be leaving the friendly confines of Petco, but he may go to a BETTER team, maybe a WINNEr

Edit: Who was better than Pedroia? for the season I think he was the number 1 ranked 2nd baseman. Utley has more power and Kinsler had a breakout season, but Pedroia led all 2b in hits, runs and average. He is a def. keeper.

MBMiller25

As much as I hate keeping pichers, I would keep Peavy, Wright and Pedroia

jasoneggert

thanks for your thoughts, and since you all made good arguments, I am now more confused than ever! Glad I have 4 months to second guess myself!

I have the 11th and 14th picks to start the draft. I came in 2nd place, after 2 seasons of 1st. And the championship game came down to a tie-breaker! Almost had a 3-peat!

milbroco

I would keep Wright, Manny and Peavy.

TheVon

I think it's going to be next to impossible to make this decision until you know where Peavy winds up. For a guy with a losing record last year he had an outstanding season. I mean, how many pitchers with a sub 3.00 ERA with 170+ innings end up under .500? It will be interesting to see him leave a pitcher's ballpark but losing the advantages of Petco could be more than offset if he ends up on a team that can find a way to score more than 1 or 2 runs of support for him.

I'd strongly consider keeping Quentin over Manny. I know Manny is more of a proven commodity, but you've got to wonder about his motivation. Perhaps this is just the Red Sox fan in me coming out, but what if he decides to take a couple months off when he realizes that he's on a team that doesn't appreciate him or a team that is out of contention by the end of July?

In the end, it might depend upon your league's scoring system. My keeper league seems to favor pitchers. As such, I'd keep Peavy for sure especially since you don't pick again until the 11th pick. So, I'd go Peavy, Wright, Pedroia, and then draft the best available pitcher at 11 and the biggest slugger left at 14.