All-Purpose Fantasy Baseball 2018 thread

Someone offered me Cespedes in my points league for Sean Newcomb. Cespedes is relatively cheap at $8 (Newcomb is $1), but Newcomb is obviously a promising young pitcher. Despite a small sample, his 3.38 ERA looks real (3.19FIP, 3.43xFIP, 3.61 SIERA) and, obviously, there's room for improvement for a 24-year-old. I'm leaning toward keeping Newcomb, but I could be talked out of it by anyone who knows more about him. I haven't seen him pitch.

 

I know he has the ability and showed some real promise last season. I'd stick with Newcomb, especially for $1. I say this as a Newcomb owner in my money league.

 

In separate leagues today I acquired Syndergaard and Verlander.

Got Syndergaard for Snell and Story from a guy who desperately needed an SS. Story is the 9th ranked SS in our league and I have Machado as my main starter. Snell looks great so far, but peripherals suggest it might not last, while Syndergaard looks a bit unlucky so far.

I got Verlander for Junis, Arrieta and Brantley. This guy badly mismanaged his draft and overspent on about five players and had to round out his roster with a bunch of $1 filler. He literally was playing with four or five empty slots this week after jettisoning a bunch of the garbage.

Both deals were accepted without counter offers, which always makes me nervous. I always feel like if my first offer is accepted, I gave up too much. But I think I made out well on these.

 

You did very well.

 

One person has voted against the Verlander trade, which makes me feel pretty good.

 

I agree with Guy. You did very well with both trades. Snell has the ability to maintain his performance, but Story is nothing special. At worst, you come out even on that one and I think you will come out ahead.

The deal for Verlander was a great one for you. Who did you get to fill the spots opened by those trades? I always consider that when evaluating trades such as the ones you made.

 

In my leagues I've found the trade market slow. Traded Osuna for Nelson Cruz in one that really helped.

 

The trades aren't official yet, so I haven't picked anyone up. I'll probably pick up Ryon Healey or Luis Castillo (if he pitches well against the Mets today) in the league where I got Syndergaard. Not sure what I'll do in the other league since we're limited to three add/drops per week. I may pick up a couple of spot starters to get through this week and evaluate for long-term adds.

 

Someone offered me Vlad Guerrero Jr. for Sean Newcomb. Guerrero is exciting, but SPs are vital in this league. Newcomb has some pedigree (15th overall pick in 2014) and he's striking out 11/9IP, so I'm hesitant to deal him, particularly since I don't know when Vladdy is going to get called up (if at all) this year.

 

I wouldn't even consider it in a redraft league. If it is a keeper, it depends how many keeper spots. Unless you are certain you have room for Guerrero as a keeper, you're probably better off hanging on to Newcomb.

Edit: Tonight's outing certainly helps Newcomb's cause. It's not a great sign that he needed 108 pitches to get through six innings, but at least those were shutout innings. His ERA is down to 2.88.

 

Dynasty league. Still, not that attractive. He's destroying the minor leagues, but I'm thinking the Jays have no illusions of an AL East title and may keep him down until September.

 

I'd give it some thought in a dynasty, but you said the league puts a high value on pitching and it's not like Newcomb is old. I think you are right to keep him.