Since reaching as high as 2nd place in the standings, my team has taken a bit of a slide this week down to 4th place. Pitching has been the problem. My starters just haven't been delivering in the win column. So, I decided to trade Jonathan Papelbon for Jordan Zimmerman, who, admittedly, isn't off to the hottest start, but did win 19 games last season. I had saves to spare, and since Paps is pitching like he's back in Boston, I figured he'd be good trade bait.
But both Yu Darvish and Felix Hernandez have struggled over the last week or two... relatively speaking. Darvish gave up 4 runs in his last outing, which is nearly unheard of for him, and King Felix has walked 6 batters over his last 11 innings. Granted, it's not the end of the world, but it would be nice to see both those guys firing on all cylinders again.
I've also been taking a goose egg at my 2nd catcher spot, since Mesoraco has been on the DL. I considered adding AJ Pierzynski as a fill-in (who has since been picked up by another team), but I couldn't bring myself to drop anyone for him. So, I'd rather take 15 days of a Mesoraco-less lineup than lose a quality player for a fill-in.
My team as currently constituted:
C - Yadier Molina, STL
C - Devin Mesoraco, CIN
1B - Edwin Encarnacion, TOR
2B - Robinson Cano, SEA
3B - Nolan Arenado, COL
SS - Ian Desmond, WSH
CI - Adrian Gonzalez, LAD
MI - Brandon Phillips, CIN
OF - Wil Myers, TB
OF - Shane Victorino, BOS
OF - Coco Crisp, OAK
OF - Michael Bourn, CLE
OF - Rajai Davis, DET
UT - Anthony Rizzo, CHC
P - Yu Darvish, TEX
P - Felix Hernandez, SEA
P - Mike Minor, ATL
P - Jordan Zimmerman, WSH
P - Jonathon Niese, NYM
P - Joe Nathan, DET
P - Francisco Rodriguez, MIL
P - Grant Balfour, TB
P - Mark Melancon, PIT
Bench - Shelby Miller, STL
Bench - Drew Hutchison, TOR
Bench - Hyun-Jin Ryu, LAD
Bench - Ryan Zimmerman, WSH
Bench - Michael Cuddyer, COL
Bench - Gregory Polanco, PIT
My Recent Transactions:
-Received Jordan Zimmerman (SP - WSH); traded Jonathan Papelbon (RP - PHI)
After putting Papelbon on the block, I received a couple lowball offers, but I countered one of them for Zimmerman, and it was accepted. And that was a steal, as far as I'm concerned. Zimmerman was a player I'd targeted in the draft, and he's exactly the type of pitcher my roster needs right now. Couple that with the return of Mike Minor, and my pitching staff is suddenly looking pretty strong heading into next week.
-Added Jonathon Niese (SP - NYM); dropped Tyson Ross (SP - SD)
Ross is yet another example of a failed SP experiment for me. I really thought he would last, but after surrendering 9 runs over his last two outings, I had to cut bait. Granted, he could easily turn it around and end the season as one of the better pitchers in the league, but so could Niese, and he's pitching lights-out right now. And even though Niese plays on a poor team, and is an injury risk, he's proven he can post respectable numbers at the big league level, and he's definitely on a roll right now. So, I might as well go with the hot hand.
-Added Gregory Polanco (OF - PIT); dropped Aaron Harang (SP - ATL)
I picked up Harang as a sort of 'what-if' experiment -- what if he's rediscovered something in ATL and is now a top tier pitcher again. Granted, his k/bb ratio suggested his ace-like production was indeed a fluke, so I didn't actually plug him into my active roster... thankfully. Because -- surprise, surprise -- the wheels finally came off... and in a big way (he gave up 9 ERs over only 4.2 IPs. Ouch). And with Gregory Polanco tearing up the minor leagues, to the tune of a .420 BA, it seemed like a no-brainer. Of course, it looks like the Pirates will wait until the Super 2 date to promote Polanco, but he could force their hand if he keeps playing like he has been. And, given the state of my OF, I could use the help. Unless Michael Bourn starts stealing more bases, he's barely roster-able right now, so the sooner Polanco gets the call, the better.
-Added Mark Melancon (RP - PIT); dropped Alfredo Simon (SP - CIN)
This was a bit of a tougher call than Harang. I really do think Simon is legit, and could very well keep up the production for at least most of the year (of course, he may break down towards the end, since he's not used to throwing so many innings). But since his rotation spot will be up in the air once Mat Latos returns from the DL, there is a big question regarding his future role with the team. The same can be said for Melancon, who is only filling in as closer while Jason Grilli's on the mend, but I could easily see him usurping the job, whereas Simon may still get banished to the pen even if he pitches lights-out. And, the guy I traded Papelbon to has Grilli on his roster, so I liked how that worked out. And Melancon should be a decent replacement for the Papster.
-I do have a waiver claim in at the moment. Chris Archer was recently dropped, which made me smile, because I'd offered Grant Balfour for him before the season started, and was more or less laughed at due to Archer's hot spring. Good thing I was shot down, however, because he's stumbled a bit out of the gate (granted, so has Balfour, but I'm not even considering dropping him). Yet, I still think he'll be a top tier pitcher by season's end, regardless of how he's pitching at the moment. So, I'm willing to drop Drew Hutchison for him, which, albeit, is a bit of a gamble, since he has such a high ceiling as well. But Archer has the better pedigree and has done it before. Still, I highly doubt I'll land him, since I have the 8th claim (out of 10), but he certainly would make for one hell of addition if he somehow slips through the cracks.
League Transactions (excluding my own):
-Added
Norichika Aoki, OF - KC
Roenis Elias, SP - SEA
Hector Rondon, RP - CHC
Erick Aybar, SS - LAA
AJ Pierzynski, C - BOS
Neil Walker, 2B - PIT
Mike Zunino, C - SEA
Danny Espinosa, 2B - WSH
Dillon Gee, SP - NYM
Marcus Stroman, SP - TOR
Matt Lindtsrom, RP - CWS
Jhonny Peralta, SS - STL
Trevor Bauer, SP - CLE
Dayan Viciedo, OF - CWS
Nick Castellanos, 3B - DET
Jason Hammel, SP - CHC
Oscar Taveras, OF - STL
Mark Teixeira, 1B - NYY
Collin McHugh, SP - HOU
Ian Kennedy, SP - SD
Casey Janssen, RP - TOR
Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP - NYM
Tanner Roark, SP - WSH
Josh Beckett, SP - LAD
James Loney, 1B - TB
Lucas Duda, 1B - NYM
Brett Gardner, OF - NYY
Joe Smith, RP - LAA
Clay Buchholz, SP - BOS
Alcides Escobar, SS - KC
Juan Uribe, 3B - LAD
Jed Lowrie, SS - OAK
Kyle Farnsworth, RP - NYM
-Dropped
Ryan Howard, 1B - PHI
Chris Archer, SP - TB
Joe Kelly, SP - STL
Luke Gregerson, RP - OAK
Yasmani Grandal, C - SD
DJ LeMahieu, 2B - COL
Welington Castillo, C - CHC
Wade Miley, SP - ARI
Archie Bradley, SP - ARI
Michael Pineda, SP - NYY
Brad Miller, SS - SEA
Jordan Walden, RP - ATL
Casey McGehee, 3B - MIA
Derek Dietrich, 2B - MIA
Nick Swisher, 1B - CLE
Carlos Ruiz, C - PHI
Kolten Wong, 2B - STL
David Carpenter, RP - ATL
Tyler Flowers, C - CWS
Russell Martin, C - PIT
Brandon Morrow, SP - TOR
Ubaldo Jimenez, SP - BAL
Dustin Ackley, 2B - SEA
Dan Straily, SP - OAK
Ike Davis, 1B - PIT
Ernesto Frieri, RP - LAA
Mike Olt, 1B - CHC
Marcell Ozuna, OF - MIA
Pedro Strop, RP - CHC
Tyler Chatwood, SP - COL
Zach McAllister, SP - CLE
James Paxton, SP - SEA
Henderson Alvarez, SP - MIA
Scott Feldman, SP - HOU
Yangervis Solarte, 3B - NYY
Shawn Kelley, RP - NYY
Ivan Nova, SP - NYY
Sean Doolittle, RP - OAK
Jose Valverde, RP - NYM
My Watch List (based on available free agents in my league):
C
-Yasmani Grandal, SD
-Russell Martin, PIT
-Carlos Ruiz, PHI
-Geovany Soto, TEX
-Derek Norris, OAK
-Tyler Flowers, CWS
-Alex Avila, DET
-Welington Castillo, CHC
-Hank Conger, LAA
-Christian Bethancourt, ATL
1B
-Garrett Jones, MIA
-Ryan Howard, PHI
-Nick Swisher, CLE
-Jon Singleton, HOU
-Kendrys Morales, FA
-Mike Olt, CHC
-Adam Lind, TOR
-Mark Reynolds, MIL
-Chris Carter, HOU
-Ike Davis, PIT
2B
-Jurickson Profar, TEX
-Omar Infante, KC
-Marcus Semien, CWS
-Alexander Guerrero, LAD
-Jonathan Schoop, BAL
-Scooter Gennett, MIL
-Kelly Johnson, NYY
-Dustin Ackley, SEA
-DJ LeMahieu, COL
-Kolten Wong, STL
-Nick Franklin, SEA
-Mookie Betts, BOS
-Jemile Weeks, BAL
-Josh Rutledge, COL
-Rougned Odor, TEX
-Dan Uggla, ATL
-Gordon Beckham, CWS
3B
-Matt Dominguez, HOU
-Miguel Sano, MIN
-Casey McGehee, MIA
-Kris Bryant, CHC
-Yangervis Solarte, NYY
-Lonnie Chisenhall, CLE
-Garin Cecchini, BOS
-Mike Moustakas, KC
-Matt Davidson, CWS
-Chris Johnson, ATL
-Maikel Franco, PHI
-David Freese, LAA
-Joey Gallo, TEX
-Andrew Romine, DET
-Wilmer Flores, NYM
-Kevin Kouzmanoff, TEX
SS
-Asdrubal Cabrera, CLE
-Chris Owings, ARI
-Brad Miller, SEA
-Adeiny Hechavarria, MIA
-Francisco Lindor, CLE
-Zack Cozart, CIN
-Addison Russell, OAK
-Jace Peterson, SD
-Derek Jeter, NYY
-Brandon Crawford, SF
-Arismendy Alcantara, CHC
-Stephen Drew, FA
-Carlos Correa, HOU
-Corey Seager, LAD
-Javier Baez, CHC
OF
-Marcell Ozuna, MIA
-Colby Rasmus, TOR
-Cameron Maybin, SD
-Byron Buxton, MIN
-Nick Markakis, BAL
-Corey Dickerson, COL
-BJ Upton, ATL
-Will Venable, SD
-Josh Reddick, OAK
-Juan Lagares, NYM
-Matt Joyce, TB
-Joc Pederson, LAD
-Chris Denorfia, SD
-Alejandro De Aza, CWS
-Jackie Bradley Jr., BOS
-Ryan Ludwick, CIN
-Jarrod Dyson, KC
-Junior Lake, CHC
-Andre Ethier, LAD
-Denard Span, WSH
-Chris Young, NYM
-Lorenzo Cain, KC
-Michael Choice, TEX
-Michael Saunders, SEA
-Jake Marisnick, MIA
-Mason Williams, NYY
-Oswaldo Arcia, MIN
-Andrew Lambo, PIT
-Abraham Almonte, SEA
-Stephen Piscotty, STL
-Jorge Soler, CHC
SP
-Chris Archer, TB
-Michael Pineda, NYY
-Matt Harrison, TEX
-Tyson Ross, SD
-Archie Bradley, ARI
-Rick Porcello, DET
-Ubaldo Jimenez, CLE
-Tyler Skaggs, LAA
-Joe Kelly, STL
-James Paxton, SEA
-Dan Straily, OAK
-Tim Lincecum, SF
-Jeremy Hellickson, TB
-Jake Arrieta, CHC
-Kyle Zimmer, KC
-Zach McAllister, CLE
-Tom Koehler, MIA
-Tyler Chatwood, COL
-Zach Lee, LAD
-Brandon Morrow, TOR
-Jason Vargas, KC
-Noah Syndergaard, NYM
-Kevin Gausman, BAL
-Phil Hughes, MIN
-Jhoulys Chacin, COL
-Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, PHI
-Robert Stephenson, CIN
-Ricky Nolasco, MIN
-Jaime Garcia, STL
-Jon Gray, COL
-Tyler Glasnow, PIT
-Henderson Alvarez, MIA
-Dylan Bundy, BAL
-Brandon Cumpton, PIT
-Colby Lewis, TEX
-Mark Appel, HOU
-Jacob Turner, MIA
-Aaron Sanchez, TOR
-Alex Meyer, MIN
-Wei-Yin Chen, BAL
-Paul Maholm, LAD
-Jarred Cosart, HOU
-Andrew Heaney, MIA
-Henry Owens, BOS
-Jesse Biddle, PHI
RP
-Tyler Thornburg, MIL
-Ryan Cook, OAK
-Carlos Martinez, STL
-Danny Farquhar, SEA
-Danny Duffy, KC
-Luke Gregerson, OAK
-Shawn Kelley, NYY
-Neftali Feliz, TEX
-Rex Brothers, COL
-Jesse Crain, HOU
-Drew Storen, WSH
-Tony Watson, PIT
-Sean Doolittle, OAK
-Zach Britton, BAL
-Pedro Strop, CHC
-Jake McGee, TB
-Cody Allen, CLE
-Tyler Clippard, WSH
-Dan Otero, OAK
-Jordan Walden, ATL
-Anthony Bass, HOU
-Jean Machi, SF
-Joaquin Benoit, SD
-Edward Mujica, BOS
-Darren O'Day, BAL
-Nate Jones, CWS
-Alexi Ogando, TEX
-Josh Fields, HOU
+MLB
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