Keep 4 to 7

[watchingthegame]

In my baseball league we have the option of keeping a minimum of 4, maximum of 7. I'm almost positive (99.9999999%) I will be keeping all 7.

Categories are: R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, OPS, W, K, ERA, WHIP, QS, Net Saves

Here's how I see it. The players under each individual heading are in no order. (Eg. Of the long shots, Stroman would be closest to being considered in my opinion)

Locks:
Mike Trout
Manny Machado
Josh Donaldson
Jose Altuve

Candidates:
Xander Bogaerts
Mookie Betts
Edwin Encarnacion
Jose Fernandez
Noah Syndergaard

Long Shots:
Byron Buxton
Gregory Polanco
Marcus Stroman
Yu Darvish
Brandon Crawford

Thoughts?

[Eskimo Brother]

Is there any reason you would not keep all 7? Just wondering what could be gained by not keeping someone.
Tough not to keep EE in a contract year with the lineup he is in. Fernandez I would drop down a little just because of his health. No knock against his production, he has been lights out when active, but I would rather a season of Stroman/Syndergaard than 2.5 months of Fernandez + waiver replacement. With that. After EE at 5, I would go with Syndergaard, Betts, Stroman, Bogaerts.

[watchingthegame]

The only reason is that I'd get an earlier pick. So if I only keep 5 I draft in round 6, but if I keep 7 I start in Round 8. I think my players I'd be keeping are all better than round 5 and later talent though.

[Dingy]

Mike Trout
Manny Machado
Josh Donaldson
Jose Altuve
Mookie Betts
Jose Fernandez
Noah Syndergaard

[Eskimo Brother]

I definitely agree with keeping 7 then. You have quite the selection of players better than your average talent in those rounds. Just to counter Dingy's point, I am more inclined to go with a proven bat like EE instead of a pitcher just due to the fluctuation from year to year. It is a lot easier to find a late round gem in a pitcher than a batter.

[Thin_Ice]

+1 on this

Mike Trout
Manny Machado
Josh Donaldson
Jose Altuve
Mookie Betts
Jose Fernandez
Noah Syndergaard

[MacLiii]

I definitely agree you need to keep 7 and your Locks are just that. I would also agree with the others that Syndergaard and Fernandez make 6. That leaves you the question of the final pick. That pick would depend on your specific needs and desire. Betts and Bogaerts are very good young players that you will have for years to come and give you stats in most of your offensive scoring categories. Encarnarcion offers you elite power that neither Betts or Bogaerts will reach for many years if not ever, but they give you more SB and probably higher batting averages. Bogaerts plays at a premium position that may make him more valuable as he continues to grow into one of the top SS in Fantasy. Although this season Bogaerts may give you the least stats of any of the other players this season, longer term keeper may be worth it as would Betts, but there are many OF's who can give you 15-20 HR and 20-25 SB's. The question is were those others also keepers on their rosters. My gut says either Betts or Bogaerts over Encarnarcion and maybe a slight nod to Bogaerts due to the SS scarcity.

[djkiang]

Definitely be keeping Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Jose Fernandez

After that, you are set. You can draft another couple OF bats, or go OF bat, Pitcher. Either way, your team will look very very good.

[2014olympicgold]

So you’re keeping 2 3B? I know this won’t be a popular choice, but trade Donaldson. See if you can couple together Donaldson and someone for Stanton. With K’s not being a category he’s a great add.

But if moving a player isn’t what you’ll do (Donaldson will get you a lot more of a return than Mach because of last yrs season obviously), I’d keep:
Trout, Donaldson, Mach, Altuve.
EE, Noah Synd, and maybe Mookie. Depends on what other teams will be letting go to the re-draft.

My choices may not be popular, but I think you need to move one of your 3B to make it easier to draft.

[watchingthegame]

Good ideas, everyone. Thanks for your help. It's a good problem to have! I thought we kept everyone, so I went with a bit of a youth movement/take a hit for year one to be good for the future but it turns out we are limited in our keepers. Thanks again.