Keeper Conundrum

As the countdown to the Keeper Deadline draws near what better way to fill the time than to speculate who will be kept. For those of you who tend to skim the post this is NOT THE OFFICIAL KEEPER LIST but simply the Commish thoughts about everyone elses business.

BCFP- 1. Jose Bautista, 3. Josh Hamilton, 4. Dustin Pedroia, 5. Pablo Sandoval, 15. Adam Wainwright......A very solid foundation to build around. Wainwright at 15 is the best value of the bunch and will reward me the most in terms of value barring injury. While I love the offense I have returning to consider all to have no flaws would be foolish. Bautista is coming off a wrist injury. Hamilton is out of Texas and always one weekend bender away from a Oxy Cocktail laced postgame regimen. Pedroia had a subpar season last year, is it the start of a downward trend or simply a less than expected season? Sandoval has simply never had that season that I project. Why should this season be any different?


Butch Lemaster- 3.Matt Holliday,6. Adam Jones, 8. Craig Kimbrel, 15 Max Scherzer 27. Mike Trout. Plenty of options as Darvish, Freeman, and Trumbo are all legit options. Holliday has just been to solid for to long to let go. While im not sold on the 2012 Adam Jones he has the skill set to product above a 6th Rd pick for years to come. While I wouldn't typically approve of keeping a Closer in any format the K total's Kimbrel can product is equal to that of a typical 5th starter. You could go either way with Scherzer or Darvish but I'll take the additional 6 with Scherzer. While Trout will not finish the season as the No. 1 fantasy player and his season won't mirror the magical 2012 he's still the most valuable keeper in the 64/60.


Landon Bowe- 1. Carlos Gonzalez, 2. Giancarlo Stanton, 3. Starlin Castro, 10. Jason Kipnis, 27. Allen Craig. Cargo, Stanton, and Castro will all have equal value to the draft spot. In the case of Stanton and Castro your likely getting some value. Kipnis gives Bowe a Top 5 draft day option at both the MI positions. While Craig's hype is not in the same atmosphere as Trout, if he could see 150 games he could challenge Trout for the top Keeper of 2012 in terms of value.

Josh Holland- 1. Joey Votto, 2. Evan Longoria, 7. Jason Heyward, 8. Mat Latos, 13. Johnny Cueto. Votto and Longoria are both Top 3 Options at their postitions and both are being selected where they belong. Heyward could move into a first round talent this season. Cueto will bring back positive gains. Latos gives them another solid arm to build around while likely not losing any value.

Mike McClung- 1. Robinson Cano, 2. Prince Fielder, 4. Cole Hamels, 5. Aramis Ramirez, 8. Stephen Strasburg. Cano and Fielder give McClung two first round caliber keepers. Hamels and Strasburg could be the best 1-2 keeper punch in terms of value. Though I'm skeptical Ramirez can produce a similar stat line in 2013 he is still a viable option at 3B and your likely losing only minimal value.

Nate Rice- 1. Clayton Kershaw, 2. Justin Verlander, 4. David Wright, 9. Paul Goldschmidt, 18. Aaron Hill. While Kershaw and Verlander make a hell of a 1-2 combo they come with a hefty price. Wright is a top 5 3B and worthy of 2nd or 3rd round draft status. Goldschmidt has shown plenty of potential and it's not often you find a legit starting 1B in round 9. Hill is a top 5-10 2B option and another legit starting option late in the draft.

Rich Coleman- 2. Ian Kinsler, 5. Buster Posey, 10. Matt Moore, 12. Chase Headley, 13. Gonzalez. When I did the Lethal Lottery I intended to give a little something special for the winner of the No. 1 pick. In case you haven't figured it out the top pick will in theory get 6 keepers is they chose. Now GRC3 has already submitted his list to me therefore I know he figured it out. Therefore Pujols will be back in the player pool only to be nabbed up by GRC3 with the first pick. I don't feel Kinsler will return 2nd round value it's hard to find a 2B or MI in general with the skill set to even have a chance. I feel Posey is being overvalued in a typical draft but with a 5th round pick that's great value. Moore disappointed last season but a potential ace in a double digit round patience will likely be rewarded. Don't by Headley's 2012 but a 12th round pick is worth finding out. Plenty of SP options to choose from for that 5th spot but I'll go with Gio Gonzalez who I feel has the most value to return.

Todd Whitley- 1. Miguel Cabrera, 2. Adrian Beltre, 6. Bryce Harper, 9. Matt Cain, 19. Ian Desmond. Another roster with plenty of options. Rizzo at 27, Molina in the 13th come to mind. Cabrera and Beltre could both return 2nd round value. While Harper is going maybe a little later than normal this selection is about the years to come. Cain gives them a ace to build around. Though I am skeptical of Desmond repeating 2012 he's another were the draft spot is too hard to pass up.

Bill Fenney- 1. Matt Kemp, 2. Jose Reyes, 3. Felix Hernandez, 6. David Price, 11. Yoenis Cespedes. You couldn't script a easier selection process with Kemp, Reyes and Hernandez in the first three rounds. The trio may be void of draft day value but all three could return Top 20 value in 2013. Price is a Top 5-10 Pitcher likely a round to two later. Cespedes and the unknown over Austin Jackson for the final spot.

Jesse Ward- 1. Troy Tulowitzki, 6. Michael Bourn, 7. Adsdrubal Cabrera, 11. David Ortiz, 23. Edwin Encarnacion. Not exactly a murder's row of keeper options but you play with the hand you are dealt. Tulo is fine if he can stay healthy. If Bourn can tally 50+ SB you won't be unhappy with him at 6. Cabrera is a legit 2B option who should return some value. Not sold on Ortiz but he seems to have rebounded over the last year plus. The 11th round pick and the need for some offensive punch make the gamble one worth taking. Encarnacion at the 23rd is the 3Rd Best keeper value behind Trout and Craig.

Brandon McClung- 2. Granderson, 3. Justin Upton, 5. Brandon Phillips, 6. Jimmy Rollins, 12. Carlos Beltran. The forearm break of Granderson is pretty tough on the Maniacs as well but the limited options combined with the change in Uptons value makes the choice for him. Move out of Arizona should adversly effect Upton's #'s however you have to wonder with BJ around will that improve his focus? Phillips in the 5th is overextending his value but the assurance of a good 2B option is comforting. Rollins is a no brainer in the 6th. One can hope Beltran can bounce back from a rough 2nd half.

Christopher Lee- 1. Ryan Braun, 2. Hanley Ramirez, 3. Andrew McCutchen, 4. Jay Bruce, 30. Aroldis Chapman. Braun and McCutchen could both be Top 5 overall players. Hanley isn't worth a 2nd round pick from a production standpoint but when you look at the SS options your decision is made. I'm a huge Bruce guy and one of these years the lefty issue will be resolved and a .275-.285 AVG will make him a Top 25 player. Bopp can only hope the Reds realize everyone involved will be better off with Chapman in the 9th instead of the 1st.