OK, I can see where things get problematic for you. Every league has a certain personality among the owners -- my favorite is the guy who announces to the world that he's looking for more power or speed or whatever, and when you start some communication, he either doesn't want to disrupt what he has (?!?) or he doesn't respond at all (more ?!!!WTF!?)
So screw 'em. If Weeks has no present value, which doesn't surprise me in a shallow league like yours, and you have better options on the wire, cut Weeks and grab the guy who will help you now. Weeks is on your bench anyway. Chances are very good he'll stay on the wire a while, it's not worth clogging up a bench spot or trying to chase his streaks. Depending on Izzy's status, the Franklin-Weeks trade might not have been too hot, but it's nothing that will kill your team. Forget it and move on, I say.
You paid a lot for Cano when you gave up Morneau, and as long as you've held on this long, you might as well reap the eventual benefits. I suggest you wait till he'll bring a satisfactory player in a deal, or see how hot he gets and then decide if you want to roll the dice on his season for you. But there's not much sense in either cutting him or selling low.
Both Conor and Adrian are the real deal, but they're obviously streaky. I wouldn't rush into anything. Prince and Ryan Howard have already shown how streaky they can be (both 1st round picks, I'm sure).
You and I talked about Kemp a lot last year -- more like cussed out the manager for not freakin playing him enough -- so it kills me to says this: Joe Torre may be just as bad at handling our boy Matt, and we'll both have decisions to make. L.A.'s idiotic signing of Andruw screwed things up entirely and depleted the value of all those Dodger outfielders. If I have a chance to swing a deal for someone like Corey Hart, I'm taking it. You might want to as well. I'd certainly go after a few more 20-20 guys and keep your power bats in place; you should be looking good by the end of the season, in my opinion.
V-Mart is an anomaly. That won't last, and don't sell low.
As you said, you do need to upgrade the SP. If there's not much on the wire, I'd start making trades using your "fringe" offensive players (e.g., Drew, Justin Upton, maybe Tulo?) whenever they get hot for a week or two. None of them are the kinds of players who will tip the balance for your team this year.
Good to swap ideas with you, as always. I'm sure you'll be able to return the favor -- I'm currently in 5th place, but climbing, in a 10-team league. Weird season, I was voted to have the best pitching staff at the beginning of the season, and my arms are in the damn cellar!
|