I know it seems a little early, but I'm hard at work picking my player for this years teams. I also joined my first ever pay league on score sheet with a family member. I get to keep 13 of my current players plus minor leaguers (indicated by *), and then I draft up to a 25 man roster. I inherited this team from an old owner, therefore I didn't choose any of these players. These are the 13 on my team, its NL only:

RHP Josh Beckett
RHP Ricky Nolasco
RHP Adam Wainwright
LHP Cole Hamels
RHP Chris Young
RHP Kyle Drabek*
RHP Jason Knapp*

C Geovanny Soto
1B Joey Votto
2B Chase Utley
SS JJ Hardy
SS Everth Cabrera
OF Ryan Braun
OF Carlos Beltran
OF Adam Dunn
OF Jose Tabata*
OF Kellen Kulbacki*
OF Michael Taylor*
OF Donovan Tate*

Currently my plan is to trade Utley, Beltran, Dunn, and Beckett at the least. I have two takers for Utley.

The deal I'm going to take is as follows:

Chase Utley for Matt Latos, Jay Bruce, and Jaff Decker*

How does that sound? Opinions would be appreciated.

your rotation looks pretty nice, but how did you get josh beckett in an NL only league?
i like your outfield, your 1b, 2b, and catcher are all pretty good as well
you SS are just ok to mediocre, but it looks like you're missing a 3rd baseman

i've never played in a league like this so it's a little crazy for me, i'm not sure what the league settings are for the amount of positions you can play each day or week and the scoring
but anyways i don't really like that chase utley trade for you because chase utley is such a good hitter and he has a ton of value as a 2nd baseman
jay bruce is alright but you're outfield looks set as it is, mat latos could be good also but i'd still take chase utley over those guys just because you have the best 2nd baseman in the league and he is going to put up huge numbers and he is more valuable at his position than jay bruce and mat latos are at theirs

i think you need to upgrade at SS/3b first, i don't know who is available in the draft but maybe scott rolen would be a decent option at 3rd? just gotta get everth cabrera out of your starting lineup

Players that were once in the NL and moved to the AL can be kept as long as they are drafted. If they are left undrafted they disappear.
I believe you match up against teams in series of 3-4 games, but at the end of the week I think. It uses equations to figure things out (like when they get their hits), and the actual stats will match the fantasy stats. It's quite complicated. I know I need an upgrade at 3B, that's what my top priority is in the draft. SS I could stick with Hardy, since he'll be in the Twins lineup.

Trade wise, I understand Utley's value, especially at his position, however, I would like to make my team younger. I want to trade players before they get to old. It's just the way I like to play it. I think the oldest player on my fantasy teams this year was 27. Matt Latos has a perfect pitching build, good stuff, and is pitching in Petco, that's why I want him. Jay Bruce is still 22 and has 40 HR potential, so that helps make up the loss of Utley. Jaff Decker is the Pads #4 prospect and is a patient hitter with HR power. It is a keeper league, so minor leaguers are good pick ups. Does this do anything to change your mind?

well i like jay bruce he's a good player but you already have good outfielders
who would you get to play 2nd if you traded utley?
i'd rather see you trade beltran who could start sucking really bad, then jay bruce would be real nice on your team
i agree about mat latos, he does seem like he would be a good pitcher, especially because he will be pitching in petco
i'm not familiar with decker though

i understand why your doing the trade though, jay bruce is the best part of that trade because of his upside like you said

Well replacing Utley will be tough, and I understand that. I was trying to make a deal to get a good 2B, but the guy was giving me nobody for him. No one else has real interest.

In regards to Beltran, I will be trading him. I'm in early discussions right now for a deal, and I might look for a 2B/SS in return. I can play a good SS at 2B because there are no assigned positions for players, they can play where you want (a penalty is induced of course).

Well I've traded Beltran and Utley so my team is as follows:

RHP Josh Beckett
RHP Ricky Nolasco
RHP Adam Wainwright
LHP Cole Hamels
RHP Chris Young
RHP Mat Latos
LHP Sean West
RHP Carlos Carrasco*
RHP Kyle Drabek*
RHP Jason Knapp*

C Geovanny Soto
1B Joey Votto
1B Jaff Decker*
2B -Need-
SS JJ Hardy
SS Alcides Escobar*
3B -Need-
OF Ryan Braun
OF Jay Bruce
OF Adam Dunn
OF Jose Tabata*
OF Kellen Kulbacki*
OF Michael Taylor*
OF Donovan Tate*

I traded Utley for Decker, Bruce, and Latos.
I trade Beltran for Escobar, Carrasco, and West.

I'm trying to trade Dunn and/or Beckett now for 2B/3B and more pitching and prospects. If I can trade one of them and get only rookies in return (indacted by *), then I'd like to keep Martin Prado as a 2B and my #8 hitter.

hey yankman what do you think buster posey will do this season?
he's going to be the giants starting catcher i assume right?
you think he will be a nice sleeper and might put up some good numbers?

I would think he's going to be their starting catcher, they don't have anyone else suitable at the moment, unless they resign Molina. I'm not sure he'll have a great year in 2010, but he might be worth a late pick. Keep in mind people do know who he is, so he won't be that much of a sleeper. The Indians have two catching prospects, the more appealing option is Carlos Santana. I could see him putting up numbers that are better than Posey. I think he could be like a Pablo Sandoval that bats 280-300 rather than 330.

Well I'm close to sealing the deal on a trade that sends away Dunn and Beckett.

I trade: Adam Dunn and Josh Beckett

I get: Mat Gamel, Jesus Guzman, Christian Friedrichs, Francisco Liriano, and Freddie Freeman.

Hey guys..Anyone in a league and need a few guys. Me and a buddy are looking to get in a league together. Let me know. I'd love to do baseball this year.

+1 to Orlandos sentiment

i can't wait for this season to start even though i know my team won't due well since miggy loses 3b eligibility this year and you need a really good 3b to do well in fantasy, thats a crucial position

My team...went for a lot of guys that have been injured or had a bad year but are absolute studs. I got Braun over Utley for my first round pick by accident because the controls were retarded and I didn't know what to do. I also took Javier Vazquez wayyy too early. Other than that though I think it turned out pretty well.

Catcher: Joe Mauer
1B: Ryan Howard
2B: Robinson Cano
3B: Aramis Ramirez
SS: Miguel Tejada
2B/SS: Aaron Hill
1B/3B: Adam Dunn
OF: Ryan Braun
OF: Carl Crawford
OF: Ichiro Suzuki
OF: Carlos Quentin
OF: Jay Bruce
UTIL: Michael Young
Bench: Jason Bartlett

Pitchers:
SP: Dan Haren
SP: Javier Vazquez
SP: Yovani Gallardo
RP: Joakim Soria
RP: Fransisco Rodriguez
SP: Brett Anderson
RP: Heath Bell
SP: James Shields
SP: David Price
Bench: Johan Santana
Bench: Brandon Webb

David Price was ranked so low, no idea why. I have faith in Santana and Webb, I think they both just had off-years. James Shields is good idk why he was ranked so low. Oh btw, 6 man league, H2H points, $20 on it.

yeah thats a really good team, i was going to ask how many teams because you're stacked with good players
i would say you're a little low on steals but crawford and ichiro should get you a combined 100 steals from those 2 players alone... ryan bruan will help your steals he's a stud, don't worry about passing up utley for braun that's not a big downgrade at all
your pitching is really nice too, i could see you leading the league in Ks especially because of the relief pitchers you have, those dudes are strikeout pitchers
shields is ok... i think he got a little overrated the year the rays made the playoffs, i think he's listed as a #1 starter but to me he pitches more like a #2 or #3, he doesn't really do any 1 thing particularly well in fantasy he's just an overall good pitcher

its funny you have johan santana and brandon webb on your bench, 2 years ago those guys were taken in rounds 1-3 and i think they even have multiple cy youngs, i hope they have good seasons
johan lead all of baseball with the lowest era in 2008 and he was good in 2009 before getting hurt, he's still one of the best in the game


good team, hope you win

Thanks, be sure to post your team when you can.

i will, my league hasn't even been created yet, and we usually don't draft until the weeked before opening day so i'm still a long ways away from my real draft

C Joe Mauer
1B Derrek Lee
2B Ian Stewart
3B Mark DeRosa
SS Elvis Andrus
OF Carl Crawford
OF Cody Ross
OF Garrett Jones
Util Martín Prado
Util Orlando Cabrera
Bn Lyle Overbay
Bn Skip Schumaker
Bn Matt Diaz
Bn Akinori Iwamura

RHP Dan Haren
RHP Javier Vázquez
RHP Rafael Soriano
RHP David Aardsma
LHP Scott Kazmir
LHP Andy Pettitte
RHP Joe Blanton
RHP Paul Maholm
RHP Joba Chamberlain

Doesn't look too good. How many teams?

16...got the #8 pick...i never do well when im in the middle. sigh

overbay, Diaz, and aki were all auto picked.

though none of the teams look clear cut way better

http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com ... ingrosters