Mastersball Fantasy Forum

11 team AL 260 4x4 ...rules written on papyrus scrolls (i have decided to make a conscious effort to stop saying things like "old school" and "my bad" and speak like I'm 59 instead). Have Mike Saunders at 1 unit going into his final contract year next season. The Mariners seem to have finally looked at the light bulb over their head and will alter the contours of the park for next year in favor of the hitters.

I'm going to extend 6 players next year as of now and try and build a real nucleus- Revere (10 to 15), Cain (10 to 15), Kipnis (5 to 15), Trumbo (5 to 15), Jim Johnson (1 to 6) and Jake Mc Gee (5 to 10 - got a feeling on this one). Given the limited information provided here, should I be thinking about 1 more contract extension? Those six players will cost 76 units as it stands right now - 82 won't be a deal breaker (considering I spent 27 on little Ricky and I thought Henderson Alvarez was a bargain at 5).

It's early, I know ... but I am heartened by Seattle's decision to move the fences in. Saunders looks like he has a starting job next year with not much out on the FA market. Is he worth an additional year?

Thoughts welcome.

kid.....When do you have to send in your keeper list? I'd keep Saunders at 1 or 6 units for next year (not sure if I understood if you were asking if you should sign him to a contract for 6 units next year). I like him as he may have turned the corner and it's worth finding out for 6 units. For sure 3-category guys go for double digits in the auction. While I share your enthusiasm for McGee (I'll be after him next year as a Rodney handcuff) I'm pretty sure you can get him back for the 10 units or less you'd sign him for.

Is that Lorenzo Cain for 15 units? Am a bit concerned he may be one of those guys who gets nagging injuries. Do you think the Twinkies keep both Span and Revere next year? Can they afford to carry to OFers without power. I think they'll trade one of them. Also think they're gonna give Parmelee a shot in the OF if he has a good ST. They like his bat. I like the Trumbo signing and I'm gonna try to trade for him during the offseason.

Not for some time - and yes I am soliciting opinions whether to extend him an additional year.

I have heard the talk about Parmalee ...in fact, I also own Parmalee at 10 units. I do feel he'll get into the mix but he'll have to prove he can do it first. Otherwise, yeah - they'll keep two speed OFs because that's all they have. It is very possible that either Span or Revere get traded - as long as Revere gets traded within the AL, I don't think it will matter too much.

Yes, that's Lorenzo ....I like what I saw of him when he was healthy and I am choosing to believe he will heal up over the winter- for the moment. As for Mc Gee? I've owned Rodney in the past and everything I've seen from him in 2012 screams "career year" to me. I also know I had to pay 12 units for Greg Holland at auction - given the dearth of talent showing up in the AL recently (especially in the OF), people have been over spending on pure spec ...which is why I don't think Mc Gee stops in the single digits. I'm mostly likely going to keep 4 OF's - but neither of the 4th OF choices will be more than 11 units.

Thanks for the feedback, CubFan.

I would not extend Saunders - just be glad for the potential profit next year and remember it IS the Mariners so we really don't know what they will do next year

I like Cain as well and it seems you have so much profit in your other guys I would NOT extend him but keep him at $10 - remember they have Myers knocking on the door and are not a team who can play a 4th OF for too many DH at bats

Foot for thought ...thank you Cap'n. To that group, I'm going to keep a 7 unit Sal Perez and an 11 unit Daniel Murphy - so I'm looking at 7 for either 79 or 84 on offense (depending on Saunders). In addition to profit, the Captain reminded me of one other thing - if I extend Saunders, I'll go into the auction with no asterisk players on my roster .... a hindrance in dump trades. Now it sounds like I should be looking at 4 options - Cain, Saunders, Cain & Saunders or neither.

There is one question though, Perry...can Myers be another Biggio who can convert from catcher to CF? I'm thinking the current KC roster has no one who can man CF full time. it seems he can field the position (at least from what he did at AA this year - .979 isn't bad) but is KC looking at him as more of a bat or an all round player?

Perry can obviously get the real scoop from the brass in Surprise during the spring, but my feeling is KC would use Myers in center to get his bat in the lineup but would prefer he play right long term.

If they can't move Frenchy in the off-season, they must be hoping he has a good first half so they can move him at the deadline.

Yes to both but Myers is the eventual RF - not clear whether that is March or later in the season

Lorenzo Cain (to the degree he can stay healthy) IS the Royals CF

I agree with Perry on Cain/Meyers positions. I live in KC and that is what I'm hearing. Media is putting a ton of pressure on Glass, Moore and Yost. They and the fans are tired of the "we are a small market and can't afford the payroll". It's falling on deaf ears after what Oakland, Minnesota, Cincy, Mil have done recently. Glass is now on record as saying he is willing to spend some money on SP. He made his announcement on the same day that season ticket holders were getting their 2013 sign up sheets. Nice timing David!

Good chance Meyers will start 2013 in AAA long enough to give the Royals an extra year of his services....unless he is hitting lights out in ST. Some wonder if they could pull off a Longoria type of contract. Francoeur is a sunk cost. Glass/Moore can no longer deny it. Meyers has nothing left to prove in AAA.

well I showed up way late to this party - but I really hope you didn't end up extending saunders. it looks like seattle added enough corner outfield/DH types to pretty much ensure saunders will start and end the year at AAA.

as for McGee - I disagree. I think he has upside in real life as a lefty specialist or 7th/8th inning guy but I don't think he will ever be maddon's closer. Maddon does a lot of weird stuff as a manager - but using a lefty as his primary closer does not seem to be something he would do.

PS - I heard an interview last year the day before the draft on MLB network radio - maddon praising Rodney and saying he could see some save chances if anything happened to his current bullpen - (before we found out Farnsworth was done for his career) I ended up disregarding and instead kept Farnsworth for about $16 more than he was worth. Another guy got Rodney for next to nothing. ($2 I think) now he can keep Rodney forever at that price. Just another reason I believe Rodney will be highly successful for many many more years.

PSS - I decided to never do that again. This year in football - I owned both Alfred Morris ($1) and Andrew Luck ($4) after hearing their coaches positive comments preseason

No ,not at all .... all feedback welcome ... keepers aren't due for some time.... As for Saunders, let's just say we disagree. 19 HR and 21 SB do not a ticket to the minors make. Combine that with three years of service time and he's out of options ....and he'll never get through waivers. Now Justin Smoak is another story all together. If he goes (and maybe even if he doesn't), everything falls into place. Montero catches, Morse plays 1st, Morales DH's ...and Guitierrez waits for his annual DL stint.

As for Rodney, I have owned him in the past ... I submit there is more here than results. A 36 year old does not suddenly change his spots like he did last year and manage to keep them changed. Last year just screams "ESTEBAN LOAIZA" for the old timers around here. He had a terrific year .... but his history suggests he is one and done. Nobody drops their ERA by more than 4 runs over the space of more than one season. Nobody drops a WHIP that was no better than 1.47 for 4 straight years to one of .60 for more than one season. Did he have a hell of a season? Yup. Can he keep his control problems at bay ....doubtful. To me, Mc Gee is the most viable candidate left when Rodney falters. As i stated in another post - this may be the first year when each team in a single league has a huge question mark about each and every one of their current closers.