I'm in a 12-owner A.L.-only roto league, with standard 23-man roster and a 17-man reserve and 4 x 4 categories (HR, RBI, BA, SB, ERA, Whip, S, W) . We're allowed up to 15 keepers, including up to five on reserve who haven't used their rookie eligibility. Players entering the third year of a contract can be long-termed by bumping up their salary by $5 for two years or $10 for three years. Players who are long-termed have their salaries counted against the $260 total even if they are on the reserve.

I took over a mediocre team last year and coaxed it into the money for the first time in a decade, but this year gave up on this season with the goal of building a dominating team in each of the next two years. Between the established low-priced talent and top prospects I have accumulated, I'm way over 15 keepers.

Here are the easy ones (6):

Zack Greinke $10 - will be in last year of two-year contract (obtained in trade last year)

David Aardsma $1 - I can keep him at this price the next two years (obtained in trade this year)

Adam Lind $8 - I can keep him at this price the next two years (obtained in trade this year)

Shin Soo-Choo $10 — I can keep him at this price the next two years (obtained in trade this year)

Kendry Morales $6 — I can keep him at this price the next two years (obtained in trade before this year)

Matt Weiters  $11 —  I can keep him at this price the next two years ((obtained in trade last year)

Top prospects who I think I must keep(2)

Desmond Jennings free — no cost to keep on reserve; $4 in year two

Jesus Montero free — no cost to keep on reserve; $2 in year two

Here are other strong candidates (6)

Marco Scutaro $6 — I can keep him at this price the next two years (bought at auction)

Elvis Andrus $5 — last year of contract next year (bought at auction)

Mike Aviles $2 — last year of contract next year; health concerns but low price

Justin Smoak $3/$8 — depends on if I keep him for one year more or two

Julio Borbon $5 — I can keep him at this price the next two years (bought at auction)

Phil Hughes $3 — I can keep him at this price the next two years (auction)

Other top prospects (10)

Derek Holland $2

Brian Matusz $1

Chris Tillman $1

Trevor Cahill $4

Hector Rondon - no cost to keep on reserve; $2 in year two

Tyler Flowers - no cost to keep on reserve; $2 in year two

Adam Moore — - no cost to keep on reserve; $1 in year two

Hank Conger - - no cost to keep on reserve; $2 in year two

Austin Jackson - - no cost to keep on reserve; $1 in year two

Josh Reddick - - no cost to keep on reserve; $7 in year two

Michael Saunders - $2

Worth keeping until Spring to see if they have a role: (2)

Kam Mickolio — no cost to keep on reserve; $11 in year two; outside shot at being O's closer

Ian Kennedy — no cost to keep on reserve; $2 in year two; outside shot at Yankee rotation

By the end of October I must cut from 40 to 25 players; one of the above must go. By one week before next season I must cut to 15 so another 10 would have to go.

Who would you cut? Who would you keep? Why?