JB Needs Your Help

Love the K rate. 2-pitch pitcher?

THE 5 EASY KEEPS:
Starling Marte
Garrett Richards
Mike Olt
Jedd Gyorko
Will Middlebrooks – sort of a shame that there are three 3B in this group!

THE OBVIOUS CUTS
Tyler Matzek – Disaster year and he’s a project. I wouldn’t be in a rush to cut him but you can do better with your keepers
Cody Buckel – I’m a fan but he just doesn’t have the ceiling to stand out in this group
Christian Villanueva – The easiest cut for me – too many questions about his profile and even more about his potential fantasy usefulness, not to mention how very, very blocked he is. He’s a sleeper in general, but that doesn’t change the equation when comparing him to most of these guys.

THE NEXT THREE KEEPS
Zack Cozart – Value lies in position scarcity, well rounded skill set and ability to provide immediate value.
Eddie Rosario – Intriguing talent whose stock is still on the way up (esp. w/ move to 2B)
Mason Williams – Same story as Rosario. Toolshed.

THE QUESTION MARKS (PICK 2)
Allen Webster – Might be more of a mid rotation type and more GB than Ks, but good chance to be a quality SP even in a 12 team mixed format.
Wily Peralta – Arguably a higher ceiling than Webster but more question marks. Helium guy this year but heavy build, inconsistent secondaries and RP mechanics that lead to command and control issues.
Tyler Thornburg – Electric arm but likely a RP IMHO. Still useful if in the rotation and will get Ks… if in the pen he could be a very good Closer.
Brandon Jacobs – Toolsy and powerful… coming off a great year, but lots of swing and miss and only a corner OF. Doubtful the speed continues to play as he fills in. He’s not really the power/speed threat he appears to be from his stats.

So I’d probably go with:
Starling Marte
Garrett Richards
Mike Olt
Jedd Gyorko
Will Middlebrooks
Zack Cozart
Eddie Rosario
Mason Williams
Allen Webster
Wily Peralta

& cut:
Tyler Thornburg
Brandon Jacobs
Tyler Matzek
Cody Buckel
Christian Villanueva

Lot of tough calls there, though. If you have SS set on your major league team already you might want to move Cozart and keep another higher ceiling player. Could also consider moving one of the 3B prospects. I’d really hate to cut Thornburg as I think he does become a Closer. Would strongly consider keeping him over Peralta, who I’m not the biggest fan of. Have heard a couple good reports on Peralta that give me pause about letting him go, though. Definitely hurts to cut Jacobs, too, but I think he’s a bit overrated, I don’t think he has real star upside and its a lot easier to find an OF in a 12 team mixed than most typically think. That is; f you have to have a spot you’re weak then outfield is as good a spot as any to have to go fishing on the waiver wire or trade market.

My preference would be to keep both and trade Cozart – somebody will need a SS. Somebody always needs a SS. Cozart is too helpful to cut here but he’s not a fantastic fantasy asset or anything (won’t add much in the way of impact/HRs/SBs). Just a good fit for some team looking for a non zero at SS. If you could move Cozart and one of the 3B than you could keep Thornburg and Jacobs… that would be the best approach, IMO, though obviously depends on what you can get in return. I wouldn’t give those guys away.