Finalizing My Minors
My roster deadline is this upcoming weekend, so I was wondering if I could get some last minute feedback...
We protect 10 minor leaguers in our fantasy league (12 Team, 5x5 Roto). Here are my "Top 10":
1. Michael Stanton
2. Justin Smoak
3. Jeremy Hellickson
4. Jenrry Mejia
5. Josh Bell
6. Ike Davis
7. Mike Montgomery
8. Matt Moore
9. Dan Hudson
10. Chris Withrow
Cuts:
Jason Knapp
Tyler Flowers
Brandon Allen
Marc Rzepczynski
Bud Norris
Do you suggest any substitutions from the 'cuts' to the protected list?
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FWIW
I am kinda torn on Rzep. I think he could be a solid fantasy starter.
JOSH THOLE > carlos santana
by Dewey Finn on Jan 12, 2026 5:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Don't worry about Rzep
He could be solid, but you’ll be able to find somebody else who is at his same level pretty easily. It’s tough to let guys with the upside that Knapp and Flowers have go, but I don’t know who I’d let go to make room for either guy.
by cr1578 on Jan 12, 2026 5:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
yeah
I love Knapp, but all the others are better.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 5:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Personally
Not a fan of Withrow and you have quite a bit of good pitching your minor league team. I’d take Flowers or Allen over him.
by MightyMoose on Jan 12, 2026 5:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think I would take Knapp over Withrow
but I dont feel very strongly about it, considering its a fantasy league. Knapp may end up a dominant reliever as real life fallback, but that doesnt thrill me in fantasy.
Rzep isnt even a consideration for me. Im much more upset about leaving Knapp and Flowers off (for Hudson and Withrow).
I think I said this last time you asked this, too, but Allen over Ike Davis is something I would strongly consider. Kind of a toss up in my head. They both have question marks.
by alskor on Jan 12, 2026 5:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd take Flowers over Bell as I think he sticks at catcher and the bat should be similar if that does happen
I like Rzep as well, but unless you want the more finished product as opposed to a high-risk/high-reward type like Moore then I wouldn’t add him.
I also want to stress that I wouldn’t drop Withrow. Really like him, three pitch repetoire that he supposedly has confidence in, young but with performance to match the scouting reports, no home run issues and an improved walk rate in a SSS in AA. Also has a decent body. I really like him going forward.
by Navi's_Navy on Jan 12, 2026 5:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
i agree with
taking flowers over bell…not a huge fan of bell
by miraclemets on Jan 12, 2026 5:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
flowers
not a great chance he makes it as a catcher. i guess pure upside is there though.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 5:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dude
Why? BA wrote:
Pitchers like throwing to him because he’s a good communicator and works hard on gameplans. Managers rated him the top defensive catcher in the Double-A Southern League last year. He has an average arm and has improved his footwork and release, thowing out 29 percent of basestealers last year.
It seems like every catcher has questions other than the elite defenders, but this is a pretty careless blanket statement.
by killa on Jan 12, 2026 9:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
no
i have read in several places that he is unlikely to stay at catcher. these are reports after his improvement in fielding last season. not sure where i read them all, but i wasn’t claiming that at the time. it isn’t a careless statement, but i recognize that there are more informed people than me out there (BA is certainly a good source, but they are not the only one).
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 9:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
BA's not the only source out there...
BP’s Kevin Goldstein is certainly another good one.
The Good: Flowers has the kind of offensive skills rarely found in a catcher, with plus power and an excellent approach at the plate. Scouts were universal in their praise for how much he improved defensively, and team officials talk about how he bought into the need to improve from day one. Over the season, Flowers became an average defender to go with his plus arm.
by PissedMick on Jan 12, 2026 9:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Those are old reports
He did very well this year and really improved his chances of sticking there.
by alskor on Jan 12, 2026 10:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well
they aren’t old reports, but maybe the people didn’t fully appreciate his advancement. or maybe they just don’t see him as having improved enough. i don’t know. i guess i do feel more confident in him making it as a catcher, but even players capable of it get moved off, so we’ll see.
by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 10:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I feel like people are still going off of 2008 reports of Flowers' defense.
He’s not going to be Yadier Molina back there, but by all 2009 accounts Flowers will be fine.
by PissedMick on Jan 12, 2026 9:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yup
Beat me to it. I should have read down one more line.
by alskor on Jan 12, 2026 10:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Flowers
I think it’s worth the risk just in case he does stick at C. I’d probably keep him over Hudson but I tend not to invest in pitching prospects in fantasy.
by FI2 on Jan 12, 2026 7:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
also...
do u need ike davis? u have smoak already…maybe substite davis for rzep since you like him so much?? plus i feel you can never have too much sp depth in fantasy
by miraclemets on Jan 12, 2026 5:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
In fantasy
I tend to lean toward simply taking the best talent. I think few would argue that Rez’s value is higher than withrows, if only from the community’s perception of their respective talents. Not positive how your league works (if you can trade milbers, etc), but even if you have Justin Smoak, I guarantee you that someone in your league has a need for Ike Davis and would be willing to pay more than the replacement value of any of your cuts. Granted, this is just one example, but I find that this holds true, for the most part. Additionally, depth is never a bad thing to have in fantasy, especially in a minor league system. Attrition is, unfortunately to some like Lars Anderson, a real and relevant issue many minor leaguers will go through. In essence, hedge your bets with talent, rather than positional necessity. If you have the “burden” of too much talent, I all but assure you someone will come calling about a trade that can help
You’re name has 2k9 in it — what are you some 8 year-old who makes Pillsbury Doughboy cookies and jerks off to that bullshit video game with Tim Lincecum on the cover--
Frederick0220
by Mets2k9 on Jan 12, 2026 6:12 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs
I think few would argue that Rez’s value is higher than withrows
Actually, I would take Withrow easy. Not even close for me.
by alskor on Jan 12, 2026 6:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
thats exactly what I said haha
Few would argue rez is more valuable than withrow
You’re name has 2k9 in it — what are you some 8 year-old who makes Pillsbury Doughboy cookies and jerks off to that bullshit video game with Tim Lincecum on the cover--
Frederick0220
by Mets2k9 on Jan 12, 2026 7:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
keep flowers over ike davis
probably wont stay at catcher. still a better hitter than ike even if he moves to 1b.
by svigen on Jan 12, 2026 6:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hudson
It seems like you have some good talent.
I would dump Hudson and try and grab a high risk reward guy instead. More Mejia.
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by JDSussman on Jan 12, 2026 7:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I'd take Flowers over Davis as well
Kevin Frandsen: The best SS on the Giants roster
Hoping for BowkerMania to hit AT&T; Park in 2010
by Gobroks on Jan 13, 2026 12:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Flowers
Like a quite a few else are saying I would keep him. You could keep him over Davis since you already have Smoak and in a 12 team league I don’t see Davis as being that good. Or this may seem controversial, keeping him instead of Hudson. Again a 12 team league isn’t that deep and a guy who profiles best as a #3 type SP, isn’t what I’d aim for.
by hybrid on Jan 13, 2026 3:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
one quickie
I’d take Knapp over Withrow.
The wind is in the buffalo.
by journeymen on Jan 13, 2026 2:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I really appreciate the input guys
Looks like I have some real hard decisions to make. You all have made great points.
JOSH THOLE > carlos santana
by Dewey Finn on Jan 13, 2026 3:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The only change I feel STRONGLY about making
is keeping Flowers instead of Ike Davis.
You could also go with Knapp over either Withrow/Hudson, but I don’t feel confident enough to make that change.
by soxkid on Jan 13, 2026 7:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
No way I take Knapp over Withrow
Knapp, at this point, looks like there is a very large chance he becomes a reliever. Withrow could see the majors this season, according to Dodger Blogs. So… possible Sept callup or a guy in the low minors who may be destined to become a good reliever…
by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Jan 13, 2026 10:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Keep Withrow
The only one I’d bump down is Hudson to #10. I might take Flowers over him.
Definitely keep Withrow, I think he shoots up the charts this year.
Again I don’t wild about Catching prospects in Fantasy unless they are mega-elite. Most underachieve at hitting for a few years and can get picked up on the WW as “fallen angels”.
Good list
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by Wilbur Wood on Jan 14, 2026 6:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs







