trade advice

by HarleyMila on Dec 21, 2025 10:17 AM EST

I greatly appreciate any opinions and advice on a potential trade that I am contemplating. Our league is a standard 5X5 keeper league with 13 teams. No contracts or salary so we can keep guys as long as we want. The offer is:

I get OF Wil Myers

I give 1B Anthony Rizzo, C Ryan Lavarnway, RP Rex Brothers

I have very good 1B depth with Miguel Cabrera, Kendrys Morales, Brandon Belt, and Mat Gamel. We start 2 catchers and I have Posey and not much else (Salvador perez). My OF is pretty weak. My 5 starting OF are Adam Jones, BJ Upton, Logan Morrison, Domonic Brown, and Rick Ankiel. My only OF prospects of note are Matt Szczur, Michael Taylor (OAK) and Ryan Kalish. My big hang up is with Brothers. Closers are at a premium in our league. I know closing is more about opportunity than anything else so that is my main question for the panel, Do you think Brothers can become a closer and keep the job? Secondly, closer or not, should I do this deal anyway? My team is still a few years away from contending for a title so I can always try to trade for closers when I get closer to my window for contending. Thanks again for any insight.

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Read More: Ryan Lavarnway (C - BOS), Anthony Rizzo (1B - CHC), Rick Ankiel (CF - WAS), Ryan Kalish (LF - BOS), Logan Morrison (LF - FLA), Adam Jones (CF - BAL), Salvador Perez (C - KAN), Michael Taylor (RF - OAK), Domonic Brown (RF - PHI), Mat Gamel (1B - MIL), Miguel Cabrera (3B - DET), Kendrys Morales (1B - ANA), Brandon Belt (1B - SFG)

Comments

I would do the deal

I think Brothers can become the closer, but Betancourt seemed to do an adequate job when Street was injured last year. I would think he would be the next in line before Brothers gets an opportunity and there’s no guarantee that Brothers will have success in the role.

For me, if the only thing holding you back is Brothers, I would do the deal. The closer position is so volatile that in fantasy leagues you can usually find a few guys in any given year (Putz, Guerra, League) that will end of having pretty good years. Look even a couple years ago and guys that were considered ‘elite’ closers, like Marmol and Soria, who looked destined to be bonified closers for years, have struggled. They are still holding onto their jobs, but certainly their fantasy value has taken a hit.

I would not pass up a prospect like Myers if that’s the only thing holding you back.

by BryceHarper on Dec 21, 2025 10:39 AM EST reply actions

if you're several years away from contending, I have a hard time seeing the downside in this trade for you

Even it ends up not being a win for you, it doesn’t look like a trade that will really hurt your rebuilding efforts. Brothers could certainly end up establishing himself as the closer . . .but there are nothing close to guarantees when it comes to who gets the late inning work.

by mrkupe on Dec 21, 2025 10:42 AM EST reply actions

Take the deal

Usually the person that gets the best prospect in a prospect trade is the one that wins the deal.

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by King Billy Royal on Dec 21, 2025 10:52 AM EST reply actions

Don't do that deal.

I belong to an NL only keeper league, and I wouldn’t make that trade. I try to get every last bit of value out of each player I trade. The combination you trade is much more valuable than just one player. Brothers put up excellent numbers last year and with the exit of Street could close this season (if not he’ll be a dominate setup guy). What do you look like pitching wise…that package could seek you a pretty high tier starter if you ask me. You’re outfield is pretty good, especially once Brown can figure things out. Find a better deal for that package of players.

by yankman27 on Dec 21, 2025 10:55 AM EST reply actions

pitching

my only RP are Daniel Bard, Kenley Jensen, and Brothers. So a couple of guys who could close, but nobody thats there yet. At SP I have Strasburg, Tommy Hanson, Brandon Morrow, then some middle of the pack guys as well as Shelby Miller, Drew Pomeranz and Mike Montgomery in the minors

by HarleyMila on Dec 21, 2025 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

Do it.

by Winter'sComing on Dec 21, 2025 11:05 AM EST reply actions

Getting Elite Players Wins

deals. Myers is potential an elite player. The other are not. We would do this deal, easily. Lavarnway can hit but cannot catch. Rizzo can hit (maybe) but is not even the best 1B propsetc on his own team. Brothers is a RP.

Myers has a chance to be an All Star bat.

by Hairylady on Dec 21, 2025 11:12 AM EST reply actions

with all due respect

using “potential elite players” to get “elite players” wins trades.

by JoelGuzman'sScout on Dec 21, 2025 11:56 AM EST up reply actions

**others

by Hairylady on Dec 21, 2025 11:13 AM EST reply actions

Shallow league

Take the best player. If this was a full dynasty league, I’d probably take the other package, but not in this case.

by auclairkeithbc on Dec 21, 2025 11:22 AM EST reply actions

Eh

I agree with that reasoning to an extent. On the other hand, Brothers and Lavarnway have much less value in a 10 team league, as well as a 1 catcher league.

I’d stick with the second package. I see Wil Meyers as more of a better Nick Markakis than anything in the majors. Very solid player, but not that exciting of a fantasy guy.

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by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Dec 21, 2025 12:24 PM EST up reply actions

I'd

also just try and deal Rizzo for something else.

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by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Dec 21, 2025 12:24 PM EST up reply actions

Myers

for what its worth, I have a slightly higher value for Myers. I think he can be a .300 hitter with 25-30 HRs once he gets going. I also think Rizzo can hit around .270 with the same power as long as he doesn’t stay in Petco. I like Lavarnway’s potential too, but I think he ultimately becomes a 1B/DH

by HarleyMila on Dec 21, 2025 1:40 PM EST up reply actions