It's not every day I get to trade Valverde for Matt Moore

by Rotofan on Mar 21, 2026 11:12 AM EDT

Feeling pretty well today after pulling off a trade in my exceptionally deep A.L. auction keeper league.

With each of 12 teams having up to 15 keepers, there were no established closers available for the auction after Soria went down (all his possible successors but Broxton are keepers) and I had, in a $260 league, a $31 Valverde, a $1 Walden, a $1 Mike Adams and Fautino De Los Santos on my reserve.

My trading partner was knee deep in cheap starting pitching -- Holland, McCarthy, Romero, Bard and McGowan ($20 for all five) -- but had no closers.

The deal leaves me with starter Moore and Yu Darvish (whom I picked up last August) and Danny Hultzen along with a cheap Colby Lewis -- my entire pitching staff so far costs me $6. I've got a $31 Lester too but looking to package him in a trade for a decent priced Erick Aybar, as the shortstop pool is non existent and my offence is short of well-priced guys.

Moore costs me nothing this year as a rookie-eligible on my reserve and next year I could sign him for two years at $6 or three years at $11. Hultzen costs would be the same. Darvish is free this year too and would cost $7 for one more year, $12 for two years or $17 for three. Not a bad core.

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Read More: Yu Darvish (P - TEX), Danny Hultzen (P - SEA), Mike Adams (P - TEX), Matt Moore (P - TAM), Colby Lewis (P - TEX)

Comments

I once punched a grizzly bear square in the face

Seriously. Right in the face!

by emoofb on Mar 21, 2026 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

that was my mom

by pedrophile on Mar 21, 2026 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice post

very informative

by huztler on Mar 21, 2026 6:44 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks!

by Rotofan on Mar 21, 2026 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions

.....

sorry, but a league in which you’re able to trade Valverde for Matt Moore is a dud league. I’d actually be embarrassed to be in such a league. The commish should’ve vetoed the deal, and you, as the owner, should move on to something a little more difficult.

by psugator on Mar 21, 2026 10:49 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

That's a bit harsh

without knowing the scoring. In my big boy league we hit a point in year two were elite closers were absolutely dominating (I think KRod outscored the next player by 50, and the next couple pitchers were closers). While that might have been an anomaly I think if closers are valuable scoring wise (and in a 12team AL only they are rare) than I dont have a huge problem with trading a top 3 closer for a rookie pitcher, even one who might be as good as Moore.

by ADLC on Mar 22, 2026 3:37 AM EDT up reply actions