The last place team in my AL-only had decided to throw in the towel on this season and rebuild for next year. "Young and cheap" was his mantra in his league-wide e-mail. I took a look at his roster like a kid in the proverbial candy store... although as a kid, I tended ignore most of the candy and to go straight for the baseball cards.
At first, I started putting together an offer for Frank Francisco, since I have 0 (count 'em, zero) saves. I guess I took "don't pay for saves" too literally this year. I noted in my e-mail PS that Trumbo ($6) and Ogando ($2) would probably be off-limits, but was willing to discuss other young and cheap players. But I difficulty making an offer that made sense there, I soon turned to the crown jewel on his roster: Miguel Cabrera. Figure, he's cleaning house, can't hurt to ask.
I wanted to put together a deal including 1B Daric Barton, who I had tied up with 2-year extension at only $6, but although a solid AL-only guy, his trade value is as low as his batting average right now. Trumbo was a piece I hated to part with, but when you are asking for perhaps the premier offensive player in the league, you've got to give to get. Because of roster integrity issues (do you have roster integrity rules in your league? I find them annoying), the deal went through several permutations before we settled on the final deal: Miggy for Trumbo and OF Franklin Gutierrez.
Gutierrez was another late-auction sleeper I stole for only $9. With Gutirrez coming off the DL, I had too many OFs anyway, so he was expendable. With Trumbo's solid start, and Kendry Morales going down for the year, his trade value was high. I believe in him, and true power hitters are hard to come by, but I also believe he'll hit his Rookie Rut here soon, and I'm very wary of the Sophomore Slump. As such, I banked his 7 homers (and 3 steals!) and got "Jiggy wit Miggy."
I feel like I stole Cabrera; what do you think? Even at $47, I might keep him next year. Or I might flip him for Youkilis. I admit I was leery of Miggy after his off-season issues, but they don't seem to be affecting him at the plate. I fully expect him to net the 38 / 118 / .331 line ESPN projected for him, which would mean 30 HR and 80 RBI for me for the rest of the way. Will Trumbo and Gutierrez net that production, and hit well over .300?
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| Miguel gets tagged out by Asdrubal |
Meanwhile, my SS Asdrubal Cabrera was the Fantasy 411's Weekend ROTO MONSTER, going off on Sunday with a 5 for 5 day, 2 homers, and a steal. (A tip of the cap to my little brother for urging me to pursue him on auction day. I got him for $23 in our high-inflation league.) Mike Siano had him as a "sleeper SS," and called his breakout season a "Bautista-type year." He's looking like an easy 20-20 guy, and lest you forget, he's only 25 years old! He's a keeper, kids.
So I guess now with Miggy and Asdrubal, all I need is Melky and Orlando to round out my All-Cabrera Team. Could do worse...
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