Not sure about this Fantasy Baseball trade...?

Question

CBS Sportsline Head 2 Head, Points league.

I'm desperate to get Rich Harden. I know he has burned me over the past couple of years, but I've got a feeling he may just push Johan Santana for the AL Cy Young this year. The current owner of Harden has said he needs an upgrade at 3B and a solid pitcher in exchange for Harden (he said he would consider AJ Burnett).

I'm prepared to offer Troy Glaus and AJ Burnett for Adrian Beltre and my beloved Harden. I'm not a fan of Beltre's, but I also have Mark Teahen, and I think he will be just fine. I figure Burnett is just as much an injury risk as Harden, but Harden has so much more upside.

Am I offering too much? Should I temper my man-crush on Harden? Thoughts either way are welcome. Thanks.

Answer 1

I don't really see anything wrong w/ this trade. Glaus will mash, but he'll also drag your batting avg. down ( don't forget his SS eligibility though). I think you misunderestimate (thanks GWB) AJ Burnett's upside...he could be almost or just as good as Harden this year.
I think it is an OK risk to use Beltre or Teahen at 3B...there are also plenty of sleeper candidates at 3B like Gordon, Edwin Encarnacion or Andy Marte- I've been letting 3B slide in my drafts if I don't get one of the top guys early

Answer 2

I think that it would be a pretty good trade but you should probably offer a worse pitcher than Burnett. When he is not injured, he is an ace. After a year of just pretty much rehab, I think he is going to better. Also, he did well at the end of the year. Harden is also an ace when not injured, but I don't think he is going to challenge Santana for the Cy Young. Maybe in two or three years but not this year. Getting to the point, Glaus is very good except for batting average, Harden is at injury risk, and Beltre is overrated. You should offer a worse pitcher if you are going to offer Glaus.

Answer 3

Where to start on this one? I'll start by stating that I think your team would lose some ground in the trade. I understand you having an attachment to a favorite player/team. I love my Cleveland Indians, but that love is NOT going to win me a fantasy league.

Harden, while insanely talented, has not thrown an entire season over the last two years. Whether or not he will stay healthy is one concern, but I would focus more on what would happen if he does stay healthy. Will his arm fade out towards the end if he does go an entire season? More than likely, which would lead to a higher ERA/WHIP than previously advertised. I know that it will mean more K's and W's as well, I'll get to that in a second. I think there is more downside to him than just his past injury issues.

Now let's take a look at what everyone else has overlooked... You're in a H2H league, not a roto league! By year's end, sure, there's a chance that Hayden will end with 200 K's and 18-20 W's. Your focus should be on picking winning weekly, NOT what the end-of-the-year numbers are. Playing/drafting is different in H2H leagues than what a "mock draft" list or Top 100 list by ESPN or Yahoo! is going to give you, because it's a different strategy. These sites mostly focus on the more popular roto leagues. SP's have probably the lowest value in H2H leagues. If they get shelled and pulled in 2 innings, you just lost ERA and WHIP for the week. Oh, and they mostly only get one chance a week to help you get a "W". The occasional two-start weeks are few and far between.

Ultimately, it's your decision and your team. If you are determined to go after Harden, then I suggest a modification to the trade. I'm assuming that your OF and DH hitters are better/equal to Beltre. Since you have an extremely viable option with Teahen (Teahen did not play a full season so his numbers will be higher this year, guaranteed), instead of getting Beltre, ask for something that will improve another position of yours, maybe another closer or someone that can get you some steals, or whatever. Having both Beltre and Teahen makes one of them expendable for the 3B position, and you're not going to get much for Beltre in a trade if you do go through with it.

Hope this helps and good luck to you.

Answer 4

Yikes. The guys you're getting will not help your team much but if you're sold on Harden, do it. You can always adjust your team little by little to get it back on the right track if things don't go well.

A bit of advice. Offer more than one trade so the other manager knows you're serious about getting Rich Harden. That way your trade offer won't get rejected immediately and you can open the negotiation lines.

Answer 5

Fantasy sports are more fun when you own the players you really want to cheer for. If you like Harden that much, go for it. Glaus might kill you in batting average too. Ditching him is not a bad move.

Answer 6

those adult males don't be attentive to what they're speaking approximately. team A have been given a miles greater effective deal than team B. Ryan Zimmerman is going to be a delusion stud this 12 months, in the nationals new "hitter friendly" park. Chad Billingsley is one in each and every of the great youthful pitchers in the interest and he ultimately has an honest offense to lower back him up. Joe Blanton has next to no longer something in run help this 12 months on Oakland, yet I doubt he additionally would be on Oakland while the season starts. the two way, Blanton will discover the thank you to get you 12-15 wins and a sub 4 era. lots greater effective deal. youkilis, matsui, and buerhrlie suck in delusion besides.

Answer 7

truthfully I don't think Harden is as good as Burnett, and Beltre has only had one or two good years, compared to Glaus, who's been more consistent year-in-year-out. I wouldn't do it.

Answer 8

I have Harden and I am dangling him for trade. I am afraid he will be a Kerry Wood, flashes of great, but never consitent enough to BE great.

Temper the Man Crush

Answer 9

I think that you could offer less but there is a lot of time to make up for a bad trade if it ends up bad so I say go for it and I think he is going to win the AL Cy Young this year.

Answer 10

I think you are offering to much fo r a guy that hasn't proved himself totally.