Editor's note: Each week a SportsLine Fantasy writer will sift through the hundreds of e-mails from Fantasy Baseball fanatics and address a handful that will benefit all owners. Send your questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com and maybe your question will be answered in this space! Be sure to include your name and hometowm.
With Jim Thome off to a hot start, I have been getting a few offers for both Thome and Richie Sexson. I recently acquired Jay Gibbons, so I have a backup first baseman waiting if I trade either Thome or Sexson. I have two questions: Do you think Thome will ever see time in the outfield with the Sox, hopefully sooner than later? Should I try to deal either Sexson or Thome now, while Thome is hot? And, if yes, which one should I part with?
Thanks,
Ron
SG: A move like this could really make or break your squad. Such a decision should be treated with patience and careful consideration as to not crush your chances so early in the season. Thome does look like a world beater early on, but the 35-year-old carries with him serious questions about his health. Richie Sexson had a pretty successful 2005 campaign after missing much of 2004 with a shoulder injury and injuries aren't as much of an issue with him - knock on wood. I have always advocated looking to improve your team at all times, whether it's via trading or activity on the waiver wire, but be careful not to pull the trigger just for the sake of making a deal. Shop Thome around for a week or two and weigh your options.
I am in a 4x4 Rotisserie league and I have Javy Lopez and Ramon Hernandez on my roster. I have David Ortiz at DH, so I cannot slide either of them there. Which one of these catchers would you recommend starting?
Scott Knoben
SG: Those are two great options to have to deal with and you are in an enviable position from a Fantasy perspective. In your position, going with the hotter player is the way to go and no catcher is as hot as Ramon Hernandez to start the season. He hit .688 with six RBI in his first week with the Orioles and while Lopez will eventually have a few hot streaks of his own, he's hitting just .200 for now. Go with the hot hand for as long as you can. Odds are in your favor that at least one of them will be a good start every week. At some point, you will want to deal from your strength and look to improve some other area of your team. Don't ever just sit on a strength. Look to improve your situation at all times.
I am in a 12-team head-to-head league and need to decide if I should bother hanging on to Armando Benitez until he comes off the DL or drop him in favor of either Jeff Weaver or Sergio Mitre. I would just keep Benitez normally until he came back and showed what he could do, but I do have Brad Lidge entrenched as my closer. Should I bother cutting him? If your answer is to cut Benitez, do you have a preference between Weaver and Mitre? I Enjoy your mailbag feature each week. Hope I'm part of it this week!
Brad in Farmington Hills, MI
SG: Unless you are required to start two or more relievers, there is no immediate need to keep Benitez. He is aiming for a mid-April return, but he'd likely end up on your bench behind Lidge anyway. A starter would be much more valuable to your roster. As far as Weaver and Mitre go, there is no doubt that Weaver has the most upside. He'll get much more run support with the Angels than Mitre will with the Marlins. Although I share a fondness for Mitre's first name, he should be considered no more than a match-up starter in NL-only play or deeper mixed formats. Drop Benitez, add Weaver and look to make room for Benitez prior to his return on or around April 17.
I am in a 5x5 Rotisserie league. How would you rank these players as far as upside for the 2006 season: Raul Ibanez, Mike Jacobs, Matt Murton, Adrian Gonzalez, and Conor Jackson?
Derek Shenenberger
Lititz, PA
SG: Mike Jacobs has the most upside out of the group you are taking a look at and should not be on the waiver wire except for in the smallest formats. He has the potential to hit 25-plus homers with around 90 RBI if things go well and he continues to hit behind Miguel Cabrera. Conor Jackson and Matt Murton are a toss up as far as this season is concerned, but we really like Murton as a sleeper this year. He's gotten off to a great start and should be scooped up in mixed leagues even if it's only to add depth to your outfield situation. Jackson has .300-15-80-80 potential, but still has some growing to do at the big league level. With Ryan Klesko out for two-to-four months, Adrian Gonzalez will get every chance to live up the potential the Florida Marlins saw in him when they made him the first overall pick in 2000. Ibanez played in every game last season and he hit 20 homers for just the second time in his career. At best, you’ll get his production from last year.
Each week a SportsLine Fantasy writer will sift through the hundreds of e-mails from Fantasy Baseball fanatics and address a handful that will benefit all owners. Send your questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com and maybe your question will be answered in this space!
