You can reach Ray Flowers on Twitter (@baseballguys).

Gregory Polanco for Miguel Sano and Carlos Carrasco in a points league. Who wins the trade?
@TheRealJaymo21

Polanco has been dealing with a leg issue that has kept him out of the lineup of late, but he’s played the last two days and looks to be alright so we can probably move on from a worry there. In half a season of games he has 10 homers, nine steals, 48 runs, 44 RBI and a .892 OPS. He’s an all-star caliber performer, yessir.

Sano has produced three hits in 19 at-bats as he rehabs from left hamstring injury. “He’s hit a couple of homers. That’s been about the extent of his offensive output, which isn’t bad,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “I just think you look for signs that … his at-bats are normal. It’s not always results or a hot streak [you’re looking for].” Sano is a massive power bat, and it sounds like he might play some third base when he returns, but he’s hitting just .235 with a .799 OPS in 50 games this season. He’s also struck out a massive 190 times in 458 career at-bats. It’s all homers and little in the way of refinement, though his .368 OBP is impressive given everything.

Carrasco has made nine starts, wrapped around injury, with a 2.73 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. His K/9 rate is way down from 10 per nine the last two years to 7.88 this season, but his walk rate is the same as it has been the last two years (2.09 per nine). He’s continued to be really good.

Bottom line. If I was dealing Polanco for Carrasco it would be fair. If I can also get Sano in that deal as well… give me the duo.

Would you cut Prince Fielder for Kendrys Morales?
@shawnhaley33

I would not. However, many would. The last two weeks…

Morales has hit .538 with three homers, 13 RBI and 11 runs scored in 11 games. You can’t do better than that. Fielder has hit .333 with two homers, eight RBI and seven runs scored. Morales has been amazing on the field, though it’s not like Fielder has stunk also posting a .404 OBP and .548 SLG. I trust the skills of Fielder a bit more, despite what we’ve seen to this point, so that’s the direction I’m going knowing that Morales also isn’t going to have another two week run like that again this season… or perhaps ever again in his life. Morales has a .731 OPS this season compared to .644 OPS for Fielder. Both have been poor but are surging. I’ll take Fielder.

I’m in a keeper league and building for future. Should I trade one year of Vince Velasquez for two years of Jose Berrios?
@cmlittle2949

I laid it all out with Velasquez in a recent Daily Dive video.

I spoke about Berrios in detail in his Player Profile. I also spoke of how well Berrios has done of late in this Daily Trends piece.

Give me Berrios.

Jameson Taillon or Tanner Roark - just for this year?
@AlwaysInAmerica

I spoke of Taillon in this Daily Dive video.  

Roark has made 16 starts this season for the Nationals with really good results. He’s gone 7-5 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with a 7.98 K/9 rate. All of that, given virtually no love in the preseason, marks him one hell of a performer to date. Alas, he’s not as good as some seem to think he is. Despite two shutout efforts in his last five outings he still has a 3.56 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in that time. Those numbers are very similar to the 3.70 ERA and 1.27 WHIP he has posted his last nine outings. Solid, but not outstanding in any way.

I would go with Roark over Taillon this season. Why? I just don’t know how many innings Taillon is going to be able to last. See his Player Profile as to why that is.

Need to pick up an outfielder, either Lonnie Chisenhall or Max Kepler standard roto keeper. Thoughts on which one?
@the_krmrjohnson

Chisenhall is crushing it of late. The third base and outfield eligible lefty is crushing it right now. Over his last 21 games Chisenhall is batting .320 with a.350 OBP and .573 SLG. In that time he’s also hit four homers, has driven in 12 runs and scored nine times while stealing a base. His last four games he’s hit three homers, has driven in seven runners, has hit .529 and posted a .707 wOBA. Yeah, ripping it up is he.

Kepler is batting .245 with a .322 OBP and .431 SLG this season for the Twins. He’s been much better the last 14 games hitting .306 with a .375 OBP and .551 SLG. He’s also hit two homers, stolen two bases, scored nine times and driven in nine runs. That’s really good work. His 0.38 BB/K ratio is league average. His 1.31 GB/FB limits his homer potential a bit. He’s also hitting a mere .194 against lefties this season.

I will go with Chisenhall who has more experience in the big leagues and brings dual position eligibility with him.

Make sure you check out The Shallows. Saw it last night. Blake Lively rocked it in her battle against a huge great white shark. Her companion in the movie, an injured seagull (named Steve Seagull), led me to pen this tweet.

 

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday, 7 PM EDT and Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 7 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).