This week I went a bit reliever crazy. It's better to spend a small amount on a middle reliever who could take over as the closer than spend a huge amount on the guy a week or two later when he is officially named the closer. Therefore, I added an AL East closer in pretty much every league this week, trying to get a bit ahead of the curve. We'll see if it plays out as I think it might, or if I will have to go middle reliever trolling in the coming weeks all over again.
TOUT WARS (15 team mixed): Raul Ibanez ($1) was added at the cost of Maicer Izturis. Not a big loss there. I will speak more about Ibanez a little lower in this piece. I need offense, wherever I can get it, and I can move the suddenly warming Emilio Bonifacio over the the MI spot that Izturis was occupying (.286 with a couple of steals and five runs scored over his last nine games).Notable bids: Joel Peralta ($5, I bid $4), Jerome Williams ($3), Pete Kozma ($2), Rick Porcello ($2), Jake Odorizzi ($1), DannY Valencia ($1), Kurt Suzuki ($1)
LABR (12 team, AL-only): For the third time this season through eight FA periods, I didn't make a move in this league. I was able to activate Chris Young off the DL though, so that's a potentially big move in an AL-only league.Notable bids: Josh Lindblom ($4), Vidal Nuno ($4), Eric Sogard ($3), Kevin Correia ($3), Pedro Florimon ($3), Matt Tuiasosopo ($2).
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FSTA (13 team mixed): Joel Peralta, a name you will continue to see in this piece, was added for $29. I also added Ryan Roberts to play third base over the continually pathetic Placido Polanco (Hanley Ramirez being down and out is just killing me). Roberts qualifies at second and third, and he's hitting .316 with a homer, four RBIs and four runs over his last seven games... even if it's been over a two week time period. I'm desperate.Notable bids: Eric Chavez ($56), Andy Dirks ($27), David DeJesus ($24), Jerome Williams ($11), Raul Ibanez ($11). In a very interesting side note, I placed bid on Williams and Ibanez for $11... the same price as the two winnings bids (Peralta and Roberts were higher in my rankings so they were the players I was awarded).
SIRIUSXM EXPERTS (12 team mixed): Now it's Austin Jackson who has hit the DL. I just cannot win in this league no matter what move I make. I added Joel Peralta ($4) at the cost of J.J. Putz. Without an ample series of DL spots to turn to, I just couldn't afford to continually carry a reliever who is on the DL with no clear cut time for a return this season. Rajai Davis, another DL'd player, was let go so that Will Venable ($4) could be added to my squad. Venable has been really good in May hitting .280 with four homers, eight RBIs, eight runs and five steals in just 17 games.Notable bids: Hector Santiago ($3), Jorge De La Rosa ($3), Derek Dietrich ($2), Oswaldo Arcia ($2), Zach McAllister ($2).
SIRIUSXM LISTENER LG (11 team mixed): This is the only league with an open waiver-wire. Of course, Joel Peralta was added (Andre Ethier was let go). I also made a minor swap of underperforming veterans. Tim Hudson was sent out and Paul Konerko was brought back. Corey Hart continues to be hurt, so I needed a boost at the CI spot. On the hill, after a couple of deals, my staff is nails: Latos, Sale, Lee, Cain, Gallardo, Wilson and Morrow, so I could afford to move Hudson.
K-BAD (12 team mixed): Joel Peralta come on down. Ricky Nolasco, who has pitched pretty damn well this season if you must know, was let go (for some reason in this league, and I've been in it for years, there always seems to be available SP talent on the waiver-wire, so I'm not too worried about letting Nolasco go – we all know what he is at this point). I also added Yunel Escobar to help me up the middle at the costs of Ryan Raburn (Hanley Ramirez being on the DL has set me back a piece). Escobar is warming, quickly, and he's hit .301 the past 30 days, .318 the past 14 days and .381 the past week.Notable bids: David Phelps ($38), Brandon McCarthy ($36), Emilio Bonifacio ($35), Matt Joyce ($35), Bronson Arroyo ($35), Chris Carter ($31), David Lough ($24), Jake Odorizzi ($21), Alex Rodriguez ($14), Mark Ellis ($12), Colby Lewis ($12).
FANBALL (13 team mixed): I took a shot on Joel Peralta ($3) taking over the the pathetic Fernando Rodney (he has 15 walks in 16.1 innings meaning his WHIP, on just walks, is higher than it was last year, 0.92 compared to 0.78). I dropped another middle reliever in David Robertson. Ryan Raburn, hey it's time to admit that his run of excellence is over and not going to be repeated, was cast adrift in favor of the flavor of the week Raul Ibanez. Over his last eight games he has six homers and 14 RBIs. Wow is right.Notable bids: Scott Feldman ($7), Didi Gregorius ($3), David Dejesus ($1), Adam Lind ($1), A.J. Ellis ($1), Alberto Callaspo ($1), Nick Franklin ($1).
Finally, my thoughts on the Jurickson Profar callup. Hint, you shouldn't be overly excited?
By Ray Flowers