Dan Wheeler, Tampa Bay Rays

What I’ve always found interesting as how often I see trade offers and questions that pertain to ‘Should I deal: Mr First Round Pick?’.  To me the answer is always pretty simple:  No.  Unless you’re getting back two solid upper tier players, which no one generally ever offers, you’re going to lose the trade.  Why?  Generally speaking someone offers a 2-1 for one of your studs, let’s say for example’s sake Albert Pujols. Now, Pujols is essentially irreplaceable as he’s universally considered the top player at his position, bar none.  That being said, 1B is pretty deep so you could get a comparable replacement.  However, you can’t find any one player who can give you the numbers Pujols does plus say a serviceable waiver wire add.  You have to remember, the key to the 2-1 for the player offering it up is that your trade partner gets to pick from the free agent pile.  Depending on your league size, this is a pretty sizeable advantage.  Say for example, the offer is Prince Fielder and Cliff Lee.  Seems pretty reasonable right?  Well yes, as you do get Fielder who’s still a considerable strong power numbers source and Lee who could still turn it around.  However, if the team getting Pujols picks up a red hot pitcher or maybe a position player he needed (but didn’t have the roster spot to pick him up) suddenly the deal is tremendously in his favour.  I’m not suggesting that this is the rule, as its often tough to replace talent like Lee or Fielder on the wire but just be careful when you trade studs.  Sometimes you’re better off dumping some of your own trash and hanging on to a stud player than letting someone else benefit.

Especially be careful of trading these elite players that have not started to damage yet.  Last year Prince Fielder for example had 5 home runs through June 1^st and ended up with 35.  The talented players usually find ways to get their numbers.  Don’t sell low on your top players!

And with that let’s take a look at a couple useful options for most leagues:

Dan Wheeler RP - Rays

Wheeler should get the majority of the saves opportunities now that Troy Percival went down with a shoulder injury.  Wheeler has usually posted fantastic numbers as a middle reliever with a strong K/9 (7.31 this season) but for some reason in the past he has faltered as a closer.  So why pick him up?  Well, he’s still going to get some saves while Percival is out and last I checked saves are one of the harder stats to accumulate.  Its likely Wheeler was already rostered in most mono and deep leagues so if he’s not, you know what to do (that’s stop reading and go pick him up).  Shallow leaguers can pick him up as well as Percival is apparently pondering retirement.  If this is the case, Wheeler should have some additional value going forward.

Juan Rivera OF, Angels

River has been hot lately.  In the past ten games he has totalled 3 home runs and 4 multi hit games. He’s also driven in seven.  My guess is that the Angels continue to play Rivera even when Vladimir Guerrero comes back as they may have Guerrero DH upon return. The Angels need a solid power bat in their line up as they are not much of an offensive force.  Still the risk involved with Rivera is that his current playing time will be in jeopardy when Vladimir Guerrero returns.  Rivera is more of an option for AL only leaguers as the outfield depth for players of his ilk (.280 types with 20-25 home run ceilings) is pretty common in shallow leagues.  Still if you’re struggling in the outfield Rivera could be worth a look while’s he swinging a hot bat.

Lately whatever starting pitcher I recommend seems to get mercilessly blasted after I feature him.  Two weeks ago it was Luke Hochevar, this past week Jorge De La Rosa was roasted. After walking only 1 in his past two starts at the time of my last writing, he promptly walked 7 in his latest two disasters.  He's still got 52 strikeouts in 49 innings overall though. I'm going to suggest waiting out De La Rosa but in the mean time he still makes for a decent matchup play especially against weaker offensive clubs.  On the other hand, Nolan Reimold  has been pretty good. .269-3-4 over the past week.  3 home runs in your first week in the big leagues is eye catching.  Due to his success, Reimold should stick in the majors even when Luke Scott returns from the disabled list.

Let’s take a quick look back at a few interesting Treasure Hunting profiles from earlier in the season.  Yes in some cases, some of these players have not took off (yet!) but look at the recent success of the other players and you might find a few interesting pick ups. Andrew Miller for instance is coming off an outstanding 9 strike out effort.  It seems the early season problems he was having are directly related to an oblique strain.  Clay Buchholz has been simply unconscious at Triple A Pawtucket and should be added speculatively in most deeper formats.  I can’t see the Red Sox leaving this guy in the minors much longer while he’s posting a 1.03 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and a K/9 of 9.12.   Andy LaRoche has been pretty dull overall (.298-2-15) but he’s shown a lot of life lately with 10 hits in his last 5 games. Brett Anderson has 9 strikeouts in his past 12 innings with a earned run average of 2.25 and a WHIP of 1.00.  Monitor him closely in AL only leagues.

That’s all for me this week.  Until next time, Happy Hunting!