How Do You Handle Stephen Strasburg?

by faketeams on Jun 9, 2009 12:00 PM EDT in Baseball

Beginning at 6 PM EST. the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft occurs over the next three days. While there will be many players taken who will be on the minds of fantasy players this winter and next Spring, the only player anyone cares about right now went first - San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg. (ed; Don't you mean "is expected to be taken first"?)

My question is simple. How does your league handle free agent priority in the event Strasburg makes his major league debut this season? Or the minor league portion of your fantasy drafts next March?

This arises because my NL-Only league uses a worst-to-first free agent priority in-season, and a 6-12/5-1 minor league draft. With bail season upon us, how your league handles the above questions may affect your decision to compete in 2009.

If the last place team gets in-season priority, then bailing quickly and uneqivocably will set you up to grab Strasburg the moment he is recalled this season. If it is a 6-12/5-1 format and Strasburg isn't recalled, you get him by finishing 6th, which keeps you from bailing too early.

Poll

Is Stephen Strasburg affecting your decision to bail this season?

Yes. Being last and the Nationals bringin him up this season will be the best block for a winning 2010

10 votes

No.

27 votes

It is now.

9 votes

46 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

MLD

Strasburg will not be eligible for the minor league draft next year as he will most likely (barring injury or something bizarre) be the Nats Opening Day starter in 2010.

Also, I much prefer bidding on call ups who are not on a roster, as opposed to the last place team getting priority.

by DB11 on Jun 9, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

you never know

what happens if he get roughed up in ST?? Do they still run him out there on opening day???
or, send him down till June? could happen….probably not likely.

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jun 9, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

true

I feel like we need to have at least a beer wager on this…

by DB11 on Jun 9, 2009 1:03 PM EDT reply actions

DONE

Guiness for me.

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jun 9, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

If stays down this year....

and is on the Opening Day roster then he would be subject to bid in the draft. If he starts down on Opening Day, then he is in the Minor League Draft.

by Rad on Jun 9, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

Auction

What do you think he goes for at auction then?

Fake Teams - a proud member of the SB Nation

by faketeams on Jun 9, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Too Much

To some extent, it depends on his Spring Training. I think that he would go between 15-20. Edison Volquez went for $13 I think you would need some track record in the 20s.

It is too much because you can get pitchers like D. Lowe and Cain in that range. Also, you have to protect him in 2011 at that price. So unless he is lights out in his rookie year, and wins a lot more than Nationals pitcher should, he would not be worth $20+ for the 2011 draft.

by Rad on Jun 9, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

higher

I think he goes higher than $20….plus you don’t have to keep him for 2011…you can drop him, right?

raygu

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jun 9, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Toss Him Back

Sure. But considering the learning curve, you would want to have some upside.

by Rad on Jun 9, 2009 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

Yahoo Waivers

Our keeper uses Yahoo waiver priority. Priority settings are based on previous year finish to start the new season, then gets adjusted as people use their wavier claims. If Strasburg doesn’t get added to the Yahoo database, nobody can pick him up until next years draft. One owner traded the 11th waiver pick for the 1st waiver pick, plus a few players back and forth already. I’m hoping he doesn’t get called up and added to the Yahoo database in 09.
vr, Xei

by Xeifrank on Jun 10, 2009 1:52 AM EDT reply actions