NL-Only Keeper League Trade: Clayton Kershaw For Kyle Blanks

by Ray Guilfoyle on Feb 18, 2010 9:15 AM EST in Baseball

I have been trying to deal Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw for a few weeks now, and I finally dealt him for Padres outfielder Kyle Blanks in the UBA League. This league is a 12 team, NL-Only, keeper league that I have participated in for the last three years.

Kershaw has to be raised to $15 this year of the new owner will lose him after the 2010 season, while Blanks has a $5 S1 contract, meaning I can keep him for two years at $5, then lose him after the 2011 season, or raise him after the 2010 season.

I have written before that I have completely cleaned house after yet another failed title run, and Kershaw was the last of my keepers from last year. As a Dodgers fan, it was not easy dealing him, but I was presented with a player I have coveted since the offseason began in Blanks.

I was also offered a $5 S1 Mat Gamel and a $2 S1 Martin Prado for Kershaw, which was a very nice offer, but I liked Blanks more. I was offered the # 3 pick in the minor league draft for Kershaw as well, but felt that was not enough for the Dodgers ace. I had a 3rd offer which was made a few weeks ago of the #4 pick in the minor league draft and a $5 S1 Fernando Martinez for Kershaw.

Some experts project Blanks to hit anywhere from 20-25 HRs in 2010, and I couldn't pass that up. Since I am rebuilding, I felt the hitter was less risky than the pitcher, but as a Dodgers fan, I hope we are both winners in this deal.

Here is what ESPN's Eric Karabell wrote about Blanks in yesterday's fantasy chat:

Steve (AK)

What are the Padres plans for Blanks? Does he start in the outfield? Worth a a flier in a 16 team league or do I look elsewhere?

Eric Karabell
(3:35 PM)

He's the left fielder, because Adrian Gonzalez is the first baseman. Pretty simple. And really, from a fantasy sense, you'd prefer Blanks to have outfield eligibility. It's a weaker spot than first base. Blanks has 30-homer potential for sure, even in San Diego. We project 23 homers, which is about right for 2010.

I will be perfectly happy with 23 HRs from Blanks in 2010.

Poll

Which offer should I have accepted for Clayton Kershaw?

Blanks at $5 S1

54 votes

Gamel at $5 S1 + Prado at $2 S1

14 votes

The # 3 pick in the minor league draft

7 votes

The #4 pick + Fernando Martinez at $5 S1

34 votes

109 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

For Strasburg?

Would you have accepted the #1 overall for Kershaw? Not that I’d offer it but it is an interesting issue to discuss.

by faketeams on Feb 18, 2010 2:08 PM EST reply actions

yes

I would have….I’m rebuilding…..he’d be a perfect candidate.

raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Feb 18, 2010 2:42 PM EST up reply actions

Fmart+

Matzek with pick thee would have been a nice haul for one year of kershaw.but take into concideration that I believe fmart equal to a coll. Junior and way ahead of a lot of players in his developement and matzek the next kershaw. Who has a chance for cy this year

"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers."

by fourfingerwoo on Feb 19, 2010 6:48 PM EST via mobile reply actions

fmart

the downside for ray in the fmart deal (it was my offer) is that he is $5 this year and next year jumps to $10. If Ray would want to keep fmart beyond 2011 he would cost $15. So Fmart is really nothing special in that situation.

That said I don’t think Kershaw at $15 for the next two years is a great bargain either. He is capable of taking the next step and being a cy young winner…but he isn’t there yet.

by DB11 on Feb 19, 2010 10:25 PM EST up reply actions

+1

the cost to raise FMart was one of the things holding me back from taking DB11’s offer. At this point, FMart probably needs a few hundred ABs at AAA in 2010.
I hope Kershaw has a CY season, and Blanks hit 20+ bombs in Petco.

raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Feb 20, 2010 1:16 PM EST up reply actions