How would I have handled my draft if I had gone $53 for Mets SS Jose Reyes? It is an excellent question, and one I am going to try to answer in the best spirit of Marvel Comics' What If series.
I go $53 on Reyes and get him. That would leave me with $56 for 8 players. Immediately, I calculate my maximum bid on any one player is $48 - one for $49 and 7 $1 players. However, I would still need to get Iannetta for $14. Now I am at 7 players for $35.
After Iannetta, I originally drafted Pedro for $17. Needing 7 players, I would have passed on him around the $13 mark. I was aggressively bidding on him because I had an extra $53 after losing out on Reyes.
Pedro's roster slot would be filled be a cheaper pitcher. Most likely a middle reliever/potential closer. I have liked Florida's Kevin Gregg and would have gotten him for a $1.
Randy Johnson would have still become a member of my 2007 team based upon the small amount it took to price enforce him for $13, and price-enforcing was what I was doing. One could argue that he was the first good thing to happen to my team because I missed on Reyes.
Edgar Martinez would have still been drafted. This makes my current pitching staff the exact same as it currently is with the exception that I have a $1 Kevin Gregg and no $17 Pedro Martinez on reserve. Am I better off? No. If Gregg closes, he is still valuable as a $10 DL replacement as he would be at $1. If he doesn't, then he is easier to waive with the $10 salary than with a $1 one.
Part II will cover what I would have done on the hitting side.