Yes, the season just ended and there is already trade talk in the UBA NL-only keeper league. I received this offer when chatting with a fellow owner on Facebook the other night-I give up a $5 S1 Ike Davis for $1 S0 Jonathan Sanchez. I risk the offer being pulled permanently by writing this article, but the offseason is long, so I will take my chances.
I am not in need of pitching as I have the following pitchers who I am considering keeping next year:
Jhoulys Chacin-$10 S1
Ubaldo Jimenez-$9 L1
Mat Latos-$15 L1
Daniel Hudson-$5 L0
Drew Storen-$5 S1
Craig Kimbrel-$10 S1
Kenley Jansen-$10 S1
Simon Castro-$5 S2
With so many possible pitching keepers, I am inclined to keep my $5 S1 Ike Davis with the thought that he can go 25-80 in 2011. But, then again, Jonathan Sanchez at $1 or $6 is tempting as he could round out my pitching staff come draft day. Obviously, a few of the pitchers I have listed as possible keepers have major questions marks. Castro may start 2011 in AAA, which I expect, but you never know. Then Kenley Jansen could be used in middle relief, especially after new manager Don Mattingley stated that Jonathan Broxton would be his closer in 2011. Craig Kimbrel has a chance to close in Atlanta, but the Braves may look to sign a veteran closer in the offseason, so Kimbrel would resort to a set up role.
I am never one to deal cheap hitting for cheap pitching, but Sanchez appears to have moved up a few tiers amongst starting pitchers in 2010. He finished the season with a 13-9 record, 3.07 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. He was 4th in all of baseball with a K/9 rate of 9.54, and lead all of MLB with an opponents BAA of just .207, but he also lead MLB with a BB/9 of 4.47. His stats benefitted from a LOB% that approached 80%, an increase from 2009's LOB% of 72.5%. His xFIP of 4.11 implies that his ERA will rise in 2011, but Sanchez did grow as a pitcher in 2010 and that could carry over into 2011.
Should I deal Ike Davis for Jonathan Sanchez?