Coming keeper dilemma for next season. Opinions wanted!

[fsulevine]

Background: Finally, after 8 years in my dynasty league, I built a team I was quite happy with. The result is that I have been in 1st place the entire season, to this point, DESPITE having Kemp out for 6 weeks and losing Mariano Rivera for the season... finally got someone to trade me a closer (Frankie Francisco) for a prospect (Mike Olt), and then Francisco got hurt 2 weeks later and has been out since. Anyhow, I have managed to hold onto first place.

Anyhow, this Dynasty League has a 4-man Farm Team and allows for 9 keepers each year. I need some opinions in deciding who to keep, as I would hate to part with anyone. Line-up includes 4 SP, 2 RP, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, C, extra IF, 4 OF, DH (can be any offensive player).

Farm Team:
OF - Bubba Starling
SP - Jose Fernandez
SS - Billy Hamilton
SS - Francisco Lindor
(also have Alberto Almora on my roster... would you drop any of the other 4 and put Almora on the Farm?)

No-Brainer Keepers:
1B - Freddie Freeman
OF - Matt Kemp
OF - Giancarlo Stanton
OF - Mike Trout
SP - Clayton Kershaw
SP - Stephen Strasburg

With those 6 "No-Brainer" keepers, I am left with 3 keeper spots to fill. Considering the line-up parameters mentioned above, which of the following players would you recommend keeping in those final 3 spots (I want to keep them all, LOL)?

1B - Paul Goldschmidt
3B - David Freese
3B - Will Middlebrooks
SS - Alcides Escobar
C - Carlos Ruiz
OF - Austin Jackson
SP - Jon Lester
RP - Jon Papelbon

Those are 8 solid players that would be keepers on many teams, if not most teams. Who would you recommend to be the keepers from that group? At the moment, I am personally leading toward keeping Goldschmidt, Middlebrooks, and either Escobar or Jackson. But you can legitimately make an argument for all 8 players.

 

[Exposfan]

I don't trust pitching, at all. I would keep Escobar, Goldy, and Jackson. C and 3b are very deep IMO.

 

[Sean_C]

Can you trade keepers after? I'd say to keep talent over position, and keep Goldy, Jackson, and Lester, then try to trade for or draft a good SS as early as possible.

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[scotty216brs]

Definitely would keep Jackson & Middlebrooks...I think Lester will have a bounce back year, but you could keep any of those guys really.

 

[ajbraves25]

Personally you can get pitching all year so Kershaw & Stasburg would be the only pitchers I would keep.

So after saying that I personally would go this route:

1B - Freddie Freeman
3B - David Freese
OF - Matt Kemp
OF - Giancarlo Stanton
OF - Mike Trout
OF - Austin Jackson
IN - Paul Goldschmidt
SP - Clayton Kershaw
SP - Stephen Strasburg

My thoughts are pitching can be found/had at any time. Your outfield is complete, infield spot complete and have 2 awesome starters. Banking on Hamilton coming up sometime you can draft a lower SS and bring up Hamilton. You can concentrate on pitching and filling C & 2B at the draft.

~AJ

 

[fsulevine]

Thanks guys! Playoffs start this week for me, as I had a first round bye after winning my division. As of now, I think I am settling in on Middlebrooks, Goldschmidt, and Jackson as those final 3 keepers... that would me the only keeper older than 25 for me would be Kemp, who will be 28 next year. That is quite a future if these guys stay healthy!