Here is today’s keeper question:

I’m in a 10 team 5×5 $260 auction league that starts 23 players (2 C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, MI, CI, 5 OF, U, 9 Ps). We’re allowed to keep 7 players for up to 3 years, by adding $5 to the previous salary each year. I didn’t have a good second half of 2007, so I started dumping quality players for cheaper, younger players for 2008. Now I have a keeper dilemma. I’m thinking of keeping these 7 guys: Verlander ($10), Lincecum ($5), Buchholz ($5), Pence ($5), Ellsbury ($5), Braun ($5), and Adrian Gonzalez ($10). Should I consider others, like Cabrera?

Player / 2007 Salary / Contract

• Brian McCann / $14 / 2 yrs
• Carlos Ruiz / $0 / 1 yr
• Adrian Gonzalez / $5 / 1 yr
• Dustin Pedroia / $0 / 1 yr
• Miguel Cabrera / $37 / 2 yrs
• Edgar Renteria / $11 / 1 yr
• Ian Kinsler / $9 / 1 yr
• Ryan Braun / $0 / 1 yr
• Garret Anderson / $0 / 1 yr
• Jacoby Ellsbury / $0 / 1 yr
• Jeremy Hermida / $0 / 1 yr
• Hunter Pence / $0 / 1 yr
• Alfonso Soriano / $36 / 2 yrs
• James Loney / $0 / 1 yr
• Homer Bailey / $0 / 1 yr
• Clay Buchholz / $0 / 1 yr
• Matt Capps / $0 / 1 yr
• Joba Chamberlain / $0 / 1 yr
• Rich Hill / $5 / 2 yr
• Jon Lester / $0 / 1 yr
• Kevin Slowey / $0 / 1 yr
• Justin Verlander / $5 / 2 yr
• Daric Barton / $0 / 1 yr
• Evan Longoria / $0 / 1 yr
• Yuniesky Betancourt / $0 / 1 yr
• Jay Bruce / $0 / 1 yr
• Brandon Jones / $0 / 1 yr
• Cameron Maybin / $0 / 1 yr
• Tim Lincecum / $0 / 1 yr
• Andrew Miller / $0 / 1 yr

Thanks for your help.

Even though you may have struggled over the second half of the year, you managed to gather a solid group of low cost keepers. The way I see it, you have five definite selections:

1. Ryan Braun - 2008 cost $5
2. Justin Verlander - $10 ( and an additional year of control)
3. Tim Lincecum - $5
4. Adrian Gonzalez - $10
5. Hunter Pence - $5

Ryan Braun is the greatest keeper value that you have since he is going in the 1st or 2nd rounds of snake drafts, which would likely bring a $30-$35 price tag in auction. Justin Verlander has the stuff to be the #1 starter in Detroit the next few years. His keeper value is wrapped up in his 2009 value. He will most likely be a $20-$25 (if not more) in 2009, and he will only cost you $10 this year, and $15 in 2009. Hunter Pence, Adrian Gonzalez and Tim Lincecum are inexpensive enough to add solid value to your team in 2008.

So that leaves two more slots to fill. So far you have only used 13% ($35) of the budget on 5 solid players. From a pitching perspective, you have enough keepers. I personally think that keepers should build a foundation for a balanced offense. So with that said, I would not keep Buchholz. He is a solid young pitcher, but he may not be in the rotation at the start of the year and he would cost you $5 or less to purchase at the auction. So what are you gaining? None of the other pitchers are really worth keeping at their current cost.

So let’s look at the offense you are keeping so far. You have power in Gonzalez and a decent speed and power combination with the other two. To add more balance to your offense, I would keep Ian Kinsler. He posted a 20/20 season last year from the second base position. He would cost you $14 to keep, and that is about what you may get from him in 2008. You would not be getting huge value, but you would be getting what you pay for. Along the same line, Jacoby Ellsbury would bring about the same cost to keep ($5) as it would be to draft him. Ellsbury will add a base stealer to the offense you are keeping, and balance out the lack of speed that Adrian Gonzalez has to offer. The only other player that may add solid value to your keepers would be Jeremy Hermida at $5. He has potential for a 20/10 season, and $5 is a cheap price to keep him. However, I cannot get my eyes off of Miguel Cabrera. I know that he would cost you $42, but he is such a great hitter. A last, keeping him would take away too much of the budget.

So here is my keeper list and 2008 cost

1. Ryan Braun - $5
2. Justin Verlander - $10
3. Tim Lincecum - $5
4. Adrian Gonzalez - $10
5. Hunter Pence - $5
6. Jacoby Ellsbury - $5
7. Ian kinsler - $14

These keepers would cost a total of $54, and comprise just 20% of your budget. You have two solid starters, and a solid mix of power and speed from your offense. Staying on the cheap will also allow you to bid for Miguel Cabrera at $30-$35 and actually get him, or any top tier offensive player for that matter.