OK, call me the fantasy guru, or even better the fantasy god. There are many baseball fans into fantasy baseball, but I just might be the craziest. I committed the unforgivable sin: I traded Chase Utley.
And now I am encouraging all of you fantasy players to do the same.
I know what all of you are thinking: "This guy needs help." Well, after you see what you can get for Utley, you will be thinking the same way I am.
OK, so here it is. Three weeks ago I woke up and looked at my fantasy team, in first place with a 20-game lead.
Chase Utley was my second basemen. Ryan Braun, Ryan Ludwick, and Carlos Lee in the outfield. My third baseman was Carlos Guillen. So I thought to myself, "Everything is solid, I have a 20-game lead."
Then it hit me like a rock. I needed to trade Utley.
OK, all you fantasy trade freaks like me, here is how it all went down:
I Got:
James Loney (LAD - 1B)
Kazuo Matsui (Hou - 2B)
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Álex Rodríguez (NYY - 3B)
Adam Dunn (Cin - OF)
Robinson Canó (NYY - 2B)
Jason Giambi (NYY - 1B)
Dustin Pedroia (Bos - 2B)
J.J. Hardy (Mil - SS)
He Got:
Conor Jackson (Ari - 1B,OF)
Chase Utley (Phi - 2B)
Carlos Guillén (Det - 1B,3B,SS)
Carlos Lee (Hou - OF)
Álex Ríos (Tor - OF)
Eric Byrnes(Ari - OF) On DL
Cliff Lee (Cle - SP)
Since this trade, A-Rod, Giambi, Pedroia, Dunn and Hardy have all contributed greatly, while my trading of Utley has worked out great for me. Utley has been in a slumber since the trade, not putting up numbers like he was in the start of the season. Carlos Lee has been in a huge slump and so has Rios. The only player that has maintained his performance has been Cliff Lee.
I encourage all of you Utley owners to go for A-Rod. Utley is going to disappoint in the second half. Give up Utley and go for the gold.
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2 months ago
I have Utley in my head to head league which I'm struggling in. Good idea, I should shake things up and trade him. I just acquired A-Rod in my rotisserie league and im doing good there.
2 months ago
The problem with your trade is that you dealt two big producers at key positions (Utley at second, Guillen at shortstop, Cliff Lee as a starter) and got little in return for those spots. Yeah, you got three pretty good second basemen, but you can't use them all at once, and you've lost some serious marginal benefit.
You only upgraded in easy positions to pick up useful replacement players off the waiver wire (third, outfield, first). It is not easy to find valuable second basemen, shortstops or starters just hanging around.
This may be working out for you now, but Utley is so far beyond any other second baseman that you'll be smarting from it later.
I don't know the exact dynamic of your league, but this would be a very risky trade in most leagues, so I wouldn't recommend something like this. It's good to see you're active in your league, though.
from 2 months ago
(I was going to just mention Utley and Guillen, which is why I said "two big producers," but realized you didn't get a pitcher back and added Lee.)
from 2 months ago
Well i see what you are saying but Arod is gonna put up numbers and Giambi has returned to old form. (about 90 hrs there) Also we all know Cliff Lee isnt gonna continue this miracle season. This is just a case of a Aaron Small he has had a good start to the season but look around there is no Fantasy owner Who isn't shopping him. He is a must trade also.
2 months ago
I agree. Trade Cliff Lee but NOT Utley! Look at Utley over the past couple years he has been one of the best second basemen in the NL. Cliff Lee is the same as Small, but Utley is one of the best. A-Rod is really good, probally the best. Carlos Lee is very good, although in a slump, he is worth it. Byrnes is coming off the DL today, and they say that his legs are in better conditions so he will steal more bases. It seems like at you really wanted was A-Rod, because come on. Giambi? I am a hugh Yankee fan, and talking about Fantasy Baseball, I have to say Giambi, what were you thinking?? ""OK, call me the fantasy guru, or even better the fantasy god."" I don't get how you can say that when you traded some of your better players for A-Rod!! Read my article and you will see the key to winning a Fantasy Baseball league! http://bleacherreport.com/articles/31925-A-Rod-The-Key-To-Fantasy-Baseball-
from 2 months ago
giambi has been great and arod is arod dunn is 30-40 hrs and cano is gonna have a monester 2nd half and i m a yankee fan but i made this trade because arod for utley is a trade i will make ne day yankee fan or not cliff lee is not gonna continue and carlos lee is gonna have a bad 2nd half because berkman isnt gonna continue his tear.. as for byrnes i rather have 140-150 hrs which is a good 300+ rbi's than 30-50 steals this trade improves the team by alot dont look at names look at stats
2 months ago
It's somewhat unfortunate that you have Adam Dunn, because his OBP is awful, striking out all the time, hitting .240...he's not worth the HRs he hits.
2 months ago
when i have a team like this u think i care about his OBP i have 8 290 or better hitters.
Dioner Navarro
Jason Giambi
Dustin Pedroia
Álex Rodríguez
J.J. Hardy
Ryan Braun
Ryan Ludwick
Corey Hart
David Murphy
Chase Headley
Adam Dunn
Joe Crede
Casey Kotchman
James Loney
Carlos Peña
about 1 month ago
ok, maybe trading Utley this season when he is running for the NL MVP, could sometimes happen. But if your sitting in first place by 20 games, why would you mess with it. And the problem i have with this was that your trade consistted of other big names besides utley. its not like it was Chase straight up for a bunch of talent.
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