Fantasy Baseball 2012: Twitter Q&A Mailbag

Let's kick off this bi-weekly segment with a handful of draft-prep and keeper-league baseball questions from the masses:

1. Chris Bahn wonders: You have to keep Justin Upton over Mike (Giancarlo) Stanton, right? I guess it's a nice problem to have.

Answer: In the Top 40 Outfielders list, I have Upton at No. 6 and Stanton at No. 7, so there's hardly any separation between the two; and age isn't a factor, since both stars are under 25.

Let's do it this way: For 2012 keepers, I would give a decisive edge to Upton (targeting 28 HRs, 97 RBIs, 102 runs, 24 steals and .296 average). But for 2013 and beyond, Stanton's capacity for 45 homers and 115 RBIs may change the entire picture.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves. For the moment, it's Upton.

2. Jeff Valois asks: Are the Pirates on the verge of being the next Rays? As in, a low-budget team that successfully stocks up on high draft picks for a number of years?

Answer: I have much appreciation for the Pirates' extensive rebuilding—from Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Jose Tabata to Gerrit Cole, Tony Sanchez and Jameson Taillon—but the club is still a year or two away from playing meaningful games in late September.

If I had to choose the next "small-market" franchise to experience sustained success, it's the Royals by a long shot. Without a hint of hyperbole, Kansas City could potentially boast household names at every position in three to four years, starting with Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Alex Gordon, Aaron Crow, Alcides Escobar, Johnny Giavotella, Lorenzo Cain, Bubba Starling, Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi, Salvador Perez and Danny Duffy.

It's a scary group...and one that'll likely be together throughout the decade.

3. MurphOrNothin says: I'm in a 10-team, head-to-head league that allows for 7 keepers, 5 starting pitchers, 3 outfielders, 1 DH: Whom do I keep among Justin Upton, Prince Fielder, Ben Zobrist, Pablo Sandoval, Roy Halladay, Yovani Gallardo, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Garza, Matt Wieters? Any thoughts?

Answer: I appreciate the wiggle room here, since any of the nine could be productive keepers in 2012. My gut says to stick with Fielder, Halladay, Upton, Gallardo, Bumgarner, Zobrist and Sandoval.

This move brings you three top-19 pitchers (Halladay, Gallardo, Bumgarner), two superstar hitters (Fielder, Upton), one versatile 20-20 talent (Zobrist) and a top-seven asset (Sandoval) from one of fantasyland's scarcest positions.

4. Galos11 wonders: Who ends up being Oakland's Opening Day closer? Grant Balfour, Brian Fuentes or Fautino De Los Santos?

Answer: De Los Santos has good size, a live arm and a knack for posting a three-to-one K-BB ratio at every pro level. But with only four professional saves, it's impossible to predict how he'll fare as a fireman in the short and long term.

Obviously, Fuentes (199 career saves) and Balfour (career 3.57 ERA) have more experience handling closing duties at this point, but the A's will hopefully give De Los Santos time to assimilate into the position, time to learn from his mistakes.

UPDATE: Oakland manager Bob Melvin revealed on Monday that Balfour and Fuentes are the leading candidates to close. Bummer for De Los Santos.

5. Joshua Smiegal says: I have the 4th pick in a 10-team draft. Seven categories—standard 5x5 and OBP and Total Bases. Do I go with Ryan Braun or Jose Bautista? Close call, leaning toward Braun.

Answer: You could start a few bar-stool debates with a simple "Braun v. Bautista" question, but I'm going to stick with the analysis from the outfield rankings.

With Baustista encountering a dramatic uptick in walks since 2009—enhancing his OPS and total bases as a result—I'd want him in a league that rewards seven offensive categories. And if Bautista should be gone by No. 4, just ride Matt Kemp or Braun.

You really can't lose, however you choose. Just pick one superstar...and focus on the all-important Rounds 2-11.

6. ChrisBahnNJ asks one more question: Which player has the best auction value—Mariners catcher Jesus Montero ($4), Nationals closer Drew Storen ($5) or Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday ($23)?

Answer: I'm not a big fan of devoting more than $22 to non-superstars in auction leagues with a pre-draft budget of $260 or less. So, I'd probably want Storen and his 40-save potential for the new and improved Nationals.

For my own personal sanity, though, please don't spend more than $5 total on your second and third closers. There's no need to exorbitantly pay for saves in 10- and 12-team leagues.

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons