Draft Tips

MM13 · 04-29-2013, 03:39 PM

In my never ending search to improve my team, I've come across a few ways of trying to get more picks in the upcoming draft. Generally, keep an eye on the trade block. Sometimes, decent MRs become available for a song (1* player with no upside). Check their contracts to see when they expire. If it's after the current season and MR has pretty good numbers, then make a deal and take a chance. If the MR helps your team for that season, even better. If not, you're out whatever salary was owed the player plus the player you traded. If they turn out to be a Type A FA, then you could wind up with 2 decent picks in the next draft.

In terms of the draft, typically most high end position players and SPs go in the first round. MRs tend to go in the 3rd and beyond. I like having a tough bullpen, so I have no issue drafting a stud MR/CL in the 2nd round if there isn't a better pick available. I had one 2nd round MR turn into my closer and win the Cy Young award (45 svs, 100+ Ks, and an ERA under 1 will do that). I'm not saying you should fill your draft with these guys, but getting 1 a year allows you to continually turn your bullpen over and if they get too expensive, deal them for another need. I don't like paying more than $5-6M for a closer if I can help it. I swapped my Cy Young winning closer for a SP who slots in as my #2-3 starter. The guy I moved to closer (another 2nd/3rd round pick) is performing just as well as the guy I dealt.

If you have an early pick, it can be a tough decision between a stud SP and an impact position player. Look your team over and decide which one you need more. I tend to prefer pitching as you can patchwork a lineup. Trying to patchwork a rotation is hard to do.

ricealum · 05-11-2013, 11:19 AM

Clever! But I have found the draft to be a terrible way to acquire anything but bullpen guys. And I always have an inexhaustible supply of cheap pitchers with ERAs under 3.

I always draft the best available player, which is usually a MR, even in round 1. Even when I have compensatory picks, I rarely pick before 20, and I won't reach for a shoddy position player when there's a stud MR available. Collect quality talent and you can trade it for what you need later.

GoOs · 05-11-2013, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MM13

In my never ending search to improve my team, I've come across a few ways of trying to get more picks in the upcoming draft. Generally, keep an eye on the trade block. Sometimes, decent MRs become available for a song (1* player with no upside). Check their contracts to see when they expire. If it's after the current season and MR has pretty good numbers, then make a deal and take a chance. If the MR helps your team for that season, even better. If not, you're out whatever salary was owed the player plus the player you traded. If they turn out to be a Type A FA, then you could wind up with 2 decent picks in the next draft.

I've always found this useful. I usually have 4-5 picks in the 1/2/3 rds and another 3-4 supplemental pucks every year.

04-29-2013, 03:39 PM	#1
MM13 Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 23	Draft Tips In my never ending search to improve my team, I've come across a few ways of trying to get more picks in the upcoming draft. Generally, keep an eye on the trade block. Sometimes, decent MRs become available for a song (1* player with no upside). Check their contracts to see when they expire. If it's after the current season and MR has pretty good numbers, then make a deal and take a chance. If the MR helps your team for that season, even better. If not, you're out whatever salary was owed the player plus the player you traded. If they turn out to be a Type A FA, then you could wind up with 2 decent picks in the next draft. In terms of the draft, typically most high end position players and SPs go in the first round. MRs tend to go in the 3rd and beyond. I like having a tough bullpen, so I have no issue drafting a stud MR/CL in the 2nd round if there isn't a better pick available. I had one 2nd round MR turn into my closer and win the Cy Young award (45 svs, 100+ Ks, and an ERA under 1 will do that). I'm not saying you should fill your draft with these guys, but getting 1 a year allows you to continually turn your bullpen over and if they get too expensive, deal them for another need. I don't like paying more than $5-6M for a closer if I can help it. I swapped my Cy Young winning closer for a SP who slots in as my #2-3 starter. The guy I moved to closer (another 2nd/3rd round pick) is performing just as well as the guy I dealt. If you have an early pick, it can be a tough decision between a stud SP and an impact position player. Look your team over and decide which one you need more. I tend to prefer pitching as you can patchwork a lineup. Trying to patchwork a rotation is hard to do.

05-11-2013, 11:19 AM	#2
ricealum Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 129	Clever! But I have found the draft to be a terrible way to acquire anything but bullpen guys. And I always have an inexhaustible supply of cheap pitchers with ERAs under 3. I always draft the best available player, which is usually a MR, even in round 1. Even when I have compensatory picks, I rarely pick before 20, and I won't reach for a shoddy position player when there's a stud MR available. Collect quality talent and you can trade it for what you need later.