A little Pujols warning from Eric Mack

[Chef99]

Often, by the time a fantasy owner sees signals to trade a player, there's an the obvious crimp on a player's production making it tough to get reasonable return through a trade. But that's not the case for the Angels' Albert Pujols; he's performing for his owners -- hitting over .300 with power -- but consider this your warning: he's not healthy.
For years, Pujols has said that chronic plantar fasciitis in his left foot would not keep him from being productive, and his impressive and consistent numbers supported his claim. Now, he might be cracking.
"I'm dying," Pujols told the Los Angeles Times before Sunday's game. "It's hurting real bad."
Consider that statement a good reason to sell him. Pujols has gotten off to a solid start, hitting for a .322 average, but he's started four consecutive games at DH, with no immediate plans to get him back at first anytime soon. He is closer to a stint on the disabled list than playing the field right now.
"We've discussed every alternative imaginable," Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto told the Times. "We've consulted with specialists. He is particularly tough, mentally and physically. He's handling it as well as you can. ... There's not a whole lot anybody can forecast. It's based on his own tolerance."
If you listen to Pujols' words, he is reaching his limit on pain. It has been hard to watch him run at times in these latter years of his career.
For those that merely pay attention to stats, ignoring the news and players' words, you might be able to get solid return for your first-round pick before he falls apart or hits the DL. In the year of injury, the team that has the healthiest core players will be the best off.


Read More: Fantasy baseball Weekly Planner: Albert Pujols, Zack Greinke - Fantasy Sports - Eric Mack - SI.com

 

[Philabuster5]

Despite my LOUSY record, I still think my brother did a heck of a job with the draft. I don't know why he went with Pujols 5 though...we were discussing Votto or McCutchen. I'm pretty sure this will be the final season he's a first rounder. Next year who will we be talking about?? (ie guys to move NOW in dynasty leagues)

Kinsler, Rollins, Andrus (HA! I said it), Hamilton (a year too late), AGon, BJUpton, NCruz (assuming you ever cared at all about this bum), Trumbo, Weaver (too late?), Sale, IKennedy, Hellickson and every RP

Just a few names off the top of my head. It takes a lot of courage to deal people before you think they'll fall apart. Half the time I'm wrong, for example....but the times you win help more than the times you lose. And they're the trades that you never forget.
My favourite trade all time: July 31/2011 while in playoff race traded Neftali Feliz for Xander Bogaerts. The next year his arm fell off and I still have Bogaerts (and I won championship in 2011) And even though I make more than my fair share, I barely ever remember my bad trades, though my opponents will lol.

Any other 2014 Pujols' we should consider?

 

[Chef99]

Kinsler and Andrus? Really? I know Kinsler's had the every-other-year thing goin' on, but neither of those two would be on my list. BJ Upton, yeah...I think that train might be leaving the station already.

 

[Philabuster5]

I guess I should qualify my Andrus inclusion, as his isn't by the same standard as the others.
NOTE: I think Andrus is a phenomenal SS, and I agree with the Rangers' decision not to part with him for Justin Upton.

Andrus was the 8th best SS in my league last year (points). On a pt/pa basis he was 10th. (he's aided by the fact we score sac bunts as well) Now granted, getting a large number of PA is valuable in a pts league, but it is not all dependent on lineup position. Lineup turnover is the other factor. Texas led the league in runs last year. Andrus: 85. That's not even 1/9 of the team's runs. Surprising? Yep. So, even in a 5x5, he's only neutral in runs. HR, RBIs he'll hurt you (dramatically). AVG is neutral as well. So, the one are he can help your team at SS position is SB, and there he got 21. The 12th best SS (standard league size) in SB last year had 20.
All I'm suggesting with Andrus is that his hype is still greater than his performance. Really he's Erick Aybar without the one 15 game DL trip for fantasy. In points leagues he gains some because of those plate appearances, but even in total bases he ranked 12th. If he missed 10 games a year he'd be 15th. Add in Segura, Simmons, ECabrera, Lowrie...and the window to trade him for fantasy, for a profit is small.

NOTE TWO: I admit to being wrong half the time I traded him last offseason for B.Anderson. This one isn't going as well as I had hoped, but not because of Andrus' play.

 

[TKOSpikes]

Bryce Harper, after only a month, is now in everyone's top 5 going forward, I would assume. If Austin Jackson can steal 30 bases, his ADP will dramatically increase next year. 2014 will be Jay Bruce's career year. And for hope (as I own him in all of my leagues), maybe Matt Adams becomes a real slugger for years to come!

 

[Chef99]

I've seen articles comparing Andrus/Aybar, and I have to admit Aybar doesn't impress me at all. But why Kinsler? I've always thought Ron Washington is wasting him at leadoff, and he has been inconsistent, but he certainly has the skills.

 

[TKOSpikes]

I make way too many trades to remember, but last year, in my points league, I dealt (in two different deals)...

Doc
Rizzo
Latos
Street
Frank Francisco
Damon (DH, real DH rule)

for

Kimbrel
Chapman
Carpenters (Matt and Chris, Chris never returned)
Travis Wood

Kimbrel and Chappy took me home and got me the championship!

 

[TKOSpikes]

wow... did I ever read that wrong! Thought you meant who would we be talking about in a good way.

as for who to trade now in dynasties...hmmm

Hosmer (if you still can)
Bautista
Wieters

Felix (his value might be at an all time high right now)

 

[Philabuster5]

Kinsler really is a concern over positional value. IF he moves off 2B, he's a #3 OF. Combined with his injury history, and his complete collapse in the 2nd half, he is very risky imo. I just traded him for Billy Butler in my league about a month ago. I'd rather ride Uggla out there (yuck) then miss the opportunity to get solid value for Kinsler now. A .240 hitter who might go 20-20 if he stays healthy isn't a great option anywhere except 2B . I wish I could look up his numbers as I did with Andrus, but I'm on the road and didn't want to wait until 9 tonight to reply.
Again, I could be wayyyyy off. I just prefer to be a year early than not on dumping a guy.

 

[Philabuster5]

I hope you're wrong about Hosmer, though I fear you may be right.
It pained me too much to write Verlander so I didn't. But.... Pitchers and pitch counts and velocity...so many warning signs that I can't bear to look at.

 

[Chef99]

I hope you're wrong about Hosmer, though I fear you may be right.
It pained me too much to write Verlander so I didn't. But.... Pitchers and pitch counts and velocity...so many warning signs that I can't bear to look at.

Oh, please don't jinx me with Verlander...

 

[BigDDude]

One of the joys of being me is being well versed in all medical issues, as I tend t have or get most issues myself. And, let me tell you, plantar fasciitis is no picnic. Every single step hurts.

I can only imagine that he is afforded more and better meds to handle it, but, that is one of those problems that tends to only get better with complete and total rest, so.....?

 

[Reverend Jim]

Since we're talking trades for the future, I made two this off season.

The first was trading David Price & Cliff Lee for Paul Goldschmidt. Yes I overpaid, but I was gonna lose Lee anyway since he wasn't being kept. I love Price but I believe Goldschmidt will easily be in the top 20 next season and will be one of the top 3 at his position by the end of next year. Now I have Goldschmidt at Util & Votto at first, and once I feel confident with Goldy I can package Votto with something and maybe get myself a Harper or Trout type outfielder.

The second I was hesitant on, but I traded Carlos Gonzalez & Wilin Rosario for Starlin Castro & Oscar Taveras. Again I overpaid and just like Lee I was gonna lose Rosario. Given how unstable the SS position and my love for Castro, I didn't mind giving up on Cargo. If it were a roto league I would have kept him, but the home/road splits in h2h can kill you at times, and the constant miss a day here and there injuries get to be annoying.
I was a little hesitant on this one as I wasn't sure if I should make the trade or draft Jean Segura and hope for the best. I ended up drafting Segura anyway and he's sitting on my bench collecting value.

 

[Microwahevo]

I had plantar fasciitis a couple years ago. I am a huge runner and trained very hard in the spring for a ton of races in the summer/fall. I rarely rested my feet and developed this somehow. I ran all summer with it and finally went and saw a doc. Basically I had to stop all physical activity on my feet for about 6 months. It's gone now but that was a rough 6 months where I couldn't be active. Pupils won't be the same unless he takes time off his feet. Hard to do in his career and contract.

 

[Reverend Jim]

I had plantar fasciitis a couple years ago. I am a huge runner and trained very hard in the spring for a ton of races in the summer/fall. I rarely rested my feet and developed this somehow. I ran all summer with it and finally went and saw a doc. Basically I had to stop all physical activity on my feet for about 6 months. It's gone now but that was a rough 6 months where I couldn't be active. Pupils won't be the same unless he takes time off his feet. Hard to do in his career and contract.

Not really. October, November, December, January, February, March. That's 6 months, he can do his spring training in April in a few weeks of minor league games. He's had this option for a few years but chose not to get healthy. If he really wants to be healthy, he'll do something like this next season.

 

[Microwahevo]

Well that's what I meant. It's not like he can take the time off now to get healthy. I mean he can, but that would make a lot of people unhappy. He had all of last offseason to get healthy, he apparently chose not to.

 

[BigDDude]

Well that's what I meant. It's not like he can take the time off now to get healthy. I mean he can, but that would make a lot of people unhappy. He had all of last offseason to get healthy, he apparently chose not to.

Count me among the many that see guys who tough out their injuries as WAY more of a negitive than a positive. Being macho and tough is nice, and probably plays well in the clubhouse, but those of us fantasy players, and also managers and G.M's, we would rather you deal with your issues a.s.a.p, and, like mentioned here, IN THE OFFSEASON, so you can come back at 100% or close to it come game # 1