BJ Upton for Dan Haren, straight up

[heyzeus]

I own Upton. It's a keeper league. Would ya?

[thrill]

I own Upton. It's a keeper league. Would ya?

What's your pitching staff and replacement for Upton?

[heyzeus]

My staff is closer heavy, starter weak right now.

closers: Reyes, Dempster, Valverde, Corpas, Chad Cordero.
starters: Maddux, Shields, Lackey, Garza, Clemens, Harang.

I need to trade a closer for a starter, really.

I've been playing Upton at either 3rd or OF. (Brandon Philips has been great at 2B). If I moved Upton, Mike Lowell would be my 3B, and my backup OF's are Drew (yuck) and Jose Guillen.

[mikechamp]

I'd do it (and quickly), but only if I could do the following:

Acquire Haren.

Drop Clemens.

Pick up Justin Upton.

[thrill]

Pick up Justin Upton.[/color]

For some reason, he isn't available yet.

[planet planet]

Anyone picking up Adam Jones? Apparently, he's not going to be an everyday player.

[heyzeus]

I traded BJ Upton and Jose Valverde for Haren and Tori Hunter.

How I rationalize it:
I had one too many closers (5!) and a shortage of starting pitching. Valverde is very injury/collapse prone. Sell high.
I have Brandon Phillips at 2B, and had Upton in the OF. So Hunter moves in to replace Upton.

Haren is a keeper, as is Upton. I'm a little concerned about Upton's injury potential, and his K/BB and minor league numbers suggest he's not anywhere near a repeatable .330 hitter. Haren plays in a pitcher's park and appears to be making the leap, and should be an ace for several years.

Hunter is not a huge downgrade to Upton (slightly more homers, but lower avg and less steals)
Haren is a huge upgrade over Valverde

So....thoughts?

[mikechamp]

Irregardless of any trade you made, I would still go get Justin Upton. And remember, I was saying that before the line he put up last night.

[thrill]

Good trade.

[clevername]

Irregardless of any trade you made, I would still go get Justin Upton. And remember, I was saying that before the line he put up last night.

he was already snatched up by another manager. Heyzues (nor myself) had a high enough waiver priority. I doubt he's passing through waivers in any keeper league, so it just comes down to where you are in the waiver priority ranks. I had used my #1 ranking on Billy Butler earlier in the year because I didn't think Upton would get the call until next year...not that having Butler is a bad thing.

I like the trade, Heyzeus. The only trepidation I would have is that BJ is going to be 2nd base eligible next year. If you plan on keeping Phillips, no big deal, but Upton would have been nice as a 2B you wouldn't have to draft.