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Bottom line is it's just too early.
Pitchers like Aaron Nola, Corey Kluber, Noah Syndergaard, Carlos Carrasco -- they haven't performed up to expectations yet. But we've seen too few starts from them to know anything -- some of them good, by the way. It only takes one crooked number to skew the results of such a small sample.
The time of year doesn't help. There's so much emphasis on limiting workload during inconsequential stretches like spring training that it's fair to assume these pitchers aren't operating at peak precision yet. They're still working on their secondary pitches. They're still shoring up their command. There's so much at play here beyond the actual results that, barring an obvious case of diminished skill, you have to assume they'll pull it together. Even Chris Sale, who was showing signs of diminished skill, rediscovered his velocity in his most recent start. And while it wasn't a good start, the path to success seems much clearer now.
If there's any type of player that deserves even more of your patience, it's the high-end starting pitcher. Finding one who contributes elite ratios is hard enough. Finding one who does it over 180-plus innings is near impossible. Even in the shallowest leagues, they're not springing up on the waiver wire, which means you can expect to pay a fortune for them in a trade.
Except for maybe now. Except for maybe this group. My latest trade values for Rotisserie leagues, as shown in the top 250 below, give you some idea what these pitchers should go for. If you can get them for less in a buy-low scenario, now would be a good time to capitalize.
Some quick guidelines:
- These values are tailored for standard 5x5 Rotisserie leagues, meaning 12 teams and 29-man rosters. The low-dollar players would be worth more in a deeper league, and the mid-dollar players would be worth less in a shallower league.
- These values are intended only for 1-for-1 and 2-for-1 trades. Get into 3-for-1 or, heaven forbid, 4-for-1, and the impending roster crunch makes it near impossible to justify giving up the superior player (unless, of course, it's an obvious overpay).
- These values are more of a rough guideline. In theory, if two players add up to more than some other player, you'll take the two over the one, but not every possible scenario has been vetted. And particularly with the lower-value players, perceptions are changing constantly. When in doubt, you'll want to stick with the better player.
Rank | Player | Position | Value |
1 | Mike Trout, LAA | OF | 53 |
2 | Mookie Betts, BOS | OF | 53 |
3 | Jose Ramirez, CLE | 3B | 48 |
4 | Nolan Arenado, COL | 3B | 47 |
5 | J.D. Martinez, BOS | OF | 47 |
6 | Max Scherzer, WAS | SP | 47 |
7 | Christian Yelich, MIL | OF | 47 |
8 | Jose Altuve, HOU | 2B | 45 |
9 | Jacob deGrom, NYM | SP | 45 |
10 | Alex Bregman, HOU | 3B/SS | 42 |
11 | Bryce Harper, PHI | OF | 41 |
12 | Ronald Acuna, ATL | OF | 41 |
13 | Paul Goldschmidt, STL | 1B | 39 |
14 | Manny Machado, SD | 3B/SS | 39 |
15 | Aaron Judge, NYY | OF | 38 |
16 | Justin Verlander, HOU | SP | 37 |
17 | Freddie Freeman, ATL | 1B | 37 |
18 | Francisco Lindor, CLE | SS | 37 |
19 | Trevor Bauer, CLE | SP | 36 |
20 | Corey Kluber, CLE | SP | 36 |
21 | Blake Snell, TB | SP | 36 |
22 | Gerrit Cole, HOU | SP | 36 |
23 | Cody Bellinger, LAD | 1B/OF | 35 |
24 | Charlie Blackmon, COL | OF | 33 |
25 | Trevor Story, COL | SS | 33 |
26 | Anthony Rendon, WAS | 3B | 33 |
27 | Aaron Nola, PHI | SP | 32 |
28 | Chris Sale, BOS | SP | 32 |
29 | Anthony Rizzo, CHC | 1B | 32 |
30 | Javier Baez, CHC | 2B/3B/SS | 32 |
31 | Giancarlo Stanton, NYY | OF | 31 |
32 | Juan Soto, WAS | OF | 31 |
33 | Trea Turner, WAS | SS | 31 |
34 | Khris Davis, OAK | DH | 31 |
35 | Andrew Benintendi, BOS | OF | 30 |
36 | Whit Merrifield, KC | 2B/OF | 30 |
37 | Adalberto Mondesi, KC | SS | 30 |
38 | Starling Marte, PIT | OF | 30 |
39 | Carlos Correa, HOU | SS | 30 |
40 | Rhys Hoskins, PHI | 1B/OF | 30 |
41 | J.T. Realmuto, PHI | C | 30 |
42 | Noah Syndergaard, NYM | SP | 29 |
43 | Xander Bogaerts, BOS | SS | 29 |
44 | Gary Sanchez, NYY | C | 29 |
45 | Patrick Corbin, WAS | SP | 29 |
46 | Kris Bryant, CHC | 3B/OF | 26 |
47 | George Springer, HOU | OF | 26 |
48 | Carlos Carrasco, CLE | SP | 25 |
49 | Zack Greinke, ARI | SP | 25 |
50 | Edwin Diaz, NYM | RP | 25 |
51 | Corey Seager, LAD | SS | 25 |
52 | Blake Treinen, OAK | RP | 24 |
53 | Joey Votto, CIN | 1B | 23 |
54 | Jose Abreu, CHW | 1B | 23 |
55 | James Paxton, NYY | SP | 23 |
56 | Stephen Strasburg, WAS | SP | 23 |
57 | Vladimir Guerrero, TOR | 3B | 22 |
58 | German Marquez, COL | SP | 22 |
59 | Clayton Kershaw, LAD | SP | 21 |
60 | Lorenzo Cain, MIL | OF | 21 |
61 | Tommy Pham, TB | OF | 21 |
62 | Ozzie Albies, ATL | 2B | 21 |
63 | Jose Berrios, MIN | SP | 20 |
64 | Walker Buehler, LAD | SP | 19 |
65 | Eugenio Suarez, CIN | 3B | 18 |
66 | Dee Gordon, SEA | 2B/OF | 18 |
67 | Jack Flaherty, STL | SP | 17 |
68 | Chris Archer, PIT | SP | 17 |
69 | Jameson Taillon, PIT | SP | 17 |
70 | Yasmani Grandal, MIL | C | 17 |
71 | Willson Contreras, CHC | C | 17 |
72 | Matt Carpenter, STL | 1B/3B | 16 |
73 | Joey Gallo, TEX | 1B/OF | 16 |
74 | Aroldis Chapman, NYY | RP | 16 |
75 | Matt Chapman, OAK | 3B | 16 |
76 | Justin Turner, LAD | 3B | 16 |
77 | Gleyber Torres, NYY | 2B/SS | 16 |
78 | Fernando Tatis, SD | SS | 16 |
79 | A.J. Pollock, LAD | OF | 15 |
80 | Jean Segura, PHI | SS | 15 |
81 | Pete Alonso, NYM | 1B | 15 |
82 | Yasiel Puig, CIN | OF | 14 |
83 | Kenley Jansen, LAD | RP | 14 |
84 | Sean Doolittle, WAS | RP | 14 |
85 | Roberto Osuna, HOU | RP | 14 |
86 | Brad Hand, CLE | RP | 14 |
87 | Kirby Yates, SD | RP | 14 |
88 | Tyler Glasnow, TB | SP/RP | 14 |
89 | Luis Castillo, CIN | SP | 14 |
90 | Edwin Encarnacion, SEA | 1B | 12 |
91 | Max Muncy, LAD | 1B/3B | 12 |
92 | Wil Myers, SD | 3B/OF | 12 |
93 | Mitch Haniger, SEA | OF | 12 |
94 | Eddie Rosario, MIN | OF | 12 |
95 | Marcell Ozuna, STL | OF | 12 |
96 | Josh Donaldson, ATL | 3B | 11 |
97 | Mike Moustakas, MIL | 2B/3B | 11 |
98 | Nelson Cruz, MIN | DH | 11 |
99 | Eloy Jimenez, CHW | OF | 11 |
100 | Nicholas Castellanos, DET | OF | 11 |
101 | Robinson Cano, NYM | 2B | 11 |
102 | Wilson Ramos, NYM | C | 11 |
103 | Michael Brantley, HOU | OF | 11 |
104 | Victor Robles, WAS | OF | 11 |
105 | Mallex Smith, SEA | OF | 11 |
106 | Michael Conforto, NYM | OF | 11 |
107 | David Price, BOS | SP | 11 |
108 | Jose Leclerc, TEX | RP | 11 |
109 | Felipe Vazquez, PIT | RP | 11 |
110 | Travis Shaw, MIL | 2B/3B | 10 |
111 | Daniel Murphy, COL | 2B | 10 |
112 | Madison Bumgarner, SF | SP | 10 |
113 | Zack Wheeler, NYM | SP | 10 |
114 | Wade Davis, COL | RP | 10 |
115 | Mike Foltynewicz, ATL | SP | 10 |
116 | Shane Bieber, CLE | SP | 10 |
117 | Collin McHugh, HOU | RP | 10 |
118 | Domingo Santana, SEA | OF | 9 |
119 | Yoan Moncada, CHW | 2B/3B | 9 |
120 | David Dahl, COL | OF | 9 |
121 | Aaron Hicks, NYY | OF | 9 |
122 | Andrew McCutchen, PHI | OF | 9 |
123 | Masahiro Tanaka, NYY | SP | 9 |
124 | Jonathan Villar, BAL | 2B/SS | 9 |
125 | Charlie Morton, TB | SP | 8 |
126 | Mike Clevinger, CLE | SP | 8 |
127 | Luis Severino, NYY | SP | 8 |
128 | Jesus Aguilar, MIL | 1B | 8 |
129 | Yadier Molina, STL | C | 8 |
130 | Buster Posey, SF | C | 8 |
131 | Billy Hamilton, KC | OF | 8 |
132 | Jon Gray, COL | SP | 8 |
133 | Miles Mikolas, STL | SP | 8 |
134 | Cole Hamels, CHC | SP | 8 |
135 | Yu Darvish, CHC | SP | 8 |
136 | J.A. Happ, NYY | SP | 8 |
137 | Josh Hader, MIL | RP | 7 |
138 | Craig Kimbrel, FA | RP | 7 |
139 | Brian Dozier, WAS | 2B | 6 |
140 | Paul DeJong, STL | SS | 6 |
141 | Jurickson Profar, OAK | 1B/2B/3B/SS | 6 |
142 | Miguel Andujar, NYY | 3B | 6 |
143 | Elvis Andrus, TEX | SS | 6 |
144 | Tim Anderson, CHW | SS | 6 |
145 | David Peralta, ARI | OF | 6 |
146 | Stephen Piscotty, OAK | OF | 6 |
147 | Austin Meadows, TB | OF | 6 |
148 | Ken Giles, TOR | RP | 6 |
149 | Raisel Iglesias, CIN | RP | 6 |
150 | Jose Peraza, CIN | 2B/SS | 5 |
151 | Yandy Diaz, TB | 3B | 5 |
152 | Rafael Devers, BOS | 3B | 5 |
153 | Carlos Santana, CLE | 1B | 5 |
154 | Luke Voit, NYY | 1B | 5 |
155 | Robbie Ray, ARI | SP | 5 |
156 | Joe Musgrove, PIT | SP | 5 |
157 | Matthew Boyd, DET | SP | 5 |
158 | Ryan McMahon, COL | 1B | 5 |
159 | Jay Bruce, SEA | 1B/OF | 5 |
160 | Omar Narvaez, SEA | C | 5 |
161 | Austin Barnes, LAD | C | 5 |
162 | Byron Buxton, MIN | OF | 5 |
163 | Jesse Winker, CIN | OF | 5 |
164 | Nomar Mazara, TEX | OF | 4 |
165 | Gregory Polanco, PIT | OF | 4 |
166 | Marcus Semien, OAK | SS | 4 |
167 | Rougned Odor, TEX | 2B | 4 |
168 | Enrique Hernandez, LAD | 2B/SS/OF | 4 |
169 | Miguel Cabrera, DET | 1B | 3 |
170 | Matt Olson, OAK | 1B | 3 |
171 | Caleb Smith, MIA | SP | 3 |
172 | Jose Quintana, CHC | SP | 3 |
173 | Trey Mancini, BAL | 1B/OF | 3 |
174 | Daniel Vogelbach, SEA | 1B | 3 |
175 | Danny Jansen, TOR | C | 3 |
176 | Dansby Swanson, ATL | SS | 3 |
177 | Ketel Marte, ARI | 2B/SS/OF | 3 |
178 | Jason Heyward, CHC | OF | 3 |
179 | Rick Porcello, BOS | SP | 3 |
180 | Rich Hill, LAD | SP | 3 |
181 | Chris Paddack, SD | SP | 3 |
182 | Domingo German, NYY | SP | 3 |
183 | Kenta Maeda, LAD | SP/RP | 3 |
184 | Brandon Woodruff, MIL | RP | 3 |
185 | Cody Allen, LAA | RP | 3 |
186 | Jordan Hicks, STL | RP | 3 |
187 | Maikel Franco, PHI | 3B | 3 |
188 | Jorge Polanco, MIN | SS | 3 |
189 | Asdrubal Cabrera, TEX | 2B/3B/SS | 3 |
190 | Alex Colome, CHW | RP | 3 |
191 | Shohei Ohtani, LAA | DH | 2 |
192 | Adam Eaton, WAS | OF | 2 |
193 | Trevor Richards, MIA | SP | 2 |
194 | Ross Stripling, LAD | SP/RP | 2 |
195 | Jose Alvarado, TB | RP | 2 |
196 | Brad Peacock, HOU | RP | 2 |
197 | Joey Lucchesi, SD | SP | 2 |
198 | Hyun-Jin Ryu, LAD | SP | 2 |
199 | Will Smith, SF | RP | 2 |
200 | Greg Holland, ARI | RP | 2 |
201 | Max Kepler, MIN | OF | 2 |
202 | Ender Inciarte, ATL | OF | 2 |
203 | Franmil Reyes, SD | OF | 2 |
204 | Shane Greene, DET | RP | 2 |
205 | Jonathan Schoop, MIN | 2B | 2 |
206 | Amed Rosaro, NYM | SS | 2 |
207 | DJ LeMahieu, NYY | 2B/3B | 2 |
208 | Brandon Lowe, TB | 2B | 2 |
209 | Freddy Galvis, TOR | SS | 1 |
210 | Garrett Hampson, COL | 2B/SS | 1 |
211 | Josh Bell, PIT | 1B | 1 |
212 | Brandon Nimmo, NYM | OF | 1 |
213 | Ian Desmond, COL | 1B/OF | 1 |
214 | Justin Upton, LAA | OF | 1 |
215 | Yusei Kikuchi, SEA | SP | 1 |
216 | Kyle Hendricks, CHC | SP | 1 |
217 | Nick Pivetta, PHI | SP | 1 |
218 | Kyle Freeland, COL | SP | 1 |
219 | Marco Gonzales, SEA | SP | 1 |
220 | Sonny Gray, CIN | SP | 1 |
221 | Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS | SP | 1 |
222 | Zach Eflin, PHI | SP | 1 |
223 | Ramon Laureano, OAK | OF | 1 |
224 | Harrison Bader, STL | OF | 1 |
225 | Nick Markakis, ATL | OF | 1 |
226 | Adam Jones, ARI | OF | 1 |
227 | Randal Grichuk, TOR | OF | 1 |
228 | Robinson Chirinos, HOU | C | 1 |
229 | Willians Astudillo, MIN | C | 1 |
230 | Eric Hosmer, SD | 1B | 1 |
231 | C.J. Cron, MIN | 1B | 1 |
232 | Justin Smoak, TOR | 1B | 1 |
233 | Pablo Lopez, MIA | SP | 1 |
234 | Tyler Skaggs, LAA | SP | 1 |
235 | Dallas Keuchel, HOU | SP | 1 |
236 | Jon Lester, CHC | SP | 1 |
237 | Marcus Stroman, TOR | SP | 1 |
238 | Matt Shoemaker, TOR | SP | 1 |
239 | Jimmy Nelson, MIL | SP | 1 |
240 | Jesus Luzardo, OAK | SP | 1 |
241 | Ryan Brasier, BOS | RP | 1 |
242 | Brad Keller, KC | SP/RP | 1 |
243 | A.J. Minter, ATL | RP | 1 |
244 | Jeremy Jeffress, MIL | RP | 1 |
245 | Yuli Gurriel, HOU | 1B/3B | 1 |
246 | Max Fried, ATL | SP | 1 |
247 | Carlos Rodon, CHW | SP | 1 |
248 | Ryon Healy, SEA | 1B/3B | 1 |
249 | Odubel Herrera, PHI | OF | 1 |
250 | Touki Toussaint, ATL | SP | 1 |