Trade/FAAB Advice

Anonymous asked:

Would you trade $5 Erick Aybar out of time for $8 Juan Uribe and Jeff Niemann on the farm? Both of them have first year contracts.

Or bid $5 on Smith and waive O'Flaherty?

I'm not sure why these are mutually exclusive choices.

I probably would hold on to Aybar. Even if he doesn't wrest the starting job away from Macier Izturis, he's got enough speed to still steal 20 off the bench or in a semi-regular role. Angel watchers noted that Aybar was a different player this winter, displaying much more confidence than he had when on the big club in 2007 or in prior Spring Trainings. In other words, he's playing like he belongs. That doesn't mean that Aybar is suddenly going to morph into a superstar, but he has his uses.

The White Sox begrudgingly held on to Uribe this winter, and he's off to a slow start. That doesn't automatically mean that they'll bench him, but I think the leash is shorter this year than it has been in previous years. He runs the risk of being replaced either by Alexei Ramirez soon or by Danny Richar when he returns. Even if Uribe keeps the job, he'll hurt your BA.

I wrote about Niemann yesterday. I think he's a solid option who should be active but I don't predict that he's going to light the world on fire. He also could be leapfrogged by some of the more heralded Rays prospects. Keep an eye on Andy Sonnanstine, though. He got slapped around by the Yankees in his last start, and could go to the pen or the minors given the Rays wealth of options.

O'Flaherty was sent to the minors yesterday, so I guess the issue of waiving him is irrelevant. If you have limited space on your reserve list, don't be afraid to cut him loose. Middle relievers have a way of coming and going and - more importantly - there are no guarantees that he'll have a significant role when he returns.

Smith looked great against the White Sox. Of course the low K/IP totals concern me, but I think Smith will be successful in the short term in his first go-round in the league. He should be owned in A.L. only leagues and considered in mixed leagues at the moment. He's a prospect, though his future is probably as a #3 or #4 and not as an ace.