I wrote about Strop on Friday. The top two bids here are from teams already with an eye on 2013. I don't see Strop taking the job from Jim Johnson until the trade deadline at the absolute earliest, and as we all know, there are never any guarantees with CIWs.
Brad Eldred $9
Players like Eldred usually don't get opportunities when they're 31 years of age. But here he is once again, hoping to give the Tigers a jolt. Eldred is a prodigious minor league slugger, but the low BB and high K rates simply don't suggest that Eldred's 25-30 AAA HR power will ever translate to the Majors across 550 AB. He's certainly worth gambling on, but don't be disappointed if he fails. There's only one bid here because Eldred's a DH-only under this league's rules; in some leagues he's OF and/or 1B eligible, which most likely would have led to more bids.
Jarrod Dyson $6. Other bid $6.
Dyson is super fast, but decent minor league on-base percentages can't hide the fact that Dyson simply can't hit Major League pitching. He still could wind up stealing a bushel of bags if the Royals play him, but that batting average is still going to be ugly. Dyson's a worthwhile A.L.-only gamble but nothing beyond that.
Nate Jones $3.
Jones is a very deep sleeper saves candidate. In a lot of bullpens this would be meaningless, but given the uncertainly on the White Sox this gives Jones some marginal appeal as a guy to stash for later. His raw stuff is tantalizing, but Jones has had mechanical issues for most of his professional career. So far in 2012 the fastball has been impressive but everything else looks like a work in progress. I think $1 FAAB is fine if you don't have any faith in Hector Sanchez, but Addison Reed ultimately looks like the play in Chicago.
Cory Wade $2.
Wade is a solid middle reliever with strong K/IP rates who won't get any saves. He's fine to add in A.L.-only.
Robbie Ross $1.
Ross still might wind up starting long-term, but right now is locked in as a member of the Rangers bullpen. He already has four vulture wins, and while this isn't any kind of skill, he's on the right team to keep picking up these types of wins. Ross is worth grabbing but - once again - there aren't likely to be any save opportunities here.
Duane Below $1.
Below is more valuable in real life than in Roto. He's a fungible arm whose greatest asset is that he can pitch in the rotation or in the pen. Below has filled in admirably while some of the Tigers' more talented arms have struggled and has picked up two early vulture wins. Now he moves to the rotation, and gets a two-start week against the Royals and White Sox. The match-ups are favorable, but I remain wary.
Nick Hagadone $1. Other bid $1.
Hagadone was called up to replace the injured Rafael Perez. He should stick in the Indians' bullpen, though whether he'll be a LOOGY or more than that remains to be seen. He's OK at $1, but like Jones, Wade, and Ross isn't a saves candidate.
Matt Lindstrom $1.
Lindstrom has pitched tremendously so far this year for the Orioles. He appears to be behind Strop in the CIW pecking order, but if he keeps pitching well might be in next in line for save chances at some point. He's a decent back end reliever in A.L.-only.
Jeff Keppinger. Claimed by 12th and 5th place teams.
Keppinger is a lefty killer who is pedestrian against right-handed pitching. He'll fill a part-time role for the Rays and should provide decent third MI value in Roto as long as the Rays spot him correctly (and since they're the Rays, it's a virtual lock that they will).
Brayan Pena. Claimed by 2nd and 1st place teams.
Pena is a decent second catcher in A.L.-only. He's splitting the catching AB in Kansas City nearly 50/50 with Humberto Quintero. Pena doesn't offer much, though. He won't kill your batting average, but has virtually no power and has no speed. He needs to play 5-6 days a week to generate any kind of value, and won't do that in the current set-up.
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