One of the more popular discussions over the past few weeks has been what to do with Jimmy Rollins, whether you own him or not. We've spoken about him on a small scale in one of our recent Cram Sessions, but the topic deserves so much more.I didn't want to trust just my opinion, so I asked the Fanhouse fantasy baseball crew to chime in on the following question:
Jimmy Rollins, a late first-or early second-round draft pick, is batting .229 with seven home runs and 16 stolen bases as we watch the All-Star Game tonight. However, over the past week he's batting .304 with five stolen bases. Most of us agree that Rollins is a superb buy- low candidate, but what would you give up right now to get him?
R.J. White: I'd definitely look to acquire Rollins, if his owner is willing to sell at a good price. But if he's in the camp that Rollins is going to have a massive second-half, he's likely going to want way too much for the guy. If I do feel I can get Rollins at a low price, I'll deal from whatever my position of strength is (and conversely, whatever the guy needs the most). Since I'm trading for a big stolen base threat, I assume I need the steals. I wouldn't mind dealing a top-ten closer if I'm killing the league in saves, or a power-only guy that's hurting my batting average if I have a ton of home runs on my team.
Knox Bardeen: I can see dealing a top closer as well. Especially one whose name might be on the trading block. With Heath Bell, Huston Street and George Sherrill all showing top closer skills in the first half, they make interesting options. All three of these guys have been mentioned in trade rumors at some point this season. If any one of them gets dealt to a team with an established closer, like the Yankees, it could mean set-up duties for the duration of 2009. That would kill their fantasy value.
Will Brinson: I like the top-end closer idea, and that's the type of thing that would work perfect in a situation where an owner has plenty of steals (but still had to deal with a shoddy Rollins all the way until now) and needs saves.
Matt Snyder: As with everything in fantasy, it always depends upon the needs of your own team. What we've seen from Rollins in the past, though, suggests you can get first round value in the second half of the season from him. I would have been too worried to give up this kind of value for him had he still been struggling, but he hit .405 with a 1.138 OPS and 5 steals in his last 11 games. He's ready for a huge second half.
Personally, I'd look to trade someone who has played like an early-rounder and doesn't necessarily have the track record. People like Mark Reynolds, Raul Ibanez, Aaron Hill and Adam Lind come to mind.
Will Brinson: Wow, yeah, Raul Ibanez is a pretty awesome litmus test here -- I can't conceive of any way that he keeps up what he did in the first half, and I also just don't see any way that Rollins doesn't turn it on strong after the break. But I also think that most owners would be hard pressed to give up Rollins for Ibanez (given what they had invested in Rollins, waiting out his suckiness and almost certainly knowing that Ibanez would cool) and would probably need something more enticing.
And to clarify, yes, if I own Raul Ibanez and someone offers me Jimmy Rollins for him, I'm pulling the trigger.
Knox Bardeen: Good names on your list, Snyder. And I was thinking along those same lines. But I'm not sure that any one of these guys would get it done. Do you? Could you possibly see yourself dealing two of them from your list for just Rollins?
Matt Snyder: Giving two of those guys is tough, but if you would have entered the season asking any owner if they'd rather have Lind and Hill OR Rollins, what would they say? I'm not in that position, but I think I'd pull the trigger in order to get Rollins, assuming I was OK in the power categories and in need of steals.
Knox Bardeen: So far, we've touched on a few buy low options using hot performers who might be playing a bit over their heads. Is that the only way we'd offer up deals for Rollins? What about other high-round, dud-ish performers. In a one-year league would you consider giving up Grady Sizemore since we know of his injury woes in a deal for Rollins? What about Josh Hamilton or Alfonso Soriano if your team makeup had extra power but lacked speed and average?
Matt Snyder: In the scenario you mentioned, I'd deal any of the three for Rollins. He's at least shown signs of being totally healthy and breaking out of the funk.
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Instead of trading for Rollins, try a Fleaflicker mid-season fantasy baseball league
