This is my only National League-only live auction money league and has been taking place annually now for the last 9 years.  It consists of 10 teams, $260 budget, 5X5 standard scoring, rosters include C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, 3 OF, 1 UT, 2 SP, 2 RP, 3 P, 9 Bench spots. We are forced to keep a minimum of 4 players and we have no maximum on keepers.  A more detailed description of our keeper rules can be found here.

My keepers consisted of players I felt would go for more in the auction than what I could keep them for (Fielder, Victorino, Broxton) and players I feel are a good value at their keeper price (Maybin, Encarnacion, Valverde).  I was targeting power/speed in the infield (Rollins) and a power bat for my outfield (Ibanez).  I targeted some risky but high reward pitchers (Vazquez, Gallardo, Miller) and some rising prospects that may help me this year and in future years (Hanson, Carrasco, Bumgarner).

I think that I will struggle offensively in homeruns and RBIs and may need to trade speed or saves for some power in the infield or a big bat in the outfield.  I may struggle in wins, but I think I will compete in the other 4 pitching categories.  I wasn’t trying to do the LIMA plan this year, as I did last year(2nd place) but I was still drawn to pitchers with great ratios and high strikeout rates.  If two of my pitching prospects pan out during the season I should be able to compete or at least gain some ground in wins.

Towards the end of the draft I was the one with the most money left and was able to fill my roster with future prospects. I don’t feel like I am giving up this season or rebuilding for the future, I think that most of these prospects will be able to contribute in a positive way during the season.  Of course there is always the chance that these prospects could be traded to the American League which renders them useless in our league, but you have to take the risk given the value in their talent.  I did buy Hudson knowing that if he signed with an American League team he would be useless and I would have just wasted part of my budget on 0 stats.  I am thankful he is now a Los Angeles Dodger.  I was out-bid on Manny Ramirez, who is still unsigned and he went for $39, but I was willing to take the risk.  The owner that out-bid me was our winner from last year, when he was willing to take the risk and reap the rewards of buying Albert Pujols at a bargain price because we all thought he would only play half a season or less.

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Tomorrow evening I will be venturing out to some unknown suburb of the greater Chicago-land area to participate in my yearly National League only fantasy baseball auction.  This will be my 7th season in this league.  This 10 team league consists of a $260 starting budget, standard 5X5 scoring, lineups include C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, 3 OF, 1 UT, 2 SP, 2 RP, 3 P, 6 Reserves, a minimum of 4 keepers with an unlimited amount of keepers.  The keepers’ salaries are increased based on signing a player to a 2 or 3 year contract.  Our keeper rules state that:

From season to season, each team must retain at least 4 players. A team can retain more if desired.

The names of the players being retained must be recorded on distributed worksheets with the league secretary by midnight exactly one week before the next auction. No trades may take place from the time the worksheets are due until the auction.  After two seasons (a season is defined as any part of a major league season) of a player being owned by any rotisserie team without having been released to the free agent pool, the player must be signed to a long-term contract, given his option contract, or released.

If a player is released, he is made available to all teams in the next major league auction.

If a player is given his option contract, his salary remains the same for one season. After that season is complete, the player must be released and made available for the next major league auction.

If a player is signed to a long-term contract, his salary will be raised by the standard salary increase.

If a player is released before the end of his contract, the team releasing that player will be penalized as follows: The team’s salary cap will be

decreased by $5 the following year. For example, if a player is signed to a 3-year contract and is released during his second season, the team waiving the player will have $5 removed from his allotted salary cap in the next season, leaving that team with only $255 instead of the usual $260. If the player is traded to the AL, retires, etc., there will be no penalty.

A player may be signed to only one long-term contract. After the contract has expired, the player must be released and made available for the next major league auction.

Trades do not affect the contract status of a player.

I am preparing to keep the following players:

1B  Prince Fielder  $18

3B Edwin Encarnacion  $10

OF Conor Jackson  $8

OF Shane Victirino  $12

OF Cameron Maybin  $11

RP Matt Capps  $13

RP Jonathan Broxton  $10

P  Jose Valverde  $25

Which leaves me with a grand total of $153 for filling my remaining 17 roster spots.  My focus this year will be on power and average at the infield positions and reliable starting pitchers.  I think I am getting a great deal on Fielder, Victirino, and Broxton.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated and I will write about the outcome of the auction after it takes place.