Manipulating spots on the DL

[cutacrossshorty]

This baseball season is my first year participating in any fantasy league. Judging by the way other teams in my league do things, I don't think what I do with the DL is commonly applied.

There are 2 spots on the DL and 2 of the players on my initial roster started the season there (BJ Upton and Ichiro). When it came time to activate one of them, someone had to go. The technique that I now always use is to peruse the free agent list and find someone on the DL that might be of use down the line. I then dump whoever is being let go and add a free agent that's on the DL. I then swap the player that's being activated onto the active roster with the player I just picked up (and putting them on the DL).

My current 2 players on the DL are John Smoltz and Brandon Webb, both of whom I picked up weeks ago using this technique. Smoltz is scheduled to start Thurs and I just activated him. I dumped someone I rarely play these days and picked up Scott Kazmir (who was let go by someone else long ago). Kazmir may or may not be in form when he's ready, but it can't hurt to have him waiting in the wings

Brandon Webb was looking like a shrewd move. He was on pace to get back in July, but he had a serious setback and might be done for the year. Anyway, it cost me nothing to take a chance on him.

 

[barman]

Smart tactic and one I employed for first time myself (3rd year in league with same core group), though I'm not sure if others do it because I don't watch their transactions that closely

We have one DL spot and mine had been empty for a few weeks, so last week I dropped my 22nd man, picked up Kazmir, DLd him and then replaced the 22nd man with similar player for a couple days, then got the original dropped guy back.

And make no mistake. Kazmir should be in plenty good form. Though he might not be ready to revert to the top end of Rays rotation, he should be quite solid for most FBB purposes, especially since his several minor league starts had him showing excellent control and K/BB ratios.

 

[mplastered]

This baseball season is my first year participating in any fantasy league. Judging by the way other teams in my league do things, I don't think what I do with the DL is commonly applied.

There are 2 spots on the DL and 2 of the players on my initial roster started the season there (BJ Upton and Ichiro). When it came time to activate one of them, someone had to go. The technique that I now always use is to peruse the free agent list and find someone on the DL that might be of use down the line. I then dump whoever is being let go and add a free agent that's on the DL. I then swap the player that's being activated onto the active roster with the player I just picked up (and putting them on the DL).

My current 2 players on the DL are John Smoltz and Brandon Webb, both of whom I picked up weeks ago using this technique. Smoltz is scheduled to start Thurs and I just activated him. I dumped someone I rarely play these days and picked up Scott Kazmir (who was let go by someone else long ago). Kazmir may or may not be in form when he's ready, but it can't hurt to have him waiting in the wings

Brandon Webb was looking like a shrewd move. He was on pace to get back in July, but he had a serious setback and might be done for the year. Anyway, it cost me nothing to take a chance on him.

My league allows for 2 DL also, but one for each fielder and pitcher. That would still work but limits my choices.

 

[sLim901]

it must be nice to have such talented guys available on the wire...im guessin 10-12 team leagues?

 

[cutacrossshorty]

it must be nice to have such talented guys available on the wire...im guessin 10-12 team leagues?

Yes, I'm in a smaller league. Nonetheless, the idea can be useful. It really doesn't cost anything if the DL spot isn't being used. In the case of Kazmir, the guy that had him to start the year, dumped him while he was struggling (big time). So he was sitting there on the FA list and I noticed he was in the process of a rehab assignment and doing well. I'm under no obligation to keep him, but I did activate him in the hopes that he can grab some wins. I'm dominating my league at this point (I lead in 6 categories and am 2nd in two others) and the only category that I'm lagging in is "Wins" (although a couple of wins would vault me from 6th to 3rd in wins).

As for Smoltz, I picked him up like 8 weeks ago when he wasn't on anyone's radar.