Grantland

Howie Kendrick

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FANTASY BASEBALL

Roster Doctor: Let's Do a Twitter-bag

By Jonah Keri at
Jason O. Watson/Getty Images

Twitter has got fantasy questions, we've got answers. Hot starts, cold starts, bullpens in flux, trade scenarios, a top 10 that'll start 30,000 fights, and much more, all covered in this edition of the Roster Doctor.

Stick with Wade Davis and Jon Niese? Or ditch ’em for likes of Vance Worley, Ryan Vogelsong, Joe Blanton?
— @jasoncfry

What the hell do I do with Jarrod Parker (10-team mixed league)?
— @nysportsfan2

The answer to these two questions is none of the above. In standard mixed leagues, there's no reason to stick with any these guys. Parker might've had a nice year in 2012, Vogelsong might've had a couple of good years, and Niese might've come into 2013 as a trendy sleeper. But these are all pitchers you should stream, and nothing more. Even in 14- or 16-team mixed leagues, I'd feel no obligation to own Parker, for instance. Sure he's been marginally better in his past three starts than he was at the beginning of the year. But even if Parker bounces back, you'd have a shot at comparable production by slotting the right Scott Feldman types into the right matchups on a weekly basis. It's more work to study schedules every weekend, scan the waiver wire, and find the perfect plug-and-plays. But fantasy baseball isn't an idle pursuit based almost entirely on luck the way, say, fantasy football is. You want to win your league? Gotta work for it.

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MLB

Angels Slowly Becoming Yankees West

Howard Kendrick
Kelvin Kuo/US Presswire

They signed one of the best hitters in baseball history in a stunning move no one saw coming. They doubled down by inking arguably the best pitcher on the free-agent market. They ditched one of the worst-hitting players of the past 50 years. But the Angels may have just pulled off their shrewdest move yet — keeping a player they already had.

Over the weekend, the Halos agreed to terms with Howie Kendrick on a four-year, $33.5 million contract. The deal buys out Kendrick's final year of arbitration eligibility, plus three years of free agency. Even by conservative standards, it's likely to be a steal.

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