I realize that I have been focusing on deep leagues a lot lately, and kind of skipping over the standard leagues. To be honest, I really only play in two standard leagues anymore, and that is because I have been in them for a decade. I usually do deeper leagues. Deeper leagues do take more work, and a quicker trigger finger, so I find myself focusing on them more. Sometimes my standard league teams suffer for it. So since I am analyzing my standard team rosters, I figure it is a good time to do the add/drops for you standard league players out there.
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I will go position by position and give you players that can help your cause, and those that aren’t pulling their weight. All of the recommended adds are available in 30 percent or more of ESPN leagues. Of course, no one knows your league better than you do. If you can pull of a trade to ditch one of the drop candidates, then by all means, do that instead!
This piece will focus on the starting pitchers. The catchers are here. The first basemen are here. The second basemen are here. The shortstops are here. The third basemen are here. The outfielders are here. The starting pitchers are here.
For the closers, it will be a little different. Since saves are such a hot commodity in any standard league, there will not be a drop list since none of them are really droppable.
His save chances are few, but he still pitches well enough to roster in all standard leauges. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Add:
LaTroy Hawkins, Rockies: Yes, his strikeouts are very low for a closer, but in leagues that don’t count K/9, he should be owned. In ALL of them. He won’t get much saves playing for the reeling Rockies, but he is still pitching well enough to warrant owning, with or without the saves.
Neftali Feliz, Rangers: Texas is a place where there aren’t a lot of wins to go around either, but if you need saves, Feliz won’t hurt you. He has only one outing that was not a scoreless outing since taking over as the closer.
Hector Rondon, Cubs: Rondon has hit a couple of rough patches this year, but the Cubs have stuck with him. The team as a whole is playing better, which means ample opportunities for Rondon.
Avoid:
Jenrry Mejia, Mets: No one in contention should be this desperate. He has given up seven runs in August in 8.2 innings pitched, and has only three saves.
Jake Petricka, White Sox: He was brilliant until he took over as the closer. He has blown two saves in August, and his ERA as the closer is near four. You should be able to do better.