Greater Chicago Strat League
Newsletter
August 4, 2021
KEY DATES:
1. 8/9/2021 (Monday) – 26-man rosters and
pitching rotations (Starter Schedule) due.
Voting ballots due.
2.
8/21/2021
(Saturday) – Final
player settings and manager tendencies, along with default lineup number
specifications for each game due.
TRADE SUMMARY (since
6/3):
To DYE: A
Tejeda, DUB-3, DUB-7
To DUB: D
Moore, J Jeffress, DYE-12, DYE-13
To HUC: A
Tejeda, DYE-16
To DYE:
HUC-12
To GGG:
NYY-3
To NYY: D Gregorius, GGG-11
To GGG: M
Liberatore, P Sandoval, SYI-4
To SYI: A Senzatela, GGG-10
To WRK: J
Bonifacio
To BUR: R Borucki
To NYY: Y
Diaz, M Dubon, HUC-9, HUC-13
To HUC: J
Peraza, A Cabrera, NYY-4, NYY-10
To DUB: D
Dunning, N Anderson, BUR-13, BUR-15
To BUR: L
Weaver, DUB-2, DUB-5
To BUR: G
Greiner, NYY-7
To NYY: A
Hicks, BUR-14
To HMA: T
Hunter, HUC-16
To HUC: B Anderson, TAM-11
To VRN:
CHI-3
To CHI: A
Simmons, J Marisnick, VRN-16
To DUB: Z
Britton, VRN-10
To VRN:
DUB-6
To OAK: M
Pineda, VRN-6
To VRN:
OAK-1
To COL: D
Pomeranz, VRN-15
To VRN:
COL-7
To CRC: J
Hernandez, VRN-14
To VRN:
CRC-7
To HOH:
OAK-6
To COL: A
Santander, HOH-16
What this means for COL 79-35 (2
trades):
Total Additions: A Santander, D Pomeranz, VRN-15,
HOH-16
Total Subtractions:
OAK-6, COL-7
Quiet trading for COL - but I guess the
record coming in speaks for itself. A
nice bullpen addition and a solid power upgrade at the corner OF come at a low
cost.
What this means for WRK 75-39 (1
trade):
Total Additions: J
Bonifacio
Total Subtractions:
R Borucki
Another head scratcher… Added a decent DH/LF hit card vs L as
depth. Again, the team record makes the
statement that not much is needed. Good thing, because not much was added.
What this means for DUB 69-45 (3
trades):
Total Additions: D
Dunning, Z Britton, N Anderson, J Jeffress, D Moore, VRN-10, DYE-12, DYE-13,
BUR-13, BUR-15
Total Subtractions:
L
Weaver, A Tejeda, DUB-2, DUB-3, DUB-5, DUB-6, DUB-7
After making several other trades over
the past 2 months, the dealing continued.
The biggest piece may be Dunning, another key right
handed arm for the rotation (although only 1 playoff start) who is
likely to be carried over as a back of the rotation option. A great bullpen actually
got better with three more great arms added to the mix and Moore adds
some speed and a nice bat to the mix as a starting 2B who can play
anywhere. The cost: we won’t hear from
DUB much in the first half of the draft.
What this means for CRC 65-49 (1
trade):
Total Additions: J
Hernandez, VRN-14
Total Subtractions:
CRC-7
Reliever depth never hurts
and Hernandez will definitely bring value there down the stretch and in the
playoffs if they make it. Good value,
but limited impact.
What this means for NYY 63-51 (3
trades):
Total Additions: D Gregorius, Y Diaz, M Dubon, A Hicks, HUC-9, GGG-11, HUC-13, BUR-14
Total Subtractions:
J Peraza, A Cabrera, G Greiner, NYY-3, NYY-4,
NYY-7, NYY-10
Hanging on to that first rounder in case
things go south, NYY is all in and looking to improve their lineup depth. Gregarious is probably the only starter (vsR) in the mix, but he is a big upgrade. With the rest, they improve the lineup vs
left and add depth across the board with good defense. None of the players they moved will be missed,
so it is just at the cost of a light picks list for next year.
What this means for SYI 63-51 (1
trade):
Total Additions: A
Senzatela, GGG-10
Total Subtractions:
M Liberatore, P Sandoval, SYI-4
Senzatela provides a 4th stud starter for the stretch run and
playoffs should SYI advance. With the picks cupboard bare, Sandoval is the key loss here as he
looks good at the major league level already with long term upside. Liberatore is struggling at AAA and is a taxi
stash at best.
What this means for BUR 63-51 (3
trades):
Total Additions: R
Borucki, G Greiner, L Weaver, DUB-2, DUB-5, NYY-7
Total Subtractions:
J Bonifacio, A Hicks, D Dunning, N Anderson, BUR-13, BUR-14, BUR-15
Weaver is the unknown addition here for
BUR, as he returns from a lengthy stay on the IR. From a carryover perspective, Dunning was the
only loss and should be replaceable with the picks returned. Added cards are only tabs - none should win
any games for BUR as he seems to be targeting the top pick.
What this means for HMA 60-54 (1
trade):
Total Additions: T
Hunter, HUC-16
Total Subtractions:
B Anderson, TAM-11
Sitting firmly on the fence of buy/sell,
they added a decent bullpen arm for a player sitting on their bench and a late
round swap. No impact will be felt.
What this means for CHI 59-55 (1
trade):
Total Additions: A
Simmons, J Marisnick, VRN-16
Total Subtractions:
CHI-3
Walking into the playoffs without much
challenge, CHI very quietly (and cheaply) added about 60 stud ABs in CF and a
huge upgrade (vsR) at SS - both with defensive 1 ratings. This won’t
change the fact that they are locked in as either a 3 or 4 seed,
but could impact the playoffs once they get there.
What this means for OAK 59-55 (1
trade):
Total Additions: M Pineda, VRN-6
Total Subtractions:
OAK-1
The price was steep, but they are only 6
games out of the playoffs and Pineda could win a game or two for them down the
stretch. If they miss the playoffs, a
top 5 pick for a middle-rotation 32 year old may be a
slight overpay.
What this means for HOH 54-60 (1
trade):
Total Additions: OAK-6
Total Subtractions:
A Santander, HOH-16
Egh
What this means for GGG 52-62 (2
trades):
Total Additions: M
Liberatore, P Sandoval, NYY-3, SYI-4
Total Subtractions:
D Gregorius, A Senzatela, GGG-10, GGG-11
A couple
well timed trades puts GGG a leg up in 2022 prep. Sandoval should slot right into the rotation
and a 3rd and 4th will be welcome on draft day.
Senzatela wasn’t going to help him next year
and Didi may be done. Unlikely to catch
CHI, this feels like the right move and good value.
What this means for DYE 51-63 (2
trades):
Total Additions: DUB-3,
DUB-7, HUC-12
Total Subtractions:
D Moore, J Jeffress, DYE-12, DYE-13, DYE-16
None of
these guys were going to make a difference for DYE this year or be around to
see next year, so some creative moves netting appropriate value are going to
make draft day a little better next year.
By itself it may not seem huge, but these are the proactive steps to get
a team back to the playoffs.
What this means for VRN 51-63 (5
trades):
Total Additions: OAK-1,
CHI-3, DUB-6, COL-7, CRC-7
Total Subtractions:
A Simmons, J Marisnick, Z Britton, M Pineda, D Pomeranz, J Hernandez, VRN-6,
VRN-10, VRN-14, VRN-15, VRN-16
Just looking to the future - overall,
feels like maybe there should have been a better return… Although, OAK-1 could be a top 5 pick.
What this means for HUC 48-66 (3
trades):
Total Additions: B
Anderson, J Peraza, A Cabrera, A Tejeda, NYY-4, NYY-10, TAM-11, DYE-16
Total Subtractions:
Y Diaz, M Dubon, T Hunter, HUC-9, HUC-12, HUC-13,
HUC-16
Just looking to the future - not a lot
here. Anderson and Diaz are a wash -
both as bubble keepers at 3B. Basically got a 4th for a 13th.
TRADE DEADLINE WINNERS
AND LOSERS:
Winners:
COL
- It is not about what they did, but about what the rest of their division
did. HUC and VRN unloaded, making the
remaining 18 games against those 2 easier and neither WRK nor SYI made any
impactful moves.
CHI
- They didn’t need to do much, but added a couple key
pieces for a possible playoff upset or two while the rest of their division
either sold or remained inactive.
DUB
- Continued to add talent in an attempt to secure the ever
important 1st round bye, with CRC adding very little and BUT seemingly conceding
the race. Management did what they
could, now the players need to deliver on what should be an easy remaining
schedule - plus 8 big H2H games against CRC.
GGG
- Best job at a strategic sell without a complete unload.
Losers:
SYI, HMA, OAK, BUR - At least 3 - maybe all 4 - of these teams will earn top 4
picks in the draft. They are all
currently on the outside looking in and none of them did enough to really
improve their chances to make the playoffs and none of them unloaded to restock
for next year. The big reason they make
this list - all of them traded away their first round
picks! So there
is no bright side to just missing the playoffs this year! (CUB owns SYI-1 and BUR-1, TAM owns HMA-1 and
VRN just added OAK-1.)
FINES & FINANCES:
VRN fined $10
for not having 26 players in ML to start August.
Bank
Balance: $2441.18
Outstanding
Credits: CAL $20, CRC $20, DUB $40, GGG $20, HMA $80, SYI $40, VRN $10
League
Balance: $2211.18