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Rob Livingston wrote:

I will be receiving Barry Bonds and Orlando Cabrera for Carl Crawford. Our league is head to head. We use the 5 usual offensive catagories. Good trade or bad trade?

Ask Don reply:
Hi Rob and thanks for writing. Personally I think that trade would be disastrous. Carl Crawford is a legit 5 tool stud and has the ability to lead the AL in steals. Stolen bases are a hugely underappreciated commodity in my opinion. Bonds will certainly break Hank Aaron’s home run record this year, but I can see him putting it on cruise control after that. I’d also be willing to bet there are better SS options on your league’s free agent list than Orlando Cabrera.

Good luck!

Just one year removed from a season in which he hit 28 home runs and 117 RBI, Jorge Cantu has been sent down to AAA. Last year’s offensive implosion made sense. Cantu may have been playing with some lingering injury effects, but this season most fantasy predictions had him rebounding at least somewhat. Well, apparently the Devil Rays aren’t buying it. I dropped Cantu a few days ago in one of my leagues, and I would suggest you do the same. Apparently he has asked for a trade, but until that happens or he’s back up in the majors, he is not worth a roster spot in any league.

A couple second basemen you may want to look at aquiring via trade and who you may be able to get on the cheap are Marcus Giles and Ray Durham. Both likely would have better seasons than Cantu this year even if he hadn’t been demoted, and you may be able to pick them up pretty cheap.

1. Albert Pujols just hit his first HR today, 5 days before the season starts.

2. Scott Hairston had 3 HR’s today. Many people will pick him up based on this fact. He had 13 HR’s in 339 AB’s in 2004. Expect 18-22 HR’s this season… IF he can get the at-bats. Today was an anomole.

3. Brad Eldred, Scott Hairston, and Terrmel Suldge are 3 of 5 players with 6 HR’s this spring. Draft them like they’ll continue this power barrage, and congratulate your buddy on the league championship.

Dear Don-
I have been offered Chris B. Young for Ian Kinsler in a keeper league format.

I have Rocco Baldelli in CF (league is position specific not simply OF) and Brian Roberts already in my 2B slot. Rocco is a great talent, but his fragility scares me.

Should I take a deal or try to get just bit more, say a Homer Bailey type ‘throw in’?

Steve-

Thanks for the question. You have every right to be concerned about Baldelli’s health. He’s played a total of 92 games over the past 2 seasons due to injuries, and he’s already experiencing hamstring issues this spring. If healthy, I see a very nice fantasy season for him. But there’s the rub. Will he actually play over 150 games? I’d say those odds are about equal to the odds of Eva Longoria leaving San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker to be with me.

It seems you’ve got second base pretty well situated with Brian Roberts. You need insurance at CF, and by all indications, Chris B. Young should have a very nice rookie season in Arizona. If you can get future Ace Homer Bailey thrown in, pull the trigger ASAP. If the other guy won’t throw him in, considering your needs, you should strongly consider taking his offer even without Bailey.

Good luck this season!

Hi Don. How about some advice? Should I trade Pujols for Reyes? I have a ton of power and need steals. I also have Konerko at first. Larry.

Ahhh.. our first trade question! Thanks for writing, Larry. I would LOVE to be of help to you on this one… but it looks like you may have answered your own question here.

Pujols is in a class by himself, but I would take that offer in your case. Or… maybe you can squeeze a little upgrade elsewhere?

Feel free to submit your trade questions and post some comments on what you think!

Good luck!

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