You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Feb2_2026_BHQChat
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Brent Hershey
12:01
Greetings for the first time in 2026, chatters! Hope y'all in the East are staying warm, and all of us looking forward to pitchers/catchers next week! Have a nice collection of questions in Q already, so let's just go at it!
Ao
12:05
What kind of role could we expect for RJ Petit in col’s pen?
Brent Hershey
12:05
So hard to say for several reasons: 1) Rule 5 pick, so making the team not a sure thing; 2) It's Colorado and he's a pitcher, but ... 3) New management folks there in COL, too. In general, I'm intrigued with the number of roster moves COL has made this winter (small stuff). But to directly answer your question now: I can't see Petit having much fantasy relevance in 2026. If he makes through the season, perhaps there's something there longterm, but that's a 2027 question.
Joey Jo Jo Junior Shabadoo
12:07
What are the odds of a Skubal trade in-season? (I play in an only league where you lose the player if he goes to the other league)
Brent Hershey
12:07
At this point, I'd say pretty low. If DET was considering it, I'd imagine it would have been best for everyone (player, team, fans) to do it far before a week prior to pitchers/catchers. DET is in it to make a run in 2026 -- so MAYBE if the wheels fall off this team by July, they would move Skubal ... otherwise, just don't see it as likely.
Anna banana
12:10
Can you ask the powers in charge to release the "All Underappreciated List" as soon as possible and why do I love it as much as cake?
Brent Hershey
12:10
Ha! So noted. For the uninitiated, Anna is referring to the All-Undervalued Team" that runs at the end of the pre-season Market Pulse columns (HQ ranks vs. ADP). Currently scheduled for March 13. You can get a pretty good idea by just following/noting the week-by-week good buys in the MP column. Thanks for the feedback!
Guest
12:12
12 team AL only auction league $260 budget with the ability to keep & sign players. Can keep two of the following - Evan Carter ($10), Zach Cole ($10), Jake Meyers ($8). Which two, or only one?
Brent Hershey
12:12
Meyers and Carter. Skeptical of Carter in the big picture (injuries; can't hit LHP), but $10 in an AL-only is fair. Meyers is likely going to play everyday in CF; again so important in AL-onlys.
HarrytheK
12:15
Who is the better final keeper in 15-team OBP 5x5 mixed league: Jacob Marsee or Emmett Sheehan?
Brent Hershey
12:15
Yeah, tough ... big Sheehan fan, but I'd lean Marsee. Still lotsa questions on LA SP (workload, injury, etc). My take is they're collecting SP to get to October, which can hamper fantasy stats. Marsee has a chance to be a 5-category guy, OR a big-time SB contributor.
Peter
12:16
16 Team. Mixed. 5x5 (OPS instead of avg). We can freeze 4 from the previous year's auction. $260 budget. Freeze T Ward at $13 or S Suzuki at $19? Thanks. Peter
Brent Hershey
12:16
I'll take Ward here, esp since BA not a part of it. Suzuki the better play overall IMO, but $19 in a mixer seems a touch high. Save the $ w/ Ward.
will
12:20
Welcome back Brent, and thank you! AL onlly 4x4 keeper league. please rank these 5 starters and do you have a sleeper favorite for 2026 season. Messick, Melton, ciconni,Mize, morales
Brent Hershey
12:20
Mize, Messick, Melton, Cecconi, Morales. No Ks, so going with the known in Mize (great team for W, too). BIG Melton fan (is one of my fave "sleepers") but feel like Messick's ratio history in the minors is better. But could see flipping the order of those two. Doubt that I'd strongly consider Cecconi or Morales as a keeper in an AL only.
Broken Bat
12:23
Thanks for warming up a cold Monday! My view from 30k feet on SFG. Overall the SP are pitch to contact rotation. When I view the Giants infield around the horn, I get one smile as a pitcher and that’s Chappy at 3rd. But as Dick Enberg use to say, “Oh My”! when I look at Adames, Arraez, and Devers rounding that infield out. I get they will improve their runs scoring, but… pitch to contact squad is a mismatch for that infield. Add in the projected closer(s) are also showing declines in strikeouts and 7-6 games at minimum will be entertaining. Your thought?
Brent Hershey
12:23
I think that's fair overall, though you're underestimating Adames, who has graded out well at SS recently on defensive metrics. But yes, the Devers/Arraez combo could be a problem.
Hesh
12:26
Hey Brent,  which one of these bounce back candidates will earn the most profit for their owners this year: Caglione, L Robert, McClain, Royce, Adolis. Thanks!!
Brent Hershey
12:26
Caglianone, had a historically low BABIP. Gonna K, but should hit many more HR. Royce/ Robert would be next; all about gambling on health there.
Hopeless Optimist
12:29
Good morning Brent.  Thanks for doing these chats.  16 Team Mixed Keeper League.  Stockpiled lots of young upside pitching.  Which, if any, of the following are fantasy aces in the next 1-2 years:  Cavalli, Pepiot, Eury P, Priester, E Sheehan, B Ashcraft, Gavin Williams?  Can't keep them all.  All are tantalizing in one way or another.  Need your crystal ball.
Brent Hershey
12:29
Aces ... Eury is the top of that list, fairly easily. Sheehan next, though Dodgers questions as I mentioned earlier, followed closely by Cavalli. I see Priester/Pepiot topping out more as mid-rotation guys w/ a good floor. Ashcraft (love at his price this year) and Gav Williams are more likely to be #2s at their best, but also have some volatility. Nice choices to have!
Felix Manz
12:32
In a Scoresheet NL (not with you!) with more than the limit of three crossovers, am I better off keeping Pablo Lopez or trading him and protecting Mike Burrows? Better roster vs better assets? (Also have Luzardo, Eury, Strider with McLean and Logan H)
Brent Hershey
12:32
I'd probably lean Burrows, mainly b/c of the SP depth you already have. Best case, Burrows and Henderson fight it out for your 5th spot this year, but both have the chance to be solid rotation pieces in a year. I guess if you're absolutely going for it this season, could see Lopez in there instead. But as I'm sure you're aware, lotsa good things in Burrows' profile, including getting traded to a better org.
Beano
12:37
Happy New Year Brent! I love these chats of yours.
  1. What to do with my $3 Sal Stewart now that Suarez is a Red. I feel certain he will earn more than $3 but how much PT will he get and where?
  2. NL 10 team 5x5 league. Studs go for $38-$50+. I have Tucker at $40. If I toss him back, he will likely go for more. Is the the "the stud" I want to build around? I think Ohtani will be out there and maybe one or two others - but most of the big hitters will be kept.
Brent Hershey
12:37
Welcome back, Beano!
  1. I wouldn't let Suarez scare me off Stewart. The reports are too good; SS showed he belonged last year in a cameo, and they do have the DH spot open. Throw in the awesome $3 price... easy keep. I'll bet he gets almost FT AB, still.
  2. Ahh ... yeah, I'd probably keep. His landing spot is so good ... not just the awesome lineup, but the fact that (soft analysis coming) I'm not sure he wants to be THE GUY in the lineup. With Ohtani, Mookie, Freeman there, he can just do his thing. Obv, yes, has to stay healthy, but both of the last 2 years seem like fluke things. At $40 in your league situation you describe, I think I roll with it.
rockford
12:38
9 teams in my AL home league.  In theory then, I should target the 9th catcher and pay 1 for him?  Even though I would love to pay up for Raleigh, this is not a sound approach?
Brent Hershey
12:38
If this is a 1 catcher league, this is absolutely how I would handle. Lots good C options -- and in even in a 9-team AL, there should be options in the FA pool if whoever you get doesn't work out.
Alfresco
12:41
Hi Brent,
Great to see resumption of your chats.
In my AL-only Scoresheet league, a league-mate is in a crossover quandary and has placed Chris Sale on his trading block.  I'm considering an offer of Luis Castillo straight up for Sale.

Does the age difference and Sale's relative brittleness offset the skill disparity?  In other words, given the circumstances, does this seem to be a fair trade in your view?
Brent Hershey
12:41
Hmmm .... if I had Sale in this case—even if I was squeezed—pretty sure I'd hold out for more than Castillo, and figure some is going to make a better offer than this. It's not terrible, but you probably should add something else (a mid-level draft pick or a prospect?), or be prepared to up the offer. And that's all with the BG that in Scoresheet, an innings guy like Castillo is a good play. It's just I'm not sure it's enough to snag Sale. Good luck!
schmoz
12:42
I can keep ZNeto for a pretty high price of 28 in an AL only league.  Still is probably worth it?  He seems like a high energy guy giving a 1000 percent all the time... that might wear down or get injured.  Thoughts?
Brent Hershey
12:42
Yep, keeper; fairly easily.
Rick
12:45
Hey Brent, Glad to see your chats are back. In a Dynasty  league, I have Wheeler and Cole. I know neither will be back in beginning of season, but which would you be more comfortable keeping? Or do I drop both in the hope of picking up a #3 type starter?
Brent Hershey
12:45
Tough ... though I'd lean Wheeler. Before the injury, stuff wasn't down as much as Cole. Special players (both of em) can do special things, but not all TJSers bounce back right away. Wheeler has also said he's retiring at the end of his current contract, so I guess you could factor that in also. But feel like there's slightly less risk w/ him than Cole.
Alfresco
12:49
In a ten team AL-only Scoresheet league does this core look to be competitive:
C - Alejandro Kirk
1B - Ben Rice
2b - Francisco Lindor (trying to trade for a bonafide 2B)
3B - Matt Chapman
SS - Gunnar Henderson
OF - Taylor Ward
CF - Daulton Varsho
OF - (platoon) W Abreu / Jo Adell
DH - George Springer
SP - Garrett Crochet
SP - Sonny Gray
SP - Luis Castillo
SP - Troy Melton

Thanks for your feedback.
Brent Hershey
12:49
Seems like it; yes. Like Melton a lot, but would want to focus early drafts picks on more stability at the back of that rotation. Just as insurance. Some of the mashers (Ward / Varsho / Adell ) are tough on OBP; that could also be a focus in the draft. Good luck!
schmoz
12:50
AL only.  JAranda will hit 25 bombs?  and retain his stellar OBP?  Or am I wishcasting?
Brent Hershey
12:50
I kinda like Aranda more than some of the projections. Might tame the above down to 20 HR, though. Looked really good last year before the injury.
Guest
12:56
George Springer and Gunnar Henderson have the same predicted slash lines for 2026 - .271/.347/.477.  Without giving away all your secret prediction processes, can you generally explain how you come up with your numbers?  I've noticed that predicted IPs and ABs are sometimes the same for different players, but never noticed that the slash lines were the same...
Brent Hershey
12:56
Interesting, that's a total coincidence. During the Forecaster process, we set a per-AB and per-IP baseline projection that includes past performance, aging curves, etc etc. Then we have PT analysts who are responsible for each MLB team to set realistic IP/ AB goals for the rest of the season. Those IP/ABs get layered on top of the per-AB and per-IP baselines, and that's the projection. I'm sure this isn't the first time that it's happened, but super intriguing b/c the two players are at vastly different spots int heir career, etc.
Hesh
12:57
Rank these sp for a 12 team h2h cats league; Shane Smith, Cavalli, Weathers, Gore, Mize, Cecconi, Soriano, Cabrera
Connecting…