JotCast | MLBTR Chat with Nicklaus Gaut

MLBTR Chat with Nicklaus Gaut

Nicklaus Gaut

11:00

Hello, friends

Happy first week of school, for those who celebrate

11:01

Huzzah! My first kid-free chat in months!

Oh wait...in a cruel twist of fate, my daughter is home sick today

don't worry, I gave her unfettered access to Youtube, so she should be totally fine

11:02

let's baseball!

Cags Outlook now and 26?

11:02

Hi Nicklaus! What is your outlook for Cags ROS (he’s killing it on his rehab assignment) and next year? I’d love to hear your “too early next year thoughts” since I’m mulling over whether to hold his as one of my keepers.

Nicklaus Gaut

11:03

His long-term outlook is still great, for me. I generally don't hold early struggles against good hitters. MLB is super hard

keeper-wise, it depends on league size and # of keepers

in a vacuum, yeah he rises to that level in a deeper setup

Mason Miller ROS?

11:04

I know Mason Miller’s pedigree, but is he worth using ROS for holds? He has been awfully quiet and I’m fighting for 1st in my league.

Nicklaus Gaut

11:04

quiet on holds lately, but I'm not sure you'd find a better option

11:05

kind of depends on just how much you can (realistically)make up in Holds, and if that would balance what you might be losing in ratios/K's

buffy, the umpire slayer

11:05

My league is of the 10-team AL-only variety. You called it "nerdy" and I agree with that assessment. The league has ERA as the only pitching category. I read that ERA is one of the hardest categories to project. My league does have minimum IP requirements in that you must have 12-14 active pitchers with 5-7 SPs (700 min IPs) at a minimum (you cannot stock up on RPs). What skills such as k-bb%, just k%, WHIP, HR/IP, etc. should be emphasized in my player analysis? This is mostly asked for prepping in 2026 but somewhat for this season's stretch run.

Nicklaus Gaut

11:06

Nerdy is 100% a compliment in this household

K-BB% is one of the better "overall" stats imo

11:07

but I pay a lot of attention to the ERA evaluators

FIP for judging the truth in what has previously happened, xFIP/siera for telling the future

11:08

giant grains of salt though -- they're not infallible

but if you're trying to lasso the mercurial ERA beast, they're some of your better starting points

no good option

11:10

My playoffs start 9/1 and my options at 3b are not the greatest. OBP, Total Bases , HR, RBI, R, SB categories Which 2 guys would you roster Royce Lewis, Miguel Vargas, Josh Jung, Otto Lopez, Miguel Andujar, Ke'Bryan Hayes

Nicklaus Gaut

11:10

Andujar and Otto

11:11

though, Lewis might be a better option than Otto for those who are feel more frisky

Ron

11:11

At what point do you sell your expiring contract guys (I have 6 studs) and I’m in 5th. Payout is for top 4. I can get 4th but doubtful to get any higher. The sell off could net some cheap talent for next year. Thoughts?

Nicklaus Gaut

11:12

Depends on how much 4th is/how important it is to you.

I never fault anyone for trying to get their money back (or whatever the gap is)

but I'm usually selling out the prize for future stocks, in those situations

Guest

11:12

Downgrading any Rays next year when they go back to the trop? Particularly, Caminero and Yandy have big home/road splits.

Nicklaus Gaut

11:13

Have to, me thinks. Can't ignore the effects of a temp bandbox

but I think Caminero's pop plays anywhere

11:14

so I'm not too stressed

Keepers Help

11:16

5x5 with OBP and QS, $500 budget. Pick 3: Baldwin ($8), Basallo ($8), K. Marte ($58), Keaschall ($8), Profar ($9), Waldrep ($8), Boyle ($8), Sheehan ($8), Ragans ($54), Palencia ($8), Robert Suarez ($28).

I'm for sure keeping Wood, Anthony, Acuna, Skubal, Strider, Gore, and Cole for a combined $199 out of the $500.

Nicklaus Gaut

11:16

waldrep and boyle

11:17

and your favorite of Baldwin/Basallo

I'd probably go Baldwin

Bats and cats

11:17

Hi! Could you rank these bench bats in a daily AL only OBP league? Canzone, India, Meidroth. Thanks!

Nicklaus Gaut

11:18

Meidroth