Mailbag: Buy low on Cano?

Fantasy Mailbag:

Would you trade M. Rivera and Brendan Harris for Robinson Cano and Joey Votto? I still have Saito, T. Jones, B. Wilson, and G. Sherrill as closers. It's a 10-team mixed league.

- Kevin


Man, you can't get to the accept button quick enough.

To be fair, this question was posed just before Votto's 3-HR outburst this week, but the answer before and after is both a resounding yes.

This is a classic deal that falls into the Trade From Your Excess page of your fantasy handbook. In an 10-team, mixed league, four closers is more than enough to get you in the top 2 or 3 of the saves category. You don't need a fifth.

It might be a slight gamble if any of the remaining four were in danger of losing their job, but all four are rock solid right now.

Saito or Rivera will fetch the most on the open market and Cano, in my opinion, is about to break out of this nasty funk he's been in. Actually, Jason Giambi's drinking from the same well of contaminated at-bats.

But if you squint hard enough, you can start to see signs of life in Cano's bat. In the last four games, the Yankees 2B has raised his average from .150 to .172, including a pair of solo HR. Cano's a career .304 hitter with 20-HR upside. Even with an awful start, he'll finish above .250.

Votto's the real diamond in this deal. The Cincy 1B is hitting .302 with 7 HR and 18 RBI - all 7 HR and 17 of the RBI in the last 21 games since taking over the full-time gig from Scott Hatteberg. But you've heard enough from me about Votto's 25/20 potential. I'll shut up now, before you think I'm developing a man-crush.

Harris the Twins 2B/SS, is a serviceable player, but lacks power or speed to be even worth a roster spot in most mixed leagues.

It's hard to give up the best player in a deal, but if it yields two that are very close, it's worth it. Especially, when you have five closers. No team needs to carry five closers. Ever.

Say your goodbyes to Mo and welcome Joey and Robinson into the flock.