Jason Grey

  (3:01 PM)

Hey everyone , back for another day. If I miss your question today, perhaps I answered something like it in yesterday's chat. On my way to D-backs/Rangers tonight, so will get to as many as I can in the next hour.

Matt (Long Island, NY)

Is Pat Burrell a viable fantasy option now that he's healthy?

Jason Grey

  (3:03 PM)

Probably not in ESPN standard formats, but if you're lacking OF depth in 12-team mixed or deeper he's probably worth a look to see if he can have a hot run.

John Lackey (Los Angeles)

I've looked better in interleague play, but how will I fare when I'm facing AL teams again?

Jason Grey

  (3:05 PM)

The K:BB ratio and the groundballs are right where they should be, and his velocity is right there as well. He's a good buy low candidate for me because the rest of the numbers will be headed in the right direction soon enough.

chad (nj)

Do you think Cain can keep this up?

Jason Grey

  (3:07 PM)

Wrote extensively about him recently... http://insider.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/story?page=clipboard090615Not much has changed, still high on him even though some of the peripherals indicate some regression. It's not enough that I still don't want to own him.

Mike (Cincy)

The Travis Wood kid who is leading the minors in ERA, anything we should be excited about?

Jason Grey

  (3:11 PM)

You can't argue with the numbers, but a 5'11 160 pound lefty has a little bigger burden of proof. He has an 89-91 mph fastball, and he's killing Double-A hitters with a plus changeup, although his curve is better this year. Short, lefty changeup artists are not always the desirable prospect profile, so he's going to need to continue to prove himself. Not a lot of excitement just yet, but one to at least monitor.

Mike (Ann Arbor)

Why are you the slowest chat guy ever? Are you just a really slow typer?

Jason Grey

  (3:12 PM)

What's funny is I am actually usually the fastest and get to more questions than anyone, having some issues with my connection it seems.

The Antagonist (Center Stage)

Whose shoulder in Seattle is more worrisome: Beltre or Bedard?

Jason Grey

  (3:14 PM)

I would say Bedard, only because Beltre has proven he can play through bone spurs in the past (as he did last season), even though he says this year's are worse. He says it's just a matter of playing through the pain again, so we'll see.

Yankee Fan (New York)

If the Yanks put him in the rotation, would Phil Hughes be a top 50 fantasy SP?

Jason Grey

  (3:16 PM)

No, I just don't see the consistency there, yet, even if his role was soldified every fifth day. There's the potential for that in the future, but not right now.

Jordan Zimmerman (Wash)

Am I a top 30 pitcher by the end of the year? Will I post an ERA under 4 and have 150 K's?

Jason Grey

  (3:17 PM)

Top 30 is a tall order - let's just say you are a viable mixed league play that can get it down to the low 4's, and that K number may be doable. I wrote a few weeks ago that he's pitched far better than his ERA would suggest so a savvy owner can take advantage.

Caleb (New Hampshire)

Does Nick Green maintain his pace for the rest of the season?

Jason Grey

  (3:18 PM)

No, especially with Jed Lowrie getting closer to returning.

Dave (Denver)

I have McGhee at utility. Would you drop him to pick up Jose Lopez, Reimold or Rowand?

Jason Grey

  (3:20 PM)

I'd take either Lopez or Reimold for the balance of the season. I have a good feeling about Lopez for the rest of the year if the personal circumstances aren't weighing him down.

Kerry (New York)

I'm begging ya to rank these 3B: Gordon, Beltre, Kouzmanoff.

Jason Grey

  (3:21 PM)

I think given the fact there are some concerns about Beltre, I would probably go in the order you did, if we're talking about best post-break production.

Eliot (KC)

now that A. Cabrera is off the DL how do you think he does the rest of the year?

Jason Grey

  (3:23 PM)

I think he continues what he was doing before the DL stint, provided the shoulder problem hasn't affected his stroke too much. The pre-injury performance was not a fluke, as there was some very real development in his offensive game in the second half of last season that he's carried over to this year.

Jon (SD)

Jason, from a scout?s perspective, please rank for this year only: Jordan Zimmermann, Trevor Cahill, Vin Mazzaro, Brian Tallet, Scott Richmond. Thanks!

Jason Grey

  (3:26 PM)

Cahill, Zimmermann, Richmond, Mazzaro, Tallet. Ask me tomorrow and I might rank the top four differently, but that's where I am at right now. Don't sleep on Richmond, especially as that slider has been nasty on same side batters. They're all very close in the first four, and I can make an argument for any of them.

Swiggs (Des Moines)

If you were going to deal Soriano for one of the following, who do you take, AJ Burnett or Zach Duke?

Jason Grey

  (3:27 PM)

Burnett. I want the strikeouts and want no part of buying Duke at his peak when there is regression coming.

Phil (Boston)

Who is a more valuable keeper: V Martinez or Wieters?

Jason Grey

  (3:28 PM)

Interesting question. Give me Victor for one more year, and tow years from now it should be Wieters, so depends on how long-term the keeper league is.

Jason Grey (Slow Chat Guy)

Since I'm ESPN's slowest chat guy, from here on out I'm only answering questions that require 1-word answers. For example: Cueto or Uggla?

Jason Grey

  (3:28 PM)

Cueto

Brian (IN)

I want to drop Chris Davis for Everth Cabrera, am I crazy?

Jason Grey

  (3:29 PM)

Well, it's a question of need. How much power do you have and how badly do you need steals? Moves that may seem crazy on th surface make sense in a league context. Be careful about buying too much into Cabrera though. Yes, the speed is real, but he's going to need to rap out the infield hits because he's not going to drive the ball very much at this level at the moment.

Rob (Fantasy Limbo)

Drop/trade Jimmy Rollins? I need pitching help and have Ramirez and Zobrist.

Jason Grey

  (3:30 PM)

I think Rollins is at least tradable for something from an owner that wants to buy low, especially if you have good depth at the position.

Charlie (Syracuse, NY)

Is now a good time to go after Markakis or are there legitimate concerns about him? Any others to target?

Jason Grey

  (3:31 PM)

Gotten a few of these type questions today, so I will repeat what I said yesterday, Markakis will be fine and is a worthy candidate to go after right now, even if he is in a little slump this month.

Andy (Detroit)

McCutcheon or Vernon Wells the rest of the way?

Jason Grey

  (3:34 PM)

Good question. I could deal with Wells' BA if there was more power, although the 12-for-12 in steals is nice. I'm still going to stick with him, but it's very, very close. There's a little more power there, which is the difference.

Erik (Chicago)

NL only Keeper league (5X5), who are your top five minor league prospects?

Jason Grey

  (3:38 PM)

top of my head (sure I'm missing someone) - Strasburg, Heyward, Posey, Bumgarner, Stanton - Young Jr. and Escobar for steals, Alderson and Logan Morrison two of my favorites as well - that's more than five, oh well.

Tom (Philly)

Jason a little help please!! Should I be concerned that Johjima will be catching for the King again? Thanks!

Jason Grey

  (3:40 PM)

That may not be the case even when he does return, so no, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

brad (harrisburg, pa)

simply put: scott hairston or elijah dukes?

Jason Grey

  (3:41 PM)

Hairston for now, especially with Dukes being absolutely awful on the bases this season, although I expect Hairston's pace to slow a bit.

Joe (Beach)

Who are your top 5 players in the minors who will make an impact this year?

Jason Grey

  (3:44 PM)

I do at top 10 list of this very type at the end of my minors column each week. Depends on if we're just talking prospect (ROY eligible guys) or anyone in the minors, because then names like Brandon Wood and Clay Buchholz are on the list. I do think the Indians need to bring LaPorta back up at some point, and I'm watching EY Jr. for his speed, and Chris Tillman if you need SP as well.

JD (Scranton (PA))

You starting smoltz tonight?

Jason Grey

  (3:44 PM)

I'm starting him in AL only and taking a wait and see approach in mixed.

Brad (Philly)

Here's what I get when I Google your name: Jason Grey, a 29-year-old Latino man, was shot and killed in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale at about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1. Sorry about that dude. Since you have some time on your hands, could you ranks these four players for the rest of the year: Morales, Rowand, Guzman and Atkins. Thanks, and RIP!

Jason Grey

  (3:47 PM)

Donations to my Memorial Fund can be sent directly to me....The order you have them in.

BILL (ATLANTA)

Justin Smoak maybe make an impact this year? Maybe? Just maybe???

Jason Grey

  (3:48 PM)

He hit two monstrous homers and just missed a third in his rehab appearance here in Arizona on Monday. Yes, it's possible that if Davis doesn't get things going, Smoak could be up sometime in the second half and playing first. The Rangers can't add payroll so they'll be looking for reinforcements within...thus the move to temporarily shift Neftali Feliz to the 'pen as well.

Hank (Austin)

Jason -- What's your take on Kerry Wood's struggles? Who do you like more for the rest of 2009 - him or Andrew Bailey?

Jason Grey

  (3:51 PM)

He's having problems repeating his delivery and thus throwing strikes. Just too many walks. That said, there are no alternatives to him in that 'pen so his job is safe. However, it's hard to argue with what Bailey is doing right now, and as a former starter his stamina should be OK over the second half.

Justin (FL)

Are you concerned w/ Longorias hammy issues?

Jason Grey

  (3:52 PM)

Not really, he said the latest issue isn't is bad as the one that caused him to miss six games, and they are being careful with him. I'm not overly concerned based on the reports.

Mike (Oshawa)

Nolasco or Lackey from here out?

Jason Grey

  (3:53 PM)

Nolasco - four good starts on a row as his luck starts to turn around.

Pete (FL)

Not a real fantasy question but I'm having an argument with my friend over Nate McClouth. I said he's not a very good defensive OF but my friend says he is because he won a GG and he's made some great catches in the OF.

Jason Grey

  (3:54 PM)

Shouldn't you be in Keith Law's chat? :-)

Jason Grey

  (3:56 PM)

Fo what it's worth, McLouth's UZR is -13.8 this season. What's that movie quote? "Some men you just can't reach."

Mike (CT)

I'm last in saves I have Qualls,Gonzalez and Howell the only other options are Wilson(Tex) and now Nunez. Stay put or make a move?

Jason Grey

  (3:57 PM)

GIven the alternatives I would stick with what you have.

Ernie (Sesame Street)

Rank 'em: Price, Hanson, PorcelloThanks

Jason Grey

  (3:57 PM)

Hanson, Porcello, Price

Bill (Baltimore)

Sorry to hear you passed away. I'll write you a moving eugoogoly. I hate trading for closers, since I'm sure a few new closers will be created at the MLB ASB. That being said, is Fuentes solid enough to trade for, if Saves are all I'm looking for?

Jason Grey

  (3:58 PM)

Always love the Zoolander references. With Escobar hurting and Shields down, if you must, Fuentes should be one of the safest bets out there.

Jason Grey

  (3:59 PM)

That's it for me, today guys. Need to go talk to Chris Davis and see what he thinks he can do to pull out of it, look for that next week. Thanks for all the interest, I appreciate it.