Choo has been a busy man, and I can’t quite understand the team he’s building, but I never can so I won’t try.
All I know is he has the best second and third basemen in the JLB, and they will power him to some wins for sure.
It’s just a matter of what he fills in around those two — which is ever-changing every day it seems.
“Does Choo just trade guys because he’s bored?” Gina asked the other day.
I answered, “No,” but sometimes, I’m not quite sure.
Now, let’s rewind.
Three nights ago, I was bored and had a bunch of Jargon ideas written down on a notepad. I started writing and had three different Jargons prepared.
As soon as Choo said he wouldn’t have his No. 2 overall pick for long, I made sure I got the Razzball rankings Jargon out ASAP. I knew they could change any moment.
I then chose to go with the relief pitcher Jargon yesterday because I really liked it.
I had this particular Jargon scheduled for Saturday, and then, as predicted on Wednesday night when I wrote the first five grafs of this column, it was only a matter of time before Choo changed everything.
On Friday, he made that prediction come true with yet another blockbuster. Somehow, some way, he was able to snag Manny Machado to play shortstop in his rather impressive fantasy infield.
Jose Altuve, Manny Machado and Nolan Arenado. That’s rather impressive and it changes everything I had written Wednesday night.
He still doesn’t have a lot around it, but those three alone will have a huge impact for him on a weekly basis.
Could this be considered the fantasy equivalent of a shift? He’s pushing all his chips in on four positions. He doesn’t have an ace starter. You can even make an argument that he doesn’t even have a No. 2 starter on the mound. His outfield is scarce and his first base position is sketchy at best.
But does that even matter?
According to Steamer projections, Choo will get 520 hits, 288 runs, 107 doubles, 94 homers and 303 RBIs from the three superstar infielders.
Considering the top 10 home run seasons in the JLB are around 210 to 220, he’s getting nearly half of that from three players. He’s also getting a third of the RBIs most teams get from those three. The examples go on.
What I’m trying to say, even if he surrounds these three with the most mediocre of players, he’s still going to meet JLB Top 10 season marks.
So, all in all, a good day for the Choo.
That said, it wasn’t a bad day for the Dude trading Machado.
In fact, it was a golden haul for him. The second overall pick for a fifth rounder is quite impressive by itself, but add in Gerrit Cole, Forrest (burning trees) Whitley, Luiz Gohara and Bo Bichette and you have yourself a rather good return for Machado and Mickey Moniak.
It was the Dude's second trade in JLB history — he traded Jason Heyward for Mitch Keller a year ago after joining the JLB — and it really looks like he’s set himself up in a good position.
Through great draft picks like Cody Bellinger and good free agent pick-ups like Ryan Zimmerman, the Dude has quickly become a force in the JLB’s National League. He jumped in and grabbed the No. 3 seed last year and squeaked out an upset win over the then-defending champ — thanks in part to sheer stubbornness by his opponent.
Nevertheless, the Dude was an NLCS contender last year. This trade brings in a bunch of future pieces, but on his roster, he trades out Machado for Devers, he adds a much needed veteran pitcher in Cole and he brings in some future help.
Maybe, just maybe, he turns that “future help” into another starter?
Lord knows that's how Choo would roll. Could it be the way of the Dude, too?
In any case, I can tell you this: He 100 percent will not get Luke Weaver or Victor Robles for his return from Choo.
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